New Music Friday – May 16th, 2025

Welcome to New Music Friday, where we wrap-up all of the releases from the week ranging from metalcore, hardcore, alternative and indie. Give our release calendar a look to see what other releases are coming up. The NMF playlist can be found here or at the bottom of the page.

This marks our 200th issue of New Music Friday, so a few thanks are in order. Thanks to all our staff writers and graphics editors who have joined us on this crazy endeavour, surrendering late nights to giving emerging artists the chance they deserve. Thanks to everyone who has been dropping in to check out our recommendations – if even a few readers have found a favourite via this column, it’s all been worth it. And finally, thanks to everyone involved in, or working to champion, the DIY alternative music scene, where ever you are on the globe.

 STAFF PICKS 

Against The Gravity – BREAK (Single)
Label – ATG RECORDS
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Dobbin recommends: Myanmar’s very own nu-core sensation dropped this ditty earlier in the week. It’s full of synth, vocal, and guitar hooks, which are hurled at you relentlessly, intent on making you move. This will keep them more than ticking through 2025 and should be an easy playlist pick for moments where you want to be bouncing.

dormant – It’s More Than You Deserve (Single)
Label –
Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Joe recommends: dormant’s introduction to the UK scene has been explosive with their recent singles, including latest addition “It’s More Than You Deserve”. Another track packed with nu-core fury, it’s commanded by shredding riffs and harrowing vocals. Both of these explode in a shotgun-breakdown that looks to knock the stuffing out of listeners before the track closes out.

fromjoy – Eternal.Harvest (Single)
Label Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Jack recommends: Tapping into the hardcore roots that have always underpinned their core sound, “Eternal.Harvest” sees Fromjoy move in a completely new direction once again. Where the previous single, Monochrome, saw clean vocals take the forefront, “Eternal.Harvest” acts as a showcase for the band’s harsh vocal talent. If you’re expecting the Fromjoy that you’ve come to know, think again. Though there’s a clear thread throughout which is quintessentially Fromjoy, this track is a whole other beast, expanding their sound and further expanding their genre repertoire.

Somerset Thrower – Motor City (Single)
Label – Smartpunk Records
(Spotify/Apple Music)

Dobbin recommends: “Sound of the summer” is a phrase that’s thrown around far too much, but we can’t resist recoining it for “Motor City”. This is fresh and upbeat post-hardcore that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. It’s prominently underlined by delicious bass with tone for days, and the surrounding production is pitch perfect. Their third record releases in July and ought to take all of this potential for a victory lap. 

METAL/CORE RELEASES

Bury Tomorrow – Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience
Label – Music For Nations

