I’m sure you’ve had that feeling of living on autopilot more than once. You work, meet deadlines, get things done, arrive on time, tick tasks off your list… and when you finally look up, you realise that what you really wanted to do is still there, waiting. That feeling of being trapped in a routine that barely gives you room to breathe is the premise behind Default, the new single from Calgary band Godfall, formed in 2023 and currently in the midst of a clear musical evolution.
Godfall move through modern metalcore with progressive touches, hints of djent, atmospheric production and an almost pop sensibility in their melodies. The guitars are tuned low, with dry, staccato riffs that lock tightly into the bass and drums. But they don’t fill every second with layers or constant distortion. They leave space between the hits, which makes the heavier moments land much harder. In that mix of weight, space and rhythmic precision, it’s easy to hear shades of Spiritbox.
What really gives Default its punch is the contrast between Karina Khristova’s clean vocals and Abel Boban’s growls. There’s a bit of Lacuna Coil in the way the two voices play off each other, especially when the song shifts gear. Then there’s that chorus: huge, catchy and basically designed to stay in your head. There’s something very Bad Omens about the way melody, electronics and heaviness sit together without fighting for space. Default knows when to hit hard, but just as importantly, it knows when to pull back.
The lyrics keep that sense of suffocation running all the way through: living “on autopilot”, feeling trapped, pushing forward until you finally break. Godfall urge us to react, to question why we do the things we do and to stop living “by default”. In the end, perhaps the real act of rebellion is just that: to stop, reclaim our time and decide once again who we want to be.
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