Stereo Six: Telling Secrets’ Vik Kovacs Counts Down Some of His Favourite Records

Telling Secrets is a band with something to say. If you listen to and evaluate their songs and lyrics, you’d know what we mean. The band is becoming known for making serious statements with their songs, both from a musical and lyrical point of view. Atmospheric, heavy, and meaningful, the band has released a series of singles this year. The latest is “Glorybound,” a fiesta of heavy riffs, gripping vocals, and massive breakdowns. With a soaring vocal delivery, “Glorybound” is one of Telling Secrets lead singer Vik Kovacs’ more meaningful songs.

The track features lyrics performed in Kovacs’ native Hungarian. But with “Glorybound,” Kovacs also takes this opportunity to unpack some of his immigrant background and the challenges he faced as a result. These are challenges that are similar for many immigrants growing up in America, which makes this song easily resonate with many listeners. Ultimately, the song is an ode to multiculturalism, fitting for how multicultural the band is. Telling Secrets features members from the U.S., Italy, South Korea, and, of course, Kovacs, a Hungarian who grew up in England and then moved to Los Angeles. The freedoms and rights of immigrants are in serious danger, and the band has taken this opportunity to take a stand on the issue.

Today, we are joined by Vik Kovacs for our latest Stereo Six feature. He shares with us six albums that inspired him in the writing and recording of “Glorybound.”

Telling Secrets ‘Dytimi’ album artwork

1. Memphis May Fire – Chaotic (2025, Rise Records)

“‘Glorybound’ actually came about because of an open chorus challenge, which I misunderstood! I thought you had to write a chorus over ‘Chaotic’ by Memphis May Fire. So I wrote this. Scott wrote the intro riff to ‘Glorybound’ which has a bit of Memphis May Fire/Wage War vibe as well, so it seemed like a good fit and meant I had a good use for my chorus!”

2. Escape the Fate – Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006, Epitaph Records)

“I think this is just one of the first albums in the modern rock era that I couldn’t put down. I’ve listened to it so much that it must be ingrained in me somehow. A lot of the lead guitar parts I write are influenced by this record, I think.”

3. Bullet For My Valentine – Fever (2010, Sony Music, Jive)

“And here’s another album that I used to fall asleep to when I was in school. Potentially the cause of my tinnitus. I think this album has that more ‘classic’ riff vibe about it, which I feel like I unknowingly to into my work. I would say again that the lead guitar parts are influenced by this album.”

4. Falling In Reverse – Popular Monster (2024, Epitaph Records)

“This album was the reference I used for the production of a lot of the last album and the new songs. I think ‘Glorybound’ was a great effort and best best-sounding mix of the bunch. I do also really like how ‘Crazy’ turned out because that has so much stuff going on in the background and somehow Martin, our mixing engineer, managed to make it all audible.”

5. Bring Me The Horizon – Post Human: Next Gen (2024, Sony, RCA, Columbia Records)

“I think this album has some really great hooks, drum parts and production from start to finish. There’s a bit of this vibe in my new single, and BMTH’s later material has definitely had a big influence on the Telling Secrets sound.”

6. Rain City Drive – To Better Days (2020, The Orchard)

“Loads of great guitar parts and vocal lines in the album. I covered this one extensively on guitar on my old YouTube channel, vikokovacs, and I think a lot of this has stuck with me and transpires in my writing actively today. Matt McAndrew was a big part of my debut album, producing the record and co-writing with me.”