Sofia Irini
March 3, 2025| Dan Hillier |FEATURES
Soot Sprite, Other Half, Employed To Serve and More: New Noizze – The 13 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week
You know the deal. Here's the best singles of last week.
Soot Sprite – All My Friends Are Depressed
‘All My Friends Are Depressed’ is the first single from Exeter shoegaze/emo band Soot Sprite’s debut album Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon and is a misanthropic slice of fuzzy guitar-pop that touches upon the increasingly hostile political climate of today and its disastrous consequences on friends and family. Signed to Bristol label Specialist Subject Records back in 2019 and having been putting out reliably great music since, ‘All My Friends are Depressed’ is a catchy, slice-of-life effort with trademark piercing shoegaze guitars, distorted bass, and frontwoman Elise Cook’s relentless vocals. It all makes for a welcome addition to Soot Sprite’s discography of four EPs, and multiple singles, and is a promising sign for the album. – Ez Luscombe
Other Half – Transgression Is Outdated
Dropping just prior to their upcoming tours with Bear Vs Shark and Single Mothers, ‘Transgression Is Outdated’ see’s Other Half darkly lamenting just how grim it is seeing your favourite band return from the grave a feckless dead-eyed corpse shambling arms outstretched for a cheap reunion payday. Also, in true Other Half fashion, it also see’s Other Half dissing Other Half. Thick with a sense of sardonic misanthropy that made their last record Dark Agesim so brilliant, ‘Transgression Is Outdated’ is a surly, snarling and just plain nasty barrage of noise that borders upon Breeders worship. Not that there’s the subject of this song however “I think it might just be my favourite bit of music we’ve ever committed to bandwidth”, states voalist Cal Hudson on the track. “I’d like to point out here, the Breeders are not one of those bands I alluded to earlier, but they might share some past DNA with a band I did mean”. – Dan Hillier
Employed To Serve – Fallen Star
Following their blisteringly heavy lead single ‘Atonement’ featuring modern deathcore legend and Lorna Shore frontman Will Ramos, Employed To Serve’s second single, and the title track from upcoming album Fallen Star is an equally heavy counterpart. This one, however, provides more diversity due to the dreamy guitar lines during the intro, the dual vocals of Justine Jones and Sammy Urwin, and the sheer uncompromising blend of heavy, chugging riffs. Lyrically, ‘Fallen Star’ deals with the watching someone give up on life and self-sabotaging themselves, whilst the narrator has to watch them as they destroy themselves. This is a topic which unfortunately hits home for so many people, making ‘Fallen Star’ arguably one of the more relatable heavy songs of the year. – Ez Luscombe
Conan – Desolation Hexx
‘Desolation Hexx’ is the first single taken from a record called Violence Dimension, and goodness me does it sound like a track taken from an album with such a title. The latest track from the caveman battle doom trio Conan, ‘Desolation Hexx’ is so damn primordial and primitive it more or less sounds like a field recording of ancient man going toe-to-toe with a great beast from the pleistocene period. Crucial listening for all those who like their doom predatory, and going from this alone, Violence Dimension is set to be another fantastic slab of gnarled and primeval doom metal upon it’s release on April 25th. – Dan Hillier
Dying Wish – I Brought You My Soul (Your World Brought Me Despair)
Their first new music since 2023’s excellent Symptoms of Survival, Dying Wish have unveiled the excellently-titled ‘I Brought You My Soul (Your World Brought Me Despair’. Its early 2000s title echoes its contents perfectly, their balance of excoriating screams, frantic riffs channelling the likes of Unearth and a soaring vocal performance from Emma Boster that continues to show her progression and growth as a singer. Fans will know the band are no strangers to speaking out on issues that matter to them, and ‘I Brought You My Soul’ is no different, as Boster explains: “‘I Brought You My Soul…’ is written about being one of many affected by the state of the world we are living in, constantly witnessing the brutality and injustices has taken a toll on our collective mental health. ‘I am miserable yet I am sane’ references that being impacted by these tragedies happening in Gaza and on our own American soil in fact makes us normal. I fear that one day we will become numb to the events as they become more violent because we are so conditioned to living with it every day.” It’s also the first taste of LP3, and marks an extremely exciting time to be both Dying Wish and a fan of theirs. – Will Marshall
Lake Malice – Scatterbrain
Lake Malice are flying high, with an upcoming slot supporting breakout star RØRY and their latest single ‘Scatterbrain’ that furthers their blend of modern metalcore and elements of hyperpop and EDM. With its driving drums and caustic lyrics, ‘Scatterbrain’ sets its sights firmly on the capitalist hellscape we call the modern world. Blake Cornwall offers some of his most frantic riffs yet, barreling through speakers while vocalist Alice Guala offers just as much rage through both vicious screams and ear worm hooks. Blake says of the song, “’Scatterbrain’ is about feeling disillusioned and overwhelmed in modern day society. The repeating chant: “Spin, wash, repeat, mind, soul, body, neat” is a metaphor for struggling to keep up in a chronically online, superficial and capitalistic society, leaving little time to take care of yourself and make meaningful social connections.” – Will Marshall
Deafheaven – Heathen
