Bad Copy

Today, we are so stoked to be premiering a brand new music video from Pittsburgh, PA’s GUIDES. The modern hard rock band blends the textured aggression of nu metal with the emotional depth of post hardcore.

“FAILURE/DEFINES” reflects a period of emotional conflict, personal setbacks, and rebuilding. Written during a time marked by uncertainty, pressure, and constant transition, the song explores themes of identity, self-worth, and the struggle to move forward while confronting failure head on. The track channels that unrest into a cathartic release, balancing vulnerability with aggression in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. The new track captures the tension between destruction and self-realization through crushing riffs, layered melodies, and unfiltered emotion. The song was produced by Zac Diebels of Simon Says and taps into the energy of late ’90s and early 2000s nu-metal mixed with Warped Tour/Emo energy,

Bandmember Jonathan Joseph shared the following about the new single and video:

“The original working title for ‘FAILURE/DEFINES’ was actually ‘Liking the Bad Guy Is So Cliché,’ and that idea never really left us. We wanted the video to tell the story of someone slowly uncovering the truth that they might actually be the villain of their own story, whether they realize it or not. We’re huge nerds and completely obsessed with the Spider-Noir series, so that immediately became the inspiration for the visual direction. Shooting everything in black and white and building the video around a surreal detective noir narrative felt like the perfect way to explore the song’s themes of judgment, prosecution, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.”

Check out the music video for “FAILURE/DEFINES” below and keep checking back for more from GUIDES!