Single Slam: Scene Queen, High on Fire, Full of Hell, House of Ousey, Perpetual Paradox, Solars, Crownshift, GAZ, Exiled Hope, Breed 77, Queen Laya, El Moono, and Alpha Wolf!

Today’s single slam features Scene Queen, High on Fire, Full of Hell, House of Ousey, Perpetual Paradox, Solars, Crownshift, GAZ, Exiled Hope, Breed 77, Queen Laya, El Moono, and Alpha Wolf. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Scene Queen – Finger

The Queen is back. Metal/Bimbocore starlet Scene Queen is continuing to paint the world pink with a sassy, sexually empowering new single called ‘Finger’. The track is taken from Scene Queen’s highly-anticipated debut album, Hot Singles in Your Area, which fans can look forward to in late 2024.

On the new single, Scene Queen shares:

I wrote the song about my queer awakening. I also wanted to flip the script on songs written to sexualise women in a way that was for a man’s pleasure. I wrote this song about two women experiencing things equally. So the song is vulgar like any sexual song but with a woman driving the narrative about her own body and taking control of her own pleasure with step by step instructions. Additionally, the song’s music video features a dance made to be accessible to anyone both sitting or standing. I wanted to feature that in the video because, as someone who struggles with POTS, I was at one point completely unable to dance like I do standing in the video. So I wanted something to make everyone feel included because sexuality and pleasure is something everyone can and should be able to relate to.

If you’re one of the ‘people’ who are outraged by what Scene Queen are bringing to the metal table, you probably should stop listening because they’re not making music for you, specifically. They’re making music for everyone. There’s nothing exclusive here, it’s all about inclusivity, and musically, it’s all about wide-spread appeal. Which it will have because it’s such a catchy tune with an outrageously fun vibe.

That being said, it’s just an alright song and we’ve definitely had more compelling music from Scene Queen. Still, what a bright future this band has!

High on Fire – Burning Down

Iconic GRAMMY-winning U.S. rock band High on Fire have released a video for new single ‘Burning Down’, taken from their upcoming full-length Cometh the Storm due for release on 19th April via MNRK Heavy.

A thunderous and groovy rock song from a band that seems to be reinvigorated as of late. A hefty and hard-wearing tune, where every single instrument shines and the vocals are sounding immense. It’s got some real ‘meat to the bones’ of a High on Fire song, and this more intense style is definitely worth getting excited about. Check it out here.

Full of Hell – Doors to Mental Agony

American grindcore outfit Full of Hell will release their brand new full-length ‘Coagulated Bliss’ on 26th April via Closed Casket Activities. The album’s first single ‘Doors to Mental Agony’ is out now.

Dylan Walker (vocals/electronics) comments on the track:

In this life there are many doors. Rural America exists in a vacuum with its own mundane horrors and dead ends. Every person you know will stumble through one of these doors at some point, falling into mistakes that can’t be undone. Look on reality and weep.

Grim as f**k. Full of Hell are grindcore maniacs but have a filthy noise metal sound too. The result is a track that simply wrecks. Only 1:41 in length, it goes extremely hard from the beginning, but somehow gets even harder near the end. If you want to feel like you’ve taken some serious lumps in very quick fashion, this track will deliver. Check it out here.

House of Ousey – Fugitive

Having been described as a must-see for fans of hard rock and metal, House of Ousey are a band that pays homage to genres such as power metal, hard rock, and even big band music. They embrace their own style of theatrical rock with expressive guitar solos, big vocal harmonies, and catchy choruses. As possibly the only power metal band in the New Zealand music scene, they took home awards for best guitarist and best drummer at the New Zealand Battle of the Bands in 2022 and opened for the legendary Stryper during their visit in 2023. Following this momentum, House of Ousey have released their debut single ‘Fugitive’.

Mafia-themed metal? I have no idea what that means, but I do know good metal, and that’s what we get with Fugitive. House of Ousey certainly have a theatrical side to their sound, blending several different genres, and tying it all together in an infectious way. The leaning into power metal territories is particularly notable, and the vocals really soar, but the guitars are doing so much here. Definitely check these guys out.

