Employed To Serve, Orchards, Cassels and More: New Noizze – The 17 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week

You know the deal, here's the best singles of the week.

Employed To Serve – Atonement (Feat. Will Ramos)

From visceral metallic hardcore to modern heavy metal anthems, the journey of British stalwarts Employed To Serve cannot be understated. Having evolved so naturally yet never missing a step along the way, the band’s fifth album Fallen Star has just been announced for April 25th and what better way to launch your first single than by having one of the best extreme metal vocalists in the world on as a guest. ‘Atonement’ contains a guest spot from Lorna Shore frontman Will Ramos, who lends his growls and gurgles to a backdrop of modern metal stomp. From the three way vocal assault (Justine sounding as powerful as ever and Sammy’s melodic vocals once again continuing to grow and impress) to the fierce riffs and stomping drums, it becomes more and more clear why Employed To Serve are the standard bearers for UK metal. – Chris Earl

Orchards – Groan

Brighton’s best boppers are back. Taken from their freshly announced second LP Bicker – released March 28^th via Big Scary Monsters – ‘Groan’ see’s Orchards marring their mathy pastel pink indie-pop sensibilities with gritty and grounded lyricism focusing on the non-linear nature of self-improvement. In comparison to their previous work, there’s an evident level of darkness here, but as always, it’s that dichotomy between splendid pop songwriting and bittersweet themes that makes Orchards just so irresistible as band. “I was going through a really tough therapy session and my therapist said why do you feel the need to fix this,” says vocalist Lucy Evers on the track. “I didn’t have an answer for her. It’s built into my wiring. I want to help, I want to fix it, and she said ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’ and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. The only person who can really fix something is you! But growing and healing isn’t linear. You can be ‘getting better’ whatever that fucking means and still be scream crying in the bath.” – Dan Hillier

Cassels – Indigene

London noisey duo Cassels have teamed up with one of Noizze’s favourite labels Human Worth to announce new album Tracked In Mud. A perfect combination with the values shared between all involved as this record looks at humanity’s disconnection from nature. After locking themselves away in the studio for two weeks, brothers Beck have emerged with a bleak lead single to preview the record. ‘Indigene’ shows a more heavier and harrowing side to previous work. Darker, sludgier, dirtier tones alongside Jim Beck’s pained vocal delivery and Loz Beck’s hard hitting, tight drumming style paints apt picture for a gloomy time in history. – Adam Vallely

Amenra – Heden

Launching alongside the news of the dual De Toorn and Tooth & Claw EP releases coming this March, ’Heden’ is the newest track from one of Belgium’s bleakest bands. Featured as the opening cut of two from the De Toorn EP, stylistically this is said to be wrapping up the compositional and philosophical motifs from Amenra’s last full length album release, 2021’s De Doorn. Said to be “delving deeper into the raw emotions of grief, wrath, and transformation”, at over fourteen minutes long, ‘Heden’ is a deliberate and indulgent slow burn. Meticulously sculpting a detailed soundscape that is drenched in a disquieting somber atmosphere, lighter instrumentals and spoken word vocals beckon the audience to get lost in the almost ritualistic nod of the track. The inevitable makes itself known, crushing the listener under the full weight of suffering when Amenra’s particular brand of caustic post-metal throttles in full force late into the track. – Harry Shiels

Sumac & Moor Mother – Scene 1

Quite literally setting the scene for their collaborative album The Film, the four creative minds of poet and punk rocker Moor Mother and the ever inventive heavy trio of Sumac have conjured the first single from the LP ‘Scene 1’. A soundscape of abrasive and industrial tones overlaid with Moor Mother’s voice modulation and fierce delivery adding an evil and terrifying layer. Seemingly a commentary on the state of the world this piece of art shakes deep to the core and is only a slice of what is to come from the collaboration, which is also set to play two shows in at Roadburn and in Berlin in April. – Adam Vallely

Nova Twins – Monsters

With inspiration hailing from a possible realisation about their own difficult relationship with their mental health; the Alternative Rock duo Nova Twins, implore fans to seek an understanding of self, in order to maintain the internal emotional equilibrium before catastrophe sets into the psyche with their latest post-Supernova era single ‘Monsters’. In pairing hefty riffs, poignant vocals and haunting lyrical interpretations of inner turmoil, for the true depth and breadth of fear surrounding our inner world. This most recent addition to Nova Twins’ expansively powerful discography, is a welcomed anthemic PSA for all who seek a chance at liberation from their ruminations. – Bennie Osborne

