Will Marshall
Kings of the discombobulating Frontierer never disappoint when it comes to music that sounds like a computer chip malfunctioning in your frontal contex. New track ‘Our Mainframe Earache’ is no exception to this, being the band’s second salvo from their upcoming Ultraviolet Parasite record due out in October. Unrelenting, unpredictable and unorthodox, it’s every essence of the aural assaulters in one burst. However, it shows a honing and more targeted approach to sonic terrorism than their last few albums showing that their skills at making you uncomfortable are much more finely tuned than ever, promising one of the most divisive and interesting albums of the last part of the year. – Chris Earl
The iconic Scottish alt-pop and electronic trio Chvrches have had an interesting year, gracing the world with covers of both The Postal Service and Robert Palmer for the Hulu original Tell Me Lies, celebrating the five year anniversary of their last album Screen Violence and announcing two one-off shows in Glasgow and London at the end of October to welcome in their new era, latest single ‘Roses’ celebrates all things dramatic. The haunting background vocals are especially ghoulish, the guitars are glossy and reminiscent of 80’s post-punk, but the synths take a backseat on this one as Chvrches experiment with darker and more mature sounds compared to their usual upbeat pop. It’s always an interesting day when they release new music and no doubt, their fifth studio album will amp up the drama. – Ez Luscombe
With the release of their much-anticipated fifth full-length Future Nausea just a month away, Los Angeles emo-punks Spanish Love Songs offer up a characteristically wry, weathered take on modern life with ‘Doom Tripping’, the second single taken from the upcoming record. With the break-out success of third album Brave Faces, Everyone having been somewhat hobbled by the pandemic, and then its follow-up No Joy feeling like a white-knuckle ride through the immediate wake of that dark time, on Future Nausea we can fully expect to be in the company of a band wrestling with the state of the world as it is today, armed with the gallows humour and heartrending frankness that Spanish Love Songs have made their calling card. As frontman Dylan Slocum laments on ‘Doom Tripping’: “Each day it’s only death / And ads for pills that I’m already taking / Weight loss shots and self-help tips / Another hero turned a rapist”. No one is expecting the future, this new record, or the process of navigating life to be a walk in the park, but Spanish Love Songs are back to help us feel a little less alone in our petty frustrations and creeping existential dread. – Pete Wall
If the gauntlet has been thrown down by Chat Pile for who can produce the sludgiest, nastiest, most miserable riffs of 2026, then Moni Jitchell (yes, you read that correctly) can certainly rise to the challenge. The ruckus that the Glaswegian two-piece concoct is as warped and wicked as it is alluring. Bending downtuned riffs twist in hypnotic directions, while Grant Donaldson howls like a banshee, creating an atmosphere of growing dread. Fans of Ashenspire, Sugar Horse and the aforementioned need look no further for their next fix of misanthropic sludge. ‘All To See’ is the latest single from their upcoming sophomore album Aware, released 23 October this year. – Niall Creane
Chunky bass, fierce spitting down the mic, a haunting atmosphere and an almost Prodigy-esque sound and delivery from some of Bristol’s best in Knives. ‘Vermillion’ is securely setting up their second record Nothing New Under the Sun to be an absolute rager of a follow up to their debut. Predicting a continued rise and dominance with this band having already blown away stages at Outbreak, Noizzefest and more. Supporting Cancer Bats this month we recommend you get down early for their set. – Adam Vallely
The most destructive thing to come out of France in years that isn’t blowing up cars or setting fire to schools, Headbussa have cemented their place in the European hardcore scene over the last few years. Scathingly heavy beatdown, they’ve just announced a debut full length, Survival Measures, due for release in November and they’ve made a statement in the form of the first release, ‘Immortality’. A continuation of their intense, incendiary sound, it doesn’t break any boundaries, but that doesn’t stop it from being a fist clencher. They’re opening for current hardcore darlings Pain of Truth over here next year and with tunes like this, who’d want to follow them? – Chris Earl
Sometimes a collaboration makes so much sense it near enough guarantees gold. This is one of those times, as adrenaline-to-the-heart merchants Comeback Kid link up with punch-through-walls ringleader Brendan Garrone of Incendiary for the second single from their eighth album Chosen Hell, set for release on 6 November. What’s more the record’s production has been handled by heavy-hitter Will Putney (Knocked Loose, Every Time I Die and many, many more) and it sounds massive. This is full-chested self-betterment material that does exactly what it sets out to do in such irresistible fashion that any sense of malaise you’re carrying around doesn’t stand a chance. As if a straight banger from Comeback Kid wasn’t reason enough to windmill through your drywall, when Brendan Garrone drops his verse in the second half, god help the rest of the house. Outbreak know exactly what they need to do. – Pete Wall
35 years into an illustrious career, cult psych-rockers Clutch are gearing up for the highly-anticipated release of their 14th studio album, Wasted Lands. The album is preceded by its title track and in true Clutch fashion, they serve up a heady mix of molasses-thick riffs, potent, anthemic vocals and intoxicating drums that will make you break speed limits. Tongue planted firmly in cheek, master of ceremonies Neil Fallon weaves together a tale of Lovecraftian monsters and stolen identities as the band channel their inner Sabbath and conjure up another instant classic for their ever-growing repertoire of modern rock bangers. – Niall Creane
South Wales is currently a breeding ground for incredible new and older bands alike, seeded in metalcore, post hardcore and just generally anything with disgusting riffs and stunning vocals. Strange Company are no strangers to this at all with new single ‘Waves’. Soaring parts inject a feeling of floating across stormy waters. This is intensely beautiful songwriting. – Adam Vallely
Noise making veterans USA Nails never miss. A galloping rhythm bounds through walls with their lead single from 2027’s incoming record Routine Flesh. Who needs songs longer than 72 seconds anyway when you’re on your 7th album? If you already are aware about USA Nails you’ll love this. If you don’t, where the hell have you been? – Adam Vallely
It’s been eleven years since Northlane released Node, their first album to feature vocalist Marcus Bridge, and in that time they have delved further and further into the electronic world, moving away from the progressive metalcore of earlier releases towards a grander, more forward-thinking vision. Siphoning glitchy industrial textures and eurotrance synths through heavily processed guitars and guttural vocals on new single ‘Crucified’, all of the core elements of their sound remain, but charged up and laser-focused. Intense, brooding and densely layered, ‘Crucified’ is a statement of intent from the Australians, laying the ground for their seventh studio album Anemoia to take the world by storm. – Niall Creane