Side Chain Strike Back with Transference: A Bold Metal Revival

Back from the Silence, Louder Than Ever

Side Chain returned in 2024 like they’d never left the rehearsal room. Guitars buzzing, ideas stacked, and a hunger sharpened by the pause. They came armed – Equipoise Delirium, Macabre, Megalomaniac with its pounding video cut, revamped versions of Fall On Me and Burden, and a full lineup of remixed and remastered old sparks reignited. One notable aspect of their revival was Side Chain Transference, which captivated audiences and set the stage for future ventures.

By the time 2025 clocked in, Reciprocity was already out there throwing punches. Then came Transference – a track with muscle and melody – that I want to talk about. It’s one of those songs that knows exactly where to hit. I’ve played it a few times now, and each listen peels back another layer. Maybe it’s the production detail, maybe it’s the way Chip’s voice cuts through, or maybe it’s just timing – when a track lands at the right moment, you feel it deeper.

Transference Carries Fire in Its Bones

It began with Dustin Miller laying down a riff. A clean start, simple and sharp. They built everything around that line. Drums tracked by Stephen Shatzer in his own cave – Shrapnel Sound – punchy and close to the chest. Then James “Chip” Pennington stepped in, shouting vocals through the chaos like he just found out the amps were possessed and decided to make peace with them.

The recording chain matters here. Warm Audio DI split the guitar into two streams. One through the UADFX Herbert plugin, the other through the UAFX ANTI pedal. Too much technicals? Just wait. From there, they layered with the UADFX Knuckles and dropped in the Friedman IR-X for the leads. I swear, if this gear had a passport, it’d need extra pages. You can almost hear the circuitry sweating under the weight of all that tone-chasing.

But here’s the thing – it worked. Every effect, every plugin, every pedal felt like it had something to prove. And somehow, they all shook hands and agreed to behave for the final mix. Guitars were quad tracked, thick and breathing. The result is a track that moves fast but hits with precision, a song about love – the kind that leaves a mark, even when it holds you gently.

A Timeline Forged in Grit

Side Chain kicked off in 2015 with Dustin and Stephen forming the spine. Chip joined, then bassist John Kyzer and guitarist Nathan Cameron. Alchemy marked their full-band debut, and the sound leaned into edge and emotion.

The next chapter turned heavier. Roll the Dice arrived in 2017 with a hypnotic start and a roaring finish. Then came Subterfuge, mid-progress when John passed away. His bass line was already written. They paused, felt the loss, then came back with Mike Helmbeck helping finish it. That track landed as a tribute. More than notes, more than closure.

By 2019, Anomaly came storming through – melodic, charged, and featuring Tim Hefton on the second verse with a blend of clean and scream that stirred something deep. That one clung on, the way songs do when they accidentally soundtrack a memory.

Transference Feels Like a Chapter Turning

Now running as a trio, Side Chain are writing forward. The influences – Breaking Benjamin, Asking Alexandria, Silent Theory, Tool, Pantera – still linger, but what comes out of the speakers is pure Side Chain.

There’s nothing borrowed in Side Chain‘s Transference. Everything was built at their own pace, in their own studio, with hands that still believe in crafting something loud and lasting.

Final word?

Press play. Then brace for what’s coming next. These guys are back in the pocket, and they’ve brought the full storm with them. You know the drill – hit play on Spotify, stalk them on Instagram, dig through the videos on YouTube, or just shout about it on Facebook like it’s 2009. Either way, Side Chain’s out there.

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