While She Sleeps, Mclusky, Brutus and More: New Noizze – The 21 Must-Listen Tracks of the Week

Technically there's way more than 21 songs on this list given all the double singles, but who has time to be pedantic. Here's all the best singles of last week.

While She Sleeps – Self Hell

Sheffield metalcore mob While She Sleeps have steadily been incorporating more and more electronic elements into their music for their past two albums, but even so, nobody could’ve predicted the bold leap they take with the title  track of their just-announced sixth album, Self Hell. Throwing in as many genres as they can, there’s shades of Britpop, nu-metal, indie and yes, metalcore, all wrapped up in a four and a bit minute rummage through the band’s myriad influences. At this point in their career, it’s safe to say, expect the unexpected from a band that have not only sold out their biggest ever headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace, but thrown the biggest curveball of their career to date. – Will Marshall

Mclusky – Unpopular Parts of a Pig / The Digger You Deep

Since their reformation in 2019 and eventual full integration of Red Baron shouter/bass batterer Damien Sayell (also of The St. Pierre Snake Invasion), mclusky have not only dropped the ‘*’ from their name but played up and down the country and beyond to adoring 6 Music listeners. Toying with putting out new material for some time, the trio have finally done so after a considerably long 19 years, and they don’t disappoint loyal fans at all. Double A-side unpopular parts of a pig / the digger you deep set the phasers to ‘jolly good’; the first track sinks its hooks in promptly with Falco’s riff and classic vocal delivery jumping from dry sounding spoken word to brutal shouts. Afterwards, the digger you deep, previously premiered live, has a plodding yet groove laden rhythm. If these lead tracks are anything to go by the eventual album due for next year will be the icing on the cake for the return of mclusky. – Adam Vallely

Lonely The Brave – Victim / The Bear

Two years since they first stepped back on the scene with Jack Bennett leading the charge after the departure of original vocalist David Jakes, Lonely The Brave show they’ve found their footing and are ready to make their mark again with new singles ‘Victim’ and ‘The Bear’. Hypnotic melodies and rhythm pervade ‘Victim’ with Bennett’s gruff and earnest vocals making this a heady follow-up to their first release from the upcoming album What We Do To Feel. ‘The Bear’ brings a more melancholic atmosphere that quickly turns to hope in a stunning close; it’s slow and haunting but exuding confidence in themselves and their artistry throughout this song. Only a fool would miss out on what is shaping up to be their strongest and most world shatteringly beautiful album yet. Get excited, Lonely The Brave are only just beginning to show us all they have to give. – Zee Asher

END – The Sin of Human Frailty

Sometimes tracks keep you on the edge of your seat guessing what’s going to come next; END‘s latest single ‘The Sin of Human Frailty’ does exactly that. There’s no moment to breathe from the hardcore onslaught, as the dissonant guitars, macabre lead work, and furious vocals hammer you for all of the 131 seconds it lasts. END manage to weave together slow breakdowns with shrill blackened melodies and endlessly pounding beatdown drumming to give us one of the darkest and nastiest tracks to be released this year. Their second album, The Sin of Human Frailty, is due out on the 27th of October and with a single like this, it’s sure to be a rager. Sink into your sofa as END annihilate your eardrums. – Rob Bown

I Feel Fine – Hiking Trails

Goodness me this is a bit lovely. Released in celebration of the two year anniversary of the band’s debut LP The Cold In Every Shelter, ‘Hiking Trails’ is quite frankly four minutes and nine seconds of absolute bliss that’s intricate as it is spiritually warming. Driven by earnest strings, embellished by heart-swelling post-rock dynamics and animated by the wistful group vocals that characterised I Feel Fine’s wonderful debut, this track is a gentle, pacifying and pine-scented testament to this band’s wonderful take on nostalgic yet forward thinking emo. In this modern age of perpetual motion, ‘Hiking Trails’ is the perfect soundtrack for one to take a minute to savoir the final rays of Summer and to embrace the autumnal splendor of the coming months. – Dan Hillier

pulses. – Loafers with the White Socks (Feat. Joey Lancaster, Hansel Romeo, Gavin Cole)

