Single Slam: Crypta, Bad Juju, Blunt Force Karma, Swarm6ix, Major Moment, Nixil, Marc Hudson, Disguised Malignance, De’Lour, Astralborne, Caskets, Diosa, Parrilla, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Amaranthe!

This week’s single slam features Crypta, Bad Juju, Blunt Force Karma, Swarm6ix, Major Moment, Nixil, Marc Hudson, Disguised Malignance, De’Lour, Astralborne, Caskets, Diosa, Parrilla, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Amaranthe. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Crypta – Trial of Traitors

Brazilian death metal outfit Crypta have revealed another furious new single, ‘Trial of Traitors’, the second glimpse of their new beast of an album Shades of Sorrow, released 4th August 2023 via Napalm Records.

Crypta are a beast renewed, a thought already at the forefront of the mind following the previous single, but one that becomes imprinted on the mind with this new offering. A frenetic explosion of wicked guitars and scathing vocal roars makes this one hell of a heavy track. Their thrashy death metal sound has never sounded so intense.

Bad Juju – Raincoat

Melbourne alternative band Bad Juju share their fourth nostalgic rock single, Raincoat, from their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Blue Heaven’, out Friday July 21st.

Raincoat is a reminder to appreciate the things that we have before they’re gone. Vocalist Russell Holland says:

Whether it’s a relationship with a partner, the planet we live on or anything else you may take for granted, it’s important to remember to look after the special things in life before we lose them for good.

The Bad Juju train keeps on rolling on with this latest single, a track that has a lighter rock tone but still packs a decent punch. Reflective and sweet, but uplifting in a clever way, it’s another banger that gets well and truly stuck in the head. Alternative rock that makes you smile. Check it out here.

Blunt Force Karma – Hellfire (feat. Austin D’Amond)

Blunt Force Karma are a melodic death betal Band, based out of Chicago, IL. Their debut Single, ‘Hellfire’, is being released on Friday June 30th and features guest drummer, Austin D’Amond (most notably of Chimaira, Devildriver, Bleed the Sky, and more).

A new band on the melo-death scene, Blunt Force Karma make one hell of an impression with Hellfire. An aptly titled track as it’s fiery and furious. Showcasing chunky riffing, blistering drumming, and vocal devilry. Really notable when the chorus hits, but overall, it’s a pounding head-banger with some kick-ass guitar soloing included too. Check it out here.

Swarm6ix – DEATHS G(rip)

Following on from singles ‘Fuego’, ‘d0pamine’ and ‘$OCIAL $UICIDE’ which were all spun by BBC Radio 1, Swarm6ix release new single ‘DEATHS G(rip)’ today.

Swarm6ix show no signs of slowing down and no willingness to compromise on their heavy, intense, nu-metal infused sound. This new single comes at you hard. Swarm6ix digging into deep reserves of passion and honesty, the track having a dark moodiness that resonates. It’s a clear continuation of their experimentation and drive to excite listeners with each and every new release.

Major Moment – Overcome

Boston US pop metal band Major Moment have shared a brand new single titled ‘Overcome’ and have their debut album dropping late 2023.

A hit, a radio hit, through and through. Major Moment showcase pop sensibilities with metal groove and energy. Providing an anthem that will appeal to a wide array of listeners as it showcases pretty and powerful melodies. Alongside a singalong of a chorus, Major Moment hit all the checkmarks for how to write a memorable hefty hit. Check it out here.

Nixil – In Thrall

Nixil’s In Thrall is the second track to be taken from the Baltimore, Maryland black metal group’s forthcoming album, ‘From the Wound Spilled Forth Fire’ (Due out on August 25).

A magical and malevolent listening experience, Nixil’s black metal sound might draw from the ‘old-school’ edge of the genre, but through dark and sinister experimentation they make for a unique listen. With this track, Nixil prove their commitment to the dark arts and drag the listener into threatening and uncomfortable depths. It’s a little drawn out near the end, but it’s still an effectively chilling experience overall.

Marc Hudson –Astralive

Dragonforce frontman Marc Hudson’s brand new single, ‘Astralive’ marks the start of an exciting new chapter and serves as a first taste of his upcoming solo debut, accompanied by an official music video.

Guess what? The vocals on this track are immense. It’s part of the immediate appeal. Especially as the solo work of the Dragonforce singer isn’t massively different. What we have here is an energetic power metal track with a big chorus and less guitar virtuoso elements. That will certainly be appealing to those who get put off by the egregious stuff Dragonforce do. However, this is just an alright track. It’s catchy, but not that memorable. Enjoyable while it’s on but forgotten about shortly afterwards. Check it out here.

Disguised Malignance – Malignant Visions

From Helsinki, Finland, Disguised Malignance are a young death metal band tying together the old-school with the new-wave. Their debut album, ‘Entering the Gateways’, is due out on September 29th.

Combining the best of two death metal sounds, the old school grimness, and the more modern gurning style. The end result is something that sounds both classic and modern at the same time. Delivering meatiness with aplomb, Disguised Malignance are digging deeply into the innards of heinous heaviness here and it hits hard.

