Single Slam: Evile, Sifting, Movement at Night, Elyrean, Disconnected Souls, Horrendous, The Crawling, Eight Sins, Resolve, The Voynich Code, State of Deceit, Werewolves, All Regards, and Butcher Babies!

This week’s single slam features Evile, Sifting, Movement at Night, Elyrean, Disconnected Souls, Horrendous, The Crawling, Eight Sins, Resolve, The Voynich Code, State of Deceit, Werewolves, All Regards, and Butcher Babies. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Evile – Reap What You Sow

UK metal masters Evile have unleashed their new single and lyric video ‘Reap What You Sow’, taken from their new album The Unknown, set for 14th July 2023 via Napalm Records.

Frontman OL Drake commented:

The second single from The Unknown is “Reap What You Sow” – a more up-tempo riff-fest. Without wanting to share too much about this track’s personal meaning, this song is about hypocrisy; someone saying not to do something, then they do it themselves. I gave Ingo, the lyric video director, no direction other than the lyrics, so the video is his own interpretation of the song. There’s a down-picking riff challenge in the middle section of the song. Enjoy!

Evile are on the form of their life, at the moment. Reinvigorated, stronger as a unit, having learned a lot over time, and now more confident than ever. A new album is extremely anticipated and this taste of groove-infused and head-banging heaviness is the perfect amuse-bouche. Crunchy riffs, pummelling drumbeats, and cleaner vocals make this one hell of a head-banger. It’s a different take on the Evile sound, but an exciting one none the less.

Sifting – Silent Acquiescence

‘Silent Acquiescence’ is the latest single from Sifting, the infamous progressive thrash metal band from Los Angeles (USA).

It’s a chunky and chaotic new offering from Sifting. Where, from the very start, they’re hitting their instruments as though their lives depend on it. Early on, you can feel the progressive aspects of the band beginning to show, and it doesn’t take too long for this track to evolve into something else completely. The clean singing, the melodic flair, the aggressive layering, bursts of frenzied thrashing, and overall maddening structure. When Sifting promise you progressive thrash, they mean it. Check it out here.

Movement at Night – Strong as a Mountain

A one-man band from Nice, France, Movement at Night combines influences from Anglo-Saxon indie rock, alternative, and pop punk. After the release of the EP ‘Sleep on It’ in 2021, Movement at Night returns with a new album entitled ‘Failed By Choice’. Composed of 9 tracks, it will see the light of day in September.

The second single from the album, ‘Strong as a Mountain’ is out now.

A long and haunting introduction sets the mood nicely. Immediately, you can feel the emotion in this track, and as it transitions into something peppier, it just gets even more exciting. Yet, the emotion is ever-present. The blend of pop-punk energy, indie heart and soul, dramatic touches, elaborate ideas, and a big anthemic moment makes this one hell of a banger track. All the work of one person? That is mightily impressive. Check it out here.

Elyrean – Lungs of Venus

Technical thrash metal band Elyrean have released their new single, Lungs of Venus. It is the second part of their double single release, following Perpetually Entombed.

Who doesn’t love a bit of technical thrash metal? Especially when it comes from such a quality band? Lungs of Venus is a fast and thrashy number with space-themed lyrical content, blending in sharp technical twists, melodic tones, and non-stop head-banging inducing groove. Pure heavy enjoyment from beginning to end, It’s more top shelf stuff from this band.

Disconnected Souls – Loveless

Eclectic metal outfit Disconnected Souls immerse themselves in electronic metalcore in their new single ‘Loveless’. Following the atmospheric fantasy single ‘Dissonant Whispers’ released earlier this year, ‘Loveless’ is a more personal and reflective song that challenges expectations of what ‘love’ is.

Explains vocalist Patrick:

Sonically, ‘Loveless’ is largely inspired by the heavy, ‘clubby’ electronic metalcore sound of bands like I SEE STARS and VOID OF VISION, and I wanted to capture that vibe for this track. ‘Loveless’ is a very personal song to me. I won’t go into the specifics, and let the lyrics speak for themselves. It may take a long time to realise and recognise some very important parts of your identity, but when you do, things become a lot clearer.

