Greta Gerstner
October 22, 2023| Dan Hillier |FEATURES
BRAT, Alkaline Trio, Delilah Bon, Lamb Of God, Lonely The Brave and More: New Noizze – The 40 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week
Big old bumper edition time. Here's the best 40 singles of the past two week.s
BRAT – Social Grace
If Scene Queen is the sound of Bimbocore, then BRAT is the sound of Bimboviolence. Marrying timeless OSDM with a pink-pilled approach to powerviolence, the NOLA bruisers are a crucial proposition in a genre known for pompous masculinity. ‘Social Grace’ is the group’s new single and their first release under the Prosthetic Records banner, with the track sounding akin to a bullet-belt donned Margot Robbie fronting Bolt Thrower. However, there’s no gimmickry here. In fact, ‘Social Grace’ sounds like it could bench press most of its contemporariness in the way it stays true to the hulking musical strength of the genre. With the band having already played shows with the likes of EYEHATEGOD, ACxDC and Maul, BRAT are here to violently pave the way for barbiegrind. – Dan Hillier
Alkaline Trio – Blood, Hair and Eyeballs
Elder emos rejoice, Alkaline Trio walk among us once more, bringing renewed life and energy to their familiar sound with new single ‘Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs’ off their upcoming album of the same name, released via Rise Records on January 26th 2024. With 6 years having passed since they released new material, Matt Skiba steps effortlessly back into harmony with Dan Andriano for this hit of nostalgia driven goodness. Full to the brim with more camp fun and spooky themes than any haunted mansion ride, Alkaline Trio are back to prove they haven’t lost their flair or their passion and do what they do best. – Zee Asher
Underdark – Matrimony (27th December 1997)
Nottingham post-black metallers Underdark have unveiled the latest single taken from second album Managed Decline – out November 24th via Church Road Records – and it paints a bleak portrait of part of the overarching album narrative. According to the band, “Matrimony takes place in a certain part of the album’s story where a chance hookup at a party results in an unplanned pregnancy and hasty wedding. The couple, both heroin users, try to keep it together for the sake of their child. Addiction, unfortunately, is a bitch and the mother relapses in a fatal overdose.” The soundtrack to this bleak tale is just shy of 8 minutes of furious blastbeats married with gorgeous atmospherics, that continues to show a huge step up for Managed Decline. – Will Marshall
Delilah Bon – Witch (Feat. ALT BLK ERA)
Released in anticipation of the approaching all hallows eve, ‘Witch’ sees alternative hip-hop artist Delilah Bon giving a voice to all those innocent woman murdered during the religious bloodlust of the witch trials of the 14th – 17th century. Directly addressing the parallels between violence towards women then and now, the track is arguably Delilah Bon’s most incendiary work thus far, with the righteous rage inherent only being amplified with the additional soundscapes of ALT BLK ERA. “I wrote this song for the forgotten women in history that were killed on suspicion of witchcraft during the 14th – 17th century witch trials”, states Delilah Bon. “If women were outspoken, if they challenged the church or the patriarchy, they would be forced to confess to being a witch under torture then hanged or burnt at the stake. All of it was fuelled by misogyny and the fear of women’s power. They wanted to silence and blame women, killing over 50,000 of them across Europe and America. I did a lot of reading about witches and couldn’t believe how barbaric and wide scale it all was, it only felt right to give these women a voice 300 years later.” – Dan Hillier
The Infernal Sea – Bastard Of The East
Yet another blistering track addressing how religious paranoia over witches led to needless suffering in the 15th century, ‘Bastard Of The East’ sees UK black metal standouts The Infernal Sea addressing one of the most barbaric witch-hunters of the 1500s. Taken from the band’s upcoming record Hellfenlic – released January 26th via Candlelight Records – ‘Bastard Of The East’ and the record as a whole harrowingly details the life, methods and much deserved downfall of Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, a man who led a reign of persecution over the UK throughout his life. Those loyal to the black metal scene should know how brilliant The Infernal Sea are, but here the band document the horrors of the subject in a way even more-so bleak than their previous work, ensuring their dismal approach to black metal is more suffocating than ever before. “This single delves deep inside the notion of how incredibly delusional Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General was”, state the band on the track. “He was a brutal, sadistic murderer, who strongly believed that he was carrying out God’s work. He extracted false confessions out of many fearful innocent women, during a time of great paranoia within the Church. He believed demons were rampant, causing mischief, fornicating and spreading blasphemy. It was the Witchfinders’ mission to protect the church and the people from these ‘lies’.” – Dan Hillier
