After years of silence, Christian rock powerhouse Relent is back and they’re coming in strong with a brand-new single, “Holy Forever.” This marks the band’s first release in 2 years, and it kicks off a bold new chapter in their career, one rooted in the same mission they’ve always carried, but with fresh vision, and renewed fire.

The break wasn’t something front man Miggy Sanchez had originally planned, though in hindsight, he says it was exactly what God had in mind. Before stepping away, Relent had been going hard for nearly eight years, touring relentlessly and recording nonstop. When Miggy joined Ill Niño and began touring heavily with them, Relent naturally took a back seat. At the same time, life brought both expected and unexpected turns, creating a pause that was as necessary as it was unplanned.

“Some of it was planned, some of it wasn’t,” Miggy shares. “But my time away gave me space to rest, recover, and realign. It’s easy to let priorities slip when you’re constantly busy, so while the break happened unexpectedly, it was much needed. I came back with a clearer vision, and my heart for people hasn’t changed. Getting back into the saddle of Relent is easy for me when the motive is still the same.” 

During this time, God was working deeply in his life. Miggy describes those years as a period of chastising, discipline, and personal growth. “There was a lot of revamping and realigning,” he says. “I was able to grow as a musician, a leader, and a follower. I’m grateful for everyone who has been part of this band over the years and happy they’ve found their place in life. For me, God used that time to prepare me for what’s ahead. That preparation led directly to the new single, a song born out of seasons of suffering. It’s a brutally honest exploration of the tension between faith and pain, and how both can exist in the same space.”

I began to find comfort and understanding in the fact that having faith and still dealing with suffering is a reality,” Miggy explains. “Sometimes the two can’t be separated, and that’s okay. As a believer, suffering is foundational for my growth, whether it’s spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional. At the end of the day, it’s chiseling at my character, and through perseverance, I become stronger.”

The song’s message is simple but powerful: It’s okay to not be okay. “That’s life,” Miggy says, “but never let that perspective diminish or distort the life-changing power of God.”A key inspiration came from Psalm 94:18-19 (NKJV): ‘If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.’

The track also features the lyric, “Holy forever, hold me together” — a heartfelt cry to God as the most consistent presence in the chaos of life.

While Relent’s mission remains the same — to create music that helps people and points them to hope in Christ. Miggy says he’s grown in more ways than just spiritually. “The biggest growth has been learning the business side of the industry,” he shares. “When we started, we were just eager to make music and help people. We didn’t understand how cutthroat and harsh the industry could be. Now, after being in both the mainstream and Christian worlds, I’ve had the chance to sit under people who have taught me so much, and I’m grateful for those lessons. I plan to apply everything I’ve learned moving forward.”

Relent’s return also marks their first release as independent artists in years. “We’re grateful for our time with a label and the experience we gained,” Miggy says. “But now we’re excited to take on the challenge of doing this on our own. It’s going to be different, and it’s going to be fun. We hope our fans will continue to support the vision and mission of this band as we keep traveling and making an impact.”

Fans won’t have to wait long for more. The new EP, Suffer, is set to release this fall, and Relent already has several festival dates and pop-up shows lined up across multiple states — including their hometown.

“It definitely looks different. It feels different. And it sounds different,” Miggy says. “But the mission hasn’t changed. We’re here to make music that helps people, provides hope, and reminds them of the One who holds us together.”