Dan Hillier
Arguably one of the UK’s finest underground bands, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion are back having announced third full length Galore and joining the stellar ranks on the Church Road Records roster. Not ones to rely on formulaic post-hardcore tropes of hard riffs and full pelt vocals (characteristics that they continue to excel in), the Bristol mob explore new worlds of sounds with lead single ‘Submechano’. The band seem to have had some robotic upgrades as the driving riffs feel almost inhuman. It feels like The War of the Worlds as the men turned machines obliterate all in their path. This electronic infused hardcore is a stunning curveball and a taste of the new direction the third LP is taking Damien Sayell and co. Catch them out on tour in April/May to witness an exciting new chapter for the band and watch your back, the robots are coming. – Adam Vallely
The latest track from everyone’s favourite indie-emo darlings Lakes, ‘Aces’ certainly lives up to the singular version of it’s namesake. The followup to the band’s brilliant 2021 LP Start Again, ‘Aces’ is a wholesome, effervescent and just haplessly lovable slice of tangy indie that carries all of the charm and charisma of the work that made them such an appealing entity within the UK scene in the first place. Those with a love for acts such as Sleep Outside, Orchards and Algernon Cawallader – a band that Lakes should be most definitely performing alongside on their return to their shores this summer – will find plenty to adore here. – Dan Hillier
Arguably the most thrilling band in the entire British Isles right now, Heriot have returned ‘Demure’, a track that could be suitably described as a musical flaying. A continuation of the act’s total commitment to scalping atmospheric brutality, ‘Demure’ grasps one within its iron clad grip prior to suffocating all traces of life from one, leaving the listener post experience lifeless and withered. Whilst this may sound overtly aggressive and relentless – and truth be told, it is – the single also showcases the band’ ardent focus on using spaciousness and minimalism in their work to maximalism the hefty impact of their work. Whilst many acts are dabbling with this kind of ironclad and inhospitable extremity right now, quite frankly, this track showcases that no band are executing this sound nowhere near as well as Heriot. – Dan Hillier
The title track of the band’s upcoming EP – released March 17th independently – ‘Nothing More Wretched’ lives up to it’s moniker in a way that’s overt and wondrously heavy. A full frontal assault of modern deathcore, the latest track from Beyond Extinction truly showcases why this band is such a hotly tipped act within the world of all things uncompromisingly heavy. Truly, whilst the hierarchy of deathcore is one of constant flux, with this single hinting towards the sheer forward-thinking extremity set to be contained within their debut EP there’s no denying that Beyond Extinction will ascend the ranks of the deathcore rankings without hinderance upon it’s release. – Dan Hillier
Hands up, who loves a cover of an absolute belting classic? Thought so, well in that case you’re going to love Blood Command and their second (But this time a much more difficult song) Belinda Carlisle cover, ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’. From the legendary earworm of a chorus, to the charming verses, Nikki Brumen does a fantastic job of staying true to the original but putting her own twist onto things. The instrumentation is simple but does the job. It’s always difficult to cover stone cold classics and the risk of falling short is high, but Blood Command have done themselves proud. – Chris Earl
When Full Of Hell and Primitive Man first announced their collaborative effort Suffocating Hallucination – Released March 3rd via Closed Casket Activities – many pondered what harrowing experience awaited. Now we have our first glimpse of the project with the asphyxiating ‘Tunnels To God’, track that could be described with a multitude of adjectives, but the only one suitable being uncomfortable. Inhospitably harrowing, the near 12 minute single is a deluge of fear and anxiety, one that see’s both acts amplifying their most nightmarish qualities. Whilst it may be juvenile to call this scary per say, this isn’t an enjoyable listen despite it’s musical excellence; only those committed to musical ambience in it’s most potent morose form will find this pleasing or even endurable. – Dan Hillier
After releasing one of the best death metal debuts of the last decade, Frozen Soul have made a name for themselves as one of the best new bands in the genre. They’ve even managed to get Trivium frontman Matt Heafy to produce their sophomore record. ‘Morbid Effigy’ is the first track from said record and it contains a feature from John Gallagher of Dying Fetus – how’s that for guest spot? This is a frostbitten slab of pure death metal fun, from the chill inducing riffs and chugging rhythm to the fantastic Gallagher vocals and the whole thing sounds like it could have been released during a blizzard in 1989. Any doubts about a second album slump or Matt Heafy on production have been swiftly plowed away. – Chris Earl
Alongside Whitechapel, The Acacia Strain probably have a claim to the throne of the greatest deathcore bands of all time. Their work always has more of an uncomfortable, malicious edge, made all the more effective by vocalist “Vincent Bennet” and his nihilistic, actually understandable lyrics. ‘Fresh Bones’ is the first single off a new record, titled Step Into The Light and it’s out May 12th…and my word, it goes hard. Just shy of two and a half minutes, it’s a violent cacophony of hardcore, death metal and brutality. An absolutely fantastic way to introduce a new album, which by all accounts is going to be full of similar aural batterings. – Chris Earl
Winnipeg post punk trio tunic do a few things in spades. Feedback, dissonance, shouting and groove and it’s all present here within their latest single ‘Whispering’. The bass line that starts it all off is remisicint of British post punk monsters Idles, driving, groovy and instantly catchy. David Schellenberg adds his harsh vocals and oddly phrased guitar licks over the top to create a boiling cauldron of simmering rage. Although only three minutes long, the tension created is palatable, only released by the joyfully off kilter hook that is bought back to let off the steam in this pressure cooker of a single. The album Wrong Dream, is due out 28th April and whilst this isn’t their first foray, it’s always a treat to see what’s up the sleeve of this terrifying (in the best way) trio. – Rob Bown
What’s the best way to announce your slot supporting one of the biggest UK bands of the last decade? Releasing a bloody good song featuring their vocalist, that’s how. ‘Heretic’ is the third single from The Seventh Son and Bury Tomorrow have recruited While She Sleeps screamer Loz Taylor to join them for a heavy old time. Featuring some of the best guitar work from the south coast metallers in a long time, the Bury Tomorrow vocal duo mix incredibly well with Loz for a track which will absolutely decimate live. The most promising and exciting song so far from the upcoming Bury Tomorrow record, with it’s dynamic tempo, furious screams and incredibly satisfying breakdown mixed with a guitar solo. Modern British metal has combined with amazing results. – Chris Earl
Possessing a sound that makes you reminisce for the glory days of Funeral For A Friend, Acres are one of the UK’s best kept secrets when it comes to emotive, introspective rock music. The fifth track from their new album, due out March 3rd (Titled Burning Throne if you’re curious) is called ‘Nothing’, and features the vocal talents of Silent Planet singer Garret Russel. One of the heavier tracks the band have released thus far in their career, there’s some scathing screams, cathartic lyrics and a fantastic sing along chorus that will surely be a highlight at their upcoming shows. If you’ve been sleeping on this band, change that right away. – Chris Earl