EP Review: Hopsydian – A Graceful Sin (Arising Empire)

Item: Hopsydian - A Graceful Sin (Arising Empire)
Rating: 8
Author: Carl Fisher

08/10/2026 Carl Fisher 1 min read

Italian pop-metalcore outfit Hopsydian will release their EP, ‘A Graceful Sin’ on October 9th, 2026, via Arising Empire.

More and more modern metal bands are embracing pop and finding ways to make the genre work around heavier and more aggressive music. Unfortunately, as more and more modern metal bands do this, standards rise and bands that lack that special something are easily found out. It’s a genre combo that is veeringly dangerously close to being oversaturated, but thankfully, when something is really good, it still stands out.

In this case, that something is A Graceful Sin. Hopsydian embody the evolution of this style, showcasing so much forward momentum by balancing metal and pop better than most. It’s not just about having catchy choruses and heavy breakdowns, and the five tracks of this EP showcase that perfectly.

As someone who tends to roll their eyes now when I see pop and metal in the same sentence, I came away quite impressed by what Hopsydian showcase here. They are very dynamic, very focused, and very inventive. They’re going to be huge, and all the proof needed is here. Five anthemic efforts that have massive crowd-pleasing potential, love it or loathe it, the future is looking good for Hopsydian.