Single Slam: Bloodbath, Haunter, Kombie Killers, Mycelia, Tabahi, Borders, Words That Burn, Spirit Adrift, The Black Skeleton, Grief Ritual, Insolace and Gaerea!

Today’s single slam features Bloodbath, Haunter, Kombie Killers, Mycelia, Tabahi, Borders, Words That Burn, Spirit Adrift, The Black Skeleton, Grief Ritual, Insolace and Gaerea. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Bloodbath – Zombie Inferno

Bloodbath, the legendary death metal supergroup featuring members of Katatonia and Paradise Lost vocalist Nick Holmes, have announced details on their new album “Survival Of The Sickest” which is set for release on 9th September via their new label Napalm Records.

The band have also shared a new video for first single ‘Zombie Inferno’.

An absolute beast of a track, Bloodbath are back and with a melding of the Swedish and Floridan death scenes. Zombie Inferno is intense and chaotic, dialled up to 11 when it comes to speed and as brutal as Bloodbath have ever been. Forget even trying to head-bang to this, you’ll break your neck. If this is a sign of things to come on the new album, we could be looking at 2022’s most extreme release!

Haunter – Go

Dark pop-rock band Haunter have released their brand-new single, Go.

Says guitarist Enoma Asowata:

‘Go’ is all about finding strength in establishing boundaries. It’s a slick, candy coated Pop-Rock anthem centered around leaving things that no longer serve you or your purpose. We wrote this song about our desire to leave toxic dynamics in pursuit of our dreams. It’s to serve as inspiration for anyone to find strength in knowing their worth, not accepting the bare minimum and to live their life out loud.

A dynamic and powerful pop-rock anthem, Haunter bring the good vibes and then some. Go, with a relatable and believable message delivered by a band that understands the ‘big chorus’ aspect of anthemic tracks. It’s incredibly heartfelt and that is what sticks around, long after the final notes have rung out. Check it out here.

Kombi Killers – Damaged

Brisbane, Australia’s old-school punk rockers, Kombi Killers, return with a new single ‘Damaged’, available now on all digital platforms via Riot Records.

The band states the song is all about:

Damaged people, damaged brains, damaged lives. There is just no helping some people, if you don’t cut them out, they will take you down every time.

Energetic and extremely animated, Kombi Killers bring a sharp bout of punk rock to the ears with this new single. A track that is rooted in a classic old-school punk rock sound but modernised by the subject matter. The frenzied instrumentation, alongside a snarky and snarling vocal style, results in a memorable listen. Check it out here.

Mycelia – Towards the Melting Library / The Librarian and the Flock of Birds

Swiss djent metal prodigy Mycelia have just revealed a new music video “Towards the Melting Library / The Librarian and the Flock of Birds” for their latest single. The video was directed by Theo Benjamin, and it is the first of a two-part music video double feature which introduces the overarching storyline of the band’s new neon-soaked cybercrime concept album In A Late Country.

Says drummer Marc Trummer:

This is the first of a two-part musical short film which tells the story of In A Late Country. This video focuses on the friendship between protagonists Marvell and DiPrisco, as they search for the enigmatic Ava Kessler in a futuristic dystopia. Working with Theo was an absolute blast: Not only did we get to live out our childhood dreams of starring in an epic science fiction movie, but his artistic take on our album’s narrative gave us a whole new perspective on our own songs. The shoot itself was a pretty intense experience, the highlight of which was definitely setting up an impromptu Cyberpunk black market in a parking garage – while it felt like herding a bunch of cats at the time, we are really happy with the result.

Already considered a boundary pushing metal band. Mycelia are clearly looking to outdo themselves on this new album based off this song. The complexities, the detail, the blend of electronica and metal… it’s incredibly captivating stuff and that it’s just a small part of a huge narrative makes it even more exciting and interesting. Call it progressive, call it djent, call it technical or call it metal, what it most certainly can be called is bloody impressive.

Tabahi – Run for Your Life

Pakistani thrash metal band, Tabahi have released their brand-new single, Run for Your Life. The song captures all the struggles and challenges behind living in one of the most dangerous cities of Pakistan.

