SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Red Wine and Discontent
If you didn’t know otherwise, you’d think SeeYouSpaceCowboy hailed from the glory days of early 2000’s metalcore and post-hardcore. Making you feel like you’ve been transported back to 2006, latest release ‘Red Wine and Discontent’ is rammed full of captivating melody and poetic switches between high-pitched cleans and banshee shrieks. Centering around the notion and pitfalls of being a dirty little secret in an affair, the band continue their ability to produce accessible metalcore without losing the nostalgic greatness. And, like any prominent heyday metalcore track, the chorus is outrageously catchy and captures the mood perfectly. Seemingly, it’s time to dig out the studded belts again in time for their upcoming album, Coup De Grâce, out April 19th on Pure Noise. – Amy Bowles
Thursday – Application For Release From the Dream
Few names in the post hardcore/emo world carry as much respect as Thursday. The New Jersey natives haven’t been as active on record as they have live the last few years, with brand new track ‘Application For Release From the Dream’ the first original music from the band since 2011. The songs driving force and highlight is the vocal performance from Geoff Rickly, whose instantly recognisable voice will surely give people of a certain age a feeling of instant nostalgia. A slow burner, it builds to a dramatic crescendo of beauty, shrieks and gang vocals that bring elements from all over Thursday‘s career together in one modern package. Is this the best place to start with the band? Probably not but for longtime fans and veterans of the scene, it’s a welcome return on record for the pioneers. – Chris Earl
Slash Fiction – Catastrophising
After releasing one the best emo records of 2021 with Gender, Trauma & Friendship, South Yorkshire’s finest Slash Fiction are back with ‘Catastrophising’. The first single to be lifted from their upcoming second record We’ll Hold This Line Until Hell Freezes Over – self-released May 31st – ‘Catastrophising’ is the full encapsulation of what makes this act just so brilliant and utterly lovable. As the words “Cos’ if all it takes to shut out this noise / is a can of red stripе in a basement” are bellowed against korg tinged emo that resonates thoughts of itoldyouiwouldeatyou, Johnny Foreigner and Martha, it’s impossible not be affected or moved by the chemistry, catharsis and community that binds this band as a collective. If one is yet to be acquainted with this band whilst being fans of the aforementioned acts – or simply wishes to hear one of the best emo bands in the UK right now – then this is the perfect introduction to a band most wonderful. – Dan Hillier
Riley! – Bad Boys Boxing Club
The second single to be taken from their forthcoming record Keep Your Cool – released April 19th via Counter Intuitive – ‘Bad Boys Boxing Clubs’ sees the Texan emo trio Riley! slipping on the gloves to deliver an absolute haymaker. A far more bold and confrontational flurry than their previous single, here Riley! forgo the tenderness of their previous work to deliver a bellowed hammering of timeless aggressive emo. Still, with its bounce, charm and effortless sense of fun, the track is peak Riley! and simply brilliant. – Dan Hillier
Thou – I Feel Nothing When You Cry
Where on earth hath Thou been? It’s hard to believe despite the litany of collaborations, most recently with 2022’s one man powerhouse Mizmor, that this is the Baton Rouge blackened sludge collective’s first original material since 2018 album Magus. Coming alongside word of new album Umbilical, ‘I Feel Nothing When You Cry’ is immediately ferocious and fueled by pure acrid misanthropy. Describing Umbilical as a record “…for the radicals, the crackpots, the exiles who have escaped the wasteland of capitulation,” the lead single is suitably noisy and oppressive, succumbing to levels of fervour the band have only dabbled in prior. Thou widen their inspirational pools, embracing aspects of 90s underground DIY hardcore culminating in some of the band’s most urgent and frantic material to date. It’s four minutes of white knuckle aggression and neck churning riffs, bleeding out into whining feedback that feels like the aftermath of a bomb going off in your face. – Harry Shiels
El Moono – The Waking Sun
Brightonian post-metallers El Moono are on a hot streak that few can deny. As this, the fifth single and title track from their upcoming album, The Waking Sun shows, they’re in the creative form of their lives. Masters at marrying crushing soundscapes with sombre, haunting vocals and unorthodox hooks, it’s a perfect backdrop for a track about the day to day struggle with depression. The track also features some guest vocals from Congratulations singer Leah Stanhope, who leaves her mark on the track with a fantastic performance. As the band prepare for their headline tour (with a slot at our upcoming Noizzefest at the end of April) it seems obvious that the band will be able to finally capitalise on the hype and love that’s surrounded them for years. Even those who normally eschew post metal will find something to love in El Moono, whose vulnerability and authentic nature mark them out as not only an exciting, but a relatable band of today’s British metal scene. – Chris Earl
Gaffa Tape Sandy – Dead To Me