Lonely The Brave – Long Way
Going from strength to strength, Lonely The Brave release another new single from their upcoming album What We Do To Feel. Jack Bennett’s ardent vocals on ‘Long Way’ emanate a yearning that only heightens the dreamy, buoyant melody. The confidence put into their sound and their production at every level comes through loud and clear, Lonely The Brave are a band that know exactly what they’re doing and how to leave a lasting impact and you can’t afford to miss out. – Zee Asher
Lamb of God – Evidence
This institution of heavy grooves and howling shrieks needs no introduction: it’s Lamb of God. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Omens, their ninth album, they release the single ‘Evidence’ originally available only on the Japanese CD version. It’s classic Lamb of God: extremely pissed off, groovy as hell, and unfairly catchy. If you get your dopamine from the vocalist roaring “go!” right before the instruments explode into the final stretch, this one should tickle your hypothalamus nicely. – Josiah Aden
Full Of Hell x Nothing – Spend the Grace
The dim hallway stretches into the distance. It looks like it’s been abandoned for years. Somewhere, a spacey, repetitive guitar begins to plink a tense riff. Breathy vocals materialize as velvety black background sounds begin to hum. The hallway shrinks away as the vocals tear in and open a portal to a despairing hellscape. Full of Hell x Nothing’s collaboration ‘Spend the Grace’ is truly bleak. Nothing’s post-shoegaze heightens, rather than tempers, Full of Hell’s sonic horrors with their tense guitars and cold atmospheres. The guitars turn slow and ponderous for the middle section to buttress the blackened doomgaze climax. As the hellish vision recedes, a crackly, static soundscape refuses to let the listener return to life so complacently. – Josiah Aden
Lauren Mayberry – Shame
CHVRCHES lead singer Lauren Mayberry returns with her second solo single following September’s debut ‘Are You Awake?’ and with it brings a return to the more familiar electronic, synth-driven sound she has associated herself with over the course of the last decade. Offering a less aggressive sound than her band’s more recent material, ‘Shame’ takes a more upbeat approach with Mayberry’s dreamy vocals taking centre stage as she sardonically tackles themes of societal exploitation and female conformity, all the while ensuring that the song’s main hook stays in your head for hours after listening. – Jordan Aldridge
Cauldron – I Forgot You Existed (Seattle 1)
Birmingham outfit Cauldron love the sound of the 2000s; with every single from upcoming debut album Suicide In the City, they’ve showcased a reverence for that time period while addressing modern and personal ills. ‘I Forgot You Existed (Seattle 1)’ is brimming with snarling riffs while its soaring chorus shows a vulnerability amidst the carnage. Of the song, vocalist Frazer Cassling says “this song is about underestimating an issue or problem and thinking it’s solved before it actually is, which causes it to resurface later on in worse ways. The clean vocals on this song are some of my favourites on the album, and it was definitely a new challenge trying to write and record a chorus of cleans and make them catchy whilst still Cauldron.” – Will Marshall
Dream State – Still Dreaming
Dream State have been through a lot. Returning earlier this year with a revamped lineup and new EP Untethered, they were re-embraced gladly by the scene, and they’ve worked tirelessly since then. Latest single ‘Still Dreaming’ comes from the newly-announced mini-album of the same name, and is very much in the vein of the melodic post hardcore they’re beloved for. This is the fifth new song we’ve heard Jessie Powell on and it feels like her confidence has only grown every time. A song close to her heart given the decade gap between last picking up a mic, as well as to the rest of the band for persevering through so much upheaval, ‘Still Dreaming’ is just as it suggests, as the band say “It symbolises not giving up on your dreams no matter what hurdles and obstacles life throws at you. Never let your dreams just be dreams! We hope it serves as a motivating anthem for anyone that listens, as it means a lot to us.” – Will Marshall
