Coheed and Cambria, The Story So Far, Bleeding Through and More: New Noizze – The 12 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week

You know how it is. Here's the best singles of last week.

Coheed and Cambria – The Joke

Never a band to rest on their laurels, east coast prog-emo legends Coheed and Cambria have found time in their busy touring schedule to drop their latest standalone single ‘The Joke’. Taking their dedicated and nerdy fans on a nostalgia trip with a nu-metal inspired track released alongside a video featuring fan favourite villain Al The Killer, Coheed blend their poppy, processed sound that featured prominently in their 2022 album Vaxis 2 with off-kilter synths and janky, dissonant guitar lines. This is one for the true “Children Of The Fence” with no apologies to less nerdy newcomers or casual fans, alongside the track’s B-side, a remaster of the band’s 2011 single ‘Deranged’, originally written to accompany the videogame Batman: Arkham City, long time fans will be left aching for more of their favourite band’s weirdest material. – Tom Bruce

The Story So Far – All This Time

Following their last two singles, ‘Big Blind’ and ‘Letterman’, The Story So Far has released ‘All This Time’, the third single, and opening track, to their eagerly anticipated fifth studio album I Want To Disappear, and it showcases the classic pop-punk sound that the band are praised for, whilst still successfully making their music feel fresh and relevant. Parker Canon’s vocal style shines and is highlighted in the mix of this song and presents a different narrative to what may be expected of the band. The lyrics used are quite gut-wrenching and discuss themes of grief whether that be from a death or a broken relationship, while instrumentation creates a complete contrast to the songwriting as the rhythms are syncopated to craft a more feel-good mood. It could also be noted that the band may have taken inspiration from Canon’s highly praised side project No Pressure as the instrumentation in the mid-section was clearly written with a two-step rhythm in mind. ‘All This Time’ is a perfect display of why The Story So Far is still so relevant within the pop-punk scene and is the quintessential sound to keep their extremely patient fanbase occupied until their album releases on the 21st of June. – G Garland

Bleeding Through – Our Brand Is Chaos

Death, taxes and new Bleeding Through tracks making you feel like you could single handedly fist fight a heard of wildebeest – the only three certainties in life. ‘Our Brand Is Chaos’ sees the Orange County metalcore OGs staying on top form, delivering a crushing yet oddly beautiful (Marta Peterson’s haunting, gothic keyboards are the star of the show here) slab of unrepentant aggression. Brandon Schieppati has one of the most instantly recognisable voices in the scene and from the opening “fuck with us and find out” he has his hooks into you, as he snarls and growls his way over the aforementioned symphonic elements and frantic drums. Whether this is the precursor to that long-teased new full length or another track to sate the appetites of the waiting, only time will tell, but the sheer heft of this track means you’ll be more than satisfied in the mean time, once your face has unclenched from the breakdown near the end. – Chris Earl

Mother Vulture – Break Me

Inspired by the literal blood, sweat, tears and injuries the band have endured over the years, the latest single from Bristol’s Mother Vulture is the sound of a band who are willing to break themselves for their craft. Sounding akin to The Hives after binging the discography of Every Time I Die and further animated by the flair and swagger associated with acts such as Turbowolf and ‘68, the track is just another howl from one of the loudest creatures within the zoo that is the South West’s alternative scene. “’Break Me’ embodies everything this band is about. The never ending battle against ourselves, which constantly leaves us battered and bruised – and we wouldn’t have it any other way”, state band on the track. “This tune has been brought to life by the legend that is Adrian Bushby, and goes hand in hand with our last release, ‘Go Big Or Go Home’. Trying to “make it” in the music industry mostly feels like you are banging your head against a brick wall, and we’ve been doing just that, a lot, very hard. We want the world to know, we’re not going anywhere. Whether that wall breaks first, or we do.” – Dan Hillier

Distant – Loveless Suffering

As a deathcore band, there can be few bigger endorsements than getting Will Ramos to guest on what proved to be your breakout record. Netherlands crew Distant managed just that, with 2023’s Heritage receiving the seal of approval worldwide and introducing the band to whole new audiences. Ahead of a UK run with death metal legends Suffocation, they’ve dropped a new track in the form of ‘Loveless Suffering’ to keep things fresh in the setlist. A slab of top-tier, bludgeoning deathcore, it lurches and stomps as Alan Grnja shrieks and bellows from the depths of his stomach. For a four piece, the self described downtempo deathcore band make a ludicrous racket and this single should help keep their names on the lips of extreme metal fans around the world. – Chris Earl

Vended – Nihilism

There aren’t many modern bands with the pedigree that Vended possess. With the sons of Slipknot members Corey Taylor and Shawn Crahan as members (alongside some incredibly talented others), they’ve been working for the last few years to step out of their parents’ shadow. Latest single ‘Nihilism’ sees them continue to expand their sound of throwback nu-metal combined with modern metalcore. Does Griffin sound more than a little bit like his dad? Yes, but that can be forgiven as his voice is powerful with a real commanding aura. Aiming to keep the energy levels of their sound high and push themselves to their creative and playing limits, the more they lean into the aggression and ‘core nature of their sound, the more unique a prospect they’ll become and hopefully forge their own path through heavy music. – Chris Earl

