Creeping out from the shadowy underbelly of urban Los Angeles, In Covert is the sound of modern anxiety clawing at the walls. Their latest single, “Darkfields,” premiering today via Decibel, is a raw collision of gothic punk, industrial clatter, and doom-laced noise—a sonic reflection of existential dread wrapped in fuzzed-out guitars and pounding rhythms. And now, with an unsettling new video to match, the track’s bleak vision comes fully to life.
Founded in 2019 as the project of multi-instrumentalist Wes Lopez (La Ghost, Channel), In Covert evolved from a rotating cast of collaborators and drum machines into a fully realized band by 2023. With Oscar Ruvalcaba (The Warlocks, All Your Sisters, Flaamingos) on drums, Victor Guitarrez (Phaeic, Sodaboxx) on bass, and Kris Balocca (Phaeic, Urns & Argyles) on vocals, the band has solidified its place in LA’s underground, blending the eerie atmospherics of The Cure with the caustic industrial weight of Godflesh and the unhinged energy of The Birthday Party.
According to Lopez, Darkfields was first conceived in the depths of pandemic-era isolation—born from a haze of fear, frustration, and smoke-filled nights spent tinkering with a Behringer Model D. “I was on the edge of losing my mind,” Lopez recalls. “Worrying about the path of destruction our civilization is going… It connects to this current time in 2025 with new fears and anxiety about our future.” Originally more electronic-driven, the song took on a grittier, more direct punk form when In Covert became a full band, with Balocca’s visceral vocal performance sealing its transformation.
Lyrically, Darkfields takes a shot at social media’s stranglehold on modern life. Balocca pulls no punches: “Social media has consumed us, infiltrating our conversations, subjugating people, and turning us into narcissists—prostitutes of the algorithm,” he explains. “There are countless incredible artists who remain in obscurity… Meanwhile, individuals in peak popularity can post a mere selfie from their ivory tower and gain massive attention, while impoverished artists who have spent years toiling away often only receive pity or less.”
The track’s accompanying video amplifies this unease, channeling paranoia and modern disillusionment through jittery, distorted visuals and fragmented urban decay. Equal parts hypnotic and claustrophobic, it’s the perfect match for Darkfields’ sonic intensity.
Darkfields serves as the first taste of In Covert’s debut full-length, Bleak Machinery, set for release on May 9th via Dune Altar Records. With a sonic lineage tracing back to Killing Joke, The Soft Moon, Uniform, and Chat Pile, In Covert crafts an oppressive yet oddly anthemic sound—perfect for navigating the smog-choked chaos of modern existence.
Check out the Darkfields video below!
Get Yer Socials On
Bandcamp
Instagram
TikTok
Bandsintown
The post Video Premiere: In Covert’s “Darkfields” Channels Gothic Punk Dystopia appeared first on Decibel Magazine.