Column Releases You May Have Missed
RELEASES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: Singles, June 2026
As many of us headed towards the summer festivals, catching the big headliners and discovering our news favourites, the release schedule still rolled on. Returns from the likes of Fly Over States and Away With Words, built the anticipation for what could be some incredible releases later this year. While the likes of Living Spite and Alyce Smith made a strong impression on their debut releases, hinting at what is to come. We now have our favourites from June that we didn’t get the chance to spotlight.
DOGBITE — PORTRAIT OF GOD
Independent
DOGBITE have returned with their most vicious strain yet in “PORTRAIT OF GOD”, showcasing hardcore heaviness from their upcoming record in PUNISHMENT ROUTINE. Blending in mathier and electronic influences, much akin to what Chamber have done across their previous two records, gives an edge and tension to DOGBITE’s sound. If pulled off at this quality across a whole record, we might see them become one of Germany’s strongest units. – Joe
FFO: Impunity, Chamber & slowburn
Head Cloud — Not Here
Independent
After showcasing their grunegaze sound across the Midlands and the North this year, Head Cloud delivered their first entry of 2026 in the form of “Not Here”. Expansive vocals with a heft to them fill the track with a timbre alongside the post-hardcore styled guitars, intertwined with paced melancholic moments. The production gives the guitarwork a beefy sine-wave churn reminiscent of the best of the 80s, which, next to the naturally anthemic vocals, invokes a stadium-scale intention for the track. “Not Here” immediately sets Head Cloud’s sound clear of their counterparts, and with hopefully more on the way, this could be another grungegaze gem of 2026. – Joe
FFO: Oversize, Swoon & Silo
Sowing — Weight/Rust
51st State Records
Sowing’s blend of post-hardcore, grunge with a hint of emo impressed last year on their sophomore record, The Distance Surrounding Me. Now back with dual single “Weight/Rust”, there is a slight shift towards a lighter production that gives a more reflective and airy tone to Sowing’s sound, giving a sense of where their next chapter might take us. As each lamenting verse and rumbling guitar riff swirls the ear, it proves that Sowing continues to be a gem in this genre space. – Joe
FFO: GUSH, Soul Blind & Wayside
starsfadingoutquietly — les enfants terribles / marrow
Independent
There is a slight sense that the “violence” in emoviolence is always its more punctuated part. It’s often bundled in with screamo and hardcore, overcome with a manic and laissez faire attitude, making it a naturally compelling and ephemeral approach. A band that holds all of this in focus is starsfadingoutquietly, who continue to prove themselves on recent double single “les enfants terribles / marrow”. There is a fragility that is woven throughout the sound: pitched harmonies ring through the closing segment of “les enfants terribles”, and the cleans tremble through “marrow”. This is the sharp vulnerability that only the emoviolence genre can craft. – Joe
FFO: theyhungusfrompowerlines, I Have No Mouth & starsfidingoutquietly
Told Not To Worry — The Last Tango In Providence
Independent
After dropping what was the best screamo release of 2025 with Hands In The Air!, Told Not To Worry continue their run of sasscore-infused sound on ‘triple single’ “The Last Tang In Providence”. It’s bursting with character and chaos, whether it be the Western guitar noodles that open affairs, or the blistering screamo and frantic time signatures. These tracks serve as reminder that nobody is doing quite like Told Not To Worry at the moment. – Joe
FFO: flowersforpersephone, Harmonysemise & February
ALESSA — Shattered Reflection
Independent
Those who have fallen down the rabbit hole of deathcore revival and are looking for further acts to push the boundaries of it should become aware of ALESSA. “Shattered Reflection” is packed with a visceral nature that is now familiar to the genre, offering some bludgeoning gutterals as a side dish. A popping snare is matched with a production and mix that sounds like something ripped from Limewire and played off an old shitty MP3 player. It’s an oddly engrossing listen, and pulls forward the genre in a way that hasn’t been quite heard yet. – Joe
FFO: Mauled, Flesh Pursuit & PSYCHO-FRAME
OVERRIDE — OUT OF SPITE
Independent
The latest fierce addition to UKHC comes in the form of OVERRIDE, as Bristol/Bath continues to be a hotbed for new upstart hardcore bands within the scene. A vicious and dense hardcore sound that seems intent on violence, there are breakdowns on “OUT OF SPITE” that will give opportunity for the spin kickers to put their moves into action. With plenty of live shows already under their belt, OVERRIDE will become a familiar face and sound to many over the coming months. – Joe
FFO: Living Spite, Tension & Slighted Hand
athera — Lilies Weren’t Meant for Dying / I Shed My Wings
Elbow Records
Weaving together emotive and porcelain clean vocals with screamo soundscapes, athera offer up one of the most enthralling sounds this year. The harsh contrast of the vocal performances ensure that this dual single is brimming with life and raw emotion. It drwas the ear back to the late 00s and early 10s, when such an approach to this genre and others was commonplace (think Pianos Become The Teeth). If this is a hint at what athera can produce, then they might just be the screamo act we’ve been waiting to produce something truly special.– Joe
FFO: I Have No Mouth, Monterey. & ennui
Gun — Saccharine
Independent
Gun are back with the swagger and nu-metal infused alt-rock that has made them such a fun listen over their past few releases. Turntable scratches and punchy rap verses are blended in with their alternative sound to ensure there are the moments to catch the ear and sing back. With Gun’s world of weirdness producing curveballs as they move into a full release, there’s no doubt what they’ve got planned next will keep everyone on their toes. – Joe
FFO: Ocean Grove, Knives & deathdotgov
