Creeper – Prey For the Night
Where 2023’s Sanguivore lent into campy goth rock by way of Meatloaf, everything we’ve heard from Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death ups the campy ante even further while planting its tongue more firmly in cheek. Latest single ‘Prey For the Night’ is big, brash fun replete with saxophones and duelling vocals between Will Gould (rechristened as William von Ghould) and keyboardist Hannah Greenwood. It’s all very 80s, overblown theatricality and – frankly – hard not to be drawn in by its lavish absurdity. Of course, Sanguivore II could only be out on Halloween, and it’s sure to be a wonderfully silly, spooky time. – Will Marshall
Conjurer – Let Us Live
Far from their usual tact of burying meaning layers of allegory and metaphor, Conjurer loudly, and bluntly demand equality on their stunning new single ‘Let Us Live’, the second from their upcoming third album Unself. As well as acerbic and vital lyricism, ‘Let Us Live’ features arguably Dani Nightingale’s best vocal performance of their career switching from that signature snarl to a heartbreaking clean chorus that is made to be sung defiantly in the face of the oppressors. On top of all of that, Conjurer continue to do what they do best and deliver neck-snapping riffs. If ‘Let Us Live’ is an indicator of what is to come, Unself is looking like it could be the album of the band’s career to date. – Kevin Ashburn
Karnivool – Aozora
For those still riding high after Karnivool‘s grand return to Compton Martin, brace yourselves for the studio version of their new song ‘Aozora’, which means “blue sky” in Japanese. Vocalist Ian Kelly describes the song’s theme as one of escaping or waiting to escape. Vocalist Ian Kenny reflects on this idea, stating, “the whole theme for that song is escaping, or waiting to escape […] Trying to find a way to escape yourself. The idea of finding freedom in the blue. Trying to find freedom amongst the complications of just being human.” There is definitely an airy lightness in his voice that blends perfectly with the heavy riffs and progressive melodies. It has been a while since we last heard new material from Karnivool, and their upcoming album In Verses is poised to be one of the most highly anticipated album releases of 2026, if not the most anticipated. – Nessie Spencer
As Everything Unfolds – Point of View
The second single presumably taken from their as-yet unannounced third album, ‘Point of View’ sees As Everything Unfolds delve into more melodic pastures than previous single ‘Set In Flow’. With VUKOVI-esque riffing and an anthemic chorus as AEU know so well, it shows another side of the band’s continued evolution. It’s also a deeply personal song, vocalist Charlie Rolfe explaining of its meaning that “you give everything you have, your whole being, your whole life, to help someone but it’s never enough if they don’t want to help themselves. I really struggled to understand how someone close to me couldn’t see my point of view in the awful situation we were in. They were angry when I helped, they were angry when I gave them space, they were angry when I stayed, they were angry when I left.” – Will Marshall
Drain – Scared of Everything and Nothing
Cali sun-kissed hardcore rippers Drain are gearing up to release their third album …Is Your Friend in November and its latest single ‘Scared of Everything and Nothing’ might just be one of their best yet. Barely over 2 and a half minutes long, it’s all bouncing crossover riffs and snarled delivery from frontman Sammy Ciaramitaro. Dealing with his own emotional state and desire to keep pushing himself and the band, it’s another slab of riffy positivity about the constant drive for self-improvement as the band continue to lead the renaissance of American hardcore. – Will Marshall
Jumper Boy – Elephants
It’s a been a little wee while since we’ve heard some new music from Jumper Boy, but this certainly makes up for such a wait. The latest single from the South Yorkshire quartet, ‘Elephants’ is a wonderful crash of emo and math tropes that interweave and compliment each other beautifully and seamlessly. It’s an utter earworm of a track, and a single that sounds like something Delta Sleep would release after spending a night at a sweaty basement showcase filled all the talent that makes the Yorkshire emo scene so brilliant. – Dan Hillier
Guilt Trip – Burn
Manchester’s Guilt Trip have had a whirlwind couple of years since dropping their last album Severance, and their signing to Roadrunner Records as they reveal latest single ‘Burn’ only reaffirms that. Amping their metallic hardcore up with more thrash influence than before without fully straying into crossover territory, ‘Burn’ feels like The Blackening-era Machine Head worship without fully aping them or losing Guilt Trip‘s own confrontational identity. It’s a crushing statement of where the band have been, and where they could be heading next. – Will Marshall
False Advertising – The Sorry Window
It’s been a hot whole minute since we’ve heard from False Advertising. Thankfully ‘The Sorry Window’ more than makes up for lost time. Releasing more than a year after the band’s brilliant last track ‘Don’t Ask Me’, this new single see’s False Advertising coalescing heartfelt indie-pop with viscous grunge in order to fully articulate the unique and unfading ache that is hindsight. Longtime fans will no doubt be familiar with the dichotomy between sweetness and sourness that serves as the crux of this song, but for those new to this band, this is a wonderful introduction. Hopefully it won’t be another year until the next single. – Dan Hillier
