Mirror Touch: Volumes Experiment

The year may be ending, but the releases never stop. Volumes dropped their new album Mirror Touch just days ago, and thankfully I had someone convince me to sit down and listen through it in the middle of all this holiday chaos. The album is packed with technical moments, a wide range of sounds, and both expected and unexpected turns. I tried something a little different this time and broke down each song by vibe. I was genuinely happy to sit with this one and feel it all the way through. I am not here to convince you of anything, just to share my thoughts and feelings, so I hope you listen along and come up with your own. This album has a lot to offer, and it really deserves a full, uninterrupted listen.

A Quick Volumes Refresher (OG fans you already know this)

Volumes today is powered by Raad Soudani, who has been holding things down on bass and programming since day one, alongside Michael Barr on clean vocals after making his return to the band. Myke Terry brings the unclean vocals, while Nick Ursich has been anchoring the drums for well over a decade now.

Volumes is recognized as one of the early bands that helped push progressive metalcore into the mainstream metalcore scene in the early 2010s. Their debut album Via quickly became a landmark release, often cited as a defining record for modern progressive heavy music, especially for its rhythmic complexity and groove focused songwriting.

They have managed to maintain a pretty good long term relevance despite often lineup changes, which isn’t an easy task. Raad Soudani has remained the backbone of the band, allowing Volumes to evolve sonically while still keeping that recognizable identity. That resilience has helped them throughout industry shifts, personal losses, and changing trends without losing their core and dropping the Volumes story.

Volumes have toured extensively with major names in metal and metalcore, building a strong reputation as a dang good powerful band to hear live. Their performances are known to be super engaging, which has helped make their fanbase become really solid even beyond studio listeners.

Across multiple albums and EPs, Volumes have continued to experiment with sound and structure, incorporating atmospheric elements, electronic textures, and more emotionally driven songwriting over time while still growing off their original roots.

Mirror Touch

Mirror Touch was released digitally on December 12th via Fearless Records.

The intro track Sidewinder comes in heavy and spiked, driven by unclean vocals and a ladder type beat that feels like a steady climb. It immediately sets the tone and pulls you into the world of the album.

Bottom Dollar feels like a transportation into the Matrix. It carries the same flow as the intro, which makes the transition feel smooth and intentional, like one long inhale before the album really opens up. I had to check back and confirm that the song did in fact change.

Bad Habits brings in clean vocals and feels like a beautiful break from the intensity of the opening tracks. It is catchy, bouncy, and leans into more pop leaning vibes with a cityscape feel that makes it instantly memorable.

California continues that hip-hop influence and gives off a little bit of blackbear energy. You can totally sense that there was some outside inspiration here. Actually, on a Q&A thread from Reddit the band put it when asked:

“What songs artists outside of the genre influenced this album?”

“Charli XCX, Surprise Chef, Meshuggah -MT”

What was your favorite track to write on the new album and why?

"'Suffer on' because we were able to work with our good friends from Black Sheep Wall. I’ve always been a huge fan of the band so working with them on a song together was an epic experience.-MT"

The unclean vocals shake things up just enough, creating a satisfying balance where both vibes twist together rather than clash that feels awkward.

Adrenaline slows things down with warm, fuzzy beats. This one feels like a comfort song, almost like being wrapped in a musical embrace after the energy of the earlier tracks. I noticed this song getting recognized a lot on social media and web pages, clearly stating it may be a favorite.

Stitch takes a darker turn in tone. It feels like a grab by the hood of your jacket pulling you back down after floating through Adrenaline, a reminder that we entered this album heavy from the start! The technical details here are enchanting and seriously hypnotizing, and listening through the album front to back, this was the song that had me spinning in my swivel chair while I drank my hot chocolate.

S.O.A.P is a perfect follow up to Stitch. The tone stays consistent, but the intensity gets a little hotter and noticeably more groovy about halfway through, keeping things fresh without losing its momentum. I kinda loved how bridged the songs were, but with them all having their own flavor, you almost forget what you're biting into sometimes.

Dream feels like the best vocal blend of the band in this album. This is where the M&M chemistry really shines. The sound shifts back into something more upbeat and lighter, with some really outstanding guitar moments sprinkled throughout.

Worth It is the heartbreak track. If you are looking for a good cry in the park, this one is for you. Joking aside, it is absolutely a background track for emotional moments and under the right circumstances, it hits straight in the chest.

The album closes with Suffer On featuring Black Sheep Wall. Just when you think it is over, Volumes ends on a fast paced heavy note, one last push pit for the road. You leave with exactly what you came for, and it feels like a solid goodbye to the album.

After hearing all the tracks, it honestly feels like witnessing three different bands play, and that is part of what I found charming about it. There is something here for everyone. Whether you like your plate served low, heavy, sad, or percolating, they have you covered.

Reviews have been mixed, but overall Mirror Touch, to me, feels like a strong and ambitious release. Fan reception varies, with some feeling only parts of the album stood out, while others believe it deserves album of the year recognition. What stands out most is the level of experimentation. This record feels like a full variety pack of sounds, vocals, and themes. Listening again and paying attention to the details makes the album more rewarding each time. I highly suggest doing so before coming up with your final answer.

As someone who is not usually big on hip-hop inspired elements (sorry don’t hate me), I still appreciated how they were used here. Delivering an album this diverse is not easy, so Volumes deserves credit for taking that risk.

The new Volumes album Mirror Touch arrived digitally on Friday, December 12th via Fearless Records, with a physical release set for February 27, 2026. Alongside the release, the Los Angeles based metalcore group announced a U.S. headlining run titled The Mirror Touch Tour, with support from Notions and Catsclaw on select dates. Here is hoping they add more locations because we would absolutely love to see this one hit home in California!