Panic Shack – Thelma & Louise
Indie rock and punk influenced quartet Panic Shack formed in 2018 in Cardiff and since then, have been hand crafting hooky, and pop-forward female empowerment jams while still promoting DIY punk ethics ever since and new single ‘Thelma & Louise’ is no exception. This is a wholesome summery banger with a more surf rock influence and celebrates the importance of female friendship by frontwoman Sarah Harvey compares her friendship to the likes of Patty and Selma and Thelma and Louise and the contrast between classic female characters with a more modern sound works perfectly. Another strong candidate for song of the summer. – Ez Luscombe
Creeper – Headstones
Following their sold out show at London’s Koko last week, lead single from upcoming sequel to their vampiric Meat Loaf-inspired epic Sanguivore entitled Mistress of Death, ‘Headstones’ is a more metal-oriented song that fans of the band may not be used to. However, in true Creeper fashion their theatricality still shines through with Ian Miles’ and Lawrie Pattison’s guitar harmonies that are clearly influenced by the likes of Iron Maiden, the charismatic vocals of frontman Will Gould and the layered vocals reminiscent of Jim Steinman’s work with iconic goth staples Sisters Of Mercy, they wear their influences on their sleeve whilst still sounding modern enough to captivate audiences. It’s clear that Creeper has come a long way from their Alkaline Trio-inspired days and it’s an exciting time to be a fan of the band. – Ez Luscombe
Car Bomb – Paroxysm
How can you describe Car Bomb to someone? An explosion in a laser factory is a good start. The band are finally back with a brand new tune – ‘Paroxysm’ – a word as difficult to wrap your head around as the band’s music is. Thick riffs married to heavy kick drum flurries crash around the listener like a hailstorm. Complex, intense and impressive as always, Car Bomb make something deliciously catchy out of chaotic noise. The song is a masterclass of rhythm and tempo, with wild time signature changes and phrasing making headbanging outside of clear breakdown sections a difficult task, but a fun one nonetheless. Overall, ‘Paroxysm’ is a very good sign that Car Bomb is still on their usual insanity, which will be a delightful relief for their fans. – Jude Bennett
Mrs Frighthouse – My Body Is A Crime Scene
As visceral and as uncomfortably intimate as it’s title suggests, the new single from Glaswegian industrial noise pair Mrs Frighthouse is a downright haunting mirroring of the horror that assault leaves in it’s wake. A discordant funeral dirge following the murder of innocence by the hands of abusers, ‘My Body Is A Crime Scene’ is screeching, crawling and borderline disturbing drawl of noise that would even make the most seasoned Lingua Ignota distressed. It’s certainly not easily listening, but such is the point; this is a deeply vulnerable and genuine portrayal of the mental contamination that comes from abuse from one of the most authentic bands in UK noise. – Dan Hillier
We Lost The Sea – Everything Here Is Black and Blinding
Taken from their forthcoming record A Single Flower – releasing July 4th via Bird’s Robe (Australia), Dunk (Europe), Transition Loss (US) and New Noise (China) – ‘Everything Here Is Black and Blinding’ see’s Aussie post-rock legends We Lost The Sea offering up an intricate soundscape carrying more emotion than conventional language permits. A beautiful albeit tense track that goes from a smoulder to inferno across it’s run time, the track perfectly encapsulates the slow burning tension that is slowly beginning to singe all aspects of life the world over as of yet. Given it’s brilliance, it’s no real wonder why We Lost The Sea have created what is arguably their first music video for the track. “This is technically We Lost The Sea’s first proper music video”, state the band. “It’s always been a challenge to try and make videos for songs as long as we write. So when we landed on this 7 minute banger, we decided to go for it. We enlisted the help of our friend, and fellow Bird’s Robe band dad, Simeon (SEIMS, Birdman), who is a TV guy by trade, to help us put this together. He and the team did an incredible job and made it look like a million bucks (it definitely did not cost a million bucks).” – Dan Hillier
SCALER – Salt (Feat. Akiko Haruna)
