Single Slam: Cattle Decapitation, Graywave, Bailltak, Bad Juju, Therapy?, The Night Flight Orchestra, Pollyanna Blue, Swarm6ix, Forager, Swollen Teeth, CHLSY, Broken Jaw, ten56., Sicksense, and Scar Symmetry!

This week’s single slam features Cattle Decapitation, Graywave, Bailltak, Bad Juju, Therapy?, The Night Flight Orchestra, Pollyanna Blue, Swarm6ix, Forager, Swollen Teeth, CHLSY, Broken Jaw, ten56., Sicksense, and Scar Symmetry. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Cattle Decapitation – Scourge of the Offspring

The American deathgrind masters have released their second single from their incoming 10th studio album, Terrasite, with the track, Scourge of the Offspring. Though many bands have tried, no one articulates the real apocalypse humanity is facing as vividly and succinctly as these guys. With Terrasite, due out on 12th of May.

Scourge of the Offspring is everything I love about these guys. A crushingly heavy track with technical riffing and vicious vocals but it has one of their trademark switch ups too, daring to go into almost anthemic guitars with those identifiable cleans bellowing out the band’s overall message of viewing humanity as a parasite in a way that adds feelings, intensity and touch of epicness to a song that gets more and more rewarding with every play, of which there will be many.

Graywave – Blur Into One

‘Blur Into One’ is the first new music from Graywave since their critically acclaimed EP ‘Rebirth’ which was released through Church Road in June of last year.

Band leader Jess Webberley had this to say about the themes of the song:

Blur Into One is about being so consumed with conflicting thoughts and indecision that everything feels as though it is blurring into one mass of indiscernible noise within your head. It also speaks of how this is a repetitive process and hopes to capture how draining this particular cycle of thinking can be.

With strong subject matter and a robust sound, Graywave return with a bit of banger here. One with plenty of heart and soul, delivering expansive and dreamy melody, alongside punchy instrumental rock heaviness and layered vocals. It’s got a lot of emotion flowing through it but still leaves you feeling elated because it is so enjoyable. Check it out here.

Bailltak – Finnmark

Bailltak head towards new heights. After the brilliant reception of the EP ‘Blodhevn’ they are now more coherent and vital than in a long time. The song ‘Finnmark’ is the first taste of their upcoming album of the same name.

A smash-mouth eruption of crunchy riffs, groovy energy, and vocals snarls. Bailltak combine punk sensibilities and anthemic rock vibes for a statement of a track. One that has a fabulous amount of catchiness to it, even while it delivers plenty of heavy bite. Check it out here.

Bad Juju – The Other Side

Melbourne grunge rockers Bad Juju stride into a new era with the release of their powerful new single The Other Side. Returning to their heavier roots, the group are taking no prisoners with their brand-new stadium-ready offering.

The more heard from this band, the more they excite. Bad Juju are part of a fresh group taking the grunge rock sound and twisting it in interesting ways. The Other Side takes a heavier alternative approach and proves to be an infectious listen. Plenty of moodiness, plenty of groove, plenty of energy, and a big chorus.

Therapy? – Poundland Of Hope And Glory

Following the release of the anthemic single ‘Joy,’ Northern Irish rock outfit, Therapy? drop their hard-hitting new track ‘Poundland Of Hope And Glory’. The track is taken from the new album ‘Hard Cold Fire’ which is set for release 5th May 2023 via Marshall Records.

This is awesome stuff from Therapy? A track with energised riffs, punchy rhythms, strong melodies, exciting vocals, and so much more. Obviously different from Joy but not too far out of the Therapy? wheelhouse. At just shy of 2 and a half minutes, it gets in, excites the senses, and gets out. This new album is shaping up nicely. Check it out here.

The Night Flight Orchestra – The Sensation

The Night Flight Orchestra are back with their first new music of 2023. After a successful run of European dates last November, and the completion of an outstanding leg through Scandinavia in March, the Swedes follow up with their new single ‘The Sensation’. The new song pays tribute to late guitarist David Andersson.

The Night Flight Orchestra says about the single:

The Sensation is the first in a series of brand new singles being released this year. It carries everything this band is about: glorious riffage, soaring vocals, infectious rhythms and unforgettable melodies. The lyric is also a tribute to the late great David Andersson and the many journeys Björn shared with him.