Upbeat Baltimore post-hardcore quartet pulses. have dropped their star studded new single Loafers With The White Socks alongside announcing their third album It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This. Featuring guest vocals from Joey Lancaster of Colorado/California based emo band Belle, Hansel Romeo from fellow Baltimore natives Nightlife and actor/singer Gavin Cole, ‘Loafers With The White Socks’ feels like walking into a legendary house party and meeting exciting new people. With a boyband chorus, post-hardcore screams and guitars and plenty of fun, welcoming vibes pulses. set themselves apart from the countless cookie-cutter post-hardcore bands out there by remaining ferociously dedicated to not taking themselves too seriously. – Tom Bruce

Brutus – Love Won’t Hide the Ugliness

Belgian post-metal trio Brutus released their critically-lauded third album, Unison Life, last year and have announced a deluxe edition containing brand new single Love Won’t Hide the Ugliness. A B-side from the Unison Life sessions, it’s still Brutus at their emotionally fraught best; while the verses are more in their melodies, there’s still battering drums and huge guitar riffs. Pulverising is the best way to describe it, the song regaling us with how, according to drummer/vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts, “how love can cloud judgment and make it difficult to remain impartial. It can cause people to blindly follow others and lose their own sense of beauty. In the worst case, it can lead to self-destruction and damage relationships.” – Will Marshall

Gallops – Hemlock Chaser

After eking out a handful of singles and remixes in the last two years, Welsh guitar-led electronic band Gallops have announced a new EP The Offa Society For Psychical Research alongside a handful of shows in October including joining Cult Of Luna’s Beyond The Redshift one-day festival. The incoming EP is themed around “a fictional local group dedicated to the investigation of psychic phenomena”. The mood of the lead single is ominous, with guitars that bend the mind, deep bass and off beat hi-hats that create a feeling of motion sickness. They pause before a reverberating bass line and electronic tropical rainforest sounds, before opening to a beautiful arm waving melody like sunshine warming the skin, yet somehow still a feeling of something lurking in the shadows. – Adam Vallely

Dååth – The Silent Foray (Feat. Per Nilsson)

Dååth continue their smattering of singles with ‘The Silent Foray’. As can be expected from the Atlanta jazz metallers, it’s a widely varied romp through traditional metal riffs, pinch harmonics with flourishes of melodic strings and industrial elements. There’s atmosphere up the wazoo later on in the song, as it breaks into a quiet, glitchy miasma, replete with chugging guitars, choral hits, and whispered menacing vocals. Dååth have continued the trend of collaborating with a variety of additional musicians; this time it’s Scar Symmetry guitarist Per Nilsson, who brings with him that classic melodeath guitar work. Now signed to Metal Blade, it seems an album is imminent, or perhaps they’re just going to keep releasing covers and originals with the ever increasing battalion of musicians behind them. Either way, we’re here for it, and if it keeps sounding this good, Dååth can continue to do what they want. – Rob Bown

Gunship – DooM Dance (feat. Carpenter Brut, Gavin Rossdale)

Synthwave pioneers Gunship are about to release their hotly anticipated new album Unicorn and have been drip-feeding singles, with latest offering ‘DooM Dance’ releasing just a couple of weeks before the album fully. It’s another collaborative effort, as they team up with synthwave giant Carpenter Brut to bring some industrial flecks and riffs to their EDM-flecked approach, while Bush vocalist Gavin Rossdale lends his pipes to the track. It’s much as you’d expect from Gunship; floor-filling dance beats, transcendent melody and a love of video games as the song itself pays tribute to legendary game Doom and the “dance” players do when surrounded by the forces of hell. If Doom didn’t already have a Mick Gordon soundtrack, you can guarantee this would be the next on the list to accompany players. Instead, it’ll fill rock club floors with actual dancers enjoying the banger it is. – Will Marshall

