Toodles & The Hectic Pity, Burner, Kvelertak and More: New Noizze – The 15 Must-Listen Tracks Of The Week

From good natured folk to punk to caveman death metal, here's the best singles from last week.

Toodles & The Hectic Pity – Emotionally Unclean

Bristol’s folk punk sweethearts Toodles & The Hectic Pity return with ‘Emotionally Unclean’, a new single that bridges the gap between their raw, energetic first EP and their more recent indie rock inspired work. With a distorted acoustic guitar and an energy reminiscent of The Mountain Goats at their best, Toodles fly through a single that begs for multiple listens to pick up on the poetic lyrics. Effortlessly flowing between breakneck pace punk energy and subtle, singer-songwriter inspired, acoustic rock, Toodles & The Hectic Pity prove once again that they’re capable of combining deeply personal and imaginative songwriting and unrelenting folk punk spirit to create something unique, memorable and moving. – Tom Bruce

Burner – Prometheus Reborn

Imagine, if you will, New American Gospel by Lamb Of God played by a hardcore band and given all of the heft of a modern production. Now, stop imagining and go and listen to Burner, and their new track, ‘Prometheus Reborn’. Filled with frankly scorching riffs, massive drums and enough groove to make a mountain dance, the second single from their upcoming debut album It All Returns To Nothing, shows a young band at their pissed off, furious best. The lyrics are chock full of nihilistic, apocalyptic imagery that coalesces into an ending of “I become death” that scratches every heavy music itch you could possibly have. No frills, no experimentation, just a vision of the world in ashes and the sonic recreation of said imagery. One of the most impressive new heavy bands in Britain? No. These guys are one of the most promising bands in the world right now. Not bad for a group of hardcore kids obsessed with death metal, eh? – Chris Earl

Pupil Slicer – No Temple

Pupil Slicer are already off to a banner year in 2023. Unveiling new album Blossom and its title track subverted expectations somewhat with a more accessible sound, the positive feedback came flooding in, album pre-orders sold out near instantly and the buzz surrounding the London based mathcore outfit amplified substantially. Now the band have released ‘No Temple’, which singer and guitarist Kate Davies describes as their heaviest track to date. This is definitely more in line with fans’ expectations of Pupil Slicer, which is to say absolutely crushing, technical polyrhythmic insanity. Opening with distorted trap drums before detonating with a monolithic opening riff, the next four-and-a-half minutes fly by in a blur of impressive musicianship, frantic songwriting and aggressive vocals. The gang chant of “no tem-ple!” immediately careening into two unbelievably heavy back-to-back breakdowns is sure to tear crowds asunder, especially with a cheeky discordant little bass solo thrown in there right at the end for good measure. If ‘Blossom’ and ‘No Temple’ were meant to represent the opposing fringes of songwriting for the new album, then you can’t help but wonder with what’s lurking in-between with impassioned anticipation. – Harry Shiels

Kvelertak – Krøterveg Te Helvete

Norwegian black’n’roll legends Kvelertak have had a bit of a hard time of it since releasing their last album Splid in February 2020. Losing almost an entire album and touring cycle to horrendously unfortunate timing, Kvelertak only managed to play a smattering of festivals and live shows across Europe since. Fortunately, they kept grinding away and it shows, with the announcement of their new album Endling, they debut new single ‘Krøterveg Te Helvete’, which is arguably the best the band have sounded since their legendary 2010 self-titled debut. Featuring their signature blend of blackened vocals and instrumentation with classic hard rock songwriting, ‘Krøterveg Te Helvete’ is a joyous four minute ear worm with incredibly clean production. Whether it’s the clean guitar tones on the bridge and solo that have undertones of Blue Oyster Cult, or the slight crunch of distortion on the vocals, ‘Krøterveg Te Helvete’ is sure to please any die-hards who have been chomping at the bit to hear more from them. If their relentless work ethic and determination for domination is anything to go by, then may 2023 see Kvelertak start to get the recognition they’ve always deserved. – Harry Shiels

Origami Angel – Thank You, New Jersey

Chaotic Washington D.C. based pop-punk duo Origami Angel have built a cult following with their hectic blend of youthful experimentation and heartfelt emo realness, their latest single ‘Thank You, New Jersey’ shows off their playful, experimental side more than ever. Only clocking in at about 2 and a half minutes ‘Thank You, New Jersey’ jumps between genres at lightning speed, flying out the gate with shredding and blast beats before settling into a skater pop-punk groove and then veering off into a Beach Boys inspired surf rock verse and a 70s soft rock sounding bridge. Origami Angel cram so much into this relatively short track that it should sound like frenzied nonsense, and it does, and it’s wonderful. – Tom Bruce

