Single Slam: 1349, Tropic Gold, Black Lesion, Nile, The Virginmarys, Escuela Grind, Moses, Ice Nine Kills & Reel Big Fish, Heligan, Mushroomhead, Dreambox, And So I Watch You from Afar, Scarlet Rebels, and Nails!

Today’s single slam features 1349, Tropic Gold, Black Lesion, Nile, The Virginmarys, Escuela Grind, Moses, Ice Nine Kills & Reel Big Fish, Heligan, Mushroomhead, Dreambox, And So I Watch You from Afar, Scarlet Rebels, and Nails. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

1349 – Shadow Point

Born from the frost-bitten landscapes of Norway, 1349 return to claim the throne of black metal supremacy with their blistering lead single, ‘Shadow Point’. This infernal offering, carved from the seething heart of their upcoming album ‘The Wolf and The King’, is proof of their unwavering dedication to the genre’s darkest depths. The Wolf and The King is out October 4th via Season of Mist.

Let the darkness consume, one of the giants of black metal are back and with it comes a torrent of hellish and horrid heaviness. There’s nothing too surprising here, aside from 1349’s impressive continuation of melding both the old and modern schools of black metal. To say they’re adept at this is to understate the impact they, and this track, have. It is a heavyweight blackened banger with ice in its soul and fire running through its veins. You don’t often find black metal sounding catchy, but this track kind of is.

Tropic Gold – Happy

Suffolk-via-Essex band, Tropic Gold, who last year released their breakout ‘What A Wonderful Experience’ EP, have now released a brand-new single called ‘Happy’.

The band share:

HAPPY is the conversation of giving up everything you have to be happy, and making sacrifices to gain eternal life and happiness. HAPPY is the thought in your head trying to persuade you to take the gold juice to make you feel better, selling yourself to something higher than you, a preacher, messiah, a prophet. HAPPY connects self-sacrifice for fake happiness, to the end result of feeling terrified after realising what you’ve done.

Sounding awfully familiar (if you know your Bad Omens), Tropic Gold’s new single lacks originality, and aside from a hooky chorus, anything that really grabs the attention. Really heavy on effects and electronica, it’s a clear attempt to capture a section of the mainstream audience. Which is fine, except it just doesn’t have enough oomph to succeed sadly. Check it out here.

Black Lesion – Delusion

Black Lesion, the hard-rock band from Edinburgh, Scotland, have released her brand-new single ‘Delusion’. Taken from their upcoming EP, ‘The Human Essence’, slated for release in September. The song delves into the theme of being ensnared in a flawed system without escape, perpetuating a cycle that entraps future generations. It critiques the societal pressure to pursue academia as the sole path to success in life.

A band who continue to do mighty good things, Black Lesion have dropped one heck of a catchy and groovy tune with this new single. Bringing big riffs, smooth vocals, and thumping bass and drums. It doesn’t take long for it to take hold, and from that point, the body is moving to the rhythm all the way through. Reaching a certain level of spasming with the groovier chorus. Another banger from this band. Check it out here.

Nile – To Strike with Secret Fang

World-renowned American death metal icons Nile return in 2024 with their highly-anticipated 10th onslaught, ‘The Underworld Awaits Us All’, out 23rd August via Napalm Records. The album’s second single, ‘To Strike with Secret Fang’, is out now.

Alongside the single, Nile have also announced their upcoming 2025 USA co-headline tour with death metal greats Six Feet Under, with support from Psycroptic and Embryonic Autopsy.

Nile’s Karl Sanders comments on the new track and tour announcement:

‘To Strike with Secret Fang’ is a straight-to-the-point, uptempo blasting venomous assassin’s blade of a metal song. It’s the shortest track off the new record, The Underworld Awaits Us All, which of course in NILE fashion has several long form complex metal compositions. But ‘Fang’ instantly goes right for the throat and will no doubt be a burner for live NILE shows.

Speaking of, NILE is very pleased for the opportunity to once again share the stage with the guys in Six Feet Under and Psycroptic. We are also primed and ready to play some of the killer songs from the new NILE album for metal fans, as well as classic NILE tracks that have become live favorites over the years. We have no doubt that metal will take place!

