Blood Command – We Could Be Heaven
Proving that there’s no two genres that can’t be smooshed together like play-doh, Norwegian four-piece Blood Command combine chunky scandinavian death metal riffs with catchy, booty shaking pop. While their latest single ‘We Could Be Heaven’ leans heavily into the more upbeat side of their sound guitarist Yngve Andersen still provides enough chugging riffs and blazing leads behind frontwoman Nikki Brumen’s joyous vocals to keep the metalheads happy. ‘We Could Be Heaven’ shows off Blood Command’s songwriting chops with one of the band’s most memorable choruses yet accompanied by deceptively complex guitar work and dense gang vocals. Get used to hearing the name Blood Command, the only way is up for one of Norway’s most exciting up and coming acts. – Tom Bruce
fakeyourdeath – Hello, I’m Feeling Hostile / That Was Actually Quite Murderous
A brand new A/B side following on from the release of their fantastic EP Null back in April of this year, new tracks ‘Hello, I’m Feeling Hostile’ and ‘That Was Actually Quite Murderous’ see Brighton’s electronic noiseniks channeling raw bloody murder. Equally ugly and intentionally brash as they document the sadism and cruelty that’s inherent to the human condition, whilst these tracks may be hideous, they present a more vulnerable and melodic edge for a band that has long held a constantly confrontational attitude. “‘Hello, I’m Feeling Hostile’ is an important track for me both musically & emotionally”,states vocalist Candi Underwood on the A side. “At its core, it’s the outpouring of the grief, anger and disgust you feel when those closest to you betray you. It’s unapologetic, more vulnerable than we’ve gone before and almost cruel at times. It’s ugly but I love it.” – Dan Hillier
Knife Bride – Territory
Self-described Nu-Gothika quartet Knife Bride have dropped their new single ‘Territory’ ahead of a tour with Defects and Profiler. A slow-burning, more ballad-y number than we’re used to from the Brighton alt metallers, ‘Territory’ puts vocalist Mollie Clack’s impassioned performance front and centre. In spite of its lyrics and moody tone, she explains that it’s “a love song, believe it or not. It was written after a hostile exchange and I see it as a kind of diary entry, I guess. It’s very dramatic and purging and really highlights how crazy love can make you.” Knife Bride will also be playing at our very own Noizzefest next year – so if you like what you hear, come on down for them and much more. – Will Marshall
No Cure – Don’t Need Your Help (Feat. Nick Chance & Wielded Steel)
Straight edge wrecking crew No Cure dropped their latest album The Commitment to Permanence in 2023, and are following it up with a brand-new EP I Hope I Die Here via their new home of SharpTone Records in early December. Its lead single, ‘Don’t Need Your Help’, features two of their closest friends in their local scene and were picked deliberately for the band to give back and lift up local voices. As a track, it’s hard as nails, guttural vocals and a PINGing snare underpinning riffs that blur the line between metallic hardcore and death metal. Lyrically, it reflects the band’s touring experience throughout the country, and learning that many people still view the Southeast through a lens of negativity. “The meaning behind the song is broad, in the sense that it certainly acknowledges the painful past of the region,” say the band, “but it also makes clear that it doesn’t help anyone to continue shitting on the current people here that only want to make it a better place for everyone.” – Will Marshall
Real Terms – As If
Cementing themselves as one of math rock’s most engaging new acts with their 2023 debut album Vantage, Liverpool based trio Real Terms are back with new single ‘As If’. Continuing their blend of gentle melodies and off-kilter staccato rhythms, ‘As If’ allows the three-piece to shine with a sound that nestles comfortably between the delicate math rock of Delta Sleep and the catchy pop-rock of The Police. Bassist and vocalist John Crawford’s elegantly smooth low end and sparkling vocal performance anchor the track allowing guitarist Christopher Lynn to fill out the band’s sound with subtly intricate flourishes and rich, bell-like harmonics. Carrying on their streak of sophisticated, calming math rock hits Real Terms once again prove themselves to be a name to keep an eye on with ‘As If’. – Tom Bruce
Cultdreams – Halloween (Queer Magic)
The third single to be taken from Cultdream’s upcoming record Love Won’t Let Me Go & Death Consumes Me, ‘Halloween (Queer Magic)’ is a dreary and ghastly ode to the safety that comes with donning a mask, be it cheap and plastic from the supermarket or something more substitutional. Coded in the key of The Cure and positively drenched in the reverb that permeated their last full length, the track is both a lamentation of how only can only safely present their true self whilst in hiding, and more subtly, a celebration of the joy that comes from embracing one’s true identity, even if only briefly prior to getting truly comfortable. – Dan Hillier
