Dan Hillier
Their debut might only have launched last year, but grindcore/powerviolence outfit Knoll haven’t wasted any time. In between tours supporting Interstice, the ever-busy sextet found time to enter the studio and record their second album. Metempiric is out June 24 and first single ‘Felled Plume’ gives a short, sharp lesson in what to expect. Swirling, cacophonous guitars; vocals that alternate between piercing shrieks and bowel-rattling gutturals and drums that are a barely-controlled maelstrom, plus three guitar parts making their grinding assault even more impenetrable, ‘Felled Plume’ is an intense, compelling whirlwind of sonic obliteration. Of the new release, vocalist Jamie Eubanks said “Felled Plume is equal parts a lament of epiphany and a lapse in the illusion of guidance. It is the first piece released off of Metempiric and a continuation of visual woes with our friend Frank Huang.” – Will Marshall
Coinciding with the announcement of their new record The Evil One – which boasts album art that hints towards the band dropping the filthiest D-Beat record on the planet – ‘Drop Out’ see’s Nervus returning with an utter power pop blinder. A hook-laden ode to discovering new modes of modern living amidst a crumbling society hellbent on criminalising marginalised people, the track is one of vexed optimism, one that promotes new ways of community based existence and one that references the most self-assured body of work thus far from the Watford unit. The Evil One is poised to be the band’s most characteristic and confident record to date, with the band forgoing the identity-based songcraft to explore the value of independence, community and existing outside the cesspit that is modern capitalism. The Evil One is released June 24th via Get Better, and if this track is anything to by, it’s going to be one of the most vital records this year. – Dan Hillier
Gaining acclaim from everyone from the Manchester Evening News to Brooklyn Vegan, the level of support Loose Articles have received just after one EP is staggering. But when judging their latest single ‘Chaos’, there’s really no surprise why this band have become so quickly beloved the world over. The title track of their latest EP – released July 1st via Alcopop! Records – ‘Chaos’ demonstrates the band’s sardonic stance on combating the age of austerity with a pint in hand, two feet on the dance floor and a middle finger raised. It’s a blistering track that displays their sarcastic and threatening approach to barbed danceable punk, and as the band detail, ‘Chaos’ explores how we’ve crossed the point of return and how the only thing left to do is watch the world end with good friends and strong drinks. “Whilst politicians fly their private jets to climate change conferences only to sit around scratching their collective heads as to why it’s so warm in February, all that’s left to do is head to the nearest beer garden and watch the world burn.” – Dan Hillier
Fresh off the release of ‘Mannequin’ Kubrick has dropped ‘Waved’, a song he’s been teasing for some time through guitar videos on Social Media and a song that was originally intended for his previous band Shields, who were making waves for some time in the metal scene. Fans of Kubrick and Shields will love this as it is actually an adapted version of the song that was going to act as a transitional single revealing Sam (now known as Kubrick) would be the new frontman and main vocalist. It came at an intense time for the band following the tragic loss of fellow band member and Guitarist George Christie and eventually the band disbanded with ‘Waved’ never seeing the light of day. Fast forward and it has been re-recorded and polished to be a brand new Kubrick track. This is a bouncy post-hardcore bopper said to be the closest to straight up Metalcore fans will get in a while. Its groove and pop-centric chorus balance out the roaring guitars and fast paced heavier moments of the song. As usual with Kubrick, the vocal range displayed is remarkable with screaming/guttural vocals hitting like a sledgehammer and moments later small falsetto vocals can be heard. The song has some major grit and snarl whilst also having a Kubrick experimental spin on it. – Jac Holloway
Something gargantuan this way comes. Emerging from the ashes of the now defunct Archelon is Gozer, a sludge-caked trio dedicated to manifesting sounds in the vein of Neurosis, Amenra and Cult of Luna at their most claustrophobic and polluted. Taken from their debut full-length An Endless Static – released June 17th via Trepanation Recordings – the group’s new single ‘Fading Light’ is a testament to their prowess and focus on suffocating atmosphere. A musical mirroring of the internal sieges that our mental states lay waste to, here, granulating riffs crunch against tribalistic drums and industrial noise in order to portray the embattled recesses of a mind tormented by modern living. It’s an intense listen, especially as tides of crushing density and open atmosphere alternate in a way that’s hypnotic, but one that shows the promise that Gozer possess. – Dan Hillier
