From the initial beats of Glorybots’ latest single, “Pain Rain,” to the almost extraterrestrial sounds of the instruments and vocals five minutes later in the track’s finale, it’s evident that the post-punk alt-rock band has elevated their sound. Glorybots is gearing up to release their fourth LP, mad.end, this spring. The first single is already accessible on all major streaming platforms, immersing listeners in the band’s dark, futuristic rock vibe with its atmospheric mix of post-punk, alternative rock, and electronic influences. Expect two additional singles to be unveiled in the coming months.

The Road to Glorybots

Glorybots is the creation of lead singer and songwriter Ethan Drone, who was influenced by Brazilian folk music and bands from the ’80s and ’90s, including Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets, Smashing Pumpkins, and Radiohead. Ethan has penned six albums (four with Glorybots); before this, he was part of the Seattle rock band Echo Texture, which opened for the Dandy Warhols. He has played various instruments, including the bass, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboard, piano, and ukulele. “I’ll try to play any instrument I can find,” Ethan shares, “but the most unique instrument I’ve performed with live is the berimbau, a single-stringed percussion instrument resembling an archer’s bow that I purchased in Brazil. The berimbau is played by striking the string with a stick while modulating notes with a rock against the string.”

Brazil, the birthplace of the berimbau, is where Ethan spent his early childhood. He later moved to Southern California, but he has also lived in various cities across the U.S. (currently in Seattle) and traveled to over 30 countries, including Nepal, South Africa, and Thailand. He once encountered Paulo Coelho, the author of the bestselling novel The Alchemist, on a street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as a teenager, he met Daniel Ash (singer of Love and Rockets) while attempting to sneak onto their tour bus at one of their performances.

Ethan founded Glorybots a few years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by a desire to create music that merges edgy, digital elements with traditional analog sounds. He often pondered how the early Cure might have evolved if they had continued creating in the style of Japanese Whispers, seeking to blend that sound with the otherworldly aspects explored by goth bands like Tones on Tail.

How Glorybots’ Sound Has Evolved

Glorybots’ debut album, Dark Alien Pop, aimed to achieve that fusion and received positive feedback from both critics and fans, although it fell short of the post-punk swagger Ethan desired. Their second album, Invisible, introduced that swagger with a more guitar-centric sound, while the third album, Radiation Skies, showcased a more serious rock performance of Ethan’s vision, earning acclaim from critics who noted the album’s divine connection to the medium.

Reflecting on his artistic journey, Ethan acknowledges what previously hindered him. “I used to constrain my music by forcing it into a specific direction,” he explains. “This was often influenced by the style or sound of other artists or bands. Now, I try to let the music flow organically, regardless of whether it’s deemed ‘good’ or ‘bad’ by others. To paraphrase David Bowie, if your music doesn’t make you feel slightly uncomfortable, you’re probably not where you need to be creatively.”

What mad.end Delivers

The forthcoming LP, mad.end, embodies the rejection of rigid styles, offering an authentic, raw, and intriguingly unconventional sound. The lyrics are infused with mystery, depth, and compulsion, while the song arrangements defy tradition yet allow the beauty of analog instrumentation to shine through. The overarching theme is one of hope; “Not the hope of a platform, treatise, or agenda,” Ethan clarifies, “but the hope of humanity and all that we can achieve.” mad.end celebrates human creativity and potential. Set for release in Spring 2025, you can currently stream the single Pain Rain on your preferred platform, with two more singles on the horizon. Follow the band for updates on Instagram, Facebook, or BlueSky.