A Swift Farewell - "The Haunting" Single Review

Sydney’s own A Swift Farewell is back!!, Keeping the flame of Australian pop-punk alive with their latest single, The Haunting, and announcing their long-awaited debut EP, Hollow Threats, dropping June 6th!

Following the release of Silence earlier this year, the band returns with a genre-bending track that mixes emo melodies with crushing breakdowns. Featuring Future Static’s own Amariah Cook, The Haunting is the perfect mix of raw emotion and heavy-hitting energy, set to satisfy both your inner emo kid and your metalhead tendencies.

In The Haunting, A Swift Farewell perfectly creates a haunting atmosphere balanced with unrelenting energy. The track opens with a chilling, cinematic intro before launching into powerful riffs and crushing basslines, both heavy-hitting and hypnotic.

As we continue into the verse, the instrumentation strips back, and Ryo Andi’s vocals take centre stage. Lyrically and sonically, the tension builds, exploring themes of emotional distress, self-doubt, and the lingering scars of personal trauma. Lines like, "Missing the abuse because it helped me sleep at night Wish I had an excuse by now; I should be fine" capture the painful paradox of finding comfort in familiar suffering while yearning for healing.

As the song escalates, the chorus explodes into a powerful release, layered with soaring melodies and relentless instrumentation, and the arrival of Amariah Cook adds a whole new depth to the track; her raw and emotional delivery with the absolute power and ferocity she has become known for continues to amplify the song’s intensity.

Her verse encapsulates the final stage of emotional turmoil, moving from pain to acceptance, but with a shift from vulnerability to frustration and detachment. It’s a cathartic, unrelenting moment that solidifies The Haunting as not just a song about struggling with the past but also about cutting ties with what no longer serves you.

The production is once again a testament to the talents of Nat Sherwood (Besties, Yours Truly) and Chris Blancato (Northlane, Reliqa), whose engineering delivers a heavy yet clear sound that allows the band’s raw energy to shine through perfectly. Christopher Vernon (Bloom, Future Static) provides additional vocal production, adding that extra depth that perfects the performance. Mastered by Grant Berry at Fader Mastering (Stand Atlantic, Static Dress), resulting in an explosive sound that complements the song’s intensity perfectly.

All in all, A Swift Farewell has once again created a track that masterfully blends raw emotion with unrelenting energy, offering a cathartic journey through emotional turmoil and self-discovery. solidifying their place in the Australian pop-punk scene while leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s to come.

Be sure to check out The Haunting for yourself and mark June 6th in your calendar for the highly anticipated release of Hollow Threats. In the meantime, don’t miss A Swift Farewell at one of their upcoming shows, they’ll leave you wishing the EP would drop even sooner.

SAT 19 APR | AM//PM, BURDEKIN HOTEL, EORA/SYDNEY NSW

SAT 3 MAY | AM//PM, THE BRIGHTSIDE BRISBANE MEANJIN/BRISBANE QLD

SAT 17 MAY | SUPPORTING NIGHTLIGHT, BERGY BANDROOM, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC

For all info about Swift Farewells music shows and anything else they have up their sleeve, you can find them here.

Rating 8.5/10