The Callous Daoboys, Sugar Horse, Spiritbox and More: New Noizze – The 26 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week

Time for a double bill as we were all at ArcTanGent last weekend - sorry about that. Here's the best singles from the past two weeks.

The Callous Daoboys – Waco Jesus

Not content to drop the best record of 2022, the mind-melting Celebrity Therapist, The Callous Daoboys have announced yet more new music for this year with 3-track EP God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys, along with its lead single ‘Waco Jesus’. It’s an utterly batshit romp through crushing heaviness, stunning melody, creative riffing and dissonant violin that’s welded together by their madcap vision for what The Callous Daoboys are and what they can do (which is pretty much anything, at this point). It’s testament to their noisy genius and cohesiveness as a unit that a song drawing on as many disparate elements as they always do still hangs together brilliantly. You’re damn right God smiles upon The Callous Daoboys. – Will Marshall

Sugar Horse – II – Or

Essentially the musical equivalent of a short snapshot of the apocalypse set to rightfully cleanse this bastard earth, the latest offering from Sugar Horse is part of something currently beyond comprehension. A segment of the band’s forthcoming EP Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico – something that can be described as an 18 minute-odd long single piece – ‘II – Or’ is two minutes of gloom, filth and nihilism. However, as those who have seen the Bristol doomgaze mob in recent months will know, the larger picture that this track belongs to is something most bleakly majestic, devastatingly panoramic and fatally beautiful. With Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico arriving November 3rd via the band’s own Fat Dracula Records, thankfully we won’t be waiting too long for the musical rapture our worthless lives rightfully deserve. – Dan Hillier

Spiritbox – Jaded

Arguably the hottest band in the world, Spiritbox have unveiled not only a brand new single in Jaded, but that they’ll be releasing a new EP of 6 tracks this November entitled The Fear of Fear. ‘Jaded’ shows Spiritbox leaning back into a sound a little closer to their earlier work, slight prog and djent influences running through its four minutes. As ever, Courtney LaPlante demonstrates how easily she can shift between atmospheric singing and paint-stripping screams, while guitarist Mike Stringer lays down a churning riff. It joins The Void on the tracklisting, showing the band aren’t afraid to push themselves within the sound they’ve already established or introduce new elements like the Garbage-esque ‘Rotoscope’. Here’s hoping the other four songs follow a similarly experimental path. – Will Marshall

Empire State Bastard – Moi?

If you liked Biffy Clyro but for some reason wish Simon Neil fronted a grind band instead, the good news is Empire State Bastard exist. The collaboration between Neil, Oceansize mainman Mike Vennart with Bitch Falcon’s Naomi Macleod and the legendary Dave Lombardo on bass and drums respectively have their debut album Rivers of Heresy out next Friday, and they’ve released its final single in the form of ‘Moi?’. As Simon explains, “‘Moi?’ is about people who “just no matter what you talk about will never ever see the truth, even if you dangle it in front of them.” Sonically, it’s as wonderfully unhinged as ever; it might start quietly with Neil’s unmistakeable Scottish croon, but it soon descends into bestial shrieks atop battering drums and scuzzy guitars, switching between the two as well as spoken word throughout. We might not have had “Simon Neil’s avant-garde grindcore project” on our bingo card for 2023, but we’re damn glad it’s here. – Will Marshall

Soft Play – Punk’s Dead (Feat. Robbie Williams)

Rowdy British punk duo Soft Play, formerly known as Slaves, have returned after an extended hiatus with new single Punk’s Dead, wasting no time in picking up exactly where they left off. A riotous, profanity-laden cacophony fuelled by Isaac Holman’s screaming vocals and energetic drums and Laurie Vincent’s ferocious riffs, Punk’s Dead feels like both a throwback to the band’s heyday and the logical conclusion of their sound. A highlight of the track has to be the surprise guest appearance by pop legend Robbie Williams on the track’s bridge, it’s a brilliantly unexpected feature that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Punk’s Dead proves that Soft Play are back and they’re just as fierce as ever. – Tom Bruce

SeeYouSpaceCowboy – Chewing the Scenery

Fans of mid-noughties MySpacecore rejoice; SeeYouSpaceCowboy are back with their sass filled, hip shaking brand of metalcore, and it’s a belter. The first piece of new music since 2021’s stunning The Romance of Affliction, ‘Chewing the Scenery’ is an encapsulation of the band’s sound and all its facets, from high pitched guitars and crunching breakdowns, to emotive, vulnerable cleans and a good deal of theatrics thrown into the mix for good measure. There’s also a really cool, stuttering guitar part in the middle that will result in so many shapes thrown live. Connie sounds fantastic, as does Taylor. With no new album announced just yet, this remains a fantastic standalone for now and if you’re not into SeeYouSpaceCowboy yet, this is a perfect gateway track. – Chris Earl

