MUSIC
Hollow sun (2026)
Debut Full-Length Album | Released October 16, 2026
Nearly two years in the making, Hollow Sun is the debut full-length album from Canadian rock artist, guitarist and songwriter Matt Cory. Featuring 11 original tracks, the album represents a major milestone in Cory’s musical journey, bringing together years of songwriting, experimentation, personal experiences and a lifelong passion for rock music.
Following the releases of Ghost Rising (2023) and Let’s Go Downtown! (2024), Hollow Sun ventures further into the sounds of grunge, alternative rock and hard rock. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Alice in Chains, Ozzy Osbourne and Filter, the record combines heavy guitar riffs, melodic hooks, atmospheric arrangements and emotionally driven songwriting. From aggressive, guitar-heavy anthems to quieter, introspective moments, the album explores several sides of Cory’s musical identity.
At its heart, Hollow Sun is a record about life, uncertainty, individuality, loss and perseverance. Its songs explore the challenges of navigating an unpredictable world, questioning what we know, confronting personal struggles and finding the strength to keep moving forward.
The journey toward Hollow Sun began reaching listeners in February 2025 with “dust.”, a dark, sludgy grunge track inspired by the unmistakable guitar work of Jerry Cantrell and Alice in Chains. Its unconventional rhythmic feel, haunting slide guitar and heavy atmosphere introduced a more experimental side of Cory’s songwriting.
That July, “Die On This Hill” delivered a defiant hard rock anthem about standing your ground, refusing to compromise your identity and holding onto what you believe in, regardless of the consequences.
The album’s next wave of singles continued expanding its musical range.
“Last Dance” brought a powerful, riff-driven sound rooted in the heavier side of alternative and grunge rock. The song also became a significant streaming milestone, surpassing 20,000 plays on Spotify ahead of the album’s release.
“Spark in the Sky” offered a more melodic and reflective direction. Inspired in part by the atmospheric qualities of Filter and Deftones, the song explores the unsettling realization that life has changed around you, often before you’ve had time to recognize it.
Released June 5, 2026, “What If We Knew Everything? Pt. 1” introduced one of the album’s most thought-provoking concepts, exploring humanity’s endless search for answers and the uncertainty surrounding existence. Its story continues in “What If We Knew Everything? Pt. 2,” giving the album a connected, two-part musical statement.
On July 17, 2026, Cory released “Doomsday Clock,” one of the album’s most aggressive and stylistically distinctive tracks. Inspired by the industrial-influenced rock and metal of the late 1990s, particularly Powerman 5000, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, the song imagines an apocalyptic future shaped by technology and artificial intelligence. Beyond its end-of-the-world imagery, it addresses the growing concerns surrounding AI-generated music, the displacement of human creativity and the cultural backlash against artists in an increasingly technological world.
The track was subsequently recognized as Manitoba Music’s Song of the Week in August 2026.
Together with songs including “Hollow Sun,” “Pages of My Life,” “Just Keeps Burnin’” and “Be Like Ceddy,” these releases form an 11-track collection that balances intensity with vulnerability, reflecting both Cory’s musical influences and his own developing artistic voice.
While the songs originated with Cory, Hollow Sun was brought to life through the contributions of several musicians and collaborators, including Craig Metruk, Wes Lipischak, Ian Morrice and Dane Neufeld.
After nearly two years of writing, recording and refining the material, Hollow Sun was officially released on October 16, 2026, with a hometown album release concert at The 40 in Brandon, Manitoba.
More than simply a collection of songs, Hollow Sun captures a particular chapter in Cory’s life and musical career. It’s a record shaped by the music that inspired him, the experiences that challenged him and the determination to continue creating something honest and unmistakably his own.
Hollow Sun is available now on all major streaming platforms.
DOOMSDAY CLOCK (2026)
Doomsday Clock” is Matt Cory’s interpretation of a modern-day apocalypse, exploring a dystopian future where artificial intelligence threatens to replace human creativity and individuality.
Inspired by the growing influence of AI in music and the arts, the song examines a world where technology increasingly overshadows the human experience behind artistic expression. Its apocalyptic themes reflect the cultural backlash against AI-generated content and raise questions about originality, authenticity and the future of creativity.
Musically, “Doomsday Clock” draws heavily from the late-1990s nu-metal and industrial-rock scene, particularly Powerman 5000, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. Crushing guitar riffs, mechanical grooves, industrial textures and an aggressive vocal delivery create a dark, futuristic atmosphere that complements the song’s themes.
