Dan Hillier
Iggor Cavalera and Wayne Adams, two legends in their own rights, have joined forces once more to obliterate ear drums through the magnitude of analogue come digital sound waves. This time they bring along some equally well thought of friends to add to the chaos on incoming album Liminal. Recently sharing a single with Jacob Bannon (Converge) and this time round with Paula Rebbeledo (Rakta). ‘Distorted Peace’ is an apt title as the cacophony of sounds emanating are oddly soothing but disconcerting like a relaxing acidic bath. Iggor’s drums adding a tribal feel to the space age synths. If you have yet to catch the duo in action they will be touring with Full of Hell and Converge later this year. – Adam Vallely
Like it’s namesake implies, the latest single from dreampop shoegazers New Ghost is the sound of alternated consciousness. Taken from their upcoming EP Rectify – due for release October 29th – ‘Dreamsong’ is a gorgeous shawl of comforting noise that ebbs and flows from lofty dreampop to carbonated shoegaze with free spiritedness. Ethereal and untethered in fashion, the song is complemented with electronic flourishes alongside the serenading vocal talents of Chris Anderson and Ellie Richards, resulting in a brilliantly atmospheric cut that’s destined to be adored by fans of acts such as Holy Fawn, Slow Crush and even Silversun Pickups. – Dan Hillier
Dispute forming just before Covid took hold, Oversize have already managed to fill quite the curriculum vitae. From appearing at this year’s Outbreak and Burn It Down festivals to releasing their debut EP In Balance, the alt-rockers came out of the pandemic swinging. Now they’re preparing for their next career arc, one they’re teasing with their latest single ‘Taste’. Taken from their upcoming extended play Into The Ceiling – released October 21st via Church Road Records – ‘Taste’ see’s the band taking flavours from pioneering acts such as Smashing Pumpkins and Dinosaur Jr prior to distilling them additional notes of britpop, new wave, shoegaze and hardcore. There’s plenty to adore here, and going from this track, it seems inevitable that Oversize are set to seize next year by storm. – Dan Hillier
Off the back of an excellent run of supporting Canadian punk veterans Cancer Bats, Kent’s explosive metal outfit Graphic Nature release ‘White Noise’. An on the nose description of not only the track’s lyrical content but how the sound encloses the listener putting them on edge. Graphic Nature’s intense live performances are captured here with gritty vocals, hard hitting drums and riffs straight from the darkest corners of their collective minds. Whilst this all sounds menacing, Harvey Freeman’s lyrics are key to the message Graphic Nature want to deliver around mental health. A reminder that you are not alone with your struggles. – Adam Vallely
Those Damn Crows are back and bigger than ever with ‘Wake Up (Sleepwalker)’, a single that see’s the band show off a refined and polished sound with tonnes of grit and atmosphere. The song is packed full of groovy bass lines, roaring guitars and earth-shattering percussion. Vocalist Shane Greenhall completes the band with soaring melodies and raucous and rousing lyricism. It’s clear Those Damn Crows are Wales’ answer to Hard Rock arena conquering titans with hits emerging for the band that could be likened to Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry and Shinedown. The band will be main support on the UK tour with Monster Truck towards the end of September and into October. – Jac Holloway
Taken from their upcoming debut When Random Turns To Fate, Matricide are back with ‘Talking To The Walls’. The single combines driving rhythm, riffs aplenty and synths that enhance the depth and layers to the song, the end product both being gritty and vibrant. From a growling croon to an elongated scream there is range demonstrated with an impressive musical backdrop that thrives off heart-pounding drums and chunky guitars. Lyrically, the song questions the existence of God, searching for a sign without one appearing, therefore creating hysteria for the seeker who is left with more questions than answers and talks to themselves/the walls instead. If it’s groove, a sense of Nu Metal and Hardcore sledgehammered into one brutal package then Matricide are going to be right up your street. – Jac Holloway
Poly-Math have been around a little while honing their dexterous rhythms and grooves. Now with the (not-so) recent addition of Chris Olsen on saxophone they have been fleshing out older material on the road and putting the fresh setup to the test in the studio. What the Brighton/London quintet has produced certainly feels like a step up. Their next record Zenith consists of shorter, sharper tracks, a move away from the soundscapes they have been better known for. ‘Canticum II’ ironically one of the longer pieces captures this new direction astoundingly. Riffs from all instruments involved and drums complement each other perfectly throughout the shifting sections. Each member whether new to the fold or not gets their chance to shine but not gloat. This is math rock to shake your butts to. – Adam Vallely
What happens when you add mullets, sleeveless t-shirts and an insatiable thirst for downing can after can of beer? In this case you get Skin Failure. No, you aren’t going to be ill, but you might be down with sickness after listening to ‘Meat Pond/Down By The River’ the latest preview of Skin Failure’s incoming concept album Radillac. A supposed tale of an interdimensional ‘Jesus’ travelling through time and space. This double header is fierce, full throttle face melting metal. The combination of Memory of Elephants technicality and ex-Black Peaks Will Gardner’s soaring banshee-like screams will send a tingle down the coldest of spines. The album cannot come soon enough. – Adam Vallely
