Dan Hillier
Since signing to Church Road Records last year, pagan metallers Forlorn have been teasing something big on the horizon – and it’s finally here. News of their debut album, Aether, was dropped alongside its lead single ‘Funeral Pyre’. A dense, atmospheric piece that encompasses caustic post metal, bewitching melody and a visceral breakdown t0wards its close. About the song, the band stated “Funeral Pyre explores the element of fire and in this sense as a powerful divination tool. We took inspiration from the 1973 film ‘The Wickerman’ and the concept of human sacrifice, in order for things to grow. We invite people to join us as we shed our naysayers and become stronger together.” Forlorn open their circle at Noizzefest on April 26, and they’re sure to be unmissable. – Will Marshall
The news of one of the greatest metalcore bands of all time coming back and performing shows last year brought warmth to the hearts of so many. When news of a new album surfaced, there was a lot of curiosity, especially with the focus on their 25th Anniversary of The Opposite Of December…A Season Of Separation, fans wondered if there’d be a return to their older sound. Instead however, the band have continued their sonic trajectory that was present on their last album The Tropic Rot. Called ‘Trembling Level’, it’s a mix of gritty, slightly southern fried riffs and Jeffrey’s voice is given new life with some Will Putney production. Having just signed to SharpTone, a whole new generation are going to get to witness the greatness of Poison The Well. – Chris Earl
After branching out into sunny shoegaze with their brilliant yet ever so slightly dissentious last record, Deafheaven are back with some downright frosty black metal. The first track to be taken from their recently announced new record Lonely People With Power – released March 28th via Roadrunner Records – ‘Magnolia’ is a punishing return to the withered and ashen black metal roots of the blackgaze pioneers. In fact, not since ‘Black Brick’ have we seen a Deafheaven track this downright harsh and oppressive. However, with the new record set to contain one or two new surprises, including contributions from members of Boy Harsher and Interpol, this shouldn’t be seen as something regressive from the band, but rather the introduction to a new era of Deafheaven that will no doubt lead black metal to new exciting pastures once again. – Dan Hillier
Erupting out of Baltimore’s fertile hardcore scene, Jivebomb are a vicious, brawling outfit set to drop their debut album Ethereal on the legendary Flatspot Records this March. The lead single, ‘Survival Ain’t Taught’, is as fist-swinging and pit-starting as they come, and it’s not even 90 seconds long. Vocalist Kat Medeira has a guttural bark that sits atop aggro guitars and punishing drums, almost daring people to try not to mosh. Almost totally at odds with the single, its video takes cues from 90s hip hop videos, which only serves to make ‘Survival Ain’t Taught’ even more deliriously fun. – Will Marshall
The first taste of new music from heavy shoegazers Slow Crush since signing to Pure Noise, ‘Cherry’ is as densely layered and stunning as we’ve come to expect from the Belgian quartet. Luscious melodies are underpinned by deceptively heavy drums, something that’s served them well across their two albums to date. Of the song, the band cryptically say: “wistful longing for something fresh and new, creating a stormy and effervescent anthology. Evoking an almost thematic cascade of noise that echoes the end and bursts into new life. ‘Cherry’ feels like the perfect first single. A new, fresh start. ‘Shed your skin’”. – Will Marshall
Arguably one of the most exciting and authentic names in instrumental music, BRUIT ≤ are back and their timing could not be more perfect. Taken from their upcoming LP The Age of Ephemerality and dropping in a time where the disposable commoditisation of art is becoming more accepted and tolerated, ‘Ephemeral’ feels and sounds akin to a detailed and pained reflection on our collective fascination with exploitive technology and our insatiable urge for progress at the expensive of our own humanity. As classical motifs shift into eroding noise and half-time percussion that feels like a marching beat to oblivion, it’s impossible not to hear the emotion emotion and handmade craft that has gone into creation of this song. As always, BRUIT ≤ not only remain one of the most ingenious names in post-rock, but one of the must important musical acts in an era of passive complicity – Dan Hillier
A naughty return to the halcyon days of bladed thrash and torn denim that’s untainted by the modern ills of technology, ‘Possessed To Die’ see’s Inhuman Nature take an axe to the rampaging beast that is social media. The first slice taken from their upcoming second LP Greater Than Death – released April 25th via Church Road – this no nonsense trash in it’s most pure form. Those longing for the days when acts like Slayer, Nuclear Assault and Exodus reigned supreme will find plenty to adore here, but with it’s social commentary and crossover edge honed to Power Trip levels evident, there’s no denying that is a product of the contemporary age. “I’ve never wanted to write a song about the ills of social media”, states vocalist Chris Barling on the track. “But when you’re living in a time where misinformation is weaponized, being bombarded from all directions with death, war, crime…more death, when most people are skint and struggling to live anyway, it was hard not to. Feels like we’re Possessed To Die.” – Dan Hillier
Standing akin to a ghastly club dancefloor filler, the new single from the Aussie death-pop duo is an ode to the escapist bliss of total overstimulation. The first tantalising, copper-laced taste of their upcoming new record, ‘Blood’s On Fire’ see’s VOWWS once again vampiricly running their nails over the leyline between industrialist dance and gloomy gothic alt-rock. Those with an interest in acts like Perturbator, The Black Queen and even Mrs. Piss will find plenty to sink their teeth into here.
