Dan Hillier
Coinciding with the announcement of their upcoming full length debut The Boogie Down South – dropping January 27th via Venn Records – Cardiff hardcore powerpunks XL Life are back with ‘Baby Steps’, a corroboration between them and the freshly MOBO awarded Bob Vylan. Driven by former Astroid Boys member Traxx’s incendiary vocals and pogoing musicianship, ‘Baby Steps’ addresses the traumatic episodes of substance abuse, broken homes, violence and mental health issues that almost derailed the band in the past. Yet dispute it’s harrowing lyrical themes, it’s unflinching yet unyielding in it’s posture, ultimately taking form as a statement of positive determination. “We knew this song had to be made, because we had all been going through some heavy stuff outside of the band”, says Traxx on the single. “The band has been stop-start/stop-start the whole time, trying to prioritise our health and coming up against some really traumatic circumstances, so this song had to address that. The healing journey. Baby steps. Holding onto the promises.” – Dan Hillier
Insomnium‘s incoming ninth album, Anno 1696, tells the story written by bassist/vocalist Niilo Sevänen, particularly addressing the famine in Northern Europe and the ongoing brutal witch trials of that era. Their latest single, ‘White Christ’, features the talents of none other than Sakis Tolis of Greek extreme metallers Rotting Christ and the two vocalists’ interplay is a particular highlight of the song. While ‘White Christ’ focuses predominantly on the melancholic melodic death metal the band have been renowned for, the album promises not only grisly tales of the evils people visit on each other, but a tour of all the sonic territories Insomnium have explored over their career. We can’t wait. – Will Marshall
The Acacia Strain have always put the “death” in deathcore, and their new single is no different. With nods to of Fit For An Autopsy aplenty (with whom they co-headline a tour in 2023) and a hardcore breakdown that sounds like it was lifted from Knocked Loose, ‘Untended Graves’ sends a roar through the deathcore world. Few deathcore bands can make a two minutes feel like four, like The Acacia Strain do here with rapid rhythmic turns, bridge-cable bass lines, and headbanging breakdowns. “Praying for heaven but begging for hell”, yes, but the metal world will be praying for an EP but begging for an album thanks to ‘Untended Graves’. – Josiah Aden”
The electronic Norwegian duo Aiming for Enrike usually known for their high intensity, angular material has taken a huge shift in a new direction with their upcoming record Empty Airports. A clever nod to Brian Eno’s Music for Airports not only intitle but in style. New single ‘The Rats and the Children’ is a floaty, spatial almost hypnotic journey. Calmly building for over four minutes the textures flow into a trance like beat. Recorded during lockdowns during the last two years this is an apt soundscape for the stillness of life during those times. It is highly recommend you catch the pair on tour in February. – Adam Vallely
2023 will be the 20th anniversary of Hell Is For Heroes critically acclaimed debut The Neon Handshake. Two following albums and many venues conquered they left a beautiful legacy. With the on and off reunion shows in recent years there was always hope there would be new music on the horizon, and we have been treated with this new track. With their good friend Larry Hibbert of Hundred Reasons behind the mixing desk the post-hardcore stalwarts have produced something that is not too dissimilar to what they have built their reputation upon but certainly a sound that has matured since their last release all the way back in 2008. Shows next year with Hundred Reasons and My Vitriol are shaping up to be a celebration of the past but a fresh start for all involved. – Adam Vallely
The latest single from the South Walian noisemongers Only Fools And Corpses, ‘Swede’ is a sardonic look on the ultimately pointless futility of life and how we as a population try to alleviate the inherent misery of modern living. Bounded by it’s larynx shredding noise-rock vocals and grimy post-punk rhythm section, the track is a two minute romp of violent absurdism that’s abound to resonate with fans of acts such as USA Nails, Milo’s Planes and Cassels. The ideal musical offering for those disfranchised and malcontent among us during the holiday season. – Dan Hillier
Coming in hot after the release of their November single ‘Dog’, Norwich face melters Sleemo are back with another audio curb-stomp. Driven by a bass line that hits like a five-ringed backhand, ‘For The Honest’ is an unpredictable and quivering ode on the ever fruitless phenomenon of comparing oneself to others and the ceaseless sense of inadequacy that follows. It’s a blinding track, one presented as a dichotomy between uneasy melodicism and bludgeoning force that perfectly mirrors the sensations and feelings that come synonymous with the toxic aforementioned mental exercises the track documents. Anyone with even the passing interest in acts such as El Moono, Eat Your Own Head and even Deftones will find plenty to fatally fawn over here. – Dan Hillier
Taken from their forthcoming record Moments Of Clarity – released February 10th via Church Road Records, ‘Gearhead’ is the second glimpse of a newly reinvigorated and focused Narrow Head. Whilst the track still uses the contrast of beauty and devastation as it’s very foundation, ‘Gearhead’ see’s the Texas tastemakers infuse their core dynamism with a sense of newfound clarity that can only come following spiritual trails and losses. Through it’s sticky rhythms, pounding riffs and quivering, capricious vocals, the track serves as an introduction to the upcoming journey thorough pulsating soundscapes of emotional space that Moments Of Clarity is undoubtedly set to manifest as. – Dan Hillier
Finnish metallers Serotonin Syndrome initially started life as a more straightforward, death/doom band but with recent albums, and now latest single ‘Among Others’ from their upcoming album Seed of Mankind, they show they’re capable of much more. Broader soundscapes, evoking black metallers Agalloch and the post-metal majesty of Isis, are becoming far more dominant, with ‘Among Others’ sprawling itself across eight minutes, channeling a sense of loss and misery at, as the band describe, the “hypocrisy [and] the human ability to avoid being responsible for one’s actions. How a person can lie to oneself to make the reality seem more acceptable. The protagonist is not an exception, but one among the others.” – Will Marshall