Burner – What Will You Give feat. Josh Middleton
Burner come bursting into your front room, reducing it to an angry as fuck mosh pit with their new single ‘What Will You Give?’, replete with two stepping banger riffs, hard and heavy breakdowns and a seasoning of vocal work from Josh Middleton of Sylosis, this new single proves that Burner are going to keep going at it, providing the unwashed masses with music to kick the shit out of each other to. Along with the other singles that have come out already this is some sick stuff; nasty, angry and liable to cave your head in at any point. Everything points towards the new album being a sublime affair of black eyes, misanthropy and circle pit induced dust clouds. – Rob Bown
Mastodon – Snakes for Dinner
Mastodon return in a way only they can with yet another evolutionary step towards being even more of a prog rock band (not a bad thing). Having found new members to fill the giant void left by the late Brent Hinds (RIP) the new jaunt from the Atlanta natives sees them at their gravelly vocal, techy, prog rock best. Eliciting similar feelings to the last few albums, gone really are the days of disgusting pinch harmonic riffs a la ‘Mother Puncher’ and the grisly, growled vocals of ‘Blood and Thunder’, replaced with chanted harmonies, heavy metal inspired riffs and nods to Rush left right and centre. Whilst the album may not be as shatteringly good for some of their older fans, it doesn’t skip a beat on what has become the ‘new’ sound for Mastodon. – Rob Bown
Throes – Eat Glass
Instant, obliterating energetic rage from the get go, it takes a few minutes to get your breath back after spinning the new single from Idaho’s Throes. ‘Eat Glass’ doesn’t take its boot off your throat for 3 minutes, and even when it does there’s a lingering brain fog like you’ve just been lit up by Bam Bam Kam Chancellor on a shallow crosser. The slow ponderous blast beat behind the huge slamming riff towards the end of the song is for sure something to get down to, their well known visceral live performances add further credence to the sound, this is dark and heavy stuff, not for the weak, but definitely for those wanting the liberation that metallic hardcore can bring. – Rob Bown
Noctule – Lord of Blood
Back in 2021, Serena Cherry(ex-Svalbard) unveiled her Noctule project, a solo black metal outing whose debut album was based on one of her favourite games, Skyrim. In the intervening years, we’ve had occasional updates that something new was cooking and this year brings its followup in Extinguish Thy Flame, a self-released album based on another of her favourite games, Elden Ring. Lead single ‘Lord of Blood’ is named after the boss Mogh in the game, and fuses both black metal and melodeath to cinematic effect. Charging drums, epic melodic guitar leads taking more than a few cues from power metal; it’s a stirring, excellent return from Noctule that, in her words, “represents the joy and freedom of being in full control of the music you create, without having to make any compromises… I’m proud it doesn’t sound like anything else in the metal world right now.” The album is out 25 September via self-release. – Will Marshall
The Ocean – Belligerence
It’s not easy, rebuilding a band with a brand new lineup, but Robin Staps of The Ocean has done just that ahead of their new album Solaris, out 25 September on his own label of Pelagic Records. Initial single ‘Light Pollution’ showed a band that still hewed close to its previous identity and sound, while still stretching its legs to new pastures, and ‘Belligerence’ (divided into Parts I and II on DSPs) continues that proud tradition. Pt. I opens with roars from new vocalist Enrico Tiberi and thundering riffs that instantly transport to The Ocean‘s crushing world. Adding second vocalist Lane Shi adds a whole new sonic palette to paint from, broadening their horizons even as the instrumental underneath recalls their well-known progressive post metal tendencies. As ever, it moves through softer and heavier passages, dual vocals heightening the sonic tension and payoff remarkably. Solaris is shaping up to be a truly exciting body of work. – Will Marshall
Employed To Serve – A Moment Gone Too Soon
Earlier this year, Employed To Serve returned not just new music but with the announcement they’d become an independent band, now choosing to release their music through Sammy and Justine’s beloved underground label, Church Road Records. Now we’ve got a second taste of this new chapter in their storied career in the form of ‘A Moment Gone Too Soon’, and it’s just as bracing and bruising as its predecessor. Where on latest album Fallen Star they visually called back to The Warmth Of A Dying Sun with colour palette and album art, this time they sonically call back to it, too. Ferocious blast beats, acerbic roars, chugging metallic hardcore riffs; it’s all present and correct with some of the tricks they’ve learned along the way. Whatever comes of these singles, standalone or otherwise, it’s a great time for ETS fans new and old. – Will Marshall
Native James – Never Been Scared feat. Frisco
Determined to break free of the confines of any singular genre, Ipswich alternative rap artist Native James is back with explosive new single ‘Never Been Scared’. While last year’s EP Confessions Of A Sinner borrowed elements of metal, grime, punk and hip-hop for a sound unmistakably his own, this latest release is his most distilled fusion of grime and metal yet. The crashing, thunderous guitars asserting dominance on the intro are cut through by a volatile, synthesized riff underpinning James’ bruising lyricism. Grime heavyweight Frisco of Boy Better Know amps up the energy expertly, his scathing verse and the fuzzy, synth basslines preluding the breakdown keeping the track firmly rooted in a genre sparingly in conversation with metal. Freshly signed with SharpTone Records, ‘Never Been Scared’ arrives as Native James’ first single under the new record label and is a fiery statement of intent. – Shan Harewood-Malone
Walls Of Jericho – The Ascent
A trailblazing band for so many reasons, the legendary Walls Of Jericho are back with a new album, set for release in November. System Error: Humanity is the first release from the band in nine years and first single ‘The Ascent’ is a stunning reminder of how hard the band can hit. A pummelling massacre of riffs, scathing banshee shrieks and a colossal breakdown, it’s remarkable how hungry and determined the band sound close to thirty years into their careers and ahead of a UK exclusive performance at Damnation, it’s the perfect time to introduce yourself to Walls Of Jericho. – Chris Earl
Stand Atlantic – Lucid
Opening with a stuttering breakbeat drums and airy, ethereal melodies Australian pop punk outfit Stand Atlantic’s latest single ‘Lucid’ tackles themes of self-sabotage and regret. The frustration at having nobody to blame but yourself pours out in frontwoman Bonnie Fraser’s lyricism, her high and bright melodies on the chorus contrasted by the sharp edge of her vocals on the verses. Despite her lyrical lament an upbeat tempo carries through the track, good old fashioned pop punk riffs accentuating the bite in her tone and the fleeting hope that emerges through the emotional high point of the bridge. A new anthem for those that want to break free from their own mistakes, ‘Lucid’ is the opener on Stand Atlantic’s fifth studio album, Godbreath, arriving 23 October via Hopeless Records. – Shan Harewood-Malone
Bury Tomorrow – Sx
Bury Tomorrow have been one of the UK’s premier metal bands for years and now, they embrace existence in full creative control as they embark on a chapter operating under their own label imprint Death Records. Standalone single ‘Sx’ has all the modern metal flourishes, hints of The Flood era Of Mice and Men and the continued dynamic evolution of unmistakable vocalist Dani Winter-Bates to ensure they stay at the forefront of UK heavy music for another few decades. ‘Sx’ being the medical shorthand for symptom sees the band show they are no stranger to diving down the well of the complex human condition. But this time its soundtrack is richer in its visceral textures and several shades darker in its tone so expect it to no doubt be the highlight of any show along their career defining headline tour in 2027. – Andy Calderbank