On September 18, 2025, the world of heavy music gained a new, fiercely honest, and uncompromising voice. PARIAH, the project of Quinn McGraw, stepped onto the scene with the debut single “Pendulum”, where raw emotions, spiritual struggle, and brutal honesty meet heavy sound and the desire to build a community that is genuine, not artificial.
The Birth of PARIAH
The story of PARIAH begins where many others end – in a place of burnout, resignation, and failure. After years of chasing success with bands that never fully materialized, Quinn McGraw found herself at a crossroads. It was in that moment, at the bottom of exhaustion and disappointment, that a new vision was born.
As Quinn recalls, “PARIAH was born in the place where grief, purpose, and rebellion blur. It was a space where I had to face everything I had hidden and everything that hurt me, but also everything that drove me and still gave me hope.”
“Pendulum” – A Debut Manifesto
The single “Pendulum” is not just a song – it is a declaration. Written after the breakup of yet another band, it channels the deepest emotions, translating into sound and words the obsessive passion that wounds and heals at the same time. It balances between pain and healing, between the desire to escape and the impossibility of erasing music from one’s life.
The track was co-written and produced by Landyn Taylor (Held Dear), with final mixing by Sacha Laskow (known for Every Hour Kills, ex-Divinity / Nuclear Blast Records). The result is a complete work – heavy, yet emotionally profound, leaving no listener indifferent.
Themes and Message: Faith, Pain, and Rebirth
Lyrically, “Pendulum” is a record of inner turmoil. Quinn describes the struggle with her own ambition, the toxic attachment to a dream, and the never-ending sense of failure. But it is also a song about hope, about refusing to give up, and about finding strength in moments of deepest doubt.
At the heart of PARIAH, however, lies something more – a spiritual journey. Quinn does not shy away from confronting faith and the Church, from the pain of rejection and not fitting in. On the contrary – it is in this honesty and uncompromising confession that PARIAH becomes not only a musical but also a spiritual space.
Community – More Than Music
One of PARIAH’s key aspects is the desire to build a space where people can truly be themselves – without pretending or masking their pain. As Quinn explains:
“For years I either isolated myself or tried to fit into spaces that only wanted a certain version of me – not all of me. Scenes. Groups of friends. Even church. (…) So now, when I think of community, I think of a space where people can truly show up as they are – a space I longed for my whole life.”
Thus, PARIAH goes beyond the framework of a typical music project – it becomes a movement, a meeting place for those who don’t fit into molds yet long for hope and healing.
Sound and Influences
Musically, PARIAH balances between alternative metal, post-hardcore, and atmospheric rock. “Pendulum” blends heavy guitars with vocal space, where raw emotions are amplified by contrasts – from delicate, almost whispered verses to explosive shouts filled with passion.
The production reflects a modern approach to mixing: saturated, spacious guitars, strong bass, and drums that drive the song’s narrative like a pendulum, rising and falling with the intensity of emotion. It is a track that can appeal both to fans of metalcore and to those who simply seek honesty in music beyond genre labels.
PARIAH and the Christian Scene
While PARIAH does not fit into the mold of traditional Christian bands with overtly evangelical messages, the project undoubtedly springs from spiritual experiences and confrontation with God. This is music that does not offer simple answers but asks profound questions – and it is in that honesty where its spiritual power lies.
For listeners of the Christian metal scene, PARIAH may prove unique: a voice unafraid to admit pain and doubt, yet unwilling to abandon the hope of redemption and new life.
The Meaning of “Pendulum” in the Bigger Vision
“Pendulum” is not only PARIAH’s first step – it is also a preview of the whole vision: a constant movement between darkness and light, between loss and rebirth. The pendulum, which never stops, symbolizes life in its full, brutal, and beautiful form.
Conclusion
PARIAH’s debut is more than just another release on the alternative metal scene. It is an intimate confession, an open letter, and an invitation to community. This is music that does not merely sound – it heals.
For those standing at the edge – between giving up and carrying on – PARIAH is proof that it is never too late to write your own ending. And sometimes, the most powerful act of courage is simply the refusal to surrender.
Multimedia
▶️ Official links and streaming
▶️ Watch “Pendulum” video
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