With their hotly-anticipated new album Lonely People With Power on its way, Deafheaven unveil its second single ‘Heathen’. Bridging the gap between Infinite Granite and first single ‘Magnolia’, its swathes of shoegaze textures and hazy vocals act as the glue holding together its furious blackgaze. A stunning amalgamation of dreampop and black metal, ‘Heathen’ builds to a cataclysmic assault of blast beats and screeching vocals that show the band at their transcendent, emotional best. It isn’t reinventing their wheel, but alongside ‘Magnolia’, it’s some of the most excoriating noise they’ve put out since ‘Black Brick’, which makes the upcoming Lonely People With Power a very exciting prospect indeed. – Will Marshall
Forlorn – Keeper Of The Well
The London-based quintet who redefined Horror Folk Metal, Forlorn, are days away from releasing their debut album, Aether, which is set to be one of the most interesting releases coming up this year, courtesy of the almighty Church Road Records. Forlorn’s vocalist Megan Jenkins had this to say about the new single, ‘Keeper Of The Well’: “Water is a vital part of human existence,” shares vocalist Megan Jenkins about the new single. “With the power to heal, renew and nourish, yet we curse ourselves and the creatures within by not respecting it. We must do more to honour and care for our sacred wells, rivers, lakes and oceans.” With the beautiful scenery reminiscent of The Wicker Man, Forlorn are giving us incredible vocal prowess and insanely good breakdowns, promising amazing things to come for this up-and-coming band, who will be performing a launch party on release day, Friday 28th March at the legendary Black Heart in London, and will also be performing at Noizze Fest in Cardiff on Saturday 26th April 2025. – Nessie Spencer
Twat Union – Singer Of The Band
Channeling the fun, fury and fervour synonymous with acts such as The Menstrual Cramps and Loose Articles, ‘Singer Of The Band’ see’s London performance punks Twat Union tackling misogynistic pre-presumptions about women in bands. Taken from their upcoming debut EP Don’t Look It In The Eye – released April 4th via Alcopop! Records – this is just one of those singles that’s equal parts rage and empowerment, a furious and fun barrage of sardonic punk that’s provocative as it is playful. For those into the bands aforementioned, now is the time to get the twat treatment. – Dan Hillier
Crippling Alcoholism – Tinted Civic
Crippling Alcoholism might just be one of the most exciting things to come out of the underground recently, with last year’s With Love From A Padded Room rapidly drawing attention to their name. ‘Tinted Civic’ continues the band’s knack for crafting catchy, uncomfortable and unpredictable songs built around the viewpoint of unsavoury characters. While the track acts out as a brooding ballad mixing post-rock and gothy coldwave influences, once its seemingly unstoppable narrator is faced with rejection, the song mimics the psychotic breakdown his shattered ego sends him on as the music undergoes a similar loss of control, emphasised by ominous bass, synths and unhinged vocals. With previous single ‘Blood Pony’ also ending in a maddening mental breakdown, it’s safe to assume whatever Crippling Alcoholism are gearing up to next is certain to be gloriously miserable, yet you’ll likely be humming along to their spleen-ridden earworms before you know it. – Avrian O’Brien
Bleed From Within – God Complex
Bleed From Within have revealed yet another powerhouse track with ‘God Complex’, a perfect blend of crushing heaviness and soaring melody. From the opening moments, the song pulses with intensity, driven by razor-sharp riffs and thunderous drumming. Scott Kennedy’s vocals are as commanding as ever, shifting seamlessly between his ferocious growls and guitarist Steven Jones’ anthemic hooks that demand to be shouted back. The track’s groove is undeniable, with tight, punchy rhythms that hit hard without ever feeling chaotic. There’s a real confidence in the songwriting; every breakdown, every transition, feels deliberate and calculated to keep the energy at its peak. The chorus, in particular, sticks after just one listen, elevating the track beyond pure aggression into something truly anthemic. ‘God Complex’ is a statement of intent; Bleed From Within are operating at the top of their game, and this single shows they’re still pushing forward with relentless force. – Vee Richardson
Pacmanthemovie – Friend Without the ‘R’
‘Friend Without the R’ is the second single from Houston’s mathcore outfit Pacmanthemovie, following their 2021 album Pacmanthemovie 2: Eat Lives and subsequent lineup changes. Drifting in and out of dissonant autotuned vocals, System Of A Down-like staccato passages and 8-bit infused frantic mathcore, Pacmanthemovie successfully bring together elements that re-create what mathcore should be in essence. It’s unpredictable, original, fun, chaotic and contains the right amounts of wacky and rough-around-the-edge grittiness. If you have been enjoying the latest outputs of bands like The Callous Daoboys and Kaonashi, Pacmanthemovie should be well worth your time. – Avrian O’Brien
Hairpin – Curtain Call
‘Curtain Call’ is the third single from south coast post-hardcore/emo newcomers Hairpin. Combining syncopated riffs, frenetic drum patterns and distorted vocals while taking clear inspiration from iconic British emo outfit Reuben, ‘Curtain Call’ is a lovely slice of power-pop inspired nostalgia that will transport you back to the glory days of modern alternative British music. Think skate parks, warm cider and those weird t-shirts with cartoon monsters on them; it feels like a modern representation of that time period in the UK perfectly that many millennials feel nostalgic towards. – Ez Luscombe
