Grief Ritual – Bile (Feat. Harry Nott)
The utterly pummelling blackened anger filled hardcore of Grief Ritual was one of the highlights of 2022 as their Spiritual Disease EP announced them onto the scene in a big way. Now, they’ve joined forces with perhaps the only man with as devastating and as pissed off a voice as vocalist Jamie Waggett in the form of Harry Nott from Burner on their new track. The first single from their 2025 debut full-length Collapse, arrives in the form of ‘Bile’ and it sounds exactly like the name suggests. A rage-filled shotgun blast of a track, it clocks in at just under two minutes. Lyrically, it continues the bleak lyrical themes that the band are known for, this time a lament to the future extinction of the human race due to the horrific state of the world currently. As vital and as exciting a track as you’ll hear this year, the closing rasp will send shivers down your spine if the rest of the lightning fast, skull crunching moments that can before haven’t destroyed it first. – Chris Earl
The Winter Passing – Shadow Boxing
After a year of more or less total silence, one would be forgiven in thinking that The Winter Passing had thrown in the towel. Thankfully that’s not the case and ‘Shadow Boxing’ sees the Dublin indie punk coming out swinging. A downright one-two power pop knock out that sees the band infusing their take on modern emo with giddy gusto, the track stands as one of the most energetic cuts yet from the Irish champions and stands as a reaffirmation of what made this band just so lovable and brilliant. No news on an upcoming record has been announced yet, but with this under their collective belts, it’s likely that any upcoming bodies of work won’t see The Winter Passing pulling their punches. – Dan Hillier
Cultdreams – Love Won’t Let Me Go & Death Consumes Me
After dropping their last single just last week, one would be forgiven in thinking that we would be waiting a bit to hear more new material from Cultdreams. Clearly and thankfully this isn’t the case though. The title track of their upcoming album that releases November 15th via Big Scary Monsters, whereas last week’s ‘Want It More’ was a delightful dream-pop mirage, ‘Love Won’t Let Me Go & Death Consumes Me’, like it name implies, is bit more of a grim affair. Full of the melancholic fuzz that one would associate with Cultdreams, this a dreary albeit fantastic counterpoint to the band’s previous single and a track that hints towards the sense of contrast that juxtaposition that is set to the crux of their new record. – Dan Hillier
Sprints – Feast
After January’s excellent debut album Letter to Self, Dublin’s Sprints didn’t waste time, with sold-out tours in several countries; they’ve also just released brand new music in the form of ‘Feast’, the first taste of their new lineup after guitarist Colm O’Reilly amicably left the band and Zac Stephenson joined. It comes ahead of another UK/EU tour, and in their words explores their “love of grunge and gothic, [exploring] the idea of gluttony, consumption and desire, particularly when it comes to sexuality and romance,” alongside the “interlinking of [Ireland’s] Catholic Church and state, particularly in education. The Bible stories and fables of good, bad, morality and sin were always pressed upon us. I thought it was interesting to use this iconography and imagery reimagined in a queer context.” With Karla Chubb’s ferocious vocals, explosive guitars and pounding drums, ‘Feast’ is a fantastic taster of where Sprints could be heading. – Will Marshall
Blanket – Blur
The follow up to the their brilliant full length Ceremonia from earlier this spring, this new stand-alone single sees Blanket fully casting off the post-rock shed from their early years and wholeheartedly enjoying their new alt-rock state of being. A fuzzed ode to self-loathing, self-deprecation and grappling with unshakable inferiority complexes, ‘Blur’ stands as Blanket‘s attempt to summarise the track’s title through a sonic medium, something they complete with the kind of blissed out grunge that sounds ever timeless. The band may have only just released a brilliant full length earlier this year, but with this track and the promise of even more new music on the horizon, it’s clear Blanket are doing anything but getting cosy and hibernating this upcoming winter season. – Dan Hillier
Lake Malice x Blackout Problems – Quicker Than Death
