Dan Hillier
After establishing themselves as one of the most vital and reinvigorating names in modern punk with their 2020 debut Without The Eyes – something they reinforced with their recent tour with Svalbard – Brighton electro-punks CLT DRP with their frantic new single ‘Torx’. A continuation of the frank and abrasive stylings presented with their debut, the track once again see’s Annie Dorrett’s distinctive flow battling against a totally unstable riffs in a way that’s irresistibly infectious. Quite frankly, it’s this a showcase of what punk should be in 2022; it’s dynamic, eclectic and utterly refuses to comply with the exhausted stereotypical perceptions of the punk genre. Considering the band are set to strike the live scene mercilessly this year, with a mammoth headline tour already under way, if you don’t willing hear ‘Torx’ now there’s a very good chance that CLT DRP will be forcing this upon you very soon regardless. – Dan Hillier
Meshuggah need no introduction to fans of progressive, angular music; they’re in large part responsible for the explosion of djent and tech metal, but none have ever surpassed them. ‘The Abysmal Eye’ is the first taste of their new album Immutable and it’s everything you could want from a Meshuggah song. While the pace is more middling, it’s just as pummelling as they’ve always been, mechanically precise drum patterns and riffs capped by Jens Kidman’s iconic bark. While it may be Meshuggah-by-numbers, the bar they continue to set themselves and every other technical band is so ludicrously high that ‘The Abysmal Eye’ still straight up rips with its mechanical patterns and menacing atmosphere. – Will Marshall
Following on from the aural terror that was first single ‘The Killing Womb’, Vein.fm’s latest single ‘Fear In Non Fiction’ is another exercise in sheer savagery. This time, they’ve recruited legendary Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickly for a soaring melody that appears around the halfway mark, offering a brief respite that makes the erratic brutality either side of it hit all the harder. Splenetic roars bring in churning, jagged guitars and pummelling drum work that’s unrelentingly heavy. Their penchant for the avant-garde side of hardcore is tempered somewhat in favour of outright viciousness, but it’s still there in the industrial and noise elements that sit underneath, making ‘Fear In Non Fiction’ an emotional and unsettling listen. – Will Marshall
Taken from their upcoming record Symbiosis – which is released independently just next week – ‘Faceless’ is yet another phenomenal post-rock offering from the masked and mysterious Nordic Giants. Featuring vocals from folk musician Alex Hedley, ‘Faceless’ is a piano led slow burn on the nature of the ancient ouroboros; an allegory on the trappings that we face in life and how we as a species and culture more often choose to wallow in the comfort of fatal ignorance. Whilst the track is a poignant and deeply atmospheric exploration of such a concept, the respective short film that accompanies the single is where such a documentation becomes palatable. Showcasing their skill as visual artists, the video for ‘Faceless’ is a borderline surrealist showing of how we chose to self-sabotage in daily lives, with the concept being fully presented with fantastic and stunning cinematography. It’s a display of musical and cinematic finesse, one that can only be achieved by this special act. – Dan Hillier
Red Handed Denial are gearing up for their new chapter with new track ‘Father Said’. Esteemed metal vocalist, coach and music personality Lauren Babic flexes all angles of her vocal capability to deliver an emotionally charged gut punch here, with a huge chorus, chuggy riffs and some piping hot production value. The heart poured into the lyricism is ensnaring; “My father’s calling me, to tell me I should change, he says it’s best for me, but I don’t feel the same”, and though it may not be relatable to every ear it lands in, the conviction and delivery of these words is sure to captivate the mind of any avid listener of melodically driven music. The band have been around for a while but it feels like every few years they take a further step forward into prominence, and ‘Father Said’ is certain to be a track to put them in the ears of more people than ever before, serving as a fantastic starting point as the intertitle of the bands new era. – Red Handed Denial
The Faim have released the second taster from their upcoming album which is set to be released later in 2022. The band’s debut album State of Mind launched the band into the limelight of alternative music in 2019 with finely crafted anthemic choruses and a certain quality that set them apart from the oversaturated pop/rock music scene. ‘The Hills’ follows suit and doesn’t necessarily break this mould but instead doubles down on its successful formula. The catchy melodic single is laden with a guitar and synth led drive that paves way for frontman Josh Raven to lay his emotive vocals over the top. The result is bold, unapologetic and full of energy. Wind the windows down, grab your ray-bans, go for a drive and crank ‘The Hills’ up to 11. – Jac Holloway
Flying from the success of their hit debut album ‘The Dark Pool’ in 2019, Thornhill dropped the first taster of music back in October, a sign of their next bold step in the form of “Casanova”. After the single not only turned heads but knocked them clean off, the band have dropped their new single “Arkangel” which beautifully combines the ambience and their brutality in a harmonious way. Their metalcore roots merge well with melodious vocals with a sound that is increasingly popular and made so by the likes of Architects and Loathe. Musically the song is inspired by 90s and early 2000s media whilst lyrically the narrative is an alternate take on the story of ‘Icarus’, discussing the tension between two lovers who become violent with one another. Thornhill have already proved they are one of the most forward-thinking bands to come out of Australia recently. – Jac Holloway
