Sunn O))) – Butch’s Guns
Breaking financial news: earplug stocks skyrocket after legendary Seattle drone duo Sunn O))) release the latest single from their upcoming self-titled album ‘Butch’s Guns’. Clocking in at almost 15 minutes of eardrum shattering distortion, ‘Butch’s Guns’ is hardly a radio-ready rock single but it makes up for its lack of accessibility with layers upon layers of fuzzed-out guitars from the cloaked figures of Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson. After signing to Sub-Pop records, announcing a European tour and their tenth studio album, 2026 is bound to be that year that Sunn O))) finally deafen us all with their walls of drone. – Rowan Bruce
Moodring – Anywhere But Here
With the release of Death Fetish quickly approaching, Hunter Young, the mastermind behind nu-metalcore band Moodring, graciously dropped a 4th single, ‘Anywhere But Here’, teleporting listeners back to the bands’ Stargazer era. If you’ve been around since the beginning, then you’ll immediately recognise the nostalgic tones and reminisce on what was once a distant memory, stuck in limbo of unknown revival. Laced with melodic guitar designed to be harmonised with, it’s hard to deny limbs the opportunity to move along in unison, so expect to succumb to the nu-metal rhythm. Young proves once again that he’s a vocalist who embodies versatility, showcasing powerful harshes which lead perfectly into a chorus so undeniably catchy, there’s no avoiding that your neighbours are going to hear what you sound like singing in the shower. This track might be called ‘Anywhere But Here’, but it’s guaranteed that no one would be anywhere except wherever this is playing. – Hayley Nicole
Hot Mulligan – I Don’t Think It’s the Right Time for Emojis
Even when it’s short and snappy, Hot Mulligan have a way of making you feel angst that lasts long into the night. The surprise release of B-side ‘I Don’t Think It’s The Right Time For Emojis’ ahead of their upcoming European/UK tour is yet another prime example of that from the Michigan band. Riding the wave of momentum from their 2025 release The Sound A Body Makes When It’s Still, this single’s message is a blistering rebuttal of religious hypocrisy and the urgency of pushing religion onto people before they can make their own choices. Tades Sanville’s voice is his greatest weapon in his defence, and in calling out faith based selfishness, his screams and wails come right from the heart. When you put this together with Hot Mulligan‘s expertise in subverting the anger with melodic midwestern emo melodies, even on first hearing, this song, like many of Hot Mulligan‘s before becomes an earworm you can’t help but quote/scream in the privacy of your own room. It’s angry, sharp and to the point, but its soul, in every conceivable way, is everything Hot Mulligan is about. – Sean Jolly
Sweet Pill – Smoke Screen
The latest single from one of Philly’s finest, ‘Smoke Screen’ once again proves why Sweet Pill are one of the brightest flames in the North American emo scene. Taken from their upcoming record There’s Still A Glow – released March 13th via Hopeless – ‘Smoke Screen’ highlights the themes of reflection and hard earned growth that bind the record it belongs to in a fashion that’s honest, personal, yet still relatable. “This song is sorta like the inner monologue of battling your self doubt,” states vocalist Youssef. “The album has a lot of lyrics about burning or any sort of thing associated with fire: ‘Sun Blind’ mentions a sun, ‘Glow’ references haze, ‘Slow Burn’ with cigarettes and literally slow burning. For ‘Smoke Screen,’ I see myself being destructive like fire, not easy to contain and ruining everything I touch, spreading fast. Sometimes we need to slow down and clear the voices out of our head. Or in this case, blow away the smoke screen and have a little clarity. So unlike ‘Glow,’ where I want to be blanketed in ignorance, ‘Smoke Screen’ has this yearn to get out of the smoke and open my eyes.” – Dan Hillier
dälek – Knowledge | Understanding | Wisdom
