Column Releases You May Have Missed
RELEASES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: Singles, May 2026
“Swallowed up in to a haze of yellow.“
May was a busy old month on the singles front, as bands and artists clamoured to drop new music ahead of festival season or announce records due later this year – with the likes of 156/Silence and NO CURE announcing their much anticipated full-length albums. Amongst these were returns from nightlife, who dropped two groove-laden singles, and Employed To Serve, who released “Dead Reckoning” to announce their signing to Church Road Records. As always, there were plenty of singles this month that impressed us but didn’t quite make our coverage, so here are some of our highlights from May.
Buried In Spring — Integrate
Independent
The style and sound of the 00s are back, and in such force it feels dishonest to even label it a “revival” – in many genres it is now the leading force. Further adding to this are Buried In Spring, whose debut “Integrate” has captured the hearts and imaginations of many. The blend of post-hardcore screams and riffs with emo cleans on the chorus takes the ear back to when we were all spinning Saosin and My Chemical Romance. With the aesthetic nailed down to the point that the music video feels like it should be watched in 240p, what Buried In Spring offer up this year will certainly be one to watch. – Joe
FFO: I Promised The World, Underoath & Saosin
Private Prisons — The Yard/The Hole
Eclipse Media Collective
Ahead of the release of their upcoming record, Theo Lacy, Private Prisons have dropped a double single in the form of “The Yard/The Hole“. “The Yard” drifts between the deep and weighty sounds of sludge and extreme metal, the vocals bellowing through the track to conjure its horrors. “The Hole” then drifts off into the world of post-rock, with chords and drum grooves that wouldn’t be out of place on a Godspeed You! Black Emperor record, before bursting into screamo-esque blast beats and shrieks. The variation, and the sheer ability to pull it off, mean that Theo Lacy could be a surprise package when it arrives in a few months. – Joe
FFO: Fuming Mouth, Kulk & Final Dose
pain.program — ARCHANGEL.
Independent
While the breakcore and electronic-influenced sound that the likes of fromjoy. and fallingwithscissors have produced across the Atlantic seems to be thriving, it is starting to gain a foothold here too. The likes of Demeanour have touched on such experimentation, as have pain.program, who make their return on the single “ARCHANGEL.“. The frantic track blends jungle beats and soundscapes with dense metalcore to make for something that pushes at the edges of genre. With so much of this territory seemingly left to explore, there is a growing sense that pain.program could be the ones within the UK to advance that experimentation further – which could result in something incredibly special. – Joe
FFO: fromjoy., fallingwithscissors & iRis.EXE
Emasculator — Thaumaturgic Resurrection
New Standard Elite
Either side of a standout performance at Maryland Death Fest, Emasculator dropped two new singles, both showing their blackened death metal prowess. Each aspect of their sound crunches at the ear, the guttural screams on “In Blood and Fury” matched by downtuned, grinding guitars. Their technicality shines on the rapid riffs that “Thaumaturgic Resurrection” presents, backed by blast beats and menacing double kicks. If there is a sophomore record to come off the back of these singles, Emasculator could establish themselves as one of 2026’s BDM stalwarts. – Joe
FFO: Bludgeoned by Deformity, Stabbing & Ablation
No Culture — Dewy Eyed
Gene Neutral Records
Fans of old school shoegaze will come to absolutely adore what No Culture have produced on their recent single titled “Dewy Eyed“. Glistening guitars and expansive vocals that choose their moments to soar, channelling the atmosphere of those gentle summer days. As great shoegaze does, no single element here outshines the whole, each cymbal chime and reverbed riff fitting in perfectly. As the genre continues to swell with bands, No Culture are one underground act that will soon follow the path of the likes of Trauma Ray if they keep this quality up. – Joe
FFO: Lockstep, Gleemer & Kraus
kirakira — endera
Independent
The world of breakcore has seen a surge of artists churning out releases, with gems coming through across the board. One such case is kirakira, who takes on a more brooding, jungle-heavy strain of the genre. Breakbeats are blended with deeper, bassier rhythms, making for a sound far darker in feel than its glistening, ethereal counterparts – one that could be envisioned blasting out of a car subwoofer. With “endera” being their first track of 2026, it sparks curiosity as to what soundscapes kirakira will explore this year. – Joe
FFO: Sxnctuary, bleach.bath & Erythh
Many Rooms — Death & Life
Independent
There is always a sense of time and presence to Many Rooms. As they note in their own Instagram post for the release, their first after a six-year hiatus, they’re an artist that has seen much change across the decade-plus they’ve been crafting their sound. The two tracks on “Death & Life” play through with their plucked chords, Many Rooms musing on death and returning to their slowcore sound on “Reunion“. It’s difficult not to be reminded of the days of first discovering Many Rooms on Bandcamp, being awestruck at the songwriting on “Hollow Body“, drenched in its melancholy and grief, then seeing their masterful debut record There is a Presence Here, soon referenced by Silent Planet on “Vanity of Sleep“. Even after all these years, Many Rooms‘ talent shines, and hopefully this will be the start of a wider return. – Joe
FFO: Emma Ruth Rundle, Ex:Re and Grouper
Blood Surge — Suffer In Hell
Independent
Sometimes you hear a debut and immediately realise that this band knows exactly what they’re doing. Featuring Marc Richards and Nicholas Worthington both of Still In Love, Blood Surge are thrash-dipped metallic hardcore from hell. These riffs sound like they were written for chainsaws. The involvement of storied producer Lewis Johns gives this track a truly serrated edge. Finishing with a namedrop, let it be known the barn doors have been thoroughly blown off by the first track from Blood Surge. – Dobbin
FFO: Fuming Mouth, Year of the Knife & Mammoth Grinder
SYGH — Let Me Die
Independent
Dropping their EP Angel earlier this year, SYGH surprised with a follow-up single in the form of “Let Me Die“. The Dublin unit blend indie and math influences to craft a sound that is rich with rhythm and packed with sorrow, while vocalist Dharma‘s performance is utterly enchanting and melancholic. A track that ruminates, returning to its leitmotifs with a spiralling quality, it gives air to the weight of its title and all the trappings that come with it. Yet alongside Angel, “Let Me Die” proves that SYGH are an absolute gem who deserve far more attention in this space. – Joe
FFO: Sans Froid, IOTA & Fanchon