Confessions of a Traitor – This Pain Will Serve You
Label – Facedown Records

Death Whore – Blood Washes Everything Away
Label – No Good To Anyone Productions

GAI 荄 – YOU LIE
Label – Independent

Gutrectomy – ANGST
Label – Independent

IVERVERI – The Absence of Light
Label – Independent

LARCɆNIA ROɆ – Extraction
Label – Unique Leader Records

Letters Sent – Post-Gravity
Label – Independent

Novelists – CODA
Label – Out of Line Music

Pelican – Flickering Resonance
Label – Run For Cover Records

Sleep Theory – Afterglow
Label – Epitaph Records

The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven
Label – MNRK Heavy

Wounded Touch – Vivid Depiction of Collapse
Label – Smartpunk Records

IREVERI – The Absence of Light
Label – Independent

Bleeding Truth – My Star My Pefect Silence (EP)
Label – Dont Panic! Records

Full of Hell – Broken Sword, Rotten Shield (EP)
Label – Closed Casket Activities

Stoneside. – the isolationist  (EP)
Label – Famined Records

anomic333 – memory decay (EP)
Label – Independent

HAIL MARY – HAIL MARY (EP)
Label – KILLJOY ENT

Beautiful Child Of God – Scraping Divinity Demo (EP)
Label – Bathe Steuer

Archers – Wide Awake (Single)
Label – SBG Records

Broken Earth – RAINMAKER (Single)
Label – Independent

fromjoy – Eternal.Harvest (Single)
Label – Independent

Lorna Shore – Oblivion (Single)
Label – Century Media Records

Lost in Separation – Still Love (Single)
Label – Independent

Major Moment – What A Time (Single)
Label – Independent

MORTAL REMINDER – WAR OF LOVE (Single)
Label – Independent

Motherwell – To all those I’ve loved and lost (Single)
Label – Independent

PRESIDENT – In the Name of the Father (Single)
Label – Independent

Re-bured – Obitual Illusion (Single)
Label – Translation Loss Records

Revnoir – Night Terror (Single)
Label – Arising Empire

Ruins of Perception – Ashura (Single)
Label – Seek & Strike

Shadow of Intent – Infinity of Horrors (Single)
Label – Independent

st.sinner – alive (Single)
Label – Def Wolf Records

Thin the Herd – Avarice (Single)
Label – Independent

Austere – Storm Within My Heart (Single)
Label – Prophecy Productions

INNER SPACE – Shapeshifter (feat. DOGBITE) (Single)
Label – INNER SPACE

Sugar Spine – To Fade Quietly (feat. Half Me) (Single)
Label – Heavy Collective

Deadguy – New Best Friend (Single)
Label – Relapse Records

vianova – Whatever Alright (Single)
Label – Arising Empire

Born Of Osiris – Through Shadows (Single)
Label – Sumerian Records

Deez Nuts – ICU (Single)
Label – Century Media

Fallujah – Step Through the Portal and Breathe (Single)
Label – Nuclear Blast

Midwinter – Dislocated (Single)
Label – Independent

Mugshot – Next To Your Idols (Single)
Label – Pure Noise Records

Sadistic Force – Soft Flesh for the Dungeon of the Damned (Single)
Label – Pure Abandon

Sixth Wonder – Ropeburn (Single)
Label – Independent

Adept – Heaven (Single)
Label – Napalm Records

Against The Gravity – BREAK (Single)
Label – ATG RECORDS

Blood Menace – Death Portal (Single)
Label – Agony Menace

Cryptopsy – Malicious Needs (Single)
Label – Season of Mist

STOMACH – Get Through Winter (Single)
Label – Hibernation Release

lowheaven – Chemical Pattern (Single)
Label – MNRK

Until The Day I Die – As The Petal Falls (Single)
Label – The Coming Strife

HARDCORE RELEASES

CLIQUE – In Lives That Won’t Last
Label – Closed Casket Activities

Born To Die – Piece By Piece (EP)
Label – Hardkill Records

CITRUS – Succumb to Scum (EP) 
Label – Independent

Friction – Crazier Things Have Happened (EP)
Label – Homie Shit Magazine

Life of Deceit – only love and death change all things. (EP)
Label – Bayway Records

Irruption – TCK-TKN (EP)
Label – Independent

LEFT PARALYZED – DEMONSTRATION 25 (EP)
Label – Independent

Direct Measure – Testing Our Bonds (Single)
Label – WAR Records

Fugitive – Spheres Of Virulence (Single)
Label – Blue Grape Music Inc.

Hostages – BLOOD MONEY (Single)
Label – Dont Panic Records

Statement of Pride – Ascension (Single)
Label – Youngblood Records

Vespid – Dead To Me / Dropout (SIngle)
Label – Independent

Conditions Apply – Idel Minds (Single)
Label – Independent

Seven Hells – Hollow Prayers b/w Judgement Day (Single)
Label – Kingpin Melbourne Records

Skinhead – .45 / Ancient History / Jog Your Memory (Single)
Label – Skinhead

Intercourse – Running A Cemetery Without A License (Single)
Label – Brutal Panda Records

