Vadim Taver, the multi-instrumentalist and sonic architect behind bands like Poison the Well, This Day Forward, and A Life Once Lost, steps out solo with “Serenade (Redux),” his first new release in two years. More than a cover, it’s a love letter to a song that's never left his head: “Serenade”, by 90s D.C. hardcore outfit Ashes, a short-lived but deeply respected band featuring producer Brian McTernan (Circa Survive, Thrice, Cave In).

The original was raw, fast, and largely buried by time. But Taver’s version is a resurrection, not a replication — an ambient, emotionally layered take that trades distortion for atmosphere and intimacy. Produced in collaboration with William J. Sullivan (Kid Cudi, etc.), the new version pulses with cinematic restraint and richly textured soundscapes. Synths shimmer, vocals ache, and the track never begs for your attention: it simply exists, reverent and glowing in the dark.

“Ashes were a band I’ve loved since my teens,” Taver says. “Serenade was always a song I returned to. This gave me a chance to make it my own while keeping the core of what moved me about it intact.”

Though often tied to heavy music, Taver’s influences stretch well beyond riffage and breakdowns. A trained performer who toured with the Philadelphia Boys Choir and played in jazz ensembles and orchestras, his range quietly shows through in every note. With “Serenade (Redux),” you can hear hints of Air, Radiohead, and Pink Floyd — patient, layered, emotional — but filtered through someone who once bled on stage every night. The result is a perfect blend of simmering energy and a calmer, more measured take on a piece that has held a special place for the artist through the decades.

This isn’t a nostalgia grab. It’s a tribute. A reconstruction. A quiet, intentional act of devotion to a track most people forgot, but Taver never could. It’s brief, heartfelt, and remarkably self-assured. A small release, maybe. But it hits like a memory you didn’t know you were missing.