A wonderful tribute in the grin-inducing style of The Night Flight Orchestra. This, like so much of their stuff, is something that will get stuck in the head for ages after. All thanks to high-powered riffs, body-shaking rhythms, and glorious vocals. There’s nothing particularly unique about it but that hardly matters when it is so much fun.

Pollyanna Blue – Stray

Bristol-based alt-rock duo Pollyanna Blue are back with a brand-new single called ‘Stray’. Taken from their upcoming EP due later next year. The track was inspired by a situationship that occurred between Zoe and someone who repeatedly led her on and walked in and out of her life. Zoe twisted this situationship to fashion a dramatic lyrical story depicting a feud between an owner and their stray cat.

Explains lyricist and vocalist Zoe Collin:

The owner is trying to fulfil their role of caring for their pet, but no matter how much love, affection and play time they would give to this cat, it would never want to hang around. The cat is adamant to make sure that the owner knows that they do what they want, and when they want, because they will always play by their own rules.

It’s high time everyone started paying attention to Pollyanna Blue who deliver their most impressive track to date. One that shows huge depth to their song-writing abilities and just how versatile vocalist Zoe Collin is. Though, that might not matter as much if the instrumental rhythms weren’t up to scratch and happily, that is not the case here. In fact, the word that comes to mind constantly is ‘infectious’.

Swarm6ix – $ocial $uicide

Following on from their debut single ‘d0pamine’ which was spun by BBC Radio 1, Swarm6ix release new single ‘$ocial $uicide’ on the 7th of April 2023. The band will play Tech Fest later this year, having already played Collision Fest with bands such as Lake Malice and Graphic Nature. The band also tour the UK with Colosseums this June.

A big step for Swarm6ix, this is a track that oozes intensity from every single faucet. The blend of old-school nu-infused heaviness with modern metallic hardcore elements is as abrasive as it is captivating. Swarm6ix are an ‘in your face’ kind of band but not from a negative standpoint. In fact, they’re incredibly relatable and tracks like this showcase that inimitably.

Forager – Runt

Forager is a 5-piece punk/nu-metal band from Manchester who are set to release their first single ‘Runt’ from their upcoming EP, ‘Who Wants It’.

What a killer track this is! One that demands you expel some energy. Raw and rough, the hostility is balanced out by a delightful level of anthemic vigour. The combination of abrasive nu-metal elements and punk spirit is heartier than expected. A little bit chaotic and a little bit charming. Keep an eye on Forager going forward. Check it out here.

Swollen Teeth – Lethal

Swollen Teeth, the rapidly ascending four-piece straight from the bowels of hell, have dropped an incendiary new music video for their brand-new track, Lethal. Taken from their upcoming, self-titled EP produced by Slipknot’s Sid Wilson.

In the words of the band themselves:

To all the powers that abuse their own authority, you are not welcome here.

There is a lot of noise surrounding Swollen Teeth and while we haven’t quite understood it up to this point, that’s beginning to change. Such is the absolute carnage that Lethal unleashes. It’s a mind-f**k of heaviness and feels like one of the most hostile things you might hear this year. The breakdown… what the actual hell is that? Check it out here.

CHLSY – vancouver

Nashville rock group, CHLSY is breaking genre barriers with their 90’s influenced sound. With Chelsea Gilliland on vocals and guitar, Sean Swanson on bass, and Sawyer Dodds on drums – CHLSY strives to provide melodic yet head-banging music for today’s youth.

Their latest single, and 2023 Rock category winner for the John Lennon Songwriting Award, ‘vancouver’ is out now.

A delightfully dramatic slice of indie rock fused with pop, CHLSY’s new single is a very pretty song. One with plenty of nostalgia oozing through it too. Yet, it also is anthemic and emotional. The balance is perfected and the never overdone in one aspect over the other. The heart and soul of this band can be heard and felt here.

Broken Jaw – Sapientism

Sapientism, this is a word created by the band Broken Jaw and it is also the title for the third single taken from their 2022 album ‘Purge Yourself’. A derivative of the word Sapient, which means “wise, or attempting to appear wise”.

Nutzie, the bands frontman has said:

Sapientism is to purely be unwise, or to be ill informed, ill-advised or to take meaning ignorantly to coincide with their own agenda.

