Animals In Denial returns with a seismic new single, “Rage,” out today. Christian Imes, the creative force behind the project, delivers an electrifying track, capturing the intensity of modern industrial rock while layering it with haunting introspection. The song’s conception was a whirlwind, coming together quickly yet with deliberate and purposeful energy.

Imes dives deep into the creative process behind “Rage,” saying: “The music for this song came together quickly and was me playing around with drum kit sounds in Acid Pro 4, and got into this really thundering tom groove. I was listening to a lot of Tool, mostly Aenema, and The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails, and so naturally I was all about adding in some massive guitar swells. I remember mixing it was me trying to get the guitars to hit you in the face with a wall of beautiful noise! The synths were just some samples I loaded into an old version of Kontakt that came from some old Akai disc I got from a buddy. The guitar I used was a green Epiphone Les Paul Special 2. Most of the layers were done with the RP50, but this was the first time I used Logic’s amp designer. I did a clean track with it that just made it so the notes were a bit more distinct on the lead guitar track. The rhythm guitar tracks were all the RP50, and it was two different patches I had. The bass was still the Rogue and that was direct and just using pedal plugins that came with Logic. This was one of the songs that I initially started in Vegas, but I had already started to transition to Logic and the Mac as my main platform, so it’s one of the only songs that there is both a Logic file and a Vegas file for. The Vegas version is missing certain tracks, but I still keep them so it’s like a little time capsule.

“The mics I used were an SM58 for the main vocals, and I used a MXL condenser mic for the backing vocals in the chorus. I wanted to sound like an army with a pet monster screaming along. I layered the main vocal track by double tracking, and I did a third track that I then ran through Izotope’s Nectar plugin. The preset I tweaked was titled ‘demon’ or something, but it was the perfect icing to the cake. The interface was my trusty Focusrite Saffire Pro.”

This raw yet intricately crafted track emerges as a powerful commentary on the pervasive negativity within internet culture and the misunderstandings across generations. Sparked by Imes’ experiences in the industrial music scene, “Rage” evolves into a broader reflection on societal discord. It emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding over defending and dividing. Through introspection, Imes confronts the question, “Who are my enemies?” only to discover an absence of hatred and a commitment to moving forward, undeterred by past adversities or the divisive nature of online interactions.

Animals In Denial, spearheaded by Imes, has always been a project rooted in resilience and the transformative power of music. From facing personal challenges like surviving a lynching attempt to battling PTSD, Imes’ journey serves as a backdrop to his artistry, infusing his music with authenticity and a deep-seated belief in progress and healing. “Rage” is not just a song; it’s an invitation to listen, understand, and find unity through the cathartic power of sound.