Honey Revenge
May 26, 2024| Dan Hillier |FEATURES
Honey Revenge, Oranssi Pazuzu, Respire and More: New Noizze – The 13 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week
For those very few of you not at Slam Dunk or Portals this weekend, here's the best singles of this week.
Honey Revenge – Recipe for Disaster
Hot off a UK headline run culminating in their first-ever festival performance at Slam Dunk this weekend, LA pop rock duo Honey Revenge have released the first single off the deluxe edition of debut album Retrovision. ‘Recipe for Disaster’. Vocalist Devin Papadol describes it as “one for the overthinkers,” as the lyrics tackle her “curiosity for where I’ll be a year from now, wondering if I’ll become more level headed. There’s an internal discussion regarding my struggles with change and pondering what “could’ve been” if certain scenarios played out differently.” Musically, it’s the Y2K-loving pop rock they’re so beloved for, with propulsive earworm hooks and electronic elements, including a dance-influenced intro. There’s a reason the duo have had such a rapid rise, with pop charm and raw honesty in their lyricism, and ‘Recipe for Disaster’ is another slice of addictive pop rock from them. – Will Marshall
Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja
Translating to “the shapeshifter,” ‘Muuntautuja’ is the first taste of a new Oranssi Pazuzu album and is every bit as bewildering as we’ve come to expect from the experimental extreme metallers. Across its four and a half minutes, there’s influences as wide-ranging as Death Grips, Nine Inch Nails and My Bloody Valentine; mechanical-sounding drums driving juddering synths and throaty singing. As ‘Muuntautuja’ continues it does exactly as its name suggests, shifting into gradually heavier territory as guitars and harsh walls of screams batter the eardrums. In the Finns’ own words – “Let it open your skull towards the void and guide you to the intoxicating state of transformation.” – Will Marshall
New Ghost – Over
The latest single from Sheffield’s New Ghost, ‘Over’ is a fuzzy, spellbinding and absolutely gorgeous spiel of dreampop-orientated shoegaze. Resonating the grandiose goosebump-raising beauty of their recent singles ‘Wayfarer’ and ‘The Ghost Of Allendale’, the single once again bares witness to New Ghost’s unique ability to amalgamate a plethora of genres with a progressive mindset in order to present something that’s concise, cohesive and effortlessly pristine. Should you be a fan of acts such as Slow Crush, Din Of Celestial Birds or even Slowdive, then this is crucial listening, and truly, New Ghost really are one of those bands set to breakthrough soon now. Should one want those elusive bragging rights come their newfound popularity, then now is the time to get on this before everyone in the UK progressive scene does so too. – Dan Hillier
Respire – Distant Light of Belonging
If film composer Colin Stetson wrote a skramz track as part of their score for Hereditary it most probably would have sounded something like this. The first track to be taken from Respire’s upcoming record Hiraeth – released July 26th via Dine Alone Records – ‘Distant Light Of Belonging’ sees the self-described “orchestral post-everything” collective realising their vision in the most vivid way possible. Driven by impassioned screams against vocal harmonies, animated by both strings amidst brass and further embellished by metallic chugs, the track inhabits a deeply textured movement that fully deserves the band’s orchestral association. Truly, given the sheer amount of layers composing this track, this ultimately could have been a mess if approached with hands less adapt than Respire’s. However, ‘Distant Light Of Belonging’ is a tenderly crafted sweeping of sound, one grounded within the realm of screamo but one that heralds poignant feelings of joy, sorrow, rage and other emotions beyond the scope of language in equal measure. – Dan Hillier
Dream Drop & Those Without – So What If I…
Joining forces to recreate the sparks of their past sonic seamlessness, the Gothenburg alt metal darlings Dream Drop venture inward, emotionally and geographically speaking, as they pieced together their first single of 2024 alongside Örebro’s pop punk fascinators Those Without. Returning to the scene with what feels like an inspiration overflow of Dream Drop’s past album cycle; their first post-Acne Superstar single ‘So What If I…’ stands as a particularly stirring track from both bands, due to its very blatant message of disillusionment with life and personal insignificance. In listening to its strikingly tortured beatings, you can’t help but feel like it’s the natural second part in a story of spiralling into apathy, with their first collaboration ‘Rose-Coloured Kaleidoscope’ acting as the starting blocks in a poetically devastating mental decline. With both bands seemingly slowing down once their last remaining home country shows have been smashed out the park, we would be especially curious to see what these two powerhouses have up their sleeves; whether that be pumping out new music within their own camps, or if further collaborations between Dream Drop and Those Without could be on the horizon, as we’re currently rather intrigued by the thought of them producing the ultimate emo split style EP with such strong collaborations so far. – Bennie Osborne
Zeal & Ardor – Clawing Out
Zeal & Ardor continue to be one of the most boundary pushing, uncompromising bands in all of music today, not just the heavy scene. After the almost floaty folk of their previous single, ‘to my ilk’, the newest track from the upcoming record Greif is a much more sinister, foreboding affair. Reminiscent of ‘Run’ from their previous album, ‘Clawing Out’ goes for the throat with menacing, gnawing sludge-laden staccato riffs and unsettling grunting growls. Add in some claustrophobic percussion and unnerving electronics that serve to give the track an atmosphere akin to being followed through a desolate city, it puts paid to any who said the band had gone soft. The black metal elements are still present but hearing Manuel utilise more unnatural sounds and melodies makes Greif an album that can’t arrive quick enough. – Chris Earl