The St Pierre Snake Invasion – That There’s Fighting Talk

The final single to be taken from the The St Pierre Snake Invasion’s third full length – released this Friday via Church Road Records – ‘That There’s Fighting Talk’ see’s the Bristol gang once again bolster sound with new motifs and textures galore. Directly inspired by Bjork, Brainiac, Soulwax and Meshuggah, the track is a dancefloor filler ideal for those types of clubs where one would anticipate a glass to the back of the skull; something that fits in the lyrical theme of the track. “This is a song about my relationship with violence and my emotional instability”, states vocalist Damien Sayell. “In short, my emotional responses are quite often overwhelming and regularly result in embarrassing outbursts. Not to sound all woe is me, but it’s genuinely exhausting having to ‘ground’ myself six or seven times a day. I don’t want to be that person anymore, and more importantly, I don’t want my son to inherit these traits, and that’s what this song is about, it’s about realising that I can’t control the emotions I feel, but I can (with some practice) control how I react to them, even if at times it feels like I’m swallowing a bomb.” – Dan Hillier

Balance and Composure – Savior Mode/Last To Know

One of the most unexpected releases of 2023 so far comes in the form of Balance and Composure’s brand new double A-side, ‘Too Quick to Forgive’, arriving six years since their last new material, and five years since the band dissolved. Each song not only compliments the other, but stands out by themselves as fantastic modern alternative rock. ‘Savior Mode’ was released with a full music video to accompany the track, and sees the band producing some wonderfully bittersweet alternative rock that perfectly picks up where they had last left off. The driving rhythm section here pushes the song along with force, whilst vocalist Jon Simmons delivers a stellar vocal performance that packs real emotive weight. If you want the nostalgic hit of a summer day drive in 2013, then you need to get this track playing as loud as you can. Accompanying ‘Savior Mode’ is ‘Last to Know’, which commences as a far more restrained, stripped-back affair, with soft strummed guitars backing simple vocal melodies and absolutely heartbreaking lyricism. Despite a lengthy run-time of six minutes, the band deftly managed to pack every moment with emotive weight, building to a grand climax of explosive guitars and thunderous percussion that feels like the perfect payoff. Where exactly this reunion takes the band is yet to be seen, but with a small collection of tour dates coming up in the US, the future is bright for Balance & Composure fans. – Ryan Ward

Moodring – BLACK_WAVE

Following on from their 2022 debut album, ‘Stargazer’, released on the legendary Australia-based heavy music label UNFD, Moodring have finally kicked off the latest era of their career with new single ‘BLACK_WAVE’, promising this to be the start of ‘phase 3’. From the soaring grunge-tinged choruses, to the pummelling nu-metal styled breakdown, what Moodring have crafted on this track not only harnesses some of the best parts of past rock and metal genres, but gives them a slick and ferocious lick of paint to make it feel both incredibly musically relevant, and electrifyingly unique. Hunter Young’s vocals are particularly impressive throughout, with some killer screams giving the heavier portions of the track some real weight. – Ryan Ward

Teenage Wrist – Sunshine

Everything about Teenage Wrist‘s new single ‘Sunshine’, from the drums and riffs to the vocals and artwork, screams summer. Even if it’s not sunny yet, this song is tailor-made to brighten your day; the opening riffs harken back to 90s grunge a la Smashing Pumpkins with a heavy, fuzzy Big Muff guitar tone. Marshall Gallagher’s vocals pound through the chorus, giving an anthemic, arena rock vibe that seems far bigger than the simplicity of the production. It’s an easy listen that, even if the sun isn’t out, will make you think it is for three minutes. – Rob Bown

Frozen Soul – Glacial Domination (ft. Matt Heafy)

Just shy of a month until their second album is finally unveiled to the world, Frozen Soul have shared the title track from their upcoming album Glacial Domination. Featuring none other than Trivium’s Matt Heafy, who contributed to the songwriting process and also supplied backing vocals and additional guitar solos, ‘Glacial Domination’ feels a bit different for the Texas death metal quintet. Fully embracing melodic death metal energy, this song feels a lot closer to Amon Amarth than their usual Bolt Thrower influence. It’s easy to hear the light touch of Heafy’s impact throughout without overwhelming the core of Frozen Soul. The incredibly catchy melodic guitar lines and distinctive lead guitar tone and impressive technicality of Heafy’s solos all blend smoothly; this collaboration has yielded incredible results that can only push Frozen Soul to even loftier heights as one of the standouts of the new wave of death metal. – Harry Shiels