Reverend Kristen Michael Hayter – All of My Friends Are Going to Hell

Retiring her Lingua Ignota moniker singer/pianist Kristin Hayter reclaims her full name in a stripped down new project. Through lo-fi production and her fanatical, breaking singing voice Hayter brings the devotion of charismatic Christian movements to life, processing her trauma through evangelistic spirituality as an allegory for personal rebirth. ‘ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE GOING TO HELL’ takes a far more bare-bones approach than much of Hayter’s previous work, apart from some oscillating synth sounds that open the track Hayter stands alone with just her voice and a piano, the degraded production created by running the track through a series of cassette tapes and the amount of scratchy dead air in the track really sell her new persona. This track is the first under the Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter name in the lead up to an album of both original tracks and gospel standards coming out this October. – Tom Bruce

Svalbard – How To Swim Down

On the cusp of releasing what’s shaping up to be their best album yet, blackened post-hardcore/metallers Svalbard have released their latest single ‘How To Swim Down’, a total sonic curveball from the rest of not only the singles from upcoming album The Weight of the Mask, but from anything they’ve done before. A soft, tender and utterly heart-wrenching song about the pain and sorrowful beauty in unrequited love, Serena Cherry’s vocals are completely sung while Liam Phelan swaps the guitar for the violin he’s played for years, the first appearance of the instrument in any of Svalbard‘s music. As it swells and the violin layers build, the sorrow only intensifies as the song narrates the final acceptance of having to love from afar. Keep the tissues close for this one, especially if you watch the gorgeous animated video that goes alongside it. – Will Marshall

Tesseract – The Grey

Tesseract embrace the heavy with a smooth second single from their upcoming full length release. At a much more conservative runtime than the previous 12 minute single, ‘The Grey’ is sure to be a future live staple for the band. A thunderous prog avalanche comes in after a short guitar intro, vocalist Dan Tompkin’s gritty screams and soaring melodies following swiftly after. The band shifts into a more relaxing groove to set the stage for the rest of the song to play out, with a catchy, expansive chorus showing this is still the Tesseract fans know and love. As with most Tesseract, we get a good dose of heaviness alongside the melody, and the evil key change in the bridge really shows this song is no different. Above all else, Dan really shines here; his vocal acrobatics really create excitement for what fans will see on the upcoming album. – Jude Bennett

Ethereal Tomb – Victim Mentality

When you decide to mix the mindset of a hardcore kid with the vibes and aura of doom metal, Ethereal Tomb is what you get. The sheer brutality these young musicians bring to the table with new single Victim Mentality is reinforced by the uncompromising sociopolitical message they choose to convey. Victim Mentality touches on the subject of how North American governments hold onto white supremacist narratives about the “history” of the land so dearly; despite this where there is intolerance, there will always be resistance. Ethereal Tomb continue to speak out while releasing hit after hit and Canada seems to be a better place because of it. – Nathaniel Maure

Bonnacons of Doom – Facing

The first taster from Bonnacons of Doom’s forthcoming album on the always alluring Rocket Recordings provides more hypnotic excellence. On their debut album, the band demonstrated their ability to engage the listener over near double figures lengthy tracks. ‘Facing’ prunes back the minutes, but it still captures their quest for a transformative musical experience. The song embodies a repetitive riff, an array of stylish whooshes and psych know-how, staggering incandescent vocals, and ebb and flow rhythm which blends for an aural sonic pile-driver. – Andy Little

Harm’s Way – Devour

Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated heavy albums still to come in the back part of 2023, the new new record by Harm’s Way, ‘Common Suffering’, has its second single. ‘Devour’, a track about the impact of toxic relationships runs along similar sonic lines to Silent Wolf, albeit with a slightly slower groove and a much more driving riff. It still sounds bloody massive though, with James Pligge once again putting you on edge with his bellowing vocals. As always with Harm’s Way, their brand of hardcore that is reminiscent of a runaway train isn’t just surface level heaviness. There’s depth to the lyrics, there’s real groove and drive in the music. Sure you can probably pull a few muscles doing spinkicks to this, but you can also sit and think about the track after. – Chris Earl

END – Gaping Wounds of Earth

One of the most ignorant, stink face inducing tracks of the year so far, comes from END. The extreme metal supergroup, fronted by Brendan Murphy, a man who seemingly never stops working, are back and as usual, they’re pissed. A track about how it feels to be uncomfortable in your own skin and opening with a breakdown riff right off the bat, ‘Gaping Wounds Of Earth’  descends into a frankly ugly track that at times feels like grindcore. Clearly taking some influence from their recent split with fellow nihilists Cult Leader, they sound even more oppressive than usual. The first single from the band’s out-sooner-than-you-think third album, The Sin Of Human Frailty, if the single is anything to go by, the entire thing will crush your head in a vice then volley it over a volcano. Brutal, disgusting stuff. – Chris Earl

