February had a bunch of massive singles that we highlighted on our New Music Fridays. These featured the return of Alcest, Glassing, and Monasteries members (by way of Malice), hardcore underground hits from Reviler, Starved, and Simulakra, as well as left field stuff from TNL VZN, Essenger, and Glixen. Here’s the pick of the rest – stuff that didn’t make it to a New Music Friday headline, or stuff that even we were late to the party on.
GASP – Running (Lövely Records)
Swedish unit GASP deliver earworm riffs and punchy distorted vocals on latest track “Running“, which will feature on their four-way split with SWEET TEETH, Statues and First in Line, set to release this coming Friday.
Packed with earworm guitar riffs that give the track a vibrant energy, these layered in with punchy vocals that are mixed in with a noisy and distorted mix to give it an edge on GASP‘s latest track. This alongside tracks such as “Burning“, will have listeners moving between throwing fists to having a shimmy to the catchy moments on “Running“. The track be part of a four-way split with SWEET TEETH, Statues and First in Line, set to release this coming Friday.
FFO: Shooting Daggers, Stiff Meds & Going Off
rurie – idle & idolatry (Independent)
A dream-like and distorted soundscape makes for an ethereal listen on rurie‘s latest release, “idle & idolatry“. Reverb-wreathed vocals weave their way through the synths of the track. It draws upon an eerie nostalgia of the mellowness that captured the 00s, creating a sublime track that will be yearned to returned to.
FFO: This Mortal Coil, Crawling & Rat Tally
NEWCOMER – Wicked Wiki Witwicky (8th Sea City Radio)
One of the freshest and most forward-thinking acts in the scene today, New York’s nu-core newcomers Newcomer, self-ascribed as “Dominican Beastie Boys“, are one of my favourite discoveries in recent memory. Blending elements of beatdown, metalcore and shoegaze, alongside some reggaeton influenced rhythmic sensibilities, the group’s recent output has been nothing short of stellar. This is most recently culminated in the release of their latest single, “Wicked Wiki Witwicky”, which proves to be Newcomer’s most wonderfully scatterbrained foray to date. Chaotically dancing between contrasting instrumental styles, as all three members of the band trade off and layer vocals in an enthralling symphony of chaotic synergy. If “Wicked Wiki Witwicky” is a sign of things to come for Newcomer, then I am certainly along for the ride.
FFO: Omerta, Kublai Khan TX, & Darke Comple
HAG – Gouge Out (Independent)
Running out of Shreveport in Louisiana, HAG made their debut this February with track “Gouge Out“. This was quickly followed up “Entomb the Violators“, both delivering deeply impressive punk riffs that capture the ear, and pissed vocals that, with the right crowd, will see themselves yelled along to. They’ve seemingly got a string of tracks ready to release in the near future; those keen to hear more from HAG will be more than fulfilled this year.
FFO: Death Goals, GEL & Rotting Out
Lintworm – Mommy (Genet Records)
Those with a penchant for powerviolence, and a specific interest in extreme metal that growls out “I really want to go to the furry convention“, will see that tendency more than met on Lintworm’s most recent single. “Mommy” delivers maddening riffs and rudiments that bounce off the metaphorical walls, as its lyricism and wild instrumentals make for one hell of a listen.
FFO: Cult Leader, Sectioned, Full of Hell
Heavenly Blue – Static Voice Speaks To Static Me (Secret Voice)
Heavenly Blue are a seven (!) piece screamo collective. “Static Voice Speaks To Static Me” puts forward a brave mix, even relative to their debut track on Balladeers, Redefined, but it pays off, turning swarming horde into fuzz and nostalgia. The tiny track eeks out a catchy moment with its title-dropping chorus. The full album drops on April 12th and is destined to be one of the most out-there screamo records of the year.
FFO: For Your Health, Infant Island, Dreamwell
Void Walker – Dreaming in Monochrome (Independent)
Leicester deathcorers have an EP out this week, and the lead single is quite an adventure. Its four minutes feel epically proggy, opting for a sweeping outro. It’s not a triple-A studio production but I actually really like the dynamic range at play here; it’s thus not nearly as exhausting on the ears as your average deathcore effort.
FFO: The Acacia Strain, Slice The Cake, Signs of the Swarm
Dead Flesh – Bodies Upon Bodies (Independent)
Dead Flesh’s second song is for everyone who misses the ridiculousness of Strapping Young Lad. Extreme metal with a direct chorus plus a blistering snare workout is in the verses. They’ve been impressing on the local UK grassroots circuit, here’s hoping this tract makes it on more than a few playlists.
FFO: Strapping Young Lad, Harbinger, Burner
Olin Janusz – Quarter Light (Stellar Frequencies/Modulor)
Olin Janusz is about to release a debut LP (Quarter Light), and single number 2 is a weird cousin of the already released “The Throat”. I expect the vocal elements to be divisive, as they’re hoarse and deadpan spoken word with undressed lyrics. Get behind this, and you’ll find beauty in the wide instrumentation (horns and accordion this time) and a playful, sullen contemplation on depression and decay.
FFO: Mount Eerie, Carissa’s Wierd, Swans