Even in a scene and genre as saturated as UKHC, Shooting Daggers stand out proud and firm; that’s because they’re the real deal. In a scene populated by bands with very little to say, the feminist trio weaponise the most lethal aspects of the genre to bring to light the injustices and prejudice faced by women and queer people in daily life. ‘Liar’ is a testament to that. Positively and rightfully pissed off, the three minute hammering forgoes all mundane gimmicks stagnating modern hardcore in order to truly bring to light the often obscured pandemic of abuse that’s blighting the community as a whole. If this is anything to go by, then their upcoming EP Anthames is set to be potentially the most impactful hardcore debut of this year upon it’s release on May 20th – Dan Hillier
Bleed From Within have been on a roll since their 2018 comeback record Era, dropping nothing but absolute solid gold since. ‘Stand Down’ is no exception for a band that seem to get better and better with every track they release. Where their previous single ‘Levitate’ focused on a build up from beautiful strings into scorching hot metal riffs, ‘Stand Down’ goes all in from the very first note, with deep, thumping drums leading up to the initial outburst, you know what expect from here on out, this is Bleed From Within doing what they do best; hard hitting, mosh inciting, headbanging ragers. The metallic twang of the guitars, the intensity of the cymbals as vocalist Scott Kennedy belts out his feral roars. This track is the third indication now that the bands upcoming record Shrine will be their fiercest and greatest record yet, and with their re-invigorated live show, and recent pyro-filled appearance at the Download Pilot and supporting sets on the Bullet For My Valentine tour the rapid rise of Bleed From Within has been set into motion and it can not be stopped. – Elliot Grimmie
Arguably one of the most vibrantly experimental bands of modern times, it’s getting harder and harder to pin Stand Atlantic into the ‘pop-punk’ genre where their roots lie, with ‘Switchblade’ the band demonstrate an aptitude for big fat hard rock riffs, with a face melting guitar mini-solo thrown in for good measure. The band aren’t afraid to play around with production assets, bolstering their sound with an arsenal of electronic noise that only serves to compliments their rise to the top of the alternative scene, this is a band well on their way to headlining 5K capacity venues in the near future. If they keep heading in this direction, there might be no genre this band don’t dip their toes in, yet despite this experimentation everything Stand Atlantic try their hands at seems to be a surefire hit. The single is the latest drop from their upcoming record F.E.A.R., which comes out May 6th, and ‘Switchblade’ goes off like a firework, get it in your ears. – Elliot Grimmie
The Denver-based trio Primitive Man have been churning out desolate, fuzz-drowned sludge for a decade at this point, garnering a reputation for bleak, harrowing music that’s apocalyptically heavy. Following 2020’s Immersion, the band have announced a new EP Insurmountable, and ‘Cage Intimacy’ is the first taste of the blackness to come. Imagine – if you will – music that’s been lost to the swamps for aeons and only now has it been dredged up. Primitive Man sound a lot like that. ‘Cage Intimacy’ is eleven minutes of swampy, sludgy doom, blastbeats occasionally breaking the surface for a moment of blackened fury but soon being dragged beneath the mire again. It’s intense, suffocating and heavier than a black hole; in other words, everything Primitive Man are best at in one ceaseless dirge. If the approach of summer makes you long for the depths of winter, ‘Cage Intimacy’ will drag you right back into its miserable depths. – Will Marshall
The world as a whole in a pretty sorry state right now to say the least. Mirroring this vividly is the latest track from London’s Burner. The title track of their new EP – released June 16th on Church Road – ‘A Vision Of The End’ is a truly bleak and relentless encounter; imagine the nihilism of early Employed The Serve, the soul-wrenching woe of Converge and the engulfing post-metal dexterity of Conjurer all bungled together before being set alight in a funeral pyre for this accursed world. It’s anything but pacifying or reassuring, but it’s a true portrayal of enduring what feels like the end times whilst also reinstating that Burner are ready to set the UK scene aflame later this summer with the release of their debut. – Dan Hillier