Thrash metal from Pakistan? Now that is bloody cool. Not only that, it’s a banging blast of old-school heaviness that calls back to the likes of Kreator, Sodom, Exodus, Overkill and more. Tabahi rip and rip hard here; the riffs are killer, and the vocals are scathing, the soul of thrash is well and truly alive in the bodies of Tabahi. Just when you think it can’t get any better? Along comes a solo that can simply be described as blistering. Check it out here.

Borders – NWWM

UK genre-defying quartet Borders and have released ‘NWWM’, their new single featuring US rap-metal band Dropout Kings. This is their second release on Arising Empire.

On the single, vocalist Jordan Olifent comments:

‘NWWM’, which stands for Nothing Wrong With Me, is a track all about battling the demons in your head. It’s written about me at my lowest point and how when everyone was counting me out and throwing me to the wolves, it took telling myself what nothing was wrong with me to overcome my problems. We’re glad the guys in Dropout Kings could join us for this one – we can’t wait to perform it for you live on our upcoming UK tour this July.

A very experimental song, Borders and Dropout Kings are risk takers though and to the surprise of literally no-one, it pays off. It pays off because the song delivers exactly what it promises. Which is a bristling and blistering combination of metal, hardcore and rap with a cathartic point. This is no ‘guest’ slot for Dropout Kings, this is a full-on collaboration so if rap-metal isn’t your thing, you may not get too much enjoyment out of this one. Check it out here.

Words That Burn – Fire at Will

The Irish Alt/Post-Metalcore band Words That Burn have released their latest single, ‘Fire at Will’ ahead of their live date in Dublin’s Academy with American Metalcore titans, As I Lay Dying on August 9th.

Having recently signed to Blood Blast Distribution / Believe for their last single ‘You’re on Your Own’, the five-piece are excited to preview another slice from their mammoth new album, which is due for release in early 2023.

Speaking of the new single, vocalist, Roni Vox says:

The song is about being pissed-off but feeling like to have to apologise for expressing how you feel when it’s a perfectly natural thing. If you don’t like something or if you disagree with someone’s point of view, you can be facing the firing squad should it be taken, willingly or not, out of context – so it’s kinda like having to immediately recoil after you say something that doesn’t fit other people’s narrative or viewpoint….right or wrong!

I’m not even talking about political conversation, because honestly, I’m not really that political myself. It could be about music or art or movies, or beer, or cars, or sport – anything can be seen (or taken) as an attack, which to me is a weird knee-jerk reaction regarding things that are, for the most part, subjective.

It’s healthy to express how you feel. It’s not healthy for someone you don’t know to make you feel bad about it when maybe, they don’t (or don’t want to) understand where it is coming from. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t think anyone should be held at gun point for expressing themselves, even if they are not necessarily being positive in that particular moment in time.

Talk about a band killing it in recent time, Words That Burn are on *ahem* fire and Fire at Will is another great example of how much passion this band has. Especially as this is one hell of an eclectic track. One layered with eccentric and dark sounding effects, vocals and melodies but still mainly focused on delivering unmitigated intensity. The cherry on top? Another massive Words That Burn chorus.

Spirit Adrift – Mass Formation Psychosis

Spirit Adrift expand their prolific catalogue with 20 Centuries Gone, a collection of two new original songs and six cover songs that span the timeline of the band’s most foundational influences. Available on August 19th via Century Media, 20 Centuries Gone sees Spirit Adrift put their trademark swagger on classics from Type O Negative, Pantera, Metallica, Thin Lizzy, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd – check out the track listing below.

Spirit Adrift have also premiered the second of the original tracks ‘Mass Formation Psychosis’.

Spirit Adrift mastermind Nate Garrett comments:

I always thought it would be a cool experience to record some songs by bands that are foundational to the DNA of SPIRIT ADRIFT. These choices are obvious and on the nose to me, but maybe unexpected to the fans. That made the whole thing a lot of fun. A band like Lynyrd Skynyrd might not be the first thing you think of when considering SPIRIT ADRIFT’s influences, so the task for me became figuring out how to honor these great songs, but in the distinct SPIRIT ADRIFT style. To make the whole thing even more special, I channelled these influences and wrote a couple of new songs to kick things off.

