Single Slam: Kittie, Cult Burial, Grimgotts, Cobra the Impaler, Fahran, Rising Insane, Plague Father, Evergrey, Rendezvous Point, Spliff Richards, and Coheed and Cambria!

Today’s single slam features Kittie, Cult Burial, Grimgotts, Cobra the Impaler, Fahran, Rising Insane, Plague Father, Evergrey, Rendezvous Point, Spliff Richards, and Coheed and Cambria. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Kittie – Vultures

The original Queens of Metal, Kittie have finally announced their highly-anticipated and long-awaited new studio album, ‘Fire’, due 21st June via Sumerian Records. The upcoming release is the band’s first full-length in over 13 years, and to celebrate the news the band have also released the brand new single ‘Vultures’, with its accompanying music video featuring live footage of the band’s main stage performance at this year’s Sick New World festival in Las Vegas.

Speaking on the new single and album announcement, vocalist and guitarist Morgan Lander comments:

10 years ago, if someone would have told us that we would be releasing new KITTIE music in 2024, we’d have dismissed them right away. It feels like something deeper than fate that’s brought us together again, allowing us to create something fearless and magical for you. We’ve worked incredibly hard over the past year, and surrounded ourselves with the ultimate dream team to make this album a reality. We cannot wait for you to lose yourselves in the passion and strength of Fire.

‘Vultures’ is a bold musical declaration, signalling our new beginnings as a band. ‘Vultures’ is a warning to those with hidden agendas, who thrive on deception. It’s a proclamation of breaking free of the chains of exploitation and a reckoning for those who pick at the bones of those who suffer in silence.

A very confident statement from Kittie, who continue their return with mighty metal aplomb. Both fresh and filled with nostalgic heaviness, this new single is the bar-setter for the new album. Kittie sounding heavier than ever, embracing their past, but also looking forward. If you weren’t sure that Kittie had a place in modern metal, this track will confirm to you that they more than belong. It’s good to have you back Kittie.

Cult Burial – All Mine (Portishead Cover)

London’s Cult Burial delves into the depths of possessiveness and desire with their fierce rendition of Portishead’s ‘All Mine’. This transformation of the track not only pays homage to the original but also offers a dark and visceral exploration of human desire.

Like all covers, you have to have some love for the original, regardless of how transformed it is. For many, All Mine is a Portishead classic, and any cover would be heresy. However, Cult Burial have gone out of their way to make this their own unique version. All while keeping the trip-hop groove and melancholic vibes present, albeit heavily warped by the sound of death metal. It’s a very cool version of the song. Check it out here.

Cobra the Impaler – Season of the Savage

Cobra the Impaler return with their mighty new single ‘Season of the Savage’, the second to be taken from their newly announced upcoming album ‘Karma Collision’, due 31st May via Listenable Records.

If you didn’t already know that this is going to be a big record for Cobra the Impaler, this single will ensure you can’t see anything else but world domination for this band. Already beloved, it’s music like this, aggressive and melodic in equal measures, but perfectly balanced to create something lovingly anthemic. The chorus is epic.

Grimgotts – Return to the Sea

Grimgotts are back! The power metal group will be releasing their brand-new album, ‘The Time of the Wolfrider’ later this year. Following the first single, ‘Ancient Voices (Hear them Calling)’, they now release the second single, ‘Return to the Sea’ on May 11th, 2024.

Grimgotts know how to deliver a sea-shanty or two, but surprisingly, this is not one of those. In fact, it’s one of the most epic sounding tracks this band has ever produced, as close to calling what Grimgotts do, cinematic. It shows just how far this band has come and how when the time calls, they can be heavy. Although, don’t think for a second that means it is lacking in the anthemic department. It’s not, after all, this is still Grimgotts. Upon release, Check it out here.

Fahran – Hate Me

Nottingham’s rock-metal outfit Fahran (pronounced Fa-Ren) return from their hiatus, having dedicated time to crafting a fresh album. Their new single, ‘Hate Me’, serves as the flagship track from their upcoming album, marking their first official release since late 2019.

Lead vocalist Matt Black explains:

’Hate Me’ embodies our signature sound while hinting at the darker, heavier direction we’ve naturally evolved towards. Packed with a bold riff, haunting verses, a catchy chorus, and intense vocals leading into a gripping breakdown and a satisfying outro solo, it’s sure to tantalize Fahran fans’ appetites, with more excitement on the horizon.

Has it realty been so long? Thankfully, the hiatus is over and Fahran are back and picking up where they left off. Offering up a track that is melodically powerful, filled with a lot of heart and soul, and when it’s time, goes really hard. It’s such an infectious listen, and not just within the excellent chorus. Their song-writing is on point here and it results in a hugely memorable listening experience.

