Sugar Horse – New Dead Elvis
The lords of all things low and slow hath returned from the bowels of Bristol with something a bit more immediate. Taken from their upcoming second record Grand Scheme Of Things – released October 4th via Pelagic Records – ‘New Dead Elvis’ see’s Sugar Horse exploring how we gleefully and grimly romanticise the death of pop culture icons in a way that only they can. However, with the track only spanning three-and-a bit-minutes, ‘New Dead Elvis’ is somewhat of a musical side step for the band. Fear not through, for the single – and record as a whole – still contains all the dread, ambience, loathing and generalised existential anxiety that’s characterised their work since their offset in a way that’s still profound, albeit more concise. “This album was intended to be a sideways step”, state Sugar Horse on the new record. “A move away from the kind of thing that is expected of us… if anything is at all. What I mean by that, is the songs are more direct. They take a much shorter amount of time to “get to the point”. We also wanted to make this one noticeably “less Metal”. While we love being a bit boneheaded and confrontational, we definitely wanted to explore the more melodic, song-based side of the band’s sound. We’ve done the whole drawn out, endless Space Rock thing a good few times now and it would’ve been easy to rest on those laurels. Do something we’re comfortable with. Alas, that is not really the point of this band. We’d much prefer to make it difficult and take the long route.” – Dan Hillier
Stand Atlantic – GIRL$ (feat. PVRIS, Bruses)
Aussie outfit Stand Atlantic have shapeshifted with every album to date, and by the singles released so far, including the latest ‘GIRL$’, it’ll be another step into poppier territories retaining some of the punk bite. ‘GIRL$’ is the third single from upcoming release WAS HERE, and it’s propelled by Bonnie Fraser’s voice and a pounding beat that drops to half time for its chorus. Featuring both PVRIS and Mexican artist Bruses, as Bonnie describes it, “I wanted to show my appreciation for women and personally, my experience growing up knowing I was attracted to women but still feeling like I had to fit the mould of the male gaze, just based on the way I was influenced by a male dominated society. I hope other queer women and women in general resonate with this track, but also anyone in between… having Lynn (PVRIS) and Amalia (Bruses) on this track made it so much more meaningful to me personally. Both female, queer and talented artists I respect so much.” – Will Marshall
Cult Leader – Learn To Love It
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a full-length from Utah’s Cult Leader (A Patient Man was all the way back in 2018!) and while they did release a split with END in 2022, more nihilistic fury from them is never unwelcome. A hair over two minutes, it’s enough to whet the appetite for hopefully a new album this year. A savagely bludgeoning cut as ever, ‘Learn To Love It’ doesn’t let up from the outset; jarring dissonance, more fight riffs than you can shake a stick at and a vocal performance that’ll mug you for your lunch money, this is is Cult Leader at their frantic, vicious best. In the band’s words, “we’re glad to finally let it see the light of day. It presents the idea of growing comfortable while being stripped of hope.” – Will Marshall
Eat Your Own Head – Chest Pains
Taken from their upcoming EP The Trawler – released May 31st via Drongo Records – ‘Chest Pains’ see’s Norwich noise rock merchants going Eat Your Own Head going angling for riffs and hauling in the catch of the day. Shivering with tension, thrashing with riffs in the vein of El Moono and The St. Pierre Snake Invasion and complete with a hook strong enough to net the heftiest of sea beasties, ‘Chest Pains’ is a meaty, dark and wryly humorous serving of alt-rock that see’s the band once again probing the darkest recesses of heavy music and one’s own psyche. Those familiar with the band’s brilliant 2022 record Neck-Deep In The Blyth shall know what to expect here, but for those new to the band, you’re gonna need a bigger boat to accommodate these riffs. – Dan Hillier
Dvne – Abode of the Perfect Soul
Frank Herbert fans rejoice, for Scotland’s finest progressive post metallers Dvne have revealed the second single taken from the upcoming Voidkind, the follow-up to 2021’s stellar Etemen Ænka. Where first single ‘Plērōma’ featured their most melodic work to date, ‘Abode of the Perfect Soul’ returns to the heaving, tectonic sludge riffs they cut their teeth with. Bellowing vocals are counterpointed by entwining guitar lines, with cofounding guitarist/vocalist Victor Vicart describing it as “one of the most multifaceted songs we have ever written with many changes of scenes and vibes. We feel it crystallizes where DVNE is musically right now.” – Will Marshall
Forlorn – Creatress
