Following on from our round-up of our favourite LPs and EPs from November, we dive into some of the finest singles to release last month. These include the debut track from Eschalon, a hardcore rager from GOD AWFUL and gorgeous melodies from Adelyn.
Eschalon – Helios (featuring Neema Askari) (Independent)
Our editor Maximo David’s band, Eschalon, has dropped their debut track “Helios“ featuring Neema Askari (ex-Monuments).
FFO: Silent Planet, Volumes & Veil of Maya
Portside – Icarus (Independent)
Running out of Birmingham, pop-punk group Portside have seen themselves improve and refine on each track they’ve dropped this year. Recent drop “Icarus” is where this all becomes evident, with neat production elevating their catchy grooves and vocal hooks that impart charm. In the hopes that there is more of this to come along with further evolution, Portside seem to be in good stead to continue on an upwards trajectory.
FFO: Eat Your Heart Out, Nave & Crooked Teeth
Misery Whip – Sounds Of The Cave (Bleakhouse)
One of the many side-projects of KING YOSEF, Misery Whip quickly follow up their ALPHINE MILITANT EP with more stupidly heavy material on “Sounds Of The Cave“. Fist-throwing blast beats accompanied by growling gutterals make for one of the hardest tracks to drop in November.
FFO: Chain Gang, Gaijin & Implosive Disgorgence
GOD AWFUL – Keep My Name (IEHC)
More than making a name for themselves this year, GOD AWFUL drop another set of ragers with “Keep My Name” and “Time’s Up“. The most choice barks from vocalist Julz are “Ring a round the rosie, pocket full of nose bleeds“. It makes for a track that will see mic grabs, spin kicks and two-steppin’ aplenty.
FFO: Going Off, Final Form & Punitive Damage
IOTA – Medicine (Independent)
Bristol shoegaze unit IOTA made their return in 2023 with new single “Medicine“, blending shoegaze tones with alternative rock sensibilities; it captures the ear with an assertive grace. The dreaminess and haze IOTA‘s sound prevents it falling too far into what the likes of Bleed have offered up before and instead sits in its own unique niche.
FFO: Hundredth, Split Chain & LOCKSTEP
CROSS CHECK – Hostage // Nightshade (Independent)
Montreal hardcore unit CROSS CHECK continue to drop music to have a scrap to on their latest dual-single, “Hostage // Nightshade“, that builds on the rumbling riffs and gnarly vocals that were displayed on their debut DEMO 2023 EP. A feature from Bruiserweight vocalist Grayson Carpenter on “Nightshade” adds an extra level of fury and will leave a few teeth loose during live sets.
FFO: End Game, Tripper & Cherish
Adelyn – Statues (Independent)
UK upstarts Adelyn dropped their second single “Statues“, following on my previously released “The Hardest Part“. The duo of Christina Rotondo on vocals and Ali Marshall on guitar blend together gorgeous melodies and riffs to make for something stunning, and, if this project has legs, could see this duo make a name for themselves.
FFO: Kite Thief, DARLAH & SAVE US
In Clover – Pandora (feat. Cauldron)
Unsuspecting to many, Belgium arguably contains some of the best hardcore/beatdown on the continent, including the likes of Nasty and Game Changer. Within this comes quartet In Clover, who drop their first new material since 2021 in the form of “Pandora” which sees a feature from Midlands hardcore unit Cauldron, both coming together to make an incredibly pissed off track.
FFO: Bloodfury, Nothin’ But Enemies & Phaze Two
Girlhuff – Deadboy/Verbalticks (Independent)
Girlhuff‘s very first take presents them as a hardcore project with a huff more complexity than your typical band. Gladly hoisting the label of ‘queer hardcore’, the track certainly possesses the necessary vitriol to match (“A Hanged Man will piss when he cannot whistle“). The recording is also a cut above most band’s first tracks, even in the punk scene. Rather than a breakdown, the track ends with a groofy and stuttering riff. I’m really taken by the power in the vocals, powerful at no loss of power, at times from both members.
FFO: Death Goals, Better Lovers & Shooting Daggers