De’Lour – Guarded

South Wales based band De’Lour have shared their new single ‘Guarded’.

This week’s most dramatic sounding track. De’Lour have a lot of power and passion in their alternative metal sound. One that focuses on melodic melancholy to great effect because it bares its soul and convinces. It’s oozing emotion, but it’s not egregious, and the chorus is surprisingly anthemic. Check it out here.

Astralborne – Gemini

Gemini is the third and final pre-release single from the Midwest melodeath trio’s sophomore album, ‘Across the Aeons’, which is set for release on July 28th.

Are you hyped enough for this new Astralborne album? If by some miracle you hadn’t reached a feverish point in your excitement yet, this new single will do the job. As it finds the band sounding extremely strong. Their melodeath devolvement allows them to push the limits of harmonised heaviness. The thrill of familiar melodeath elements with Astralborne’s ability to make it sound fresh, makes this one of the best tracks they’ve released from this upcoming new album. Check it out here.

Caskets – Better Way Out

Yorkshire melodic metallers, Caskets, who recently announced their new album, ‘Reflections’, for an August 11th release on SharpTone Records, have now released an affirming new single, ‘Better Way Out’.

Speaking of the track, frontman Matt Flood says:

Better Way Out is a song that relates to suicidal thoughts and tendencies. It’s a song about noticing and understanding the trials and tribulations of life, about rising above the feelings of depression and anxiety and knowing your self worth. To have somebody say that they see you and they hear you, or to have a community by your side while you go through these daily battles isn’t something afforded to everybody. So many of us can blindly walk through the barriers that we build inside our heads, alone without a shoulder to cry on or a friend to lend an ear.

A band that resonates with so many people continuing to showcase the unrivalled emotion and beauty they have. Better Way Out is Caskets at their most passionate and heart-wrenching. While also being effectively punchy and having a chorus that just soars. You can hear a crowd of tearful fans singing this one back at them loudly in the live environment.

Diosa – Old Serpent

Fresh from appearing at Metalhead Meeting Festival in Bucharest where they played with the legendary Pantera, Houston TX rock band Diosa have released their new single ‘Old Serpent.’

Throwing in grungy touches, exploding with fire, and delivering a constant source of energy, Diosa have a bit of an anthem on their hands here. One where simply calling it ‘hard rock’ doesn’t do the layers of groove and heaviness justice. A cleverly put together track that allows every element of the band to stand out, its runtime flies by in really satisfying fashion. As infectious as it is liable to get everyone who hears it head-banging. Check it out here.

Parrilla – Libido Isolation

Experimental/Nu-Industrial project Parrilla are back with as brand-new single called ‘Libido Isolation.’ A song about the pain and sick gut wrenching feeling when you long for someone that you cannot have, while dealing with betrayal and being a slave to your own desires, creating chaos and destruction within your life. It will be released on July 1st, 2023.

This is a strong effort from Parrilla. One that sees them drawing from the moody alt-sound of the 90s and throwing a ton of exciting industrial heaviness into their experimental mixing pot. Deliciously dark sounding, it grips the mind and encourages the listener to let loose and go a bit wild when it hits the frenetic chorus. Good stuff. Check it out here upon release.

The Sun’s Journey Through the Night – Orion

The latest single from the forthcoming The Sun’s Journey Through the Night record. ‘Orion’ is the third and final single to be released from their highly anticipated new album ‘Worldless’, which drops 28th July.

An eye-watering, ear-bleeding, mentally brutalising track from this consistently chaotic band. The Sun’s Journey Through the Night’s latest single is as savage as they come, but once again, it takes the listener on a fantastical and depth filled journey. The mind adapts to the punishment being dished out and is then able to uncover so many tones, touches, and developments that make this such a special track. Such brutality shouldn’t have such strong appeal. Check it out here.

Amaranthe – Damnation Flame

Swedish modern metal heroes Amaranthe deliver the soundtrack for a fiery festival summer with the release of their new single ‘Damnation Flame.’

Mastermind Olof states about the new song:

‘Damnation Flame’ breaks new ground for us in many ways, and in all the best ways possible. This is the very first Amaranthe song to feature symphonic elements, something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, and the darkened vampiric theme melds together perfectly with our take on modern melodic metal! Amaranthe has always been about being boundless and constantly reinventing ourselves, and by now you know to expect the unexpected. This is 100% pure passion poured into music, as you will no doubt experience yourself from the very first second – enjoy ‘Damnation Flame’, with the promise of much more to come SOON!

A new vocalist, the same old Amaranthe. Something that is not meant as a negative at all. Amaranthe do big symphonic metal songs that makes you feel ten feet tall, while also being delightfully catchy, and that’s what we get here. An super-slick blast of pomp and pageantry as only this band is capable of. If you love Amaranthe already, you’re going to love this too. If not, you might be surprised to find yourself singing along to the chorus regardless.