Signalling a new dawn to their refreshing take on heavy-set spiral tones and celestial reckoning, folk horror outfit Forlorn takes the heavy music community to task over its lack of female representation, while championing the respect and conservation of the planet with their new dominating single ‘Creatress’. Channelling a much harsher atmosphere as they venture into symphonic black metal with touches of ambient, their brand of self-described “Midsommar metal” has been elevated to new heights with inspiration being funnelled through the teachings of the Norse deity Moder’s desire to protect the natural world. With such divine intervention reinforcing Forlorn’s lifeblood, this latest release stands as an especially promising step forward in their post-Sæl ascension. – Bennie Osborne
Lawi Anywar – I See You
Naturally bringing in influences as far reaching as Delta Sleep and Parliament, from Thundercat to The Fall Of Troy, experimental multi-instrumentalist and singer Lawi Anywar shakes up his complex, funk inspired beats with atmospheric math and post-rock exploration. On his latest single ‘I See You’, these two worlds combine in a satisfying clash, culminating in a post-hardcore inspired breakdown which briefly replaces the funky beats with moshable, distorted guitars. Lawi Anywar’s bass playing on this single deserves special attention, carrying the track with a perfect balance between funk-rock groove and almost stoner rock levels of fuzzed-out chugging. – Tom Bruce
Going Off – Cowards (Feat. Overpower)
To be as blunt as this single, ‘Cowards’ see’s UKHC favourites Going Off collaborating with chainmail-clad South West thrashers Overpower for 65 seconds of pure spit-flying aggro. There’s no pretence, subtleness or patience to had here; just brilliant shit-kicking hardcore complimented with flesh flaying shred courtesy of two of the best names in UK thrash and hardcore respectfully. If this doesn’t get you up and ready to kick heads in after the four day weekend tomorrow then nothing will. – Dan Hillier
Full Of Hell – Gasping Dust (feat. Ross Dolan)
Grindcore/noise merchants Full Of Hell are mere weeks away from releasing their new LP Coagulated Bliss, their first since Garden of Burning Apparitions to not be a collaborative release (like last year’s Primitive Man and Nothing collaborations). ‘Gasping Dust’ is Full Of Hell back at their grindy best, a furious salvo of blast beats and inhuman howls from Dylan Walker. Immolation‘s Ross Dolan also makes an appearance, roaring murderously throughout. There’s dissonant guitars and a sense of frantic urgency, as if the minecart was practically off the tracks already. By now, fans know what they’re getting with a Full Of Hell release, but they still find ways to raise the bar each time, and it looks like Coagulated Bliss will be no different. – Will Marshall
Beyond Extinction – Posthuman
Fans of teeth bending, ear shaking grinding death metal rejoice, because there’s more Beyond Extinction to soundtrack your bank holiday weekend. Something of a companion track to their previously released ‘Reverse Life Support’, new effort ‘Posthuman’ also sees the band delving into the more evil, caveman style sounds of bands like Grave and Entombed. An insidious edge permeates throughout, the riffs and sickening bass crawling over your skin like bloated maggots, complete with gurgling vocals reminiscent of the toilet from Trainspotting. This is the type of death metal that you can imagine soundtracking a human sacrifice. With the deluxe version of Nothing More Wretched out now, it’s the best time to get to grips with the band, who will no doubt be assaulting your eardrums with more material (that they’ve teased as sludgier than their recent releases) later this year. – Chris Earl
Microwave – Huperzine Dreams
Emo/indie trio Microwave do floaty, almost ethereal guitar based music better than most. The fifth single from their upcoming album Let’s Start Degeneracy blends elements of legends Balance and Composure with bands like Free Throw. Titled ‘Huperzine Dreams’, it’s a catchy, dreamlike song of introspection and inspired by members Nathan and Tito’s experimental journey with various substances. Huperzine A, the one the track has been inspired by, is said to increase attention span during the day and lucid dreaming by night, a vibe the track nails well. The band enlisted Joe Hertler, from Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers to perform piano on the track and the extra instrumentation makes it one of the most interesting tracks the band have penned so far. – Chris Earl
SeeYouSpaceCowboy – To the Dance Floor for Shelter (feat. Courtney LaPlante)
‘To the Dance Floor for Shelter’ is the fifth – yes, really – single taken from SeeYouSpaceCowboy‘s upcoming album Coup de Grace, in which they’ve described themselves as creating a neo-noir world to tell their stories through. The fiction disguises, rather than replaces, the deeply personal lyrics Connie Sgarbossa is known for, and ‘To the Dance Floor…’ also folds in a guest feature from Courtney LaPlante of metalcore titans Spiritbox. Though a soft piano opens, that only lulls into a false sense of security as the track explodes into an old-school emo anthem at first, before the sasscore takes hold. “This song is our little ode to the emo songs that we were all obsessed with growing up, we wanted something that would almost feel cinematic in nature and felt like it carried you through from the piano in the beginning to the journey through the middle to the climax,” the band say of the song. “It’s a song that Courtney’s vocals beautifully fit into as a voice that leads you to that destructive end.” – Will Marshall
