Cataclysmic fire back with their second single “Entropy”, following the momentum of their explosive debut “Death Is Just a Doorway”. The rising metalcore force, formed in early 2025 by multi-instrumentalists and producers Ava Toton and Derek Romero, intensifies their sound with a track built on punishing riffs, atmospheric tension, and a fierce emotional core. Blending influences from Spiritbox, Alpha Wolf, Periphery, and Loathe, the duo forges a modern identity rooted in djent-driven guitar work, ambient shoegaze textures, and a dynamic interplay between screamed verses and soaring melodic choruses. Both Ava and Derek share lead guitar duties while commanding all instrumentation and production, with Ava fronting the track with razor-edged vocals supported by Derek’s layered backing screams.
At just 16, California’s Ava Toton brings an impressive, fast-growing catalog including two solo EPs, numerous singles, and a wide range of collaborations. From picking up the guitar at age five under instructor Rafael Macedo to releasing ‘A.V.A.’ in 2021 and ‘Charm School Dropout’ in 2022, she has consistently expanded her sonic universe with 2023 singles “Embers” and “Like a Girl” showcasing her signature mix of intensity and melody. Her 2025 tracks “Decay” and “Phoenix” reveal a shift toward darker, heavier, more intricate production, a trajectory fully realized in Cataclysmic where her emotional storytelling, sharp riffing, and modern metalcore sensibilities reach a powerful new peak. Texas native Derek Romero, now 15, has rapidly evolved from a prodigious young guitarist into a fully developed songwriter and producer whose sound centers on blistering riffs, groove-heavy breakdowns, and tight rhythmic control. Derek’s weighty, percussive approach blends seamlessly with Ava’s melodic shredding and dynamic vocal delivery, shaping Cataclysmic’s unmistakable identity as a fusion of youthful ambition and professional-level execution that reinforces their arrival as one of metalcore’s most promising new acts.