Creeper, Blood Command, Polaris and More: New Noizze – The 17 Must-Listen Tracks Of The Week

Hungover? Dreading the work week? Still waiting in a festival car park? Here's the best singles of the week for some escapism.

Creeper – Cry to Heaven

Southampton’s horror punks turned 80s goth merchants Creeper return with ‘Cry To Heaven’, the first offering from their forthcoming third studio album Sanguivore and with it comes more vampiric goodness. Creeper have always been a band that deal in theatricality and that very much remains the order of the day with the release of this most bombastic of singles which sees them expertly channeling 80s legends such as Billy Idol and Sisters of Mercy. Described as ‘the introduction to a new tragic story of love, loss and vampires’, the South Coast collective continue the decadent journey they have been on since the release of their last album Sex, Death & The Infinite Void and last year’s follow up EP American Noir. Packed with haunting croons, icy synths and a quite frankly ludicrous key change, Creeper remain unmatched in their craft and creativity. – Jordan Aldridge

Vexed – X My Heart (Hope to Die)

Hot on the heels of the snarling ‘Anti-Fetish’, alt metallers Vexed have unveiled their newest single ‘X My Heart (Hope to Die)’, this  time addressing the notion of losing faith, questioning what comes after death and making peace with the fact we’ll probably never know. Musically, it’s got all the furious groove and note bending in the guitars, while vocally there’s spoken word, guttural roars and paint-stripping shrieks. Vexed are no strangers to confrontational music, and both singles from upcoming second album Negative Energy show a band leveling up their sonic prowess as well as dealing with heavy topics that have affected them deeply. A white-hot, four-minute blast of metallic fury, ‘X My Heart (Hope to Die) should have you extremely excited for Negative Energy and the future of Vexed. – Will Marshall

Blood Command – World Domination

Norwegian death-pop outfit Blood Command have unveiled the title track off their upcoming album World Domination and like their recent singles, it’s a total sonic curveball. Soft guitars, swelling synths and airy melodies form this self-proclaimed “loser anthem, that tells the sad story of never being good enough for the person of your dreams” as it drifts through electronic drums and rapped verses. If that all sounds like  far cry from previous albums, you’re right – but it works. Blood Command have flipped any expectations firmly on their head, but reassure us that this album will still contain those raging dance punk anthems; they’ve just fully opened up their sonic horizons to see where they can push next, and it’s a resounding, emotional success. – Will Marshall

Maebe – Tautology

Despite being crowed with plaudits from not just post-rock pundits but established industry types alike, it may be interesting to know that Maebe only performed their very first show last year. However, when experiencing ‘Tautology’, it’s easy to see why this act are on receiving end of such acclaim. The brain child of one Michael Astley-Brown, Maebe effortlessly showcase their skill with with their latest track ‘Tautology’, a track that bares all the brilliant hallmarks of the genre whilst sounding unique. Taken from their upcoming debut Rebirth. Relive. Repeat. – released July 14th independently – the single represents the clinical and temporal nature of one’s mental psyche in thanks to it’s emotive and diverse instrumentalism. Truly, from this track alone it’s easy to see why this remarkably young project is already reaping accolades and acclaim from those far removed from their Bristol home, and with further shows forthcoming alongside the release of their aforementioned debut, it’s inevitable that Maebe will be one post-rock’s primary talking points in the second half of this year. – Dan Hillier

Militarie Gun – Will Logic

Are they catchy, emotionally charged hardcore? Hyper-aggressive pop? Punky alt-rock? Militarie Gun are as great as they are difficult to pin down., showing off their diverse range in the lead up to their studio debut Life Under The Gun, the LA based quintet show off their more tender side on new single ‘Will Logic’ while still wearing their hardcore influences on their sleeves. With chugging dual guitars, driving rhythm section and vocals that build from angst-driven cleans to snarling hardcore anger, ‘Will Logic’ sounds like the perfect middle ground between Foo Fighters and Fugazi. The heavier influences are certainly reflected in the songwriting but it’s refreshing to hear a hardcore band utilise melody and a more straightforward song structure to create something that both veterans and newcomers to the genre will love. – Tom Bruce

