“When we’re face to face, I will not hesitate.“
Looking back on March, the global alternative underground delivered for us. ZOMBIESHARK! has been dropping singles that are mind-bendingly hot. Metallic hardcore is eating well (besides the prospect of a second Converge album in the same year) through singles by Harrowed and Armed for Apocalypse. Ambitious post hardcore from the likes of GILT, Nostalgia Bias and Ink Runs Deep also impressed. For more reasons to not judge a band by their numbers, check back through our March New Music Fridays and see nine more highlights below.
Infected Dead – In Spaces Beyond (Independent)
They rise again. Infected Dead‘s first stint was pre-2020 and now they wash up back on the shores of Kent, UK with renewed ambition. This incarnation of the band specialises in technicality, bucking the recent trend of knuckle-dragging old school UK death metal (excluding Cryptic Shift, of course). On “In Spaces Beyond“, bassist Luke Fabian makes amazing use of his chops from years with Pupil Slicer and Dawnwalker, running circles around the guitars and making the track’s lengthy solo a dual pronged attack, sharing the spotlight with Alex Brown. “In Spaces Beyond” is topped off with a clean mix, evenly representing each musician and invoking the beloved sound of death metal’s 90s CD era. – Dobbin T
FFO: Atheist, Pestilence & Carcass
Melting – Glare (Greyscale Records)
Australia may currently be entering its autumn, but they still bring the heat all year round. Melting dropped their first track from their upcoming May EP A Pathetic Excuse for a Life. “Glare” demonstrates a proficient fusion of metallic hardcore, mathcore and simply the fattest guitar tones around. The vocals are viscerally memorable, screams thrown to the ceiling, fitting to the chest-bumping lyrics, which inspire us to be adamant in the face of disrespect. – Dobbin T
FFO: Knocked Loose, False Reality & SCARAB
Tyrannus – Reignfall (Munitions Audio)
Overtly political lyrics are not often synonymous with black, death, or speed metal, whereas crust and d-beat bands wouldn’t be picking up the mic without something real to say. Here’s an example that inverts the trend: Tyrannus draw musically from extreme metal with an exemplary punk attitude. “Reignfall“‘s lyrics are glorious: “Destiny crushed by the underclass / Not for pennies, all for change / A new order of wealth and pain“. Challenge: since the key influence is 80s thrash, maybe can trick your Daily Mail reading dad into rocking out to this… – Dobbin T
FFO: Final Dose, Devastator & Hellripper
Sacravia – Silence binds (Independent)
There’s something brewing in the UK’s South West. The quiet hills are rumbling awake with the likes of Monochrome and Prodigal. The latest addition to this is atmospheric metal unit, Sacravia, who show an absolute penchant for the sound of their debut single “Silence binds”. Leaning into the expansive sound the likes of HEAVENSGATE and Spiritbox dabble into and make their own, and blended with more traditional metal riffage and musings, Sacravia cross that threshold of appealing both to modernity and what came before. With a tidy aesthetic, it seems that Savcravia are set to conquer the local scene, and eventually beyond. – Joe E
FFO: Rozemary, GILT & Post Heaven
The Get Off – Trauma Chic (Independent)
The self-described sassy-hardcore unit The Get Off deliver it up in absolute buckets on “Trauma Chic”. They switch between swaggering moments of noodly riffs and dancing punk vocals, before bursting into grindcore goodness that delivers a vicious blow in the track. With an EP on the horizon, the three year wait for The Get Off to return is certainly seemingly worth the wait. – Joe E
FFO: Plastics, Death Goals & Gouge Away
Phantom Lung – Target Rich Environment (Independent)
Crafting a hellish sound that blends the relentlessness of grind and grit of death metal, the returning Phantom Lung prove their brutality once again on “Target Rich Environment”. Chainsaw riffs put their pedals to superb use, striking a pitch that’s good itchy. The tighter production here showcases the blunt-edges of Phantom Lung’s sound, as each element pounds at the senses, making for a listen that forces itself to be remembered. – Joe E
FFO: NAILS, PISSCORPSE & Mourned
Sevalynn – HOLY SH*T! (feat. Slamwich) (Independent)
After flirting with various iterations of the metalcore sound, it seems Sevalynn have finally settled on one with their latest material; the gnarly side. First single offI Wish It Didn’t Have to Come to This in “FAINT OF HEART” is a wrathful track, touching on more melodic and metallic hardcore elements. Soon followed by “HOLY SH*T!”, that goes full beatdown at times with its aggression. A snare that pops and brutal riffs, matched vocal barks to go with it, Sevalynn prove their range of sound and ability. All topped off with a feature from Frankie Puleo of Slamwich, to give it that slamming rage, making for a standout single. Followed by single “SAFE TO STAY AWAY”, Sevalynn continued to prove that they may have one of metalcore’s surprise records up their sleeve. – Joe E
FFO: Terminal Sleep, Boundaries & Melting
Her Skin on Porcelain – Artilleries & Excuses (Independent)
While on first glance this may seem like another metalcore screamo revival band; once you listen, you can just feel that Her Skin on Porcelain has something special. Performing with Clay Birds, Pity, and we’rethecurrency before dropping their first song, they took their time to perfect their craft with “Artilleries & Excuses”. The track shows the start of what they are capable of. They combine groovy riffs, singalong choruses, and classic California metalcore style breakdowns, all wrapped in that old school production. From the sound to the aesthetic, this band has something unique buried in here. As time goes on and they continue to grow, Her Skin on Porcelain will be one to keep an eye on. – Anthony W
FFO: Sincerely Yours, Lost Not Found, ripped size 3 skinny jeans
Malicious Compliance – Sterilise (Independent)
Malicious Compliance are making waves in the modern metalcore scene with their deliciously aggressive single “Sterilise”. Incorporating a frenetic screamed vocal delivery with intense down tuned guitars, it’s fair to say it’s a moshpit-friendly track. It should be criminal how much this song makes you want to throw down, listen with caution if trying to practise anger management.
FFO: Slipknot, Graphic Nature & Thrown