Tunic’s second offering before the release of their fourth pain riddled album A Harmony of Loss Has Been Sung is released is a tense affair. Lyrically covering ‘the complicated feelings that come with wanting to be a parent, or if you should even be a parent.’ This track swallows you whole with its anxiety building, a heart beating bass drum and a singular guitar chord ringing out, with spoken words, unnerving the listener. A release of this nervous energy in the latter half of the track is far from a positive feeling, more a relief that is survivable. It is heavy, it is suffering, but it is delivered so well by Tunic. – Adam Vallely
Take a hearty dose of edgy 90s alt-metal and a touch of bluesy 70s hard rock bravado and force them through a filter of modern alternative punk and you’ll get something close to Bristol based quartet Mother Vulture. On their latest single ‘Slow Down’, the four-piece bring down their usually rapid pace for a stomping, doom influenced track that keeps all of the band’s signature hard-rocking energy intact. As always frontman Georgi Ivanov leads the band with a voice that sits somewhere between Mike Patton and Robert Plant with dramatic falsetto cleans and brutal growls. With an upcoming UK tour accompanying this single now is the perfect time to experience the uniquely chaotic world of Mother Vulture. – Tom Bruce
Embodying the confident swagger of the 2010s, noise pop-duo Sleigh Bells, formed of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek E. Miller, have spent the better part of a decade and a half cementing themselves as a force to be reckoned with, after a few years away their new single ‘Wanna Start A Band?’ reminds the world why they fell in love with Sleigh Bells. Despite being their first new material in nearly four years, ‘Wanna Start A Band?’ follows Sleigh Bells’ tried and tested formula with chunky, fuzzed out guitars, choppy synths and stomping mid-tempo beats backing Krauss’ vocals which see her effortlessly glide from sickly sweet bubblegum pop princess to forceful rock diva. – Tom Bruce
One of the most exciting British hardcore bands of the ’10s who never really got the flowers they deserved, God Complex are back and ready to take 2025 by storm. Having just announced their comeback EP for release on the 21st of February, the second track to be released is ‘Depraved Idol’ and it’s a frantic blast of chaotic goodness. Coming out of the blocks at 100mph, it’s a more immediate and violent affair than the brooding ‘Salt And Ash’, but it shows both sides to the band and that they’ve not lost a step in their time away. With their first shows in about five years announced for April, now is the best time to get acquaintaned with one of the best hardcore bands that Britain has produced in recent times. – Chris Earl
“I think of this as the archetypal NONE song…” bassist Gordon Moakes explains of new single ‘My People, “…a big ugly bass line that the dynamics and personalities of the band weave in and out of.” He is not wrong, Kai’s vocals shine from the off with fierce delivery, Jim’s ever noisey guitar delivery bouncing a range of sounds off the walls, backed by Chris’ punchy drumming. The foursome also knows when to reign in their various ingredients to add texture to the track, cumulating in an aural crescendo. The quartet has quickly established themselves and their sound, continuing to gain a following and receive high praise from all around. With their second EP CARE due this month and a slew of shows this year already stacking up, this is an exciting time for the band. – Adam Vallely
After an exciting 2024 for High Regard supporting Lake Malice, playing 2000 Trees Festival and more they kick off 2025 keeping the momentum high. New single White Lilies is a perfect slice of pop-rock. Clocking in at three minutes on the nose, delivering emotional dulcet tones, backed with infectious grooves and riffs, ‘White Lilies’ does everything it needs to and more. With their slot at Noizzefest 2025 secured, we certainly hope for an abundance of material like this before April so Cardiff can pop off. – Adam Vallely