Boris & Uniform – Not Surprised

Japanese experimental metal oddballs Boris are known for their chaotic collaborations, from Sunn O))) and Merzbow to The Cult’s Ian Astbury, their latest co-conspirators, New York based industrial metal band Uniform, take their signature doom metal sound to strange, brutal new places. The latest collaborative single between the two bands, ‘Not Surprised’, blends Boris’s penchant for, stomping, drone fuelled riffs with Uniform’s noisy, hardcore inspired screams and anarchic, feedback infused electronics. ‘Not Surprised’ brings out the best in both bands, a cacophonous worship of distorted noise ready to decimate even the sturdiest of amplifiers. If this single is anything to go by, Boris and Uniform’s upcoming collaborative album Bright New Disease will be one to watch. – Tom Bruce

Breakfast With Bears – Devil In Comfy Clothes

Inspired by the band’s own observations and harkening thoughts of acts such as FES, I Feel Fine, Brutalligators, Origami Angel and even At The Drive-In, ‘Devil In Comfy Clothes’ is an irresistible and charming introduction to a band that’s impossible not to adore. The latest single from London’s Breakfast With Bears, ‘Devil In Comfy Clothes’ documents just how easy it is to become complacent and docile with relationships and life as a whole in a way that’s raw yet warming and gratifying in thanks to it’s subtly mathy riffs, classic emo tendencies and effervescent energy. For those with an interest in the acts aforementioned, this is crucial listening. – Dan Hillier

Cruelty – An Endless Awful Now

No matter how gloriously sunny it is outside, there’ll always be some nasty grim hardcore that demands your attention. The best part is that ‘An Endless Awful Now’, the new single from Cruelty has a good old bit of frosty black metal atmosphere to it, so you can use it to cool down a bit. The UK crew manage to fit in a tremendous amount of blast beats, nihilism and hardcore swagger, interspersed with some Gothenburg elements into just over four minutes. In August, the band will release their second full length album Salvation, and judging from the first drop, it sounds like it’ll be a similar bludgeoning of cynical, intense blackened beatdowns. Cruelty are one of the most exciting bands in hardcore right now, and when the record drops you’ll want to make sure you were in on them early. – Chris Earl

Movements – Fail You

One of the darlings of the modern post-hardcore scene, Movements are on the cusp of releasing their third album Ruckus and it’s fair to say that anticipation is high. ‘Fail You’ is the third single, and it’s an absolute banger. The most anthemic of the released material so far, it’s a track about the fear of losing someone and reliving your past mistakes. Not the happiest fare, but the almost shiny production and upbeat tempo give the track an almost summery feel. The angular riffs are almost jaunty (you can see a lot of bodies shaking and grooving along to this track live), the drums are driving, and Patrick Miranda’s voice manages to evoke a great deal of emotion. A few more songs as big as this and Movements can expect their star to rise even more. – Chris Earl

Grand Daddi Purple – Limelight

Somewhere between their last run of shows in back 2020 and now, promising Newcastle based band GroundCulture was disbanded. All was not lost however, as like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Grand Daddi Purple was born, carrying with them the fine tuned prowess of the band’s previous iteration, along with a fresh new energy and a new vocalist to boot. ‘Limelight’ is a proper earworm of an alt-rock debut with rocky riffs and a big singalong chorus, and new vocalist Harvey brings in a fresh, silky smooth vocal style to the track’s lyricism, which tackles the topic of dishonesty in social media perception and projection, and all those the insecurities you don’t see from behind the screen. Expect more of this goodness to come from the band in future, as ‘Limelight’ sees Grand Daddi Purple on top form from the get-go, and the only way to go from here is up. – Elliot Grimmie

Polaris – Inhumane

Polaris and electronic artist PhaseOne dropped the monstrous ‘Icarus’ in 2022, and their time with them is evident on the first single off their upcoming album Fatalism. There are electronic flourishes present in their sound now, but fear not: this is still thoroughly Polaris, and they still roar. Overtop of a grooving bass, driving drums, and a memorable guitar solo, the Australian metalcore heroes deal with desensitization to the death and stream of horrific news the world has seen since their last album. ‘Inhumane’ is one of their heaviest tracks yet. It features no sing-along choruses or introspective lyrics; these lyrics are some of their bleakest yet. Their arrival at an album called Fatalism following the massive success of 2020’s The Death of Me is understandable, yet sobering. The world still deals with the chaos and loss of the last three years, so Polaris ask, “Who do you mourn when everyone’s a victim?” – Josiah Aden

