Jamie Lenman – Not Likely
Now, with this new single, it’s inevitable that many will be querying if Jamie Lenman will be coming back out of retirement; you can read the song title again for the answer to that question. But nevertheless, it’s nothing but a joy to hear new material. Released exclusively via Bandcamp, ‘Not Likely’ is full of a scrappy, snarky, and downright snotty swagger that’s completed with the attitude associated with his more confrontational work. It’s no nonsense, but in true Lenman fashion, full of character. “I never intended to retire from music itself, just the machine that surrounds it. I’m always writing and recording, and this new tune is one of my favorites from over the last couple of years,” states Lenman on the track. “Lyrically, it’s a very pessimistic piece, similar to my tune ‘The Future Is Dead.’ I don’t usually like to put negative vibes into the air like this, but sometimes that’s just how you feel, and that’s OK.” – Dan Hillier
Slift – A Storm of Wings
The French psych rockers are back and they return doing what they do best, riffs, riffs and riffs with a heavy helping of psychedelics and wah. Once again we are taken on a journey through space, the expansive sound still clearly at the centre of their thoughts, but there is a tension, a pervasive darkness that sits below the surface of the whole track, it’ll be interesting to see how this fits into the album as a whole. The darkness comes more to the forefront as the track continues, like a ticking time bomb at the end of its fuse. Slift still maintains that Clutch-like big sound, the riffs don’t plod despite their slower tempo, and the vocals carry that American rasp that has become so associated with this sort of music. – Rob Bown
Converge – Hum of Hurt
Wait, what? More Converge, two lots in one year, is this a turning point for the healing of humanity? You’d be remiss to think not as the metalcore gods come stomping back through with a raw blistering hardcore inspired track. They have such a well defined sound that just never seems to miss, the lead parts are like a well worn slipper that you absolutely can’t part with, that classic Kurt Ballou sound in fact this just goes to reinforce the idea that Converge can do no wrong, this song sounds like it could fit into any of their albums and still be perfectly at home. – Rob Bown
’68 – Always Love
Don’t cry because it’s over, celebrate because ‘68 were a true joy. Going out the way they came in, ‘Always Love’ is nothing short of an adrenaline charged bundle of groove and noise that the Atlanta two-piece have become synonymous with in their short existence. That signature ‘68 grinding guitar tone that only Josh Scogin is capable of is at the front and centre of the track, while Nikko Yamada adds that extra swagger underneath. It’s a brash, beautiful swansong for a unique band that will be heavily missed once they wrap up all the loose ends. They were ‘68, and they ruled. – Kevin Ashburn
Shooting Daggers – Glow (Feat. Dennis Lyxzén)
It would be oh so easily to say how this single is the shape of punk of come or something of the sort. But let’s face it, Shooting Daggers and the queer hardcore scene they belong to inherently are and ‘Glow’ fundamentally proves this. Taken from their upcoming record The Real Life Thing and featuring the legend that is Refused’s Dennis Lyxzén, this new single sees the gang tackling gender norms and highlighting how femininity and masculinity aren’t synonymous with dated and false perceptions of weakness and strength. The video, directly inspired by the Netflix show exploring the inner workings of an all-women’s wrestling company, highlights this message and enlivens this absolute piledriver of a track. – Dan Hillier
Nerves – N26
Irish noise merchants Nerves are in for a big future if latest single ‘N26’ is anything to go by. Hot off the heels of their excellent 2025 Iarmhaireacht EP, the County Mayo four piece are back with another slice of excellent sonic dissonance. N26 somehow manages to create danceable grooves from an oppressive wall of noise, creating a feeling like reality will somehow collapse on top of you all while daring you not to run off to the nearest rave and start throwing shapes. Short, sharp, and feeling utterly vital, Nerves are the latest absolute gem to be unearthed from a country displaying a beautiful noisy revival. – Kevin Ashburn
Plini – An Unnameable Desire
The title track of Plini’s freshly announced new full length, ‘An Unnameable Desire’ sees Plini doing what they do best – offering colourful and imaginative virtuosic prog without any of the arrogance or pomp. A vibrant song that carries an air of both slight unease and vibrant whimsy, this is classic Plini in the way it harkens thoughts of vivid and spirited scenes. The record as a whole may not be out until 24th April, but it appears it may be worth the six year wait if this is anything to go by. – Dan Hillier
HEALTH – A.L.O.N.E.
