Single Slam: Coheed and Cambria, Exocrine, Oakman, Gwar, Young Medicine, Soreption, Nervous Light, Alexisonfire, Fight the Fade and Municipal Waste!

This week’s single slam features Coheed and Cambria, Exocrine, Oakman, Gwar, Young Medicine, Soreption, Nervous Light, Alexisonfire, Fight the Fade and Municipal Waste. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Coheed and Cambria – Comatose

The music world’s most intriguing storytellers, Coheed and Cambria, have shared “Comatose,” a brand-new track off their widely anticipated new album Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind – due out June 24th, 2022.

A bouncy and pop-punky effort with elements of electronica layered throughout, this is Coheed and Cambria as imaginative, creative, and catchy as ever. There’s a maturity to this band that makes throw-back tracks like this feel modern and fresh. It’s super-infectious, clever and grin-inducing. The band are on high at the moment and this album is shaping up to be one of their best to date.

Exocrine – Dying Light

French masters of technical death metal, Exocrine, have released their second single ‘Dying Light’, taken from their forthcoming new full-length album The Hybrid Suns which is set for release via Unique Leader Records on 17th June.

Comments the band on the new single:

Here comes our brand new single ‘Dying Light’ from our upcoming album Hybrid Suns. It reveals a little more about the album concept, some links will start to appear. Still on high speed as usual but we focused on the more melodic aspects which includes an important female vocal part. Thus we tried to accentuate the contrast, to amplify the feeling of distress and the dramatic side in connection with the concept.

Meaty. That is the first word that comes to mind as the instruments all hit at the same time. The pace, immediately hot and heavy. Then the vocals arrive, and we get transition into something with death intensity, punctuated by blistering techy jabs and layered with dark, sinister vibes. It’s got some fascinating ideas; such as the duel vocal performance and the drums are working overtime. Killer stuff. Check it out here.

Oakman – Fantasy

France based pop/rock trio, Oakman have shared their brand new single, “Fantasy,” out now via Rude Records. Written and produced by the band themselves, the upbeat, bouncy track muses on how we can tend to live in this “fantasy” world where we’re not being true to ourselves and realizing that we can’t continue to live that way and we have to be who we really are.

Says the band:

The pandemic and the lockdown was a long period of questioning. When you try to realize your dreams, your projects, you put so much energy into it that nothing can stop you. But when everything stops, it’s a hard blow. And this time, it was the whole world that stopped! So you start to question your life, your choices and even think about giving up and you say to yourself, ‘that would only be proving the people who never believed in you right.’ So when you finally realize that you can’t give up who you are, you start to find a new energy.

Upbeat, light and poppy… if you’re looking for something with bite, this track probably isn’t going to be for you. Though, you’d be missing out on a joyful, peppy, and feel-good pop-rock track. One that has catchiness and nostalgia running through it. The highlight being the synth and vocals. It’s memorable and you might find it getting stuck in your head. Check it out here.

Gwar – Berserker Mode

As the release date draws nearer, the mighty alien overlords of Gwar have unleashed the second track from their forthcoming masterpiece, ‘The New Dark Ages.’

Says The Berserker Blóthar:

This is my origin story, about transforming into a drug-jacked unpredictable liability on the battlefield. But like me, it has a softer side, a tale of the struggle of becoming a sexy, multi-donged, vajazzled cow beast who is unafraid to proclaim my authentic self…

Fun, silly and rocking… exactly as Gwar have and always will be. Berserker Mode has all the elements that Gwar fans have come to love. Plenty of head-banging groove, tight instrumentation and tongue in cheek vibes. It’s a solid heavy metal track that has some noticeable differences to the previous single, Mother Fucking Liar, suggesting that the album might be more varied than expected.

Young Medicine – UFO Party

While not explicitly about the X-Files per se, Young Medicine’s heavy-hitting “UFO Party” draws heavily from the acclaimed series. UFO Party is available now on all platforms from independent multi-genre label FiXT.

Says the band:

‘UFO Party’ is a self-reflection on being a shut-in and of feeling stagnant. Driving through the areas you used to know growing up that have all changed, the people having moved on or away while you feel stuck doing the same thing. All set to the backdrop of watching X-Files for the thirtieth time while doom scrolling on the phone.