Cwfen – Reliks
Released just in time for Halloween – or Samhain for the pagans among us – ‘Reliks’ is a suitably haunting funeral shawl of noise from Glaswegian doomgazers Cwfen. Documenting one’s final thoughts and the unravelling of what one thought to be true come the arrival of death, ‘Reliks’ is a brooding yet poigant documentation of finality and a timely reminder at all of us will one day discover what lies beyond the veil. Bleak, yes, but with this existential reflection reminiscing thoughts of Chelsea Wolfe, King Woman and Emma Ruth Rundle, it’s hard not to find comfort in this track. Should one not be familiar with Cwfen yet be a fan of the acts aforementioned, then now is the time to be so. – Dan Hillier
Out Of Love – It Is What Is Is (Feat. Wade MacNeil)
Taken from Out Of Love’s upcoming EP Tuff Luv – released November 29th via Venn Records – and featuring Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire, Dooms Children and Black Lungs, ‘It Is What It Is’ is a snarly growl of garage punk that doesn’t need the aforementioned Canadian legend guesting in thanks to its own merits, but certainly benefits from it regardless. Wonderfully capturing the Luton mob’s breathless and organic approach of modern, hardcore-influenced punk, ‘It Is What It Is’ is an empowering and optimistic melee that’s enhanced by Wade’s gravelly tones. “I’ve known Wade for a few years, since working with him on a song for the Arnold Schwarzenegger Netflix series FUBAR”, states vocalist Jack Rogers. We had this song written for a while and whilst recording it I had been listening to the Black Lungs LP a lot. I could always hear his voice over the second verse and knew it would suit the vibe of the track instantly so I took my shot and hit him up! He heard the song and said yes! Absolutely smashed it. We couldn’t be happier with the take and have him part of this single.” – Dan Hillier
Beyond Grace – Fragile (Sting Cover)
Disregard any preconceptions you might have before going into this; there’s nowt fragile about this. A cover of Sting’s 1987 anti-violence anthem, Beyond Grace’s rendition of ‘Fragile’ is a cerebral, seething and ever-timely reminder of the futility of war delivered with frothing haste. Subsisting the plucked strings and dulcet tones of the 20th century heartthrob for gurgling growls, galloping momentum and rampaging riffs dense enough to give The Police frontman a panic attack, this cover not only see’s the Notts death metal quartet showcase their brilliant and palpable approach to their craft wonderfully, but highlights the danger of mass-violence in a time when it appears many have become desensitised to it. Should one be into the death metal game and unfamiliar with Beyond Grace, or just wants a new take on a classic ballad from originally from every UK mum’s sweetheart, then now is the time to get familiar. – Dan Hillier
Jar of Blind Flies – Hell Is An Ocean
Released via Small Pond’s upcoming artist development compilation Small Pond Presents: Emerging Vol. 4 – released November 15th – ‘Hell Is An Ocean’ is set to be a bastard dense introduction to one of the most promising new names in nu-grunge for many. Sitting in the same vein of acts such as False Advertising, the dearly missed Bitch Falcon and Sœur albeit with a guitar tone hefty enough to sink their native Brighton, ‘Hell Is An Ocean’ is a grungy, crushing yet ethereally delicate track that sees Jar Of Blind Flies wonderfully present the dichotomy that serves as the crux of their sound. It’s easy to see why the band are swiftly becoming a dearly loved presence on the South Coast, especially with recent sets with Snaxy and The Wedding Present already under their belt – but going from this track it won’t be long before they’re gaining pundits from further afield. – Dan Hillier
Overhead, the Albatross – Paul Lynch
8 years on from their iconic debut album, Overhead, the Albatross continue their evolution by leaning into hazy electronica throughout this 9 minute tribute to a departed friend. While there are through lines from their previous material that will keep returning fans happy, the band have vastly widened their musical horizons here and will surely ensnare fresh ears aplenty. Sounding like a blend of Portico Quartet’s locked in rhythmic meditation and the euphoric math-rock of And So I Watch You From Afar, this is post rock that blurs the edges of the genre and rewards the listener with a rich and touching journey across its runtime. – Tim Dorning
Coilguns – Bandwagoning