Rising Insane – Burn

Rising Insane have unveiled their new single ‘Burn’, taken from their fourth studio album Wildfires, out 23rd August via Long Branch Records.

Comments singer Aaron Steineker:

‘Burn’ was the last song we wrote for Wildfires. We were somehow still missing a song with that certain something that you could start a show with. I can still remember the situation: I was getting dressed when the idea for ‘Burn’ popped into my head out of nowhere. I had to sprint upstairs to my cell phone before the idea got lost again and then made a three-minute video explaining the entire song to myself so that none of it would be forgotten. Within 2 hours, Sven (guitar) and I finished the instrumental, and after another day I recorded the vocals. It was by far the most fluid songwriting process we’ve ever had and we can’t wait to open our shows with that song.

It’s a fast-paced, energetic, and anthemic new one from Rising Insane. Showing off their innate abilities to go extremely hard, but keeping the bounce of vitality front and centre. It’s not going to set the world alight, even within metalcore, but it is an enjoyable song. Check it out here.

Plague Father – Negation

Pembroke death metal outfit Plague Father have initiated their resurgence with the brand new single ‘Negation’. This, their first release since 2017, marks the start of a larger body of work depicting the stages of grief set to follow in the not-so-distant future.

Speaking about the single. the band explains:

‘Negation’ is a depiction of the back and forth between thoughts by someone in denial after the loss of a loved one. On one side there is a refusal to believe what has come to pass, on the other – the voice of reason.

Grim. That’s all you need to know. Plague Father reached into the darkness of hell and have brought back something truly horrific. Yet, the best kind of death metal, it is so compelling because of its intrinsic brutality. What really makes this track special though are the erratic melodies and burgeoning atmospheres that crop up throughout the chaotic run. It’s a brilliant and brash beast.

Evergrey – Say

Evergrey, Gothenburg’s finest export of darkness, have unveiled their eagerly awaited second single, ‘Say’, together with an official music video. Taken from forthcoming album Theories of Emptiness (7th June, Napalm Records).

On the single, Evergrey says:

’Say’ is one of those songs that immediately when we wrote the chorus we knew that it would be an awesome single. It will simply kill live and is a very worthy follow-up to the success of ‘Falling From the Sun’. Regarding the end of the video there will of course be questions, a lot of questions, we have the answers.

Big music from a band that excels at it, Evergrey’s new single is solid stuff, if not a little formulaic in places. The highlights being some strong riffs, a good guitar solo, and nice keyboard melodies. There’s no shaking up of the winning formula that has made this band so popular, and while it won’t win them any new fans, those that love Evergrey will love this too. Check it out here.

Rendezvous Point – Utopia

Norwegian progressive metal masters Rendezvous Point have released the new single ‘Utopia’, taken from their highly anticipated third full-length ‘Dream Chaser’, due 21st June 2024 via Long Branch Records.

Singer Geirmund Hansen comments on the new single ‘Utopia’:

As a child you often search for ideals and someone to look up to. Very often, you can find those ideals in close family relations, and they become your guide. Later in life there’s a breaking point where you must find your own path and that sometimes can lead to a lacking feeling of belonging and you end up in the middle of two different spheres, Dystopia.

This is an odd one. Progressively weird and melodically charged, Rendezvous Point manage to pack a less than 4-minute-long track with so much, it’s maddening. It needs multiple listens just to pick out all the layered detail. Even if the prettiness does stand out on a first listen. Check it out here.

Spliff Richards – Hate My Life

Spliff Richards is TRANSPanik. Bristol’s prodigal son and errant daughter. Making music inspired by what they think it will be like to live in the city in a few decades time. Noise pop hop rock. One man’s rubbish is another girl’s treasure. The debut single ‘Hate My Life’ is out now.

I kind of love this and I kind of hate it. It’s nonsensical, but so damn clever. It’s silly, but serious. It’s genre-defying, but identifiable too. It’s Spliff Richards, it’s really fucking weird, and I want more. You will too, just to see what else this band can do. Based off this, they appear to have a lot of creativity about them, and whatever comes next will likely be as baffling as this.

Coheed and Cambria – The Joke

Coheed and Cambria have shared a rare stand-alone track, titled ‘The Joke’. This new song is plucked from their Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind album sessions.

Vocalist Claudio Sanchez reveals:

The meaning behind The Joke is basically “if you need a punching bag, I’ll be that guy”.

Coheed and Cambria, you either love them or hate them, but all can agree they are so damn talented. Case in point? A track that didn’t make on to the Vaxis – Act II album, and is an absolute banger. Weird and wonderful, with some fantastic bass and drums, and irregularly catchy. That might sound par for the course with this band, but they never fail to surprise, and this wacky slice of delightfulness will surprise.