While the lyrics paint a picture of humanity approaching its own destruction, the message extends beyond science fiction. At its core, “Doomsday Clock” questions whether technological progress is coming at the expense of the very things that make us human.
The clock is ticking. The question is whether anyone is paying attention.
Released July 17, 2026, “Doomsday Clock” appears on Matt Cory’s full-length album Hollow Sun.
WHAT IF WE KNEW EVERYTHING? PT.1 (2026)
Drawing inspiration from the innovative guitar work of Robert Fripp and the unique possibilities of King Crimson's famed New Standard Tuning, Cory approached the instrument from a completely different perspective. Rather than studying the tuning academically or attempting to master its theory, he chose a more instinctive path.
"I wanted to play from the heart instead of the mind," says Cory. "Rather than analyzing the tuning, I simply explored it through feel, creating random shapes and following wherever the music wanted to go."
The result is a deeply atmospheric and emotional instrumental journey that moves through a wide range of moods and textures. At times mellow and dreamlike, at others abrasive, aggressive and unsettling, "What If We Knew Everything? Pt. 1" is designed to reflect one of humanity's greatest mysteries: what happens when we die.
Inspired by accounts of near-death experiences and the idea of consciousness continuing beyond the physical body, the song serves as a musical representation of the soul's journey into the unknown. Through shifting dynamics, evolving melodies, and unconventional guitar voicings, Cory invites listeners to imagine what it might feel like to cross from one existence into another.
Adding further depth to the recording are performances from longtime collaborators Wes Lipischak on keyboards and Craig Metruk on drums. Their contributions help shape the song's cinematic atmosphere, providing both the expansive textures and dynamic energy that carry listeners through the various stages of the musical journey.
"What If We Knew Everything? Pt.1" continues Matt Cory's tradition of creating music that balances technical exploration with emotional storytelling, offering listeners an immersive instrumental experience that is both thought-provoking and deeply personal.
Last Dance (2026)
“Last Dance” is one of the heavier moments from Hollow Sun, leaning into a darker, more aggressive side of Matt Cory’s sound while still holding onto the melodic edge that defines the record.
At its core, the song is built around a powerful metaphor—a plane going down. It captures that unmistakable moment when you know something isn’t going to work out. There’s no fixing it, no turning back, no escaping what’s coming.
But “Last Dance” isn’t about defeat.
Beneath the surface, it’s about choice.
It’s about staying on that plane—not because you’re trapped, but because it means something to you. Because it’s yours. Because you believe in it. Because you love it.
Where some might hear failure, the song reframes it as conviction. There’s a quiet strength in going down with something you care about, in refusing to walk away just because the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
Sonically, the track channels heavier influences, bringing in a grittier, more intense energy that contrasts with earlier singles like “Spark in the Sky.” It’s raw, direct, and built to hit hard—both musically and emotionally.
This is a song about standing your ground when everything’s on the line… and choosing to see it through to the end.
Spark in the sky (2026)
“Spark in the Sky” is a song Matt Cory wrote very openly, building it around chord ideas inspired by bands like Filter, Deftones, and The Police. While much of his music leans into heavier guitar-driven rock, this track moves slightly toward a more melodic and accessible alternative rock style. The goal was to create something upbeat yet reflective—capturing the same emotional balance found in songs like Take a Picture and Interstate Love Song.
The song is rooted in a deeply personal moment. One day he woke up and realized he didn’t really know who he was anymore. The life he had been striving for had suddenly disappeared, and everything he thought he understood about his world had been completely turned upside down.
“Spark in the Sky” sits in that uncertain space where life suddenly changes direction and the future becomes difficult to read. Instead of trying to provide clear answers, the song leans into the feeling of questioning where life might lead next.
Musically, the brighter tone and melodic approach mirror that sense of searching. Even when everything feels uncertain, the song carries a forward momentum—suggesting that sometimes the best thing a person can do is keep moving and keep looking ahead.
“Spark in the Sky” will also appear on Matt Cory’s upcoming full-length album Hollow Sun, scheduled for release in 2026, offering an early glimpse into the emotional and sonic landscape of the record.
Die On This Hill (2025)
“Die On This Hill” is an anthem for anyone who’s ever been told to back down — and refused. With roaring guitars, razor-edged harmonies by Dane Neufeld, and a chorus built to be shouted from the front row, Matt Cory delivers a track that’s both defiant and empowering.
