NIGHTDIVE SHARE HAUNTING NEW SINGLE "OCCULENT"
Sydney alternative metal newcomers nightdive continue to turn heads with the release of their haunting new single “Occulent”, out everywhere today. The track arrives as the band prepare to launch it live, supporting Ladders on Tables - the new project from Trenton Woodley (formerly of Hands Like Houses) - at upcoming shows in Newcastle and Sydney in November. Tickets on sale now.
“Occulent” was mixed and mastered by Simon Grove (Plini, Intervals, Protest The Hero) with drum engineering by Mitta Norath. Lyrically, the song is a haunting reflection on mortality and the psychological weight of illness. "The song moves through the experience from multiple angles: the person living inside a failing body, the friends and family watching from the edges, and the lingering ache of loss that outlives the diagnosis," says the band.
"It’s not just about death - it’s about the slow erosion of hope, the fragility of connection, and the quiet persistence of love in the face of it all. It's an exploration of what it means to lose control of your body, your world, and the people who make it feel worth saving."
Formed only this year, nightdive is Sam Thomlinson on vocals and guitar, Mitch Clews on guitar, Jared Philips on guitar and Jack Robert on drums. The band have already made a confident entrance into Australia’s heavy music scene, with early support from triple j, Unearthed and tens of thousands of digital streams. Their sound lands with a weight that belies their short existence, showcasing an all-consuming clash of light and dark, ambience and volatility mixed with melody and menace. Flaunting a sound not unlike that of Deftones, Underoath, and Thornhill, nightdive are already staking their claim among Australia’s rising alternative heavyweights.
Blending dense guitars with evocative textures and introspective lyricism, the band sets out to craft music that sits somewhere between heavy and vulnerable, exploring the moments that linger in the aftermath. The quartet are currently at work on a four-track collection, due early 2026, each track serving as a descent into the emotional undercurrents that define the band’s identity - immersive and unflinchingly human.