Mastiff – Decimated Graves
The nights grow darker, the wind bites harder and everything seems that little bit more hopeless at this time of year and to top it all off, Mastiff have released a new slab of oppressive, nihilistic hardcore. The Hull sludge peddlers have nailed down abrasive, thick slabs of grinding hardcore and ahead of their new EP and first for new home Church Road Records, For All The Dead Dreams, ‘Decimated Graves’ is here to whet appetites even further. Channelling their Hull neighbors in Black Tongue, this new track is a jaw clenching blast of fury. If you like your music unforgiving and pummeling, waste no further time and shove your face deep into the abyss that is Mastiff. – Chris Earl
Tribe Of Ghosts – Forever Falling Upwards
Tribe Of Ghosts has unveiled their thrilling new single, ‘Forever Falling Upwards’ on September 17. This electrifying track serves as a preview of their highly anticipated upcoming EP, Open Wounds, which is yet to have an official release date. ‘Forever Falling Upwards’ showcases a bold, heavier direction for Brighton’s post-hardcore powerhouse. With its infectious grooves, exhilarating breakdowns, and the stunning interplay of Beccy Blaker’s soaring clean vocals and Adam Sedgwick’s fierce growls, the song promises a captivating listening experience. While details about the EP remain a mystery, the band is gearing up for an exciting series of shows in Oxford, Eastbourne, Bournemouth, and Colchester—don’t miss the chance to catch their dynamic live performance. – Nessie Spencer
False Reality – FROZEN
One of the brightest lights in a staggeringly well lit British hardcore scene right now, False Reality are keeping the momentum going in the run up to their November debut album release, with ‘FROZEN’ being the fourth single from the record. Opening with a squealing bit of guitar work, they continue to bely their status as a four piece by sounding absolutely massive, blending aggression with a sound that teases stepping out of their box and hitting bigger stages. One of the most danceable, two stepping tracks released from the band so far, it keeps the anticipation high ahead of their highly sought after debut. – Chris Earl
Their Dogs Were Astronauts – Paradise
Arguably one of the more under-appreciated acts when it comes to the instrumental progressive metal sphere, Their Dogs Were Astronauts release second single ‘Paradise’, foreshadowing an upcoming project guided by constellations. The Austrian duo continue to efficiently blend electronics and atmosphere with chunky prog metal that is unafraid to toy with an array of various stylistical influences to keep the momentum going and ensuring their sound never becomes stale. Keep an eye on the stars. – Avrian O’Brien
Brutalligators – Hold Fast
Ahead of their appearance at Birmingham’s Amateur Power festival earlier this month alongside UK indie giants Really Big Really Clever and SUDS, Hitchin’s finest queercore, emo and indie-punk quartet Brutalligators’s latest output ‘Hold Fast’ is a mid-tempo banger that’s equal parts catchy with math rock inspired, twinkly riffs mixed with lyricism that’s both devastatingly honest, yet morosely positive. The background gang vocals and slow buildup adds a further sense of positivity and making the most out of a bad situation and grief, whether that sadness comes from losing a family member, a painful breakup or just moving on from a phase in your life. Whether you need a massive cry, or just a few minutes of contemplation, ‘Hold Fast’ is essential listening. – Ez Luscombe
SUDS – Quietly Feeling
Combining midwest emo with a fusion of folk, 90’s britpop and modern day indie, ‘Quietly Feeling’ is the second single from East Anglia quartet SUDS’ upcoming November release Tell Me About Your Day again via Big Scary Monsters. With an enthralling mix of fuzzy, shoegaze-style guitars, infectious harmonies, emotive lyrics that will make even a casual listener reflect on past experiences, and frontwoman Mae Carter’s clean yet introspective vocal delivery; ‘Quietly Feeling’ is another great example of SUDS making relatable yet contemplative DIY indie with a relentless, punky edge. – Ez Luscombe
Blindfolded And Led To The Woods – Cafuné
As we approach the 10th of October release date of their upcoming new album The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes Me, New-Zealand experimental tech-death outfit Blindfolded And Led To The Woods peel back another layer with new single ‘Cafuné’. While first single ‘Compulsion’ was a more straightforward death metal track by their standards, ‘Cafuné’ reunites listeners with the unpredictable shifting nature of the sound they’d presented on 2023’s Rejecting Obliteration. Blistering dissonant technical death metal with an almost mechanical level of rigid efficiency suddenly becomes amorphous and changes both the mood and structure of the track with a shift of tones and dynamics in a way that is rarely found in the genre. Or at least not at this level of surprising execution. Some of the most adventurous death metal and nastiest vocals in the game currently, get excited and/or acquainted. – Avrian O’Brien
TV Cult – Overpressure
With the band sounding somewhat akin to Germany’s answer to High Vis, ‘Overpressure’ see’s Cologne’s TV Cult delivering shadow cloaked post punk with the asphalt grit of metropolitan hardcore. Taken from the band’s upcoming record Industry – released October 10th via Flight13 Records – the track is an ashen and eroded slab of urbanite frustration rich with a sense of tension and resentment. Anyone who has tried to make ends meet whilst living within the concrete confines of any major European city during this cost of living permacrisis will no doubt find familiarity with this single. – Dan Hillier
