Single Slam: Babymetal, Resolve, The Inferno Doll, Archives, Penny Rich, Blackgold, sunbleached, Sleepsculptor, Atena and …and Oceans!

This week’s single slam features Babymetal, Resolve, The Inferno Doll, Archives, Penny Rich, Blackgold, sunbleached, Sleepsculptor, Atena and …and Oceans. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Babymetal – Monochrome

Japanese metal band Babymetal have released their latest single along with the band’s first ever official lyric video for ‘Monochrome’, taken from their forthcoming concept album The Other One, out 24th March 2023.

There’s definitely a stylistic change in Babymetal and the more serious tone of this single proves that. A bit of a Babymetal epic with a catchy and singalong chorus. Yet, it’s still very much them, with a good main riff and plenty of J-pop melody. The lack of ‘wacky energy’ in this track is notable though and you can’t help but wonder how much it will resonate with those who enjoy that side of the band.

Resolve – Move to Trash

Resolve have released a video for their brand-new single ‘Move to Trash’, out now via Arising Empire. The track follows the band’s successful debut album Between Me and the Machine, which saw them play over fifty shows across the UK and Europe.

Vocalist Anthony Dilliberto comments:

Nearly a year after the release of our debut album, and about fifty shows played across Europe and the UK, we were eager to follow up with something new, and build on our newly established sound. The four of us in Resolve share common values of DIY and self-sufficiency. It is paramount for us to remain in total control of our art, from the earliest draft to the finished product. And despite all the good we find in the process, it comes with its share of downsides.

That is what ‘Move to Trash’ is all about. This track has an almost ‘meta’ approach to it, basically telling the story of getting lost in the songwriting process, working tirelessly, questioning everything you create… you often end up stuck in a loop, where passion turns into obsession, to the point of losing your sense of reason and priorities. We feel like every creative person can relate to these issues in one form or another. A standalone release was also the occasion for us to try something different with the music video. It has a lighter, definitely ironic feeling, while also being so much more straight forward and efficient than any of our previous videos.

Oh, it’s bloody good to have new Resolve music to enjoy and this new track is every bit the banger that the band has become synonymous with. Riffs weighted in gold, an airy and dreamy chorus, and one hell of a breakdown. Especially coming off the slowing down of the tempo. It’s heavy, fast and unbelievably anthemic track. Check it out here.

The Inferno Doll – Renfield

Enter the gloomy dungeons of Dracula’s castle in search of the bloodthirsty creatures hidden within. The Inferno Doll’s new single “Renfield” tells of internal toil and darkness battling the light.

Ready the stakes, look to the sun and take a deep breath, the vampire’s castle awaits, but first… Renfield. The Inferno Doll taking the ‘gothic’ horror tag and pushing it to heavy extremes. The vocals have a blood-thirstiness, the guitars and drums making everything heavier but some levity given by the sound of a flute expertly layered throughout. The vocal shift near the end is delightfully dark.

Archives – Self Inflicted

Archives make a highly anticipated return with the release of their blistering new single ‘Self Inflicted’. The Northern Irish band that formed in 2020 have dropped the follow up to their debut album ‘Decay’ in huge fashion.

A kick-ass number from Archives comes with some serious meatiness. The heavy groove and furious roars making an immediate impact and it just gets better from there. Clever melodies, a huge chorus and glorious head-banging intensity. It’s a little over three minutes of energised and passionate modern metal blended with hardcore. The kind of chaotic noise that everyone will want to embrace. Check it out here.

Penny Rich – Last Meal

Cardiff-based punk three-piece Penny Rich have released their new single ‘Last Meal’, taken from their upcoming debut album due early next year.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the single, the band state:

The song explores the idea of a last meal as a metaphor for empty, superficial pleasures, indulged in to temporarily escape the anguish, anxiety or depression the consumer may be experiencing. It’s the juxtaposition between feelings of superficial satiety and profound emptiness. In short: empty pleasures that fail to cure the real issues at play.

