Welcome to this week’s edition of New Music Friday, our wrap-up of all the metalcore, hardcore, alternative, and indie releases, plus picks from our staff. Check out our release calendar to keep track of what is releasing this year. (Cover: Forlorn – The Weight Of It All)
STAFF PICKS
Pest Control – Don’t Test the Pest
Label – Quality Control
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Joe recommends: Blending thrash metal and hardcore, Pest Control drop their scorching debut full-length in the form of Don’t Test the Pest. With it’s whirling guitars and furious vocals, there will be plenty to throw down to while listening to one of UKHC’s finest prospects.
Veil of Maya – Godhead (Single)
Label – Sumerian Records
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Max recommends: Venturing further into the deathcore-adjacent sound rediscovered on “Synthwave Vegan”, “Godhead” is a tech-metal masterclass. Replete with all the bouncy polyrhythmic chaos and gnarly unclean vocals one could want, it’s clear the veteran djent group aren’t fucking around on this new material — crafting a sound that is sure to satisfy fans new and old.
Vengeance – Vengeance (EP)
Label – Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Nisrin recommends: In what will be a contender for one of the gnarliest releases of the year, Vengeance are back with their hard as nails self-titled EP. Including a brutal feature from Venom Prison’s Larissa Stupar, it’s time to get acquainted with one of Australia’s best metalcore bands.
Ankor – Oblivion (Single)
Label – Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Harry recommends: Following the huge success of previous single “Prisoner“, Ankor return with new single “Oblivion” which sees the group lean into their more melodic side. With soaring vocals and gorgeous vocal melodies, Ankor are hitting their stride with their latest material.
METAL/CORE RELEASES
Distant – Heritage [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Century Media Records
In Flames – Forgone [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Nuclear Blast
Aphyxion – Ad Astra [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Circular Wave
Big Laugh – Consume Me [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Revelation Records
STORMO – Endocannibalismo
Label – Prosthetic Records
CADAVER SHRINE – Benighted Desecration
Label – Independent
Motive Black – Auburn
Label – AFM Records
Delain – Dark Waters
Label – Napalm Records
View From The Soyuz – Immaculate (EP) [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Daze Records
Stitched – SLUMTRACKS (EP)
Label – Independent
Hated – 9411 (EP)
Label – Independent
Mourning Sun – Second Skin (EP)
Label – Independent
Sail’s End – Live and Die (EP)
Label – Independent
Honest Crooks – The Sounds of Hell (EP)
Label – EVP Recordings
Lasting Dose – Lasting Dose Demo (EP)
Label – Independent
Big Boy – Spring Promo 2023 (EP)
Label – DAZE Records
World Of Joy – The Feeling Of Freedom (EP)
Label – life.lair.regret. records
DRAIN – Evil Finds Light (Single) [ALBUM NEWS]
Label – Revelation Records
Scowl – Opening Night (Single) [EP NEWS]
Label – Flatspot Records
Forlorn – The Weight of It All (Single)
Label – Silent Cult
Zulu – We’re More Than This (Single)
Label – Flatspot Records
Angelic Desolation – Barbaric Destroyer (Single)
Label – Independent
This Dying Hour – Age Of The Coward (Single)
Label – Independent
Brand of Sacrifice – Dynasty (Single)
Label – Blood Blast Distribution
Burner – Hurt Locker (Single)
Label – Church Road Records
Initiate – Alone At The Bottom
Label – Triple B Records
Carcosa – Born to Lose (Single)
Label – Independent
Suicide Silence – Dying Life (Single)
Label – Century Media Records
Judiciary – Paradigm Piercer (Single)
Label – Closed Casket Activities
Berried Alive & I Set My Friends on Fire – Purée Evil (Single)
Label – Independent
alt. – THE GREAT DEPRESSION (Single)
Label – Sharptone Records
Attack Attack! – Dark Waves (Single)
Label – Oxide Records
Malestorm – Cut Your Teeth (Single)
Label – Independent
UNITYTX – WORLD OF MALICE (Single)
Label – Pure Noise Records
Blue Widow – Mockingbird Society (Single)
Label – Independent
Crownkeeper – Dreamer (Single)
Label – Independent
Demon Hunter – THE BRINK (Single)
Label – Weapons MFG
Earth Groans – Overgrown (Single)
Label – Solid State Records
Villa Morta – The Abstract (Single)
Label – Independent
Esprit D’Air – 雫 (feat. Misstiq) (Single)
