Knocked Loose – Blinding Faith
Hardcore is currently experiencing possibly the biggest boom period the genre has ever seen, with multiple bands exploding in popularity and visibility over the last few years. From Turnstile’s scene-transcending Glow On to Code Orange’s experiments with melody on The Above, some of hardcore’s standouts have been drawing in the masses by expanding their horizons and adding more melodic elements to their sound. Enter Knocked Loose, who are somewhat of an outlier. The bigger Knocked Loose get, the heavier they get. The more difficult they get, the more intense they get. The Oldham, Kentucky favourites have this week announced You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, their first album since 2019’s bruising A Different Shade of Blue and first single ‘Blinding Faith’ is crushing, truly crushing, in every sense of the word. From lyrical darkness that criticises religion to genuinely nauseating breakdowns, Knocked Loose are unquestionably taking up the mantle as hardcore’s most brutal great white hope. – Jordan Aldridge
unpeople – waste
Rising from the ashes from their previous project Press To Meco, guitarists Jake Crawford and Luke Caley, alongside bassist Meg Mash and drummer Richard Rayner formed unpeople, an exciting new alt-rock band which takes the pair’s flair for chunky riffs and multi-part harmonies to a bold new level with more depth than ever before. On unpeople’s latest single ‘waste’ the quartet double down on the catchy melodies and unstoppable energy of their debut track ‘smother’ but with a ferocious, moshable breakdown reminiscent of bands like Reuben and Arcane Roots. If you like infectious grooves, soaring melodies and hard-hitting riffs then unpeople are a band to keep an eye on. – Tom Bruce
Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties – Alone At St Luke’s
If you ever wanted to hear Dan Campbell say “fuck the tories” you’re in luck. Inspired by how the entirety of the band bar Aaron caught Covid during their 2022 UK tour, ‘Alone At St Lukes’ is a soliloquy on isolation delivered with swelling brass, pummelling percussion and full boisterous collective conviction. Granted, the tale of Aaron West and his escapades may be a work of narrative fiction, but here the band use the basis of reality – on how their actual last tour was almost scrapped due to an in-band breakout of the virus – as inspiration for their songcraft and storytelling. “I think sometimes constriction can be a catalyst for something special,” Dan explains. “When everyone else in the band got Covid during our UK tour in 2022, it became an indelible part of the story. Our best laid plans were immediately dashed again on the rocks of the pandemic, but this new narrative constriction forced a shift in my approach to the story that sent the record spinning in a new and better direction.” – Dan Hillier
Blanket – Nuclear Boy Scout
The magnetism and intensity of Blackpool’s Blanket are things to be admired, especially as they proficiently offer both in buckets without being detrimental to hooks nor melody. Drawing influence from and earning comparisons to bands such as Basement, Failure, Deftones and Foo Fighters, Blanket are an intriguing mixture of post-hardcore and shoegaze, with ‘Nuclear Boy Scout’ proudly displaying their influences whilst highlighting their own impressive songcraft. On this track, the band expertly convey the loud-quiet-loud dynamics of some of shoegaze’s most revered names, all the while offering up hugely singable verses and chorus that demonstrate vocalist and guitarist Bobby Pook’s vocal proficiency. – Jordan Aldridge
Beyond Extinction – Reverse Life Support (Feat. Dilan Alves)
Part of the increasingly fertile and devastating UK death metal scene, Essex boys Beyond Extinction mark their return with a frankly pulverising track in ‘Reverse Life Support’. So grimey and filthy you can almost feel your ears filling up with freshly shovelled dirt, they’re joined by Harbinger vocalist Dilan Alves who somehow manages to give it even more of an edge. The band’s first release since the passing of founding guitarist Zach Scott, this cements their status as a band on the rise, it’s part of a deluxe edition of the stunning Nothing More Wretched EP, due out at the end of March. The most disgusting and sickening track you’ll hear this week by a long way, it’s the best slice of British death metal since Celestial Sanctuary‘s 2023 effort. The band have also organised a stacked lineup in tribute to Zach, set for 17th August. Get your tickets for not only a great cause, but also more of this sort of festering goodness. – Chris Earl
CLT DRP – Until You Showed Me
The ever unstoppable and undefinable CLT DRP are back with their first material since the release of their phenomenal second record last year. Celebrating the joy of gender fluidity is ‘Until You Showed Me’, that track bares all the crucial touchpoints of the trio’s mercurial and unique sound whilst still sounding totally new and fresh. As Annie Dorrett addresses the inherent freedom that comes with unshackling oneself from a limiting gender role and binary, guitarist Scott Reynolds and drummer Daphne Koskeridou play with the kind of unrestrained dexterity that can only come from not restricting oneself to an arbitrary genre or limited sound. As always, ‘Until You Showed Me’ is the sound of the inspiration and liberation that comes with untethering oneself from the norms that rigidly bind existence for many. “Femininity is a word that has haunted me my whole life, whereas Masculinity is something that I’ve longed for”, states Annie on the track.‘”Until You Showed Me’ is a love song to my current partner for making my gender fluidity something that they nourish and make room for rather than dismiss or ignore. It’s no secret that a lot of people feel the need to lean into a gender role in order to gain respect or normalcy and if they mess with anything outside the binary it can seem threatening. Funnily enough I’ve found myself playing with my femininity a lot more now that I’ve found comfort in my skin again. This song is a little ode to the queers and anyone who strays from the binary in any way small or large. Break the wall from either side, that’s how we get ‘em to listen.” – Dan Hillier