END – Thaw (Feat. Debbie Gough)
Want a song that sounds like getting mugged? END have that in spades, and with the latest single from their second album The Sin of Human Fraility, they’ve introduced industrial elements to make it even more unsettling. ‘Thaw’ has pulsing electronics that lend it an even more menacing atmosphere, along with guest vocals from Heriot‘s own Debbie Gough. The interplay between the two, or when they both truly go for the throat, makes this an unmissable onslaught of nihilistic, heavy hardcore. END were already one of the most vicious and exciting bands to pick up in the wake of bands like Nails, and ‘Thaw’ sees them finding their own take on the sound more than ever before. – Will Marshall
Cherym – Do It Another Day
Taken from the band’s recently announced new record Take It Or Leave It – released February 16th via Alcopop! Records – ‘Do It Another Day’ is a zingy and irresistibly catchy ADHD anthem from one of North Ireland’s best pop-punk exports. Encapsulating the band’s brilliant ability to amplify the original feel-good properties of guitar pop whilst pushing pop-punk to new heights, the track wonderfully highlights how Cherym are swiftly becoming one of the most doted-on names within the genre. “I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year and for the first time in my life I realised that I wasn’t just a complete idiot and I actually had an illness that explained why I am the way I am”, states vocalist Hannah Richardson. “I guess the diagnosis also prompted creativity and so ‘Do it Another Day’ was born. Whenever we recorded it in the studio we just knew straight away that we wanted it to be the anthem for all the ADHDers out there who, like me, struggle with productivity and finding that initial bit of motivation you need to clean your room, or do laundry, or sometimes even get a shower…because that’s the reality of living with ADHD. If this is you, we really hope this song allows you to feel heard.” – Dan Hillier
Mugshot – Cold Will
Beatdown troupe Mugshot have been steadily climbing the ladder of North America’s best and most entertaining metal acts of the decade. Bringing their newest single, and title track to their upcoming release with Pure Noise Records, this marks its third single. Full of insane instrumentals and beastly vocals; one could arguably compare it to a heavier Orthodox single. Chaotic from the start with enough brutality to appeal to hardcore fans and deathcore fans alike, Mugshot continue to prove time and time again why they’re among some of the most underrated newer hardcore acts today. – Nathaniel Maure
Crystal Lake – Dystopia
Japanese heavy hitters Crystal Lake provide healthy injection of metalcore straight to the heart with a track so heavenly, its name couldn’t be less fitting. Starting with ethereal strings, the fiery brand of -core that the band are famous for kicks in, dragging the listener to furious blast beats and powerful screams. Fast palm-muted riffs and chugs then give way to a catchy chorus that carries the same passionate torch from the band’s earlier work. This song is an absolute rager and a fine example of modern metalcore that remains exciting. – Jude Bennett
Spiritbox – Cellar Door
Hot on the heels of ‘Jaded’ comes ‘Cellar Door’, the new single taken from Spiritbox‘s upcoming EP The Fear of Fear. It’s a curveball given the far more melodic tack taken on recent songs including ‘Rotoscope’ from earlier this year, and feels far more like a spiritual successor to ‘Holy Roller’. It also harkens back to their far djentier early leanings, instrumentally sitting somewhere around their self-titled EP or singles collection era, a maelstrom of drums and guitar that Courtney LaPlante delivers her now-iconic scream over. It’s exciting to think the band are continuing to experiment with their sound and figure out their place in the metalcore world, even as they continue to get bigger and bigger, commanding larger crowds all the while. The Fear of Fear is shaping up to be an exciting release, that much is for certain. – Will Marshall
SUDS – The Great Overgrowth (Feat. Cal Hudson)
Third single and title track from the taken from SUDS’ upcoming debut LP – released November 3rd via Big Scary Monsters – ‘The Great Overgrowth’ manifests breaths of fresh air, both lyrically and musically. Detailing how being exposed to nature can provide healing and further embellished by vocals courtesy of Cal Hudson of Other Half, ‘The Great Overgrowth’ is a zingy and therapeutic airing of brilliant modern emo. SUDS have had a brilliant 2023, playing everywhere from 2000 Trees to Truck Festival and playing with everyone from Spanish Love Songs to Martha, but with The Great Overgrowth soon to be in the public domain, next year is looking to be the one where they truly spread their roots. – Dan Hillier