Mancunian punks Witch Fever have released the first taste of new material since last year’s Reincarnate EP. Picking up where the EP left off, ‘Blessed Be Thy’ is a scuzzy, punk-flecked snarling track, it leans once again into their favourite lyrical subject – religious oppression. Anchored by downtuned, fuzzy riffs and venomous vocals, it twists religious imagery and iconography to blasphemous effect, with vocalist Amy Walpole snarling “Blessed be thy shame / It makes us remember truth / A slow decline, the cursed divine / A place to hang your youth”. Bassist Alex Thompson summed it up succintly; “it just goes heavy.” She expands on it, “It was literally the last song we wrote before we went into the studio, but [it] came together really quickly. I think it still has an essence of some of our older material, so it’s a good way to bridge the gap.” – Will Marshall
State Champs have released their new single ‘Eventually’ off their upcoming album Kings Of The New Age. It’s the fourth single off the record which is shaping up to be yet another album that shows fine form from the pop punk powerhouses. When it comes to the modern pop punk template State Champs have it well and truly under wraps. With all their usual bounce and vigour ‘Eventually’ doesn’t stray from the band’s successful songwriting formula but for what it lacks in ingenuity it makes up for in melodic hooks and pure catchiness. Lyrically the song cleverly tells of conflict between two individuals but when you dive a little deeper it tells story of a mental and physical battle within one person. Whilst the song doesn’t deviate from the band’s sound fans will be overjoyed that it seems as though the band are showing no interest in departing from the sonic soundscape that they have mastered so well. – Jac Holloway
While She Sleeps have released their epic new single ‘Eye To Eye’ along with a 7 minute cinematic mini-movie music video. In typically DIY fashion the band have directed and filmed the cinematic movie themselves with Vocalist Lawrence Taylor putting in an incredible performance and playing two versions of himself. The visual representation in the video is that of someone experiencing moments of negativity and feeling at war with yourself. It’s a concept that the band have been working on for a while and is an amalgamation of the last 10 years of the band. ‘Eye To Eye’ see’s the band embracing their eclectic mix of experimentation but long-time fans will be thrilled to hear it leans on their heavier metal roots. It’s thrashy, bold, brash and showcases the band’s creative mastery. The balance of sporadic softer ambient moments juxtapose the sections where the band get absurdly heavy. The tempo change into the breakdown at the end of the song is one of the dirtiest things produced in 2022. – Jac Holloway
Canterbury alt-rock heroes The Alchemy‘s latest emotive single release ‘Digital People’ harkens back to the glory days of a not so distant era gone by, when bands like Deaf Havana, You Me At Six and Mallory Knox ruled over Kerrang! and Scuzz. Intricate, echoing guitar tones invoke notes of beauty and reflection, frontman Rhys Taylor’s sweltering rock vocals get a full workout here, going from the most gentle of vibrations to huge resonations in the main chorus. The prowess and technique the band have put on display here might leave you wondering if this was one of those great bands from the 2010’s that you somehow missed out on, but you needn’t fear as the band will be heading out on tour in May to support the release of their upcoming sophomore record. The Alchemy are a hidden gem that truly deserve to be uncovered and shown to the world. – Elliot Grimmie
Arguably the Baltic’s hottest deathcore export, Within Destruction are proceeding their forthcoming European tour with their brand new single ‘Nightmare’ and one can only imagine the levels of devastation this is set to incite within the continent. The follow up to their 2020 record Yokai, ‘Nightmare’ is simultaneously and systemically both bludgeoning and lacerating; razored riffs buckle under the strain of seismic breakdowns in a relentless display of forward-thinking deathcore. However, it’s also features the band embracing a more melodic side in the form of soaring chorus. Complete with mixing and mastering executed by Jeff Dunne (Motionless In White, Born Of Osiris, Wage War), ‘Nightmare’ is hard evidence that the Within Destruction are well on their way of entering the big leagues of the genre they are on the cusp of mastering. – Dan Hillier