Once again showcasing SCALER’s ability to create music that feels like the total embodiment of the Bristolian music community, ‘Salt’ is a darkly enticing track that will no doubt be appreciated by all regardless of what corner of the scene they call home. Taken from their freshly announced new record Endlessly – released September 26th via Black Acre – this track almost feels like SCALER’s Massive Attack moment; a black light-lit trip hop requiem that’s complimented by the driving vocals of Akiko Haruna. However, to even suggest that this track is a product of idol worship or even nostalgia would be a criminal. Once again, SCALER have spliced the musical DNA of Bristol with new genes, ensuring the longevity of not just their own namesake, but the fertile pool of creativity that is the scene that birthed them. – Dan Hillier
Zetra – So
After releasing two independent EPs and a debut album, touring with the likes of Employed To Serve and Svalbard and signing to the iconic Nuclear Blast Records in 2023; mysterious London gothic and synth-rocker duo Zetra return with ‘So’. It’s another glorious display of atmospheric and synthy hooks, dreamy vocals, and heavenly synth lines that you would come to expect from a band like Zetra. The low harmonies and the distorted drum machines mixed with traditional heavy metal guitar riffs really make ‘So’ stand out from the rest of their discography and with Ville Valo (perhaps after their stint as his sole support on the final VV tour) being a self-proclaimed fan of the band, it isn’t hard to see why. – Ez Luscombe
Yvette Young – Outta Sight, Outta Mind
Guitar virtuoso and Covet frontwoman Yvette Young has always used her solo work to experiment with exciting new ideas that wouldn’t usually fit within the confines of her band including piano and acoustic guitar compositions, her latest single ‘Outta Sight, Outta Mind’ leans in an interesting new hyperpop inspired direction that elevates her guitar chops with slick modern pop production. Staying true to her math rock roots ‘Outta Sight, Outta Mind’ features an impressively complex guitar line but shifts the focus onto Young’s distorted, effects driven vocals which sound closer to something from a 100 GECS single than the delicate singing voice she’s used in the past. While Yvette Young has spent the last decade proving herself as a force within the guitar world ‘Outta Sight, Outta Mind’ shows off her abilities as a confident pop songwriter. – Tom Bruce
Split Chain – who am i?
Split Chain are arguably the beating heart of the UK nu metal/shoegaze scene (dubbed nu-gaze) and despite the Bristol quintet only forming in 2022 and having a handful of singles under their belt, the release of debut album motionblur is just around the corner and its fourth single ‘who am I?’ is just under three minutes of pure nihilism. The wailing, shoegaze guitars drag the once niche 80s genre into the 21st century kicking and screaming, frontman Bert Martinez’s half harsh-half clean vocal delivery, and a steady drum beat with fills aplenty courtesy of drummer Aaron Black. Despite the single name being ‘who am i?’, Split Chain have found an individual sound that suits them down to the ground and resonates with many. – Ez Luscombe
Killswitch Engage – Blood Upon the Ashes
Killswitch just can’t quit can they? The legendary metalcore band are going from strength to strength after more than 20 years in the game. This new song shows they’re still able to write to interesting metalcore in the style that the band has helped to pioneer over the 21st century. Complex, laddery guitar passages coat the bottom of this song, sticking to the driving drums underneath like napalm, as vocalist Jesse Leach howls and wails triumphantly over the top. Just when the listener might think the song is sailing on a set course, however, a beautiful brief melodic passage comes in, reminiscent of classic Killswitch Engage, before one last killer section finishes the song off nicely. – Jude Bennett
Hot Mulligan – And A Big Load
