Single Slam: Ghosts of Atlantis, Revoid, Throat, Kill the Kong, Master’s Call, Bloom, Underdark, DragonForce, Sugar Horse, Emil Bulls, Everlyne, Shameless, Hollow Front, and Doro!

This week’s single slam features Ghosts of Atlantis, Revoid, Throat, Kill the Kong, Master’s Call, Bloom, Underdark, DragonForce, Sugar Horse, Emil Bulls, Everlyne, Shameless, Hollow Front, and Doro. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Ghosts of Atlantis – The Lycaon King

Ghosts Of Atlantis and Hammerheart Records presents the official comic video for ‘The Lycaon King’. Taken from the symphonic extreme metal band’s upcoming new album ‘Riddles Of The Sycophants’. Which will be released on October 27th, 2023.

Ghosts of Atlantis has already proven their epic extreme qualities with their debut album but based off the music that is coming from this new record, they’re going bigger than ever before. The Lycaon King is story-telling greatness, delivering a gargantuan sound that blends crunchy heaviness with deep symphonic layers. The interplay of vocal styles is inspired stuff here, and the differing detail that is showcased across its length, is stunning. The latter part is head-banging gold and will sound immense live.

Throat – Tiny Golden Murder

Finland based noise-rock band Throat recently announced details on their new album ‘We Must Leave You’ set for release on 27th October (Svart Records). Rooted in the same heavy, dark rock sound as always, but now featuring a touch of gothic drama from the 80s. Now, they have shared the new single ‘Tiny Golden Murder’.

It’s always nice to be surprised, and Tiny Golden Murder is a surprise. Not so much as in Throat have changed their entire sound, but rather the fact they are introducing new elements that give their music a fresher feel. Case in point, the moody and goth-infused sound of this track. A track that sounds part cut from an earlier era, but a track that also sounds quite forward thinking too. Throat’s rock style is extremely captivating and this is a track that gets better and better as it goes on. Check it out here.

Revoid – Blood Petals

Brisbane metalcore act Revoid release heartfelt new single, ‘Blood Petals’ featuring Julian Latouche of Inertia ahead of an October East Coast headliner.

Revoid continue to make one hell of a name for themselves with release after release, and this single is all about emotion. Dramatically melodic with a wonderful flareup of passion when the chorus hits, it’s a deep and meaningful listen. Having Inertia’s Julian Latouche guesting certainly doesn’t do the track any harm either. Check it out here.

Kill the Kong – Deepfall

Swedish metal stalwarts Kill The Kong are back with the new single, ‘Deepfall’, which features Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, Night Flight Orchestra) on guest vocals.

Kill The Kong state:

The journey of ‘Deepfall’ began with distinct origins that evolved when the chorus sparked a transformative trajectory, infusing it with heightened intensity. The commanding central riff instantly captures attention, while the segment that later became Björn Strid’s defining vocal contribution held exceptional quality. Björn’s addition is an honor that enriches the track with a potent essence. The video breathes life into the music, complemented by producer Buster Odeholm (Humanity’s Last Breath, Thrown) who had an impactful role in the song’s realisation. With this fresh approach, we delve into heavier territories, delivering something we feel will quickly resonate with the metal community.

The music video is the result of us teaming up with our longtime video producer, David Andersson. We aimed to capture a dark atmosphere while keeping a straightforward approach. This collaboration blends the music with Andersson’s visuals, effectively conveying our overall vision. The video’s direct style amplifies its dark theme, creating an engaging experience. We hope you enjoy it.

Heavy. That is all you need to know here. Kill the Kong have on hell of a heavy track to offer here. No harm can ever be done by having Björn “Speed” Strid guest on your song, and he meshes with Kill the Kong perfectly. Yet, he doesn’t take away from the pounding and crashing sound the band has to offer here. He’s simply the cherry on top of an absolute head-banger.

