Single Slam: Arch Enemy, Wildheart, Kentucky Headhunters, Fire by Night, Headwreck, Ghosts of Sunset, Vended, Empyreal Sorrow and The Lurking Fear!

This week’s single slam features Arch Enemy, Wildheart, Kentucky Headhunters, Fire by Night, Headwreck, Ghosts of Sunset, Vended, Empyreal Sorrow and The Lurking Fear. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Arch Enemy – Deceiver, Deceiver

Metal legends Arch Enemy have launched a video for a new standalone single, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen: “Deceiver, Deceiver” – the band’s first original release since 2017’s acclaimed Will To Power!

Arch Enemy’s founder and chief songwriter Michael Amott comments:

Wait…what? Has it really been four years since we last released new Arch Enemy music? Time flies…especially when you tour the world for a couple of years, decide to take some time off…and then we all get hit with a global fckn pandemic! Everyone’s been through hard times these last couple of years, and it’s beautiful to see everything coming back now. This very much feels like the right moment to return with a brand new song, ‘Deceiver, Deceiver’! Not the happiest of tunes, but believe me – we’re ecstatic to be back!

A lot has changed in the world since Arch Enemy last released new music but do you though what hasn’t? Arch Enemy’s penchant for and ability to deliver in your face, fast-paced and compelling metal. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this track is how it sounds like old-school Arch Enemy and current Arch Enemy at the same time. A band refocused and reenergised? It seems so based off this meaty offering.

Wildheart – Out for Blood

Wildheart are out for blood. Their new album ‘Global Crisis’ is on its way and will be arriving on Friday November 5th. Now, they herald that the last cut from the record to be exposed to the world, Out For Blood.

In a statement made by Adam and Axel from Wildheart, they proclaim that the song is about demanding more transparency and honesty from our Politicians and people in power.

Out For Blood in many ways was a visceral reaction to the glaring issues that the capitalist system has wrought upon us, especially in the midst of COVID-19. When the pandemic kicked off, the whole rhetoric of ‘There is not enough money to feed you, to educate you or keep people alive’ was blown apart, as they pumped billions of dollars into the economy, the world’s richest ran away with insane amounts of money, all while people are told they have to pay back instalments they needed to survive the extended lockdowns.

What a powerful punch of melodic hardcore heaviness this, Wildheart are spitting fire and the meaning behind the track shines through. A track that compels you to get up and move, especially when they hit the breakdown. If this is your first exposure to Wildheart, it has made the new album unmissable. Check it out here.

Kentucky Headhunters – That’s a Fact Jack

Southern blues-rock royalty, The Kentucky Headhunters are proud to release their latest album, ‘That’s a Fact Jack!’. They’re also premiering the lyric video for its hard rocking title track of the same name.

A thumping and groove-tastic blast of bluesy Southern rock, if you want a quick taste of what you’re in for on the whole album, this is a great example. Leg-quivering, foot-tapping, arm-shaking and head-nodding music that is the perfect encapsulation of Southern blues rock. Watch out for the animated guitar solo which puts the cherry on top.

Fire by Night – Obsessions

Hard rock trio Fire by Night have released their new single “Obsessions,” out on all digital platforms now. On “Obsessions,” Fire by Night approaches the topic of mental health with fervor.

They say:

Obsessions was written about anxiety and depression, and how the typical conversation goes with a friend or family member that does not understand it for themselves. As it says at the end of the first verse: “My darling, if I must remind you that future may only fix the mess” draw from the narrative when someone tells you that “it’s gets better”. The lyrics of the chorus, “just watch it burn down my life” dwell on the emotions that arise from the realization that mental illness is a lifelong battle, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

A heartfelt and touching ode to a subject that is becoming more and more prevalent in music. As it should be. Fire by Night express themselves with a powerfully melodic stance but also deliver strong and memorable riffs. It’s a surprisingly hooky track with all the melodrama that such a subject and style of music requires. You won’t forget this one any time soon. Check it out here.

Headwreck – Eulogy

Brisbane hardcore four-piece, Headwreck, are back to release their punchy new single “Eulogy” from forthcoming debut EP, ‘Glamorise Demise’, out Friday November 19th.

A massive sounding blend of synth, electronica and hardcore ferocity. Wreck’s Eulogy is cut from the cloth of modern hardcore sounds but makes the electronica the focal point. While that isn’t going to be for anyone, few will be able to deny just how wild this track can get. Or just how remarkable the chorus is. Check it out here.

Ghosts of Sunset – Look Me Up (If You Come Down)

Ghosts of Sunset release their new single ‘Look Me Up (If You Come Down)’, out on 1st November on Golden Robot Records.

Folks, we have a contender for the catchiest track of the year. Ghosts of Sunset’s rocking new single is a crowd-pleasing, smile-inducing and danceable number. One that features impactful guitar riffing, so many damn hooks and a beat that is impossibly infectious. Finish it, hit play again and again and again. It’s that damn strong. You will be able to check it out here upon release.

Vended – Burn My Misery

Des Moines’ rabble rousers, Vended have premiered a new single, ‘Burn My Misery.’ The track is another taste of new music from their forthcoming self-released 5-track debut EP, ‘What Is It / Kill It’, which arrives at DSPs on November 12th.

The five-piece says:

‘What Is It / Kill It’ is a collection of music written within the past three years that represents us. Your support means the world to us. The next generation is here, this is only the beginning. Welcome to Vended!

We’re going to try to avoid the Slipknot comparisons here, it’s way too easy to do. A simple bit of Googling will tell you all you need to know. Listening to the track will tell you even more. What we want to do is judge Vended on what they doing here and what they are doing is delivering a filthy and feral slab of metal. Aggressive and raw sounding, it’s very heavy. Those of a certain age are going to be transported back in time a bit while others are just going to love the unbridled rage that makes up the majority of it.

Empyreal Sorrow – Cursed Be the False Promise

Melodic death metal band Empyreal Sorrow have released a new single called Cursed Be the False Promise. The opening track from the upcoming new 4-track EP Harm(ony) Within, out on December 24th.

A raging inferno of fury at organised religion and the groups that follow them, Cursed Be the False Promise is hellish heaviness. A track with just enough melodic flair to keep it rooted in what Empyreal Sorrow do so well. Head-banging inducing and pit creating, there is a stompy beat led by the drums and the vocals are at their blackest sounding. However, it’s the riffs that really stand out. Serrated and sharp, it’s a track that cuts deep. Check it out here.

The Lurking Fear – Death Reborn

The Lurking Fear, the old-school Death Metal group from Sweden featuring members of At The Gates, Disfear, God Macabre, Skitsystem, Tormented and The Haunted in their illustrious line-up have launched new single/video for “Death Reborn” off upcoming sophomore album “Death, Madness, Horror, Decay”! Out on November 19th, 2021 via Century Media Records worldwide.

The Lurking Fear vocalist Tomas Lindberg Redant commented about the track as follows:

’Death Reborn’ was one of the last tracks to be finished for the album. A pure old school death metal storm, that main riff just blew me away when I heard it, and I knew we had to make space for it on the A-side of the album straight away. The lyrics were quite instant as well, as the track had a certain attitude that needed to be conveyed in the lyrics as well. Still drawing main influence from the Lovecraft universe, but with an added extra aggressive twist. And, I know it is short…approx. one minute, but if you have three great riffs like these, why make it complicated?

1:11 of frantic and frenzied death metal noise, there’s nothing complicated about this track. It is simply The Lurking Fear playing as hard, heavy and fast as possible and creating a whirlwind of death to leave anyone and everyone disorientated. It is a blast!