The enchanting folk metal duo Forgotten Shrine — the creative partnership of Josh Alexander and Sofia Frasz (Exiled Hope) — has unveiled their new single “Halo,” a luminous and emotionally charged piece that expands their sonic palette far beyond the expected boundaries of the genre. Embracing elements of country and pop, the track explores the painful tenderness of wanting to believe the best in someone even as their darker truths become impossible to ignore.

Reflecting on the song’s origins, Josh Alexander recalls the moment the demo first arrived: “When Sofia brought me this song in its demo form I was both excited and surprised at the melodic and lyrical structure. Its beautiful simplicity brings a breath of fresh air after a very dark and heavy part of our upcoming album — almost like emotional whiplash. Folk metal bands aren’t exactly commonplace in the USA, and much like how European bands such as Eluveitie weave in their own folk traditions, ‘Halo’ is our callback to the Appalachian folk tradition here in America.”

Sofia Frasz traces the spark of inspiration to an unexpected moment: “Last May, I got ‘If I Die Young’ by The Band Perry stuck in my head while out on a walk. When I got back, I played around with melodies and eventually landed on the chorus. I thought it would be fun to try a style I’d never touched before — and hilarious to place a country/folk/pop song right next to some of the heaviest tracks on the album. Even when the subject matter is serious, my approach to songwriting is playful. Lyrically, ‘Halo’ is about seeing the worst sides of someone and hoping you’re wrong. Even when they show you their true colors again and again, accepting reality can be incredibly hard.”

Musically, “Halo” is built on a bright tapestry of strings and folk instrumentation, creating a warm, textural foundation for the duo’s intimate vocal delivery. Both Frasz and Alexander contribute clean vocals, weaving a performance that feels personal, vulnerable, and perfectly aligned with the song’s emotional core. The blend of country, folk, and pop influences integrates seamlessly into Forgotten Shrine’s characteristic sound, revealing a more experimental facet of the project without losing its identity. From its memorable chorus to its dynamic arrangement, “Halo” stands as one of the band’s most evocative and accessible works to date.

The single arrives accompanied by a lyric video, available below, and follows a series of recent releases including the original singles “Terror! At The Ballroom” (2025), “Where Shadows Lie” (2024), “Hero” (2024), “The Parting Glass” (2024), and their haunting 2026 reinterpretation of Breaking Benjamin’s “Crawl”, which you can check out over HERE. Link