Japanese metalcore frontrunners Sable Hills return with their powerful new single “Homura”, featuring an electrifying guest appearance from Fuki of Unlucky Morpheus. The release also marks the start of the pre-order for the band’s new album “Homura”, set for release on November 13, 2026 via Arising Empire. Blending the fire of classic metalcore with melodic death metal intensity and a distinctly Japanese atmosphere, the title track marks another bold step forward for a band that continues to carve out its own identity on the international heavy music scene.
At its core, “Homura” is a song about enduring pain and finding the strength to rise from it. Its lyrics move through images of broken bodies, ashes, ruins and wounds, but beneath the destruction, a flame refuses to disappear. Pain becomes fuel, scars become purpose and survival becomes an act of rebirth. Even when everything else has burned away, the fire within remains.
Musically, Sable Hills channel that message into crushing riffs, soaring melodies, emotional screams and virtuosic musicianship, while traditional Japanese elements add another dimension to the band’s signature metalcore foundation. Fuki’s unmistakable voice brings an additional sense of drama and grandeur to the track, culminating in a huge chorus built around its central declaration: “Homura remains.”
The title itself carries special significance. “Homura” is an old Japanese word meaning “flame”, representing the intensity and aggression at the heart of metal through a distinctly Japanese aesthetic. The single captures that idea perfectly, balancing ferocity with beauty and turning the image of an undying flame into a symbol of perseverance.
“Homura” arrives at another defining moment in Sable Hills’ remarkable rise. In 2022, the band became the first Japanese act in history to win the grand prize at the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle, a milestone that led to their signing with German label Arising Empire and the international release of their third album “Odyssey” in 2024. Their momentum accelerated further in 2025 when “Namu” became a global viral success, surpassing 3 million Spotify streams and 5.4 million YouTube views, while related live clips generated more than 30 million views across Instagram and TikTok.
Now, Sable Hills bring their international experience together with an even stronger connection to their Japanese roots. With Fuki of Japanese metal powerhouse Unlucky Morpheus joining them on the title track, “Homura” offers a striking glimpse into this next chapter.
Built around the collision of crushing modern metalcore, melodic death metal and traditional Japanese influences, the upcoming album “Homura” sees Sable Hills embracing where they come from while pushing their sound further than ever before.
The flame is still burning. “Homura” remains.
Catch the band live:
22.09.2026 I Club Citta' I Kawasaki, Japan