photo by Emily Burke
As Akron, Ohio’s RADIAN prepares for this Friday’s release of their immense, conceptual, third album, Subterfuge, Metal Injection is now hosting an exclusive early stream of the album.
Set in a reimagined, modern-day Egypt – one that never fell to Roman conquest – Subterfuge tells the story of a man willing to do whatever it takes to protect his home, his people, and his culture from a cabal of overlords bent on erasure for personal gain. While rooted in a rewritten history, the album is riddled with comparisons to contemporary society: exploitation, manufactured collapse, and rebellion in the face of systems designed to consume rather than sustain.
Musically, Subterfuge showcases RADIAN at their most focused and unrelenting – beautifully oppressive, groove-laden sludge, sharpened by a narrative arc and delivered with the weight of lived experience. It is both a continuation of the group’s sonic identity and a declaration of renewal; a record that mirrors the band’s own journey, carrying their vision deeper into the underground with uncompromising force.
Subterfuge was recorded and engineered by Mike Burns, except for the bass which was recorded by Brian “BeZo” Zorich. The record was mixed by Sanford Parker at Hypercube (Voivod, Darkthrone, YOB), mastered by Collin Jordan at Boiler Room Mastering (Ministry, Eyehategod, Spirit Adrift), and completed with artwork by RADIAN with the art concept and layout by Derek Vaive.
Vocalist Corey Staley states, “Subterfuge is a pill to be swallowed by those coping with frustrations of loss, self-doubt, grief, and anxiety. We were all navigating these types of feelings during the recording process. All the while, this album is packaged with a fictional concept to escape real-world commentary, exploring timeless motifs such as tyranny, collapse, despair, and survival to create immersive imagery in the lyrical content. This approach lent more weight to the psychological space created on the album.”
Hear RADIAN’s entire Subterfuge LP now playing exclusively at Metal Injection RIGHT HERE.
Subterfuge will be released digitally and on 12” vinyl as a collaboration between the band’s El Burno Records and Third House Communications this Friday, March 20th. Place preorders HERE, and watch RADIAN’s “Spiraling Ash” video HERE.
Having played with the likes of The Obsessed, Acid Bath, Midnight, and more during the Subterfuge rollout, RADIAN is confirmed to play Columbus Doomsday Fest on April 25th and Tampa Doom & Gloom Fest in November, with tour dates surrounding both, and additional widespread touring for the months ahead.
RADIAN Live:
4/25/2026 Columbus Doomsday Fest @ Summit Music Hall – Columbus, OH
11/13-15/2026 Tampa Doom & Gloom Fest @ Deviant Libation – Tampa, FL
RADIAN formed in the Winter of 2017 as guitarist Mike Burns (Rue, Sofa King Killer) set out to fuse groove and grime into something both confrontational and enduring. The project took shape on its independent debut, Chapters (2019), a sludgy, dynamic statement praised by The Obelisk for, “that extra bit of aggression one finds underlying the most satisfying of sludge metals.” The record established RADIAN as a formidable presence in the Midwest metal underground, built on relentless shows and a DIY work ethic.
This drive carried into Discordian (2022), released via Burns’ own El Burno Records. Darker and less forgiving, the album reflected a band pushing against the limits. Touring in support of the record brought both expansion and fracture – multiple lineup changes, periods of uncertainty, and turbulence that ultimately reshaped the band’s direction.
During this period, RADIAN’s lineup coalesced with renewed focus and intent, featuring vocalist Corey Staley, drummer Derek Vaive, and bassist Carly Allman, alongside Burns. What followed was not simply new material, but a reframing of purpose. The result is Subterfuge, a concept-driven album that channels a recasting of sludge and doom into a tale of resistance, survival, and cultural preservation.
“Subterfuge covers a pretty wide sonic range while remaining within the boundaries of sludge—some of it is more upbeat and punk influenced, while other tracks stray more into doom or border on death metal.” – Decibel Magazine
“RADIAN sounds like a new band reborn with a revised lineup since their 2022 record Discordian… Subterfuge is a record that has it all. It’s an undeniably brilliant and thrilling sonic fueled experience that leaves you wanting more and perhaps that little bit excited to see what the future holds for RADIAN. This is a genuine Album Of The Year contender.” – Outlaws Of The Sun
photo by Mike Burns
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