Heriot – Master of Deceit
The diamond in the prosperous British extreme metal scene, Heriot, have bestowed a new track upon us to celebrate the deluxe edition of their spectacular debut album, Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell. ‘Master Of Deceit’ is another slab of foreboding, sinister heaviness, that fits perfectly onto the record. Debbie Gough’s pain-stripping shrieks blend perfectly with the bands fierce stomp for yet another entry in the bands already stellar catalogue, which poses the question, why was this left out of the original album as it fits so perfectly? It isn’t entirely a track from the album sessions as it turns out, as Randy LeBouef and Erik Bickerstaffe (Loathe) were involved with the production, meaning that this is a new track (along with last year’s ‘Commander of Pain’) and hopefully not the last we get from Heriot in 2026. – Chris Earl
Sugar Horse – Secret Speech
Even for Sugar Horse this is bleak. The first single to be lifted from the band’s freshly announced third LP Not A Sound In Heaven, ‘Secret Speech’ see’s the Bristolian noiseniks continuing to forego the sardonic wit that was once characteristic of their earlier work in order to truly mirror the inherent horror of the subject at hand. And has it happens, the subject here is the collapse of the western empire we’ve had the relative luck of being born into. Essentially, this is oppression encapsulated sonically; a granulating reflection on how the great western empire we call home is crumbling before our very eyes from the sagging weight of the ruling class, dwindling returns from the exploitation that fuels it, and the unceasing war machine that protects it as a construct. It’s a bleak listen, but a timely reminder on how the ephemerality of empires remains unchanged. – Dan Hillier
Melvins & Napalm Death – Tossing Coins Into the Fountain of Fuck
Two frankly gargantuan names in the field of uncompromising, abrasive music, Melvins and Napalm Death have joined forces for a collaboration album which even on paper promises to be one of the more intriguing releases of 2026. The first release from Savage Imperial Death March is the delightfully named ‘Tossing Coins Into The Fountain Of Fuck’ and as you’d probably expect, it’s not for the faint of heart. A swirling, ugly piece of music replete with Barney Greenway’s roar sitting atop some odd guitar work and disturbingly hypnotic drums, it sounds as deranged as you’d expect and God only know what form the full record will take when it drops on 10th April via Ipecac Recordings. – Chris Earl
Knocked Loose – Hive Mind (Feat. Denzel Curry)
Knocked Loose are well and truly back. Kentucky’s own bring their new track ‘Hive Mind’, 3 minutes and 26 seconds of everything that is right and wholesome with hardcore; blistering, intense, unapologetic and carrying a catchy 2 word chorus you can scream along to, as long as you’re not too busy throwing yourself around the room in the meantime. The addition of Denzel Curry brings a new flavour to their already extensive heavy palette. Rap and rock have been hand in hand since the 80s, and here it hits no different in some senses but completely new in others. It doesn’t feel forced to fit the tone of the song or the flow, instead it appreciates and accentuates the verocity and fever of ‘Hive Mind. This feels like some of Knocked Loose‘s best work, an entire band seemingly in tune and producing their prime in their own fields. As the band prepares for a huge 2026 including supporting Metallica, more tracks like this will have their names first on people’s lists of who they want to see. – Sean Jolly
Saint Agnes – Good Boy
With ‘Good Boy’, London rock outfit Saint Agnes delivers a thunderous industrial punk anthem that kicks the door clean off its hinges. The track hits the mark somewhere right between sweaty underground hedonism and an arena sized aggression. Frontperson Kitty A. Austen is an absolute force of nature here, her vocals shifting effortlessly from a sultry, luscious restraint to full-throttle, visceral rage. The lyrics pull no punches, offering a snarling, venom laced takedown of corporate yes men and the so-called “good boys” who happily uphold the capitalist machine. It’s an infectious blast of dark wonder that feels incredibly tight yet dangerously unhinged. It is a bold, blistering listen for anyone craving heavy rock that shows its teeth. – Sean Jolly
Cage Fight – Un Bon Souvenir