Impressive genre-welder Kubrick continues his impressive run of releases with ‘Favourite Sin’, another example of diversely balanced and brilliantly merged modern rock/metal. Each single has seen Kubrick stretch and push the boundaries of his own music with inclusions of jarring sections that are poles apart stylistically yet manage to work on the whole. Not afraid to shy from being bold and brave creatively, ‘Favourite Sin’ see’s Kubrick embrace R&B style beats, lively and assured vocals and visceral lyrical content with a chorus that dials up the heavy. With plenty of small inflections and creative choices that shouldn’t work but absolutely do, it’s yet another example of Kubrick’s impressive range and expansive sound that, so far, shows no walls or barriers. – Jac Holloway
Alter Bridge have released another powerful taster from their upcoming album Pawns & Kings in the form of the almost 7 minute opus ‘Sin After Sin’, a sludgy and riff-laden track that see’s the band do what they do best. ‘Sin After Sin’ is the second longest song on the record and features the band’s iconic sounds including their dual-guitar attack packed out by Mark Tremonti guitar/vocals, Myles Kennedy’s signature soar and a crushing and relentless rhythm section that compliments the band to hold an epic wall of sound. A slithery and serpentine feel hangs over the song and given it’s length there is time to showcase mammoth riffs with small inflections scattered throughout. Starting off lowkey, it does well to build to its crescendo and of course Kennedy’s vocal delivery in the chorus elevates the song as a whole. It’s yet another example of why Alter Bridge are front and centre when it comes to song craft in their genre. Pawns & Kings will be released October 14th via Napalm Records. – Jac Holloway
It’s the collaboration that, in hindsight, we are surprised didn’t happen much much sooner. You Me At Six have dropped their brand new single ‘No Future? Yeah Right’ featuring none other than Rou Reynolds. The song focusses on breaking the chain of negativity, to push past insecurities and not to let people hurt you. It is a high octane anthem with what feels like a newfound energy and flare from You Me At Six and see’s them pissed off and ready to fly the flag as such. It’s a song full of angst and defiance and hearing Reynolds and Franceschi bounce off one another in the bridge and closing chorus is a treat and ups the ante perfectly. It’s a promising addition to previous single ‘Deep Cuts’ and shows that fans should strap in for a diversely ambitious record. – Jac Holloway
Being no stranger to off-the-wall interpretations of art pop excellence; the legendary Icelandic singer/songwriter/composer Björk continues to shake up a seemingly homogenised musical soundscape, with the peculiar rumblings of her tenth upcoming studio album Fossora. Wishing to create the sonic interpretation of grounding oneself and nestling oneself into the earth, ‘Atopos’ supports such a mission perfectly with its bio technological flair granting us rare relief from the dominating presence of electronica informed avant-garde and heavy weighing bass. The tracks lyrical content seems to be greatly inspired by the existential hypothesis on collective optimism by the French literary theorist Roland Barthes, yet seems to also represent the growing pains era in fully comprehending empathetic unity. This single feels like the true embodiment of rebirth, especially when allowing yourself to be completely whisked away as it’s eccentric nature enraptures the mind in its unique slant on connectivity creation. – Bennie Osborne
Presenting themselves as a somewhat current conqueror-like figurehead in the realms of Alternative production value; the City of Angels twisted Pop/Rock virtuoso WILLOW, continues to impress with their steady string of singles promoting the eventual release of their fifth studio album . Their latest single to enter the public consciousness ‘curious/furious’ is a masterclass in reflective acceptance, as it peels back the layers of emotional vulnerability to a place of enlightened calmness. Although the track seeks to embrace this lighter side of emotional awakening, it also allows a space for the darkness within to live and breathe, while restricting access to the pillars of our needs to ensure a healthy balancing act continues to thrive. The listening experience is one of mellowed sophisticated awareness which is exemplified in every facet of this curious creation. This kind of songwriting truly demonstrates a profound deepness to the core of Smiths work, their access to wisdom beyond their years and the distinct wish for togetherness as a driving force behind their musical evolution. – Bennie Osborne
The Hunna have released the double A-side singles ‘Fugazi’ and ‘Untouched Hearts’ both of which will appear on the band’s upcoming self-titled album. The songs have been released to showcase contrasting sides of the band’s sound with ‘Fugazi’ serving as a punk rock anthem with an explosive chorus which is a song of rebellion and throwing caution to the wind to go out and have the best time after being locked up and held down. Meanwhile ‘Untouched Hearts’ is a hearted emotional ballad that tackles loss and trauma through untapped reflection. Contrasting indeed and a brilliant insight into the experiences that have shaped the creative and writing process for the band on their upcoming record. The Hunna’s self-titled album is due for release on October 28th via Believe. – Jac Holloway