††† (Crosses) – Light as a Feather / Ghost Ride

Duo Shuan Lopez and legendary Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno dropped a double punch combo of tracks to preview incoming album Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. First track ‘Light as a Feather’ is exactly that with a soft touch. This is glorious electronica with a warmth and fuzziness about the track, with Moreno’s vocals at their most delightful. Follow up ‘Ghost Ride’ is also an apt description, with its mysterious air of driving down a misty highway as the streetlights flash by. There’s echoes of ethereal voices as electricity surges through the track, while industrial and glitchy elements added throughout give an extra kicker to what is a stellar preview of the new album. – Adam Vallely

LEECH – Donnie

Windsor, Ontario is a sleeper hit for one of Ontario’s hotbeds for great beatdown and deathcore and LEECH are no exception. Presenting their own brand of deathcore-infused beatdown; latest single Donnie is exactly what you think it is – a track themed around Donnie Darko. There’s a ton of two-step to go around and just as many ignorantly heavy breakdowns to pair. Not to mention the utterly ridiculous lyricism to top it off. This track epitomises what Donnie Darko is about lyrically while also proving LEECH aren’t to be messed with when it comes to nasty beatdown. This track also happens to be produced by Ontario hardcore celebrity Matt Andrews who currently works with bands such as Knocked Loose, Stick To Your Guns, and Ten56. To say this track was set up for success is an understatement. – Nathaniel Maure

Polar Son – Youth

Formally going under the moniker of Porshyne, the latest track from Brighton’s Polar Son is the sound of a band made anew. Effortlessly presenting the kind of prog that’s tender yet throttling, ‘Youth’ is the seamless convergence of gentle atmospherics and riff-laden menace – a threatening message of intent delivered with peace so to speak. Those with an interest in acts such as Agent Fresco, Black Peaks and even Radiohead will find plenty to fawn over here, and with the band’s forthcoming LP Wax / Wane due for release December 8th, it appears ‘Youth’ may hint towards Polar Son upending some prog fans carefully cultivated album of the year lists come it’s release. – Dan Hillier

Casey – Puncture Wounds to Heaven

Tissues at the ready folks, because Casey have a brand new track for your ears to get emo to. ‘Puncture Wounds To Heaven’, the first hint of a new full length from the sad Welsh legends comes ahead of their first ever US headline tour. Tom Weaver’s fragile, heartfelt voice weaves and encircles you amongst hypnotic drumming. As with most of Casey’s work, the track feels like it’s made to be listened to while staring out of the window during a thunderstorm so that from the outside the rain masks your tears. As Tom himself states, this song deals with “the “coming up for air” sensation as you briefly snap out of a depressive episode, and survey how life has progressed around you”. It shows that the band aren’t content with resting on their laurels upon their return, it’s an ambitious track made for much bigger venues that they’re currently playing. A bold, emotive statement from the returning post-hardcore legends. – Chris Earl

Dragonforce – Doomsday Party

Everyone’s favourite guitar hero finger blisterers, Dragonforce, are back and to celebrate, they’re throwing a party…a ‘Doomsday Party’ that is. Their first new music since 2019, the veteran power metallers’ newest track is an 80s-influenced stomper. Of course, it features the piercing vocals and guitar wizardry that we’ve long came to associate with the band, along with plenty of cheesy electronics. At times, it has the feel of a neon drenched dancefloor, with its clap-along chorus and catchy, uplifting vocal lines. It does run a little long in the tooth as it gets over the five minute mark, but that aside, it’s a fun comeback that shows that the band have more in their locker than simply needling your brain with speedy riffs. – Chris Earl

It Dies Today – Buried By Black Clouds

As their first shows in over a decade approach next week at the stacked Furnace Fest, noughties metalcore cult heroes It Dies Today have blessed us with a new track, their first new music since 2009. ‘Buried By Black Clouds’ offers fans a little tease of a potential new full length. Having gained a nice little bit of visibility with Billie Eilish showing she’s a fan, the time seemed to be right for the band to take advantage of the recent love affair with throwback metalcore, and this track is just that. Retaining the same guitar tone they had about 15 years ago, the Buffalo natives deliver a very enjoyable, dependable slab of metalcore. The chorus is massive, and when it wants to go hard, it does in a way that will tickle your nostalgia senses. Hopefully this won’t be the last we hear from the band, who are one of the bands whose influence is present with many of the modern scene’s bands. – Chris Earl