The song cuts through the noise of conformity, standing as a declaration of self — a line drawn in the dirt. It’s about standing firm in who you are, even when the world pushes back. There’s grit in the riff, fire in the vocals, and a pulse that refuses to quit.
Sonically, “Die On This Hill” channels the raw intensity of early 2000s rock while carrying Matt’s signature weight — a slow-burn tension that builds into a cathartic explosion. It’s not about fighting for attention; it’s about fighting for authenticity.
This isn’t surrender music. It’s a battle cry.
You can bend, but you won’t break — not on this hill.
Smoke Em’ in Paradise: Live & unplugged from the ccm (2025)
Smoke ’Em in Paradise: Live & Unplugged from the CCM is a two-song release capturing Matt Cory at his most raw and stripped-down. Recorded live at the Creative Media Centre at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Manitoba, this intimate session features acoustic renditions of “Another Day in Paradise” and “Smoke ’Em If You Got ’Em.”
Unapologetically honest and unfiltered, the performance showcases Matt’s dynamic vocal delivery and songwriting in a bare-bones setting—removing the polish to let the emotion, grit and storytelling shine through. It’s a brief but powerful glimpse into the heart of his music, offering fans a different side of two fan-favorite tracks.
Dust. (2025)
With “Dust,” Matt Cory set out to create something heavy, slow and sludgy—a track that would carry the weight and grit of classic grunge while pushing his sound deeper into darker territory. The main riff was heavily inspired by Jerry Cantrell and Alice In Chains, capturing that brooding, dissonant energy. To add a unique twist, Matt built the song around a drum groove that felt slightly off-kilter and unsettling, yet still grounded in the thick, sludgy atmosphere he envisioned.
A standout element of “Dust” is the slide guitar in the main riff, which Matt used to make the instrument feel like it was melting into the track—adding a warped, haunting texture that defines the song’s tone. The track also features Craig Metruk on drums, whose performance helped bring the rhythmic tension and weight to life.
Released as Matt’s first single of 2025, “Dust” continues the darker, heavier path that began with his earlier track “Runaway (Can’t Hear a Thing).” It marks another step in his evolution toward a more unapologetically raw and intense sound, carving out a space where grunge, sludge and personal expression collide.
Runaway (Can't Hear a Thing) (2024)
“Runaway (Can’t Hear a Thing)” began as a track Matt Cory originally wrote for an EP that was never released. His vision was to create something slow, sludgy and heavy—a riff full of deep, bending notes designed to drag with weight and grit. But as the recording process began, he felt the bends weren’t landing with the impact he envisioned. Searching for a way to amplify the heaviness, Matt picked up a slide—and that’s when everything clicked. The tone turned grimy, crushing and raw, capturing the gritty vibe he had been chasing.
Lyrically, the song draws from a personal and unsettling experience Matt had while staying at his cousin’s reportedly haunted house in Winnipeg. One morning, as he was waking up, he heard a voice ask, “Where is Craig?”—even though he knew he was alone in the house. At first, he questioned whether it was just a dream, but the voice repeated itself. Matt searched the house and found nothing. The story was made even stranger by the fact that Craig, the person mentioned, is his cousin’s brother who lives far away in Ontario. Having already heard stories about odd occurrences in the house—objects moving or falling on their own—the moment left a lasting impression.
Blending that eerie, personal inspiration with his relentless pursuit of sonic heaviness, “Runaway (Can’t Hear a Thing)”became a standout in Matt’s catalog. It’s a song that hits hard—both musically and emotionally—and showcases his ability to turn a haunting memory into something powerful and unforgettable..
Let’s Go Downtown! (2024)
Let’s Go Downtown! is Matt Cory’s high-octane tribute to the raw, gritty energy of early ’70s Detroit punk and garage rock. With overdriven guitars, relentless rhythm and beer-soaked barroom anthems, the EP marks a deliberate shift away from the darker, more introspective themes of his earlier work—embracing a louder, looser and more rebellious spirit.
The track “There Goes My Baby” had been written years prior, heavily inspired by the swagger and stomp of Aerosmith’s Toys in the Attic and Draw the Line era. It fit seamlessly into the EP’s raucous vibe.