The Swiss noise-rock quartet have saved the best for last, with the final single before their hotly anticipated album Odd Love opening with a complex, gnarly but infinitely danceable barrage of riffs punctuated by Louis Jucker’s theatrically delivered post-hardcore sermons. With just enough noise and sludge to keep things unpredictable, 4 minutes fly by in no time at all with mathy sinew wrapped around a fist-pumping punk spine. The closing “Fuck yeah!” just about says it all. – Tim Dorning
Múr – Frelsari
Icelandic metallers Múr have released just two songs so far, with ‘Frelsari’ following up debut ‘Heimsslit’ by almost upending what we’ve seen from them so far. Where the latter was an 11-minute metal odyssey, ‘Frelsari’ is a far more concise 4 minute affair that predominantly peddles their take on death metal. albeit one that’s drenched in atmosphere, particularly its choruses that feature gritty sung melodies. It’s also packed with groove, the riffs around those choruses propelled by double-bass drumming. For two songs into their career, Múr are starting to look like a very promising band in the ever-reliable Icelandic scene. – Will Marshall
Aonach – Hanging Tree
From the first bass note, through the devilish laughter and forlorn rain fall ‘Hanging Tree’ invokes the most evil sort of doom you could want. The vocals sound like they’ve been sampled from the 9th circle of hell, the slow, ponderous guitars rich with distortion grind through the background before dropping into a faster almost black ‘n’ roll style flourish. There’s dynamics, excellent vocals and gnarly guitars to boot, Aonach are one to watch if this level of atmosphere and depth of dynamics is followed up. This track drags you kicking and screaming into a damp cave, where rituals abound and the hanging tree truly awaits. – Rob Bown
Cradle of Filth – Malignant Imperfection
When you think about it, Halloween is probably the best time for gothic extreme metal stalwarts Cradle of Filth to release a track. All the usual suspects are there, the symphonic keys linger behind the guitars that range from sparse to thrash to power metal. Dani Filth’s vocals are on point as usual, which is such a guaranteed statement it’s almost as likely as the ever present corpse paint. The track builds and builds in usual Filth fashion, leading to a triumphant ending that cries out to be performed exclusively on the biggest most elaborate stages. – Rob Bown
Full Of Hell & Andrew Nolan – Sphere of Saturn (Feat. Justin K Broadrick)
Full of Hell have every string in their bow set and ready to fire at all times. It’s the only explanation of their ever-expanding repertoire of noise and fury that is so seamlessly blended with their balls to the wall grind style. ‘Sphere of Saturn’ follows up the first single from their brand new collaboration with industrial artist Andrew Nolan, ‘Burdened by Solar Mass’, with a more contemplative (albeit no less noisy) track of industrial flavourings, lo-fi feedback and droning, haunted vocals. Everything this band turn their hand to seems to just work, so far reaching are their influences now that they could release an electro-country grind album and it would likely not fall down. – Rob Bown
RedHook – Bomb.com
Even though it’s barely 18 months since debut album Postcard From a Living Hell, Aussie shapeshifters RedHook have stayed busy, dropping 7 singles now with latest offering ‘Bomb.com’, all offering a glimpse into their second album Mutation due out 22 November. It’s another short, sharp shock with bouncing riffs, while frontwoman Emmy Mack spits her fastest, sassiest bars yet. Of the song, they say it’s “basically just a big fun diss track about an egomaniacal dude in the music industry who likes to talk a lot of shit, particularly about female-fronted bands. Lame AF behaviour that we felt compelled to take the living piss out of”. With tracks like this, and a UK tour supporting Dream State that’s just kicked off, RedHook are indeed, going to be the bomb (dot com). – Will Marshall
Great American Ghost – Lost in the Outline
Metalcore bands are a dime a dozen these days so it takes a bit to stand out above the masses. Fortunately for your ears Great American Ghost have a good old crack at doing just this with the BMTH inspired track ‘Lost In The Outline’. It doesn’t really cover new ground, but it’s a good a release as any of their others, crushing guitar tones and a smorgasbord of vocal techniques create a really enjoyable track, that finishes right when it should do, but also urges you to hit that repeat button and listen to it over and over. The modern metalcore influence is writ large all over this track, it’s not a bad thing at all, expect to hear this in metal bars across the country as it’s definitely going to be a crowd pleaser. – Rob Bown
Love Is Noise – to live in a different way
