VI.BE

Laurenz Goetry (guitar) and Tom Leroy (vocals) started State of Awakening in 2008. They were joined by Jeroen Goemaere (drum) and M. Dhooghe (guitar). After M. left the band, they were joined by Ruben Nuydt (bass) and Sam Leroy (guitar).

Like a good pokemon, the band has evolved a lot since their humble beginnings, having played numerous shows with both acclaimed local and international acts. Their prowess was affirmed when the band won The Young Blackbirds 2013, a prestiguous rock rally. In 2015, they released their debut EP Ruin To Rebuild, which was met with great reviews. Two years later, they surprised their fans with the release of We Survive.

The last year has been tumultuous for every one, and State of Awakening were also not spared. Their bass player decided to leave the band (on amical terms) and the place where they rehearsed, was closed down. The band was baseless (see what we did there?). It wasn’t for long that a messiah-like figure named Seba (who has a violent history of playing in the local beatdown band From Ruins We Rise) saved State of Awakening by providing them with new, beautiful grooves.

The coming of Seba was not everything, though. State of Awakening still had to search for a new home. This was ultimately paired with the COVID-19 crisis. During this period, the band wrote a lot of new tunes, that would give form to their debut full length: The Lighthouse.

On The Lighthouse, State of Awakening takes a more aggressive stance, yet adresses some deeply personal topics and still remains catchy. The result is an album that will hit you in the face like shrapnel of a COVID-19 grenade that went off in a small room.

We are your awakening.