‘Plenty’, the new track from Aus metalcore legends Northlane from upcoming album Obsidian, ventures over into a tech metal territory after the two electronically charged anthems we’ve had from the two previous singles. We get more of Marcus’s spellbinding vocals, impressive as they have been in the past, they feel honed down to a fine edge here, the duality of the clean and harsh sides of his vocals bound together like two delicious layers on a delicious, rich dessert cake. This coupled with the indulgent intricacies of ‘Plenty’s guitarwork is sure to sate the appetite of those fans in it for the instrumental fulfilment, and shapes their upcoming album as potentially their most exciting body of work yet, inviting fans new and old to come together in celebration of a band that’s pushing boundaries in a genre (metalcore) that often feels walled in by its own specifications. – Elliot Grimime
Literally spilling her guts with the intent of tackling the ever relatable psychological damage associated with obsessively toxic romantic endeavours; ‘Love Is Violence’ by Alice Glass is a tidal wave of emotional baggage, enticing and enveloping listeners into a disturbed web of trauma informed electro galvanised beatings. Being no stranger to exploring the realms of retrospective macabre manifestation; expectations surrounding Glass’ debut Album – Prey//IV to be release on the 16th February via Eating Glass Records, is that of a gnarly ride through an insurmountable veracity unlike any other contemporary listening experience, especially when considering the horrific prowess bursting through her latest string of singles. WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to potentially triggering visual content. – Bennie Osborne
The prodigal synthwave son returns, and this time he’s bought company. Standing as the first single to be taken from his forthcoming record Leather Terror – out April 1st via Universal – ‘Imaginary Fire’ see’s the electronic french icon teaming up with The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puctiato to create a masterclass on the kind of synthrock that’s unmistakably 80’s, yet ultimately timeless. Thematically, the song slots into the concept of the record, where a mutated science student becomes a leather studded glam rock star hell bent on extracting violent revenge on his quest for perpetual stardom. Yes, it’s absurdly silly, but much like the track in question, it’s a fun celebration of the absurdity of late 21st century excess. “I’m really proud of this one, happy to cross these musical paths”, states Puciato. “Lyrically the song is pretty to the point. Two people frustratingly trying to get rid of their fears and their made-up bullshit so they can move forward, together or separate, free of outcome.” – Dan Hillier
The latest single from the fast rising emo upstarts Downcast, ‘A Weight That I Can’t Stand’ is a bonafide earworm that will reside inside your brain long past it’s initial play. Showcasing more pop punk tendencies, the single conjurers thoughts of juggernauts such as Boston Manor, Trash Boat and even The Wonder Years, resulting in it being a certain highlight within the band’s upcoming LP I Saw Hell When I Was With You. “The song itself, with the benefit of hindsight, reflects on a bad situation in my life”, states frontman Liam Edwards. “It describes my realisation of what someone’s true intentions were and their actions being calculated, as well as the feeling of having wasted time and the process of improving my mental health. I compare myself to how I was feeling at the time of writing songs prior to these events, back when we first started downcast, and how I’ve come a long way since then, despite there being some ups and downs in between.” – Dan Hillier
You might have some preconceptions when being introduced with a band called Cosmic Ninja. But if you’re envisioning a band restless with adolescent energy you’re entirely correct in your assumptions. Following in the footsteps of CLT DRP, Tokky Horror and other politically-vocal queer artists reshaping UK punk, the Bristol based group take the electronic energy of era defining bands such as Hadouken!, Does It Offend You, Yeah? and debut era Enter Shikari and infuse into their aggressive and confrontational sound. ‘Lie’s, the band’s new single, demonstrates this wonderfully. As you can imagine, its a barbed expose of the lack of integrity in politics and how many parties place themselves over the needs of the people they should be representing. It’s an ideal entry point for this band, and with their new EP Dissident Transmission dropping April 8th, there’s little doubt you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more of Cosmic Ninja in the months to come. – Dan Hillier
AA Sessions, the collaborative music brainchild of producer Ben Hampson, has dropped their first track of 2022, ‘Come To My House’. Recorded in a ‘Desert Sessions’ style at Agricultural Audio, the latest track ‘Come To My House’ features Blood Red Shoes’ Steven Ansell on vocals, because releasing a whole new record with his own band simply wasn’t enough in January, and features an almost IDLES like disjointedly punkish bark, all the while retaining some of the creepy murderer factor from ‘Shoes latest record Ghosts On Tape. The first of 12 tracks that will eventually make up the AA Sessions Volume 3 collection, and we’re certainly off to a strong start. This is the kind of project that’s worth checking in on each month, as by nature you never know quite what’s going to come next. – Elliot Grimmie
Self-dubbed “Satanic Doo Wop” duo Twin Temple have been turning heads with their unabashedly throwback sound that channels sensuality and Luciferian magick. With their new digital single ‘Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy’ they’ve also included a Spanish translation with the lyrics reworked to fit the language. It’s also a departure from their previous way of working – still recorded fully analogue but the exception of the saxophone, every part was performed by the duo themselves. Unashamedly blasphemous, retro and yet somehow timeless, Twin Temple aren’t for everyone and there’s bound to be comments sections devoted to screaming about how metal they aren’t – which really, is all part of the fun. – Will Marshall