Scowl – Special
California hardcore breakouts Scowl have been one of the hottest names in the alternative scene since their debut How Flowers Grow, and they’ve only continued to push their sonic boundaries since. New single ‘Special’ is even more of an evolution than their 2023 EP Psychic Dance Routine, as it blends both pop and hardcore in ever more bold ways. In particular, frontperson Kat Moss shows her massive growth as a vocalist, flitting effortlessly between confident melody and venomous snarls. It’s a bold declaration of Scowl‘s new era, blending the energy of hardcore with the likes of No Doubt and a frantic, horror video that pokes fun at some of the genre’s tropes. 2025 will be the year of Scowl, no doubt about it. – Will Marshall
Orchards – Mug Song
‘Mug Song’ is math-pop darlings Orchards‘ third single of the year, and it’s just as catchy and infectious as ever. Lyrically taking a darker tone than before, as singer Lucy Evans explains “Mug Song is all the intrusive thoughts you have when you know a relationship is ending. Romantic, platonic whatever it may be. All those nostalgic memories that flood your brain. I wrote them all down. All the simple everyday things I miss. Just being alive with someone. It’s the culmination of existing in turbulent environments and not feeling like you can express your feelings out loud.” Despite this darker tone, it’s as uplifting musically as ever, lilting guitars and twinkly melodies entwined around a danceable drum beat that’ll get fans throwing all manner of shapes. – Will Marshall
Last Hyena – Bless This Unbeatable Miracle Priest
While post-rock often gets a reputation as stuffy and slow ambient music made to go alongside pretentious European art films a handful of bands are working diligently to bring a sense of life to the genre, with their first new single in two years Bristol based trio Last Hyena are leading the charge. Blending post-rock soundscapes with urgent, disorienting math-rock rhythms ‘Bless This Unbeatable Miracle Priest’ shows off Last Hyena’s full range with stabbing, staccato guitar riffs weaving between the off-kilter rhythm section. Fans of post-rock greats like And So I Watch You From Afar and Adebisi Shank or the untamed instrumental math-rock of bands like Standards or Covet will be sure to find plenty to love in Last Hyena’s experimental fusion of sounds. – Tom Bruce
Hangman’s Chair – 2AM Thoughts (Feat. DOOL)
French doom outfit Hangman’s Chair have unveiled the first taste of new music from them since 2022’s excellent LP A Loner in the form of ‘2AM Thoughts’. Released just ahead of their European tour with DOOL and featuring their vocalist Raven, it’s a glacial slab of emotional doom as Hangman’s Chair do best. Tackling themes of insomnia and intrusive late-night thoughts that often come alongside it including anxiety, doubts and stress. The accompanying video is, in their words, particularly special for them. “We filmed our childhood friend Kéo Nackphouminh [and first Hangman’s Chair singer] during his everyday life, struggling against his inner demons for years and being clean for 3 years now… Things have finally come full circle.” – Will Marshall
Hidden Mothers – Violet Sun
The third preview of the eagerly awaited debut album Erosion/Avulsion from Sheffield’s progressive post-hardcore gang Hidden Mothers is here. ‘Violet Sun’ is again setting the bar high for the quartet with colossal impact through its variety of textures. The vocals showcase the band’s range from Luke Scriven’s beautiful Jeff Buckley-esque vocals, to the pained screams from Liam Knowles and the chorus of emotional gang vocals bring a weighty balance. ‘Violet Sun’ is a perfect preview of what the band can offer, which is a smorgasbord of everything from intricacy to the more direct, atmospherics to the deep and guttural sounds. Hidden Mothers are teeing up what could be an album of the year contender for many heavy music fans. – Adam Vallely
Abraxas Reflux – Rope Bunny
Toronto hardcore’s own Abraxas Reflux have delivered a new single which absolutely crushes from start to finish. ‘Rope Bunny’ is a two minute ordeal which vibes the entire time, with a sound that gives off a similar feel to that of the much-missed Every Time I Die. Carrying a steady groove from the very beginning, this track blends hardcore with punk effortlessly. With many bands coming out of Ontario these last couple years, you almost need to deliver a sound new enough to break through and Abraxas Reflux have that down to a tee. With much more music on the horizon for these hardworking Canadians, it’s fair to say there is so much excitement for what’s to come. – Nathaniel Maure
Tayne – In This Trend
Having just been announced for ArcTanGent 2025 and support slots with El Moono, it is an exciting time for industrial noisey trio Tayne. At these shows they will undoubtedly play new single ‘In This Trend’, a track built on consistent rising sections. This is a band that are proving that they could appeal to people across multiple genres from the electro heads to brethren in battlejackets. This is heavy but built for the dance floor. The accompanying video is the second in a trilogy leading the visual narrative throughout the music directed by Leif Johnson. Bassist/vocalist Matt Sutton explains “the artwork and music videos leaned into telling a story based on my own father’s conflicts with love. My dad being a family man, married with kids and then realising he was gay, coming out, navigating those tribulations and transforming his life and finding love and acceptance again.” – Adam Vallely
Can’t Swim – Worst Ain’t Over Yet (Feat. Nathan Hardy)
Introspective New Jerseyites Can’t Swim seem to pull catchy hooks out of their brains as easy as most of us breathe. Their latest effort ‘Worst Ain’t Over Yet’ is another standalone track and features some guest vocals from their longtime friends and fellow emo-tinged post hardcore band Microwave (Nathan Hardy gives a great guest performance here). A much less aggressive track than previous release ‘Can’t See Straight’, it would fit perfectly onto the soundtrack of any of the first three American Pie movies with ease, with its pop-punk leanings and bouncy, chunky chords driving the song along. If this had came out a few months earlier it would have been a true summer banger, but you can still pretend it isnt getting dark at 4pm while you sing along. – Chris Earl
Stick To Your Guns – Severed Forever
At this point in the careers, Orange County crew Stick To Your Guns have reached legendary status. Known for their powerful, emotional lyrics, chunky breakdowns and soaring choruses, the band have dropped the first track from their upcoming 8th record Keep Planting Flowers. On ‘Severed Forever’, the track in question, the band sound as pissed off as they have in years, driven by Jesse Barnet’s passionate voice and given an extra lift by rousing gang vocals from the rest of the band. As usual, the band don’t disappoint in the heavy department either, with the ending of the song ending on a mammoth, crunching fist-swinger of a breakdown. – Chris Earl
Neckbreakker – Shackled To A Corpse
Young Danish death metal upstarts Neckbreakker have achieved the dream of so many bands right off the bat. Their upcoming debut record Within the Viscera is being released on the legendary Nuclear Blast Records, which for a band so early in their careers is a massive statement. The second single off that record, ‘Shackled To A Corpse’, is a chunky, blasting slab of modern death metal that pays plenty of homage to influences past and present. Mixing classic metal stomp with a that ramshackle, violent death-tinged edge, it ticks all the boxes and they definitely sound like a band beyond their tender years. With a release set for early December, this could be a late one to watch and will definitely sound a lot better than Christmas songs on repeat. – Chris Earl