Look out Australian heavy scene, lords of heavy, alt-metal pioneers Sunk Loto are back, brandishing their first new single in two decades with ‘The Gallows Wait’. A ferocious and razor-sharp outing, the track kickstarts an insatiable new chapter for Sunk Loto, also accompanying the addition of new member Rohan Stevenson.

A seasoned and prolific guitarist, renowned for his work under the moniker I Built The Sky as much as for his frenetic fretwork and astounding melodic arrangements, Ro Stevenson's addition to the Sunk Loto family accompanies the long-awaited resurgence of one of Australia's most influential home-grown bands

There’s two decades of pent-up energy, frustration, and passion flooding out of ‘The Gallows Wait’. The new incarnation of Sunk Loto is just as aggressive as 2003’s ‘Between Birth & Death’, and Jason Brown most definitely has still got the jaw-dropping switch between golden tones and throat-tearing goodness, the bombastic duo of Sean Van Gennip and Dane Brown are still providing a massive rhythm section, and newest addition Rohan Stevenson definitely upping the game with both chunk and intricacy. Having produced one of the most influential albums for the Australian heavy scene in ‘Between Birth & Death’, Sunk Loto come out firing like they have something to prove with ‘The Gallows Wait’ - and they bring it, offering far more organic tones than their modern contemporaries, while still matching the intensity, and by Odin’s beard the last 26 seconds is so dirty you’ll be scrubbing yourself for a week after that listen. A much overdue (and welcome) return for the these original heavy hitters.

Speaking on their return, frontman Jason Brown shares what it’s like to come back with new material after a two decades.

"Feels like a dream coming back with new music for our fans after a 20 year absence.This was only made possible by bringing Ro into the band as a collaborator and bringing new life into the band musically. I’m so excited for this new chapter for Sunk Loto. I feel like we can bring something to the heavy music scene that has been missing,” he said.

"I can’t wait to share our first song back and a new album to follow," Brown continues. “ Really happy to be thanking our fans by playing Between Birth and Death in full after 20 years of unwavering loyalty. And as a special treat we will also be performing our new single The Gallows Wait. It was really great to work with Forrester Savell and Luke Palmer on it, they definitely played a massive part in taking the new songs to the next level. See you at a show soon."

"Joining Sunk Loto feels like one of those impossible scenarios that plays out in the movies," adds Stevenson. "As a long time fan, I’ve been really excited for the recent resurgence of Sunk, but now having joined as a member I’m on a mission to help the boys reach their full potential and bring the best of what Sunk does to the fans who’ve been waiting so patiently. I promise, our first single back will bring the goods, Sunk at their…no OUR best and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. Get ready!!!"

Produced by Forrester Savell, The Gallows Wait wastes no time picking up where Sunk Loto last left off while also showcasing Sunk Loto's timeless appeal, leaping out with caustic vocals, menacing soundscapes and agile riffs before building into a soaring chorus and, ultimately, a sludgy outro that will feverishly leave you wanting more.

Accompanying fiery guitar solos and the seamless flitting between the torrid harsh and towering clean vocals of frontman Jason Brown, The Gallows Wait also arrives today armed with an added bonus for fans via an animated video for the track created by Jackson Samuel.

After a monumental rebirth in 2022, this year Australian metal icons Sunk Loto are also celebrating the album that changed the game, with the quartet set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their 2003 opus Between Birth and Death Sunk Loto will embark on a special Australian tour starting later this month, kicking off in Fremantle before visiting Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne along with special guests Ocean Sleeper, Red Bee and Amberdown, and then taking the stage at Froth & Fury Fest in Port Adelaide.

If you had to list the most important heavy Australian albums of all time, it’s likely that Sunk Loto’s 2003 release Between Birth and Death would be near the top, with metal aficionados still declaring the band one of the most influential Aussie heavy bands of all time. Peaking at #48 on the ARIA Albums Chart, with engineer Phil McKellar snagging an ARIA nomination for his work on the album the following year, Between Birth and Death had remained Sunk Loto's second and seemingly final album - that is, until now.

Having previously toured the globe alongside the likes of Korn, Linkin Park, A Perfect Circle, Suicidal Tendencies and Sevendust, and with festival appearances also under their collective belts including Big Day Out, Homebake, Vans Warped Tour and Splendour In The Grass, Sunk Loto swiftly became synonymous with Australian metal while most members were still in their teens. And following their triumphant return last year wowing sold out crowds across Australia after 15 years of silence, it’s clear that the best is truly only yet to come for the group who helped paved the way for the modern Australian heavy music renaissance.

With a brand new album confirmed to be currently in the works and even more new singles lying in wait in the not-too-distant future, the exhilarating new Sunk Loto chapter is only just getting started.

‘The Gallows Wait’ is out now on all streaming platforms.