The debut track for my Alternative Post-Hardcore side project Heartbound.

The song came together over the course of three days, for an accumulative 16 hours of work.

After four years of working and releasing under my own name (Michael Ricciardi) I wanted something with a more raw, grungy feel that had a similar flavor to the bands and songs I grew up listening to, which were the songs that made me want to create and play music to begin with.

feel again became the culmination and, simultaneously, the catalyst of what would become Heartbound; a no-holds-barred mindset when it came to writing music (which was a way for me to scratch the poetic itch that I hadn’t had a chance to in almost three years), and led to me talking about parts of my life I’d allude to in my previous releases but never explicitly called out. Parts of my life that were rough to deal with, like my suicidal thoughts and attempts, my porn addiction, my feelings of inadequacy, my self-loathing, and my fear of never being good enough.

feel again is the start of a new chapter for me, both musically, mentally, and in my life. It comes out 12/19/22 and I sincerely can’t wait for the world to hear what I have ready.

presave/pre-order below:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/heartbound/feel-again-feat-michael-ricciardi-2

feel again (Heartbound feat. Michael Ricciardi)

iron giant is op - Heartbound, Michael Ricciardi

disgrace - Heartbound (feat. Michael Ricciardi) - Out May 1st Everywhere

disgrace (humanlikeee remix) - Heartbound, Michael Ricciardi, humanlikeee

holy schnikes, tommy boy

Conceptualized in the summer of 2019, Heartbound wouldn’t debut until the winter of 2022 as the side project of Michael Ricciardi, a native of Austin, Texas.
Harkening back to the music of his youth, Michael used Heartbound as an outlet for his more poetic & emotional writings, before becoming his main focus.
After releasing 2023’s freshman project titled “i don’t even know myself”, a blend of early Post-Hardcore & midwest Pop-Punk, “don’t keep the devil waiting, old friend” marked a distinct & aggressive change in direction for Heartbound, one that merged the angsty, heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics & atmosphere with an angry & brutal sound. “siren head calls to me in my sadness” is the next step forward into this new era of Heartbound, one that won’t be easily forgotten.
FFO: Confide, A Day To Remember, The Color Morale

sirenhead calls to me in my sadness (feat. Aleister) - Heartbound

the ballad of riko - Heartbound

the monster i see - Heartbound

First single of the upcoming album “lamentations” coming early 2026.
Lyrics:

Waste every chance that I'm given
Spit in the hand that has given me such grace
Lie that I denied the sin within
Look in Your face as I commit atrocities

I stand here once again
Lord, please buckle my knees
My shame is penance
As I feel it envelop me
Lamenting every choice
Knowing that there's a void
I try to fill with infidelity

If this is who I am
Then I am disgusted
I am disgusted!
I am disgusted!

I don't want to waste Your grace
But I don't have the strength to change
I'm relying on my strength again
I'm diving back into my sin
Don't let me slip away
Please hold me I am afraid
Please hold me
I am afraid!

It's like I don't hate what is killing me
I make compromises for my humanity
This flesh starts to burn as I wither away
Sanctity that is broken every day

I've heard You call my name
Yet keep myself in chains
Just another prisoner
Allowing death to build
A stronghold in my heart
My world comes apart
Against the crashing waves
My foundation's built on decay

I don't want to waste Your grace
(I don't want to waste Your grace)
But I don't have the strength to change
(But I don't have the strength to change)

I don't want to waste Your grace
But I don't have the strength to change
I'm relying on my strength again
I'm diving back into my sin
Don't let me slip away
Please hold me I am afraid
Please hold me
I am afraid!

I do not do what I want to do
But I do what I hate to do*
I am drawn to the lust within
I am just another broken man

*"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬

(i am) disgusted - Heartbound

Second single off the upcoming album “lamentations” coming early 2026.
Lyrics:

Get up!

As I watch your breath
Seep through your crooked teeth
I taste his blood
As he slides off his sheets
Lifeless yet warm
A decayed living corpse
Terrified at what this could mean
You took an innocent man’s life
Now tell me how do you

Plea

Disgust at your facade
Better pray for God
To redeem your soul
Or what’s left of it
You took the mark
Without knowing what it meant
Fire and brimstone
That comes in waves
Leather wings that come 
To take you away
Don’t know what’s left to save
When even the devil knows your name

It’s a messed up world
We’ve been living in
Used to pray for life
Now I beg for oblivion
It’s a Molotov cacophony
Seeped in the cheers of the damned
In an amphitheater 
Filled to the brim
With all of your demons
Giving a standing ovation
I’ll be standing in the shadows
As your skin peels
Just to watch your suffering
You vile pathetic wretch

Disgust at your facade
Better pray for God
To redeem your soul
Or what’s left of it
You took the mark
Without knowing what it meant
Fire and brimstone
That comes in waves
Leather wings that come 
To take you away
Don’t know what’s left to save
When even the devil knows your name

When even the devil knows your name
Fire and brimstone
That comes in waves
Leather wings that come 
To take you away
Don’t know what’s left to save
When even the devil knows your name

When even the devil knows your name

old friend (feat. Danny Vitola of Colossae)

A nostalgic Christcore band from ATX called to spread the Word for the Kingdom.

Heartbound is:

Michael - vocals/guitar
Ridge - vocals
Mason - bass
Lee - drums

Heartbound

Popular tracks