Viagra Boys – Man Made of Meat

Humour-led post-punkers Viagra Boys release their first new material since 2022 with their well known tongue in cheek delivery. The lead single from their self-titled LP which will be the first to be released on their own label Shrimptech Enterprises. ‘Man Made of Meat’ inspired by vocalist Sebastian Murphy’s experiences walking through America’s Walmarts and today’s consumerism. “This is like a self-titled album but a bit simple and stupid—because that’s how I am,” says Murphy and ‘Man Made of Meat’ proves his point perfectly. A plodding rhythm section overlaid with an irritatingly yet entertaining guitar racket and Murphy’s direct lyricism, this is Viagra Boys in a nutshell. Reads as an awful listen but it is far from it. – Adam Vallely

Breichiau Hir – Cuddio Tu Ôl Y Llen

Cardiff based post-hardcore band Breichiau Hir have been carving themselves out a comfortable little niche in the South Wales scene with their mix of gentle post-rock inspired melodies and memorable vocals sung entirely in the Welsh language, on their latest single ‘Cuddio Tu Ôl Y Llen’ the six-piece lean into a varied emo sound. With dramatic peaks and soft melodies Breichiau Hir show plenty of growth in the lead up to their upcoming sophomore full-length Y Dwylo Uwchben, due out this April. Even for non-Welsh speakers, the earworm chorus and intricate melodies of ‘Cuddio Tu Ôl Y Llen’ are bound to stay lodged in their brain from the first listen. – Tom Bruce

Pissgrave – In Heretic Blood Christened

If you’re not familiar with Pissgrave, the name should be a dead giveaway about what to expect. Dropped alongside word of their new album Malignant Worthlessness coming in just a matter of weeks with another helping of album artwork that would make the boys in Cannibal Corpse and Carcass wince a bit, this is set as one of the most anticipated death metal releases of the year. Obtuse instrumental chops; sharp chainsaw guitars carving apart speaker cones, murderous hammering bass, unforgiving drumming and vocals that sound somewhere between bones being eviscerated in a sink disposal and Cerberus defending the gates of Hell. This is primitive, gore-fiend, old-school death metal worship at its rawest and most confrontational. ‘In Heretic Blood Christened’ continues to cement Pissgrave as the: “I’ve gorilla-taped broken glass on a wooden club, covered it in entrails and let it fester in the basement to use as a pit weapon” of modern death metal bands, AKA utterly fucking deranged. – Harry Shiels

Intensive Care x The Body – At Death’s Door

Having released their last album, The Crying Out Of Things, to critical acclaim mere months ago alongside dropping the genre defying collaboration with Dis Fig, New England progressive noise connoisseurs The Body had a busy 2024. However they seem to be back already with another collaborative project Was I Good Enough? with industrial noise/experimental hardcore duo Intensive Care. Being no strangers to collaborations themselves, Intensive Care have crossed paths Full Of Hell a few times in the past as well as various remix projects. ‘At Death’s Door’ brings The Body back towards their roots of sludge and doom infused noise experimentations. Thunderous drones rumble the low-end with glee, strange synth and sample experimentations blended with noise enriched percussion. The trade off with the layered vocals between Intensive Care’s Andrew Nolan and Ryan Bloomer animalistic barks and Chip King of The Body’s ethereal disembodied wails work wonders together. Continuing to not rest on their laurels, ‘At Death’s Door’ already provides plenty of promise for what may be in store when Was I Good Enough? arrives this March. – Harry Shiels

Oversize – Vacant

Arguably one of the best bands surfing this cresting wave of alt-shoegaze, Oversize brilliantly navigate the hazy nature of miscommunication with their fantastic track ‘Vacant’. Taken from their upcoming record which releases February 28^th via SharpTone, this is one of those tracks that just viscerally and vividly animates it’s subject matter via it’s musical components; it’s shimmering shoegaze mirroring the mirage of complicity with not checking in with those around you, it’s driving leads comparable of that of misunderstanding your peers amidst the constant noise of modern life. Whilst elements of original trendsetters like Deftones and Hum are evident within this track’s sound, Oversize once again prove to be one of the finest new names in burgeoning scene they inhabit. – Dan Hillier

