In The Spotlight: Deer Fang’s ‘Forest For The Trees’

Deer Fang was born from a simple pull: the urge to reconnect with the heavier sounds that first shaped them. Fronted by vocalist/bassist Lauren Leprich alongside guitarist Jay Edonel, the band channels the grit of grunge, the haze of shoegaze, and the urgency of punk and alternative rock—music that nods to the past while carving out a voice that’s unmistakably their own.

After writing and recording a stack of songs produced by Scotty Komer (Protest the Hero, Silverstein, Boys Night Out) and mastered by Mike Kalajian (Drug Church, New Found Glory, Thrice), Deer Fang expanded into a full live force, bringing in close friends and standout musicians Eric Rudling and Cody Linthicum. With the lineup locked, momentum followed naturally. Those early sessions became the band’s first two EPs, Blossom and Bloom, and a run of shows and festival appearances across Ontario helped sharpen their identity onstage. Last summer, Deer Fang returned to the studio with a bigger statement in mind—travelling to Montreal to record their debut full-length with engineer/producer Max Lajoie (Spite House, Cloned Apparition, Seventh Dose). The result captures the more refined, fully realized sound they’ve built over the last two years: heavy, melodic, and emotionally direct. At the heart of Deer Fang’s songwriting is lived experience—and a clear commitment to awareness, sensitivity, and inclusivity. For listeners drawn to Superheaven, Basement, Balance and Composure, Trauma Ray, Softcult, Fleshwater, Soul Blind, and more, Deer Fang sits comfortably in that world: cathartic, immersive, and unafraid to tell the truth.

Their new album, Forest For The Trees, takes its name from the title track—an intensely human reflection on grief, legacy, and the way love can outlast loss. The song explores what it means to experience the death of someone whose kindness and wisdom shaped everyone around them: the person who made room for others, offered guidance, and helped people see beyond the chaos of the moment. Rather than ending in despair, it turns toward purpose—carrying that spirit forward, learning from the compassion they gave so freely, and striving to become that same source of comfort and perspective for others.

Across the record, Deer Fang’s aim is connection. The band hopes listeners see themselves in these songs and feel less alone in what they’re carrying—because hardship, loss, fear, and uncertainty touch everyone differently. Deer Fang’s music speaks to that shared experience, offering not just release, but reassurance: others understand.

The album also doesn’t shy away from specific, hard realities. Tracks like “Tasting Blood” and “Over It” confront the courage it takes to leave toxicity and abuse behind, while “Crawling” focuses on the warning signs—particularly the red flags women are often forced to navigate when approached by certain men. Together, these songs underline a central truth running through Deer Fang’s work: many people are fighting battles behind closed doors, often feeling pressure to stay silent instead of being able to speak openly. With Forest For The Trees, Deer Fang delivers something heavy in sound and heavier in meaning—music built not only to be heard, but to be felt.