Kite Thief – Goldsick

There’s a lot to feel nauseous about in modern life, but the latest single from Bristol’s Kite Thief certainly isn’t one of them. The second single to be taken from the group’s forthcoming EP, ‘Goldsick’ see’s the South West collective tackling toxic social norms with a fresh sound that pulls from all angles of the alternative music spectrum in a way that’s inspired and eclectic. As heard within the track’s gyrating groove, manic energy and sugar rush of a breakdown, elements of Vukovi, Spiritbox, Lake Malice, BEX and Delaire The Liar are prominent, but to simply compare this band to either one of these contemporariness would be criminally limiting. Simply, ‘Goldsick’ bares witness to Kite Thief’s ability to coalescence the musical inspiration and drive that’s abundant in the South West scene. – Dan Hillier

Invent Animate – Heavener

Invent Animate follow up this year’s Heavener with its unreleased title track, showcasing once again their own brand of soaring lofty metalcore. Dynamically the song covers a vast spectrum, from shoegazey textures to the low end chug of modern metalcore, the vocals adding to this reverby mass producing an intoxicating mix that compels you to keep listening. Invent Animate have also released a video to go along with the single that rewards repeat watches as the clipped, Aronofsky-esque cinematography throws up different images and angles of viewing each time. It’s one of those songs that feels half it’s length due to the sheer amount going on. It’s a double edged sword; much like the video, Heavener definitely needs a few listens to fully take in everything that the band have thrown into the mix. – Rob Bown

Spite – Thank You, Again (Feat. Phil Bozeman)

Modern deathcore’s angriest band, Spite‘s 2022 record was beloved for its fury, and it seems that they’ve still got some bile left in them, despite losing key members Josh Miller and Lucas Garrigues. ‘Thank You, Again’ is their brand new single and in terms of extreme metal features, you can’t really do much better than Whitechapel frontman Phil Bozeman. Most bands would suffer from this, as Phil has one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in the scene, but Darius Tehrani more than holds his own and as times, sounding more evil than Bozeman. His voice is one of Spite‘s selling points and this track is a showcase for it. A lurching, pissed off piece of music, it doesn’t reinvent the Spite wheel, but when that wheel is as fun and frankly scary as is, there’s no need to. – Chris Earl

Neon Trees – Losing My Head

Neon Trees just dropped another single, “Losing My Head”, from their upcoming album. It slots right in with all of their work, from its catchy melody, to guitars that slip and slide but have just enough grit to catch the fall, to lyrics that provoke more thought than most alt-rock bands operating today. These rockers have been around the block, and it shows in how catchy they can make the simple “la-la-las”. There are echoes of Glenn’s 2016 departure from the Mormon church after his coming out in 2014, and his journey to where he is today. It’s a song of duality: finding your way back by losing your head, learning about heaven and chasing hell, out on the edge and feeling good. “Losing My Head” finds Glenn and the rest of Neon Trees grown up enough to write ever-smarter lyrics, but not old enough to stop the party. – Josiah Aden

Future Static – Roach Queen

There really is something in the water over there; Aussie metalcore act Future Static have been making waves since their formation, and have just announced their debut album with its lead single ‘Roach Queen’. Savage roars counterpoint ethereal melodies and anthemic choruses, with pulverising guitars and thunderous drumming. There’s bouncing, pitch-shifted riffs, a fist-swinging breakdown and guttural roars, resulting in a grotesque brilliance, especially when you know it’s written by vocalist Amariah cook about “a traumatic experience I had as a child in the first apartment my family and I lived in when we moved to Barcelona… The place was infested by cockroaches, and for a long while, I was having nightmares where they would climb into my mouth while I slept, possibly causing a more severe illness to materialise at the time.” Nasty stuff, but a great song. – Will Marshall

All these tracks and more can be found on our essential playlist. Follow it here.