Perpetual Paradox – Altar of the Lie

London-based modern metal icons, Perpetual Paradox, have released their latest single, ‘Altar of The Lie’. It marks the second single release of 2024 for Perpetual Paradox. Following in the footsteps of their critically acclaimed single ‘The Vice’.

A stompy modern metal anthem, Perpetual Paradox are sounding quite intense here, and deliver some crunching heaviness. Amazingly, for being so damn heavy, it’s got some real catchiness to its sound. Which is even more impressive as this is also a track with a sharp technicality to the instruments. How about those vocals though? The word ‘scathing’ was invented for descriptive reasons like this. Check it out here.

Solars – A Hill to Die On

Instrumental post rockers Solars are back with a brand new single. Called ‘A Hill to Die On’, it is the lead single from their upcoming album ‘A Fading Future’.

New Solars is always welcome here, and that this song pre-empts a new album, makes things so much better. So, what do we have? A heavy Solars track. One with an array of instrumental delights that moves, stage by stage, through varying degrees of post rock and metal. All while sounding brilliantly cohesive and exceptionally captivating. There’s a dark sheen covering this track too, a sinister kind of atmosphere, and that just makes it all the more interesting.

Crownshift – A World Beyond Reach

One of Finland’s hottest new exports, high-profile modern metal band Crownshift, are happy to finally announce the release date and details of their eagerly awaited self-titled debut album, which is due out on May 10th, 2024, via Nuclear Blast Records.

To whet the appetite and mark the announcement, they have released a new single called ‘A World Beyond Reach’.

The rise of Crownshift is nothing short of phenomenal, but the noise that surrounds them is more than justified. Especially when they’re dropping bangers like this. A big metal track, with massive melodic moments, that draws parallels to the melodeath world, while also sounding fresh. The highlight? A ripping guitar solo.

GAZ – Lullaby for the World

‘Lullaby For The World’ by GAZ is a poignant blend of protest and prayer, inspired by global adversity and a quest for divine intervention. Navigating themes of war, politics, and hopelessness, the track urges listeners to confront societal challenges.

It sure is impressive that this gloomy-tinged and moody rock tune does have a lullaby feel. Credit to GAZ, who really infuses this track with so much passion, all while keeping the tone mellow and dramatic sounding. The vocals are immense, and the chorus is stunning. Check it out here.

Exiled Hope – The Silence is Deafening

Exiled Hope, the blackened power metal project of multi-instrumentalist, Sofia Frasz will release her next single ‘The Silence is Deafening’ on March 7, 2024. The song is taken from her upcoming album Apocrypha.

Sofia comments:

This song is for anyone who feels like they’re giving more to someone else than they’re receiving. You’re trying your best, but the other side seems to be giving up without telling you why. In the album, the protagonist’s lover feels like he’s growing distant from her without cause. He’s alienating everyone and isolating himself in his efforts to understand the nature of the creature he’s becoming. He hates what he sees in the world now that he understands the evil that befell it after Hope was sacrificed (referring to the events of Exiled Hope), and he hates what he sees in himself and everyone around him. His lover doesn’t see that, however; she only sees him growing distant and self-absorbed. If only he would tell her… but then again, who would believe him?

A very talented artist, Sofia Frasz can do it all, and the proof is this track that moves some distance away from her usual sound. A piece that is mood-altering, melodramatic, filled with emphatic cinematic sounds, and given more ‘oomph’ via a hefty mix of guitars and drums. The moments where everything drops away for her to just croon is quite something. Check it out here.

Breed 77 – End of the Line

Breed 77 are back! The flamenco metal outfit rose to fame in the early noughties after cutting their teeth on the UK & European live circuit – playing with the likes of Black Sabbath, Machine Head, The Melvins & Korn.

In 2004 they broke through with their seminal album ‘Cultura’ spawning hits on charts around the globe and starting a long run of triumphant appearances at Download Festival in the UK. After extensive touring around the world that took them to Japan, Mexico, Australia & the U.S. and 5 critically acclaimed albums, the band went on hiatus in 2015.

