“The beauty of your voice fades again.“
Blink and you’ll miss it – that’s the fate of February. During the weeks we were able to highlight excellent singles from the likes of The Throwaway Scene, Regal Cheer, Lake Malice and Eschalon through our New Music Friday column. Here’s even more gems from what’s looking to be a stellar year for the underground, alternative and heavy scenes.
jousting – Looking Out/Sequoia (Independent)
Slowcore is a genre with a much bigger range than most give it credit for, and jousting are living proof of this. A microcosm of last year’s self-titled EP, “Looking Out/Sequoia” is a dynamic duo best consumed as a single eight minute offering. Treading uncertain ground until “Sequoia”’s crooning close, and with heavy moments touching on screamo, it’s the wintery feel of “Looking Out” that will first cast the spell that sucks you into stupor. The word ‘slacker’ is thrown around to describe this kind of production and vocal attitude, but jousting look to be anything but as their discography grows at a strong pace. Dobbin T
FFO: Deathcrash, early Black Country, New Road & Duster
Sunvher – Gone Eyes (Massive Void Recordings)
Imagine the audiences drawn to cult stoner doom and blackgaze shows; in your head, they’d be at least somewhat different (as long as you don’t point to it all and call it ‘screamo’; complete respect for you if you do, though). However, the genres agree completely on incorporating progressive elements, the importance of atmosphere, and the need to deliver gratifying moments. It’s no surprise that an artist who has succeeded at one would ace the other. Sunvher is the sibling project of Humanotone, both masterminded by Chilean genius Jorge Cisternas. Humanotone’s 2022 record was one of the best progressive doom albums of its year. “Gone Eyes” reboots Sunvher with blackgaze from the ecstatic end of the spectrum, bursting with Alcest’s sunlight and the intricacies of Asunojokei. Dobbin T
FFO: Unreqvited, sonhos tomam conta & Svalbard
Karmella – INTO THE EMPTY (Independent)
Adding a new unclean vocalist to their repertoire, New York outfit Karmella return with a stellar single in “INTO THE EMPTY“. The group excel at hard-hitting and vulnerable songwriting overtop a mix of eerie ambience and punchy instrumentation, and this most recent offering is no exception; the early-Architects guitarwork is blistering, Delez‘s singing is belted and infectious, and the song itself feels like a proper journey, which is impressive for its sub-four-minute runtime. Harry A. Eaton
FFO: Architects, Thornhill & Thousand Below
Hoofless – Puppy Dreams (Independent)
Salt Lake City is quietly becoming a hub for post rock, with I Hear Sirens reactivating and Sympathy Pain impressing us with Swan Dive last year. Hoofless are another band from the neighborhood and post rock is just one way to look at their music, but it does sum up their soulful instrumentals and taste for unexpected structures. Their vocal elements are the stand out on “Puppy Dreams”, adding an immediate and emotive layer to the ballad. There’s perhaps a hint of early Arcade Fire and modern Black Country, New Road to their sound, too; it’s a squad of talented musicians working in complete agreement to craft the agreed upon sonic world. Dobbin T
FFO: ydni halda, Pijn & Crippled Black Phoenix
Thylacine – SOIL (Independent)
Thylacine‘s third single, “SOIL”, is another impressive track which demonstrates the early consistency, promise and creativity of this relatively newly formed alternative metal band. It’s one I suggest listening to loudly when you feel like you need to release a bit of suppressed anger. Low and powerful roars are set against a slightly blackened background which builds up to a long pause that makes you feel a little uneasy… until the pause eventually explodes into a cathartic scream. Thylacine recently put on a blistering live performance of “SOIL” at Cheltenham’s The Frog and Fiddle, competing for a spot at Bloodstock Festival through The Metal 2 The Masses competition. Despite the Boolin Tunes votes being cast for Thylacine with no hesitation, sadly they very narrowly missed out on winning the heat – but we are really hoping they make a return to The Frog soon. If Thylacine play a venue near you, do not miss it. Hayley W
FFO: Flesh Prison, Whitechapel & Weeping
Tied Up – Yellow (Independent)
After a quiet few months Tied Up made their return on single “Yellow”, which displays their captivating take on the grungegaze sound. The dual vocals, layering between harsher and softer tones, making for a listen that feels ever so familiar yet ever so unique. If they can keep this up, they will be the next grungegaze act making waves within the ever growing genre. Joe Edwards
FFO: Oversize, IOTA & Gleemer
DESECRATE – Altar (Independent)
What DESECRATE offers up on “Altar” is nothing short of an absolute slogfest, maddening double kicks and a slamming snare from the outset, with vocals as pissed as you will find. It’s clear that DESECRATE are aiming to cause damage with this song on a set list, with each moment being one to windmill as much as the next, with maximum intent behind each riff that will command them the pit. Joe Edwards
FFO: Hour of Reprisal, smother & Taste of Blood
Ghaul – At The Vein (NORTH BLUFF KATALOGUE)
Showing off a blistering snare and some vicious barks, Ghaul’s “At The Vein” contains juicy drum grooves and riffs that are an absolute earworm and will have you coming back just for its hardcore nature. Each of these blend together to create a pulsating listen – Ghaul’s 2025 is set to be absolutely grand. Joe Edwards
FFO: False Reality, Warspawn & Second Sight
Church Of The Rat – Salvation b/w The Rug Pull (Independent)
I wish bands like Church of the Rat didn’t exist in a way—the demand drives the supply, and hear me out on this. Their apocalyptic, noisy mix of punk, grunge, and rock hits too close to home. Again. You see, I grew up on the beats of freedom left after the collapse of the Soviet Union regime, and their music is a bloody good, eerie reminder of those times, when DIY movements took some of the activism on their shoulders, recording on flimsy cassette players. Church of the Rat’s dual release of two singles, “Salvation” and “The Rug Pull”, mixes chaotic drumming in perfect harmony with distorted guitars that aren’t afraid to go a bit chuggy and chunky on the riffs. The vocals scream into the void, like they’re stuck between two worlds. Natalia Kasiarz
FFO: Coilguns, El Moono & The Future of the Left