Dan Hillier
It’s been a while coming, but one of the best names in the UK scene have finally returned – and what a majestic return it is. Coinciding with the announcement of their signing to eOne, the now transatlantic entity Rolo Tomassi are back with their awe-inspiring new single ‘Cloaked’. The group’s first material since the release of their universally lauded 2018 record Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It, ‘Cloaked’ is an immediate and breathtaking submersion into the ethereal and mystical waters the band have long called their home. Constructed around a juggernaut of a post-metal riff and bolstered by a glistening atmosphere of both acrimony and celestial splendour, ‘Cloaked’ is an example of what Rolo Tomassi do best; blurring the lines of torment and ecstasy to offer a soundscape that defies genres and labels. With a new record sitting on the horizon, this is yet more proof that there truly is no band like Rolo Tomassi. – Dan Hillier
Oakland post-metal greats Kowloon Walled City have finally returned from inside the walls with their first new music in six years; ‘Oxygen Tent’. The band have long been driven by the desire to create their own singular vision of sound; it’s yielded two critically acclaimed records so far in Container Ships and Grievances and with ‘Oxygen Tent’, the band continue to hone their craft and distil it even further. We start on shaky ground, drums and sparse guitars creating an atmosphere of nervousness with bass that provides an occasional rumbling counterpoint. When the climax of the song comes, though, it comes together as solidly as concrete. – Will Marshall
After winning hearts the continent over with their irresistibly delightful debut Lovecore, Brighton indie-math poppers Orchards have returned beaming with a brand new single titled ‘Leave Us Here (We’re Fine)’. Driven by the sweet harmonies and sleek math-rock fretwork, the single is yet another sun-and-salt blessed lick of musical charm that guises the band’s grounded and personal lyricism. A musical take down that see’s the band kicking back against scene stereotypes with both grins and laughter, this is another effortlessly lovable and catchy jam from a band that explores weighty themes in a way that’s vividly colourful and haplessly infectious. – Dan Hillier
It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for; Every Time I Die will be releasing their feverishly anticipated new record Radical on October 22nd. Heralding is the Buffalo bruiser’s new single ‘Post-Boredom’. The fourth track to be taken from the album, the single is another pulverising assault delivered with southern hospitality that touches upon the themes of all-consuming nihilism and violent optimism that the record details. Much in vein of the singles that come prior to this, this is a sardonic and abrasively humorous establishment of how humankind is teasing the face of it’s demise but how change can arise from such upheaval. You may have already decided upon your album of the year come October, but like every record from Every Time I Die, Radical is most likely going to force a change of opinion upon it’s release. – Dan Hillier
With less than a month to go until the release of their debut album Eternal Blue, Spiritbox have released their latest single ‘Hurt You’ along with a horror-inspired video. Underscored by tense, creepy synths, the song features a grinding, stomping riff and Courtney LaPlante switching effortlessly as ever between vicious roars and soaring melody. About the new song and video, guitarist Mike Stringer says, “Hurt You is a song that was written before the pandemic, in early 2020 during a snowstorm. We were stuck inside, and couldn’t go anywhere, so this song flowed out of myself, Courtney, and our producer Dan pretty quick. The subject matter of the song explores toxic codependency, and the feeling of knowing that something is doomed to fail, but making the choice to go down with the ship. The video, directed by Dylan Hryciuk, is horror inspired, and depicts love in four different acts. It’s the first video we’ve made where we do not make an appearance, and allow the story to be the main focus.” – Will Marshall
Texan death metal outfit Creeping Death have let loose another slab of snarling old school brutality with their latest single ‘The Edge of Existence’. Cavernous vocals – yet still mostly intelligible – provide a snarling counterpoint to the sledgehammer riffing and thundering rhythm section.It’s the first single to be taken from their forthcoming EP of the same name; talking about the release, guitarist Trey Pemberton explains “We’re aren’t trying to be the most innovative death metal band. We just want to be heavy and fun. You’ll hear a natural progression from Wretched Illusions to The Edge Of Existence. And the next LP will be different, as well. Each release will be at least a little bit different from each other, but they will all still sound like Creeping Death. That’s who we are.” – Will Marshall
The South Wales rock scene is as strong as it ever has been with up and coming emerging talent coming left, right and centre at the moment. One if these bands flying the flag and knocking the door to be heard by a wider audience is Glass Heart who have dropped their brand new single ‘Always On My Mind’ this week. This is arguably the band’s biggest track to date combining harsh riffs and soaring vocals, a staple that Glass Heart have down to a fine art. For fans of the band the progression in sound and songwriting is noticeable, a move towards a sonic soundscape with further experimentation of vocal hooks, catchy choruses and additional instrumental and synth elements/layers in the mix. ‘Always On My Mind’ is the band channelling their inner reflective selves in an attempt to understand why we are never quite content with our lives, why we instead choose to dwell in the past and why we don’t take piece of mind in what we are and where we are. An incredible addition to the already strong back-catalogue Glass Heart are building. This feels like the start of something. – Jac Holloway
Hailing from Chelmsford, Tigress are one of the few bands that would be currently dominating the scene en-mass if it wasn’t for the pandemic. Channeling the spirit of sleek and seductive alt-rock in the vein of the acts such as Vukovi, Counterfeit and Sumo Cyco, off the back of just a handful the tracks the band found themselves rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Billy Talent and even Green Day prior to the rise of Covid. However, albeit a bit later than anticipated, Tigress are set to reach such heights with the release of their forthcoming debut Pura Vida and showcasing this fact is the band’s latest single ‘F.L.Y.’. “A real love song” in the band’s own words, the single is robust and unsanitised take on the genre that many attempt to absurdly polish and is driven by authentic swagger and unfiltered grit. Pura Virda drops September 3rd via Humble Angel Records, and with singles like this bringing it forward, it’s clear it’s going to make a big impact. – Dan Hillier
The group’s first material in over three years, ‘Death By Water’ is a brooding and almost gothic affair that see’s the now post-hardcore legends collaborating with Spencer Charnas of Ice Kills Nine to narrate one of the most major moments in an individual’s life. Named after a section of the T.S Elliot poem Wasteland, the track see’s vocalist Buddy Nielsen poetically yet starkly exploring his experiences in entering fatherhood and making the transition from a single individual into a giver of life. “When you become a parent your single self dies and you become eternally linked to life, there is a letting go of the person you once were to become a parent”, states Neilsen. “There was a level of loss I felt having to let go of who I was previously and step into a role that I didn’t feel fully comfortable in. I was blindly jumping into the unknown and this is what this song talks about.” – Dan Hillier
Unleashing another future-punk banger on the world with ‘Salma Hayek’, a pulsating rave/punk mashup track that wouldn’t be out of place playing over the sound system of Camden’s infamous ‘Cyberdog’ store, Wargasm are carving their own path to the top. One of the UK’s hottest rising artists, this electronically infused duo mash elements of punk, metal and dance together to create an infectious industrial noise. The dual vocals of Sam Matlock and Milkie Way create a collaborative, DIY feel to the band whilst they simultaneously maintain a tight production value through their musicianship. It feels like the band are destined for success, and ‘Salma Hayek’ only serves to reinforce that statement, with unrelenting energy and one of the catchiest hook’s the band have written to date it feels like the sky is the limit here, the bands upcoming UK headline tour will see them playing the 800 person capacity Islington Academy in London before the band even have a debut record out (or even announced, at the time of writing). Wargasm are making waves in the UK scene, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. – Elliot Grimmie