Interviews

Wade Felsch - Virtues 'Purging An ODE Into Existence'

Ricky Aarons

Co-Editor and Deathcore Connoisseur

Aug 16, 2025

8 min read

Wall of Sound has been blessed to be joined by the formidable forces behind Brisbane's most exciting metal act, Virtues. With their recent EP, ODE - they've been tearing up stages and turning heads with a sound that's both brutal and beautiful. We got stuck in with the band to hear more about the EP, and where they came from with its predecessor, as well as what's in store on the touring schedule.

What an exciting time it is for one of my favourite Brissy bands, Virtues. You boys have resurfaced with 'Blasphemer' with unforgiving heaviness, a territory where even you boys haven't been before - what inspired the sonic aura of this track (and the disgusting breakdown that caught my attention)?

We really wanted to push ourselves into darker, more aggressive territory — both sonically and emotionally.

We experimented with dissonance, heavier tones, and layering in textures and we love where it ended up. As for the breakdown, we tried to create something that feels like a punch in the chest you weirdly keep coming back for.

'Blasphemer' is a first taste of what sophomore EP ODE is about, a five-track release showcasing the 2025 era of Virtues. How would you describe this upcoming release, as it compares to both debut EP Nothing Grows and also the handful of singles over the past couple of years like 'The Valley' and 'Grave Eater'?

ODE is heavier, more refined, and way more intentional than anything we’ve done before.

Compared to our previous releases, this new EP feels like we’ve finally narrowed in on our sound.

If Nothing Grows was a scream into the void, ODE is us dragging something out of it.

I believe last time we spoke we discussed Nothing Grows, and if I look at the date of that piece, it was March 19, 2020; little did we both know what was about to kick off. Reflecting on the time of that release, are you glad you released it at a time when heavy-heads needed it most, or did COVID-19 really screw your tour plans up?

2020 feels like a lifetime ago. We dropped Nothing Grows right as the world was falling apart, we were about to tour and promote it. We had plans and momentum, and then everything just stopped. So yeah, COVID screwed a lot of things up for a lot of people.

We had to sit on that release at home, which sucked after putting so much into it but now we’re making up for lost time.

We couldn't help but notice you guys worked with our good ol' pal Andy 'Marshy' Marsh of mega-locals Thy Art Is Murder - what an unreal opportunity. What was it like working with the great man? Do you have any TAIM influences filtering into ODE?

Andy's input was indispensable, We also worked with Sean Delander & Dan Field from Fortitude Recording studio & Michael Campbell from Crucible Sound. ODE wouldn’t sound the way it does without all of their input.

What else can you describe about ODE as a release in its totality; is it a big switch-up from Nothing Grows?

ODE is a step up in every single way for us. Nothing Grows was emotional, ODE has a more mature approach to making that emotion relatable in a more deliberate and real way.

As an ever growing band, you're still accessing desired markets locally. You've done an East Coast run, what's your next big goal - can we expect a full-blown Aussie tour?

We have plans to hit some places we've never been before so keep an eye on those tour dates.

Speaking of TAIM, having seen them do a massive regional tour with local supports, would you consider doing a large string of dates on a tour of that caliber?

Of course!

The time is now and ‍ODE has landed. Stream it here.

Interview by Ricky Aarons