Master’s Call – The Serpent’s Rise

A force of heavy metal blackened by death from The Black Country in the UK, Master’s Call will release their long-awaited debut album ‘A Journey For The Damned’ on November 24th, 2023. They have now released the first single ‘The Serpent’s Rise’, alongside a video for the track.

Welcome back, Master’s Call. We’ve missed your blackened death metal sound and it’s great to see them moving forward and about to release their debut album. This is a fresher Master’s Call, and this track is a showcase of their sinister and dark sound. Dripping with blackened vibes, but with high-tempo death-infused horror at its core, it’s a track that epitomises the word ‘evil’. Master’s Call showing a developed deviousness that both excites and horrifies. It’s a nasty, but lovable, piece of music. Check it out here.

Bloom – Bound To Your Whispers

Sydney melodic hardcore outfit Bloom unveil new single ‘Bound To Your Whispers’ and announce their signing to Pure Noise Records in partnership with Greyscale Records.

Explains the band:

Written as dialogue between the two internal voices, the protagonist is manipulated by their own thoughts, falling into a false sense of security.

The ferocity in Bloom here is quite startling, the group are absolutely raging here, and this track is pure fire. Aggressive, but relatable hardcore heaviness, with impressive moments of melody that change the tone and give it a poppier feel. All while still having this strong level of intensity. There’s a lot of feeling in this track. Check it out here.

Underdark – Enterprise (1st November 2004)

Underdark return with news of their sophomore LP ‘Managed Decline’, which will be dropping on the 24th of November this year, and the first single, ‘Enterprise (1st November 2004)’, which is out now.

Vocalist Abi explains the meaning behind the lead single…

Enterprise is the most aggressive song on the album so it’s fitting that it’s the darkest part of the story. A father and daughter are earning money – by pimping the kid to buy dope. I wrote it to also serve as a metaphor for the fetishisation of entrepreneurship in neoliberal society.

Fast and frenetic, dark, and dominating, brutal and brash, all with layers of technical detail and intensity. This is savage stuff from Underdark and showcases their return in monumental fashion. The energy they exude, the track slowly evolving over time, and the increasing erratic style is stunning. It is an outstanding piece of music.

DragonForce – Doomsday Party

Grammy-nominated extreme power metal legends DragonForce have unleashed a standalone single, ‘Doomsday Party’.

Guitarist Herman Li commented on ‘Doomsday Party:

We’re super excited to unveil a brand-new DragonForce song after a wait of over four years! It was a tough decision to choose which of our new tracks to release first, but we decided on this one because it showcases a different facet of our music while still retaining the unmistakable DragonForce sound.

The filming process for this video was a blast, and we had the opportunity to bring our vision to life in the city of Los Angeles, CA. Our hope is that metal fans from all walks of the genre spectrum will find something to enjoy in it. We can’t wait to play this live during our upcoming tour!

As DragonForce as it comes, Doomsday Party is anthem of excitability, infectiousness, and rich energy. They’re certainly finding a new niche to explore, with this track filled with synth, while also having all the hallmarks of the band. It’s catchy, that much is for sure, but it lacks a spark that makes it stand out from the crowd. Not a bad DragonForce song, but not a great one either. Check it out here.

Sugar Horse – III – Consequences

The monolithically UK heavy quartet Sugar Horse have streamed their new single ‘III – Consequences’, another slice of their forthcoming mesmeric new EP, Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico (3rd November, Fat Dracula Records/distributed by Metal Blade Records in US).

An epic achievement, Truth… is, in signature Sugar Horse style, one single long song: a meditation and exploration of everything the note A has to offer.

Sugar Horse comment on the new single:

This section kind of feels like stepping into the eye of a particularly lengthy storm. It’s a short reprieve where we break everything down before climbing back up that staircase again. Lyrically it describes the catharsis of art. You can take in any pain, hurt and bullshit from day to day like, then use it to generate something positive and beautiful. There’s something I find unbelievably beautiful in that kind of genesis. It’s probably the closest I come to any kind of religious thought. You take hell and turn it into heaven.

