Beartooth’s Caleb Shomo tells us how he finally learned to love himself: “Be patient. Give yourself time, grace and stay on the path”

Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo has spoken to NME about the band’s new album ‘Pure Ecstasy’, feeling more comfortable in his own skin and finding the “inner strength” to choose the path of joy after coming out.

Tomorrow (Friday August 28), the metalcore outfit formed in Columbus, Ohio will share their sixth album – their first release with Fearless Records.

Previewed by singles ‘Free’, ‘Eyes Closed’, ‘Bullshit’ and title track ‘Pure Ecstasy’, the record also features co-writing and production from former Bring Me The Horizon member Jordan Fish .

After Shomo started Beartooth in 2012, the band’s blend of menacing post-hardcore riffs with stadium-sized choruses helped solidify their status as heavy music mainstays.

Lyrically, debut album ‘Disgusting’ through to 2020’s fourth LP ‘Below’ were brutally honest portrayals of Shomo’s battles with low mental health .

Previous record ‘The Surface’ (2023) shifted to cautious manifestations of self-love, while Beartooth began to infuse pop sensibilities into the heaviness, as Shomo told NME of his desire to “let that part of me out more” at the time .

Beartooth, 2026.

Credit: Ashley Osborn Although it’s still packed with chunky riff-work and shattering breakdowns, parts of ‘Pure Ecstasy’ push Beartooth’s sound further into pop-metal territory, and Shomo let NME in on the album’s sonic touchpoints.

“I’ve been listening to a lot more soul – Al Green, Aretha Franklin – and one of the biggest influences was Prince ,” he revealed.

“On the metal side, I’ve been obsessed with thrash and Metallica records, and you hear that all over the riffs.

“The first Beartooth stuff was a lot more influenced by hardcore bands like Every Time I Die , Stray From The Path and The Chariot, whereas I’ve been really into metal [recently],” he continued.

“Then of course, I love pop, and ‘I Made It’ is very heavily influenced by ‘Man In The Mirror’ and late 80s/early ’90s Michael Jackson .

You start with the darkest, heaviest song on the record, sonically, and then you end with the poppiest, brightest song.

It’s that ultimate separation of emotions, with no middle ground, that I was trying to convey.” Upon unveiling powerful lead single ‘Free’ in February, Shomo took himself offline after he was subjected to some disgusting homophobic comments regarding his appearance in the music video.