Last time we remarked that the name of this band was more of a description than anything else. This time round, it’s clear that it’s intent. Broken Jaw deliver a scathing and scowling blast of intensity. While also showing that they have so much more going on than just outright aggression and speed. Although, let’s be honest here, the major takeaway is just how violent this track is. They’re a kickass band and tracks like this prove it.

ten56. – Choky

Following on from the release of their new EP ‘Downer Part. 2’ via Out Of Line in January, ten56. have today released a brand-new track and video for ‘Choky’.

Says vocalist Aaron Matts:

We could never have expected the level of support that Downer Part.1 and Downer Part.2 could bring us as a new band; the ways in which our subject matter has allowed us to connect with our unique fanbase goes far beyond anything we’ve experienced elsewhere before.

We’re honouring our time spent with the Downer saga with a deluxe edition, including vinyl presses that compiles both Part.1, Part.2, along with a couple of surprises; one of which is ‘Choky’, a song that speaks on the feeling of rejection and falling into familiar patterns of self-destruction. Thanks for always showing up for us. ten56.

World domination is on the cards for ten56. and their rise to prominence continues with this beast of a track. If you loved what they produced on the Downer saga, then you’re going to love this. The head will bang, the limbs will flail, and the mind will be turned into mush. When ten56. are delivering this level of intensity, they are unstoppable. Check it out here.

Sicksense – Fools Tomorrow

Nu-metal rising stars Sicksense, featuring Killer V (Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist) and Rob The Ripper (Robby J. Fonts of Stuck Mojo), have announced their new EP Fools Tomorrow, set for release on 11th June. They have also unveiled the title-track single, featuring Fozzy guitarist Billy Grey.

Killer V comments on the single:

‘Fools Tomorrow’ is about recognizing one’s shortcomings. We’ve all been our own worst enemies at some point in our lives. There’s power in acknowledging that sometimes we are the problem. Taking responsibility for your actions and owning up to your faults is better than placing the blame on others. It’s all about personal accountability. While it may be tough for many to admit when they’re wrong, it ultimately shows strength of character and allows for personal growth.

Fun, groovy, energetic and extremely catchy, Sicksense have delivered a bit of banger here. One with a massive sounding chorus that hooks you right in. It’s uncomplicated but that’s not a negative as the goal here is to get you moving and that is what will certainly happen. Check it out here.

Scar Symmetry – Scorched Quadrant

Nine years since the first installment of The Singularity Trilogy, progressive metallers Scar Symmetry, who recently re-signed to Nuclear Blast Records, have announced The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph) which will be released on 9th June. To coincide with the announcement, the band have also released the first single/video ‘Scorched Quadrant’.

Band mastermind Per Nilsson comments:

It brings us the utmost pleasure and pride to announce the long-awaited and much-teased Phase II to the world along with its first single! It’s been a long time coming but I’m glad that we went the extra mile to make everything as perfect as we felt it needed to be.

The world is a different place in 2023 than it was in 2014 when Neohumanity was released… We see the rise of AI before our very eyes and while we all look in awe at the wonders it can create it is easy to think of some very disturbing scenarios. In our new album, we once again explore these themes of neohumanity, artificial intelligence and the technological singularity from a dystopian point of view.

The AI-enhanced neohumans are waging war upon the unmodified majority of mankind who don’t stand a chance against their technologically superior oppressors, until one day, a glimmer of salvation appears in the night sky. Almost impossible to first take in; as an utterly alien mirage, seemingly out of nowhere mysterious, giant spacecrafts silently emerge from the heavens. Travelers both intergalactic and interdimensional, these ultra-terrestrial beings who have been watching mankind for millennia seem to have decided to not sit idle while the technocalyptic cybergeddon is ravaging our planet.

We recently renewed our vows with Nuclear Blast and we’re very thrilled about moving on to this next phase (ahem) of our career with them by our side!

The Phase II touring cycle starts today and fittingly, we begin with a tour supporting my former employers Meshuggah! We hope to see you all on the road soon, but until then, here’s Scorched Quadrant!

9 long years I have waited for this and thankfully it doesn’t disappoint with only slight production differences between this and the first phase. Though the band has changed a lot, the songs pick up the feel and vibe of Phase I importantly. Coming with their style of genre blending, adding science fiction elements and transitions between very heavy gutturals and ethereal cleans. The guitars blaze riffs then solos, then riffs then solos with some expert drumming on show. It lacks a little bit of something magical to make it really stand out when compared to Phase I. Perhaps it is that the cleans, at first, seem a little less at the forefront but Scorched Quadrant is a strong start for a first single and I can’t wait to hear more.