El Moono – Haunting
From the opening dissonance and heavy slap of the drums El Moono carve out a merry journey of off-time riffing, emotive soundscapes and post-metal escapades. The energy of the track simmers below the surface as the drums and guitars break out into havoc before being restrained back into the cage that barely keeps them at bay before unleashing another massive chorus. Vocalist Zac Jones screams out, “I’ll find you,” segueing into heaviness that stands in opposition to the rest of the track, a fitting way to finish off something that touches on so many different bases with such consummate ease. – Rob Bown
Gouge Away – Spaced Out
Since last year’s release of their single ‘Idealized’, Gouge Away have been spoiling us with three more tracks from their upcoming album Deep Sage, out March 15th via Deathwish Inc. Just one week away from the LP, they gifted us with a final single, ‘Spaced Out’. This is a song that goes directly to the point and definitely brings you back to the old days of Gouge Away with Christina’s unmistakable vocals. You can clearly hear some riot grrrl sentiment in the delivery of the repetitive lyrics as this sounds like a “scream in the face” to all men who have no sense of personal space and no boundaries when it comes to consent and talking to women. The additional vocals by the three friends of the band definitely help with making this into a riotous anthem perfect to listen to on IWD and every day. The classic hardcore guitar riff is also the protagonist for this one, giving us some Ceremony and G.L.O.S.S. feelings (bands that not surprisingly have a friendship history with Gouge Away). So far they gave us the perfect ratio between post punk, hardcore and shoegaze. The versatility of this band is no news to anyone and surely the LP still holds some gems we haven’t heard yet. – Bea Simon
As Living Arrows – Hides
A tale of a relationship in free-fall and how alcoholism only hastens such a plunge, the new standalone single from post-screamo outfit As Living Arrows (FKA Dead Bird) is a hurtling rush of authentic emotion. Furthering the unfettered nerve-wracking agony that was found within their brilliant 2022 LP In The Absence Of, the track once again harkens towards this wonderful band’s ability to articulate the nature of loss, pain and grief in a way that’s incompressible, cohesive yet still wholly unprocessed or embellished. Should one enjoy acts such as Envy, Chalk Hands and Hidden Mothers but are yet to be acquainted with this act, then this is the ideal chance to change that. – Dan Hillier
Mugshot – 24 Thorns (Feat Vomit Forth)
The worlds of heavy, knuckle dragging hardcore and brutal death metal are, on paper, a match made in heaven. Yet the result more often than not is Deathcore, not simply darker, heavier hardcore. San Jose crew Mugshot are here to rectify this, joining forces with ferocious death metal group Vomit Forth and the result is 24 Thorns. Mugshot have always had an incredibly intense edge to them, with clanking snares and insidious electronic elements adding to their unga bunga style aural assault. This new track is no exception. The gurgling, disgusting vocals of Kane Gelaznik are a real highlight, making for a sense of unease throughout. This is a new track to give fans something new before the band head out for their summer tours and it’s a perfect distillation of the bands sound and their heavier influences. – Chris Earl
Riley! – Keep Your Cool, Man
Taken from their upcoming record Keep Your Cool – released April 19th via Counter Intuitive Records – ‘Keep Your Cool, Man’ see’s US emo stalwarts Riley! grappling with the ceaseless and exhausting chaos of modern live with just the right amount of giddy playfulness. Channeling thoughts of acts such as Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Slash Fiction and itoldyouiwouldeatyou in thanks to its infectious energy, bashful spirit and inclusive rage, here, Riley! invite all of us to rally against the bullshit alongside them. If one’s not already raging with both rage and joy shoulder-to-shoulder with Riley!, well knows your chance to do so. – Dan Hillier
SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Respite For A Tragic Tale (Feat. iRix.EXE / Silhouettes In Motion)
One of the most fun, exciting and boundary shaking bands of modern times, SeeYouSpaceCowboy have finally announced their new album and released not one, but two brand new singles. A one-two punch of a soulful, fragile opener, ‘Respite For A Tragic Tale’ performed by iRis.EXE which beautifully segues into a booty shaking screamo banger, you’d expect nothing less from the band at this point. The second track, ‘Silhouettes In Motion’, is equal parts MySpace era screamo mixed with sasscore swing and scathing panic chords, it’s quintessentially SYSC and the fact the band sound this unique is astounding so early in their career. With Coup De Grace promising features from Kim Dracula and Courtney LaPlante among others, this is shaping up to be an album that will make you shake your hips as much as you’ll want to swing your fists. – Chris Earl
Ethereal Tomb – Observing A Broken Man
The Barrie/Tkaronto doom crew Ethereal Tomb are back with their special brand of hardcore inspired doom metal. Presenting the only single off their upcoming EP Life Beyond Oppressor’s Brutality, ‘Observing A Broken Man’ takes on the more hardcore side of their sound while still remaining within the sound and style Ethereal Tomb has presented us in the past. “I wrote this song based on a feeling I long did not understand but is so woven into my existence.” States vocalist Alexander Senum. With hints of sludge metal and beatdown undertones, it’s fair to say Ethereal Tomb went all out this record. – Nathaniel Maure
Delilah Bon – Maverick
