Exclusive Premiere: He Was A God Raise a Finger to Doomscrolling with “Game Of Pretend”

We’re all guilty of it. Hell, you’re probably doing it right now if I know our demographic data. You’re staring, face down and eyes glued to your cellphone. It’s the default pose at this point in 2024. As such, New England alt-metal outfit He Was A God thinks it’s high time we stop that shit in their new single and accompanying video, “Game Of Pretend.”

Comprised of vocalist Benjamin Curns, drummer Chris Densky, Guitarist/Keyboardist Tony Pellino, lead guitarist Ray Zvovushe, and bassist Dan Perrone, the band just released their album Muckraker. This latest single, according to the band, is a caustic, yet catchy attack on the societal and political quagmire that social media’s become.

“Smart phones and social media promised us communication, connection, and community, but we got catfished. Instead, we got cyberbullies, deepfakes, and a crippling addiction to world that is not real. It’s a world where we tragically measure our own self worth by comparing ourselves to others.

“‘Game of Pretend’ – is about the dangers of the new great American addiction. We think it makes us happier. We are sadder now than we have ever been: we retreat to the pretend world to escape the real one and some of us don’t ever make it back.”

With recent live performances alongside metal luminaries like Goatwhore and Katatonia, the band’s socially aware messaging throughout Muckraker seems to be perfectly poised for what should unfortunately be a tumultuous election year. Here’s hoping we just get to enjoy their tunes without having to say “man, this was prescient.”

Still, the new track available below definitely sounds like it would fit perfectly on modern rock radio.

Produced by Pellino, the album was mixed and mastered by Ryan Boesch at Candor Recording, Tampa, FL, with artwork by Luca Solo Macello.