Sometimes the songs that stick with us the longest aren’t necessarily the heaviest ones. They’re the songs attached to a particular time in our lives the tracks that sound like late nights, teenage years, first discoveries, and the music that helped shape who we would eventually become. For Houston modern metalcore band Ashtray For Aliens, Never Shout Never’s “Trouble” is one of those songs.
On August 27, the band will release their own fiery interpretation of the fan-favorite track, marking their first new release since their 2025 EP, Symptoms of Sanity. Rather than completely dismantling the song that inspired them, Ashtray For Aliens approach the cover with a clear sense of respect. The recognizable heart of “Trouble” remains intact, but the band surrounds it with the weight, intensity, and contemporary edge of their own metalcore sound. The result is a cover that feels nostalgic without becoming a simple trip down memory lane.
Choosing “Trouble” wasn’t simply about selecting a recognizable song. For Ashtray For Aliens, the track carries personal significance. The band describes it as an important part of their teenage years and one of the songs that helped shape their early musical influences. That connection becomes an important part of the cover because there’s a noticeable sense that the band isn’t trying to erase the identity of the original. Instead, they’re asking a different question:
What would one of those songs from our younger years sound like if we made it today?
That approach allows Ashtray For Aliens to walk the line between familiarity and reinvention. The emotional foundation of “Trouble” remains recognizable, while the heavier instrumentation gives the song an entirely different atmosphere.
“This song was a huge part of our teenage years and helped shape the music we grew up loving,” the band explains. “Covering it gave us the chance to revisit something deeply nostalgic while reimagining it through our own sound.”
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