Single Slam: Beyond Grace, Arcane Tongues, Vanitas, Kraanium, Gozer, Sentinels, Thundermother, Lune, The Answer Lies in the Black Void, Genus Ordinis Dei, Serpent’s Oath, The Scratch, Going Off, AGLO, and Unprocessed!

This week’s single slam features Beyond Grace, Arcane Tongues, Vanitas, Kraanium, Gozer, Sentinels, Thundermother, Lune, The Answer Lies in the Black Void, Genus Ordinis Dei, Serpent’s Oath, The Scratch, Going Off, AGLO, and Unprocessed. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Beyond Grace – The Burning Season

Progressive death metallers Beyond Grace are banning books and setting pages aflame on their latest single, ‘The Burning Season’. It is taken from their forthcoming new EP ‘Welcome to The New Dark Ages Part 1’, which is released on 24th November.

Eschewing the standard album cycle, Welcome to The New Dark Ages will be released as a series of three digital EPs – each of which will include an exclusive cover track, as well as eye-catching artwork by Gary Ronaldson of Bite Radius Designs (Napalm Death, Misery Index, Benighted), all culminating in a physical release which will collect the entire saga together in one cohesive whole.

Exciting stuff from Beyond Grace and if this track is any indicator of what the three EPs will deliver overall, that excitement is only going to increase. This first track is a banger, a meaty and heavy banger, with a surprise of two. A ‘clean vocals’ surprise. Beyond Grace are beginning to expand, while still being undeniably intense. Progressive death metal at its best.

Arcane Tongues – Broken Promises

Arcane Tongues is a London-based alternative rock band formed by singer and guitarist Alvaro Alonso, hailing from Mexico City, and bass player Gustavo Passarella, originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fuelled by a profound passion for alt-rock, their musical journey draws inspiration from favourite bands such as Queens of The Stone Age, Royal Blood, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Shinedown, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures, Jack White, and Nirvana.

They have released their debut single ‘Broken Promises’. A track resonates as a poignant reflection on the trials and tribulations faced during challenging times. The song offers an intimate glimpse into his own experiences navigating mental health struggles and confronting feelings of hopelessness in the uncertain aftermath of the pandemic.

Alternative rock is the name of the game here, Arcane Tongues keeping things a bit light and soft, but with plenty of moodiness infused into it. Things really come to life as they hit the chorus. Here the uptick in energy and more passionate sounding rockiness, makes for an extremely memorable listen. Cool stuff. Check it out here.

Vanitas – Secrets

Following the success of their duo of singles ‘Eventum’ & ‘Between Lune & Eden’ this year with a combined 21K views on Youtube and being added to over 200 playlists in the last month, Vanitas show no sign of slowing down with their newest single ‘Secrets’.

Describing the track, Vanitas said this:

Watching a loved one hold onto a lie is heartbreaking; Secrets tells a story of family betrayal through a cathartic, aggressive explosion of emotion. Vanitas take inspiration from nostalgic video-game soundtracks and orchestral soundscapes to create what they coin ‘cinematic djent’.

The attention that Vanitas are getting is more than deserved, and with this new single, there is no doubt that more and more people will be turned on to their progressive metal sound. Secrets is a bit of anthem, yet for all its catchiness, it is enchantingly epic and charmingly heavy. Heck, it’s Vanitas, and they really are a special band. Get on board now because this band are going to continue blowing up. Check it out here.

Kraanium – Massive Piles of Festering Remains

One of Europe’s most lauded brutal death metal exports, Kraanium, have released the second single from their upcoming album, ‘Scriptures of Vicennial Defilement’ due out on November 3rd, 2023 and their first on recently announced label home, Unique Leader Records. The new track, titled ‘Massive Piles of Festering Remains’ comes accompanied by one of the most extreme and NSFW music videos in recent years, you have been warned.

Speaking on their recent announcement, Kraanium share:

Check out the next installment ‘Massive Piles of Festering Remains’, from our upcoming album ’Scriptures of Vicennial Defilement’. We worked closely with Snuff Masks to bring you this delightfully gory masterpiece.

Spread the word. We hope you all enjoy the brutality!

A savage combination of unrelenting nastiness and delightful heaviness, Kraanium are on absolute fire here. Is this the most brutal thing they have ever put out there? It certainly feels like it, and when combined with a video that is… quite something, it feels even more vicious. There’s no other way to describe this track, beyond saying it will f**k you up and you’ll love ever second of it. Check it out here.