Eat Your Own Head – Trawler

The title track of their upcoming EP – dropping May 31st via Drongo Records – ‘Trawler’ see’s Eat Your Own Head dredging up something putrid from the silt at the bottom of one’s psyche. Darkly encapsulating the thematic themes of the EP, ‘Trawler’ is a frustrated and brooding telling of how one goes through life continuously collecting vices, baggage and an ever-increasing sense of disillusion without ever really finding the true catch of satisfaction. In true, Eat Your Own Head fashion, the track is dark, cynical and pessimistic but effortlessly engaging and imaginative, with nods to acts such as a-tota-so, Sugar Horse and The Guru Guru throughout. ‘”Trawler’ is about the feeling of disconnection, as I rummage through the tangled net of adult life”, states frontman Ash Woolnough. “Like the fisherman that doesn’t get to eat his catch.” – Dan Hillier

Thou – Unbidden Guest

Thou have never made anything other than the most uncompromising, extreme racket they can; their new single ‘Unbidden Guest’, taken from upcoming album Umbilical, continues that proud tradition. Leaning heavily into blackened sludge and walls of noise, it’s a relentless aural battering. Distorted, acerbic screams, churning buzzsaw guitars and battering percussion; it’s Thou at their confrontational best. Or in their words, “physical deterioration by way of psychological disarray. Retreading a well-worn path of self grievance. Othering mental illness and learned behaviour in order to crush them under the dominance of epistemic willpower. ‘The last time you cried, who’d you think was inside?” – Will Marshall

Student Slasher Film – The Collective Resentment of 1,000,000 Fax Machines

‘The Collective Resentment of 1,000,000 Fax Machines’ is the debut release from Student Slasher Film, who hail from the incredibly fertile math/emo scene based around Sheffield & Leeds. It nails the current sound of mathy UK emo, with the kind of angularity you only get in this genre, and does this with an uncharacteristically good band name. There’s lead guitar that is missing from many of the classic power trios of the genre and acoustic guitar sits along with the electric, which is a refreshing change from having it relegated to a future stripped down EP. With these changes to the genre formula, this is an incredibly strong debut from a new band, and with no other releases teased, there could be even more new music at any time. – Mia Thunderska

Hippotrakor – Renegade

Propelled by one of those riffs that are designed to open shows with awe aplomb, the new single from Belgian quintet Hippotraktor harkens towards what may be one of the best post-metal records of this year. The third track to be lifted from their upcoming LP Stasis – released June 7th via Pelagic – ‘Renegade’ operates at the intersection of relentless polyrhythmic ponding and the kind of lavish atmospheric weight associated with acts such as The Ocean, Gojira and even Karivool. “’Renegade’ is my favourite song on the new album”, states guitarist and songwriter Chiaran Verheyden. “I remember going to a show – the lights went out, the band coming on stage, and at the same time I heard a riff in my head that would be perfect as an opener. After the show, the first thing I did was rush home and record what would become ‘Renegade’s first riff.” – Dan Hillier

burialplot. – I Resist

South Welsh newcomers burialplot. have unveiled their debut single ‘I Resist,’ a call to arms said to capture the essence of defiance and determination in the face of adversity. Sonically it does just that with melodic guitars, intricate lead patterns, pounding drums and a raw vocal delivery that laces the band’s budding and ferocious sound together. For its almost three minute duration, ‘I Resist’ doesn’t let up at all incorporating elements of post-hardcore and alt rock to make for a visceral listening experience. burialplot. have a clear idea on how they want to portray themselves and their message too, to be known for their blue collar background and socially conscious lyrics. Hoping to captivate audiences with their powerful music and impassioned activism, ‘I Resist’ serves as a fantastic opening anthem to carry the flag. – Jac Holloway

Reliqa – Dying Light

Australia is home to some of the most interesting new sounds in the heavy sphere; progressive metalcore outfit Reliqa are rapidly rising to the forefront of that, with their debut album incoming this month via the mighty Nuclear Blast. Latest single ‘Dying Light’ follows ‘Terminal’ and ‘Killstar (The Cold World)’ from earlier this year, and shows yet another facet to the band. Vocalist Monique Pym shows off her ability to contrast rap flows with soaring melodies, the riffs have serious swagger and it’s underpinned by a rhythm section with serious groove and grit. Proving they can do practically any style they put their mind to, ‘Dying Light’ also brings serious sass – it’ll be fascinating to seee how it all comes together when Secrets of the Future drops 31 May. – Will Marshall

All these tracks and more can be found within our Essential Playlist.

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