Yummy yummy shoegaze. The guitars on ‘to live in a different way’ are so thick you could run across them like a non-Newtonian liquid. There’s layer upon layer of lush reverb, coupled with the delightful vocals of Cameron Humphrey. It’s a shoegaze-y metalcore fan’s wet dream. There’s more dips and troughs than a nacho competition in a pigsty, and some heavy guitars to boot before it launches into the final crescendo of maddened drumming and key change choruses. Love Is Noise make you feel happy, and if that’s not enough reason to give them four and a half minutes then we don’t know what is. – Rob Bown
Acid Vat – Grandma’s Teeth
Acid Vat are going from strength to strength as anyone who pays attention to the UK death metal scene will know. The new track, ‘Grandma’s Teeth’, with its tongue in cheek title carries on this tradition with some cracking old-school style death. Stacatto riffing, palm muted nightmares, double-kick assaults and of course the titular teeth adds up to something that just feels right. Let’s also take a minute to appreciate the artwork for the single too; if that isn’t at home on a cut off white t-shirt then what is? If you haven’t already get to an Acid Vat show, they crush it every time and are well worth it. – Rob Bown
De’Lour – Drown Out the Silence
South Welsh metallers De’Lour return with a powerhouse of a new single ‘Drown Out the Silence’. Fresh off the release of their EP The Ghost You Left Behind, the band have wasted no time in releasing new music particularly after a run of great shows and a brilliant reception to the latest music they have released. ‘Drown Out the Silence’ blends heavy guitars and soaring vocals, both of which we have now come to expect from the band who have firmly planted themselves in the South Wales scene. However this new single feels like the band have let creativity run free and have included more intricate guitar melodies and a rampaging breakdown section that shifts the song, albeit briefly, into heavier territory. It doesn’t just work well, it’s brilliantly effective and is made to seem effortless. It’s a bold and exciting new move for De’Lour and one that is hopefully an indicator for exciting things to come. – Jac Holloway
Ffatri Jam – Colli Nabod
North Welsh bilingual rockers Ffatri Jam have returned with their brand new single ‘Colli Nabod’, a monstrous hard-hitting track with huge amounts of roaring charisma and infectious energy. The band formed in 2022 and released their EP Boddi in 2023, which received positive reviews and praise spanning across both Welsh and mainstream rock media. ‘Colli Nabod’ boasts wailing guitars, chunky riffs and soaring vocals. Whilst there are classic tropes drawn upon throughout the song, including a ferocious guitar solo and typical verse structures, the song feels polished and fresh. Confidence oozes from the band even on record and influences can be heard from the likes of Nickelback and Alter Bridge. The Welsh rock and metal scene is thriving currently but there isn’t a band quite like Ffatri Jam. In terms of their unique blend of hard rock and bilingual lyricism, there is no one like them, or at least no one is doing it quite as well as they are. – Jac Holloway
The Five Hundred – Rainmaker (Feat. Aaron Matts)
One of the UK’s most underrated metalcore acts, The Five Hundred, delivers a powerful single in their trademark sound. Thick low tuned guitars carry this moody tune into excellence, with the band doing what they do best. All the hooks and soaring vocal melodies are here – an essential for any track by The Five Hundred. Just when you think the band are about to switch things up with a predictable breakdown, they launch into a beautiful bridge section with some stunning guitar passages. Guest vocalist Aaron Matts also adds a beautiful touch to this single, completing what most would consider a perfect modern metalcore song. – Jude Bennett
Abduction – A Legacy of Sores
Abduction might be the premier black metal act in the UK at the moment and the new track ‘A Legacy of Sores’ shows exactly why that is. It’s blistering from the get go, replete with peak district gloomy atmosphere and nods to black metal in its myriad forms. It’s a longer one at six and a half minutes, but there’s so much chewy corpse paint ridden goodness to sink your fangs into that it’ll feel like a two minute hardcore track. Their journey here is impeccable and doesn’t miss at all. Much like their previous releases, the album due out next year is definitely one to keep an eye out for. – Rob Bown
Swollen Teeth – Money and Greed
Slipknot’s #0’s other band has been at it for a year now, and honestly this new track is some really good noisey hardcore. It’s got elements of early Slipknot (as you’d probably expect) counterweighted with more modern metalcore, hardcore and even some electronic stuff going on in there. It’s like if ‘Eyeless’ or ‘Spit It Out’ were mashed together with some modern overproduced metalcore. ‘Money and Greed’ is short, which is good because it’s so replayable that you’ll want to dive into its noisy electronic mishmash over and over again. The vocals call out over the track, “do you really want it?” Yes, yes we do, please get more out. – Rob Bown