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Nile have dropped an absolute beast of a track. One that moves at an impossible speed, is heavier than a mountain being dropped on you, and has all the ‘Nile-isms’ we’ve come to expect from the legendary death metal band. All this, in a track under two minutes. It’s insane, and they even find time to throw in a guitar solo.

The Virginmarys – Northwest Coast

Macclesfield’s power duo The Virginmarys have announced that their fourth studio album ‘The House Beyond the Fires’, will be released November 1st, 2024. To celebrate the news, they have also released new single and video, ‘Northwest Coast’. A slight tongue in cheek homage to the Northwest of England.

Frontman Ally states:

Northwest Coast is the first single to be released from the album, it’s a perfect glimpse of all that’s to come. It starts with one of the best riffs I’ve written, and the groove works incredibly. The track fuses different genres and is a little ‘tongue in cheek’ lyrically, repping the gritty realness and beauty of the Northwest of England.

You can often bank of The Virginmarys releasing something lovable, something fun, and something with heart. Which all applies here. Lovable because it is so catchy, fun because it grooves away, and with heart because of the ‘tongue in cheek’ tribute aspect. It’s another classy track from The Virginmarys. Are you even surprised anymore? Check it out here.

Escuela Grind – Turbulence

USA extreme metal powerhouse, Escuela Grind, will release their new LP, ‘Dreams on Algorithms’, on 18th October via MNRK Heavy. In sync with the album announcement, Escuela Grind have also dropped their new single and video, ‘Turbulence’.

Says vocalist Katerina Economou:

It will be immediately obvious when you first hear this song that it is a departure for us. We wanted to take a risk with ‘Turbulence’, and after performing so many live shows over the last year we were ready to compile all that influence. The clean singing may take some people off-guard coming from a grind/hardcore band, but after touring with Napalm Death, we realized we wanted to incorporate that aspect into our music in a similar way. We definitely wanted a grungy, catchy chorus to sing at all of our upcoming festival appearances, and I hope the fans like the song as much as we do.

Fear not long-term fans, regardless of the new layers to Escuela Grind’s sound, this track still goes very hard. It just happens to be a more varied, more challenging, and more interesting listen because they’re trying some new things out. Still, if you want to feel like you’ve been punched in the head over and over again, the riff and drum combo deliver plenty of hard blows. Anticipation is now high for this new album.

Moses – Sheep and Skyscrapers

Moses unleash heart on sleeve thoughts like a word punk-disco stream of consciousness with their next release, ‘cause everybody’s talking now’. The single and video, ‘Sheep and Skyscrapers’ is out now.

An addictive listen that is delightfully weird. Moses have proven in the past to be a unique musical outfit and that fact isn’t changing when they’re releasing lovable bangers like this. A track with a massive chorus, but balanced by a pretty pre-chorus and brilliantly infectious verses. The track will get stuck in the mind for hours afterwards. Check it out here.

Ice Nine Kills & Reel Big Fish – Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and The Waves Cover)

Just in time for a killer summer, murdersome metal trailblazers, Ice Nine Kills and ska punk legends, Reel Big Fish have joined forced and partnered with Sumerian Comics American Psycho comic book series to release a cover of Katrina and The Waves hit, Walking on Sunshine’.

Speaking on his band’s reimagining of this classic track, head psycho and frontman of Ice Nine Kills, Spencer Charnas shares:

It’s no secret to INK fans that ska punk and horror movies are what pumps through my bloodstream. When the opportunity arose to combine one of my favourite films with one of my favourite bands of all time I didn’t just jump at the chance, I skanked over to my nail gun, axe and chainsaw and bludgeoned out my favourite cover we’ve ever done.

Let’s try and be kind here. This is a summer hit and will capture the mainstream in ways that few bands could ever dream of. It is very catchy and Spencer Charnas is sounding great. That being said, it’s not very good and while it does offer up a heavier variation of the original, there’s nothing here that makes it necessary listening. It’s just a bit boring and lacks imagination. Check it out here.

Heligan – Gone

Heligan; the dynamic three-piece melodic hardcore/skate punk band hailing from Perth, Western Australia, have released their latest single, ‘Gone’, a song highlighting the troubles of addiction and making change.

