THE BEAST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IN SPITE OF THUNDER UNVEILS “COLLATERAL DAMAGE,” A HAUNTING NEW EP OF SYMPHONIC GOTHIC DOOM AND GOTHIC FOLK

French Gothic Composer and Classically Trained Soprano Cathy Isot Explores Grief, Fear, Consequences, and Lingering Shadows on New Three-Track Release

Release Date: November 6, 2026
Genre: Symphonic Gothic Doom / Gothic Folk
For Fans Of: Theatre of Tragedy, Draconian, Evanescence

French Gothic composer and classically trained soprano Cathy Isot , the creative force behind In Spite of Thunder , will release her new EP “Collateral Damage” on November 6, 2026. Blending delicate piano melodies, haunting vocals, symphonic Gothic doom, and acoustic Gothic folk, the three-track release offers a deeply atmospheric journey through heartbreak, political disillusionment, fear, and grief.

Drawing inspiration from nature, Gothic architecture, and her travels, In Spite of Thunder creates music where classical elegance meets the darker emotional landscapes of Gothic and doom metal. “Collateral Damage” showcases the breadth of Isot’s songwriting, moving between crushing symphonic darkness and intimate acoustic vulnerability.

The EP features two Symphonic Gothic Doom tracks, “Collateral Damage” and “Ancient Wounds,” alongside the acoustic Gothic Folk song “Beyond the Shadows.” Together, the three songs present different sides of Isot’s musical identity while remaining connected by a common thread of emotional intensity.

The title track, “Collateral Damage,” has its origins in an unreleased song from Isot’s former band, Spell of Enchantress. Rather than simply revisiting the past, Isot completely rewrote and re-recorded the piece, with production handled by Sermilion and Kublai Kapsalis . The song’s lyrics deliberately leave room for interpretation, functioning both as a deeply personal breakup song and as a broader statement about political greed and the human consequences of decisions made by those in power.

“Collateral Damage is about being fed up with the greed of politicians not caring about the consequences of their actions on civilians,” explains Isot, while acknowledging that listeners may also interpret the song through the lens of a fractured personal relationship.

“Ancient Wounds” continues the EP’s darker journey through a collaboration between In Spite of Thunder and Kublai Kapsalis. The song examines the way deeply rooted fears can become obstacles, preventing people from moving forward and fully embracing their lives.

The EP closes with “Beyond the Shadows,” an acoustic Gothic Folk reimagining of a Spell of Enchantress single. Stripped back from the heavier material surrounding it, the song explores lingering grief and the emotional weight of what remains after loss. Production for the acoustic version was handled by Daniel Francis .

“Collateral Damage” represents another step forward for an artist whose musical journey has continually crossed the boundaries between Gothic, classical, folk, and metal.

Isot first introduced In Spite of Thunder in 2022 with the Symphonic Metal single “Drama Queen.” She subsequently spent four years performing as the soprano and manager of Gothic Doom band Spell of Enchantress , gaining experience that would ultimately feed into the development of her solo work. Since 2025, she has also released three Gothic Folk singles: “Ships in the Dark,” “The Downward Spiral,” and “Drowning.”

With “Collateral Damage,” In Spite of Thunder brings those various influences together into a release that is both atmospheric and personal, balancing the grandeur of Symphonic Gothic Doom with the fragile intimacy of acoustic songwriting.

For listeners drawn to the dramatic Gothic metal of Theatre of Tragedy, the melancholic doom of Draconian, or the atmospheric accessibility of Evanescence, In Spite of Thunder offers a distinctly personal take on the darker side of music.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Collateral Damage
Vocals: Cathy Isot
Music & Lyrics: Cathy Isot, Sermilion
Production: Sermilion, Kublai Kapsalis

Ancient Wounds
Music, Lyrics & Vocals: Cathy Isot
Production: Kublai Kapsalis

Beyond the Shadows
Vocals: Cathy Isot
Music & Lyrics: Cathy Isot, Sermilion
Production: Daniel Francis

CONNECT WITH IN SPITE OF THUNDER

Pre-Save “Collateral Damage” EP:
https://ffm.to/collateraldamageep

Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/inspiteofthunder

Bandcamp:
https://inspiteofthunder.bandcamp.com/

PRESS CONTACT

Cathy Isot
cathy@inspiteofthunder.com