UK hyperpop/metalcore duo Lake Malice are about embark on a tour with Germany’s electro-rock outfit Blackout Problems, and how better to celebrate than with a brand new song that’s also their first ever collaborative work? ‘Quicker Than Death’ leans even more into their pop and electronica side, its drum beat in particular reminiscent of drum & bass, while vocal duties are split between Mario Radetzky and Alice Guala, who arguably steals the show with the chorus. It’s also been mixed and mastered by none other than Enter Shikari‘s Rou Reynolds, with the song boasting a huge sound and high energy that practically bursts out the speakers. It’s very different to what Lake Malice have done before, and indicates exciting things for them branching out sonically in future. – Will Marshall
Bicurious – Gutless
Just a few days away from the release of Your Life Is Over Now, the sophomore record from the ass shaking post-rockers Bicurious, their final single ‘Gutless’ has dropped and it’s a banger. The Dublin duo have never been shy of throwing absolutely gigantic, funky riffs into their music but with ‘Gutless’ it feels like the band have channelled their inner Wolfmother, such are the size and sheer coolness of their guitar work. On a lyrical level however, it’s a much more intriguing and daunting affair, with the track being from the point of view of a baby hooked up to machines in a hospital as they have no idea what’s actually going on with life. A true juxtaposition between music and lyrics, it promises to be a standout track from the imminent album. – Chris Earl
Chat Pile – Funny Man
Esoteric, sardonic musicians Chat Pile continue their streak of releasing tracks that challenge the listener with both musical and lyrical content with their latest single, ‘Funny Man’. As usual, it’s a track which positions the wild, almost rambling lyrics of frontman Raygun Busch atop a pounding, almost flailing industrial rock beat and once again, it’s hypnotic in its almost confrontational nature. A track about servitude in all its forms and the illusion vs reality approach to America’s wars abroad, it may not be clear on first listen but as with all of Chat Pile‘s work, it’s layered and dense approach make it perfect for multiple listens. – Chris Earl
Better Lovers – At All Times
Supergroup Better Lovers are just weeks away from the release of their debut album Highly Irresponsible and have released a curveball in the form of power ballad ‘At All Times’. It’s particularly surprising to hear Greg Puciato crooning once more, even if its choruses do see the return of some grit to his voice, especially when previous singles have been barrelling, chaotic metalcore with Puciato back to his famously unhinged form. Regardless, it shows a whole new side to the band, with tender melodies rather than chaotic fury. Pucatio says of the song, “I’ve been looking forward to the ‘writes power ballads’ stage of my existence for a while now. I knew it was coming. I had no idea it would be with this band. As a vocalist, it’s really exciting to be with guys that can write songs like this AND ’30 Under 13.” This one’s for the lovers.” – Will Marshall
Lights – Damage
Canadian alt/electro-pop darling Lights has been out of the, uh, spotlight, for a few years but new single ‘Damage’ sees her reentering it in a big way. Reminiscent of her earlier albums, particularly Little Machines (that, coincidentally just celebrated its 10th anniversary), ‘Damage’ has the classic heart-on-sleeve lyricism and her ethereal vocals, as she openly laments “I swear this isn’t me / This is the damage talking”, while its closing chorus even features her delving into post hardcore-esque yells in the background. It’s accompanied by a one-take video where she, in her words, “cut off ten years of hair growth… Hair can hold a lot of memories and trauma and identity. This song is about identifying the parts of us that are a product of our conditioning. And letting them go. (Hair damage included.)” Welcome back, Lights. – Will Marshall
Knosis – Fuhai
Fresh off their recent signing to Sharptone records, Knosis have dropped a brand new track that not only features the brilliant vocals of Ryo Kinoshita, it also features Yukina from “harajuku-core” sensations Hanabie, titled ‘Fuhai’. Ryo has stated that the track name refers to Scarlet Aonia and that the track features ‘The Goddess of Rot”, both of Elden Ring. By now you know what expect from any song involving Ryo and that’s chaotic, industrial/electronic tinged metalcore that still evokes his time in Crystal Lake. The feature from Yukina adds another dimension to the band’s sound and she is actually the highlight of the song. With an album teased for later this year or early next, for this to be the herald of Knosis‘ newest era is a very good sign. – Chris Earl