When CODE:WORDS formed in Los Angeles in 2023, they did not arrive quietly. The band showed up with urgency and a sound that already felt lived in, like it had a past behind it, like they’d been a touring act for years before anyone was paying attention.

They first gained attention with “Wash the Blood,” a self-released debut that spread without a rollout or a manufactured moment. People found it on their own and kept passing it along. In this short time, the band has now amassed over two million streams worldwide, not on hype, but on repeat listens and slow-built loyalty. Early 2026 marked another breakout moment for CODE:WORDS as they announced their signing to longtime industry powerhouse The Artery Foundation and released their most dynamic single to date, “Limerence.” The song quickly took the industry by storm, debuting on Sirius XM’s Octane Test Drive, earning a spot on rotation, and Kerrang Radio’s Unleashed in the UK.

Fronted by John Dillon, with Garrett Lowery and Max Codoceo, CODE:WORDS writes from uncomfortable places, obsession, shame, control, emotional exhaustion. Nothing is exaggerated. Nothing is softened. The music is meant to make you feel something raw, and it leaves you uneasy in the best way.

The band’s sound was shaped alongside producer Hiram Hernandez (PINKNOISE, Magnolia Park, Dark Divine, Bless The Fall). The approach is deliberate, clear and concise, with one objective: give you everything until you feel it all.