Mannequin Pussy – I Don’t Know You
Taken from the band’s upcoming new record I Got Heaven, due for release March 1st via Epitaph Records, ‘I Don’t Know You’ sees Mannequin Pussy dial back the intensity to offer a dreamy and reverberating soundscape that mirrors the intoxicating wonder of simply having a crush. Simultaneously blissful and all-encompassing in thanks to its swelling wall of reverb, ‘I Don’t Know You’ is a perfect sonic embodiment of the feels that come with infatuation, with the granular escalation of the track wondrously mirroring those quiet thoughts of wanting that become overbearing. – Dan Hillier
Sparky Deathcap – Winter City Ghosts
Okay, for clarity, this is song isn’t exactly new; it was originally released way back in 2009. However, it’s been rightfully treated to a re-release and it’s wonderful. For those uninitiated, Sparky Deathcap is the solo project of Los Campesinos! multi-instrumentalist R N Taylor and the release of ‘Winter City Ghosts’ comes in thanks to re-release of the long sought after 2009 Tear Jerky EP. However, one does not need to be a long term fan of either Los Camp! or Sparky Deathcap to appreciate this. Delightfully lo-fi and elegantly aching, ‘Winter City Ghosts’ radiates both warmth and cold longing in thanks to its shimmering tenderness and gentle acoustic fretwork which brilliantly visuals snow-flurries in a cold winter afternoon. Should one have missed the original release all those years ago, now this is the perfect time to get cosy with this track and Sparky Deathcap as an entity. – Dan Hillier
Scaler – New Symbols
The second following their name change, Scaler (FKA Scalping) are back with ‘New Symbols’. Once again produced by Daniel Avery, ‘New Symbols’ is an immediate immersion into the UV-A lit world of Scaler, a place where noise is not only physically tangible, but threatening. Straddling the line between off-world industrial and underground dance, ‘New Symbols’ may be Scaler’s most urgent work to date, something that was intentional as the band explain. “With New Symbols we wanted to act quickly on our instincts and create something a bit more rough and ready. We started with a sturdy, winding groove before adding the blasts of alien vocals and industrial noise. The focus was exploring different flavours of distortions across all instruments whilst remaining functional at its core, which we especially enjoyed sculpting in the middle shoegazey section – which is particularly fun live.” – Dan Hillier
Judas Priest – Panic Attack
It’s been a long wait since the undisputed glorious triumph of 2018’s Firepower – one of the best Judas Priest offerings in many years – and now the band are back with a new song. ‘Panic Attack’ starts out by evoking one of the band’s most famous albums, Turbo, with synths charging up in the background, before the band creep in. It’s not long before Rob Halford’s legendary voice enters the scene above killer guitar riffs. At 72 years old, it’s remarkable he can still deliver a performance with such conviction and vocal ability, reaching high notes with the power of a man a third his age. A tasty guitar solo helps to seal the deal on this track, with fans being able to look forward to a whole raft of new Judas Priest songs next year with their new album. – Jude Bennett
Bring Me The Horizon – DArkSide
South Yorkshire genre splicers Bring Me The Horizon return with their latest single from the second part of their Post Human series with the pop-drenched DArkSide. Channeling some of the early to mid 00s standout bands, DArkSide is a track packed with emotion and with frontman Oli Sykes previously commenting how no two songs on the upcoming release sound the same, the Sheffield boys have stuck to their promise. Featuring the frontman’s blend of screams and cleans, it may seem like standard BMTH fare with the rest of the band pitching in with a mixture of electronics and thumping drums and guitars, but it’s the manner in which they earnestly pour their collective hearts out that makes this song stand out. With pop-laden verses and choruses, there’s perhaps even a nod to nu-metal icons Papa Roach with the line ‘don’t give a fuck if my heart stops beating’. – Jordan Aldridge
Seagrave – Edge of the Woods