Lost Legion – Stuck In One Place (Single)
Label – Mr Face

Bayway NJ – Malocchio (Single)
Label – New Trustkill Records

Born Cursed – BC (Single)
Label – CASSETTE CULTURE

POST-HARDCORE/ROCK RELEASES

Arm’s Length – There’s a Whole World Out There
Label – Pure Noise Records

Hundredth – Faded Splendor
Label – Independent

La Dispute – I (EP)
Label – Epitaph

Linkin Park – From Zero (Deluxe Edition)
Label – Warner Records

Stand Atlantic – WAS HERE (DELUXE)
Label – Hopeless Records

New Age Thief – stars [re]align (EP)
Label –
Many Hats Distribution

As December Falls – Bathroom Floor (Single)
Label – Independent

Atlas : Empire – Happy As Lazarus (SIngle)
Label – Independent

Cherie Amour – 180f0PARANOIA (Single)
Label – Equal Vision Records

Dream State – Bittersweet Scars of My Past (Single)
Label – Independent

Dwellings – IDGAF2 (Single)
Label – Tragic Hero Records

Lilac Kings – Passing Out (feat. Caleb Taylor of pulses.) (Single)
Label – The Angel Like Expression

Loveless – Step Back (Single)
Label – Independent

Scary Kids Scaring Kids – Oblivion (feat. Kat Leon of Holy Wars) (Single)
Label – Velocity Records

The Home Team – Worthy (Single)
Label – Thriller Records

Volbeat – Time Will Heal (Single)
Label – Vertigo Berlin

Whiteblossom – Forever (Single)
Label – Independent

Билборды – На память (Single)
Label – Independent

Letters Sent Home – September 29 (Single)
Label – SHARPTONE

Solence – Where Were You..? (Single)
Label – Better Noise Music

ALTERNATIVE/INDIE/SHOEGAZE RELEASES

Alexandra Savior – Beneath The Lilypad
Label – RCA Records

EKKSTACY – FOREVER
Label – UnitedMasters

Mhaol – Something Soft
Label – Merge Records

Soot Sprite – Wield Your Hope Like a Weapon
Label – Specialist Subject Record

Bivouac Cabs – Foundation (EP)
Label – Independent

la.nskey – 8 (EP)
Label – Guesswork

Youth Code – Yours, With Malice (EP)
Label – Sumerian Records

Black Honey – Insulin (Single)
Label – FoxFive Records

Daisy Grenade – So Happy (Single)
Label – Fueled By Ramen

Cellar Dwellar – digital_drive_by (Single)
Label – Independent

slo/tide – Blood Hungry (Single)
Label – Feltone

STS-51l – Zugzwang (Single)
Label – 3 AM

Tesla Boy – Делать нечего (Single)
Label – Independent

Nation of Language – Inept Apollo (Single)
Label – Sub Pop Records

Wolf Alice – Bloom Baby Bloom (Single)
Label – Mushroom Music

Phantom Limbs – Omen (Single)
Label – Lowland Recordings

Sam Swancott – The Floor (Single)
Label – Sam Swancott

The Dirty Nil – Spider Dream (Single)
Label – Dine Alone Records

Hard Chiller – Hotboxhead (Single)
Label – Born Losers Records

Half Happy & Ooze – BLOOMED (Single)
Label – Independent

Neurotech – Cast Into Shadow (Single)
Label – NeuroMedia

Somerset Thrower – Motor City (Single)
Label – Smartpunk Records

yeule – Dudu (Single)
Label – Ninja Tune

Crippling Alcoholism – Blue Stamps (Single)
Label – Independent

IOTA – Out Of Here (Single)
Label – Independent

Jessica Winter – Wannabe (Single)
Label – Lucky Number

Jools – Limerence (Single)
Label – Hassle Records

Pile – Born at Night (Single)
Label – Sooper Records

Slow Crush – Thrist (Single)
Label – Pure Noise Records

Coach Party – Girls! (Single)
Label – Chess Club Records