Getting the adrenaline pumping straight away with a punky intro, Heligan’s new single starts off strongly, but truly comes into its own as it goes on. Melodic vocals and frantic instrumentation that gives it a more robust metal feel, all while having punk heart and soul. The excellent listening experience is capped off by a subject matter that means something.

Mushroomhead – Prepackaged

American masked metal masters Mushroomhead recently announced their brand-new, upcoming ninth album, ‘Call the Devil’, out 9th August via Napalm Records. Following the album’s hard-hitting first single, ‘Fall in Line’, Mushroomhead now unveil their second new nu metal-laden single ‘Prepackaged’.

Mushroomhead mastermind Steve “Skinny” Felton says about ‘Prepackaged’:

‘Prepackaged’ turned out extremely heavy, aggressive and haunting. Full of dark sonic textures. Both the video and the song are delightfully dark, foreboding and unrelentingly grim.

A track for the nostalgia lovers, this is Mushroomhead turning back the clock, and it’s easy to get lost in this sound. Especially, as far as a modern take on nu-metal goes, it’s pretty damn enjoyable. Mainly because it goes hard and heavy all over. Every aspect of Mushroomhead; guitars, drums, and vocals are spitting fire here. The only aspect that doesn’t quite hit is the chorus, but it’s still enjoyable. Check it out here.

Dreambox – Hope

Dreambox has shown a remarkable ability to blend rock with global influences, steadily winning fans and emerging as proud representatives of Brazil’s celebrated music scene. They’ve released everything from gritty rock anthems to eccentric pop. With their newest single, ‘Hope’, they reveal an entirely new side of themselves, opening up a world of possibilities.

A really melodramatic intro sets the scene and goes a long way to exemplify the creativeness of this new Dreambox track. Pretty melody and sorrowful vocals that build and build with more instrumental elements being introduced as it goes on. It starts to get a bit more powerful, leading to a really epic finale. A stunning piece of music. Check it out here.

And So I Watch You from Afar – Years Ago

Stalwart Irish post-rock outfit And So I Watch You from Afar have released ‘Years Ago’, the third single from their forthcoming seventh album ‘Megafauna’ which is set for release on the 9th of August, 2024 via Berlin’s Pelagic Records. A tribute to the two places the collective call home, their beloved Portrush on the Irish North Coast and the beating heart that is Belfast.

If you know this band, then you’ll be expecting something with a ton of heart and soul, and you’d be right. Years Ago is poignant and wistful, showcasing the very best of And So I Watch You from Afar with deep melodies, complex instrumental arrangements, and plenty of post-rock passion. It’s a track you sink into, but that’s par for the course with this excellent band.

Scarlet Rebels – It Was Beautiful

Rockers Scarlet Rebels have released their latest single and video, ‘It Was Beautiful’, from their new album, ‘Where the Colours Meet,’ which is set for release on August 16, 2024 via Earache Records.

Wayne Doyle, the band’s dynamic frontman, shares his insights on the new track:

‘It Was Beautiful’ is, in my opinion, one of the best songs I’ve written. We captured the essence and the feel of what I was trying to write about and the story I was trying to tell. That yearning for a time that’s past, not knowing at the time how good you had it until it’s passed and all you have left is the memories.

We’ve had some really great stuff from Scarlet Rebels in the build to this album release, but they might have topped everything so far with this absolutely gorgeous track. A track with the melody and power to make you cry, especially because of the lyrics and how Wayne Doyle sings. Yet, it’s not sad but rather, reflective. There are so many other highlights too. An uptick in energy, a guitar solo that is gobsmacking, and an ending that will bring the tears. Check it out here.

Nails – Give Me the Painkiller

With the impending release of Nails’ long-awaited, 4th full-length album, ‘Every Bridge Burning’, set for release on August 30th from Nuclear Blast, comes a new level of aggression. Now, the four-piece has revealed the 2nd single from the record, ‘Give Me the Painkiller’.

With an old-school speed metal and powerviolence vibe, Nails’ new single is chaos and pain, but who doesn’t want it any other way? This new album is shaping up nicely, and it’s great to hear some variety in the brutality, even if all the Nails’ hallmarks are here with great aplomb. Sit down, you might need to catch your breath afterwards.