Cataclysmic waste no time. “Anguish,” the third single from the Austin-based metalcore duo, launches without preamble, locking into tight rhythmic precision from the first second and refusing to let go. Ava Toton and Derek Romero, both 16, wrote, performed, and produced the track entirely themselves, channeling djent-heavy guitar work, metalcore aggression, and atmospheric electronic layering into something that sounds far beyond their years. The track closes with a jungle-inspired atmospheric outro that reframes everything that came before it, a confident left turn that pays off.
Formed in early 2025 and already three singles deep, Cataclysmic draws from a sharp set of reference points including Spiritbox, Periphery, Loathe, and Thrown. Toton has been playing guitar since age five and brings multiple solo projects to the table. Romero has performed at festivals and venues across Austin, San Francisco, New York, and Ontario, and contributes a vocal feature on every Cataclysmic release. The duo made their live debut at Cliff Burton Day in 2026, a meaningful stage for a band already moving with real momentum.