FiXT New Noise: Daedric – A Dichotomy of Devastation and Peace All in One

Today, we’re stepping into the shadows and rock-soaked soundscape of one of the most captivating up-and-coming forces in modern rock. Daedric (who recently dropped the “Night Mother” single) has made a name for themselves with a sound that’s equal parts cinematic, haunting, and heavy, merging thunderous riffs, immersive electronics, and soaring vocals into something uniquely their own.

From gaming-inspired aesthetics to raw emotional energy, Daedric doesn’t just make music—they create worlds. We had the chance to chat with the band to talk about their creative process, what fans can expect from their next album, and how they channel intensity into every note. If you’re ready to explore the darker corners of sound and story, Daedric is your guide.

What’s the emotional core of this new record?

Daedric: “The new Daedric album is centered around finding truth and dealing with the devastation that can follow. The core message is determining whether our paths are of our own free will vs. something entirely predetermined (by fate, higher powers, etc), and questioning everything you thought you believed in – whether that’s faith, knowledge or even people in your life.”

How do you want listeners to feel when the album ends? What are you hoping they take away from it?

“The flow of the album is very much a roller coaster ride with high highs and low lows, and the dynamics of the songs reflect that journey. At the end of the album, it should feel a lot like the end of your favorite anime series – a dichotomy of devastation and peace all in one.”

What new musical territory are you most excited to explore? Any genre-hopping, experimental instruments, weird time signatures?

There was definitely a ton of experimentation throughout the writing process for the album. We delved into metalcore, nu metal, cinematic orchestration and even some R&B. There’s something in the second track on the album that I won’t give away, but when you hear it, you’ll know. And yes, we did that manually.”

Are there any lyrical themes you’re itching to dive into this time?

“More personal? More abstract? Political? Cosmic? Petty? This album was no-holds-barred in terms of lyrical themes. I didn’t want to tie myself down to only using Elder Scrolls lore, so I drew on so much personally as well as themes that run throughout the history of art and even religious themes that fit easily into the narrative.”

Is there a visual aesthetic or concept tied to the album?

“Kristyn created a whole brand/mood board before we even started writing the album. All the colors, fonts and aesthetics were solidified around the concept of fate vs. free will. Kristyn also wanted to lean more into her Asian (Filipino) heritage for the aesthetics by bringing in some costumes that allude to her ancestry but still made it her own style. We also got really creative with the videos for this album and took some risks by opting to do heavy practical effects in favor of CGI/green screen. We wanted the visuals to feel visceral just like the music.”

Daedric “Night Mother” single artwork

What did you learn from the debut album that you’re bringing into this one?

“We wanted to pay homage to what we created with Mortal without just spitting out ‘Mortal 2’ and calling it a day. There’s more of the heaviness that we grew into, and still much tenderness in this album. One thing we were very strict on is making sure to write the entire album in one sweep of time rather than go song by song. This helped us build more continuous themes and motifs to connect the tracks. If you look closely, you’ll be able to see where the threads lead.”

Is there a track title that already exists in your notes that you’re obsessed with?

“Tease us. Just a little. OR: 9. Which song is the troublemaker? (The one that refused to behave, but you love anyway.) Each of us has “our track” but Kristyn especially loves track 05. Think The Weeknd meets Sleep Token.”

What’s your favorite weird/working title for the album?

“(We won’t hold you to it. Probably.) Not for the album itself, but some of the best demo titles were “Cowboy Dandyheat” and “Elote.” One of the official track titles started out as a joke and quickly became that song’s reality.”

How does “Night Mother” fit into Daedric’s evolution — is it a turning point, a refinement, or something totally different?

“This track is definitely pulling us more into the pop realm that we already have underneath the skin, but it also isn’t afraid to include some standard metal elements. It definitely feels like one of the refinements of our sound, but we tend to not let ourselves get pigeonholed into genres or directions. There’s a beauty in letting chaos reign.”

How did the writing process go — did lyrics or music come first for this one?

“This instrumental track was initially born from producer Rob Endling, and through the minds and hands of Geoff Rockwell and Clay Schroeder, it evolved into something new. From there, Kristyn worked on the vocal melodies and lyrics, but we always come together to finalize the flow of the song, so things can change in that process. We tend to host our negotiations at that point in our writing.”

What kind of sonic atmosphere were you aiming to create with “Night Mother”?

“‘Night Mother’ builds a world seething with fire and rage while also mourning what once was or should have been. The shattering of reality burns, and there aren’t enough tears to quench the fire.”

Daedric and Wrigley “Forbidden” single artwork

What inspired the creation of “Night Mother”? Was there a particular emotion, story, or character that sparked it?

“If you play The Elder Scrolls, you know. If you don’t play, there’s a whole quest in Skyrim that involves a shady mummy, a crazed jester, and a cult of assassins. Let’s just say it doesn’t end well. The song is not an exact commentary or retelling of the quest, but there are a lot of the themes within that questline that are relatable in real life. Betrayal is something that cuts deep and can be difficult to heal.”

Does the title “Night Mother” have a deeper symbolic or narrative meaning?

“Once you’re able to learn about the lore behind ‘Night Mother’ from The Elder Scrolls, you can see its ties in other media. From Renaissance paintings to movies like “Pan’s Labyrinth”, there are stories of the loss of innocence that one feels after betrayal. It can take many forms, but at the heart of it, it’s just pain. Deep pain.”