Big Deal – Upper Hand

The corn fed Michigan heavyweights Big Deal are here with new single ‘Upper Hand’. Delivering the listener some raw, straight from the gut vocals over some of the best hardcore/thrash inspired tunes out today. Big Deal aren’t playing around with this new single. Proving you don’t need to be over the top and complex to get the job done, this Michigan 5 piece deliver a sound almost similar to that of California’s Drain with hints of inspiration from bands like thrash icons Megadeth. For those into Big Deal already, this track is going to be a tasty little treat for sure. But for those only recently hearing about the band, this track is only the tiniest taste of what’s to come from their camp in the future. Keep eyes peeled because no one will want to miss what’s next. – Nathaniel Maure

Veil of Maya – Mother Pt. 4

Vapourwave. Probably not what you’re expecting to see when Veil of Maya are mentioned, but that’s where new single ‘Mother Pt. 4’ starts off before leading into a more typical mindbending, syncopated riff that’s punctuated by techno breaks and whispers. The time-destroying breakdowns that are Marc Okubo’s trademark make an appearance later, with strong clean vocals that hit some fun highs. Despite leaning into their newer sound, it’s still very much Veil of Maya, albeit with a more progressive spin. – Rob Bown

Paledusk – I’m Ready to Die for My Friends (ft. Vigorman)

if you look up the word Paledusk in the dictionary, you’ll see it’s a synonym for ‘innovation’, the Japanese loosely genred ‘metalcore’ crew invite all to a heavy metal jamboree with their new, upbeat, feelgood track ‘I’m ready to die for my friends’. The only predictable thing to expect from Paledusk these days is the unexpected, as the band always seems to find a way to keep their output fresh and lively. This track is no different, featuring happy acoustic guitar twangs that sound ripe for campfire singalong, blended in with their own blend of chaotic metallic noise, the band add another big hitter to their repertoire of batshit songs that’s sure to strike big in the live show environment. The rise of Paledusk is nigh on unstoppable, like a rocket shot right into the stratosphere, their velocity only seems to be increasing. – Elliot Grimmie

Sign of the Swarm – Amongst the Low and Empty

With Pain Remains firmly in the rear view mirror, the race is firmly underway for bands in 2023 to produce the most disgustingly heavy piece of deathcore possible. It’s only April, but Sign of the Swarm and their brand new single ‘Amongst the Low and Empty have got a frontrunner in the race to make your face twist. The Pittsburgh metallers waste no time on their return, opening with a breakdown that most bands save for halfway through their fifth album track. You know by now what you’re getting from them, and soon enough the pace quickens and your neck is snapping. There’s some electronics sprinkled into the background, which is nice but nothing new. The repeated cry of “My agony is what fucking fueled me” is a line that will hopefully live on in their live shows. At the three minute mark, the madness begins. Disgusting lows and a breakdown that feels and sounds like a drill to the ear canal. Satisfying, sickening and heavy as hell. – Chris Earl

Alera – We Will Never Know / Why Flowers Grow Through Cracks In the Pavement

Have you ever wanted to know what it’d sound like if you brought that 2008 metalcore sound back in 2023? Look no further than perhaps one of the most secretive and exclusive of bands, Alera, with their new double single release that packs an exceptionally violent gut punch of heavy riffs and ferocious vocals in its first instance ‘we will never know’, before ascending into a more emotive outreach, with slower, more contemplative pickings of guitarwork and cleaner vocals mixed in amongst the bitter bite of the harsh. With styles ranging from early Of Mice & Men and Underoath, through Bring Me The Horizon and From First To Last, there’s a lot of nostalgic sound packed into this neatly tied conceptual package. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d discovered some lost hidden gem from an older era of music, one you wish you’d been in on beforehand for sure. Alera feel like the kind of band you’ll want to keep an eye on, the cryptic and illusive ways they go about promoting their band makes them seem like something special from the get go, and if they can keep up this quality of musical output, they’re sure to become less of a best kept secret as time goes on. – Elliot Grimmie