Single Slam: Bury Tomorrow, Nighted, Jailbirds, Municipal Waste, Ithaca, The Second After, Eluveitie, Seething Akira, Gutlocker and Amon Amarth!

This week’s single slam features Bury Tomorrow, Nighted, Jailbirds, Municipal Waste, Ithaca, The Second After, Eluveitie, Seething Akira, Gutlocker and Amon Amarth. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Bury Tomorrow – LIFE (Paradise Denied)

Ahead of a busy festival season, and one that sees Bury Tomorrow claim the main stages of major UK and European events (including the legendary Download at Donington Park), the sextet have today released, ‘LIFE (Paradise Denied)’. A second, dichotomous single release to March’s ‘DEATH (Ever Colder)’, that completes the yin and yang balance of two standalone singles.

Frontman, Dani Winter-Bates admits:

As we head into this new era of Bury Tomorrow we want our fans to be as excited as we are and equally as we head into festival season and this year’s touring we hope this track gets people ready to go wild and celebrate the ‘reopening’ of the live music industry. Life and Death were recorded as stand-alone singles and a small taste of what’s to come next.

The next stage of Bury Tomorrow and this new single is a great example of how things change, they also stay the same. This is familiar Bury Tomorrow territory, in that it’s anthemic metalcore with plenty of bite and plenty of melody. It’s a strong offering that isn’t going to set the world alight but will certainly calm the nerves of long-term fans wondering what happens next.

Nighted – Nighted

Nighted, the new genre-bending black metal synthwave duo, have streamed their third single, the eponymous ‘Nighted’.

A cold and melodic start, Nighted are sounding particularly cinematic here as it builds eerie synth and the drum beat/guitar picks up the rhythm. Sounding darker, the vocals then arrive and have a chilling, tome and echoing quality to them. The pace quickens and this track transforms into a something much blacker, heavier and intense. Though, it is still littered with moments of melody too. Check it out here.

Jailbirds – The River

Australian/Irish hard rock band, Jailbirds are back with a brand-new single called ‘The River’.

Speaking of the new single, singer/guitarist and founding member, Axel McDonald said:

Although the lyrics are metaphorical, on the surface the track touches upon letting go of hardships dealt within our past. It’s about the ability to learn and evolve without ever forgetting what has happened before in order to never repeat. ‘The river’ being a metaphor for some sort of safe haven where that weight exists no more.

The song also has a strong emphasis on the idea to always power through what comes at us, to keep moving on and keep moving forward no matter what.

What a freaking anthem this is. Jailbirds re-announcing themselves after a torrid few years with a riff-heavy, peppy and groovy blast of rock. Stupidly catchy, The River has all the elements to get the foot-tapping, the fingers drumming and the head banging. The chorus is a sure-fire live sing-along if ever was one. It’s good to have them back. Check it out here.

Municipal Waste – Electrified Brain

Richmond’s hard-charging, thrash metal maniacs Municipal Waste have debuted the title track from their massively-anticipated 7th studio album, ‘Electrified Brain’, that’s due out July 1st via Nuclear Blast. Their third single, ‘Electrified Brain’ arrives in the grotesque form of a face-melting horror short directed by esteemed FX artist Norman Cabrera (From Dusk Till Dawn, The Walking Dead, Kill Bill).

Commenting on the new single and video, guitarist Ryan Waste says:

‘Electrified Brain’ is a tale of revenge and redemption, continuing the concept of our song ‘Mental Shock’ rounding out the ‘Deathripper Trilogy.’ It’s about being wrongfully accused and stripped of your rights, only to overcome and break free through the electric power of heavy music. We called upon our friend Norman Cabrera once again to handle the title track music video after the incredible job he did on ‘Slime and Punishment.’ Visually he went above and beyond and it became a much more cinematic experience thanks to Rob Lucas at Wolfpack Studios.

It’s a very cool video but it’s also a very cool song. A Municipal Waste ‘classic’, in the sense that it is fast, heavy and anthemically thrashy. You know what you’re getting with this band and it’s hard to not love it. Lose your worries temporarily in a bout of frantic and frenzied head-banging encouraged by Municipal Waste. Check it out here.

Ithaca – Camera Eats First

Acclaimed UK metallic hardcore troupe Ithaca have released their stunning new single/video ‘Camera Eats First’, taken from their long-awaited second album, They Fear Us, due 29th July via Hassle Records.

A thing of beauty, if you weren’t already excited for what Ithaca’s new album, this track and its incredible blend of hardcore heaviness, lavish melody, technical touches and cinematic edges will do it. A track that has a powerful message and is portrayed in Ithaca’s uniquely exciting way. Hell, if you’re not interested in that part, the punchy and crunchy musical blast will certainly turn your head.

