After months of cryptic teasers and one explosive debut single, the mysterious masked metal act President has returned with their second track, “Fearless,” just in time for their live debut at Download Festival, hitting the Dogtooth Stage at 4:25 PM.
But ahead of their first real step into the spotlight, the band may have just done the unthinkable: taken the mask off?
In the music video for “Fearless,” released today, President leans even further into their political-meets-metal campaign. The track itself is an evolution from their debut single “In the Name of the Father,” trading the eerie ambience and slow-building tension for something sharper. The biggest shock, though, comes at the very end of the video. As the final notes fade out, the camera lingers on President’s masked frontman, who then removes the mask, revealing a face.
But here’s the twist: no one seems to recognize him, leaving fans to wonder… is this a reveal or a ruse? The “Fearless” video seems to add fuel to the fire while confusing the narrative even more.
Speculation about President’s identity has been relentless since the band emerged in February with a string of ominous social media posts and the surprise announcement that they’d perform at Download Festival, before they had even released a single note of music. Their masked aesthetic and sheer anonymity immediately drew comparisons to acts like Sleep Token, Deftones, and even Rage Against the Machine. Theories ranged from side-projects to supergroups, with names like Charlie Simpson (of Busted and Fightstar) and Matt Tuck (Bullet For My Valentine) floated as possible participants.
President, it seems, are just as interested in performance art and narrative misdirection as they are in music. That theatricality has helped fuel intense interest in the band’s every move—including their first live outing.
President will hit the stage for the first time ever this Sunday at Download Festival 2025, and excitement is at a fever pitch. Despite having just two songs released, the band has already sold out their first headline show, dubbed The Inaugural Headline Rally, set for July 30 at The Garage in London.
For a band that arrived with no music, no names, and no clear origin, President has done what many can’t: become one of the most talked-about acts in heavy music this year. Whether they’re a spinoff, a supergroup, or something completely new, President are commanding attention.