The self proclaimed brat punk of nu-metal, Delilah Bon isn’t one for subtlety in her tracks. Best known for her direct, fearless attitude and her unwillingness to shy away from addressing oft-labelled taboo topics, latest single ‘Maverick’ is no exception. Released for International Women’s Day, ‘Maverick’ is a shout-from-the-rooftops anthem, celebrating identity and the power of self-empowerment. As expected, her antagonistic vocals and lyrics are the star of the show, set to an almost industrial bounce in the background. A tease of her second album which is due out later this year, it’s a sign that there’s no worries to be had about a sophomore slump. As she continues to be phenomenal scene representative with her unwavering support for not only women, but LGBTQ+ and non binary folk alike, you need to know the name Delilah Bon. – Chris Earl
Cherym – Boss Bitch
One of the most exciting bands to come out of Northern Ireland in recent years, Cherym have just dropped a phenomenal cover of ‘Boss Bitch’ by Doja Cat and aside from being a certified bop, it’s also for a good cause. Released for International Women’s Day, a portion of the proceeds from the track will be donated to the Women For Women charity’s Palestine Appeal. A frankly great cause which is not only championed by the band, but by Alcopop, their label. The cover itself is, as mentioned, brilliant. Mixing Doja Cat‘s trademark empowering lyrics with the band’s driving indie-punk and Hannah Richardson’s vocals add a little more edge to the track, while still maintaining the original’s rhythm and bounce. If you buy anything this weekend, make it this track. – Chris Earl
Beddy Rays – Silverline
Aussie pub rock and all that seems to be enjoying something of a boozy renaissance currently in thanks to the recent successes of acts such as The Chats and Dune Rats. But one band that might have slipped you by is Beddy Rays. Radiant with the warmth and light of the late afternoon Australian sun, the band’s approach to the kind of rock forged by their fellow country folk is void of the overt intoxicated masculinity commonly found amongst their peers and instead is rich with a sense of good natured kinship. Solidifying such a sentiment is their latest single ‘Silverline’. Wonderfully warming and effortlessly feel good, ‘Silverline’ is the sound of an act who channel their creative chemistry as friends into their work in order to further its authentic feel good factor. Simply, it’s one of those wholesome and earthed songs impossible not to adore or be lifted by. – Dan Hillier
Vaticinal Rites – Plead for Termination
Following their 2021 self titled EP, Vaticinal Rites triumphantly return with ‘Plead for Termination’, the first single from their upcoming release, Cascading Memories of Immortality. Forming in 2020, this band already have an excellent grasp on their old school Morbid Angel-esque death metal sound. It’s evident from the track instantly roaring to life with a screeching solo, they are set to continue the visceral intensity of earlier material. As the technical lead effortlessly overlaps the thrashing rhythm, their delivery is incredibly tight without sounding overly polished and losing its rawness. If this is the calibre we can expect, their new album is going to be a standout this year. – Amy Bowles
Northlane – Afterimage (Feat. Ian Kenny)
Northlane’s new track, ‘Afterimage’, featuring the diverse vocal talents of Karnivools Ian Kenny is a sweeping sci-fi metalcore banger all wrapped in a nice bow. It does everything that would be expected from the stalwarts of the scene now, uplifting vocal lines juxtaposed against skull crushing heaviness from the guitars, replete with glitchy, robot malfunctioning before dropping into an arena filling chorus. The track has a joyful level of diverse dynamic range, this feels like a track to usher spring in, something to enable new growth and warm the soul to fend off those last bits of the biting winter cold. Northlane even treat us to a tight, djenty breakdown at the end of the track to please all those wanting to throw some fists in the pit. – Rob Bown
The Devil Wears Prada – Ritual
After Color Decay was a massive signal that there was still fire in the bellies of metalcore legends The Devil Wears Prada, eyes are understandably on them for how they follow up an album that was described by some as one of their best. ‘Ritual’ takes on a much different tone than the band’s recent work almost from the off, possessing a more immediate bounce, which is a deliberate choice. Color Decay had struggle and turmoil engrained in every note, but Ritual, with its lyrics about surrendering to the comfort of mundanity rather than trying to escape it, speaks of a band feeling more at ease. The highlight of the track is the earworm of a chorus, mixing with some atmospheric electronics for a fun slab of modern metalcore. – Chris Earl
Soulthief – Warlord
Ontario, Canada is putting out some absolute heat this week and with that comes Soulthief and their newest single “Warlord” which comes off their upcoming record The Bad Kind of Wet. Changing up their sound a bit with a more crossover approach, Soultheif are planning to make a solid name for themselves with this single. Fast paced thrash influence meets hard as nails hardcore with ease while vocals absolutely crush from start to finish. Mixing and mastering duties were amazingly done by Mikey B of Halifax heavy hitters Pale Ache further proving how hard this track, and possibly the rest of the album, truly goes. – Nathaniel Maure
Benighted – Nothing Left to Fear (Feat. Oli Peters)
Benighted do a few things really well. One of them is assault you aurally with an absolute blitzkrieg of rapid drumming and riffing, so it makes sense that they’ve drafted in Oli from Archspire as a guest vocalist for new single ‘Nothing Left to Fear’. The man who has the fastest vocal delivery in metal (by some margin) sits right at home in this grinding blast beating slab of extreme metal. It’s almost like he’s a part of the band rather than a guest vocalist. Time to get hype about Benighted releasing new music and touring again. If they play your town get a ticket and wrap that muscle tape, their live show is a killer combination of headbanging ferocity and mosh pit enduring cacophonic grind that reaches light speed levels. – Rob Bown