Scowl – Not Hell, Not Heaven

Scowl caused a stir not only with their blistering debut How Flowers Grow but its follow-up, 2023’s Psychic Dance Routine EP that saw them embracing 90s alt rock and grunge, embracing melody like never before without dropping intensity. Now, hot on the heels of 2024’s single ‘Special’, they’ve released the single from, and announced, their brand new album Are We All Angels. Punky, with vocalist Kat Moss eschewing their furious bark for soaring melody, ‘Not Hell, Not Heaven’ is, as they explain, “about feeling victimised and being a victim, but not wanting to identify with being a victim. It’s trying to find grace in the fact that I have my power. I live in my reality. You have to deal with whatever you’re dealing with, and it ain’t working for me.” It’s an exciting development that indicates there’s far more interesting twists and turns to come. – Will Marshall

Hangman’s Chair – In Disguise

A standout group from the modern French metal scene, gloom and doom metallers Hangman’s Chair are now just weeks away from dropping their seventh album; preparing their fanbase with just one last taste of Saddiction with final single ‘In Disguise’. Differing itself from the prior singles with its lengthy (near) six minute run time, ‘In Disguise’ is decadent in its expansive textures and embrace of sorrowful shoegaze atmospheres. Soft, sultry synth touches give way to the bands trademark rich and full-bodied instrumentals and pained vocal poeticism. Just as the track starts to fade off in a dreary yet dreamy synth bridge, the low-end goth-sludge pummelling makes one final intoxicating return. This final fix has us absolutely hooked for the arrival of Saddiction this Valentine’s Day.  – Harry Shiels

Lacerated – Abandoned

For a while at the turn of the year, it seemed like Lacerated were no more. Then, out of nowhere, the band’s permanent hiatus became temporary, then vocalist Jade announced that there would be a new self-titled EP on February 14th, to the sheer delight of fans. ‘Abandoned’ is the first track from EP, and it continues the band’s path of Zao, Disembodied and early Eighteen Visions worship . Devastatingly heavy yet emotional and catharsis-laden metalcore, verging on death metal at times, with Jade shrieking and growling like a woman possessed over the top of wince-inducing breakdowns and panic chords. With this era of the band being described as a new beginning, their furious brand of straight edge trans violence is needed now more than ever and hopefully the small blip won’t stop the band from continuing to be one of the most vital voices in the metalcore scene today. – Chris Earl

Pillars of Autumn – Crestfallen Emissary

Toronto’s deathcore scene seems to deliver more and more talent each and every year. The 5-piece technical deathcore unit Pillars Of Autumn are only one of these examples. Boasting a new single, ‘Creatfallen Emissary’, they seem to be pulling from their roots with a sound similar to 2010 deathcore groups like Brand of Sacrifice and Angelmaker while adding the flare of modern deathcore giants like Lorna Shore and Shadow Of Intent. Masterfully recorded and produced by the talented Devon Groat and Keegan Okazaki, this talented group of individuals have created something timeless with this new single and fans can’t seem to get enough. – Nathaniel Maure

Killswitch Engage – I Believe

It’s hard to argue that Killswitch Engage are the godfathers of metalcore, mixing their aggression with beautiful melodies, and ‘I Believe’ is their newest offering. While a lot more melodic than the majority of songs they’ve released, it’s a song about undying hope through difficult times, reflected through the lyrical content to create an emotional ride, with the band in tow honing their sensational instrumentals to show you that you can get through the darker times, and how beautiful it is when you emerge from the other side. – Liam True

Godeth – Fleshmonger

Hailing from Leeds and coming out with their second EP in 2024 The Path Of Destruction, Godeth have dropped their first taste of music since that EP, ‘Fleshmonger’. The sound of an almighty pissed off band, capturing the raw power of their violent grooves and melodic undertones. ‘Fleshmonger’, at its core, is a blisteringly uncompromising song, backed by the feral vocals of Miles Case-Watson. It’s hard not to bang your head and scream the lyrics with him after just a few listens. Still, it’s a furious face melter from one of Leeds’ premier underground deathcore acts. – Liam True

All these tracks and more can be found in our Essential Playlist.

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