Gozer – Celestial River

UK post-metal band Gozer, who released their debut album ‘An Endless Static’ last year, are set to return on 3rd November with their new EP ‘The Path Always Leads to The End’. To celebrate this announcement, they have released ‘Celestial River’ the first single from the upcoming EP.

Sounding pretty damn grand, and infusing a ton of sludgy elements into their post sound, Gozer bring weight with this new single. Epic weight that is dark and cold, with heaviness that tears the soul apart, and with touches of melody that offer brief glimmers of light. This is a showcase of a very confident band, notable by the fact that there are no vocals for over half the track length, and few will miss them. Yet, when they do arrive, they just enhance the weight and make the experience all the more intense.

Sentinels – Glitch

Sentinels, a force in the metal scene, is set to captivate audiences with their latest single, ‘Glitch,’ out now. This electrifying track is a precursor to their highly anticipated EP, In Limbo, set to drop digitally on October 27th.

A blast of high-powered metal that takes props from the metalcore, deathcore, and technical death metal world. Glitch is a brash mix of brutal heaviness and has these sharp electronica moments that fit neatly alongside the crunching heavy speed. There is an overall melodic sheen that becomes more notable as the track goes on, but it’s far from what dominates here. Check it out here.

Thundermother – Send Me to the Wolves

Rising from the ashes of Thundermother, The Gems redefine the very essence of rock music with their upcoming debut album, Phoenix, out 26th January 2024 via Napalm Records. With unwavering determination and raw talent, this trio hailing from Stockholm, Sweden is ready to rewrite the rules and inspire a new era. The trio have now revealed their second single, ‘Send Me to the Wolves’.

There’s to the future of The Gems, a band that rocks and rocks hard. There’s a old-school vibe to this groovy number, with the highlight coming from the amazing vocals. It’s a track that demands you get up and move, which many people will find themselves more than happy to do because it is wildly accessible.

Lune – Progeny

Melbourne metalcore outfit Lune have announced their signing to Resist Records and release new single Progeny, leading single from upcoming EP ‘The Change Around Us & The Change in You’ out November 10.

The new tune tackles vocalist Nathaniel Smith and guitarist Krys Smith experience with family violence. The former explaining that:

Family is complicated and that is especially relevant for us.

Family ties are often used as an excuse to not hold someone accountable for their behaviour. The title Progeny came from the fear that in some way negative traits are hereditary, and there’s this vehement refusal to take on the negative qualities of a toxic family member. We are not the failings of our family or the things we have experienced. You owe it to yourself to unlearn all of the things that harmed you and the unhealthy schemas that were put in place as a result of your environment in an effort to survive.

Spitting straight fire, Lune’s new single is a garish blast of heaviness and speed, where even the more melodic side – the chorus – still burns extremely brightly. It’s metalcore, but exciting metalcore, as the instruments and vocals hit with a ton of force and it becomes near impossible to not head-bang along to the manic vigour. Check it out here.

The Answer Lies in The Black Void – Virgin Fire

Atmospheric doom-metal collective The Answer Lies in The Black Void featuring members of Thy Catafalque and Celestial Season have just revealed a music video for a new song titled ‘Virgin Fire’, which is taken from the band’s forthcoming second album ‘Thou Shalt’, scheduled for release October 13th via Burning World Records.

The pedigree within this band is enough to turn heads even before a second of the music is heard. Yet, few will be prepared for the absolute cacophony of haunting atmosphere and heavy doom that comes from it. This is all about getting you in the mindset for a dark invasion, and on that front, The Answer Lies in The Black Void nail what they are going for. It’s going to be fascinating to hear what comes next. Check it out here.

Genus Ordinis Dei – Genesis

Ground-breaking symphonic death metal band Genus Ordinis Dei have revealed another new music video and single entitled ‘Genesis’. This is the second video episode and single from the band’s upcoming full-length concept album The Beginning which is scheduled to be released on December 8, 2023 via Eclipse Records.

One of the most creative bands within the symphonic death metal world, Genus Ordinis Dei are masters of story-telling and that continues into this new single. Which is more than listenable on its own, even if the excitement to hear it in the context of the full release is much more palatable.

Here, the symphonic death metal band does what they do best, creating grandiose atmosphere, lavish melodies, and combining all of that with pounding heaviness. It’s a measured beast that shows the forward momentum of this band and how they continue to get better and better with each new release.

Serpents Oath – Blood Covenant

As black metal fans the world over wait hungrily for Revelation, the third album from Belgium’s Serpents Oath, the band have opened fire with a vicious new single taken from the album – ‘Blood Covenant’!

