Soulkeeper – Go Ask Alice
How else could a track titled ‘Go Ask Alice’ start other than with a sample of Jefferson Airplane‘s ‘White Rabbit’ ? Don’t expect any 60’s prog rock psychedelia here however, as chaotic hardcore/mathgrind outfit Soulkeeper are quick to drag the listener in what is equal parts whiplash-inducing bad acid trip and nightmarish glitches within dying software. The Minnesota four-piece navigate between punishing beatdowns and ear-scraping digital guitar effects manipulation, obfuscating the lines between electronics and actual guitar parts with the same gentle touch a freshly sharpened blender could offer. Their upcoming EP, Join Us In Creating Excellence out on September 19th promises to be some of this year’s more boundary-pushing material in the hardcore scene. – Avrian O’Brien
Blindfolded And Led To The Woods – Compulsion
New-Zealand’s avant-garde technical death metallers Blindfolded And Led To The Woods return after 2023’s Rejecting Obliteration, an album which garnered them much praise for being as novel and technical as it was emotional. New track ‘Compulsion’ is a more straightforward offering of fast-paced dissonant death metal, remaining under the three minute mark and meaning only business. No pensive clean guitar parts or experimental electronics here but if Rejecting Obliteration was anything to go from, Blindfolded… are keeping their cards up their sleeves for the time being, or at least until their next album The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes Me comes out on October 10th. – Avrian O’Brien
Iglooghost – [Xcavator.03]
Visionary Irish producer Iglooghost trades the ocean’s brine for copper ore and industrial landscapes on his newest track ‘Xcavator.03’, part of an upcoming EP, Bronze Claw Iso, to be released on the 5th of September. Mirroring the change of scenery is a change of atmosphere within the music itself. ‘Xcavator.03’ feels slightly more grounded and less malleable and scattershot as Iglooghost‘s previous works, with the beats remaining generally quite steady and the production choices more tame by Iglooghost standards. The new track also puts more of an emphasis on vocals and show more lyrical depth which greatly adds to the very vivid and creative world-building that previous works had established. Regardless of where Iglooghost takes listeners and how that affects the tone of the music, it certainly never is boring. – Avrian O’Brien
Gore. – Wrath
Texan metalcore quartet Gore. have had a whirlwind year since releasing their debut EP, and just a year on they’ve unveiled their second, If You Do Not Fear Me… for an October 3 release via Spinefarm Records. The second single to be taken from it, ‘Wrath’, showcases both extremes of their sound. A soft open puts vocalist Haley Roughton to the fore, gentle synths supporting a vocal line that incorporates R&B runs and a yearning melody. Of course, the song soon makes its title clear with crunching, thunderous guitars and huge drums from recent addition Wills Weller. The band explain of the song, “‘Wrath’ is the culmination of resentment, cynicism and fear that was made from the experiences in A Bud That Never Blooms. Between the societal turmoil of ‘Doomsday,’ the death of romance in ‘Babylon,’ and the familial heartbreak in ‘Heaven Is Above Me,’ the human condition can wreak havoc on what was supposed to be stability and peace.” – Will Marshall
False Reality – Reality Slips
UK hardcore is in rude health this year, with London’s False Reality being one of its leading lights as they announce their hotly-anticipated debut album Faded Intentions out November 14 on Hassle Records. It takes their ripping crossover thrash, and instead of upping the aggression (though there’s still plenty of that), injects a sense of serpentine melody through a slight shoegaze influence. While the two might seem odd bedfellows, False Reality deftly fit the two together to create a natural flow from two-stepping to brief respites from the fury. – Will Marshall
Militarie Gun – B A D I D E A
LA-based Militarie Gun have done a lot of growing in their few years as a band, from their humble beginnings as a side project for Regional Justice Centre frontman Ian Shelton to breaking through to the mainstream in less than five years, with their sophomore album God Save The Gun on the horizon Militarie Gun show no signs of settling down. Shifting over the years from straightforward hardcore to hardcore tinged alt rock and pop-punk, the five-piece’s latest single ‘B A D I D E A’ keeps their punk attitude intact but with a more accessible, sing along sound. While Militarie Gun have always had a softer edge ‘B A D I D E A’ presents them at their most radio friendly without losing any of their uncompromising hardcore energy. – Tom Bruce
Mastiff – A Story Behind Every Light
