Converge – Doom In Bloom
No less than thirty six years into their monumental career, Converge somehow manage to maintain the hunger and vitality that made them such a force back in the day. Having released their most straightforward and, arguably, best record in some time in the form of February’s Love Is Not Enough, they decided one record was also not enough, promptly unveiling lead single ‘Hum of Hurt’ and now ‘Doom In Bloom’ to ramp up anticipation for the second new full-length, which will be out in early June. ‘Doom in Bloom’ is built on a swaggering lead riff intro and pounding staccato drums that set the table for Jacob Bannon to wrestle with personal harms. As Bannon snarls, “No one has the right to judge me, as I pick at open wounds”. This kind of raw expression is nothing new to fans of Converge, but it’s nevertheless a resounding reminder of the universality of inner turmoil and pain. The track hints at the upcoming Hum Of Hurt being something of a soul-searching, inward-facing companion to the righteous anger directed towards the outside world on Love Is Not Enough. Thematic through lines to one side, Converge‘s sound continues to evolve while delivering exhilarating intensity in a way that few bands can match. – Pete Wall
Sixth Wonder – Is That What You Want From Me?
Scotland’s Sixth Wonder have unveiled their second single of the year, ‘Is That What You Want From Me?’, and the second taste of the band’s evolution from their debut EP Prologue. ‘ITWYWFM?’ melds the elements they’ve become known for, djenty metalcore riffs, snarling roars interspersed with soaring melodic hooks and this time introduces some proggier moments. It’s also their most personal release yet, dealing with vocalist Rebekah Kirk losing her voice to COVID and the toll it took both mentally and physically to battle through that loss and recover. It also, as the band state, “speaks on the fears associated with loss, the replacement of anger and overcoming a struggle against all odds,” giving it a relatability outside of its immediate context. With this and Prologue under their belts, and an upcoming appearance at Radar Festival, Sixth Wonder are really staking their claim in the UK’s burgeoning underground. – Will Marshall
Still Remains – Erase You
Yes, that Still Remains. Having recently completed a 20th anniversary tour for Of Love & Lunacy, the band also confirmed new music was in the works, of which ‘Erase You’ is the second single. Taken from their upcoming EP Spirit Breaker, out 12 June, ‘Erase You’ dials the clock back to 2006 and their earliest albums with its swelling synths and combination of guttural roars and melodic passages. It’s glorious to see the band not only back, but clearly firing on all cylinders and recapturing their classic sound without sounding dated. The most exciting moments are the more expansive flourishes that hint at an even broader sound that The Serpent flirted with, and that this is very much the Still Remains those of us with bad backs know and love. – Will Marshall
The Iron Roses – Dead Eyes
Natasha Gray’s post Boysetsfire project The Iron Roses are back with a vengeance on ‘Dead Eyes’, the lead single from their second album Molotov Nights. A masterclass of modern melodic punk, the band balances catchiness and raw aggression in good measure paired with the soaring vocal harmonies of Natasha Gray and Becky Fontaine. The song also doesn’t pull back any punches lyrically, actively calling out the state of the world we’re living in and how the over saturation of atrocities somewhat numbs us to them. With so many bands who claim to be punk not even addressing the several genocides going on throughout the globe, it’s refreshing that we still have bands like The Iron Roses screaming out and empowering audiences to fight for a better world. – Rob Horrocks
Cancer Bats – Stay Stuck
Hail destroyer, for the bats are back. Ripped from their freshly announced new record Give Me Dirt – released 7th August via Marshall Records – new single ‘Stay Stuck’ sees Cancer Bats doing what they do best; dropping bouncy, rowdy hardcore punk that’s fun as all hell. A song of optimism delivered via a haymaker to the bridge of the nose, here, the Canadian legends praise the importance of making changes to your life for the better via their signature scrappy sound. Some may be questioning if the band will have the energy for what is arguably becoming a younger and younger person’s game after over 20 years of activity, but once listen to this will show how Cancer Bats are still one of the best names in all things punk related. – Dan Hillier
Slift – The Day of Execution
Taken from the band’s forthcoming record Fantasia – released 5th June via Sub Pop – ‘The Day of Execution’ is once again proof that Slift is truly one the best names in modern psych. A sidewinding tale on the silent ravages of time, this track sees the French trio distilling their sound into a track that’s lean, concise but still utterly a product of a band who have devoted themselves to a genre often labyrinthine. It’s easy to dismiss calls that this band are set to be the poster boys of an entire genre, but going from this, it’s not too hyperbolic to say Slift may become synonymous with their genre of choice following the release of Fantasia. – Dan Hillier
Gurt – No Limit feat. The Hell (2 Unlimited cover)
