Dan Hillier
Taken from the band’s forthcoming record LP Giant Elk – released October 20th via Big Scary Monsters – ‘Eutherians (Ultramarine)’ once again sees the delightfully wholesome ME REX weaving another tale of grief and pain in the key of splendour and whimsy. The anchoring track of the forthcoming record, the track bares witness to Giant Elk’s central theme of defeated grief and anxious growth, albeit in a way that’s far flung from the negative connotations of the album’s binding lyrical focus. In fact, with the track brightly harkening through of acts such as Martha, Frightened Rabbit and even Noah And The Whale, ‘Eutherians’ sounds brilliantly positive with its adolescent energy and charming refrain. “Eutherians is a clade of mammals that includes humans”, states Myles McCabe on the track. “The word can be translated contrastingly as either ‘true beasts’ or ‘good beasts’. The lyrics follow the album’s central metaphor of a creature cursed to continue life split in half, grieving the violent separation from itself, while trying to become whole and finding some meaning in that striving. The Ultramarine referred to in the song represents alternately the infinite, domineering sky and the chaos and danger of the sea.” – Dan Hillier
The most exciting band on the heavier end of the metalcore, Dying Wish are back and they’ve announced what is probably the most anticipated album of the latter part of 2023. Symptoms Of Survival drops November 3rd and the second single ‘Watch My Promise Die’ is a certified monster of a track. A circle pit inducing drum intro gives way to some classic metallic hardcore guitar work and Emma Boster’s vitriolic voice. It’s heavy as absolute hell, mixing thrash parts, crunching breakdowns and a soaring chorus featuring Emma’s goosebump inducing cleans. Dare it be said that this album may actually be heavier AND more melodic? All we know is that with Randy Lebeouf on production and letting Sam Reynolds loose a bit more, it’s shaping up to be a late AOTY contender. – Chris Earl
It’s no exaggeration to say that Empire State Bastard’s upcoming album Rivers of Heresy is one of 2023’s most intriguing and hotly anticipated releases. The brainchild of Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and Oceansize’s Mike Vennart, the duo have rounded out their lineup is stunning fashion with the addition of Slayer’s Dave Lombardo and Bitch Falcon’s Naomi McLeod and the quartet are firing on all cylinders on the hugely impressive ‘The Looming’. A song of two distinct halves, ambition is the order of the day here. The first half of this song is a doomy, expansive dirge that delivers some of Neil’s most misanthropic and nihilistic lyrics to date. The song then transitions into its second act, offering up savage death growls from Vennart and feral, piercing shrieks from Neil, amping up the ferocity before the track ends in the same gentle fashion it begins in. – Jordan Aldridge
Melodic hardcore up-and-comers Koyo enlist the help of post-hardcore legend Daryl Palumbo to produce one of the summer’s biggest singalong tracks on the excellent ‘Message Like a Bomb’, taken from their highly anticipated debut album Would You Miss It?. Koyo haven’t been on the scene for long but they are already building a reputation as a band who combine fierce, impassioned instrumentation and emotional, hook-laden vocals to produce impactful and uplifting anthems in the mould of some of the 00s biggest and best bands. Packing a massive chorus that is tailor-made for live audiences, listeners will feel like they’ve had this song in their lives for ages even after just one listen. By the time the aforementioned Palumbo chimes in to add his trademark vocals, a song that is already high in emotion ascends even further into a banger of mammoth proportions. – Jordan Aldridge
Sweden and metal go together like apple pie and cream. The country responsible for the Gothenburg sound seemingly has a never ending array of fantastic bands from all over the heavy spectrum. On the post metal end of things, come Blodet. With a sound that’s as expansive as it is melancholic, the group blend crushing darkness with uplifting, euphoric light, aiming to capture the true experience of being human. The first single off their upcoming album Death Mother is its title track, part of an entire album wrought with sorrow and sadness. Writing begun with their former guitarist Rickie, but he sadly passed away from cancer before it was finished, with the band pulling together and completing the record out of grief and a desire to pay tribute to their friend. As a result, this blend of Chelsea Wolfe and Cult of Luna is not an easy listen. The crushing rhythms, vulnerable and introspective vocals and a sorrowful soundscape won’t be for everyone, and this track is only the first part of the album. However, come the 29th of September when the full album is released, even if you’re not one for post metal, this record will be an essential listen. – Chris Earl
