Stained

FOR CD ORDERS: Go to Void Bath Records voidbathrecords.bandcamp.com (Available on August 7th)
FOR MERCH: Go to pull-the-strings.myspreadshop.com

June of 2025 saw the release of A Farewell, which was truly a farewell to the old incarnation of Pull The Strings. Seeking a new direction, project founder Alan Brucke recruited the aid of his friend Gabriel Yadon to reimagine what the project could be. And thus, the seeds for the third full-length album from Pull The Strings were planted.
Several attempts to begin writing the new material ended in stagnation, until late October 2025, when the band decided to try using extended range guitars instead of more traditional instruments. This approach completely altered the direction of the songs for the better, and was immediately inspiring to the band.
The concept for the album was initially non-existent, and early vocal takes for some of the demos were about various disparate topics. Then, Gabe pitched his own ideas for lyrical themes, based on his experiences with grieving the loss of loved ones to cancer and Alzheimer's disease. This set the tone for a new lyrical direction, focused on the process of healing from painful loss, and the observation of its inevitable nature.
Griefbloom is a completely new sound for Pull The Strings, which has historically been quite progressive and unorthodox. Now, the band sounds as fresh as ever, with one highly apparent difference being the vocal style employed. Gone are the wretched croaks of previous releases. Instead, vocalist Alan Brucke utilizes a full-throated, agonized scream. Paired with the introduction of Gabe's highly melodic and intricate instrumentation, Pull The Strings sounds like an entirely different band - one fully convicted of its new artistic direction.