Comprised of current and former members of both In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, The Halo Effect are already effectively melodeath royalty, and with their first two singles they showed that the meeting of minds was more than just big names in a room together. Now, with third single ‘Days of the Lost’ and the revelation of their forthcoming album of the same name, they’re poised to show once more why the members are so revered in the scene. Soaring melodic leads, crunching riffs, battering ram drumming; it’s all present and correct, capped by Mikael Stanne’s immediately identifiable roar. ‘Days of the Lost’ is ludicrously catchy – as you’d expect from such a meeting of minds – and The Halo Effect are proof that melodeath is still alive and well. Stanne explains about the song: “Days Of The Lost” is about finding your place in life, about making that outcast experience into something that propels you forward… This is us reflecting on our past, while watching a new generation slowly but surely find their path. It’s about standing up, being your true self and about not letting anything stand in your way. Our choices and our paths have led to all kinds of things but we wouldn’t change a thing.” – Will Marshall
South Wales has boasted many a breakout band in it’s time, one said bright shining light was Continents, a metalcore tour de force that dominated for some time particular between 2013 and 2015 when they signed to Victory Records and dropped two highly acclaimed albums. Unfortunately their time was cut short for a multitude of reasons and the band that were in the running as frontrunners in the scene sadly called it a day in 2019… or so we thought. Fast forward to 2022 and out of the blue we get ‘Bad Blood’, the band’s statement of return. This week Continents have released their second single ‘Clarity’, a stomper of a track which feels as fresh as it sounds. Tackling the feeling of loss and trying to find and make sense of it is a poignant message that carries throughout the song and the commanding and raw vocal delivery of Phillip Cross enhances this. ‘Clarity’ hits like a sledgehammer, rapid and relentless drums feel as energetic as the roar produced from guitars and the overall hum and growl that aids the transitions between furious sections of the song tie the whole track together well. Sporadic breakdown moments are scattered throughout the song and have a pounding bass undertone that makes them somehow feel meatier. This really is a statement of intent and fans are already eager to know what new music is leading to for the band. – Jac Holloway
The debut single courtesy of the band, ‘Stargazing’ shows that Jaws Of Life has been busy cooking up a pop punk sound rooted in good vibes, nostalgia and embracing the youthful sensibilities of the genre. ‘Stargazing’ feels impressively polished and well written for a debut but maybe that is a compliment to the seasoned musicians in the band, particularly Mitchell Bock who was best known for his massive vocal range and ability in metal outfit When We Were Wolves. The song feels dropped straight out of the pop punk golden era, a confident anthem complimented by Mitchell Bock’s impressive tone, melody and rasp. There’s a bounce and energy to the song that hold’s up too with an irresistibly catchy chorus that’ll have you smacking the replay button in no time. Jaws of Life clearly have a lot to offer and with two more songs ‘I Promise’ and ‘Your Song’ on the way in the coming months you’d be right to get excited about fresh pop punk in time for Summer. – Jac Holloway
Illusive metal band Plagues have kicked off a new era with their brand new single ‘Timeless’. Having amassed a cult following in a relatively short amount of time, the band have poured over the intricacies and concept that is immersive and capturing with an encapsulating aesthetic that instantly draws you in even prior to hitting play. Now the band have launched their new era that they are calling a rebirth. Osorio, frontman of the collective had this to say regarding the new era: “Brothers and Sisters, time takes its toll on Osorio, his features further diminish, and his outlook on the world and ‘reality’ is darker than it has ever been. Still seeking unity, he continues to work on creating Sermons for his followers to study and spread the word of Osorio and Plagues. A new era is upon us. May the Light envelop you all. We Are The Cleansing, We Are Plagues.” Yep, there’s a lot of it’s a lot to digest there, but sonically, ‘Timeless’ is a fantastic blend of grimly theatrical deathcore that’s tied together with sections of ambience and a breakdown so heavy it feels like a physical assault. It is clear that this is the start of something and only the beginning of this new chapter, if you aren’t on board yet, you won’t regret it, strap in for a hell of a ride. – Jac Holloway