Fast forward to 2024 and the beast has woken from it’ slumber…Breed 77 is back with the new single ‘End of the Line’ – A damning and cynical commentary on the state of society.

For all their size and popularity, I never really got on board the Breed 77 train back in the day, even when it seemed like they were on top of the world. So, I can’t say that I’m that excited to see them back, but I am excited to see if they can win me over.

The times, they do change, but Breed 77 are certainly turning back the clock somewhat. Leaning into what made them so beloved, those Mediterranean influences mixed with energised rock, but sounding more relevant than ever. It’s a powerful piece of music, with a lyrics that hit, and has bundles of energy. If you’ve been eagerly awaiting this, you’re going to come away quite pleased.

Queen Laya – Image & Likeness of the End

Rising from the ruins of the past few years, Queen Laya is emerging into uncharted waters, defying expectations as she demonstrates a ferocious new sound. Today she has announced the forthcoming release of her debut self-titled EP which will be released on Friday 17th May 2024.

Alongside the announced of her upcoming EP, Queen Laya has also given fans another taste of what’s to come with the release of her new single ‘Image & Likeness of the End’.

Queen Laya delves into the context of the new single:

Image & Likeness Of The End is about my process with social media pressures and growing up with hateful tabloids breeding a lot of self loathe for many individuals. This song is a conversation between myself & those exact projections from the media. I set out to defy the low vibrational messages, and take on a path of discovery. In this world, having self respect & self worth is seen as a deadly sin and the end of the world. I’m battling between being confined in comfort, or breaking free & conquering the unimaginable.

Song after song, banger after banger, Queen Laya leaves an impression and this new single might leave one of the biggest so far. Anthemic and filled with vibrant vitality, it’s got a scintillating groove, and the chorus is mighty grand sounding. While, of course, the vocals are prominently placed, this is a smartly layered track and every part of Queen Laya gets to shine. A banger of a track. Check it out here.

El Moono – Haunting

Alternative Brightonian quartet El Moono have released their new single ‘Haunting’, another glimpse of their forthcoming debut album, The Waking Sun, to be released 10th May via Lockjaw Records.

The band comment:

‘Haunting’ was written from the perspective of my partner. The lyrics address the toxicity of body dysmorphia, and immerse the listener in the body of someone experiencing it. The shoegaze-influenced choruses of ‘Haunting’ are punctuated by Chris’ blastbeat sections, while Jim’s overdubs of a Rhodes keyboard re-amped through tonnes of reverb are providing the spacey highs. We didn’t have the opportunity to record a real choir for the breakdown, but we layered multiple Zac’s alongside vocals from Rebecca Tranter.

The excitement for this new album has reached feverish levels already, and then along comes this absolute beauty of a track. A refreshing shift that adds a sinister tone, while having a compelling musical structure that gets more and more intense as it goes on. It’s one of the more unique sounding tracks we’ve had from them and it’s pretty damn wonderful. Check it out here.

Alpha Wolf – Whenever You’re Ready

Aussie metalcore behemoths Alpha Wolf have unveiled ‘Whenever You’re Ready’, a new cut taken from the band’s upcoming third full length album, ‘Half Living Things’ due out 5 April via Greyscale Records and SharpTone Records.

About the new track, the band shares:

Alpha Wolf likes to let our listeners expect the unexpected at all times and Whenever You’re Ready is a testament to exactly that. We could feel the impact of this song from the moment the first chords were written.

Dancing around on our melodic side, this song touches on the complications between people with a deep connection to one another and ultimately losing them, everyone has a story to tell in this regard and this is ours.

Let’s f**king go, it’s new Alpha Wolf and it f**king slays. Not just because it is a stompy and groovy metal beast, but because it has a ton of effective melody. This is a balanced sound that serves to remind you (as if you needed reminding) that Alpha Wolf are so good at making melody and metal work together. Does anyone really doubt this band’s dominance anymore? If so, it’s tracks like this that prove how wrong you are.