Yeah, this is naff. However it’s fun naff, not shite naff. Taken from the band’s upcoming EP Survival Of The Shittest, here, party doomsters Gurt team up with The Hell’s Black Mist to give the 1993 dance classic ‘No Limit’ the sludge treatment. In true Gurt fashion, this is this good daft fun that showcases this band’s penchant for injecting silliness into a genre that’s often stoic without comprising any artistic integrity. “As a band we have a real mix of musical tastes, from the heaviest of heavy to the cheesiest of cheese”, state Gurt. “We’ve always loved to do unexpected and weird covers and have a firm belief that a good riff is a good riff regardless of where it’s from. ‘No Limit’ has always gone hard and we’re proud to say that our version goes even harderer.” – Dan Hillier
Scene Queen – Tracksuit
Scene Queen proves hell hath no fury like a woman scorned on fiery new single ‘Tracksuit’. Known for her self-proclaimed brand of ‘bimbocore’ combining bratty vocals, big riffs and clever lyricism tackling sexism in the scene head on, frustration has always been key element to her stand out sound. However revenge anthem ‘Tracksuit’ pushes this ever further, her first full-throated and furious lows bursting through the intro in a blast of heaviness unmatched by her previous material as she unveils a murderous plot against a cheating ex-boyfriend. “Run, run, Mommy’s got a gun!” she screams amidst a backdrop of agitated, staccato drumming and low tuned guitars, the single landing perfectly in time for US Mother’s Day this weekend. If you’re in need of a short and potent dose of feminine rage, look no further. – Shan Harewood-Malone
Silly Goose – Goodnight
Whether performing entire sets with a broken and bloodied nose or kicking holes in walls on their recent tour of the US, Silly Goose frontman Jackson Foster knows how to channel aggression into a rousingly energetic live show. A declaration of confrontation from start to finish, the Atlanta nu-metal trio’s new single ‘Goodnight’ is no different. Stacked with frenetic riffs that mirror Foster’s rabid style of rap, the verses build a relentless pace while the chorus delivers an explosive release of tension strengthened by massive, bouncing riffs and Foster’s piercing screams. The track’s lyricism captures Silly Goose’s spirit in it’s entirety: a bold-faced refusal to backdown in the face of unlikely victory. And like Foster’s words suggest, it packs one hell of a punch. – Shan Harewood-Malone
Movements – Dissolve Me
‘Dissolve Me’ marks Movements’ first release since 2023’s RUCKUS! and serves as a powerful reminder of exactly why the band continue to resonate so deeply within modern alternative music. Produced alongside longtime collaborator Will Yip, the track surges with urgency and emotional weight, balancing explosive energy with the raw vulnerability that has always defined Movements’ sound. While companion single ‘Back In My Ways’ leans into a more reflective atmosphere, ‘Dissolve Me’ arrives with an intensity that feels immediate and cathartic, yet unmistakably familiar. The repeated line, “head first into the concrete, let it dissolve me,” lands like the emotional breaking point of the track, capturing self-destruction, exhaustion and surrender in a way that feels both visceral and painfully honest. Rather than sounding like a band returning after time away, the release carries the confidence and momentum of a group that never stopped moving forward at all, setting the tone perfectly for upcoming album Happier Now, due for release on 3rd September. – Esther Domnu
Turnover – Nightjar / I See You and Realize
Turnover seem to have finally found that sweet spot between sun-drenched Californian dream pop and the hazy sedation of Peripheral Vision with these new tracks. Heartache drips from the sombre guitar lines but it’s all underscored with a cautious optimism and sickly sweet vocal work. The reconciliation of what most would still consider their seminal work with the more sophisticated sound of their recent output makes for a delicious cocktail, and best of all we’re treated to two tracks at once. Both ‘Nightjar’ and ‘I See You And Realize’ feel instantly familiar, capturing the essence of Turnover in less than 7 minutes and setting us up for a Big Sad Summer with the upcoming album release at the end of May. – Tim Dorning
If These Trees Could Talk – Blurry Creatures
The post-rock legends return with a sharper and more immediate sound, 2 years after their last single. Once again dropping out of nowhere, ‘Blurry Creatures’ has all of the requisite twists and turns we’ve come to expect, but where previous output has waned towards ponderous gloom this track wastes little time with preamble and gets straight into the good stuff. Introducing vocals into the mix (albeit in a very And So I Watch You From Afar-esque way, eschewing lyrics for a good old fashioned whoa-a-long) immediately marks this as a step outside the comfort zone, but they’re accompanied by huge squalls of guitar and the quiet/loud dynamic is still very much present, just delivered in a more concise and dynamic package. With a new full-length to follow in July, this is just the first step on the road for a band that sound refreshed and out to prove themselves anew. A deliciously brief taste of their riff-brewing prowess closes the track, promising much more to come. – Tim Dorning
Every Hell – Catching Thunder
Opening with a barrage of hyper-stoner fury and packing so many left turns it’ll leave you dizzy, ‘Catching Thunder’ is a perfect encapsulation of Every Hell’s sound jammed into a whirlwind 3 minutes. Doom Pop doesn’t quite do it justice, with the band seemingly able to bend space and time to craft a viciously heavy yet catchy track that drags us through innumerable genres and influences while still feeling immaculately paced and genuine. Packing a huge chorus in between riffs galore, feedback-soaked breaths punch though the chaos and Will Gardner pulls out a spellbinding performance to tie it all together. – Tim Dorning