Lake Malice – Blossom (Bobby Wolfgang remix)
Brightonian duo Lake Malice have had a huge start to the year already, with ‘Eternal December’ releasing alongside their debut UK headline tour with more support and festival appearances to come. On that headline tour, fans were treated to their first single, ‘Blossom’ closing the show, albeit with a twist; before its final chorus it transformed into a huge EDM banger, a genre the duo have a love and appreciation for. That turned out to be a teaser for this remix of the track by ex-Strange Bones Bobby Wolfgang, who transforms the song from pit starter to rave floor filler alongside the pair. It retains the urgency and bite of the original, while dialling up those electronic elements to raucous results. – Will Marshall
Foreign Hands – God Under Fingernails
Gauging the most anticipated album of the year is always a subjective task, but surely Foreign Hands‘ debut full length was part of so many wishlists at the beginning of the year. What’s Left Unsaid is due out on 21st June and their brand-new, tantalising single is titled ‘God Under Fingernails’. There’s a good few reasons why Foreign Hands are one of the most exciting bands in metalcore and a lot of them are on show here, as they mix the slightly angular, chaotic style of early noughties metallic hardcore with some Will Putney production to create a monster. An unrelenting, pounding track, Tyler Norris drives ir and you can almost feel him screaming each word directly into your ear, such is the ferocity of his delivery. Without a MacBook in sight, the band have the heavy music scene at their feet and it looks like this track will be the first movement in the band making big strides. – Chris Earl
Wasteland – 2077
Barrie has begun its revival into the Ontario heavy music scene with the rise of acts like Slewfoot, Wolf Fang Fist, and Ethereal Tomb. Now joining the Baytown club is Wasteland and their own brand of slam influenced metal. Their debut single “2077” is a full blown assault for almost four minutes as vocals seem to bark the entire time at listeners. Instrumentally, this track could make anyone want to either two step, push mosh, hardcore dance, or just let the hair down and headbang as hard as possible. Wasteland has achieved a sound that could possibly make any listener a new fan of slam. – Nathaniel Maure
Bodysnatcher – Murder8 (feat. Jamey Jasta)
Downtuned fist swingers Bodysnatcher are not only back with a new track, but it features the father of modern hardcore Jamey Jasta in a guest spot. The first song to be released from their upcoming Vile Conduct EP due out on the 20th of April, Murder8 is an incredibly personal piece of music to the band. Murder8 is the street name for Fentanyl, a drug as lethal as it is easily obtained at the moment in America. Mixing Jasta’s vocals with the band’s devastating deathcore assault, it’s an absolute slammer of a track, juddering and lumbering before the disgusting breakdown hits. Drummer, Chris Whited lost not just one, but both of his siblings to the drug, which gives the song an uncomfortable realism. When you hear the pained, anguish ridden scream of “Fentanyl made me an only child” you’ll feel but a sliver of the heartbreak felt by so many across the world. The accompanying video does well to highlight the power and potency of the drug, as well as acting as a tribute for all those who’ve lost their lives to addiction. – Chris Earl
The Hope Conspiracy – Those Who Gave Us Yesterday
Hardcore fans of a certain age lost their collective minds when The Hope Conspiracy dropped a surprise EP at the back end of 2023. Filled with the type of political, biting music the band were so beloved for, when a new full length was announced excitement levels rose once again. Their first full-length in 18 years, Tools of Oppression/Rule by Deception is out at the back end of May and the latest track from the band, ‘Those Who Gave Us Yesterday ‘ is a stomping, driving almost old school banger. You can hear the fury, the righteous anger coming from singer Kevin Baker, as he vents about America’s commitment to exporting death and suffering, ignoring the plight of their citizens to pursue warmongering. At a time where metallic hardcore is more vital than ever, a legendary band like The Hope Conspiracy returning can only enhance the genre’s reputation. – Chris Earl
Helldown – Beneath The Veil
Channeling thoughts of Urne, Exhumed and Malefice, the new single from Swansea heavyweights Helldown is a brutalising barrage of groove that see’s the band evolving from their thrash origins. However, that’s not to say that this is five minute melee is lacking a bladed edge. By honing their serrated sound with additional focused groove, the South Wales collective have fully fleshed out the ideas set out within their earlier work and show something truly promising here. If one is in the mood for some great homegrown Welsh groove, then this is highly recommended. – Dan Hillier