Mountain Caller – The Archivist

The latest single for a band, the new chapter of an overarching fantasy. The latest single from Mountain Caller and the first track to be taken from the band’s upcoming LP on Church Road Records, ‘The Archivist’ is a rugged and tough soundscape that’s rich with suspense, texture and a sense of primordial danger that animates the band’s ongoing fantasy concept running through their fantastic work. Mountain Caller have long been a vessel for story telling in its most originative form, going from this single and other new material premiered just last week at ArcTanGent Festival, it appears Mountain Caller’s upcoming record is set to be their most enthralling chapter to date. – Dan Hillier

Silent Planet – Collider

There isn’t a more exciting metalcore band on the entire planet right now than Silent Planet. With the form they’re on with these new singles, nobody can touch them. “Collider is about what comes out of our lives when the people we trust and hold closest are the ones who can hurt or betray us the worst”, states frontman Garrett Russell, who in typical fashion, pours his lived experiences into his lyrics. As atmospheric electronics set the scene, the track is soon ablaze with scorching riffs and addictive vocal hooks. Don’t balk at that though, as by the end, the band show that they can still hang with the heaviest of them. Squealing guitars and guttural screams hit so damn hard, yet the band are demonstrating they know the art of of balance. Yet another massive track from the band who seemingly have no ceiling. – Chris Earl

VOLA – Paper Wolf

Swedish-Danish prog powerhouse VOLA make their return after the success of 2021’s Witness, with new single ‘Paper Wolf’ – a catchy, sweet tune packing a strong bite. Starting off with a synth sound that somewhat conjures images of a drowning Daffy Duck, the band lunges at you with complex, low-tuned riffs in the characteristic style that all VOLA fans will recognise instantly. Powerful, well-mixed drums stampede over the heavy riffs, before retreating to a trot to allow a space for some measured vocals to begin telling the story. A VOLA song would not be complete without an award-winning chorus, and ‘Paper Fox’ continues this proud tradition, with a warning that ‘the wolf is coming’ – perhaps a tease at another album on the way. – Jude Bennett

CLT DRP – I See My Body Through You

Released just after supporting bona fide legend Gary Numan and just in time for last week’s ArcTanGent Festival, the latest single from electro-punk renegades CLT DRP is a pulsating and jolting shot of energy. The final single to be taken from the band’s second record Nothing Clever, Just Feelings released September 8th via Venn, ‘I See My Body Through You’ documents being the objectified subject of the male gaze and its resulting effects on mental health through startling distortion and the sweeping vocals of Annie Dorrett. It’s a song of unsettling contrasts and one that highlights the crucial nature of this brilliant act. – Dan Hillier

Thoughtcrimes – Natural Imprudence

As the one year anniversary of their debut album comes around, New York based math metal madmen thoughtcrimes have dropped an intense, fiery blast of a track, almost in celebration. ‘Natural Imprudence’ is just over two minutes of unbridled hardcore fury, with some particularly bewildering percussion and bass sections that’ll make your head spin. Vocalist Rick Pepa (who sounds gloriously unhinged throughout) says about the track “lyrically, it takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to processing the anxieties of an uncertain future and society by calling it out and challenging”. With no hint of a second release, EP or otherwise on the horizon, this seems like the band letting their creative juices flow, and with their debut being one of the best of 2022, nobody’s going to argue. – Chris Earl

The Menzingers – Hope Is A Dangerous Thing

The Menzingers are one of those incredibly rare bands that are impossible not to like or respect. Through seven full lengths the Philadelphia heartland punk rockers have etched a legacy forged in relatable vulnerability, rousing emotion and brilliant, flawless songwriting. Now, they’re set to reaffirm their longevity and legendary status. Taken from their eighth full length Some Of It Was True, released October 13th via Epitaph Records, ‘Hope Is A Dangerous Thing’ bears witness to The Menzingers’ brilliant ability to both be emotionally familiar and an escape whilst showing their penchant for capturing the unique feeling of clinging onto adolescent energy after the death of youth. “This record just feels different for us,” states Greg Barnett. “It’s a really important one in our catalog, and a pivotal moment in our history. We have the liberty of our fans growing with us now, and after writing these lyrical songs about where we are in life, we decided to take other peoples’ stories and make something bigger out of it.” – Dan Hillier