Ogives Big Band – Super Sanity
The latest track from the four headed riff hydra that is Ogives Big Band, ‘Super Sanity’ is sidewinding prog metal void of the cold calculation associated with the genre. Once typically known as a purely math rock entity, the track hints towards the more rugged, abrasive and sludgy components composing the bands forthcoming record Boisterous Love whilst also showcasing the human nature of push and pull within their work. “In a lot of ways the music could be described as complex or technical, but we try to present it in a way that isn’t overly precise or clinical”, states guitarist Ben Harris. “It’s very much based on push and pull, so that the human element and feel is emphasized.” – Dan Hillier
Bilmuri – Talkin’ 2 Ur Ghost
Johnny Franck – also known as one-man post hardcore project Bilmuri – has been having a pretty good past few months. He’s been announced as support for the UK Sleep Token tour alongside garnering an ever-growing audience via TikTok. He’s also just dropped latest single ‘Talkin’ 2 Ur Ghost’ taken from his just-announced upcoming album American Motor Sports and in true Bilmuri fashion, it’s a blend of crunchy post hardcore and the kind of stomp-clap line dancing country that’s accelerating up charts. Despite the two being polar opposites in many ways, Bilmuri balances the two well and ‘Talkin’ 2 Ur Ghost’ offers both occasional blastbeats and big hooks those growing crowds will happily belt back later this year. – Will Marshall
Socks and Ballerinas – Newton
Vital listening for anyone with an interest in the likes of Battles, AK/DK, Aiming For Enrike and others of their ilk, ‘Newton’ is a loopy, glitchy and MIDI-blessed slice of madness from Socks and Ballerinas. Propelled by a drum and bass rhythm, the track sees the Bristol based duo utilise an entire arsenal of pedals, sample pads, MIDI controls and guitars to create a sweeping and jittering wall of technicolour sound that’s more blinding than bedazzling. However, despite its decidedly chaotic nature, ‘Newton’ is still full of groove, universally fun and downright danceable. It’s the sound of a band who know how to temper and domesticate the wild noise they summon, and ultimately a fantastic introduction to an act who will ultimately be loved by the likes of the ArcTanGent crowd. – Dan Hillier
Amyl and the Sniffers – U Should Not Be Doing That / Facts
Everybody’s favourite Aussie punks Amyl and the Sniffers are back with a brand new middle finger of a track (and a B-side for good measure) that takes aim at the older metal community. Never one for mincing her words, ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ has vocalist Amy Taylor at her direct, antagonistic best, taking aim at the broader heavy music scene and their archaic, judgemental views about what a woman can and should wear. Over a stomping, bass driven beat, Amy sneers and points her lyrics at the pathetic puritans that still somehow populate our scene and hopefully this track makes it known to them that they’re not wanted. B-Side ‘Facts’ is a faster, spunkier affair, mixing some squealing guitars with a classic punk beat and a massive chorus that makes you wonder why this is just a B-side. If this is the quality of tracks that the band are deciding aren’t good enough to be on an album, it bodes very well for their next album. – Chris Earl
GURT – Appetite for Construction
Potentially the only doom song in existence that may or may not be about the joy of playing with Lego, the new single from GURT is an oddly wholesome spew of filth. The latest track to be taken from their upcoming record Satan ETC – released June 7th via When Planets Collide – the wonderfully titled ‘Appetite Of Construction’ is a bellowing, filthy and downright grotesque melee of downtuned riffs and general sludgy horribleness that’s self-aware and oddly playful. There’s something weirdly pleasant about GURT’s approach to mixing bastard heavy doom with a sense of giddy excitement, and despite its jovial nature, this is still as punishing as one would expect from something of this genre. – Dan Hillier
Babymetal & Electric Callboy – Ratatata
On paper, combining the German Eurodance-metalcore Electric Callboy and Japanese superstars Babymetal seems like a match made in heaven. Both have a penchant for the silly and making tracks that force their way into your brain like a worm into a US Presidential candidate. ‘Ratatata’ proves that it works in practice as well as theory, as the two groups have created a frankly ludicrous song that combines the Teutonic crew’s stomping, electronic metalcore with Babymetal‘s soaring vocals and sweeping choruses. The main refrain of ‘RATATATA’ is one you’ll be whispering under your breath for the foreseeable future and perhaps lays the groundwork for the two sharing a tour lineup in the near future. – Chris Earl
Tunic – Plastic
Addressing just how abjectly terrifying tailored online advertising is and how the creation of the internet was more or less the opening of Pandora’s box, the new track from Winnipeg noise punk trio Tunic is atonal distortion wrapped in existentialism. Releasing following their recent run with fellow noiseniks JOHN and prior to their upcoming tour with queer hardcore icons Death Goals, ‘Plastic’ bridges the gap between the bands aforementioned with it being a feedback-racked scream of frustration that escalation to the point of bellowed violence. Should one be a fan of acts like JOHN but wish for a bit more intensity in the mix, then this is a must listen. – Dan Hillier
