March was certianly a month packed with heavy hitters; the return of Deafheaven on Lonely People With Power, Azhara’s blistering Ashen Skies, Gates to Hell unleashing fury on Death Comes To All and the utterly sublime Dawn of of Ouroboros record Bioluminescence. With the scale of releases this month, plenty would have got lost in the long release lists and hype around around others. Now we deep dive into several releases that impressed us in March that didn’t fully get the attention they deserved.
Watch Myself Die – Braided Wire (Independent) / Joe
Nu-gaze has been top of the menu in recent years, its trappings seemingly cannibalised by the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and Amira Elfeky for quick commercial success. Under the surface there are still acts delivering the goods from this fresh genre, with Watch Myself Die delivering a grand entry with Braided Wire. Weight riffs that cut through while melancholic vocals deliver an emotional punch. It’s not afraid to stray into heavier moments, either, ensuring the EP will indulge listeners on either side of the genre’s divide.
FFO: Bleed, Moodring & Oversize
Aidan Baker – & You Still Fall In (Gizeh Records) / Dobbin T
Dropping just ahead of his UK and EU tour, Aidan Baker has defined “less is more” on this release. & You Still Fall In warps back to his project Nadja whose Ruins of Mourning EP carried a unique sound I’ve yearned to hear again. Across & You Still Fall In Baker whispers his vocals over thinly layered guitars which are far from the effects you’d expect to hear in his palette. The record’s middle approaches hostility in the most tender way possible, with just a hint of fuzz and simple percussion. Yet the most impactful moments are the minimalism of the title track and two parter “Thin Film Interface” where the warm embrace of the low register will wrap you in a safe haven.
FFO: Grouper, sign crushes motorist & Duster
Gamma Sector – Deteriorate (Barbaric Brutality) / Ed
Sometimes the best releases keep things simple, and Gamma Sector’s new album Deteriorate is a shining example of that fact. After taking a couple years out to hone their craft, Deteriorate sees the Kentucky based band stripping out most of the deathcore elements of their previous albums, and instead focuses on their bludgeoningly-heavy slam side, in a way that is sure to both excite and terrify in the best way possible.
FFO: Cannibal Corpse & Graveview
at first, at first – The Courage of Shutting Up (Independent) / Joe
The Courage of Shutting Up is a record that glides through various influences and genres with forceful grace, touching upon screamo, emo and post-hardcore across its runtime. A vocal range between harrowing screams and spoken moments, which gives it the heart of a screamo record. The space for instrumental range harkens the mind back fondly to the likes of Tides of Man. This is a rare gem in a genre that’s becoming busy – it’s packed with artistry and emotion, making for one of the finest short format releases of 2025 thus far.
FFO: Blind Girls, Perspectives & Dreamwell
heavenscoldhands – heavenscoldhands (Independent) / Jack W
Four tracks of pure fury, Canadian metalcore newcomers heavenscoldhands throw themselves in at the deep end and show that, already, they can keep up with the best of them. Already seeing a CD release courtesy of Blackheaven Records, this is a band you do not want to miss out on.
FFO: Your Spirit Dies, xDeliverancex & ‘angel statue metalcore’
Total Con – Who Needs the Peace Corps? (Static Shock) / Sophie
Fronted by Bobby Cole (Brainrotter Records), Total Con exists as proof that the DIY spirit of punk lives into the 21st century. Who Needs the Peace Corps? takes hardcore back to its roots with eight tracks of politically charged havoc, with an entirely unexpected The Doors cover to boot. Raw and passionate, Total Con are unlikely to pop up in any fast food commercials, instead embracing the ethos and sound of classic hardcore.
FFO: White Cross, Bad Brains, Putting the “Punk” back into “Hardcore Punk.”
Dance – Demo (Independent) / Jack W
Hardcore with a twist, Dance came out of nowhere earlier this month. Though it makes them remarkably hard to search for on streaming services, their name suits them to a tee; impeccably danceable hardcore with soaring, fry screams to match. Dance is a real spectacle and a shining light for the Australian hardcore scene, and having already played with heavyweights Pain Of Truth and Justice For The Damned, they’re already paving their path to success.
FFO: Eternal Rest, xInstinctivex & Unexplainable Loud Noises
cross record – Crush Me (Ba Da Bing!) / Tim
Crush Me is one of those records that defies traditional structure and trades it for atmosphere. crush record, fronted by Emily Cross of Loma, cooks up a slowcore-infused injection of dark pop. Cross’s dreamy vocals contrast with gloomy instrumentals that vary from minimalist to cacophonous. From the acoustic-driven “Charred Grass” to the industrial “Cutting a Cake”, it keeps twisting through its close.
FFO: Haunted Horses, Orchid Mantis & Chelsea Wolfe
Plead the Widow’s Cause – Silver Glass Stare (Independent) / Jonathan
Rolling out their debut album without any singles, Silver Glass Stare is sure to scratch an itch for nostalgic post-hardcore. With the iconic grittiness and melodic hardcore-style riffage that are hallmarks of the style, New Jersey’s Plead the Widow’s Cause are a welcome underdog to this wave of revival post-hardcore.
FFO: Saosin, As Cities Burn & Fallweather