HAWXX – Embrace the Ugly

Starting off with a bang, HAWXX kick off this rager with pounding drums and a thunderous bassline, supporting the nu-metal style riffs. Vocalist Anna Papadimitriou’s raspy delivery in the verses pairs well with drummer Jessica Dann’s smooth grooves on the toms, as the band shift gears before an interesting and very catchy chorus features – likely to get stuck in your head for a while. The band’s sound has evolved to have more of an industrial/ punk edge to it, which very much compliments their direct approach, lyrically and thematically. Even at a brisk 2 and a half minutes long, this is HAWXX showing they aren’t going to release anything less than absolute quality songwriting any time soon – Jude Bennett

Cinderblock – Attitude Era

California is full of amazing hardcore; Sunami and Stick To Your Guns just to name a couple bands. And that’s not about to change anytime soon with Los Angeles’ own Cinderblock. The title track to the groups upcoming EP Attitude Era, set to drop September 1st, is full of exactly that. Cinderblock have set the tone for this upcoming release with this new single perfectly. Raw, gritty, and mean is an understatement. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Brian Bolen who clearly has an ear for good, heavy hardcore. Let’s hope the rest of the EP lives up to the standards this single sets. – Nathaniel Maure

100% Pure – Aim Straight

Ontario’s own Flower City has been causing quite the commotion post-pandemic. Their hardcore scene has been flourishing beautifully with bands like Mild End, Panic Response, and Dear-God making substantial waves this year. Joining the party this time though are newcomers 100% PURE and their first single Aim-Straight. This track emanates hardcore/punk energy from start to finish. If you enjoy the stylings of Hamilton ON’s Gavel or the UK’s Street Soldier, you’re sure to enjoy this. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Andy Dmytryshyn of highly respected hardcore band Reality Denied. Assistance also given by Zachary Clarke who just so happens to be in 100% PURE as well. Lyrically this track portrays a message of not listening to negative people. You gotta “aim straight” and just keep moving forward. A message delivered with absolute class. – Nathaniel Maure

End Us – Royal Decay

Ontario’s End Us have made quite the name for themselves this year. Having released 3 singles since April, they’ve decided to bless everyone with yet another. Single number four, Royal Decay, is surely the heavier of the singles released. Leading the onslaught with a barrage of insanely catchy guitar work is Marcus Arar; bringing in that classic VCTMS influence with a heavily syncopated and consistent rhythm section and adding hints of heavy hardcore similar in sound to Traitors and Falsifier. Accompanying the verses tastefully, vocalist Don Tuer unleashes all their aggressions on the mic with precision. End Us will soon establish themselves as one of Canada’s better metalcore bands and for good reason too. – Nathaniel Maure

Collapse Under The Empire – Forgiveness

The latest single to be taken from the post rock duo’s new record Recurring, released September 29th via Finaltune Records, ‘Forgiveness’ is a cinematic slab of electronica tinged post rock designed to be played through an IMAX sound system. With the record exploring the nature of the perpetual natural cycle – how death leads to rebirth, rebirth to death – ‘Forgiveness’ is an uptempo cut of sweeping noise that’s ethereal, yet containing a darker message. As its fluttering synths make way for brooding post rock passages, the track highlights the fact that one should make peace with digressions and grievances, for one day it shall be impossible to do so and such issues will be lost to time. It’s jaw dropping and awe-inspiring in scope, and those with a love for acts such as P.G Lost and Sleepmakeswaves will find plenty to fawn over here. – Dan Hillier

ACHE. – Dark Souls

ACHE. drop another single replete with claustrophobic atmosphere, crushing guitar work and janky glitchy leads. They were recently featured on Alyx Holcombe’s introducing show on Radio 1, who said, ‘the single makes you want to punch a wall.’ We agree, it’s aggressive enough to punch through the wall, whilst still retaining enough ‘dressing’ around the edges to make the lead guitar work and industrialised Fear Factory esque interludes really stand out. There’s big things coming from this band, you should be chomping at the bit to get your ears around an EP or full length. – Rob Bown

High Regard – Dead to Me (feat. Charlie Rolfe)

Hertfordshire pop-rock trio High Regard‘s latest single, Dead to Me, is the first taste of new music since 2022’s debut EP Peace of Mind, and it’s almost too catchy for its own good. The vocal hooks are huge and the chorus will no doubt be stuck in your head for a long time to come. From an understated opening and soft verse, it quickly explodes into that skyscraping chorus with the line “you’d be fucking dead to me / if I didn’t have this much sympathy”. Not only that, but it features the vocal talents of As Everything Unfolds‘ Charlie Rolfe, whose vocals are as powerful as ever, slotting in with ease and elevating an already great pop song. Of the track, vocalist Georgia Casey comments, “Dead to Me focuses on the aftermath of a failed relationship and how sometimes one door closes so a better one can open.” – Will Marshall