Label – Starstorm Records
Heirloom – ROMANTICIZE (feat. Taylor Barber of Left to Suffer) (Single)
Label – Judge and Jury Records
Imminence – Jaded (Single)
Label – Arising Empire
Seeing Things – Soulkiller (feat. Grapefruit Astronauts) (Single)
Label – Independent
Assurance – From Ruin (Single)
Label – Independent
Sedative – Heavy Lies The Head (Single)
Label – Independent
GLOOMLIGHT – GLASSTIDE (Single)
Label – Independent
POST-HARDCORE/ROCK RELEASES
Narrow Head – Moments of Clarity [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Church Road Records
Pierce The Veil – The Jaws of Life [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Fearless Records
You Me At Six – TRUTHY DECAY [FULL REVIEW]
Label – AWAL Recording
Paramore – This Is Why [FULL REVIEW]
Label – Atlantic Records
Feyn Entity – Débordement (EP)
Label – Independent
Queen Cult – For Now, Not Forever (EP)
Label – Mother City
Revenira – Bad Product (Single)
Label – Independent
Linkin Park – Lost (Single)
Label – Warner Records
Enter Shikari – It Hurts (Single)
Label – Silva Screen Records
Dead Lakes – strange juice (Single)
Label – Sharptone Records
Poison Ruïn – Härvest (Single)
Label – Relapse Records
Can’t Swim – Nowhere, Ohio (Single)
Label – Pure Noise Records
Of Virtue – A.N.X.I.E.T.Y. (Single)
Label – Arising Empire
Passionflower – Amor (Single)
Label – Independent
The Plot in You – Left Behind (Single)
Label – Fearless Records
Halo Bite – Real Guns, Fake Holsters (Single)
Label – Independent
Death Goals – Faux Macho (Single)
Label – Prosthetic Records
Trash Boat – Delusions of Grandeur (Single)
Label – Hopeless Records
AXTY – Misery Business (Paramore Cover) (Single)
Label – Independent
Atlantis Chronicles – The Drowned and the Saved (Acoustic) (Single)
Label – Independent
Bemore – Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears Cover) (Single)
Label – Klandestine Music
Chemical Youth – CTRL+ALT+CONSUME (Single)
Label – Independent
RIVALS – They Wont Love You (Single)
Label – Independent
Versallite – Хрустальные города (Single)
Label – Independent
Your Misery – Shallow Life (Single)
Label – Independent
Titans in Time – Enemies With Benefits (Single)
Label – Independent
Magnolia Park & Ethan Ross – Do or Die (Single)
Label – Epitaph Records
Nameless Planet – Insomnia (Single)
Label – New Dimension Records
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE/SHOEGAZE RELEASES
Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
Label – Matador Records
Tennis – Pollen
Label – Mutually Detrimental
The Academic – Sitting Pretty
Label – Universal Music
Rebecca Black – Let Her Burn
Label – Independent
Kelela – Raven
Label – Warp Records
Sabrina Claudio – archives & lullabies
Label – Atlantic Records
Andy Shauf – Norm
Label – Anti-
Liv.e – Girl In The Half Pearl
Label – In Real Life Music
Black Belt Eagle Scout – The Land, the Water, the Sky
Label – Saddle Creek
Bilk – Bilk
Label – Scruff of the Neck Records
The Jordan – Nowhere Near The Sky
Label – Cooking Vinyl
crushed – extra life (EP) [FULL REVIEW]
Label – ng+
M83 – Fantasy – Chapter 1 (EP)
Label – Virgin Records France
Jessica Winter – Limerence (EP)
Label – Lucky Number Music
LibraLibra – Mother’s Ruin (Single)
Label – Independent
Spotlights – Algorithmic (Single)
Label – Ipecac Records
Friday Pilots Club – Life Support / Ms. Supernova (Single)
Label – Independent
Creature Cult – poster boy (Single)
Label – Independent
Now More Than Ever – Heels Up+Head Over (Single)
Label – Creatrix Records
bdrmm – It’s Just A Bit Of Blood (Single)
Label – Rock Action
The Faux Faux – Cold Hearted Woman (Single)
Label – Drowned in Sound
Phil Firetog Trio & Co – How A Heart Breaks (Single)
Label – Firetog Records
BRE – Rather Be Alone (Single)
Label – Dream Awake productions
Bailey – Closer (Single)
Label – Independent
Daughter – Party (Single)
Label – 4AD Ltd
Infinity Crush – demolition derby (Single)
Label – Independent
Eighty Ninety – 2 Carat (Single)
Label – Independent
Julian Rose – Fighting A War (ft. Caroline Romano)
Label – The 7eventh House
Squid – Swing (In a Dream) (Single)
Label – Warp Records
LIES – Resurrection (Single)
Label – Polyvinyl
Gengahr – A Ladder (Single)
Label – Independent
Indigo De Souza – Younger & Dumber (Single)
Label – Saddle Creak
Moreish Idols – Nocturnal Creatures (Single)
Label – Speedy Wunderground
Ailbhe Reddy – Last To Leave (Single)
Label – MNRK UK
Mareux – Night Vision (Single)
Label – Revolution Records