Toronto’s Seagrave are back with yet another new crushing single in the form of Edge of the Woods. Four minutes and ten seconds of absolute destruction; Seagrave set the tone perfectly for their upcoming self-titled EP which drops October 25th. Hints of After the Burial blend perfectly with the boomy syncopation of Emmure. Toss in a pinch of Traitors or Bodysnatcher and you get exactly what Seagrave bring to the table on this one. Low tunings, massive bass drops, and monstrous vocals combine to deliver some of the Canadian’s hardest beatdown to date. The bar was high already; Seagrave managed to set it even higher. – Nathaniel Maure
Twelve Foot Ninja – Everywhere I Look
It’s both exciting and sad that Twelve Foot Ninja are releasing a new album – an acoustic one, to boot. Any time the band release music, it’s a celebration of just how talented the crazy alt-metal Aussie outfit is, but the sadness this time comes from the knowledge the new material is the last to feature vocalist Kin Etik (Nik Barker). ‘Everywhere I Look’ is reminiscent of the band’s earlier work and is a testament to the sheer talent of guitarists Rohan and Stevic, as the song is one of the finest written pieces of music the band have come out with in a long time. Free from the necessary additions of low tuned riffs, the band’s charisma comes through, with a chorus that will get stuck in listeners heads for days, and wonderful guitar licks. – Jude Bennett
Year Of The Knife – Your Control
Delaware straight edge metallic hardcore mob Year Of The Knife are still recovering from the tragic collision earlier this year, but simply couldn’t wait to share the work they’d done with Kurt Ballou last December. ‘Your Control’ is the new single from No Love Lost, the result of those sessions and the first full release with Madi Watkins moving to vocals. While Internal Incarceration set a remarkably high bar, every single so far is set to eclipse that; ‘Your Control’ embraces more than just metallic hardcore, flirting with elements of death metal too as they deliver blistering riff after riff and Watkins’ scream sounds positively unhinged. With many members well on the road to recovery and Madi making amazing progress in her healing journey, we’re all hoping for a speedy recovery for one of hardcore’s most beloved bands. All proceeds from the album are going directly to the band to help them with readjusting to their new lives. – Will Marshall
Moon Tooth – Grimothy
Moon Tooth do a lot of things very well, one of these is those technical choppy guitar riffs of which the new track Grimothy, has in abundance. It’s good to see the band releasing new music and touring since guitarist Nick Lee was hospitalised last year and although it seemed like the road to recovery could be long, his chops have definitely not taken a hit as he shreds his way through an expansive mind bending hard rock solo later on in the track. The vocals are soaring and grittily angelic as usual, and the ‘bop’ along feel of the track will have many go from foot tapping to raucous all out dancing by the song’s conclusion. – Rob Bown
Blanket – Euphoria
Blanket have earned themselves some damn fine support slots recently, and the new single Euphoria, showcases just why this is the case. The ethereal shoegazey stylings of the Leeds natives are laid out for all to see in this rushing anthemic three minutes. It’s a driving garage or grunge rock track that brings American grunge starlets Soul Blind to mind, replete with textural undertones and a warbling chorus section that would make any 90s grunge or alt rock band proud. This is a well rounded track, that ticks all the boxes it needs to, and has a killer chorus that should be a crowd favourite going forward. If you didn’t manage to catch them recently with Better Lovers, then get on it next time they’re playing nearby, the live show is full of energy, gritty guitars and solid drumming. – Rob Bown
Bones Of Minerva – Sky
Following on from their mammoth set at this year’s ArcTanGent, Madrid’s Bones Of Minerva are back with ‘Sky’, that track defies its namesake due to being so dense, it has its own gravitational pull. A true must listen for anyone with an interest in the likes of Oathbreaker, Emma Ruth Rundle, Cult Of Luna and current tour mates Svalbard, ‘Sky’ articulates Bones Of Minerva’s brilliant approach to progressive post-metal in a way that defies the barriers of human language. There’s a lot of hype surrounding this act in the band’s home country, and with this track in consideration, it shouldn’t be long before Bones Of Minerva become the subject of dotted appreciation on our shores too. – Dan Hillier
Racetraitor – Chamelcón
