With This Is What It Feels Like, Cries of Redemption deliberately step into uncomfortable territory, and that’s the point. Released on February 5, 2026, the track functions as a bold A/B experiment, testing how far COR’s NuMetal foundations can stretch without snapping. The answer? Far, and convincingly.
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At the center of this evolution is Maria Duque, whose vocal performance doesn’t just elevate the song, it reframes the entire project. Her choruses deploy a striking six-voice harmony stack that hits like a wall of sound, blending Broadway-scale drama with the weight and grit COR fans expect. It’s theatrical without being soft, aggressive without being messy. The addition of a string ensemble sharpens the contrast, creating tension between elegance and impact rather than smoothing it out.
The track sits in that uneasy space between calm and collapse. Lines like “This is what it feels like when it still feels calm” and “Scars still fall open when the wrong light’s revealed” refuse easy resolution. There’s no victory lap here, just observation, memory, and the choice to stay present instead of rewinding. That restraint pairs perfectly with the song’s pacing, which lets the chorus hit hard without rushing the emotional build.
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What makes this release especially notable is its intent. This isn’t chasing comparisons to Evanescence or Lacuna Coil, it’s actively moving past them. Maria Duque’s role as both vocalist and increasingly hands-on co-producer is clear in every structural choice. Her presence isn’t cosmetic; it’s architectural.This Is What It Feels Like marks a defining chapter for Cries of Redemption, one where identity isn’t inherited, but deliberately rebuilt.
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