Greyhaven – Where the Light Leaves Us
Greyhaven‘s DNA is littered with the likes of Every Time I Die, The Devil Wears Prada and more, but reshaped into their own mould. With ‘Where the Light Leaves Us’, from their upcoming album Keep It Quiet, they’re widening their palette with its slower burn, still shot through with visceral emotion that occasionally spills over into eruptions of frantic drums and screams. Lyrically dealing with vocalist Brent Mills’ own life and struggles he was going through, and dealing with poorly, it reflects that inner turmoil and the decisions made to get life back on track. – Will Marshall
Reliqa – Your Touch
One of Australia’s most promising outfits, Reliqa unveiled their stunning debut album Secrets of the Future last year, a heady blend of sounds from rap to djenty progressive metalcore. As a first taste of them continuing to evolve their sonic palette, ‘Your Touch’ is a massive curveball, but one the band pull off with aplomb. Eschewing those more djenty or rap-laced moments, it instead dials into a danceable, floor-filling groove. Despite this seeming departure, it’s still Reliqa through and through, including in its themes, as the band explain: “Your Touch is a continuation of a close-to-heart idea we started exploring on Secrets of the Future, about the fear of ambition going too far. It’s about having tunnel vision, where your sight’s set on a single target so narrowly that one day you realise you’ve left everything you love behind. The song is full of outer space imagery for that reason – it felt like a fitting metaphor for making bold moves that leave you more isolated than ever.” – Will Marshall
Kariti – Still Life
It is rare to find artists who immerse themselves so deeply in their craft that every note sends a shiver down your spine. Kariti achieved this with her previous album, Dheghom where doom and melancholy intertwine with heaviness. Her new single, ‘Still Life’. which is also the title track of her third album, is a breathtaking piano ballad enhanced by impressive droning riffs from Marco Matta, the guitarist of the Italian doom legends Grime. Ekaterina explains that “these songs are the aftermath of being galvanized into a disillusioned reflection on human life and the way it is lived by most of us in the world in its current state.” Still Life will be released on November 7 via Lay Bare Recordings and is set to impact us in the most profound and sophisticated ways. – Nessie Spencer
Leylines – Another Mimic
Leylines materialized out of seemingly nowhere and proceeded to drop arguably one of the best mathcore EP’s of last year with their self-titled debut. New single ‘Another Mimic’ announces more techy madness as part of their upcoming second EP Sepulchral, out on the 24th of October. Spidery tapping riffs, spasmic dissonant chords and syncopated chugs ; ‘Another Mimic’ has everything to appeal to fans of the Danza/Frontierer side of mathcore and long-time listeners of The Contortionist might even recognize ex-vocalist Jonathan Carpenter’s guttural growls commanding the chaos. – Avrian O’Brien
Mouth Culture – Picking Wings Off a Butterfly
Ahead of their October tour alongside Beauty School and Heart Sauce, Surrey trio Mouth Culture have been cutting their teeth in the UK alternative scene and with slots supporting You Me At Six on their final tour as well as playing Slam Dunk, the only way is up from here. Latest single ‘Picking Wings Off a Butterfly’ is chock full of pop-punk angst with a more mature edge as frontman Jack Voss showcases his honest and seasoned lyricism and combined with the ensembles successful attempt at blending classic pop-punk inspired melodies with modern and more complex production, the sky’s the limit for Mouth Culture. – Ez Luscombe
Dying Fetus – Into the Cesspool
With a career spanning almost thirty five years, Dying Fetus are international heroes that have been synonymous with heavy music that’s both extreme and boundary-pushing and latest single ‘Into The Cesspool’ is clearly no exception. With a more of a technical edge compared to a lot of their earlier work and a more slam and hardcore influenced drum part, ‘Into The Cesspool’ is still everything that you would expect from a top-tier single from the death metal juggernauts with complex guitar solos to boot, frontman John Gallagher may be the only consistent member left in the band, but Dying Fetus are still a force to be reckoned with and a perfect example of a band who haven’t compromised their heaviness with age. – Ez Luscombe
Daedric – Dreamweaver
The fourth single from their upcoming second album As The Light Left, ‘Dreamweaver’ shows Daedric on imperious form. Rather than its title suggesting a more airy approach, ‘Dreamweaver’ is all thundering drums and churning guitars; even its chorus bears a decidedly wicked edge to it. A spiritual successor to fan favourite ‘Alien Skin’, this time Daedric go on a sci-fi, horror inspired journey, daring to ask what it could feel like to be hunted by some ominous, unseen force. Each single so far has shown the alt metal outfit embracing new ideas and expanding their sound further from their 2023 debut Mortal, suggesting this album might be a far more realised version of Daedric with plenty for fans to pore over come 17 October when the album releases. – Will Marshall