The latest single from politically charged hardcore outfit Racetraitor is a scalding, 90 second hit of fury that examines the Honduras town it takes its name from, through the lens of the ongoing horrors in the town, exacerbated by colonialism and US interventionist policies that have made it such a violent place to live. With guest vocals from Neckbeard Deathcamp‘s Hera, it flies by in a flurry of pummelling drums, screeching guitars and the breakdown that hits just after halfway is as brutal as the song’s subject matter. Chamelcón is one of the most violent towns on earth that fails to get any mainstream media attention, but Racetraitor are determined to shed light on the many injustices perpetrated on those living there. – Will Marshall
Arm’s Length – Arms’s Length
Arm’s Length are one of those rare emo acts that forgo current convention in order to present art that’s true to them. Instead of obeying the demands of whatever wave of emo we’re now currently riding, the Ontario collective are the sound of pure earnest and individualist integrity, and nothing highlights this more than their new self-titled single. Delicately fragile and achingly sombre, ‘Arm’s Length’ harkens thoughts of acts like I Feel Fine with it’s tender articulation and bands like Anxious and Hot Mulligan with it’s bared earnestness. Arm’s Length – the band that is – have swiftly garnered a strong following on their side of the Atlantic in recent times, but with the band returning to our shores in January for a full UK tour with Beauty School, it won’t be long before they’re conquering the emo scene on a global scale. – Dan Hillier
Many Eyes – Revelation
Keith Buckley returns with a new band in Many Eyes and more metalcore riffs for your aural pleasure. Although the tongue is not as in cheek here as you might expect, the vocals are further along the trajectory he was heading for with former band Every Time I Die. Revelation is a love letter to those slightly syncopated metalcore stylings that are so easy to lap up and enjoy with Buckley at his poetic best with some lucid yet cryptic lyrics. Whilst the other members of Every Time I Die have found much success with Better Lovers, this track proves that Keith can still do it no problem, and with the addition of the Bellmore brothers (Kingdom of Sorrow, Toxic Holocaust) it seems that there is likely an album somewhere in the not far off and a bright future for Many Eyes. – Rob Bown
Panic Response – Fight or Flight
Brampton, Ontario keeps on spoiling listeners this year and at this point it’s almost silly. The flower city has been an absolute bombshell for great beatdown and hardcore. That includes Panic Response and their brand new single Fight or Flight off their upcoming debut release Flower City Beatdown. Ignorant vocals bark at listeners while bone crushing instruments compliment them. Timed perfectly; Panic Response close us out with the most satisfyingly heavy breakdown at exactly one minute in, with possibly the heaviest breakdown to come from the Flower City in a hot minute. If Teeth, Varials, and Kublai Khan TX all got together and had a baby, Panic Response is what would come of that. – Nathaniel Maure
Tracheotomy – Sadistic Event
Fans of MySpace deathcore rejoice! Not only do you have scene pioneers Job For A Cowboy returning this year, but newcomers Tracheotomy are steadily making a name for themselves. In a whirl of pick squeals and clattering drums, their new track Sadistic Event announces itself in a way that only deathcore can, as obnoxious as it is heavy. Openly wearing their influences on their illegible longsleeves, this track channels The Red Chord and Oceano, as well as the aforementioned JFAC. At times grinding and at times slamming, the track is inspired by French horror movies and the infamous Russian sleep experiments, and it’s this that lends the track a creepier edge. Put alongside a disturbing visualizer released to go along with the track, and you’re in for a unnerving audio-visual experience. With piercing shrieks and gut-bubbling gurgles accentuating the pulverising music, it’s a disgusting past meets present extreme metal track, which will delight veterans and newcomers alike. – Chris Earl
Glower – Gaunt Sun
The latest single from Brighton hardcore outfit, Glower, sees the band continue their path of destruction, with powerful guitars, razor sharp drums and a low end so huge, the song should come with high blood pressure medication. Harsh, distorted shouts and screams smoulder above the chaos below, as eerie wailing guitars sound like sirens. The band always displays interesting rhythms and ideas in their music, bridging the gap of hardcore and prog metal with a blend of noteworthy drum grooves, rhythm changes and interesting riffs, and this song continues that formula. At the end of the song, Listeners are treated to a slow, repetitive but blistering riff as pounding drums crash against the chants of ‘Gaunt Sun’. Another fantastic offering from a band proving to the genre that hardcore can inspire you and still kick you in the side of the head at the same time. – Jude Bennett