Just when we thought we couldn’t have expected more from noise rap legends dälek after the release of their collaborative album with HAYWARD, just two months ago, the New Jersey duo is back with a new song off their newest album, Brilliance of a Falling Moon, called ‘Knowledge | Understanding | Wisdom’. If the lyrics sound like a warning, it’s because it clearly is. The themes of resistance against authoritarianism, anger and frustration can be heard in the beats and the bars, which is nothing surprising for longtime fans of dälek. On a recent interview, they stated that this track is “righteous defiance in the face of those who attempt to keep us uninformed or misinformed. Nothing strikes fear in the heart of the oppressor like these three interwoven concepts”. It’s feisty, psychedelic and incredibly catchy, which only promises good things to come when the album drops on 27th March via Ipecac Records. – Nessie Spencer
Failure – The Air’s On Fire
Failure has often been hailed as “your favourite band’s favourite band”, rightfully so, thanks to their incredible sound mixing alternative rock, space rock and the right amount of post-grunge to make your ears go “aaaaaah”. Well, if you haven’t delved into their 1997 magnum opus Fantastic Planet, do that right now, and when you are done, you can fully appreciate the LA trio’s newest song ‘The Air’s On Fire’ and the accompanying video, which is typically on brand for them. This introspective perspective elevates the exquisite quality of Ken Andrews’ voice, while bassist Greg Edwards and drummer Kelli Scott weave a captivating backdrop that ties it all together beautifully, like a velvet bow wrapped around a troubled heart. If the lead single directly addresses Andrews’ back surgery experience, Location Lost is a brutal, yet poetic testament to the recovery process. If this tickles your fancy, Location Lost drops on 24th April and also features self-professed superfan, Hayley Williams. – Nessie Spencer
The Flatliners – Good, You?
Canadian punks The Flatliners have consistently been putting out bangers that are punchy, yet angsty in equal measures. Boasting the same lineup since their formation in 2002 and dedicating their lives to the raucous art of punk rock, latest single ‘Good, You?’ is a snarky, tongue-in-cheek number discussing toxic masculinity and the fear of talking honestly about your feelings, but the three-minute track never feels like a slog due to the infectious and trademark use of gang vocals, frontman Chris Cresswell’s forceful and commanding vocal presence, and the sheer musicianship that The Flatliners continue to show after almost 25 years in the business, which is admirable to say the least. – Ez Luscombe
Sixth Wonder – Missile
Scotland’s Sixth Wonder might’ve only dropped their debut EP Prologue in summer last year, but they’ve clearly not rested on their laurels. New single ‘Missile’ isn’t quite as immediately explosive as its name suggests, but it is forceful. The self-styled “djent-pop” outfit do indeed meld both those things here, a softer intro and poppy hooks melded with crunchy modern metalcore guitars. Its chorus glides ethereally over top, before crashing back down as Rebekah Kirk makes sure to utilise her ferocious roar for emphasis rather than a regular feature. It’s an interesting next step for the band, and one that hopefully signals more new music this year. – Will Marshall
Vanitas – Nobody
The most colourful band in prog metal are back with rage and fury as vocalist Jade Maris is exorcising the experiences felt as a woman in the music industry. Taking aim at predators who refuse to see women in music as nothing more as disposable objects, ‘Nobody’ shows a new and fierce side to Vanitas who have been a breath of fresh air since EP Journey to the Sun where their symphonic prog metal sound rich in addictive djent bounce and cinematic visuals made them a BBC Introducing ‘Ones to Watch’. 2026 will see them continuing to light up everywhere they perform with shows booked all over the UK so for djent with personality look no further. The 20th February release saw a new music video, exclusive merch along with a headline show in Birmingham to celebrate as Vanitas are showing their razor sharp ambition along with their smile. – Andy Calderbank
Chamber – violins
Nashville chaotic hardcore outfit Chamber present new blistering single ‘violins’, but make no mistake, if you’ll excuse the dreadful pun, this is anything but chamber music. In a continuation of their dextrous balance between mathcore’s dizzying chaos and hardcore’s sheer blunt force, ‘violins’ packs Frontierer-like dissonant guitars, a brief melodic vocal bridge reminiscent of 90s alternative music and a devolving breakdown that keeps getting heavier and rivals the likes of Orthodox or Varials, all in a mere two and a half minutes. Partly filling the Vein.fm or prime Code Orange shaped void, Chamber‘s upcoming album this is goodbye…, out 27th March via Pure Noise Records, is certain to scratch that itch for hardcore that is as technical as it is abrasive and adventurous. – Avrian O’Brien
