Seattle’s Holy Death Temple return with the incendiary second single ‘Survey Says’

A blistering goth dance-punk anthem channeling societal collapse through the lens of a rigged, deadpan game show: The trio fuse brooding post-punk vocals, frenetic guitars, and thunderous synth hooks to create a track that is as rebellious as it is danceable.

Rejecting bass guitar, the band instead relies on a punishing low-end synth foundation, paired with surgical guitar riffs and pounding drums courtesy of members of doom duo Year of the Cobra. The relentless rhythm section propels the chaos into a tightly coiled fury that invites listeners to “dance through the doom.”

Instagram - TikTok - Website

Thematically, ‘Survey Says’ critiques media and political manipulation, painting social conflict as a ratings-driven spectacle. Frontman Bryan Edward, who formed the project after leaving a post-hardcore band frustrated by lost messages, imbues the track with sarcasm and rage: “We’re fucked. Let’s party.” The cover art’s twisted Eye of Providence on a US dollar bill underlines the song’s commentary on power, illusion, and the collapse of American myths.

Despite its grim themes, the song embodies catharsis — a bloodletting masked as a banger, where existential dread becomes the life of the party. The painstaking year-long production shows in the track’s polished intensity and purposeful chaos, marking Holy Death Temple as a vital force in the modern goth punk landscape.