Pathfinder – Accelerate
After teasing viewers long enough, the wait is finally over for Ontario metalcore and deathcore fans alike in the form of the debut single Accelerate by Toronto’s newest metalcore act Pathfinder. The newest endeavour from Toronto based photographer and End Us guitarist Marcus Arar, Accelerate manages to impresses listeners from start to finish. A sound and style similar to Shadow Of Intent and Angelmaker, Marcus seamlessly sounds better than ever on guitar while vocalist Josh Willms and drummer Jason Drossis wreak absolute havoc throughout the entire three minute venture respectively. If 2015 era deathcore or 2005 era metalcore are your forte, get Accelerate in your ears immediately. – Nathaniel Maure
Thornhill – Viper Room
Continuing their aesthetic shift into the vintage and gothic, Australian alt metal outfit Thornhill return after the success of Heroine with the most pop-rock centred tracks they’ve ever penned. A sure affront to djent purists pining for the days of The Dark Pool, the band shake off the clichés and traps from the genre they earned their fame in, with dance hall drum grooves, disco-fever guitars and Muse-laden vocal deliveries. ‘Viper Room’ features a catchy chorus and a persistent groove that could make a chair get up and dance, and it’ll be interesting to see if they pursue this lighter direction further. – Jude Bennett
Enterprise Earth – King of Ruination (Feat. Ben Duerr)
The first track from their upcoming album Death: An Anthology and the first to feature new vocalist Travis Worland, ‘King Of Ruination’ is a frantic continuation of the sound Enterprise Earth honed to a fine edge with their last album. Featuring an appearance from Shadow Of Intent‘s Ben Duerr, the song is chock full of hefty Meshuggah-esque grooves, panic chords, barked vocals and some oddly catchy melodies. Production wise, it sounds oddly industrial and claustrophobic, which works extremely well. With the album focusing on the many forms death can take and Travis’s experience with the topic, from his religious upbringing to now, it’s no surprise the track seems to be straining at the seams with anger and frustration. Ben Duerr’s guest vocals sound typically massive, and this track will do a lot to make the new album, due out in February. – Chris Earl
Fuming Mouth – I’ll Find You
Fuming Mouth‘s second album, Last Day of Sun, is the product of deep tragedy and struggle. After vocalist Mark Whelan was diagnosed with leukemia in 2021, he shared last year that he was cancer-free and the band promptly picked up where they left off. Following on from excellent lead single ‘The Silence Beyond Life’, ‘I’ll Find You’ eschews the melodic leanings for sheer death metal heft. Shot through with their love of and influences from hardcore, it’s a decidedly OSDM-approach but one that feels revitalised and ready to decimate pits. We’re so glad they’re back. – Will Marshall
Lifesick – Rude Awakening (Feat. Mark Whelan)
Danish metallic hardcore crew Lifesick have just signed to Metal Blade, and to celebrate that, they’ve got a brand new EP out in early January and the first single is an absolutely brutal time. Featuring guest vocals from Mark Whelan of Fuming Mouth, ‘Rude Awakening’ is a stomping, rollicking ride of Nordic tinged riffs, an almost punk and roll bit of rhythm and some of Lifesick‘s trademark nihilistic bile. Whelan’s guest vocals are the highlight of the track, but as an indicator of a new era in the band’s career, it’s incredibly promising. The promise of Todd Jones from Nails guesting on a future track from the EP is also more than enough to get purists’ mouths watering. If you’re wanting some no bull, straight for the throat music to get you through your day, Lifesick have definitely got you covered. – Chris Earl
Kite Thief – Judge, Judy & Executioner
The latest single from the Bristolian high octane riff mongers, ‘Judy, Judy & Executioner’ sees Kite Thief channeling all the anxiety, fear and loathing that comes from the expatriation of a long term relationship into five minutes of technicolour rage. Harkening thoughts of Vukovi, Lake Malice and Spiritbox with the track’s polymorphic approach and rough playfulness, the track – much like the rest of the band’s work – presents a delightful dichotomy between vindictive punishment and aural joy. Should one enjoy their music throttling, pummelling but filled with massive anthemic moments, then ‘Judge, Judy & Executioner’ is for you. – Dan Hillier
