Origami Angel – Dirty Mirror Selfie / Where Blue Light Blooms
One of, if not the most exciting bands in the current emo scene right now, Origami Angel have joined forces with the legend that is Will Yip for their fourth album. Known for incredibly powerful, heart-wrenching anthems that touch on being pop-punk bangers, Feelings Not Found has some big shoes to fill but judging by this double-drop of singles, Will Yip has managed to keep the momentum going. ‘Dirty Mirror Selfie’ is by far the most immediate of the two, opening with a bouncing, almost hardcore riff before slipping into a summery, sadness tinged banger. Capped off with a wonderful, sing-along chorus, it’s a stirring anthem that tugs at the heartstrings as much as it wants to make you jump and shout. Moving onto ‘Where Blue Light Blooms’ sees vocalist Ryland Heagy conjure up one of the most beautiful hooks of his whole career. A much chiller, laid back affair, it stands as an early high point for the album and marks the release as a late contender for album of the year for those who miss bands like American Football and The Hotelier. – Chris Earl
Touché Amoré – Nobody’s
Legendary post-hardcore band Touché Amoré had been teasing new material for some time amidst their busy worldwide touring schedule, fresh new single ‘Nobody’s’ wastes no time in re-establishing the LA based quintet’s credentials as one of the scene’s most vital voices. Taking their typical sound to polished new levels with contributions from iconic producer Ross Robinson ‘Nobody’s’ firmly places charismatic frontman Jeremy Bolm’s vocal performance front and centre, bolstered by thundering drums and swirling lead guitar lines. With the announcement of their sixth studio album Spiral In A Straight Line, due for release this October, Touché Amoré are preparing to retake their title as post-hardcore’s most important act. – Tom Bruce
Real Terms – Ornaments
Fans of extremely chill math rock rejoice, one of the UK’s finest new trios Real Terms are back with their new single ‘Ornaments’. Stripping down the complex sounds of bands like TTNG and Delta Sleep and folding in retro pop sensibilities inspired by The Police and Phil Collins on last year’s stunning debut album Vantage, Real Terms stick to their strong vision on ‘Ornaments’, blending mathy rhythms with soft, falsetto vocals and subtly impressive musicianship. For those put off by the more self-indulgent side of math rock Real Terms may be the perfect gateway drug, delivering the guitar acrobatics and sonic experimentation that fans of the genre love but wrapped in a plush, accessible package. – Tom Bruce
Allt – Aquila
The second single from Allt‘s upcoming debut album From the New World, ‘Aquila’ shows the young band’s penchant for groove-laden progressive metalcore. Dripping with atmosphere both menacing and melancholic, there’s gritty melodies and roaring breakdowns aplenty with the Swede’s single. The band say of the track, “’Aquila’ is the first track we started working on for From The New World. It’s about fanaticism and blind obedience, giving you a glimpse into the dystopian, post-apocalyptic world we’ve built.” With its haunting electronics and furious guitarwork, it fits the album’s post-nuclear apocalypse world like a glove. Sounds like there’s plenty to be excited about come From the New World‘s October 4 release. – Will Marshall
Splitview – Into Nothing
Back in May, Splitview unveiled their debut single ‘Cherish’, catching the ears of many an alt rock fan with a taste for grungy melodicism. Second single ‘Into Nothing’ is more of that, but that’s no bad thing; the young band have a firm handle on how to write engaging, hook-laden earworms. ‘Into Nothing’ is built on swells of guitar, gritty vocals and a shoegaze-esque atmosphere amid the overdriven guitar and bass. The band describe it as a song that “goes over craving to see the good in someone, only for that to be overshadowed by the bad in them, and having that take precedence over your relationship with them. You start by seeing a beautiful picture of peace and harmony, only for that to be ruined by the reality of the situation. You want a chance to restart at the end, but know that the storm has already done it’s damage.” Despite its morose themes, it’s just at home on a summery day with its swells of distortion and sing-your-lungs-out melodies. – Will Marshall
Fit For An Autopsy – Hostage
On their last record, Oh What The Future Holds, deathcore giants Fit For An Autopsy took the genre to new heights. With anthems like ‘Far From Heaven’ being more reminiscent of Gojira than their genre-peers, the anticipation for the followup was high, yet with baited breath. Would they lean further into their loftier ambitions or would they take a backwards step? Thankfully, the answer is the former. Their brand new single ‘Hostage’, coming from their upcoming October release The Nothing That Is continues to blend grinding, pummelling deathcore with massive hooks and some fantastic clean vocals from the ever evolving and improving Joe Badolato. Opening on a thunderous stomp, it soon transforms into a mighty slab of stadium-flirting metal, complete with some soaring, lighters in the air style riffs and brutal mosh parts. Some may cry foul, but when the band go hard there are few who can match them for sheer presence and groove, which is only enhanced by guitarist and producer Will Putney’s epic production. – Chris Earl
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows – Malice
The post-hardcore legend that is Craigery Owens is back in the form of the returning D.R.U.G.S. Known for powerful, pop punk infused post-hardcore, the star of the show has always been Owens’ vocals. With an ability to create hooks like few others and being unafraid to make the heavier moments of tracks as addictive as the softer parts, new song ‘Malice’ has more than a few parts reminiscent of bands like I Prevail. Lyrically, it’s about a person’s journey from self resentment and the struggle of dealing with your own self destructive behavior, inspired by real life events experienced by Craig. It’s got crunch, it’s got bounce and as a teaser for the band’s upcoming album Until God Shows record, it’s a strong one. – Chris Earl
Plague of Angels – Beyond Salvation
Plague of Angels might only be on their second single, but they’ve garnered significant attention already, being borne of a unique collaboration and live event that sought to bring the pipe organ to modern audiences. The band themselves already made history as the first metal band to perform on The One Show with debut single ‘What Lies Beneath’, and its followup ‘Beyond Salvation’ takes their “organic metal” concept and amplifies it further. Vocalist Annabelle Iratni based it around a dark lullaby written on lyre and harp, and the translation to symphonic metal grandeur has only made it more brooding and menacing. With such a unique concept behind them, it’ll be fascinating to see how Plague of Angels continue to push themselves and musical boundaries. – Will Marshall