After a few years of silence, alternative hard rock/metal band XIII Minutes is back, stronger and harder-hitting than ever before. The band released their highly anticipated new single 'Pitiful' on 11-1-2024
XIII Minutes made a name for themselves with their 2019 album 'Obsessed,' released via Rottweiler Records. The album featured the track “Who Told You,” which topped several independent rock charts. However, life seasons changed, and the band went dark, leaving fans eagerly awaiting their return.
“I think the focus on the culture and collective goals is what sets this era apart,”... Read More After a few years of silence, alternative hard rock/metal band XIII Minutes is back, stronger and harder-hitting than ever before. The band released their highly anticipated new single 'Pitiful' on 11-1-2024
XIII Minutes made a name for themselves with their 2019 album 'Obsessed,' released via Rottweiler Records. The album featured the track “Who Told You,” which topped several independent rock charts. However, life seasons changed, and the band went dark, leaving fans eagerly awaiting their return.
“I think the focus on the culture and collective goals is what sets this era apart,” reflects Jamie Kucinski, band founder and drummer. “When I started XIII Minutes, we were feeling our way around, working to understand who we were and where we wanted to go. Through every step and experience, clarity presented itself. Even during the hiatus, I began to better understand what I wanted to accomplish.”
This renewed focus led Kucinski to recruit a brand-new lineup in 2023, uniting under the common purpose of the band’s culture: a culture defined by hope, community, and fun. The new lineup includes Jerrod Cunningham on lead vocals, Thomas Wheat on guitar and backing vocals, and Justin Elsten on bass and backing vocals.
“Everyone started the path with their eyes wide open and made an educated decision on whether they wanted to share in the journey or not,” Kucinski says of this new lineup.
The band's resurrection has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from fans, who have eagerly embraced the new lineup while celebrating the return of the XIII Minutes culture they love. Jamie Kucinski explains, “The interesting thing about all of it is the amount of celebration at the resurrection - even with a new lineup. The overwhelming response has been that those who have supported XIII Minutes over the years missed the culture most of all, and they’re so glad to have that back, no matter the names taking the stage.”
The new lineup has already performed at Lifest, Exodo Fest in Mexico, Kingdom Come Festival, and just finished up at LAUNCH Music Festival. Now, the band is hard at work preparing new songs for release, some of which have already debuted at these festival appearances.
“It's much more hard rock influenced,” Kucinski says of the new music. “The lyrical content will be less metaphorical, possessing much more clarity in message.”
Live hits “Fake” and “Cult Leader” are among those new, clarified musical moments. Jamie Kucinski considers these some of the most meaningful tracks of the band’s 9-year history, songs that promise to ensure that the revitalized XIII Minutes community continues to spread.
