EIGHTS AND FOURS – new single out
- Posted on 01-05-2025
Eights and Fours presents: Stag on the Cliff
Sean Rooney, the recording artist behind the instrumental metal project Eights and Fours, has just released “Stag on the Cliff,” the first single from his upcoming album, The Liminal Spaces. The new track runs about five minutes and takes listeners on a journey through grief, memory, and resilience. Although it is an instrumental, it does tell a powerful story, conveying emotion, even without the need of lyrics in a traditional sense. The piece is available now on Spotify and other streaming services, and the full album arrives on May 30.
The single can be found here:
https://eightsandfours.hearnow.com/stag-on-the-cliff
Rooney is a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Iraq War. After returning home, he spent years trying to process the weight of what he experienced. It was not until he lost his father—his first musical guide—that he realized grief has no language. Turning back to his guitar gave him a way to say what he could not put into words.
“Stag on the Cliff” opens with a clean electric guitar phrase that feels wide and open, almost like a film score. There are not many notes here, but each one carries purpose and emotion. A generous wash of reverb makes the guitar line feel cinematic and vast. This brief moment sets the stage for what comes next.
Once the intro fades, the full instrumental band bursts into life. Articulate guitar lines recall bands such as TOOL or Russian Circles, yet the sound remains unmistakably Rooney’s own. Heavy down-tuned rhythm guitars lock in with a tight, punchy bass and drums. The result is both forceful and precise.
Around two minutes and fifty seconds in, the song shifts gears. The drums ease back, giving the music space to breathe. A mellow section unfolds where the bass steps forward with a melodic phrase that dances above the soft beat. This calm moment rewards listeners with a chance to reflect before the storm returns.
Just over three minutes into the track, there is a pause. Silence hangs for a heartbeat before the twin guitars roar back in full force. The power of the arrangement comes rushing back, and the heavy rhythm chords push the song to new heights. It feels like standing back up after a fall, ready to face the world again.
Later, a halftime section slows the pace and allows expressive guitar tones to take center stage. Here the guitars almost speak like a singer might, drawing out long, emotional notes instead of shredding at full speed. The change in rhythm gives the track a fresh feel and highlights Rooney’s skill as a lead guitarist.
In the final segment, a solo lead guitar takes over. It is a fitting conclusion that sets itself apart from the harmonized parts that came before. This solo feels personal, almost like a final statement that sums up everything that came before. When the last note fades, the listener is left both satisfied and moved.
Rooney recorded every part of “Stag on the Cliff” alone, piece by piece, in his own studio. He shaped each note to carry the weight of his own survival story. “This is not just a song to me,” he says. “It is a survival story written without words.”
The Liminal Spaces, the full album, promises more of this instrumental journey. Rooney describes it as a trip through the strange spaces between who we were and who we are becoming. Each track will explore themes of loss, memory, and hope without using a single lyric.
This record is ultimately a strong reminder of the fact that instrumental music can tell a very powerful story, and can actually be a fantastic way to express feelings that words sometimes cannot fully describe .
Fans eager for a deeper look can stream “Stag on the Cliff” now on Spotify or visit