Disconnected Souls are certainly a band you can’t pigeon hole and if Loveless is your first taste of the eccentricities of the band, you might come away a bit baffled. Heavy on the electronica, the introduction is a bit jarring to say the least. Yet, this track is far more intense and chaotic than the intro suggests. Disconnected Souls getting much heavier and much more interesting. However, the vocal effects that accompany the growling heavy portion in the chorus might be one of the most irritating things heard all year. Check it out here.

Horrendous – Cult of Shaad’oah

Philadelphia’s filthiest and finest progressive death metal band, Horrendous, have revealed another glimpse of their forthcoming album, Ontological Mysterium, with new single ‘Cult of Shaad’oah’.

The new album from Horrendous to shaping up to be one hell of a brutal offering and further proof comes in the form of this crushing new single. One with a darker and blacker tone, yet as progressively intriguing as always. Moving erratically through different tempos, delving into downright savage territories, it is a brilliant showcase of this band’s continued brilliance. Check it out here.

The Crawling – Thy Nazarene

After five long years Northern Ireland’s premiere exponents of soul crushing doom/death metal have returned! Today, June 16th, The Crawling present their new single and video – Thy Nazarene! This bitter beast of a track is taken from the band’s third album, All of This For Nothing, which will be released by Grindscene Records on August 4th.

Has it really been so long? It doesn’t feel like it as the familiar combination of The Crawling’s inimitable death doom washes though the mind. Darkly melodic, doomy, and with touches of intensity, it’s a very bleak sounding track. The Crawling are back and based off this track, good things are coming to those who have waited patiently.

Eight Sins – Street Trash

French hardcore thrash band Eight Sins is back with ‘Street Trash,’ the first single from the new album ‘Straight to Namek’, scheduled for release in October 2023.

A no-nonsense blast of hardcore thrash, Eight Sins keep it simple on this new track. Yet, simplicity doesn’t mean lazy. Street Trash is both energetic and chaotic, the combination of heavy and wild genres sees the group let loose. Yet, have some enjoyable stompy groove to head-bang along too. Check it out here.

Resolve – Human

Resolve have announced details of their forthcoming album release, titled ‘Human’. The highly anticipated second full-length album will be released on Friday 15th September via Arising Empire and will feature recent single’s ‘Death Awaits’ and ‘Move to Trash’.

To coincide with the album announcement, Resolve have also shared a cinematic new offering in the form of album title track ‘Human’ which is out today on all streaming platforms.

Says bassist Robin Mariat:

Human is a very important track to us. From the moment Anthony (vocalist and primary songwriter) first played us the original demo in his room, it was obvious that we had something very special here. So much so, that we decided to make it the title track of the second album! It’s a very industrial vibe, which is a direction that we haven’t explored much in the past, but what I’m particularly pleased with is the fact that it 100% retains the Resolve essence, with titanic breakdowns and melodies. It’s probably our most cinematic track yet though, which is something I’m sure a lot of fans will be very happy about. It’s very Isaac Asimov inspired, telling the tale of a humanoid being, half clone, half robot, that questions everything about it’s existence, it’s consciousness… just like we, Humans, do.

It’s been one heck of a journey so far with Resolve as they lead us towards the release of this new album. The previous singles have been impressive and varied, and then along comes Human to add even more layers to their sound. A thought-provoking listen that has a measured intensity, heightened by clever touches of melody. When it blows up, it blows up big. Check it out here.

The Voynich Code – The Last Grain

Portuguese deathcore masters, The Voynich Code, have unleashed their brand new single ‘The Last Grain’ ‘The track is the band’s second release since announcing their signing to Unique Leader Records and dropping the crushing single ‘Unholy Catastrophe’ in April this year.

Speaking on the lyrical content of their new track, The Voynich Code share:

The Last Grain dives into the detrimental habit of fixating on the past, wasting valuable seconds of our lives. The past is something that gets a hold of us really tight of the present, losing sight of any joy the future may hold.

For many of us, the weight of the past is only released when the last grain of the hourglass drops. It is in that moment that we understand that our whole existence is now just that: “the past”. By constantly looking back, we have wasted a lifetime, subjecting ourselves to needless suffering over something beyond our control.