Ain’t no love lost here. Potentially the most vicious thing Gaffa Tape Sandy have ever put to record, ‘Dead To Me’ sees the Brighton indie-punk revelling in revenge whilst sinking a serrated musical knife into the back of one’s spine. Yet, in true Gaffa Tape Sandy fashion, there’s still a sense of chaotic playfulness to be cherished here. With the track’s frothing haste, ‘Dead To Me’ continues to harken the growth this band have seemingly undergone over the past several years that is set to be fully displayed with the release of their new record come the end of next month. “We put this song together in what felt like seconds! Some songwriters would call it a ‘sneeze’”, state the band on the track. “The song takes lyrical ideas and tone from revenge films. We like to think of this song as a throwback to our first EP called Spring Killing, which had similar inspirations. It’s jagged, characteristic and sounds exactly like the slice of garage punk that we’ve tried to carve out for ourselves as a band.” – Dan Hillier
Cane Hill – Midnight Sun / Ecstasy in Grief
There aren’t many bands today who seek to defy classification as much as Cane Hill. The NOLA crew have flirted with grunge, nu-metal, metalcore and straight up alternative rock throughout their career and refuse to be pigeonholed. To usher in what the band calls a “new era”, they’ve dropped a pair of tracks, their first since 2022. Up first is ‘The Midnight Sun’, an industrial tinged nu-metalcore stomper of a song, making sure that people haven’t forgotten that Elijah Witt has one of the most dynamic voices in heavy music today. Floating between scathingly heavy, passages and soaring choruses with the type of ease that only comes from a band well in their groove, it’s one of the bands most impressive tracks to date. ‘Ecstasy In Grief’ is a more frantic number. With some Slipknot-esque scratches and at times sounding like a stateside Graphic Nature, it’s a real head spinner that shows the band at their most aggressive and unrelenting, even during a slower section. Whatever the new era holds for the band, if it’s anything akin to these two tracks then it’s one to keep an eye on. – Chris Earl
Sixth Wonder – BRUTAS
Sixth Wonder are a brand new band from Glasgow; calling themselves “djent-pop” they’ve already had a banner first year including airplay on Radio 1 and plenty of support in Scotland. Their latest single, ‘BRUTAS’, is all about betrayal and how ego can lead to a downfall, is drenched in synths and punchy guitars. The Glaswegians land a powerful blow, Rebekah Kirk’s visceral screams backdropped by thunderous drumming and menacing synths and those crunching guitars. It’s a short but no less impactful statement of intent from the young band, one sure to keep up their momentum this year. – Will Marshall
RedHook – Breaking Up With
The ever-shapeshifting RedHook have unveiled more new music – whether it’s a standalone or part of the second album they confirmed is finished is unknown, but either way it’s a huge, party rock anthem that brings back the sax in a big way. Dealing with the idea of breaking up with self-destructive thoughts and self-sabotage, it’s packed with their usual singalong hooks and crunchy guitars, as well as the aforementioned sax that gets more than a few times to shine, including a raucous solo. If you like your alt rock poppy with the ability to shift into something much heavier at a moment’s notice, RedHook ought to be on your radar in 2024, and ‘Breaking Up With’ is a damn good reason as to why. – Will Marshall
Make Them Suffer – Epitaph
One of Australia’s most exciting metalcore bands of the last 15 years, Make Them Suffer are back with another single that, despite seemingly being a standalone, looks like the biggest hint of a new album yet. ‘Epitaph’ is the third single of theirs since joining forces with former Drown This City member Alex Reade, and as with ‘Ghost Of Me’, it’s another track designed to show off not only her voice, but the vocal interplay with lead singer Sean Harmanis. There’s industrial touches added to the band’s riff driven band of symphonic metalcore and the introduction is one of the heaviest moments the band have had in years. The hooks are massive, the breakdowns are bone-shaking and all signs point to the band being in a creative highpoint, which bodes well for whatever the rest of the year holds for them. – Chris Earl
Going Off – Bound By Blood (Feat. Ian Fidance)
Going Off has truly made an impact on the ever-exciting UK hardcore scene with their 2023 debut album What Makes You Tick, their collaborations with Bristol crossover powerhouses Overpower and London hardcore finest Knuckledust and now with their most recent single ‘Bound by Blood’ featuring hardcore enthusiast comedian Ian Fidance. This unique collaboration takes what this band does best and elevates it yet again. It showcases perfectly crafted breakdown sections, fast-paced guitar riffs and Jake Huxley’s distinctive, aggressive vocal style. The one-minute song length may seem short for outsiders of the hardcore scene, however, this track is built to be played live and to encourage audience participation. Whether that be grabbing the mic to scream the track’s title in unison, two-step to the midsection or hardcore dance to the riff-heavy parts. ‘Bound by Blood’ gives the exciting prospect that Going Off has even more collaborations up their sleeve and is truly the band to watch with their sophomore album release Die Fast on the 26th of April and many festival features across the country for the rest of 2024. – G Garland