The first single to be taken from the bands upcoming debut LP Boisterous Love – released later this via Stolen Body Records – Brandishment sees the Bristolian math rock collective Ogives Big Band express themselves in the only way they know how – loudly. Featuring bellowed lyricism as abstract as the polyrhythmic soundscape that characterises this song, ‘Brandishment sees the Ogives Big Band in their most driven, maniacal and downright menacing form to date; especially with the band’s newfound focus on sludge and drone being prominent within this mathematical beast of a track. Should you be at ArcTanGent Festival in just a few weeks, ensure to trudge down to their set to witness one of the most promising new bands in the national math rock scene. – Dan Hillier
Canada has been releasing some of the best alternative music around, which won’t be changing any time soon because Alberta, Canada’s own Serration is here with “Shroud of Gnarled Tongues” from newest record Simulations Of Hell. With titles such as those, one would expect deathcore or slam but that isn’t the case here. Serration is one of west’s top dogs right now in Canadian hardcore/beatdown, releasing music through the popular record label Daze since 2022’s split release with A Mourning Star. Showing a similar style to fellow Canadian band Sedition, this track isn’t short on brutality. These northern bruisers are showing exactly why you shouldn’t sleep on Canadian metal, or skip over the country, when it comes to their specific brand of chaotic hardcore. – Nathaniel Maure
The UK’s one and only emo band covering one of England’s most under-sung pop bands. Despite the cover originally being recorded in 2011 for the band’s Heat Rash’ zine / 7” series, this cover of the the 1989 classic only highlights the timeless longevity of Los Campesinos! as a creative entity. In fact, with the band synergising with and highlighting the track’s inherent wit and romantic frustration in the fashion they’re esteemed for, ‘I Love You (But You’re Boring)’ feels like the song perfect track for Gareth Paisey and company to cover. With new live dates coming next year and with new material hopefully upon the horizon, Los Campesinos! once again prove themselves as the ultimate break up band for all you respectively weeping dipshits. – Dan Hillier
To be put in simple terms, ‘Dead Dog In A Ditch’ is the sound of post-punk with homicidal intent. Sounding akin to a swivel-eyed Yard Act gurning in the corner whilst brandishing a blade covered in fluid of questionable origin, the single once again sees the Leeds post-everything Thank taking jittery disco grooves, convulsing walls of noise and off-kilter post-punk prior to mashing them together with all the grace that can come with combining something with claw hammers. In age where many a post-punk act serve to provide mundane social commentary without real purpose, Thank exist to highlight the cruelty that is exclusive to the human condition, and frankly, nothing highlights this fact more than ‘Dead Dog In A Ditch’. – Dan Hillier
Straddling the line between effervescent indie-punk and rallying adolescent post-hardcore, the latest track from Buds. is the sound of two things. Firstly, it’s sound of a band about to ignite and leave a flaming trail through the national indie punk scene. Secondly, ‘Medicinal Cathedral’ is the sound of a band that no matter what genre they approach, they will seemingly master it more or less immediately. Never ones to be chained to a singular genre at a time, ‘Medicinal Cathedral’ showcases Buds.’ brilliant and youthfully tact ability in both amalgamating and subverting genres on fly. Frankly, if you have any interest in acts such as Regal Cheer and PUP and you’re yet to be acquainted with Buds., then it’s time to meet your new best mates. – Dan Hillier
A somewhat unexpected techno sound starts this new track off, before the polished ambience gives way to a scream and riffs that Of Mice & Men fans know well by now. Aaron Pauly’s familiar voice cuts through the background bass and ambience as it truly gets started, before a rapid drum fill takes you back into the noise again. OM&M are known for their melodic, soaring choruses, and this song is no different, if a little softer than previous releases. The song does feature some nice chugs that line up with the drums, injecting a little bit more core to the metalcore mix – we even get a blegh. Overall the track doesn’t break any new ground for the band but it at least shows they are still evolving and trying slightly new sounds. – Jude Bennett
If your introduction to SiM was their last single, ‘RED’, then you’re in for a hell of a surprise on their new one. With ‘RED’ being a Skindred worshipping nu-metal banger, new track ‘DO THE DANCE’ is an even bouncier affair – but this time it’s ska. Perfect for the summer, it skanks along and fills your ears with infectious, upbeat rhythm. Every so often, some chunky downtuned guitars even pop up. It all blends together with some screams and catchy hooks into what could become one of the cult classics of the summer. The added ‘whoas” are begging to be sung along out of tune while four ciders deep. As it ends with what can only be described as a ‘nu-ska-metal’ dance part, you’re instantly hitting play again, the grin on your face getting wider and wider. – Chris Earl