“Another Day in Paradise” channels the wild, hard rock sound of ’90s Iggy Pop, Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper’s The Eyes of Alice Cooper. It tells the chaotic tale of a night gone off the rails, ending in a ditch and a haze of forgotten memories—a raw and unapologetic ode to losing control and living in the moment.
The title track, “Let’s Go Downtown!” was written with a vivid scene in mind: blasting from the main stage at Minnedosa’s Rockin’ the Fields festival as the sun dips behind the hills. With its anthemic energy and feel-good vibe, the song pays homage to classic Canadian rock icons like Streetheart and Tom Cochrane.
“Ride On” was the final song recorded for the EP and marked Matt’s first foray into using horns in his music. Longtime collaborator Wes Lipischak played all the horn parts, adding a dynamic layer to the track. Matt recalled writing the music late at night and waking hours later with the melody and lyrics stuck in his head. Unable to shake the inspiration, he recorded the vocals on the spot—his raspy, late-night delivery adding extra grit. The track nods to Alice Cooper’s arena rock anthems like Guilty and Department of Youth.
“Shake This Whole World” came to life after Matt bought a new bass and started jamming on a groovy lick. He was deep into a David Bowie phase at the time and the solo radiates a strong ’70s Bowie influence, blending glam and grit into something uniquely his.
With Let’s Go Downtown!, Matt Cory lets loose, celebrating the reckless joy and raw sound of ’70s garage rock. It’s bold, high-energy and unapologetically fun—one of the most enjoyable and freeing projects of his career.
Ghost Rising (2023)
While every new project aims to raise the bar, Ghost Rising felt different from the start. After taking time away from recording, Matt approached this release with a renewed focus and the intention to open new doors, including opportunities to perform in more cities.
The first track written for the EP was “Lit Up and Out of Line.” Tuned to drop C, the song carries a heavier edge, drawing inspiration from Saliva’s Survival of the Sickest era, Jerry Cantrell’s solo work and Alice Cooper’s Brutal Planet. Once that track was finished, Matt realized he had more to say—an entire EP began to take shape and the rest of the songs were written in under a week.
Matt enlisted the help of Fat Puppy Studios on mixing and mastering duties. The results exceeded expectations. the production elevated the EP to a new level and helped bring Matt’s sonic vision into sharper focus.
“Prison” emerged as Matt’s take on a fun, party anthem—his version of hair metal. It’s raunchy, high-energy and unapologetically rowdy—built to make listeners crack open a beer and let loose.
“Stuck in a Memory” was born from a riff Matt wrote as a teenager and had long forgotten. When it resurfaced years later, it sparked the creation of one of the EP’s most technically challenging live tracks—and one of the most rewarding.
But it’s the title track, “Ghost Rising,” that stands out as Matt’s personal favorite. A collaboration with Dave McNabb—known for his work with Ash Halo and Vikings—the song evolved from something with a Ghost-like feel into what Matt describes as a “goth stripper anthem.” With massive drums, a pulsing EDM-inspired guitar line and a touch of auto-tune on the vocals, Dave’s influence helped shape the track into something dark, bold and genre-bending.
Ghost Rising ultimately marked a turning point in Matt Cory’s musical journey—not just in terms of sound, but also in production quality and creative direction. It remains one of his proudest accomplishments to date.
Lit Up & Out OF Line (2023)
“Lit Up and Out of Line” marks an important turning point for Matt Cory. It was the first song he wrote after years spent working across different bands and musical projects. With this track, things shifted direction. It felt like the beginning of a new era—one where he could focus entirely on creating and releasing his own music.
From the start, the goal was simple: write something that sounded like the kind of song a wrestler might walk down the ramp to during the wild, larger-than-life days of the WWE Attitude Era. That era of wrestling thrived on loud guitars, swagger, and rebellious energy, and “Lit Up and Out of Line” taps directly into that spirit.
Underneath the punchy riffs and attitude, the lyrics tell a different story. The song captures the moment when a relationship has completely fallen apart—the point where both people know there’s no fixing it. That quiet realization that everything is finished can leave a person wondering what comes next.
For the mindset behind the song, the answer wasn’t complicated. Back in those days, the instinct was simple: forget the wreckage for a night and get a little reckless. Sometimes the only response to the end of something is to throw caution aside, turn the volume up, and get lit up and out of line.
The result is a track that blends raw personal reflection with unapologetic rock energy—the kind of song built for loud speakers, bright lights, and a confident walk toward whatever comes next.