Mastiff, the UK’s most miserable and menacing return after signing with Church Road Records, joining an already stacked roster comprised of some of the best the UK’s thriving underground heavy scene has to offer. New track ‘A Story Behind Every Light’ feels as though Primitive Man had decided to write a sludge hardcore rager, speeding past the 80bpm threshold, bottling up that same abyssal torment and venomous bile into one swift savage swing of a spiked mace directly aimed at the listener’s skull. Mastiff have already established a reputation for being as bleak as they are heavy, perhaps even more so in a live setting (Noizzefest 2025 attendees will confirm), but ‘A Story Behind Every Light’ sets a new standard for Hull’s purveyors of sledgehammer riffs. The track will be a part of the band’s upcoming EP For All The Dead Dreams, out on October 24th via their new home. – Avrian O’Brien
Twenty One Pilots – Drum Show
‘Drum Show’, the second single from the band’s upcoming album Breach, is a fierce statement of intent from Twenty One Pilots, throwing Josh Dun into the spotlight for his first-ever lead vocal. A long-awaited moment that doesn’t disappoint, Dun delivers a performance brimming with urgency and grit. Behind him, the track fires on all cylinders with hefty bass riffs, and a chorus that begs to be screamed throughout venues. It feels alive, immediate and unforgettable, calling back to the raw energy of Vessel and Blurryface. An unexpected yet thrilling move, the door has been opened for more exciting possibilities, and we’re hoping this isn’t the last time Dun takes the mic. – Vee Richardson
The Acacia Strain – Holy Moonlight
‘Holy Moonlight’ barely passes the two-minute mark, but The Acacia Strain make every second count. It’s not a song so much as an ambush: Vincent Bennett roars like he’s clawing through concrete while the guitars crash down in slabs of noise. The drums don’t just keep time, they batter it into submission, locking everything into a groove that feels mercilessly heavy. Blink and it’s gone, leaving only wreckage in its wake. Short, savage, and unyielding, it proves The Acacia Strain don’t need an epic runtime to level the room, and it leaves us hungry for whatever comes next. – Vee Richardson
Castle Rat – Serpent
Like D&D? Like doom? You’ll love Castle Rat, and their latest single ‘Serpent’ taken from second album The Bestiary due September 19 via King Volume Records and Blues Funeral Recordings. Where their debut Into the Realm explored the fantastical world guitarist/vocalist The Rat Queen (Riley Pinkerton) created, The Bestiary hones in on the beasts that inhabit the world and stories about them. ‘Serpent’, true to its name, features winding guitars and vocal lines, while its drums have a classic heavy metal gallop to them. The Rat Queen explains, “with ‘Serpent’, we wanted to explore the iconography of the snake – not just as a symbol of danger or deceit, but as a tragic figure, misunderstood and cast out. There’s a tantalizing quality to the song; it’s seductive and sympathetic all at once. The drums are bombastic, the tempo pushes toward this near-march that’s as danceable as it is headbang-worthy. We leaned into synth textures more prominently this time, adding a layer of eerie elegance to the chaos. It’s slithering, it’s sharp – it’s the serpent’s side of the story.” If all that sounds like your bag, make sure to give it and Into the Realm a spin pronto – and you’ll enraptured by one of the best new trad/doom bands around. – Will Marshall
High Regard – Burn Up
Following their highly regarded (no pun intended) performance this year at Noizzefest and with upcoming shows supporting Lake Malice and a slot at We Are One festival alongside Vukovi among others, Hertfordshire trio High Regard’s latest single ‘Burn Up’ is a combination of hard-hitting and ethereal synths, blisteringly heavy guitars which still remain accessible to newer rock fans, and frontwoman Georgia’s powerful, emotive vocals which make for a deeply sentimental listen. The mellow guitars during the bridge really let her vocals take front and centre and the shimmery production are another reason why these emo-influenced newcomers are ones to watch in the UK alt rock scene. – Ez Luscombe
Conjurer – Hang Them In Your Head
Conjurer have solidified their status as heavyweight champions in the British post-metal scene following the release of their sophomore album, Páthos, in 2022. Fans have been eagerly awaiting their third album, and the wait is over. Conjurer dropped their first single from the upcoming full-length record Unself on August 13, just in time for the Bloodstock crowd to recover from the madness and for ArcTanGent attendees to enjoy it while setting up their tents in the sun. The track kicks off with an incredibly heavy and sludgy sound. Both vocalists and guitarists, Brady Deeprose and Dan Nightingale, deliver impressive growls throughout the song. Drummer Noah See blastbeats like there’s no tomorrow, and Conor Marshall, the only bass player who headbangers harder that you can, goes all out on those strings. This single is not only catchy but also promises a lot for the rest of the new album. Unself will be released via Nuclear Blast Records on October 24th. – Nessie Spencer
Smote – The Linton Wyrm