As you can probably tell, Hot Mulligan aren’t quite done with the intentionally absurdist song titles just yet. That doesn’t mean this isn’t a right belter however. Taken from their freshly announced new record The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still – released August 22nd via Wax Bodega – ‘And A Big Load’ (lets not think about that title too much) see’s Hot Mulligan doing what they do best; revelling in the teenage angst that we’ve all somehow managed to carry into adulthood. Feeling optimised to be screamed along to whilst driving home alone after yet another soul crushing day at the office, the track documents the consequences of free will and how every respective action has a corresponding repercussion that might not always be evident. It’s rich with angst, frothing with energy, linked with hooks, and will no doubt be cherished by those who have someone become ensnared by a boring adult life following a youth full of promise. – Dan Hillier
Paradise Lost – Silence Like the Grave
Iconic Yorkshire gothic doom metallers Paradise Lost may be three decades into their career and have been consistently releasing scarily good albums since 1990 but despite this, lead single ‘Silence Like the Grave’ taken from September release Ascension is exactly what you would expect from a quality Paradise Lost song. The symphonic intro is captivating yet haunting, long-time guitarist and vocalist Nick Holmes still delivers a memorable vocal performance and the riffs are extremely catchy. Lyrically, ‘Silence Like the Grave’ is inspired by all things macabre, which audiences have continued to flock to and surely upcoming album Ascension will be no exception. – Ez Luscombe
Evanescence – Fight Like A Girl feat. K.Flay
Evanescence’s ‘Fight Like a Girl’ isn’t just another cinematic tie-in, it’s a defiant, blood-streaked anthem that spits in the face of subtlety. Amy Lee delivers one of her most commanding vocal performances in years, layered over churning guitars and action packed solos that feel purpose-built for the movie whilst also staying true to the bands sound. Enter K.Flay with a venom-laced verse that slides in like a serrated blade, adding a sneer to Lee’s typical sorrowful vocals. This is Evanescence at the most fun we’ve seen in a long time, leaning fully into theatrical violence with no apologies. – Vee Richardson
Signs Of The Swarm – Clouded Retinas (Feat. Will Ramos)
It’s a bad day to be a drum kit when Bobby from Signs Of The Swarm sits down ready to hammer some beats down. The band’s new tune is a brief but brutal song featuring an incendiary section from Lorna Shore‘s Will Ramos. Like many of Signs Of The Swarm‘s previous efforts, ‘Clouded Retinas’ contains blistering drums, disgustingly heavy guitar chugs and insanely revolting vocal passages. This time, however, the band decide to go the raw but real route, with the mix feeling like a sea of razor blades churning against your ears. Thick and sharp, like a lemon pie thrown in your face at 80mph. Excellent filth. – Jude Bennett
Sixth Wonder – Guts
Rising Scottish alt metal outfit Sixth Wonder have unveiled their latest single ‘Guts’, a raucous, grooving slab of antagonism that, as they describe it, is “a slap in the face to anyone who dares to wrong us. The song laughs at the ego of someone who believes they are above everything and defies everything they hold to their core. This song wishes for silence upon needless talk.” There’s shades of Vexed in the heaving riffs that bounce and bend, while Rebekah Kirk’s roars are somehow even more pissed off than usual. It’s a wonder they’re still unsigned at this point, one of the most promising acts emerging from Scotland in the alt metal/metalcore space and about to support Gore. at the upcoming Mantra night in London. Hopefully, the recent spate of singles heralds an incoming release soon. – Will Marshall
The All-American Rejects – Easy Come, Easy Go
Who wants a pure shot of energy? The All-American Rejects could sure provide. ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’, their second single since their musical comeback after 13 long years away, sounds as a rush of adrenaline with its punk vibes in the instrumental and the sharp vocals of lead singer Tyson Ritter. The short, sub-3 minute track feels like cathartic euphoria. It’s clever in its form, where every detail matters, while proceeding to compress the music in an electric way. Provocative to its core, and through shouting lyrics such as ‘You only love me when I’m out of control’, the band’s DNA is all about being themselves and no one else. Jumping on that AAR ride is wild and screaming the chorus at the top of your lungs seems like a great idea. Mixing vividly nostalgia to a sense of federation in the community, the Rejects are here to show that their return to the scene was nothing but an ode to freedom and the rawness of rock’n roll. – Emma Forni