No Kings Release Video For Rusted

The melodic metalcore quintet No Kings has released their debut single “Rusted,” a moody, climatic track that calls back to the glory years of the underground “core scene.”

Formed from the remnants of the band Internet Noise, No Kings is the next chapter of emotionally volatile and blisteringly honest songwriting of the Southern California-based group. The name change is their take on the current social climate and a desire to never be ruled by those who wish only to see their own success. No Gods. No Kings. Only man.

“Rusted” is a song of firsts, not only the first song from their upcoming EP The Remedy, but it’s the first time singer Geordy Shallan has openly spoken about his struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, something exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Encouraged by producer Michael Nolasco, it was a song Geordy was truthfully somewhat scared to write, let alone sing. 

“After years of being the ‘strong one’, the ‘happy one’, the ‘comedian friend’, examining this vulnerability was something that bordered horrifying for me,” says Geordy. “Luckily, Joey, having experienced similar mental health issues as well, not only supported me musically, but also as a dear friend. This song stands as a testament that it is possible to break away from the tropes of toxic masculinity to heal yourself. True masculinity is acknowledging, accepting, and working through your pain to become a better version of yourself. Starting from a simple piano melody, the band felt that this song would be the perfect standalone single to release, only for it to blossom into something magnificent that would inspire the band to stay in the studio to hammer out four more tracks creating the EP.”

As for the video, No Kings wanted to showcase the band dynamic, the emotional nature of the song. Albeit simple, the shot choices by director Anthony Ortiz are representative of the compartmentalization of the mind when it comes to both a calm state and stress-induced mental anguish of anxiety and panic attacks.

With a brand new EP on the horizon and a focus on removing stigma from taboo subjects like mental health, political divide, and processing heartbreak,, No Kings is poised to see an era of extreme growth in the near future, pushing past their current regional standing.