A blast of nosey punk-infused heaviness. Penny Rich create order out of disorder as rhythmic energy shines amongst a clattering of instruments. A side of the band that shares a lot in common with the noise rock genre. Yet, it’s their punky fire that really captures the imagination. Penny Rich has an intensity and a catchiness that seems incredibly natural. You might be surprised by just how chaotic this track can get. Check it out here.

Blackgold – On Another Level

Having exploded onto the UK music scene earlier this year with their infectious breed of nostalgic nu metal and curious anonymity, Blackgold are back with a brand-new single called ‘On Another Level’, an anthem to salute all the real rock stars out there.

Blackgold said this about the new single:

‘On Another Level’ is a homage to the kings of Nu Metal and a dig at the joke music has become. BLACKGOLD writes music that feels true to who we are and what we represent as a unit. We are sick of seeing all the narcissism and ego that is being pumped into music and we want to strip it all back and just make damn good tunes.

The nu-metal revival continues but to be fair to Blackgold, they’re not taking things too seriously. Although, that shouldn’t suggest they are half-assing the nu-metal style and sound. Far from it, aside from the modern production, this easily could have come from the height of that era. No should it suggest that On Another Level is a bad track because it’s not. It’s energetic, heavy, catchy and fun. What more could you ask for?

sunbleached – Toyfriend

Brisbane alt-rock band, sunbleached, welcome their dreamy new track ‘Toyfriend’ ahead of their support slot with Deadlights and Mirrors on the Brisbane leg of The Ego’s Valley tour next week. It depicts a partisan friendship where one party feels discarded like a childhood toy.

Vocalist Josh Baker shares:

Toyfriend describes the feeling of putting trust and loyalty into friends who don’t reciprocate those same values. It’s ultimately about being stuck in a one-sided friendship and feeling abandoned when things aren’t going great, or when they inevitably lose interest.

A track to leave you feeling melancholic without an overuse of melodrama. Toyfriend is a sobering and emotive track with sweet melody and heartfelt vocals. A track that bleeds honesty and relatability. After all, may people will have experienced the tale being told so it’s awesome to hear a band pour so much passion into it. Its tone shouldn’t be that listenable but thanks to the rocking talents of the band, you’ll want to hear it over and over again. Check it out here.

Sleepsculptor – Venerate

Experimental metalcore act Sleepsculptor have unleashed their new single ‘Venerate’, alongside the announcement of the band signing with Silent Pendulum Records to release their forthcoming album, Divine Recalibration, out April 28th, 2023.

Two minutes of carnage. Two minutes of furious noise. Sleepsculptor have absolutely no chill about them and create a stupid amount of noise in a stupidly short amount of time. It’s a super-heated blast to the face that leaves you completely disorientated. Each and every time you listen to it. The fact that it’s brilliant is what will keep you coming back time and time again.

Atena – Slip Away

Norwegian metalcore act Atena have returned with their first new single and music video for ‘Slip Away’.

On the new single, Atena states:

Usually, we’re not in control of how any of our songs end up and ‘Slip Away’ is a perfect example of that. While writing it became clear that it was very much about reminiscing the past and the melancholy of those last sunny days in the fall before winter.

A modern metalcore band with plenty of edge, Atena showcase their frenzied and furious heavy abilities with one hell of an anthem here. One that features a stunner of a chorus, some exceptional melodies and no amount of head-banging inducing energy. It’s an infectious banger that shows good metalcore can come from all over the planet. Check it out here.

…and Oceans – Likt Törnen Genom Kött

Symphonic black metal formation …And Oceans have unleashed ‘Likt Törnen Genom Kött’, another brand new track from the upcoming album “As in Gardens, so in Tombs”. The new offering will be released on January 27, 2023 via Season of Mist.

…And Oceans comment on the track:

After the latest straight forward track, we are exploring the sound of the 90’s a bit more with a lot of melodies and taking down the tempo a bit with this 3rd single. This is also the first song fully in Swedish in ages.

A grandiose epic that oozes horrifying wonder as only a band so well versed in symphonic black metal could showcase. That band is …and Oceans and Likt Törnen Genom Kött is stunning. Stunning because it sounds so primordial and fresh at the same time. The blended of epic symphonies and harsh blackened metal is expertly done. The sound of beautiful destruction.