I PREVAIL RETURN WITH A NEW SOUND IN VIOLENT NATURE AND INTO HELL.

I PREVAIL 2025

On May 15, 2025, I Prevail released an official statement on social media announcing that co-vocalist Brian Burkheiser had departed from the band. As a result, Eric Vanlerberghe has taken over as the primary frontman, with guitarist Dylan Bowman now providing supporting vocals.

As a huge I Prevail fan, I was genuinely saddened to hear about Brian Burkheiser’s departure from the band. His clean vocals, paired with Eric Vanlerberghe’s screams, created a dynamic contrast that helped define I Prevail’s iconic sound and set them apart in the scene. I’ve been lucky enough to see them live twice at Download Festival, and both times they absolutely blew me away. I knew every lyric—especially the tracks from True Power, which remains one of my favorite albums to this day.

That said, I’m also incredibly excited about the band’s future. I’ve always wondered just how heavy I Prevail could go, and what it would sound like if Eric took the lead for more than just a few tracks on an album. Now, that curiosity has become reality with their latest singles, “Violent Nature” (released May 23rd) and “Into Hell” (released June 20th).

According to Spotify (not to brag), I was among the first 10,000 people to stream Violent Nature—and honestly, it’s already up there with my all-time favorite I Prevail songs. It’s raw, aggressive, and everything I love about their heavier side. Into Hell, while a bit slower in tempo, really gave Eric’s clean vocals a chance to shine—and he absolutely smashed it.

Of course, we don’t know exactly what’s happened behind the scenes, but fans and several media outlets have speculated that Brian’s departure may be linked to his ongoing medical condition, Eagle Syndrome. It’s a serious issue that previously forced the band to perform multiple shows without him due to health concerns.

I truly hope that nothing negative occurred between Brian and the rest of the band to prompt this decision. Regardless of the circumstances, I wish him nothing but the best moving forward. And if he ever returns to the stage—whether it’s with I Prevail or a new project—you can bet I’ll be one of the first in line to grab a ticket.

I Prevail have been on a steady path to success for years now, and their previous album True Power played a huge role in elevating them to the next level. The record’s impact was undeniable—it helped propel the band to headline major festivals like Reload Festival, where they’ll share the stage this August with heavyweights such as Gojira, Trivium, and Machine Head. It’s a testament to the band’s evolution and growing influence, and it perfectly showcases the true power behind I Prevail, to me though it is sad to see that Brian will likely not be there to take part, but I do hope we see him come out for at least one performance to celebrate this achievement.

Overall, despite the surrounding controversy, Violent Nature and Into Hell are spectacular releases that mark the beginning of a bold new chapter for I Prevail. While the band’s sound is evolving, this shift could be something truly special. We might be witnessing the rise of one of the next great names in modern metal(core).