Moksha – Three Rivers
It’s not every day you hear a new band sound as fresh and as healing as this. The debut single from art-rock octet Moksha, ‘Three Rivers’ sounds less than a new band taking their first clumsy steps and more of a well-established band who have long found their own musical niche and sound. Such a thing isn’t too surprising though when considering the lineup; cofounded by Sam Chetan-Welsh (ex-Ithaca), Moksha features an array of established musicians from a range of scenes and genres. Still, this is a wonderfully translucent and spiritually healing listen, especially considering the way the track fluidly mares classic emo, math-rock, neo-soul and jazz to the point where genre tags become less defining features and more vague reference points. Moksha will be making their debut festival appearance at ArcTanGent later this month, and going from this single, you would be a fool to miss it. – Dan Hillier
Northlane – CUT_it
The crossover between electronic music and heavy music is not a new one. For decades now, synths, glitches and digital effects have become an established part of the soundscape in metal – regardless of how people feel about it. Many bands have taken the sound head on, letting the digital ice flow in the warm veins of their artistic creations, but none have done so quite as well as Northlane. The Aussie djent outfit has spent a considerable amount of time honing their unique and recognisable sound, winning over a legion of purists with raised eyebrows, and it’s never been more clear that they’re exactly where they want to be than on ‘CUT_it’. Abrasive, metallic synths open the track before vocalist Marcus Bridge really kicks things off with a brutal opening line. Angular guitars and compressed drums follow quickly after, showing fans that the band is still as much ESP as LED. This track in particular leans quite heavily on the electronic side of things, and while it may have some awesome riffs and a memorable, almost Thornhill-like chorus, the electric beats and dance synths may still cause some traditionalists some problems. It’s clear that the band is fully owning their sound though, and they sound so strong for it. Why would you want to unplug from the matrix if the soundtrack is this good? – Jude Bennett
Future Static – Ornaments & Memories
Australian metalcore/alt metallers Future Static turned heads with their debut album Liminality, and have just unveiled their upcoming second album Ornaments & Memories along with its title track. As a much more philosophically-minded album, it follows that the music is just as boundary-pushing. Progressive flourishes and soulful vocals carry its opening, before vocalist Ami Cook delivers gut-wrenching lows at the song’s first crescendo. Switching then into thundering djent-adjacent slow chugs and battering drums, without losing the melodicism of Cook’s vocals, it’s a stellar example of the band’s songwriting reaching new heights. Cook explains of the song’s themes, “I wrote the lyrics to ‘Ornaments & Memories’ as if writing a letter to myself to listen back to when I start to lose track of what is important. A reminder to be more present, and to take each step based on what will create the most positive impact.” – Will Marshall
Noctule – Goddess of Rot
The second single from Noctule’s (aka Serena Cherry) upcoming second album Extinguish Thy Flame, ‘Goddess of Rot’, a love letter to Elden Ring’s infamously challenging boss Malenia. Continuing where ‘Lord of Blood’ left off, its black metal/melodeath combinaton features gorgeous melodic leads drenched in reverb and melancholy, along with a healthy dose of atmospheric black metal influence for good measure. Cherry’s voice is in typically fine form, emotionally resonant screams balanced against more delicate singing. In her words, “in the fight to protect those you love, you can get destroyed beyond recognition. When love morphs into sacrifice that leads to inevitable loss,” mirroring Malenia’s tragic story from the game. – Will Marshall
Remote Viewing – Retrain As A Swan
If this current heatwave had a soundtrack it would probably sound something like this. Ripped from their upcoming record State Violence – released 18 September via Human Worth – ‘Retrain as a Swan’ sees London sludge slingers Remote Viewing encapsulate the sound of ever-accelerating societal decay and cultural pessimism that’s a product of late stage capitalism. Essentially, it sounds like Chat Pile, Ken Mode and Kowloon Walled City but even more fatalistic. Miserable and oppressive music for miserable and oppressive times. – Dan Hillier
Green Lung – Black Magick Radio
Folklore-loving occult rockers Green Lung have earned a (well-deserved) reputation for tracks that worship Iommian riffcraft as much as they do the old magicks, and latest single ‘Black Magick Radio’ is no different. Taken from the upcoming album Necropolitan, it’s – as the band describe it – “our love letter to occult rock itself, and a promise to spread its gospel as widely as we possibly can. All together now… Eko Eko Azarak, Eko Eko Zomelak…”. In other words, it’s a devilishly good time, scuzzy guitars and Tom Templar’s immediately-recognisable croon. The video even features a suburban family utterly in thrall to the song’s mystic power. Turn it up and hail the riff. – Will Marshall
Johnny Foreigner – The Concrete Collar
Ever the ones keeping the agitpop flame alive, Johnny Foreigner are back with another track inspired by the concrete, steel and perpetual construction of the UK’s second city. With the track’s title taken from a 1970s tabloid article criticising the brutalist redevelopment of Brum’s city centre, ‘The Concrete Collar’ is yet another musically upbeat but cynically expressed condemnation of the untrained but somehow licensed executive being allowed to choke the cities and communities we live and love in. But despite being inspired by towers and roads of endless grey, this is nothing but excitable and technicolour in every way possible. – Dan Hillier
Elf Traps – Harp E
Elf Traps may be a new proposition for some, but for fans of acts such as Floating Points, Squarepusher, Four Tet and Battles, ‘Harp E’ is crucial listening. The latest single from the Manchester duo featuring ex GoGo Penguin percussionist Rob Turner, ‘Harp E’ sees Elf Traps wonderfully summarising their crossover electronic sound that takes influence as much from the thumping noise of jungle and glitch as it does from the ethereal improvisation of spiritual jazz. But despite this harkening thoughts of a sound that’s maybe erratic and inorganic, this is a single that’s wholly human, contemplative and almost dreamlike to a pacifying degree. Sure, it’s early days for this project, but going from this single and the duo’s ability to mare robotic beats with organic textures and improvisation, Elf Traps are a band shimmering with promise. – Dan Hillier
Chat Pile – Same Rules
Chat Pile prove on ‘Same Rules’ that they can create discomfort even with all the bombast they do so well stripped away. ‘Same Rules’ is an undulating, creeping vehicle for vocalist Raygun Busch to unsettle and debilitate you in more of a Gustavo Fring way than his usual psychotic bellow.The Oklahoma City natives are consistently impressive in how they’re able to shift from bludgeoning over the head to whispering in your ear stroking the blood through your hair, and in the lead up to Who Loves The Sun, their third full length album, ‘Same Rules’ is just further evidence they’re the best band in the noise/art-metal space. – Kevin Ashburn
Citizen – Good Fortune
Citizen have officially put out their seventh studio album Halcyon Blues into the world and album opener and fourth single ‘Good Fortune’ is an extremely strong track that blends the throwback grungy sounds of their arguably seminal sophomore release Youth with energetic drumming, emotional lyrics, and fuzzy bass tones aplenty. The dynamics are strong, frontman Mat Kerekes sounds as clear as ever and Citizen are one of the key artists that are keeping the US pop-punk and emo scene alive and kicking. Jetting over to the UK this autumn alongside Modern Colour; you won’t want to miss this. – Ez Luscombe