Exciting news from the Newcastle-based band Smote, as they just announced that their fifth album Songs From The Free House will be released on October 17th through Rocket Recordings. To kick things off, they also dropped their first single, ‘The Linton Wyrm’ on August 20th. It’s been a little over a year since we last heard from Smote, but this new album really feels like a more polished and purposeful version of themselves. ‘The Linton Wyrm’ is inspired by fascinating folkloric stories from the Anglo-Scottish border, along with some cool psychedelic and doom influences. In the song, frontman Daniel Foggin tells the tale of a knight who showed up and heroically shoved a spear with burning peat down the wyrm’s throat, causing quite a ruckus along the way… allegedly. If that sounds a bit puzzling, don’t worry. Catching them live will definitely help you grasp the magic behind their music and their phantasmagoric universe. – Nessie Spencer
Fleshwater – Last Escape
‘Last Escape’ is the second single from Fleshwater’s early September release 2000: In Search of The Endless Sky and is a love letter to the Deftones and shoegaze era of heavy alternative music, whilst also keeping their pop sensibilities through memorable vocal lines and heavy, yet accessible guitar riffs. Frontwoman Marisa Shirar’s clean vocals and impressive range counteracts ex-Vein.fm member Anthony DiDio’s distorted, sometimes monotonous backing vocals and rhythm guitar admirably, reverb-soaked pianos make you feel like you’re playing an underwater level on Nintendo 64, and the fuzzy guitars feel like a hug from an old friend. – Ez Luscombe
Mouth Culture – Regret 101
Indie, pop-punk, and modern rock trio Mouth Culture have certainly come a long way since their 2019 debut mixtape These Days and since then, the Leicestershire five piece have toured with big names such as The Blackout and You Me at Six, and have played Download Festival in 2024. Lyrically, latest single ‘Regret 101’ is what fans would come to expect from a Mouth Culture song due to the emotive lyrics that discuss self-doubt and mental health, the guitars that range from dreamy and introspective to punchy and reminiscent of the darker side of 2000’s pop-punk and the bass riffs that add a deeper level of grit to the track. Frontman Jack Voss’s raw and emotive vocal delivery makes ‘Regret 101’ a catchy, yet emotionally poignant track that’s definitely worth three minutes of your time. – Ez Luscombe
The Ragdolls – Home Video
Cornish indie and new-wave trio The Ragdolls have been taking the independent festival circuit by storm since 2022 with their blend of dreamy DIY and post-punk and have been honing their craft playing pubs, small clubs, and popular independent festival Carfest alongside 90s indie icons Reef and American blues king Seasick Steve. Inspired by alt-rock icons such as The Strokes, Pixies, and New Order; latest single ‘Home Video’ showcases the talents of all three members, with Oliver Muños’s vocal delivery reminiscent of both Julian Casablancas and Conor Orberst in equal measures, Lydia Martin’s bass riffs and dreamy backing vocals adding an introspective quality to the track, and drummer Harvey James contributing a more jazzy and less rock style of drumming which is both atmospheric and a refreshing take on the genre. – Ez Luscombe
Machine Girl – Come On Baby, Scrape My Data
If a hundred people were asked to describe Machine Girl’s music, many would surely say either chaotic or glitchy due to their history as a breakcore and digital hardcore outfit; yet latest single ‘Come On Baby, Scrape my Data’ taken from upcoming album Psycho Warrior is a further exploration of Machine Girl’s noisy and often electronically abrasive sound and their constant and admirable need to experiment as an artist. However, it might be their most accessible single release yet, and they have crafted a danceable baseline, a jungle-influenced beat, and a more ambient, lounge sounding synth sound without completely straying away from their synth punk-influenced sound. Machine Girl’s music may be often be noisy and abrasive, but their always memorable take on modern electronic music is both influential and fascinating. – Ez Luscombe
Beyond Extinction – Apache feat. Josh Davies
Essex’s purveyors of all things filthy, horrible and noisy Beyond Extinction are back on the warpath as they approach the release of their debut album Where They Gather, which they’ll self-release on 26 September. ‘Apache’ is another slab of aural horror, inspired by the Iraq war, telling a story of mankind’s hatred seemingly unending hatred for each other and unlimited capacity for destruction. Featuring the dulcet tones of Ingested‘s Josh Davies only levels ‘Apache’ up further, as if poisoning the soil even further. As vocalist Jasper Harmer explains, “‘Apache’ puts us in the pilot’s seat, behind the controls and with our fingers on the triggers. A first-person view of the sickening and terrifying destructive potential of humans and our governments’ desperate need for control.” – Will Marshall