“‘Vestige’ is rooted in survivor’s guilt, the quiet weight of living on when someone else didn’t. It captures the internal conflict between holding onto memory and wanting relief from the pain that comes with it. At its core, ‘Vestige’ is about the remnants people leave behind or the emotional residue that lingers long after loss, and the lingering presence of someone or something that shaped you, and the difficult process of carrying that memory without letting it consume you. While deeply tied to survivor’s guilt, the song can resonate with anyone who has experienced grief, regret, or the haunting feeling of unfinished closure”. – Under Exile
About Under Exile:
Under Exile is a metalcore band hailing from Shiprock, New Mexico at the heart of the Navajo (Diné) Nation. With unflinching intensity, Under Exile blends modern metalcore aggression with lyrical depth. Their sound is driven by punchy twin-guitar (Ryland Benally and Rumeel Jim), tight rhythm sections (Trevor Martin and Wyatt Billie), and raw, visceral vocals (Franklin Yazzie). Their lyrics often wrestle with themes of existentialism, defying adversity, and shifting toward an internal locus of control. A resonance that feels rooted in both their Navajo upbringing and universal human experience.
After a brief hiatus between 2019 and 2023, Under Exile regrouped with their core members: Benally, Jim, Billie, and Yazzie and in 2023 welcomed bassist Trevor Martin as an official member. That reunion sparked a creative surge: they worked with producer Erik Jensen (of Escape the Fate), and their single “Meira” was born, a nihilistic meditation on human existence and impermanence.
“Meira”,with a new music video which premiered at Metal Sucks.
Under Exile released their self-titled album, Under Exile in September and wrapped up 2025 as a featured artist on SiriusXM Ian Christe’s Bloody Roots Show Playlist “ROOTS of Native American Metal 2025” for the week of November 29.
In January of 2026 Metal Injection premiered Under Exile’s “Ephemera” – the first single from their forthcoming EP.
“A dark, immersive new single exploring consumerism, digital worship, and identity erosion.” – Metal Injection
Under Exile is a powerful voice in the Native American movement, representing the Navajo Nation with pride and carving out space for Native American perspectives in the heavy music world. They’ve steadily built a reputation that extends far beyond the “rez metal” label often placed on Native bands. Rather than being defined by a single scene or identity, they’ve become known for their dynamic songwriting, technical precision, and emotionally charged performances. These qualities that resonate with metal fans everywhere. Their cultural background informs their perspective, but it doesn’t confine their sound.
UNDER EXILE is:
Ryland Benally – guitar
Rumeel Jim – guitar
Wyatt Billie – drums
Franklin Yazzie – vocals
Trevor Martin – bass
The post UNDER EXILE Drops New Single “Vestige” appeared first on The Rockpit.
