Dan Hillier
They say good things come to those who wait. Many will doubt such a notion but at least the sentiment is true when it comes to Karnivool. The Aussie’s first single in four years and dropping a whole 12 years since their last LP, ‘Drone’ see’s the ‘Vool doing what they do best; offering massive prog rock that’s as swaggering as it is immersive. A slow-cooked wonder of a track that’s tested and tempered by both time and patience, this single pays credence to the band’s steadfast approach to making art without being shaken by demand nor the ever prevalent cheap commodification of music. Plus, with a new record seemingly on the horizon, it appears we shouldn’t be waiting too long for even more new music. – Dan Hillier
Igorrr are three singles deep on their wildly varied romp towards the new album and they haven’t missed yet. ‘Infestis’ follows the trend of bangers with a massive, stomping, chorally enriched, industrialised anthem that sounds like it’s been dragged screaming from the depths. There’s times where it’s like Cradle of Filth is having a scrap with Strapping Young Lad and we’re here for it. This new album is promising (and no doubt will deliver) a lot, the wide variety of sounds Igorrr are willing to use speaks volumes when they are so seamlessly woven into such delightfully heavy tracks. – Rob Bown
Once “Turnstile summer” is over, fear not, Belgian trio Slow Crush will provide the soundtrack to your post-summer blues with the release of their third album Thirst on August 29th, which promises to wrap listeners worldwide in a warm haze of melancholia set to some of the best contemporary shoegaze out there at the minute along with the likes of Holy Fawn and Wisp. Or you could already start getting in the mood by revisting their two, equally crushing (pun not intended) and moody, previous singles if the summer season is more synonymous with longing and yearning to you than it is with crop tops and spin kicks. – Avrian O’Brien
Charli XCX ended her Brat era at Glasto last night by quite literally torching her backdrop. Which is nice of her to do as we enter Adebisi Shank summer. The second single from the Irish trio post hiatus and taken from their suitably named new EP This Is The Second EP Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank – released August 15th – ‘Orange Splash’ is a sun-kissed burst of energy that’s only enhanced by the vocals of Yvette Young. Harkening back to the carefree manic energy that characterised both the band’s 2010 second record and the summer in which it released, ‘Orange Splash’ is just one of those rare tracks that’s impossible not to feel re-energized by. Yes, the adolescent days of youth synonymous with the early tens may be long over, but at least Adebisi Shank are back to offer up what are essentially musical equivalents of fruit shoots on scorching summer days. – Dan Hillier
A fitting song given current events, ‘Apocalypse Now’ see’s synthwave legend Perturbator collaborating with Kristoffer Rygg of Ulver to acutely narrate what the final war waged by man would look and sound like. Forgoing bombastic intensity in favour of a sleek, pulsating but fatally nihilistic soundscape that ponders humanity’s unique tendency for self-destruction at the expense of progress, ‘Apocalypse Now’ is a darkly seductive track that mirrors the enigmatic pull that draws us to our own demise. However, it’s the wonderful video courtesy of director David Fitt that makes all of this unconformably visual. “The lyrics of ‘Apocalypse Now’ have made me wonder: what would the last war look like? A coup? A war of all against all? A nuclear war? Maybe. Could be”, states Fitt on the video. “But I realized that what I would love to do, to watch, to happen, is a war of world leaders against themselves. The war they all dream of, but are too cowardly to fight themselves. This would be the ultimate war, in my opinion. And that’s what I aimed to show. And then we’re left wondering: what would be next? What if women took charge? Would power consume them too, eventually? Are we doomed as a species? That’s what I wonder and want people to wonder with me.” – Dan Hillier
Conjured from the bowls of hell, Eastbourne-based Believe In Nothing bring an unapologetic musing on the nuclear with a neutron bomb of their own in ‘Boiling Stone’. Taken from debut EP of the same name, this is a grotesque slab of sludge and noise capable of shifting tectonic plates to summon an atmosphere riddled with sheer terror. At only a year old and signed to perfect home Church Road Records expect to see them level venues far and wide for years to come, leaving a meteor sized imprint for those who wish to indulge the self inflicted downfall of humanity. Let ‘Boiling Stone’ ring in your ears and shatter all hope. – Andy Calderbank
Boneflower return with new album Reverie, their first new album in five years and having spent that time tirelessly scorching the earth across every DIY corner of Europe and beyond they are nailing the formula of melodic screamo/post-hardcore to howl into the Madrid sun. New single ‘Anniversary’ is not just another tortured confessional but an atmospheric triumph of melancholy with the intensity and desperation of trademark screamo combined with emo sensibilities which helps it soar beautifully into more melodious territory. Having already featured Jeremy Bolm (Touche Amore) on previous single ‘Pomegranate’ and officially joining Deathwish Inc. Boneflower are finally getting the recognition they deserve and will surely become a mainstay in the upper echelons of post-hardcore for countless trips across Europe and beyond. – Andy Calberbank