There are six seconds of peaceful confusion to Cage Fight’s new single ‘Un Bon Souvenir’, as Rachel Aspe adds metallic-edged melodies to her ever growing resume of vocal styles. But this little earworm barely begins its burrowing before the biting heaviness swallows it up, choking on thrashy riffs in a playground of tempos and confrontational lyrics about a previous manipulative “viper” band member. “A challenging experience, but as he once said, it’s still a good memory, ça reste un bon souvenir,” Aspe explains. It’s catchy, it’s calculated; ‘Un Bon Souvenir’ fuels the lust for Cage Fight’s second album Exuvia, coming out on 1st May via Spinefarm Records. – Lucy Dunnet
Poly-Math – The Universe As An Engine
The sound of The Mars Volta, Battles and King Crimson all being thrown into a particle accelerator together, as one can imagine from a song called this from a band called that, ‘The Universe As An Engine’ is a bewildering and purposely befuddling listen. But oh is it brilliant. Showcasing Poly-Math’s penchant from taking inspiration from everything between classic prog and Ethio-jazz, this a barreling torrent of colourful riffs and musical ideas set to time signatures that feel like they where calculated by NASA. Much like marvelling upon recently captured images of black holes, this is a fun listen regardless of the incomprehensible machinations behind it. – Dan Hillier
Deathcrash – NYC
Deathcrash have been chief flagbearers for UK slowcore for some time now, especially after their tour with Have A Nice Life last summer. This new single pretty much showcases why hold such a distinction. The final single to be taken from the London group’s forthcoming record Somersaults – released February 27th via Untitled (Recs) – ‘NYC’ is a wonderful breath of warm melancholia that just perfectly captures the strange sensationw of post-adolescence angst and coming to terms one’s own fragility following the invincibility of youth. Perfect listening for this unending miserable weather. – Dan Hillier
Stormo – Gesti
Stormo state this song takes inspiration from the worlds of crust and neo-crust. Which isn’t surprising given how this sounds like being lashed by a sandpaper whip for 107 seconds. Ripped from the new record Sogni Che Invadono il Cielo which is being released via the band’s own newly launched label ANFESIBENA, ‘Gesti’ is once again a raw and bloody outburst of emotional turmoil from the Italian screamo unit, one that mares the grit, urgency and contrastive poetic nature of Converge and Birds in Row. – Dan Hillier
Monosphere – Idiomorph
Melancholic post-rock lead guitar intertwines with reggaeton beats and flamenco inspired backing acoustic guitar on Monosphere’s latest single ‘Idiomorph’. Clearly intended to be a quieter yet emotionally charged midway point within the upcoming album’s flow, ‘Idiomorph’ showcases vocalist Kevin Ernst’s range, embodying the pained drama at the heart of this track as well as the band’s overall flexibility and willingness to play around with various genres and moods. With the song progressively crescendoing towards an impassioned outburst and hinting at a seamless transition into another track, it only builds anticipation and curiosity in regards to how all the uniquely shaped puzzle pieces Monosphere have laid out thus far will combine once their album Amnesia is out in full on March 13th. – Avrian O’Brien
Showing Teeth – Rip
Baring fangs would be a more accurate description for the piercing metalcore that Nashville-based Showing Teeth is setting loose upon the world. Following on from her debut single ‘Labyrinth’, released at the tail end of 2025, “Rip is a song about proving a point as violently as possible,” she says. A point she makes most viscerally with her arsenal of deathcore-inspired vocals, and the instrumental groove battle between Zach Munowitz and Periphery drummer, Matt Halpern. ‘Rip’ is three minutes of uncensored emotion and technical chaos channelled through a pummelling of spike-encrusted fists to the nervous system. If ever there was an argument for more TikTok-first musicians, Showing Teeth is it. – Lucy Dunnet
Our Nameless Boy – (Not In My Name)
In this age of ceaseless sociopolitical turmoil, it’s exhausting having to hear hollow words from politicians that are as transparent and clean as a greasy KFC bucket. Such is the nature of the new single from emo alt-rock unit Our Nameless Boy. Channeling thoughts of Thrice and Mewithoutyou albeit with the lilt of the UK emo scene, ‘(Not In My Name)’ is fantastic track that counters it’s sense of brash frustration with it’s delicate intricacy. “‘(Not In My Name)’ highlights the hollowness I often perceive in political speeches and discourse”, states frontman Iain Gorrie on the track. ”There are certain things that almost shouldn’t need to be said, and then when they are, it feels like there’s no substance or action to back those words up.” – Dan Hillier