New Music Friday – February 28th, 2025

Welcome to New Music Friday, where we wrap-up all of the releases from the week ranging from metalcore, hardcore, alternative and indie. Give our release calendar a look to see what other releases are coming up. The NMF playlist can be found here or at the bottom of the page.

 STAFF PICKS 

Eschalon – Denial (feat. Ashe O’Hara) (Single)
Label –
Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Hayley recommends: Eschalon have released new single “Denial” – a stunning precursor to a string of live shows scheduled for the spring. You’ll be taken on a turbulent five minute journey, through both lyrics and sound, which chronicles the volatile emotions felt after the collapse of a damaged relationship. For an additional treat, the track features Ashe O’Hara (previously of TesseracT and Voices from the Fuselage).

Lake Malice – Scatterbrain (Single)
Label –
SO Recordings 
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Joe recommends: Featuring on the setlist of their busy touring schedule, “Scatterbrain” quickly became a fan-favourite for those who have seen Lake Malice in recent months. EDM synths blended with frantic riffs give “Scatterbrain” a crazed energy, with a vocal hook of “Spin / wash / and / repeat” that will loop in the mind.

deathdotgov – Laces (Single)
Label –
Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Jack W recommends:Laces” showcases deathdotgov exploring their softer, more atmospheric side – at least for a moment. The track opens with whiny emo-style clean vocals, atmospheric guitars, and subdued drums, creating a moody atmosphere before erupting into the chaotic post-hardcore noise the band are known for. It’s another brilliant example of their ability to blend genres seamlessly, demonstrating real versatility. Now their fourth single in a series of interconnected releases, one question stands out: what can we expect from them next?

Soot Sprite – All My Friends Are Depressed (Single)
Label – Specialist Subject
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Dobbin recommends: This is a slowdancer from the Exeter dreamo band which mulls perpetual 2020s burnout. Frustrated at the aimless, yet all-encompassing sense of unease that is shared by so many, the track resigns to “change what you can, what you control / let the rest wash over you, and try not to fold“. This single is the first from their upcoming debut LP which will land in May.

METAL/CORE RELEASES

An Empty City – a lucid dream last night
Label – Independent

Body Prison – Everything You Never Wanted to See
Label – Independent

Crown of Madness – Memories Fragmented
Label – Transcending Obscurity Records

The Five Hundred – GHOSTWRITER
Label – Prime Collective

Vacuous – In His Blood
Label – Relapse Records

DOOMSCOPE – MISALIGNED IN TIME
Label – Independent

Stercore – For Death We Wait (EP)
Label – Independent

xmutiny – xmutiny (EP)
Label – Southground Records

7eventh Sea – Falsified Dreams (Single)
Label – Independent

Bite Down – Deadweight (Single)
Label – Prime Collective

DESTARD – Masque (Single)
Label – Bleeding Art Collective

Devil May Care – Black Box (feat. The Oklahoma Kid) (Single)
Label – Independent

FANGE – Mortes Promesses (Single)
Label –
Throatruiner Records

Get the Shot – Pit of Misery (Single)
Label – Arising Empire

HELL CAN WAIT – Sleepless (Single)
Label – Independent

HourHouse – HELLSTAR (Single)
Label – Independent

Identity Error – Frailty (Single)
Label – Independent

Just Dust – Justice has no Jurisdiction (Single)
Label – Independent

LOOK ALIVE – Warlike (Single)
Label – Independent

Marked as an Enemy – Gone (Single)
Label – Independent

NTH RD – Pushing Away (Single)
Label – Independent

Nylist – To The End (Single)
Label – Independent

Pravitas – Monolith (Single)
Label – Slam Off Records

Second Death – Dweller (Single)
Label – Independent

SPAWN – Peekaboo (Single)
Label – Independent

Tocka – Moments Later (Single)
Label – Independent

Vanna – Quiet Place (Single)
Label – Independent

Watch Out Stampede – Gloom (Single)
Label – Redfield Records

Wither//Bloom – Stain (Single)
Label – Independent

Cabal – Redemption Denied (Single)
Label – Nuclear Blast

Dying Wish – I Brought You My Soul (Your World Brought Me Despair) (Single)
Label – SHARPTONE