A rambunctious and rampaging effort from The Voynich Code, The Last Grain is a beast of a track. Blending sharp technical tones with deathcore intensity, harmonious melody, chunky riffs, and powerful vocals. It’s a unique blend of heavy sounds with many layers, and while that might seem par for the course with this band, their ability to make it sound so ‘anthemic’ is getting stronger.

State of Deceit – Stalked by Daemons, Guarded by Angels

State of Deceit is a metalcore, thrash and groove band from South Wales (UK), whose music sticks a middle finger straight into the mug of the mainstream, and they just premiered a new music video and single entitled ‘Stalked by Daemons, Guarded by Angels’. Their upcoming full-length album ‘Stalked by Daemons’ will be released on October 13, 2023 via Eclipse Records.

Let’s f**king go. Talking the crown for the stompiest and pit-inducing track of the week, State of Deceit are busting heads with this new single. Hitting a really strong melodic tone in the chorus to give it that metalcore taste. No repetitiveness here though as the overall heavy groove of the track is deliciously addictive. A head-banger in all the best ways. Check it out here.

Werewolves – My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me

Werewolves have shared the title track from their upcoming album, ‘My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me’, with an accompanying lyric video. The Australian death metal trio’s latest single is the second song to be taken from their fourth full-length, which is due out via Prosthetic Records on August 11TH.

Speaking on the new single, bassist/vocalist Sam (also of The Antichrist Imperium, The Berzerker) comments:

As far as we’re concerned, death metal is for one thing and one thing only: a barrage of horrific screaming blastbeats conveyed with maximum violence. My Enemies Look And Sound Like Me – the track, the album – is the pinnacle expression of that. Fuck leads. Fuck melody. Fuck you.

We’re beginning to sound like a broken record here, but seriously, get aboard the Werewolves train. It is careening out of control, it’s on fire, and the band are manically laughing as the inevitable crash is going to be destructive. Yet, it’s a ride you just want to be on as they, once again, showcase just how f**king intense they can be. This is chaos and it is wonderful. Revel in it, take your licks, hold on for dear life, and be grateful they’re willing to subject us to such aural violence. This new album is shaping up to be one of the best of the year.

All Regards – SOS

Melbourne grunge alt-rockers All Regards are back with their energetic new single SOS, accompanied by the introduction of two new members and the announcement of the live launch at Cherry Bar in July.

A brash return for the grunge alt-rockets, All Regards; new single is a dynamic sounding track that is charmingly catchy. The rhythm gets the foot-tapping, but it really blows up when the chorus hits. Alongside that, the lyrical content is well worth listening too. All Regards have something to say and it matters. Check it out here.

Celestial Sanctuary – Biomineralization (Cell Death)

The highly anticipated Celestial Sanctuary sophomore LP ‘Insatiable Thirst for Torment’ will be dropping on the 25th August. To launch this exciting new chapter in the band’s career, they have released the brand new single ‘Biomineralization (Cell Death)’.

The band had this to say about the track:

This song is about a future society that has discovered that by harvesting the iron and copper from human blood, it creates the ultimate metal – perfect for weapons and armour. But this leads to people in lower classes inadvertently creating a black market for weaponized blood. Society collapses and the usual apocalyptic shit ensues.

F**king take that. Biomineralization (Cell Death) is freaking ruthless. We sort of expect that from Celestial Sanctuary but even then, they’re pushing their blackened death metal sound into even more chaotic, darker, and groovy territories. If there is one single this week liable to have you seeing stars through the sheer head-banging drive of it, it is this track. If this is what we have to look forward to with the new album, then we can all be very excited. Check it out here.

Butcher Babies – Last December

Butcher Babies have revealed details of their forthcoming double album ‘Eye for An Eye…’ & ‘… ‘Til the World’s Blind.’ Due to be released on July 7th, 2023. The group have released the first single from the double offering, Last December.

Love ‘em or loathe em’, Butcher Babies aren’t going anywhere and this upcoming double album is a big moment for the group. Giving listeners a taste of the variety they can expect, Last December is as melancholic as they come. The first half focusing on light electronic melody and soaring, heartfelt vocals. While sweet, it’s not very interesting, yet stick with this track as it ‘rocks’ up nicely and has a pretty strong guitar solo.