blessthefall – Wake the Dead

Are they dead? Are they alive? All that matters is, they’re back. Cult emo-metalcore band blessthefall have certainly kept their fans on tenterhooks the last few years, with rumours of splits and hiatuses flying all over. However brand new track ‘Wake the Dead’ shows that the band are still a force to be reckoned with. The dueling screams and soaring cleans are as omnipresent as ever, as is the earworm of a chorus that will find it’s way inside your head after just a few listens. It’s a mix of all the classic elements of the bands sound, with a slamming breakdown, spiralling riffs and most importantly, lyrics you’ll scream your heart out too. No word on if this is just a one off or part of an upcoming relief, but the entire scene is crossing it’s fingers this isn’t the last we’ve heard of the band in 2023. – Chris Earl

Horrendous – Ontological Mysterium

Dealing with the nature of being isn’t a straightforward subject, but Horrendous are going to have at it anyway. They return with their hotly anticipated follow up to 2018’s Idol, with the title track of their upcoming album Ontological Mysterium. Spoiler alert, it’s quintessential Horrendous. HM2 chainsaw guitars and Death inspired riffing drive you through a track that’s challenging and fun whilst being deeply technical and flawlessly performed. From the opening line, “let there be light,” to the closing bark of “testament to the ancient,” you’re taken on a proggy syncopated death metal journey that only Horrendous could deliver. To say you should be excited about this album is a massive understatement; it promises to be their most expansive and explorative yet. – Rob Bown

Lucked Out – Burning Season

Coming in hot from the Colorado Rockies is Lucked Out and their newest single ‘Burning Season’. Spanning a little over a minute and a half, this track is true to heart. As raw and gritty as it comes, this single manages to embrace the roots the band was built upon perfectly. The Colorado 5-piece has never come up short since their inception in 2022 and ‘Burning Season’ is no exception, sure to draw in plenty of new fans. Calling all pit commanders everywhere because the pits are sure to go absolutely nuts when these guys slam into this piece at any show they play moving forward. – Nathaniel Maure

Crown Magnetar – Everything Bleeds

Imagine blending Thy Art Is Murder with a little bit of Oceano and Infant Annihilator. That’s exactly what listeners get with Crown Magnetar’s newest release through Unique Leader Records, ‘Everything Bleeds’. The group’s second single and title track off their newest record, it does not hold back one iota. Full of non-stop blast beats and guitar parts to match the vibe, Unique Leader Records knew what they had on their hands when signing this deathcore powerhouse. With vocals heavy enough to make any heavy music goer give that stink face of approval, “Everything Bleeds” proves to be what modern deathcore is all about. – Nathaniel Maure

Worlds Grasp – Pure Heat

If you’re into Metallica inspired hardcore, listen up because ‘Pure Heat’ is just the treat to satisfy that metal sweet tooth. Worlds Grasp, solo project of producer and Rust vocalist Tommy Wood, this title doesn’t shy away from any thrash influence whatsoever. Covering all the bases himself from instruments to vocals and production; Tommy manages to display the best influences of thrash while blending them perfectly into some of the most intricate and heart racing parts of hardcore. Without missing a beat this track can take you from moshing your hardest during each breakdown to shredding air guitar over the wicked lead guitar that’s displayed not only on this track but the new EP as a whole. Growing up in the Ontario hardcore scene, Tommy has managed to take what he’s learned and turn Worlds Grasp from a bedroom hobby project into an all around badass thrash-hardcore unit single-handedly. And ‘Pure Heat’ is exactly the proof to back that up. – Nathaniel Maure

Mental Cruelty – Nordlys

Beautiful fingerpicking-style guitar opens ‘Nordlys’, Mental Cruelty’s fourth single from their upcoming album Zwielicht. The production here serves the music perfectly by allowing the listener to instantly enter into the open, chilly space of the subarctic skies aglow with the Northern Lights. As the heavy guitars and drums kick in, Mental Cruelty wisely leave room to breathe during the song and avoid the trap some symphonic deathcore bands fall into of creating a pure wall of noise. Their new vocalist, Lukas Nicolai, assists with that through his tasteful, articulate, and heavy vocals. The story of souls traveling up to meet the fate-bearing servants of Yggdrasil makes for great death metal lyrics, and Nicolai tells it well. ‘Nordlys’ is the fullest realization of their epic sound and is the most mature Mental Cruelty have sounded thus far. – Josiah Aden