Mexican-born heavy rock artist Zahna has released her new album, Break or Breakthrough, out now via XOVR Records, the label founded by Brian “Head” Welch of Korn. The ten-track record is Zahna’s third full-length studio album and her first full album release through XOVR. Listen to Break or Breakthrough HERE and watch an album sampler HERE.
Produced and mixed by Kellen McGregor of Memphis May Fire, with co-writing and associate production from Cory Brunnemann of Through Arteries and mastering by Ted Jensen of Sterling Sound, Break or Breakthrough is the record that comes after survival.
Where Zahna’s 2023 album Stronger Than Death was shaped by her near-terminal battle with kidney failure and subsequent transplant, Break or Breakthrough begins in the aftermath. The years that followed brought pandemic isolation, medical bills and financial pressure, lost momentum, family grief, betrayal, damaged relationships and faith pushed hard against its limits. Across the album, Zahna turns that fallout into ten tracks of hard rock force, metalcore intensity, dark pop atmosphere and ferocious vocal power, moving through rage and forgiveness, destruction and deliverance, grief and love, and the brutal work of rebuilding a life once the immediate fight to survive is over.
Sharing his thoughts on Zahna‘s album release, Brian ‘Head’ Welch says
“We are so happy for Zahna as she finally releases Break or Breakthrough to the world! This isn’t just another album title. Zahna and her team literally lived through it.
While facing so many obstacles, heartbreaks, and difficult moments while putting this album together, Zahna had every reason to break to pieces and give up. Instead, she chose to push through the pain and turn it into something powerful.
I have so much respect for Zahna and crew, and I can’t wait for the world to hear this amazing work of art!”
Speaking on the her journey creating Break or Breakthrough, Zahna shares:
“Two years of work, thousands of lessons, and one great adventure culminated into this moment. ‘Break or Breakthrough’ will always be the stone in the slingshot. I can’t wait to see the ceilings it will shatter, and the walls it will bring down.”
The album’s emotional and spiritual extremes have been revealed piece by piece throughout its release campaign. “Defiler”, featuring Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, introduced one of its darkest confrontations with spiritual corruption. “The Archer” arrived as a battle cry for truth, justice and the reckoning that follows when evil can no longer hide. On title track “Break or Breakthrough”, the fight turned inward as Zahna explored a damaged relationship finding its way back through vulnerability, humility, grace and forgiveness.
Most recently, “Love & Loss” pulled the record into its rawest territory. Written following the sudden death of Zahna’s father-in-law, a major musical mentor to both Zahna her husband and drummer Patrick Madsen, the song sits inside the disorientation of grief and the questions that surface when loss shakes the foundations of everything you believe.
Patrick Madsen plays drums throughout Break or Breakthrough, making the record an intensely personal collaboration as well as a musical one. Together with Kellen McGregor and Cory Brunnemann, Zahna built an album where its considerable weight never comes at the expense of melody, detail or emotional precision.
“Defiler” has also carried Zahna’s momentum deep into active rock, earning support across SiriusXM Octane, Music Choice, HardDrive Radio and stations across the country. The track remained on the active rock chart for over a month and reached the Top 20 on SiriusXM Octane.
With more than 20 million streams already to her name, Break or Breakthrough arrives at the point where Zahna’s intensely personal world is connecting with an increasingly broad heavy music audience.
Zahna
Break Or Breakthrough
Tracklisting
1. True Enemy
2. R8GE!
3. DOM1N8
4. DRAG YOU
5. Love & Loss
6. The Pyre
7. Defiler
9. The Archer
10. The Way It Feels
ABOUT ZAHNA
Zahna is a heavy rock artist, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and vocal coach whose music combines hard-hitting rock, metalcore intensity, dark pop atmosphere and deeply personal storytelling. First emerging as the vocalist of alt-rock band ILIA, she launched her solo career with Red For War and later released 2023’s Stronger Than Death, an album shaped by her experience surviving a near-terminal battle with kidney failure.
Her new album, Break or Breakthrough, will be released September 4 via XOVR Records, the label founded by Brian “Head” Welch of Korn. Produced and mixed by Kellen McGregor of Memphis May Fire, with co-writing and associate production from Cory Brunnemann of Through Arteries, the album explores spiritual warfare, endurance, freedom and the possibility of life after crisis.
Zahna has amassed over 20 million streams and continues to build growing support across SiriusXM Octane, Music Choice, HardDrive Radio and active rock radio. Beyond music, she is a vocal coach, a passionate advocate for those living with chronic illness, and an artist whose work pulls from faith, anime, literature, gaming and visual storytelling. Across every chapter, Zahna’s mission remains clear: to create songs with substance, honesty and enough fire to help people keep going.
Leave a Reply