Athenian prog-metallers Calyces propel us into the skies with a new single and the announcement of their second album, Fleshy Waves of Possibility. The opening track from their forthcoming LP, ‘Swirling Towards The Light’ sets the tone so well. With soaring vocals cut with occasionally roars, a clamped tight rhythm section bounding along supplementing beautifully put together guitar pieces. This is a clever track, keeping a theme running throughout but chopping and changing how it is presented. From more serene, quieter moments to booming Baroness-like sections. Lyrically about ‘breaking free’ and making you ‘feel alive’ this will undoubtedly inject even the most limp of life forms with some vivacity. – Adam Vallely
If there is room in your heart for one more masked metal outfit, then Gauze Is might be for you. The mysterious and chaotic four-piece returned last month with a brilliantly bombastic new single featuring cult stars Moodring. ‘wannabe rockstar’ is an absolutely thunderous number, brimming with nu-metal fire thanks to its crushing riffs, thumping rhythms, and distorted vocals that deliver shockingly infectious hooks. A glittering second verse vaults into a devilishly brutal breakdown, with Moodring’s Hunter Young taking the reins with some magnificent screamed vocals. If this is how GAUZE IS are starting their year, then 2025 could be a massive year for the enigmatic outfit. – Ryan Ward
Ahead of their hotly anticipated third record Bodies and a major headline North American tour, Thornhill have unveiled another glimpse into their overwhelmingly slick and swaggeringly cool new era with ‘Silver Swarm’. Scorching nu-metal riffs buzz beneath evocative, feathery vocals, whilst moments of 90’s techno manage to peek through the waves of heaviness, as if somebody has just inserted a PS1 demo disc. A killer bridge segment contrasts the track’s glamour with a viciously performed vocal passage, set against razor-sharp riffs and a subtle rhythmic switch-up; whilst their metalcore days are behind them, the four-piece are always ready to bring back the heaviness when necessary. Thornhill’s commitment to being the most aesthetically oriented band in metal indicates that, if nothing else, ‘Bodies’ will be one stylish album. – Ryan Ward
Canada may have a new champion when it comes to crushing deathcore and breakdowns in 2025. Flesh Prison have slammed into the scene with their amazing new single ‘No Peace’. The group boasts some serious talent with the likes of Paul Padgett (CRUELINTENT), Alex Skinner (Falsifier), as well as Matt Andrews (Ex-RUST / Falsifier) who also produced this crushing new single. Similar in sound to bands such as Paleface Swiss and Strangled; this is for the fans that love beefy riffs, slamming breakdowns, and blood curdling vocals. Is Canada starting a resurgence of absolutely crushing technical deathcore in 2025? Here’s hoping. – Nathaniel Maure
Whenever Light Dweller releases anything, those death metal inclined need to sit up and take notice. Not only do they meld the delightfully melodic with Gorguts esque dissonance and structural complications, they do so with a lovingly unique and crushingly heavy gusto. The new track, ‘Cessation of Time’, taken off their upcoming album The Subjugate, is quintessential work. Their penchant for drifting between vertigo inducing dissonance and disparate technicality is a work to behold. At no point through the track are you left wanting. The solo soars through misty mountaintops covered in melodic tinges of The Black Dahlia Murder before once again diving into the abyss whilst the sparse, ominous break just teases, before Light Dweller goes all blackened death metal on us to see out the track. There’s even some fuzzed out drum machine in there for good measure, why you ask? We don’t know, maybe the album will reveal all. – Rob Bown