Employed To Serve – Fallen Star (Single)
Label – Spinefarm

Forlorn – Keeper Of The Well (Single)
Label –
Church Road Records

Mission Jupiter – Self-Destruction (Single)
Label – Flatiron Recordings

Sharks In Your Mouth – The Future (Single)
Label – Superbia Music Group

Bleed From Within – God Complex (Single)
Label – Nuclear Blast

Deafheaven – Heathen (Single)
Label – Roadrunner Records

Inhuman Nature – Servants Of Annihilation (Single)
Label – Church Road Records

HARDCORE RELEASES

Absolved – The Only Constant (EP)
Label – Independent

and i dreamt of you – lethargy demo (EP)
Label – Independent

Never Again – 100% New Jersey Hardcore (EP)
Label – Tribe Dream Records

Vespid – PROMO 2025 (EP)
Label – Independent

Forced To Suffer – FORGED ON HATE (EP)
Label – Independent

Cosmic Joke – Welcome TO L.A. (EP)
Label – Hardlore Records

Deviation From Reality – Wings for Ascension (EP)
Label – Independent

Azshara – Thorns (feat. Kidnapped) (Single)
Label – DAZE

Bloodguilt – Solid Ground (Single)
Label – New Age Records

Heavy Is The Head – Sons and Daughters (Single)
Label – Upstate Records

Mugshot – Vale of Tears (Single)
Label – Pure Noise Records

Obstruktion – Death Comes Near (Single)
Label – Suicide Records

Mesker – When the Fabric Frays (Single)
Label – Independent

ROT AWAY – Weapon (Single)
Label – Independent

Speedway – Permission To Dream (Single)
Label – Revelation Records

Death Whore – 12 Worm Wounds (Single)
Label – No Good to Anyone Productions

Desolated – Bite Down (Single)
Label – MLVTD

Doomsday – Never Known Peace (Single)
Label – Creator-Destructor Records

Death Rattle – Out of Time (Single)
Label – Independent

JAD – Odwet (Single)
Label – Independent

Stitched – Nil by Mouth (Single)
Label – Independent

POST-HARDCORE/ROCK RELEASES

Architects – The Sky, the Earth & All Between
Label – Epitaph Records

Free Throw – Those Days Are Gone (10 Year Anniversary)
Label – Wax Bodega

SPLIT DOGS – Here to Destroy
Label – Venn Records

The Casper Fight Scene – The Casper Fight Scene
Label – PNWK Records

The Plague – The Divided States of Hysteria
Label – FiXT

Arcadia Ego – Can You Still Feel Me? (EP)
Label – Stickman Records

Falling Asleep – LIES (EP)
Label – FRIENDSHIP.

Haest – Wildfires (EP)
Label – Independent

paradise fell. – Songs for ur Head (EP)
Label – Fly Tip Records

Tunic – A Harmony of Less Has Been Sung (EP)
Label – Independent

Acres – Bloodlust (Single)
Label – Tooth & Nail & Solid State Records

AS IT IS – Can’t Save Myself X (feat. NOAHFINNCE) (Single)
Label – Slam Dunk Records

Ben Rosett – Black Dragon (Single)
Label – Spirit Vision Records

Falling Empires – Keelhaul (Single)
Label – Temple of the Sun

Hot Milk – 90 Seconds to Midnight (Single)
Label – Music For Nations

Lauren Babic – I’m Bored (Single)
Label – Independent

KUSANAGI – Polymorph (Single)
Label –
Ripcord Records

modernlove. – Out the Door (Single)
Label – Akira Records

Patience – I’ll Be Fine (Single)
Label – Independent

STARSET – dark things (Single)
Label – Fearless Records

Weller – Prey Upon the Innocent (Single)
Label – Independent

Air Drawn Dagger – Sanctifound (Single)
Label – Long Branch Records

Angel Number – Omen of the Night (Single)
Label – Independent

hiccup – SMILE (Single)
Label – The Vibe Records

Kanonashi – Confusion In A Car Crash / Fairmount Park After Dark (Single)
Label – Equal Vision Records

Magnolia Park – WORSHIP (feat. PLVTINUM & Vana) (Single)
Label – Epitaph

Mayday Parade – Towards You (Single)
Label – Independent

Other Half – Transgression is Outdated (Single)
Label – Big Scary Monsters

Point Mort – Skinned Teeth (Single)
Label – Almost Famous 

Pyramids – Fools Gold (Single)
Label – The Flenser

Good Grief – BLINDING (Single)
Label – Independent

Grapevine Gossip – Lemonaise Mayonnade (feat. Coletta) (Single)
Label – Vineyard Vibes records

Crippling Alcoholism – Tinted Civic (Single)
Label – Portrayal of Guilt 

ALTERNATIVE/INDIE/SHOEGAZE RELEASES

bdrmm – Microtonic
Label – Rock Action Records

Cloakroom – Last Leg of the Human Table
Label – Closed Casket Activities

Matilda Mann – Roxwell (Single)
Label – 7476

OVERSIZE – Vital Signs
Label – SHARPTONE

Soft Blue Shimmer – THEY WILL LEAVE US WITH NOTHING
Label – Other People Records

Aeriu – Dwarf’s Anima III (EP)
Label – Independent

Torture Test – Penetralia (EP)
Label – Life Sucker Productions

Desire – Dream Girl (Single)
Label – Italians Do It Better

Devon Thompson – Father (Single)
Label – Independent

Ella Vos – Eye Candy (Single)
Label – Superglue Records

Fickle Friends – Swoon (Single)
Label – Palmeira Music

Hash Gordan – BROKE! (Single)
Label – Boy With The Master Plan Records

IOTA – Smile On (Single)
Label – Independent

Krooked Tongue – Let ‘Em Loose (Single)
Label – Independent

Spacey Jane – How to Kill Houseplants (Single)
Label – AWAL Recordings

Aurora – Runaway (Orchestral) (Single)
Label – Glassnote – VMG

Alvedone – Blue Forrest (Single)
Label – Guillotine Media

Julien Baker & Torres – Tuesday (Single)
Label – Matador Records

Passing Currents – COME.BACK (Single)
Label – Independent

Pynch – The Supermarket (Single)
Label – Chillburn Recordings

Viagra Boys – Uno II (Single)
Label – Shrimptech Enterprises

Hundredth – Waste (Single)
Label – Independent

Jon Hopkins – RITUAL (nothing is lost) (Single)
Label – Domino Recording 

DJ Kuroneko – fracture (Single)
Label –
LUC Records

Model/Actriz – Cinderella (Single)
Label – Dirty Hit

Momma – Bottle Blonde (Single)
Label – Lucky Number

SENTRIES – Charmed Houses (Single)
Label – Eau Claire Records

Soot Sprite – All My Friends Are Depressed (Single)
Label – Specialist subject