The combination of hip-hop beats and djent guitars have been at the forefront of instrumental music since bands like Polyphia first realised they could throw a trap beat under some guitar noodling and become superstars. LA based musician Ando San approaches his sound in a totally unique way, incorporating his intensely technical guitar work into aggressive hip-hop tracks like his new single ‘March For Me’ which builds upon a bedrock of both inventive sampling and ferocious metal guitar. While the sheer virtuosity of spitting hard-hitting rap bars while thumping on an eight string guitar stays impressive throughout the track, what’s more impressive is the ability to pull together hip-hop and progressive metal in a way that sounds fresh and catchy rather than forced and cringey. – Rowan Bruce
While not a song title you’re likely to see on a billboard anytime soon, Vancouver noise-punks Piss make an intense impact in the build-up to their debut album You Made Me/Skin On Linen with their latest single ‘Rote Zora. “Resistance Is Possible.” Emma, No. 6, June 1984, pp. 39-41’. The track, which references a radical feminist group from West Germany, presents a three minute manifesto in favour of armed retribution against those who perpetrate violence against women with frontwoman Taylor Zantingh ripping her throat with screams of “resistance is possible!” over a backdrop of feedback-fuelled distorted guitars. With Piss gaining the attention of the wider alternative rock underground, this single cements them as a radical force ready to keep their politics at the forefront even as they begin the climb to the top of the punk ladder. – Rowan Bruce
Australia’s music scene has been a hotbed of talent for years, and Reliqa are one of its best kept secrets – though with the release of new single ‘Serum’ and announcement of their second album, High Risk Thoughts, that’s hopefully about to change. It follows last year’s ‘Your Touch’ that also features on the album but goes in a variety of totally different directions. Progressive, serpentine riffs entwine through the song, cascading tom fills emphasise the stellar drum work and its vocal work embraces soaring choruses to quick rap flows. There’s an industrial, mechanical edge that’s brand new, only enhancing the lush melodies they excel at too. High risk? Sure, but the payoff when Reliqa get the attention they deserve will be worth it. – Will Marshall
More Australian metalcore, you say? Future Static are gearing up for their brand new record Ornaments & Memories, out 6 November via Wild Things, and it’s looking to be a big step up on an extremely promising debut. ‘Waterworks’ certainly has an easy flow to it, with crescendos into gut-wrenching melody and raging rapids of screams, stabbing panic chords. Vocalist Amariah Cook explains, “this song is from a time where I became completely tunnel-visioned, all I could see were the obstacles getting closer every time, and when I tried to steer away I’d just crash into another one. It eventuated into self-hatred, panic attacks, meltdowns, which impacted some of the people closest to me. I was too caught in the cycle to see the bigger picture.” ‘Waterworks’ takes that torrent of emotion and directs it into catharsis. – Will Marshall
Ben Quad return with ‘I Only Let You Down Now’, putting their Midwest emo roots firmly back in focus. Following last year’s Wisher, the Oklahoma quartet revisit the riff-heavy sound of their earlier material, with bright, twinkling melodies running through the track. The contrast between the cleaner passages and harsher vocals gives the song a welcome edge, whilst the jangly guitar tones keep that unmistakable Midwest emo character intact. There’s a real freshness to the way Ben Quad approach the genre here, drawing on the sound of their earlier releases without simply repeating themselves. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable return to the band’s emo roots, with a melody worth coming back to. – Esther Domnu
Living up to their 80s gothic influences, Mouth Ulcers once again smash it out of the cemetery park with new single ‘Lady Rust’. Filled with ghostly atmospheres, a driving bassline and wailing guitar riffs, ‘Lady Rust’ is another fantastic track from the Goth newcomers that further establishes the band as one of the most exciting artists in the scene at the minute. If you’re a fan of Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy or any other band of the like – you simply must check this new single out. – Benjamin Hacking
Continuing on the massive run of momentum gained from their previous 2026 singles, Sixth Wonder showcase another evolution in their continuously growing sound with ‘Burnout’. This new single makes use of incredibly eery samples, alongside some beautiful clean vocal melodies as the track builds throughout its five minute runtime. Symbolising the ongoing pressures of building stress and eventual burnouts, the track is a masterclass in building tension up to a climactic end. Culminating in a tremendously cathartic breakdown, ‘Burnout’ is a brilliantly emotional track sure to resonate with anyone dealing with their own personal stresses. Paired with a hauntingly beautiful music video shot by Dylan McVey, ‘Burnout’ is a truly fantastic track that deserves all the accolades. – Benjamin Hacking
Just one short month out from the release of their third album The Other Side, Kalandra gift the world the achingly beautiful, elegiac single ‘A Ship Has Left The Shore’. Set against a sparse piano arrangement, haunting, paired-down instrumentation, and delicate vocal backing, Katrine Stenbekk offers up a heart-stopping performance, delivering lyrics that wrestle with the incredulity and awe experienced in the wake of human loss. Space is given for questions that don’t have answers and thoughts that won’t pass quietly. This is deeply moving, deeply felt music that will wring you dry when the weight of it all is too much to carry. – Pete Wall
It’s never easy undergoing a period of tumult as a new band, especially after dropping a release and often it can lead to the end of the band before they even get going. Thankfully, Canadians Take The Crown weathered the storm of member upheaval and have emerged pissed off and ready to throw down. ‘Pure Ethanol’ is the band’s first release as a four piece and it’s a straight to the point, stomping slab of venom and pointed lyrics, leaving no ambiguity about their feelings on their former member. Fierce, passionate and made for small rooms to have catharsis laden experiences about former friends, it’s a strong statement and the perfect start to the band’s new era. – Chris Earl
If you’re a fan of disgusting, incomprehensible death metal, then you need to be aware of Extermination Dismemberment. The Belarusian slammers are one of the hardest, most brutal forces in European extremity today and their new single ‘Enslaver of the Continents’ is a track to make your face gurn like a raver on payday. Vocals akin to a vomiting demon, clanging, relentless drums and incinerating riffs all combine with a raw production that creates an atmosphere of apocalypse. Oh, and the breakdown will likely put any headphones to the limit and make you wince. – Chris Earl
