Arising Empire News: The Oklahoma Kid, Banks Arcade

Verfasst von Mike Langer am 31. Juli 2026.

TOK ignite a bold new era with SPIT!
The new track of TOK aka The Oklahoma Kid marks the first strike of their renewed identity and the beginning of a darker, more confrontational chapter.

With the arrival of Tobias Rische, former singer of Alazka and Novelist, TOK tap into a sharper, more emotionally charged vocal dynamic that instantly reshapes their sound. SPIT channels raw intensity, fractured trust and the moment everything breaks, pairing that energy with a striking early 2000s aesthetic that underscores the band’s shift toward something grittier and more fearless. It’s rupture and reinvention in one hit, a clear signal of where the band is heading next.

As one of modern metalcore’s most forward thinking acts, TOK have built their reputation on precision, creativity and boundary pushing songwriting. They’re kicking off a new chapter with a fresh frontman and a ton of forward drive, and at the same time, they’re pulling themselves and their fans straight back twenty years. With a sound and aesthetic shaped by the music they grew up on, they dive back into the early 2000s, right into the breakthrough era of metalcore and the raw energy that defined it.

With SPIT, they channel that momentum into a refreshed vision: bold, emotional, visually distinct and unmistakably their own, setting the tone for a future defined by evolution and impact. Their entire visual and sonic identity pulls listeners back into a glorified pre streaming era, back to a time when everything revolved around the music and the style.

TOK - SPIT (OFFIZIELLES VIDEO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgX98vSTNR8

STREAM & PURCHASE: https://arisingempire.com/tok

Follow the band's socials
https://www.facebook.com/theoklahomakidofficial

Banks Arcade tap into something darker, sharper and more self aware with MIRROR.
MIRROR hits with that signature Banks Arcade blend of heavy riffs, electronic tension and melodic bite, but here everything feels more venomous. The track digs into guilt, rage and self destruction, pulling out lines about learned ugliness and stripped worth that land with real weight. The hook snaps hard, the production stays sleek, and the whole song moves like it’s ready to tear down whatever broke you. It’s aggressive, stylish and full of the restless energy that’s been pushing the band forward for years.

Since forming in Auckland and later settling in Melbourne, Banks Arcade have carved out a lane of their own, mixing metalcore with electronic and hip hop elements in a way that feels fresh rather than forced. Their debut album Future Lovers and follow up EPs built serious momentum, while touring across Australia, the US and UK, including major festivals and support runs with Northlane and In Hearts Wake, has grown their global fanbase into something loud and loyal.
MIRROR captures that evolution in full: confident, melodic, emotionally charged and unmistakably Banks Arcade. A track that shows exactly why they’re becoming one of the most exciting modern heavy acts to watch.

BANKS ARCADE – MIRROR (OFFIZIELLES VIDEO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0wYcmHzI_w

STREAM & PURCHASE: https://arisingempire.com/banksarcade

Follow the band's socials
https://www.facebook.com/banksarcade

Quelle: Hold Tight