Excited yet? This new snippet is all about moody melody, reminding listeners of how emotively mellow and heartfelt this band can be. While also showing their inimitable power. Hearing how this snippet fits with what has been released before, and what the full thing will sound like, is reason to be extremely excited about the full release. There’s no doubt it is going to be very special indeed.

Emil Bulls – The Devil Made Me Do It

German alternative metal quintet Emil Bulls have released a video for their brand-new single ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’, out now via their new label home Arising Empire.

An explosive start that scales back to showcase their melody, followed then by Emil Bulls flipping the script, the early portion of this song will see many a listener making up their mind. Yet, stick with it, Emil Bulls have much more to offer. Including a hell of a catchy chorus and plenty of chunky and chaotic groove. Check it out here.

Everlyne – Wreck-less

Melbourne alternative rock band Everlyne inspire listeners to follow their own desired path despite expectation on new single Wreck-less. The song serves as the next chapter in this fresh new era of Everlyne, continuing to lean into dark and cinematic electronic soundscapes established on previous single The Inbetween.

A solid blend of poppiness and rockiness, Everlyne blend the best of both worlds and deliver something that gets stuck in the brain. The instrumentation is strong, but it’s the vocals that really stand out. A bit more bite would be nice, but as a first experience, it leaves an impression. Check it out here.

Shameless – Victims of Data

Shameless are a trio from Soweto, South Africa, where they are one of a few rock/alternative bands. Their music is influenced by the music they grew up with, they have dubbed their sound Nkabi Rock / I Rock Yase Kasi (Assassin Rock / Rock from The Township, in isiZulu).

Their new single ‘Victims of Data’ is out now with the inspiration coming during the pandemic’s extended lockdowns in South Africa. When the world moved online, it became very clear that lower income communities were excluded because of the cost of data which results in low internet access rates.

The South African rock and metal scene really doesn’t get enough attention, but bands like Shameless will certainly help change that. Having punk-infused vibes, showcasing a direct honesty, and having the groove and catchiness to turn a wider audiences head. What’s really impressive bout this track, is how the tone shifts around the halfway point, but that’s a surprise well worth finding out for yourself. Check it out here.

Hollow Front – Breaking Teeth

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based metalcore slingers Hollow Front recently announced their third album The Fear of Letting Go. It arrives October 27th via UNFD. Now, they have shared the visualizer for the voracious new single ‘Breaking Teeth’.

Says vocalist Tyler Tate:

This song is just pissed. It’s one of the heaviest songs on the record, if not the heaviest. When I wrote the lyrics, I was just so fed up with the world and my life in general. It felt like no matter what I did, I could never get ahead. Set back after set back, problems around every corner. It’s annoying having to cope all the time. Living should be simpler. But the society we live in prevents that. We should all be pissed about it.

Talk about an apt title, this track will result in a few busted mouths and loose teeth. Hollow Front are spitting blood here, sounding like they want to fight the entire world. The unbridled aggression is all anyone will remember, provided they haven’t been concussed by it. This week’s nastiest sounding track. Check it out here.

Doro – Bond Unending

Doro Pesch’s new masterpiece Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud will be released worldwide on October 27th via Nuclear Blast Records. The third album single ‘Bond Unending’, has now been released and it sees the metal queen presents her fans with another high-profile duet partner, namely Sammy Amara from the German rock heavyweights Broilers.

Doro comments:

Bond Unending is a song about deep friendship. Sammy and I wrote it in the middle of the night. We had so much fun together. The chemistry was great right from the start.

It seems as though anyone Doro pairs up, works. Two excellent musicians, offering up different styles that mesh well together. The ultimate takeaway from this track is just how catchy it is. Sitting on the calmer side of rock, its lyrical content is sweet, and the chorus proves to be a bit of a singalong.