Hail the Sun – Secondary Worship
Keeping up the momentum off the back of their career defining sixth studio album Divine Inner Tension, Californian progressive post-hardcore band Hail The Sun release their latest single ‘Secondary Worship’. Bringing together influences from bands like The Fall Of Troy, Coheed & Cambria and The Mars Volta, ‘Secondary Worship’ continues Hail The Sun’s distillation of heavy, progressive sounds into an accessible package with incredibly technical yet instantly recognisable guitar and drum parts fitting together naturally with frontman Donovan Melero’s soaring vocal melodies. ‘Secondary Worship’ finds the perfect balance between catchy pop sensibilities and progressive experimentation with a healthy dose of emo angst, this single should leave every self-confessed prog nerd salivating at the idea of a new Hail The Sun album at some point in the future. – Tom Bruce
Denial of Life – Spitting Venom
The hardcore community has been gifted a new song from the Tacoma hardcore unit Denial of Life. Bringing forth a slobber knocker of a single in the form of “Spitting Venom”, it’s fair to say the hardcore gods have blessed listeners this week. A beast in the form of metallic hardcore, this American foursome aren’t messing around this time. A three minute ordeal that’ll keep listeners interested from start to finish. Recorded by Jake Waggoner with production, mix, and mastering being done by Jaison Crooks; “Spitting Venom” is just the tip of the iceberg for what Denial of Life are cooking up. – Nathaniel Maure
Frail Body – Devotion
Screamo trio Frail Body from Illinois have announced the release of their new LP Artificial Bouquet via Deathwish Inc. back in January with the first single ‘Refrain’. With ‘Devotion’, their second song from the album, the band is definitely here to tell us how much depth their music can have. The song starts almost in a doom way; repetitive riffs, gritty bass and epic guitars are following you throughout the beginning of this track, only to make its way to blasting moments of chaotic goodness like only screamo bands can do. When the vocals finally enter at minute two, his painful lyrics hit like a knife to the gut, to then disappear again and leave you agonizing for more. This is a six minutes long rollercoaster of emotions, guitar layers, blast beats and straight-on heartbreaking screams that make your mind wander to mystic places. ‘Devotion’ definitely makes you wish for an album filled with more of this chaotic dynamism. – Bea Simon
The LaFontaines – Business As Usual
Glasgow’s finest The LaFontaines are back at it with an absolute belter, ‘Business As Usual’. Sharing the title of their forthcoming new album, it’s a slick and polished reminder of just how good this band truly is, five years after their last full album release. Drummer and vocalist Jamie Keenan has perfectly honed his voice to something beautifully husky and earnest in their time away, while rapper/co-vocalist Kerr Okan is as sharp and refined as ever. This song is The LaFontaines summed up in 3:23, and there’s no better way to describe them than the way they’ve described themselves – unique, bold, and Scottish. 2024 is shaping up to be their most exciting year to date, don’t miss out on what this incredible band has to offer. – Zee Asher
Arab Strap – Allatonceness
After releasing one of the most entertaining and unexpected comebacks in recent years, Scottish indie cult heroes Arab Strap look to continue their hot streak. Few bands possess the ability to look deep into your soul and tickle your most deep-rooted delusions and insecurities, as well as hitting the truth with a bullseye as these guys, and brand new single ‘Allatonceness’ doesn’t take any prisoners in this regard. Built upon some pounding drums and an almost stoner fuzzy guitar riff, Aiden Moffat’s pointed delivery takes aim at the constant and unavoidable deluge of online insanity and the conspiracy webs that string it all together. As the release for I’m totally fine with it don’t give a fuck anymore gets closer, they appear as vital as ever, never afraid to put their finger on the pulse of the world and declare that it’s on its last legs. – Chris Earl
Lake Malice – Eternal December
Brightonian duo Lake Malice have unveiled the first taste of new music since last year’s debut EP Post-Genesis in the form of ‘Eternal December’. Lamenting the effect seasonal depression has on many as well as homesickness, it leans far more into electronic territories than previous work. While they’ve always blended pop (particularly hyperpop) and EDM into their metalcore, this time it’s propelled by it in its verses as Alice Guala sings haunting melodies. Of the song, she and guitarist/producer Blake Cornwall say “we wrote this song in the wintery months when the rain never stopped and we barely saw the sun. It feels like something everyone can relate to on some level.” – Will Marshall
One Step Closer – Leap Years
Channelling the spirit of the first three Rise Against albums and mixing it with a desire to see a pile of bodies in the pit, One Step Closer have announced the release of their hotly awaited second full length. All You Embrace, due out 17th May and the first track ‘Leap Years’ is a perfect little melodic hardcore blast that evokes memories of bands like Finch and the aforementioned Rise Against, sounding like it would be most at home on a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtrack. The almost pop-punk chorus combined with the furious verses make for a track that almost makes you feel like it’s summer already, powerful enough to break through the rain clouds. An enticing slab of modern hardcore punk that keeps the appetites whetted for the middle of May. – Chris Earl