You really never know what to expect with Spirit Adrift, aside from the guarantee that it’s going to be something eccentric and something lovable. So, guess what? Mass Formation Psychosis is all of that and so much more. It’s a bit of a heavy metal epic, one that takes some inspiration from old-school Sabbath with its extremely doomy vibes. Though the tempo shift near the end is pure heavy metal gold. A brilliant example of how to keep an listener engaged for over 6 minutes. Check it out here.

The Black Skeleton – Be Free

The Black Skeleton’s new and 5th single, ‘Be Free’ is available now on digital platforms via Golden Robot Records.

A melodic rock anthem, Be Free has a ton of heart and soul and cuts through the malaise of life with the amount of emotion that oozes from within. It’s not just about hearing the personal aspect of this track; it’s about feeling it and that’s something that comes through really strongly. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tearing up thanks to the lovely guitar melody and genuine vocal performance. Check it out here.

Greif Ritual – Immurement

Grief Ritual are a band sitting at a musical crossroads – caught between blackened metallic hardcore, post-metal, and the heavier, slower sides of black and death metal, Grief Ritual are as heavy and as miserable as their name suggests. The trio have now released their debut single ‘Immurement’, and the first glimpse of Grief Ritual’s debut EP, Spiritual Disease. Spiritual Disease – a metaphor for the mental illness brought on by the despotic state of the world – will be released on 9th September.

Grief Ritual comment:

‘Immurement’ is about airing the very real struggles that way too many people face on a day-to-day basis. At a time when more and more individuals and families are finding it harder to get by and are forced to make painful choices, this can only affect their mental health, and with support in short supply, things are only going to get worse unless major political policy and party changes occur.

Misery loves company and Grief Ritual are dragging you kicking and screaming into the darkness with Immurement. A track that is uncompromisingly heavy, unbelievably furious, and undeniably real sounding. Grief Ritual bristle with rage and intensity, their brand of blackened death running head-first into a wall of hardcore viciousness. Skulls will be crushed, spines will be broken and minds will be turned to mush upon hearing this slab of savagery.

Insolace – I Won’t Cry

The London based alt-rock quartet that is Insolace have now released their brand-new single, I Won’t Cry.

Says vocalist Mille Cook:

To me, I Won’t Cry is about feeling like you would do absolutely anything for that certain someone, sometimes to your own demise. It’s about being a person who puts so much effort and time into someone else for it not to be reciprocated. I think we have all been guilty of this at some point in our lives, offering your whole heart to someone who doesn’t really want to take it, or maybe just can’t. Sometimes people just fall hard, and when it doesn’t work out, we realise that we never needed to long and cry. All of our power comes from ourselves, not somebody else. “I Won’t Cry” is a reminder to myself to not give my energy to those who don’t give it back to me. It’s about knowing your own self-worth.

A lovely sounding song, Isolace might be dealing with heavy subjects but they deliver it in a way that feels lighter and more hopeful. The poppy vibes mixing nicely with rockier touches, all filtered through a modern sieve to leave an eclectic but flavourful sound. Without really realising it, the groove gets the foot tapping and the head to nod along. It’s way more infectious than expected. Check it out here.

Gaerea – Salve

Cathartic black metal outfit Gaerea have proudly released their brand new single ‘Salve’, which is taken from the band’s upcoming album “Mirage”. The album is set for worldwide release on September 23, 2022 via Season of Mist.

Gaerea comment:

We finally unleash ‘SALVE’ upon you all, the first glimpse of music which will take part of our new album “MIRAGE”. ‘SALVE’ is an excruciating voyage into the Vortex’s Abyss. A burning Carriage which will lead us all to the Golden Walls of Mental Catharsis and endless suffocating whispers trapped within our bleeding corpses. The Journey between Reality and Perception is about to begin. Join us.

Continuing to showcase their growth and expanding abilities, the black metal monstrosity that is Gaerea deliver an imposing piece of modern atmospherically tinged black metal. Salve is savage, with the old-school chaotic vibes, but modernised to create something that is surprisingly fresh and undeniably twisted. Every single piece of the Gaerea puzzle fits here, every single member playing their hearts out and every single detail impresses. One of the most impressive black metal songs heard this year.