Rising Russian anti-war deathcore unit Slaughter To Prevail, helmed by Alex Terrible, are back to unleash the hellacious ‘Viking’ on the world and, with it, their next killer era. Beginning with a sinister, marching intro, Terrible’s signature guttural bellows act as a war cry before giving way to a sonic onslaught of blast beats, squealing leads and chugging rhythms. The frontman has his full arsenal of destructive skills on display throughout, with growls, squeals and melodic snarls taking it in turns to batter and bruise. Drummer Evgeny Novikov feels as if he is demolishing his kit with hammers borrowed from Thor himself and it is his propulsive beats that steal the show here. As ever, Terrible brings a mixture of English and Russian lyrics to the banquet table and it is his commanding presence that ushers in a breakdown that sounds as if the band are ushering in Ragnarok. – Jordan Aldridge
Southwestern Ontario has clearly been popping off, especially in the last two or three years. With that comes Ontario’s hidden gem in hardcore. Pneumonia Breath (ex-Lungless) has been quite the mystery since they dropped their top tier first EP ‘Things The World Doesn’t Want You To See’. Finally teasing a new EP, dropping August 24th titled ‘Nothing, Forever’, Pneumonia Breath are proud to bring us “Broken Foundation”. A full on assault in the broadest terms; similar in sound to that of Hamilton, Ontario’s Teeth, this Canadian five piece spare no punches in every department. Between the epic and chaotic instrumentals accompanying vocalist Dylan Cooper’s gnarly vocal style it’s fair to say this new EP will be bigger and badder than the last. Not to mention the insanely barbaric drum approach by Brodie Clark, Pneumonia Breath are setting a standard when it comes to metalcore and hardcore. – Nathaniel Maure
Hard Reset is the embodiment of Nashville heavy and it seems accurate seeing as the first single off this newest EP they’re gearing up to release, 66615, is appropriately titled exactly that. Now, the Tennessee hardcore outfit is proud to bring you their second single off said EP. ‘MissingNo’. holds no punches to say the least. Coming at fans hard with a specific southern twang to their style of metallic hardcore, at times it almost seems to blur the lines on southern metalcore. There’s no “Southern hospitality” here as they slam an opening riff that welcomes listeners and sounds almost similar to that of Periphery’s popular track ‘The Bad Thing’ before dropping into a Varials x VCTMS style composition. With a video shot by the all around talented Sam Schneider, Hard Reset have proven so far they are ready to take over the Tennessee hardcore scene and beyond. – Nathaniel Maure
The Chicago powerhouse, VCTMS, has never failed to drop a good song and that trend is continuing with newest single ‘Stranger’. Giving off a nu-metal undertone to their unique style of metalcore, it’s clear this may mark a new era for the Illinois five piece moving forward. A more melodic piece overall with a decent amount of breaks and turntable parts where drummer Meredith Henderson can be heard taking the reins on singing which, as rare as it is, is always a treat to hear. Not to fret though, as there seems to be a good amount of Deftones and Architects influence tossed in the mix between ignorantly heavy instrumentals and John Matalone’s insane vocals, this track is for all heavy music goers. VCTMS have never been shy to a bit of change in their sound so this track feels as comfortable as they probably are about it. – Nathaniel Maure
Massachusetts blackened deathcore crew Worm Shepherd return with the first sample of their upcoming EP The Sleeping Sun in the form of the symphonic sledgehammer smash that is ‘The Dying Heavens’. Clocking in just shy of seven minutes, the track is a showcase of what Worm Shepherd are quickly becoming well-known for with atmospheric passages, gorgeous, complex guitar solos and delicate keys underpinning frenetic sonic assaults all combining to once more prove that this band are highly adept at shifting from raw, emotionally charged melodies to bone-shattering sections that pack enough heft to knock listeners off their feet. With this single marking the beginning of the band’s next murderous chapter following their 2021 debut album In The Wake Ov Sol, fans’ appetites must surely be whetted in anticipation of a body of work that guitarist Tre Purdue promises will pack a ‘ton of layers’ whilst capturing elements that the band haven’t tackled before. – Jordan Aldridge
The Forest City of London Ontario has been full of metal and alternative talent for years. From nu-metal badasses Kittie, to heavier projects like Soul Sucker, Losing Sight, and Falsifier. Whether we’re talking DIY or backed by a label, that fact has not changed and the proof sits with up-and-coming metalcore project Falls For The Elderly. Prepared to follow up the release of their self titled EP, out January 1st 2023, with a new single a short 6 months later. “Failure To Thrive” is a metalcore ride for sure; filled to the brim with throwback tropes pulled from the genre with influence from what sounds like Northlane, Structures, and even Forevermore. Recorded by Chris Costa of fellow Ontario metalcore acts Prosector (London, ON) and End Us (South Western Ontario), it’s fair to say the group has more where this came from. – Nathaniel Maure