Sylvaine – Eg Er Framand
Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Sylvaine is rooted in folk music, and with her latest EP Eg Er Framand she’s opted to return to those roots, something of a detour from their usual blackgaze but one that pays homage to the country she grew up in and its traditional music. Staying true to the original composition which she reimagines as the EP’s title track, her ethereal voice is the focal point of the song and evokes raw, intense emotion that, as Sylvaine herself says of the original, “speaks to the exact same feelings I’ve spent the last 10 years trying to capture.” It might not be what people are used to from the blackgaze project, but it echoes the same ghostly soundscapes. – Will Marshall
SEWN – Heartworm (Feat Paul Padgett)
Toronto, Canada’s rising stars SEWN have delivered a slamming new single titled ‘Heartworm’. A devastating new track that features the likes of Paul Padgett of fellow Ontario act Cruel Intent. Right out of the gates, fans are met with absolute ferocity as the instrumentals give off some classic deathcore tones. Heavy guitars bounce through absolutely chaotic riffs before listeners get to experience the boom that is Paul Padgett’s vocal delivery. Keeping up with the heavy set tone of the track, Padgett truly brings this track to life with their feature alongside vocalist Aly Hunter. With the amazing Luc Chaisson on production, it’s a no brainer this single absolutely smashes. – Nathaniel Maure
Domain – Noix et Boules
Domain are one of South Florida’s best upcoming metallic hardcore bands, and with new single ‘Noix et Boules’ they collide that hardcore fury with acerbic death metal. Taken from their upcoming debut album Life’s Cold Grasp, it’s as intense lyrically as musically, with vocalist Alex Rothber explaining “I wrote this song about religion. There’s so many wars and battles created by belief systems. It’s very strange to me. A belief is an opinion and it’s unforgivable that so many people have been killed over said opinions.” In a hair over two minutes, Domain take a wrecking ball to eardrums with chugging riffs, blasting drums and a ferocious vocal performance. Life’s Cold Grasp is shaping up to be an early highlight for an already-fertile year in the genre. – Will Marshall
Dead Pony – Rainbows
Dropping following their recent run with The Blackout and releasing just prior to their upcoming tour with Kid Kapichi, the new single from Glasgow’s Dead Pony is a kicking and rearing synth-licked alt rock rager in the key of self-love. Taken from the band’s upcoming LP Ignore This – released April 5th via LAB / Seeker Records – the track is an energetic showcase on how the band has achieved so much in so little time, with the track just shivering with a sense of youthful energy that’s impossible not be energised by. “RAINBOWS is a song about loving yourself.”, states front person Anna Shields. “Growing up as a teenager, I always felt like a bit of an outcast and I never felt comfortable in my own skin. It’s only as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that being true to yourself is the most beautiful thing that you can be and that you don’t need to fit the mould to be worthy of loving who you are.” – Dan Hillier
Life’s Question – When I Meet God
The title track taken from Life’s Question‘s upcoming EP When I Meet God, releasing on their new home of the legendary Flatspot Records is exactly what fans have come to love. The band describe themselves as “the real deal”, but that undersells their approach that ties an understated knack for melody to seething hardcore. ‘When I Meet God’ is a rampaging, grooving beast with squealing guitars and furious barks from Josh Haynes, counterpointed by guitarist Abby Rhine’s lush vocal melodies. It’s an approach that’s already setting them apart in the scene and their partnership with Flatspot is sure to continue both parties’ track record for excellence and unmissable hardcore. – Will Marshall
Ingested – Pantheon
Fans of Ingested more than know what they’re getting by now whenever the Mancunian kings of slam put out new music and the latest single from upcoming album The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams does little to buck that trend. With the upcoming album being their third full-length in only four years, they’ve been on something of a creative hot streak since 2020’s Where Only Gods May Tread. With that in mind, ‘Pantheon’ matches all the brutality, creativity and technicality of their last few releases whilst navigating its way through sensitive subjects such as belonging and being able to live up to the high standards of both peers and idols, with frontman Jason Evans explaining that he wrote the song ‘when suffering from a heavy bout of imposter syndrome.’ There’s no need to fret, lads; you deliver the goods as consistently and punishingly as anyone worth mentioning. – Jordan Aldridge
Boundaries – A Pale Light Lingers
Having recently announced the imminent arrival of their fourth album Death Is Little More, Connecticut five-piece Boundaries offer up second single ‘A Pale Light Lingers’, featuring a guest spot from burgeoning Australian metalcore favourites Alpha Wolf’s frontman Lochie Keogh. Described by vocalist Matthew McDougall as being a song about ‘letting go’, the song explores the idea of moving on and cutting ties with the past. Opening with the sound of thunderous drums, the adrenaline is released from the get-go. Intense vocals and both hefty and melodic guitar licks ramp up the energy before Keogh’s arrival, with his higher pitched, more feral vocal approach offering a stark contrast to McDougall’s barked delivery. – Jordan Aldridge