The use of electronica/synthesisers certainly gives this a more ‘retro’ feel but at its core, it’s an energetic blast of rock. Music to get you up and moving, music to get the feet tapping and head nodding along. Music to vibe too. You can’t ask for anything more than that. The tempo is infectious and Young Medicine are rocking out hard. Check it out here.

Soreption – The Artificial North

Swedish titans of technical death metal, Soreption, have shared their intense new single and video ‘The Artificial North’. The second track to be taken from forthcoming album Jord is set for release on 10th June via Unique Leader Records.

On the new single, vocalist Fredrik Söderberg explains:

The concept of the song, in short, is about the extremes we go to for survival. How we slowly but surely become more digital than organic. At the end of it all, we become what we feared from the start. In the video we follow a man trapped in this rapidly evolving artificial north.

More Soreption is always a good thing and while we wait with bated breath for this new album, the tech death masters have unleashed a beast to tide things over. A frantic, frenzied and furious blast of noise that has the sharpness of tech but the heft of death. The vocals are spat out at an insane pace, the guitars are blistering, and the percussion is bone-crushing. It’s short and to the point, which just makes its impact even more painful. Check it out here.

Nervous Light – Coffee Stains And Picture Frames

Brisbane emo trio, Nervous Light, have delivered a moody soundtrack to the cooler months with brand new single, “Coffee Stains And Picture Frames”.

Vocalist Jordan Olive explains the song is a reflection:

In the wake of leaving a long term relationship and watching the rest of the world, including the other person, move on without you. You are left to pick up the pieces and find comfort in yourself and a way to rebuild what you thought you already had. The tune speaks to the importance of, reflecting upon the self destructive behaviors that can rear their head when left unchecked and unaddressed.

It’s not a track that will leave you feeling warm and happy, but it will leave you reflective. Chances are almost everyone can relate in some way. The emotive way in which Nervous Light deliver the message is memorable and it has a certain catchiness that just gets stuck in the head. Although it may not be peppy in the conventional sense, you can certainly feel the passion oozing through. Check it out here.

Alexisonfire – Sans Soleil

Alexisonfire have unveiled ‘Sans Soleil’ the latest single from Otherness, their first full-length album in over 13 years. Otherness will be released on June 24th via Dine Alone Records.

A track with hopeful vibes, a lot of melodrama and melody, a track that oozes atmosphere while being undeniably catchy. In particular, when it transitions into a rockier and heavier chorus. There’s no arguing with the passionate display that Alexisonfire showcase here, even if the melodic verses are more laidback. That just makes the energy exertions and lyrical content all the more powerful. Another strong effort from this band.

Fight the Fade – On My Own

Fight the Fade have released their new single ‘On My Own’ and announced their new album Apophysitis, out on 22nd July on FiXT

Says the band:

On My Own is for anyone who’s tired of putting themselves out there just to get burned,” states Fight the Fade. “Everyone deserves a second chance, but there are times where it’s okay to walk away and be on your own.

A very punchy and anthemic track, Fight the Fade deliver an alternative rock banger that might not be as heavy as the music the band often produces but isn’t lacking oomph. In particular, they really hit their stride with the chorus. Whereas the verses have a moodiness, with melody and the vocals delivered in a more subdued and disconcerting fashion. Check it out here.

Municipal Waste – High Speed Steel

Get ready for another taste of the WASTE! Richmond Virginia’s hard-charging, thrash metal maniacs Municipal Waste have revealed their blistering second single, ‘High Speed Steel’, from their massively-anticipated 7th studio album, ‘Electrified Brain’, that’s due out July 1st via Nuclear Blast.

Commenting on the single, guitarist Ryan Waste says:

High Speed Steel is our ode to an era when heavy metal was transitioning into a faster form. We pushed the limits of our sound to channel that classic dynamic and keep the intensity high. It’s about overcoming the pressure and slicing down the odds when everything is stacked against you.

Municipal Waste are going to fuck you up. The mantra is still well and truly alive here as the thrash maniacs bring a hot and heavy slice of metal. Everything you love about this band is present, yet they still wow, the speed of this track proving to be simply immense. At this stage of their career, it seems as though they can do no wrong and this track just further solidifies that.