HEALTH release another slab of cyberpunk 80s inspired synthwave, working hard at making Easter sexy again. The haunting vocals slide into and out of existence over that vital underbelly that evokes driving around a neon lit city in an old ferrari with sideways wheels that hovers. ‘A.L.O.N.E.’ meanders along with the usual head bobbing force, the sparse lead line drops in and out of the forefront, and the guitars bring to mind The Cure, albeit a more clean and angular. Despite the tone of the lyrics this track is an easy listener where the melody slithers into your hippocampus where it’ll sit for a few days before, we imagine, returning sporadically forever more. – Rob Bown
Static Dress – Nostalgia Kills
Static Dress have built a career out of flirting with the sound of the 2000’s, but ‘Nostalgia Kills’ feels like the moment they finally jump in instead of just giving it a nod. The Underoath feature could’ve read as pure nostalgia bait, but it lands more as a quiet passing of the torch, deliberate and surprisingly restrained. It’s not as immediately chaotic or hooky as their earlier material, which might throw some on first listen, but that’s the point. This track simmers rather than explodes, tightening the screws and lingering after the first listen. There’s something almost frustrating about how controlled it is, like it’s holding back on purpose. But that restraint gives it bite, proof that Static Dress don’t need a constant wall of noise to feel volatile. – Vee Richardson
The Callous Daoboys – Gigantic Parasite Tongue
The most exciting mathcore band in the world have, somehow, done it again. Not content to release one of last year’s finest albums in I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven, genre-smashing mavericks The Callous Daoboys have dropped yet another heater in ‘Gigantic Parasite Tongue’. A cascade of frantic guitars and Nintendocore breakbeats open the track, before segueing into a violin-led melodic passage, before the band thunders back to full intensity with a scorching guitar lead. Capped off with a manic end and their usually biting lyricism with a touch of madness, it’s another seismic entry in the Daoboys‘ impeccable canon. Whether it’s a standalone or leads to something more, this is still a treat. – Will Marshall
Guilt Trip – No Love Lost
The latest single from just-announced brand new album Armour of Angels, out 5th June on Roadrunner, ‘No Love Lost’ is everything we’ve come to expect from Guilt Trip at this stage. Metallic hardcore dialled up to 11? Check. Rumbling bass and furious, two-step riffs? Check. Breakdowns to make you chuck limbs and other people? Check, check and more check. They’re as reliable at releasing pit fodder as ever, and with their ascent up the mountain that is the music scene, it’ll surely be causing more than a few injuries before long. – Will Marshall
Unto Thee – We Were Fire
Something unholy has risen from the North East as new, one man project Unto Thee drop their first single. Honouring those who came before this fist taste of music from the Newcastle based project walks the line firmly and confidently between second wave worship and modern black metal artistry. In just over four minutes there are more icy cold riffs than most can concoct across a whole album. It’s slow, menacing, melancholic and full of atmosphere. Everything is turned up and fighting for your attention, giving something new with every listen. As the first release from this artist it is clear this is someone to keep an eye on. – Huw Eggington
The Plot In You – You Get One
July 2026 will see the release of a metalcore album of dreams, and we are blessed ahead of time with another part of this masterpiece. Should The Plot In You drop this track at this year’s Download festival, the people shall flock. Gripping you from the off with pounding rhythmic drums, followed by serrated choruses you can feel boom in your chest, there is little room for anything other than pits, head banging and bouncing around. Toying with your emotional stability is what this band does best, so naturally Landon Tewers rips you through the intense fun with his pain-laden vocals. Contrasting rilled up coarse screams with gently paced verses is the chaos inducing balance we love about modern metalcore, and they nail it. You can lose yourself in the pit and reflect on your life, nothing is out of place. Feral shenanigans await Donington Park ahead of the release of The Volume Series. – Mignonette Ellis
Periphery – Mr. God
Mmmmm yummy thick Periphery to get the Easter weekend started off. Thick is definitely the key word here as the track opens up with the massive crunching grind we have come to expect from the OG djentlemen. As usual the vocals are huge, the production is vital and refined to a point of near perfection and the riffs are challenging and yet comfortably familiar, the lead parts have a disquieting dissonance to them which is a welcome foil to the 3000 tonne djent chugging. This is one of the heavier tracks we’ve been graced with for a while, more like an all out churning maelstrom than the often Holdsworth inspired madness that has become Periphery’s hallmark. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, you know we all want a Zyglrox v2.0. – Rob Bown
Armed For Apocalypse – Spellbound
What would be your weapon of choice in the event of armageddon? cricket bat? Samurai sword? Uncle Bertie’s dusty old hunting rifle? Well, American sludge metallers Armed For Apocalypse have opted for the bazooka and they are taking no prisoners. Blitzing between breakneck D-beat thrash and pummelling breakdowns, their latest single ‘Spellbound’ is a slab of sludge-infused metalcore, sure to delight fans of Conjurer, Converge and Sylosis. Having endured more lineup changes and setbacks than most bands twice their age, Armed For Apocalypse, originally formed in California, have resettled in Portland, Oregon and now sound like a band revived, ready to take on the armageddon hordes. ‘Spellbound’ is the third single from their upcoming fourth full-length album, The Earth Is Breathing Beneath Me, released via Church Road Records on 24th April. – Niall Creane