The Second After – You’ll Never Make It (Like A Virus)

Pop-punk group The Second After are proudly bringing a meaningful new single “You’ll Never Make It (Like A Virus)”, this Friday June 3rd.

Vocalist Michael Greason said about the single:

This song is about having the will to power through depression and life’s hardships. There were, and still are, times in my life where all the pressure I feel is too overwhelming, I’ve hit extreme low points of wanting to give up. I’ve always used songwriting as a way to heal. This one kind of came out in a way that explains that sometimes forgetting experiences isn’t the right way to move on. But rather to use the pain and the lows as reminders and fuel to continue forward. Even when the world seems against you, it’s up to yourself whether you are going to continue on the path or not.

With a ton of meaning behind it and the draw of familiar but anthemic pop-punk sounds, The Second After couldn’t really miss with this track, and they don’t it. It’s got heart, soul and body as the punk-rock energy meets wistful melody and everything is complimented by an anthemic chorus. Catchy and meaningful. Check it out here.

Eluveitie – Aidus

After three years of silence, Swiss metal legends Eluveitie step out of the darkness again, raising their voices to herald a new era of the band’s stunning career. The band have released their new single ‘Aidus’, following on from the huge success of their last album ‘Ategnatos’ but also displaying a never-before-seen side of the band.

Founding member Chrigel Glanzmann commented on their approach:

Definitely one of the harshest Eluveitie songs ever. It’s the sheer consequence of our spiritual journey with Ategnatos: we’re no longer a “Celtic Metal” band… a metal band singing about Celtic history. We’re Celts playing metal music from all our hearts. We’re no longer a “Pagan Metal” band. We are metal music playing pagans, from all our hearts, meshing principles of our modern societies with our ancient message. That’s probably the best way to describe our new single. Deal with it!

Deal with it indeed. After all, what’s the problem when it results in music this interesting, this compelling and this brutally wonderous? Yes, this is a very harsh sounding Eluveitie but don’t be fooled into thinking it lacks elements that have made the band so legendary. The infusion of classic Eluveitie sounds is ever present but the focus is on harder and heavy metal. It’s a banger.

Seething Akira – Punishment Instructions

Seething Akira release their blitzing new single ‘Punishment Instructions’, out now on FiXT.

Nothing to surprising here from Seething Akira, nothing to write home about but nothing to dislike either. It’s the band doing what they do best, blending nu-metal with modern electronica and delivering energetic blasts of heavy mayhem. If you’re a fan, you’re going to enjoy this latest offering too. Check it out here.

Gutlocker – To Be Alive

Groove Metallers from Woking, Gutlocker, release the title single ‘To Be Alive’ from the eagerly anticipated full-length album ‘To Be Alive’ that will be released on Friday 8th July.

The single draws influence from real life struggles. The vocalist Craig McBrearty said:

‘To Be Alive’ continues to dig deep and fight on moments after a traumatic experience that takes everything away from you. At the time you are left with little will to carry on and have to be reminded by someone on what it’s like to be alive.

With some fire in their bellies, Gutlocker deliver a hefty slab of metal that hits harder thanks to the story behind it. An explosion of death-infused heaviness greets before Gutlocker settle into their more recognisable groove selves. Though don’t let that underplay the aggression in this track as this Gutlocker spitting and snarling. It’s got a ferocity that is sold by all the instruments and delivered by the inhuman vocals. A very impactful track. Check it out here.

Amon Amarth – Get In the Ring

Undisputed kings of Viking heavy metal, Amon Amarth, have announced their twelfth studio album, ‘The Great Heathen Army’ will be released on Friday, August 5th, 2022 via Metal Blade Records. They have also released a brand new track and accompanying music video, “Get In The Ring” which was written for AEW pro-wrestling star Erick Redbeard, who also stars in the music video.

Speaking on the announcement of their new album, Amon Amarth vocalist Johan Hegg shares:

Overall ‘The Great Heathen Army’ is one of the heavier albums we’ve made. There are some dark and heavy songs that are really powerful and in-your-face, but we obviously have some trademark melodic Amon Amarth songs on there as well, and a few surprises too. It’s a really well-balanced album. It sounds great. Andy Sneap is awesome. It was great to be able to work with him again.

It’s all going a bit post-apocalyptic with Amon Amarth now visually even though musically they’re looking towards earlier releases with their sound. Albeit with a lot more of the modern polish we’ve come to expect. A strong set of riffs, super-gnarly vocals, meaty beats and fighting spirit makes this a notable first single. If you’ve been a fan of this band for some time, you won’t be unhappy with this track.