Speaking about ‘Blood Covenant’ the band said:

When picking singles, we always try to give a diverse selection, so the listener gets a good taste of what to expect from the album. With this first single, that is even more true, as it entails the different aspects of the album within one song. The step up in quality on this album will be clear from the first listen.

As black as a moonless and starless night, Serpents Oath pour a huge amount of filth and bile into the ears of black metal fans who dare put this on. The grim intensity, delectable heaviness, and brash speed does result in something quite strong. A track that, on multiple listens, reveals darker and deeper depths. Check it out here.

The Scratch – Blaggard

Dublin quartet The Scratch are a band that sound like no one else you’ve ever heard before. They’re proud to announce the release of their James Vincent McMorrow produced album, Mind Yourself, on November 3rd in the UK on Music for Nations.

New single, the high-energy melodic earworm, ‘Blaggard’, as well as its accompanying video, perfectly portray the band’s electrifying energy and their witty sense of humour.

Describing the single, Daniel Lang (cajón, percussion, lead vocals) commented:

We have been working on the idea of this song for a few years. It’s vastly different to anything we as a band have written before. We played it for the two James’s (James Vincent McMorrow – Producer and James Eager -Enginer) and their reaction gave us the confidence to go back into studio and finish it.

Jordo (guitar, lead vocals) referenced ‘DDevil’ by System of A Down as a starting point and the song just flowed from there. ‘Blaggard’ is aggressive, it’s bouncy, and the first of probably many a heavy banger to come in the future so get it right up ye.

There’s no lack of creativity in The Scratch, revealing a wacky and weird piece of music with Blaggard. Not only that, it has an intensity that is going to result in some busted bones and bent minds. Try as you might, few won’t be able to stop themselves from jumping up and down to this madness.

Going Off – Pay the Price / Bed of Concrete

UK hardcore upstarts Going Off are back with another two new singles. Both coming ahead of their UK tour alongside Employed to Serve and Pupil Slicer.

First up, we have Pay the Price. Coming at 1:22, it’s a short and sharp piece that has a raw and wicked pacey groove. Then, around the 40-second it switches completely, seemingly about to go into the maddest breakdown ever. Yet, interestingly, Going Off hold back and just deliver filthy and slow heaviness. It will make you gurn. Check it out here.

Bed of Concrete is a single second longer than Pay the Price, and that abrasiveness is front and centre again. Yet, this has a more familiar hardcore feel, with plenty of vigour, leading to another switch-up that actually does turn into something ‘crowd-killing’. Check it out here.

AGLO – Shame as A Weapon

The Melbourne-based sludgy death-metal project AGLO created by Aaron Osborne of IEXIST and Mental Cavity, have shared a brand-new song called ‘Shame As A Weapon’. Taken from his debut full-length album ‘Build Fear’, which is scheduled to be released on November 10 via Brilliant Emperor Records.

Osborne had this to say about the track:

‘Shame as a Weapon’ was one of the later things I wrote for the record, but I had the lyrics for a while so kinda tried to find a song to fit, and I thought this one did the trick with the big pit part at the end. This song is essentially about an alien species who overcome years of persecution and harness their shame into a means to overthrow their oppressors, a brutal theme across many science fiction stories, but neatly at home in Star Trek. I’d say this is probably the most hardcore-leaning song on the record, it’s a ripper.

Methodical and mean, covered in darkness, and constantly threatening to go a bit manic, Shame as A Weapon is a bit of beast. One that quickly bares its fangs and sets about ripping and tearing through the soft, fleshy bits of the human body. Doomy, sludgy, and intense, it’s a vile level of heaviness that all fans of brutality will fall in love with. Check it out here.

Unprocessed – Blackbone

Progressive boundary pushing quartet Unprocessed have released their new single / video ‘Blackbone’, taken from their upcoming third album …and everything in between, set for release on 1st December 2023.

The band comment:

‘Blackbone’ is a modern metal hymn, with signature Unprocessed riffs, a big chorus, a brutal breakdown and one of [guitarist/vocalist] Manuel’s epic guitar solos. The song is about the inter dialogue one has with their inner child that’s forever present. It speaks of the longing to be brought back to the times of being carefree and just living the day, as well as the anger that comes with the dawning realisation that those times will unlikely ever return.

Dependably exciting and always interesting, Unprocessed stick to type here, but if you know what Unprocessed’s type is, you know that’s a good thing. A ton of melody, some razor-sharp technicality, and unrelenting ‘core’ savagery, leading to a ‘classic’ Unprocessed breakdown that freaking ‘slaps’. This band is killing it at the moment and this track is just further proof of that.