Sonja – Discretion For The Generous
A sexy, sleek and slaying one, this. The group’s first track since signing to their new home of Century Media Records, ‘Discretion For The Generous’ is a right fiery and flagellating slice of metal from one of Philadelphia’s most currently hyped exports. Whilst the track bares all the gothic sensibilities associated with their early work, ‘Discretion For The Generous’ does not witness Sonja playing into the bleak and boorish tropes associated with gothic metal. Instead, in a way comparable to the work of those such as Type O Negative, here Sonja utilise such sensibilities to make something provocative and genuinely alluring. – Dan Hillier
Hippotraktor – Stasis
En route to their hotly anticipated follow up to their debut album Meridian, Belgian post metallers Hippotraktor unveil the sprawling eight minute title track, ‘Stasis’. Revelling in its own grandeur, it blossoms from atmospheric proggy grooves with crushing intensity to ambient post bridges and jazzy progressive fusion guitar solos. The dual combination of soaring clean vocals and unhinged aggression from vocalists Sander Rom and Stefan De Graef working with and juxtaposing the instrumental elements works incredibly well, building towards the mammoth climax and cathartic breakdown for the track’s finale; if the title track is anything to go by then fans have plenty to be excited for when Stasis drops this June. – Harry Shiels
Little Bribes – House Parties
The sober sound of intoxicated adolescent revelry fading into memory, ‘House Parties’ is a bittersweet reflection on growing up and coming to terms with the fact one’s youth is now long over. As the track reminisces thoughts of The Weakerthans whilst carrying that kind of vulnerable earnestness associated with the fertile indie punk scene and acts such as Brutalligators, Tripsun and Buds., it’s genuinely surprising to know that this is Little Bribes’ first release since 2016. After all, given how the track perfectly articulates that kind of pain and wistfulness that comes with suddenly coming to realise one’s true age and their standing in the world, the track sounds like it came from a band who have spent the last few years solidly working on their craft. For those wishing for some brilliant emo-tinged vulnerability or just wishing for a good honest humbling, this can’t be recommended enough. – Dan Hillier
thrown – nights
Unrelenting gut-punching hardcore-tinged-metalcore is the name of the game from thrown. Only releasing a handful of singles and an EP in 2022 is an absolute crime from the band. ‘nights’ is there newest and most explosive track to date. The band is without a bassist having two guitarists take the helm and with a guitar tone as crunchy as the combination of Johan Liljeblad & Adreas Malm backed by the blunt force of drummer Buster Odeholm, ‘nights’ is a combative powerhouse and how the four-piece have yet to put out a full album yet is beyond comprehension. It’s apparent that thrown aren’t here just for fun, as vocalist Marcus Lundqvist snarls and barks across the short two-minute aggressive output they’ve become known for. – Liam True
In Hearts Wake – Farewell
‘Farewell’, is in fact, a farewell to bassist Kyle Erich as he’s announced his departure from the band. With Erich’s clean vocals dominating the majority of the song as Jake Taylor cuts the atmosphere in the middle with his signature growls and the band’s signature slow breakdowns, it makes for an emotional and fiery track. Reinforced with the guitars from Eaven Dall & Ben Nairne it’s a beautiful song and the fact that In Hearts Wake made an entire song and an accompyaning music video to go with it shows just how much they respected him. It’s made more emotional as the video released for the song shows clips of Erich across the world and with his family, and ends with Erich being comically run over as the outfit teases their next single. – Liam True
Squid Pisser – Virus Assholes
Having just dropped their EP and comic book set Vaporise a Neighbour, Squid Pisser are showing no signs of slowing down. Announcing their upcoming full-length, Dreams of Puke set to drop in the summer, they release the first single, ‘Virus Assholes’. In true Squid Pisser fashion, this track keeps up their unpredictable ensemble of noise and hardcore. Frantically squeezing in sonic ascending riffs, pummelling drums and unique effects tied together with visceral chaos and an aggressive barrage of vocals, ‘Virus Assholes’ packs a lot into just under 3 minutes. But, you wouldn’t expect anything less from the California “glitchcore” outfit and evidently, the mayhem is set to continue in June. – Amy Bowles
Seagrave – Aether
Toronto Canada’s beatdown troupe Seagrave have been making moves since the release of their self titled debut EP back in October of last year. Now the group brings forth some new heat in the form of ‘Aether’. Changing their sound a hair by adding some amazing guitar melodies, the overall vibe of the track feels much more ominous than previous releases. Vocalist Christopher Osuch absolutely delivers on all fronts vocally as the backing instrumentals slam left and right. Seagrave are quickly becoming Ontario’s “it” band when it comes to beatdown and deathcore music. If ‘Aether’ isn’t proof enough, what they have in store is sure to be. – Nathaniel Maure