Man Band – Dane Valley
‘Dane Valley’ is the first taste of new UK project Man Band. Born from the ashes of the now disbanded stoner-sludge act OHHMS, guitarist Daniel Sargent and bassist Chainy Rabbit are set to tackle the different facets of masculinity in current day society with upcoming debut album Strong Man, to be released 17th April via Faith Healer Records. With a tongue-in-cheek demeanor despite being inspired by the more serious and unpleasant reality of getting mugged, ‘Dane Valley’ paints quite the picture with abrasive, sludgy noise rock driven by thudding bass as Chainy, now on vocals, humorously recounts his encounter, takes jabs at macho dudes overly obsessed with self-improvement while also defending the merits of going down that path but staying grounded. Similar in spirit to Idles‘ early work but with more metal behind the incisive, sardonic social commentary and reminiscent of The St Pierre Snake Invasion‘s Galore, Strong Man promises a nuanced observation of masculinity through the lens of eclectic heavy music. – Avrian O’Brien
Chalk Hands – Rewired Eyes
‘Rewired Eyes’ is the third, and most likely final single taken from the upcoming sophomore album The Line That Shapes The Coast Of Us by Brighton-based post-hardcore outfit Chalk Hands. Lyrically exploring themes of separation and dysfunctional relationships, ‘Rewired Eyes’ has everything you would want from a gut-punching post-hardcore track. From the glimmering clean math-rocky guitar melodies to the genuine, raw emotional vocal performance and the energy brought on by the rhythm section whenever melancholy gives in to impassioned rage and regret. The Line That Shapes The Coast Of Us will release 27th March via Dog Knights Productions. – Avrian O’Brien
The Dear Hunter – The Glass Desert I: Giants
After last year’s standalone North American EP, progressive indie/emo-rock legends The Dear Hunter return to the conceptual world they had originally presented with 2021’s Indigo Child and heavily expanded upon with 2022’s ambitious and decidedly funky Antimai. Musically, ‘Giants’ seems to continue that fusion of prog rock and funk with hints of psychedelia alongside meticulous orchestral arrangements and vocal layerings that are just pure auditive candy. Regardless of musical inclination, The Dear Hunter‘s knack for world-building and storytelling through their songwriting whenever they are committed to a conceptual narrative is simply infectious. One cannot help but feel a sense of wonder and thrill when it comes to the possibilities ahead both musically and narratively whenever TDH set the stage, and the curtains will be fully lifted 20th March with the release of their upcoming album Sunya. – Avrian O’Brien
Arch Enemy – To the Last Breath
Despite significant lineup changes since their formation over thirty years ago, Swedish metal juggernauts Arch Enemy’s latest addition to the group, US singer Lauren Hart (formerly of Once Human) proves that she has the vocal chops to bring in a fresh new era for the band. Latest single ‘To the Last Breath’ combines Arch Enemy’s powerful trademark of death metal-influenced vocals, blisteringly heavy riffs, and rhythmic drum patterns that will make you feel as though you’re ready for battle. Despite the trials and tribulations of lineup changes and extensive touring alongside other huge names in metal, Arch Enemy have no sign of slowing down any time soon. – Ez Luscombe
At The Gates – The Fever Mask
It is strange knowing that ‘The Fever Mask’ will be one of the last At The Gates songs to feature the inimitable voice of the late, great Thomas Lindberg. Almost six months on from his passing, the band have announced the album that will be released in his memory, and if this is the first offering we’re in for one hell of a final bow. ‘The Fever Mask’ is archetypal At The Gates, leaning on that fast jagged melodic riffing and d-beat rhythmic drum pattern that bands have tried and failed to replicate to the same high standard as the Gothenberg pioneers. And at the end of it all, Lindberg’s vocal still carries the same gravitas as it always has, piercing, unique, and sitting exactly where it should be, right at the very centre of the chaos. – Kevin Ashburn