"Afterlife" is the sound of a band refusing to be put in a box. House of Protection, the boundary-pushing heavy duo made up of Aric Improta and Stephen Harrison, released the track on 18 February 2025 as the first single from their second EP, "Outrun You All," which arrived on 23 May via Red Bull Records. The song was produced with Jordan Fish, formerly of Bring Me The Horizon, and it sees the duo dial down the tempo without losing any of the explosive energy that made their debut EP "GALORE" such a breakout moment.

The song opens with a guitar stab and a whip crack, two sounds that immediately set the tone. It is aggressive, but it is also playful, with layers of electronic elements sandwiched between deafening riffs. The band have said the track was the second song they demoed, right after "It's Supposed to Hurt," and that they initially pushed it aside to keep their first EP fast and aggressive. But after their debut shows, they realised how much they missed the feeling of playing it live, so they revisited it and refined the ideas with Jordan and Nick. "Now it's one of our favorites," they said.

Lyrically, "Afterlife" is brazen and confrontational, with the kind of in-your-face delivery that has become the duo's signature. The accompanying music video is just as striking, opening with a rubber-suited dominatrix who lures viewers into a frenetic dream sequence of mind-bending visuals and performance shots. It is a video that matches the song's energy, refusing to play it safe.

House of Protection have had a remarkable rise. In less than a year as a new band, they sold out their first two shows in LA and London, earned 10 million global streams, charted at number 14 on Current Hard Rock Albums and number 15 on Alternative New Artist Albums, and made Spotify's "Artists to Watch 2025" list. Their debut EP "GALORE" was met with critical acclaim from The Guardian, Kerrang!, and Revolver, and they have become one of heavy music's most sought-after collaborators, even featuring on Architects' song "Brain Dead."

For a reviewer, "Afterlife" is a perfect introduction to what House of Protection do best. It is heavy, but it is not limited to one genre. It is electronic, it is rock, it is punk, it is something entirely their own. The duo have said their ethos follows no rules and aims to create inclusive spaces, and that energy comes through in the music. "Afterlife" is a song that demands attention, and it proves that House of Protection are one of the most exciting new acts in heavy music.