Boston based goth/noise rock misfits Crippling Alcoholism continue to plunge ever deeper into the darkest nooks and crannies of the human psyche on their newest single ‘Mr. Sentimental’. The track tells the story of a disturbed man seemingly willing to become a serial killer if that’s what it takes for no other man to approach his mother, and warns against the temptation of knowing and gossiping about the darkest secrets one may hide since “prying eyes often end up envying the blind“. Going for a bit of a heavier undertone to blend with the catchy brand of goth noise/art rock they have carved for themselves, Crippling Alcoholism are gearing up for many more a spine-tingling tale of twisted man-made horror with the upcoming release of their third LP, Camgirl, on September 12th. – Avrian O’Brien
How many of us can relate to the namesake of this song? We’re betting it’s quite low and so is Problem Patterns. Dropping a few months after their last single ‘Sad Old Woman’ and taken from their freshly announced new EP Boring Songs for Boring People – released September 12th via Alcopop! Records – ‘I’m Fine and I’m Doing Great’ pretty much nails the general mood felt by the entire nation right now. A product of both burn out and totally crashing out, here, Belfast’s finest queerpunk quartet document the reality that is succumbing to stress in a career and reality that demands all your energy and more. In true vein of Problem Patterns, it’s brash, sounds like a buzzsaw and void of any flowery metaphorical prose; because how has the energy to trying to decipher any of that whilst trying to survive on a burning planet held together by the stress of eight billion people. – Dan Hillier
Bilmuri have been gaining momentum rapidly since the release of their last album American Motor Sports, and they’ve just unveiled their next move in the form of new single ‘More Than Hate’. It takes the poppy, country-adjacent vocals of Johnny Franck and pairs it with one of their crunchiest, chuggiest riffs yet in a whiplash-inducing combination. That’s par for the course with Bilmuri at this point, breakdowns alongside saxophones, seemingly unserious music masking serious themes. While there’s no saxophone this time, it’s still the Bilmuri people know and love, right down to the low-budget, low-res music video seemingly filmed in 480p. Whatever happens next, it’ll surely be great. – Will Marshall
Though they take their name from the Elder Scrolls lore, Daedric (aka Kristyn Hope) paints from a far broader palette than just that world (though it’s certainly expansive enough to support one – just see Noctule). Latest single ‘Callous’ is the next step towards their second album, and tackles themes of betrayal, heartbreak, abandonment and retribution. Veering between progressive sensibilities and crunchy metalcore, it’s easy to see why they’ve got so many ears on them and toured with the likes of Tesseract. Hope says of the song, “The duality between the vocals worked out well, it’s like a conversation with yourself or with the other person.” – Will Marshall
With their newest track ‘Endless Currents’, Belgian underground post-metal titans Psychonaut announce their third album World Maker, an album which instead of focusing on the more psychedelic and spiritual thematics the band have presented thus far, will focus on the very real human experience that is dealing with the loss of a father figure, while also acting as a cathartic celebration and reflection on “the passing of the torch”, as the son in turn becomes the father. The track itself mimics its very title as we are met with a reverbed, staccato guitar main motif that ebbs and flows in and out of both our ears and the song’s structure. An endless tide of waves borne from distant currents, crashing with mighty force against the shore only to repeat that motion, over and over. Brace for a solemn, powerful celebration of life and death on October 24th set to the epic progressive post-metal proportions Psychonaut have become known to conjure up. – Avrian O’Brien
Sonechko are coming in strong with their debut track ‘Split’, and what a debut it is. The solo project of Lucy Shevchuk (Square Wild), this track feels like it’s lifted straight from a psychological thriller in the best way possible. It’s eerie, dramatic, and totally gripping from start to finish. There’s a quiet power running through it too, with a haunting energy that beautifully captures a sense of feminine strength and resilience. The tension builds with every note, leaving you chilled and completely drawn in. A bold, atmospheric start from Sonechko, and we’re already hooked. – Vee Richardson
The resurgence of early 2000s and MySpace-era deathcore has revitalised a genre plagued by copycats and lack of inventiveness. Bands like Psycho-Frame have led that charge, and ‘Black_Wave II’ shows their throwback brutality at its best. Taken from their upcoming debut album Salvation Laughs In the Face of a Grieving Mother out 25th July, it’s got sub drops, pinging snares and gutturals aplenty. It’s also an homage to Hunter Young’s other band Moodring, though they are worlds apart stylistically. Young explains of the song, “Much of [it] is very anti-religious, but that extends to idols in politics and the music scene. No one is above you.” Sounds about right – Psycho-Frame are heavy enough to drag us all down to the pits. – Will Marshall