“In Vain” opens A Reckless Game and has an official music video included in 1THIRTY8’s album announcement. The ten-track record is scheduled for digital release on 13 November 2026.
Behind 1THIRTY8 is Karl Szulik, who handles guitars, bass and keys. Guest musicians Emo Alaeddin and James Knoerl contribute vocals and drums, respectively. The project began as a way for Szulik to explore songwriting ideas outside his other bands and projects, including Divine Ascension, Living Through Mirrors and UNKNWN.
That starting point informs the project’s stated musical approach: combining hard-hitting metal with sweeter melodies, with room for both energetic and soothing passages. Accessibility and relatable songwriting are central aims, alongside melodic detail, lyrics, varied time signatures and layers intended to reward repeated listening.
On A Reckless Game, each song follows its own story drawn from everyday situations and experiences. Frustration, relief and sadness are among the emotions explored across the record. The announcement describes music that moves between heavy, soft, hard-hitting, soaring and occasionally unusual passages, with 1THIRTY8 aiming to maintain a groove throughout those changes.
Production comes from Simone of Domination Studio. According to the announcement, 1THIRTY8 had long admired Simone’s work with DGM and credits his vision and creative input with helping turn the initial ideas into the album’s finished sound.
The visual presentation was also part of the album’s development. With an old-school appreciation for the complete album experience, 1THIRTY8 wanted artwork built around a simple concept: someone doing something reckless. Jonathan developed that idea through a series of images for the cover, booklet and CD.
- In Vain
- Suffer Silence
- Frustration Divide
- Aligned Again
- Inside A Mind
- Chaos Control
- Where Confusion Lies
- Paper Is Not A Colour
- Still Breathing
- Delusional Sin
