Static Dress
When mapping out Static Dress’ rise to the top in years to come, 2021 will be considered a pivotal year in that. The additions of drummer Sam Ogden and a new unnamed guitarist ahead of their debut at Download: Pilot earlier this year, has created a lineup of immense talent. Their debut EP, Prologue..., eventually saw a mainstream release after being initially in demo form on CDs at Slam Dunk and panic room v3 shows. With this Static Dress released one of the best EPs of the year and proved they can deliver on the high standards set by previous singles. With new material due imminently and the possibility of the album teased in the music video for “sweet.” on the way, Static Dress will quickly become the blue chip prospect of the scene.
Modern Error
The evolution of Modern Error as they enter their Victim of a Modern Age era has been remarkable. The trio of tracks to lead the charge into their album release this January have been their best work. “Error Of The World“, “A Vital Sign” and “The Truest Blue” offer up impassioned performance with different creative paths on each. Wearing their influences of 30 Seconds To Mars, Taking Back Sunday and Nine Inch Nails on their sleeve, they are the perfect torchbearers to bring that sound into the modern day.
Venom Prison
The death metal unit have made themselves a staple of the genre with releases such as Samsara and the recent remastered collection Primeval. With the upcoming Erebos, penned in for release this Feburary, Venom Prison will look to expand beyond the confines of their genre. With “Judges of the Underworld” and “Born of Oizyzs“, there are fresh elements introduced taking influence from post-metal and prog. And, if both songs are anything to go by, this next year will be a breakout year for the Welsh group.
Graphic Nature
Blending together a cocktail of aggression, fury and rage in their visceral sound, Graphic Nature are making themselves one of the hottest new acts in nu-metalcore. Tracks “chokehold” and “drain” showed how the unit have refined their sound over the past few months as they lead up to their debut release. Being one of the workhorses of the UK tour circuit, there’s a good chance this exciting prospect will be coming to a venue near you soon.
Acres
After a scattering of EPs and singles, Acres made their full-length debut in 2019 with Lonely World. Arguably one of the most underrated albums of that year, the group are set to return next year with a follow up release. Release to release, Acres have consistently shown improvement over the years. Whether it was the quality of the production or a step up in songwriting, they find a new way to sharpen their sound. If this trend continues, as expected, the melodic hardcore group could have a few of their fellow artists looking over their shoulder.
Diamond Construct
With a self-titled full-length and well received EP under their belt, the Aussie nu-metalcore group are seeing their stock rise. With the latest release, “Hit It Back“, the group tweaked their sound introducing R’n’B influences and leaning further into 00s nu-metal. With these new influences at play, Diamond Construct didn’t lose the jarring breakdowns and cutting riffs of previous releases. With this new character implanted into their sound, it is going to be exciting to see what these Aussies have lined up for us next.
Greyhaven
Following their incredible record Empty Black in 2018, Louisville, Kentucky quartet have announced their new album This Bright and Beautiful World to be released on April 15th, 2022. The band released the first single titled “All Candy” from the new album on 2022. This single features a bit of a softer approach with a phenomenal hook that is definitely what we consider ear candy. This new album is sure to draw more attention to the band than ever before.
Heriot
Heriot have been making a deserved name for themselves on the UK scene. The quartet are fronted by mind-blowing vocals from Jake Packer and Debbie Gough, backed with metallic sludge and hardcore instrumentals. Recently released singles “Near Vision” and “Enter the Flesh” invoke elements of Nails, Knocked Loose, Code Orange, and Vein. Set to appear at a host of festivals next year including Upsurge, Bloodstock and 2000trees, there will be plenty of opportunity to witness this fearsome group live.
Love Is Noise
The duo of Cameron Humphrey and Tom Mellon have presented a blend of black metal, synth, metalcore and post-rock with their debut singles “Deja Vu (without you)” and “Pillowcase“. With material in the pipeline for 2022, there is an intrigue to see how else this duo will experiment with the various influences they draw from. With the two singles already available being starkly different from each other, there could be a few surprises on the way.
Brutus
Stunning listeners globally with the beautiful fury of “War“, “Sugar Dragon” and “Fire” on their sophomore record, Nest, Brutus are set do it all over again in 2022. With a new record in the works, drummer/vocalist Stefanie Mannaerts‘ will undoubtedly continue to impress with some of the most impassioned drumming and vocals you will set your ears to. An appearance at next year’s Arctangent planned and more festival appearances to come, Europe will be the Belgian trio’s to conquer.
Vatican
Savannah metal five-piece Vatican are now rising out of America’s south and onto the world stage. Returning earlier this year with singles “Become A New God” and “Absolute Reality“, with this the unit joined the likes of Stray From The Path and ERRA on UNFD’s roster. Adding third single “Decemeta” to their collection of standout singles this year, the classic influences of Meshuggah and The Dillinger Escape Plan are there to hear. With an untamed ferocity and unashamed message, Vatican are set to break from the shackles of small-town Savannah before too long.
End Archaic
With 50 monthly listeners on Spotify, the independent progressive metalcore outfit that is End Archaic are not a name known to many. Having shared the stage with core stalwarts such as Slaves, Wage War, and Varials, they absolutely should be known. Following the release of their stellar debut The Glass Box EP at the tail end of 2018, the band began putting together a full-length, and a series of singles followed in 2020. Then the band shelved the album due to COVID, opting to wait until live shows reopened in full force. Their EP is full of dynamic vocal passages, polyrhythms that give even Sentinels a run for their money, and the occasional death metal tinge that adds a much-needed depth to the characteristic progressive sound. 2022 is the year for End Archaic to finally show where else they have pushed this sound.
Crystalview
Crystalview are what you get if you cross Invent Animate with the ambience offered by a fantastical, anime-inspired soundscape. Vocalist Davin Des has one of the craziest ranges in the scene, covering the full breadth from soaring cleans to deep lows and nasty highs. Crystalview offer uplifting riffs and whimsical ambience to a genre so littered with melancholy. Debut EP Distant Lights: Solstice was a fantastic statement of the band’s creative intention to incorporate fantasy into the genre, but the addition of producer Buster Odeholm (Vildhjarta and Humanity’s Last Breath) to the mix for their 2021 single “Lost Memory” is a sign of greater things to come. Remarkably, the band penned most of their EP’s lyrical content in a single day, and so the forthcoming full-length with the additional time and production investment is a tantalizing prospect.
Desolate
New York quintet Desolate are a hard band to pin down. Taking lyrical influence and samples from popular anime and manga, they touch on hard topics like loss and unbearable suffering with a fine paintbrush, wrapped up in a sound that whips from beatdown, to lo-fi, to chaotic metalcore without warning. It feels effortless. Single “Hedgehog’s Dilemma” from the band’s latest release The fate of destruction is the joy of rebirth (both Neon Genesis: Evangelion references) is a must listen for any fan of There is a Hell-era Bring Me The Horizon, slotted seamlessly between instrumental tracks. It is coming up on a decade since the band’s formation and they have continued to improve year after year, making them one of metalcore’s most exciting prospects for 2022.
nightlife
Baltimore Soulpunk outfit nightlife already gained praise from us through our Top 25 EPs of 2021 list, making a big splash with just two original songs and a cover. However, with plans of a second EP, and potentially even more through 2022, the group are set to reach even more ears. With their infectious blend of contemporary R&B, soul, funk, post-hardcore and djent, nightlife are one of the most unique and promising acts across the entire alternative music scene right now, and are sure to take over in 2022.