In early 2026, Ukrainian alternative metal band OnesteP stormed back into the spotlight after a several-year hiatus, unveiling three new singles in succession and introducing a new female vocalist.
Since the band’s formation, its sound had been defined exclusively by male vocals, making the lineup change what the musicians themselves call “a rather radical decision”.
Yet after a period of adjustment and reworking previously released material, the choice has proven more than justified. Brood’s vocals significantly expand the band’s sonic palette, revealing new shades and dimensions within OnesteP’s music.
With the first single called “Terminated” the band declares: “In our hands lies the power to create and destroy – but on the scale of the Universe, we are almost nothing. We seek other worlds, search for life beyond, yet fail to protect what we have here on Earth. We call ourselves rulers, forgetting: we are guests. TERMINATED asks: who will we be to the Others, if contact is made – creators or conquerors? Contact may be established. Or… contact terminated”.
“This track became my beginning with OnesteP. For potential vocalists, the task was to choose one of the available instrumentals, write lyrics and a vocal part and record a demo. The moment I heard the guitar line, the cosmic synths, and the overall mood of the track, I instantly felt it — this was the one. The track I wanted to bring to life in my own way.
Both the lyrics and the vocal part came to me almost immediately. From the very beginning, it was clear that this would be a story about space and humanity’s role in the universe. I’ve always been drawn to the stars — I could spend hours just gazing at them. Inevitably, that left its mark on me and on the way I see the world, which now finds its voice in my lyrics.”
Brood
The band’s next release brings listeners back down to Earth – confronting realities that are painfully real, yet no less difficult to grasp. “2000.22” reflects on the brutality of war and the profound impact it leaves on everyone it touches. The song was accompanied by a short message from the band: “War… War never changes. But it changes people. It changed us. We will never forget. We will never forgive. Words are useless. But we cannot remain silent.”
“In its slightly altered form, the track’s title carries two intertwined meanings. The first points to 2022 — the year russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, pain, loss, and overwhelming uncertainty have become the daily reality for millions of people.
The second looks back to a millennial childhood in the 2000s — a time that seemed carefree on the surface, even if it never truly was. A time when the thought that war could one day come knocking on our door felt almost unimaginable.”
Eugene
Just two weeks later, the band followed up with their third single “Arise”, presented as an inner monologue – a confrontation with oneself about acknowledging and accepting the darkest corners of one’s own soul. The lyrics leave little room for ambiguity: “There are no saviors who will come and change your life for you. You are the one thing that will always remain with you. Don’t be afraid to change something – be afraid of being consumed by the black hole. Arise.”
“One of the defining features of “Arise” is its interplay of contrasting elements, each bringing its own mood and color to the track. By combining aggressive low-end riffs with melodic, hypnotic layers of synths and additional guitars, the band creates a signature OnesteP effect — music that hits hard while simultaneously pulling the listener somewhere beyond the edge of the conscious mind.
Brood pushes this contrast even further with her vocal performance, introducing shades drawn from entirely different genres. The result reframes the way the track is perceived, adding a new sense of dynamics while intensifying the contrasts already woven into the song”.
Taras
Having already recorded several songs with their new vocalist, OnesteP are set to release even more new material throughout 2026.