Single Slam: Katatonia, Hiroe, AloneKitty, Death Pill, Confessions of A Traitor, Those Once Loyal, Behemoth, A Swift Farewell, Acres, Kilonova, Orthodox, and We Lost the Sea!
Today’s single slam features Katatonia, Hiroe, AloneKitty, Death Pill, Confessions of A Traitor, Those Once Loyal, Behemoth, A Swift Farewell, Acres, Kilonova, Orthodox, and We Lost the Sea. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.
Katatonia – Lilac
Swedish grandeurs of melancholic heaviness Katatonia are back with their new album ‘Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State’ which is set for release on 6th June (Napalm Records). The band has also shared the video for first single ‘Lilac’.
Fear not fans. Yes, there have been some changes to the Katatonia makeup but if this deeply miserable piece is anything to go by, the new album is going to be one of their best. There’s nothing revolutionary here, outside of a consistency that sometimes beggars’ belief, but as far as melancholic progressive power goes, Katatonia amaze once again. The masters of misery, beautiful misery, are back and things are sounding pretty great.
Hiroe – Tides
Hiroe, the new darlings of the American post-rock underground, return with news of their debut album, Wield, due 20th June via Pelagic Records. The band have also released their first single from Wield, the titanic ‘Tides’.
On ‘Tides’, the group comment:
The intention for ‘Tides’ was to evoke aural imagery akin to an unstoppable force colliding with an immovable object. Our studio intern’s observation perfectly captured this sentiment: “it sounds like a soundtrack for Godzilla fighting King Kong”. There’s an undercurrent of frustration woven into the song. It serves as a metaphor for the very universal human experience for us all – the constant challenges, both monumental and mundane, that we all face in a struggle to exist.
If you’ve ever heard the statement that ‘music has the power to move you’ and never understood it, you will now. Tides is what happens when a band hits the peak of their powers and delivers something with a monumental amount of feeling. A gobsmacking listen that erupts with doomy intensity, Hiroe have never sounded heavier, but as the track goes on it, it evolves in dramatic and captivating post rock style. Eight-plus minutes disappears in an instant and all you’ll want to do is hear it again and again. Check it out here.
AloneKitty – Gotta Let it Go
AloneKitty is the creation of Toronto-based artist Michelle K, heavily influenced by the likes of Sonic Youth, Slowdive, HUM, Mogwai, Ivy and My Bloody Valentine, as well as bands from Creation Records’ heyday. ‘Gotta Let it Go’, is the new single from the shoegaze band and captures the emotional intensity of letting go of a broken friendship.
A very creative listen that manages to combine infectious rhythms, vibrant melodies, and emotional weight. All packed tightly into a song that falls short of three minutes. Not a second is wasted and it leaves an impression. Highly listenable. Check it out here.
Death Pill – Craterface
Two years on from their sensational debut Ukrainian riot grrrl trio, Mariana, Anastasiia and Nataliia aka Death Pill are back with a brand-new album ‘called ‘Sologamy’ set for release on 20th June (New Heavy Sounds). The band has shared the first single ‘Craterface’ now.
Commenting on first single ‘Craterface’ the band say:
‘Craterface’ is a metaphor for a person whose face bears the marks of past struggles—both physical and emotional. This track is a cry from the soul, reflecting fear, self-hatred, and complicated relationships. The lyrical hero wrestles with inner conflicts, searching for acceptance. In a world filled with pressure and stress, Craterface becomes the voice of those trying to make sense of their emotions.
The protagonist feels not only anger toward others but also rage toward themselves for their own helplessness. This fury transforms into a thirst for revenge—a painful yet powerful way to cope with suffering. “Craterface” is my ultimate catharsis. A catharsis of consuming hatred, of the vengeance that eats me from the inside. “Let’s be honest—haven’t we all felt this way at least once?
Unsurprisingly, this new Death Pill single comes with some serious fire and fury, the thrashing and crashing punk metal band are in a scathing mood and that results in a thrilling head banger. Fast and intense, every part of the three-piece is locked in here and it’s the sound of Death Pill at their most dangerous.
Confessions of A Traitor – Noble Bloom
London metalcore quartet Confessions of A Traitor have released their brand new single ‘Noble Bloom’, an emotionally charged track about the relentlessness of grief. The single is the latest to be taken from their recently announced upcoming album ‘This Pain Will Serve You’, set for release on 16th May via Facedown Records. Pre-order and pre-save the album here.
Lyrically the track explores the complex emotions that surround the terminal diagnosis of a loved one, coming face to face with mortality and the painful journey towards inevitable loss; something that guitarist Jack Darnell had to confront when he tragically lost his mother.
Explains Jack:
This song is about being forced to move through the stages of grief far too quickly. Starting with overwhelming anger, then realising just how limited your time together truly is. Eventually, you’re left with no choice but to accept the immutable truth.
For those who are going through, or have been through, something as life-changing as a terminal illness: the pain never fully goes away. But over time, the space around it grows. It does get easier — I promise.
Another absolute banger from this band, filled with so much emotional melodic power, while having that distinct metalcore sound that, when it comes to this band, always results in something delectably infectious. It’s a mighty track with layers, some of which aren’t surface level so a bit of digging is required. Though, when it’s a track as good as this, digging deeper into it is guaranteed. Check it out here.
Those Once Loyal – Glass Hands
Metalcore/Modern metal band Those Once Loyal are back with their brand-new single, ‘Glass Hands’. It is the band’s first release since their first EP in 2022 ‘Relentless Cycle’.
Vocalist Matt Smith had this to say about the lyrics:
Glass hands is about politicians, big business and people who control us. The people who claim authority have no passion or love in their own lives, so they control us to inflate their own egos. Smashing hands of glass is basically a reference to dismantling the power they try to hold over our minds.
Welcome back Those Once Loyal! Returning with a renewed focus and intensity that helps freshen up their style of metalcore. Blending the new and old, putting emphasis on the riffs, and throwing their all into a furious grove-infused head banger and body shaker. What a difference a few years of growth can make. Banging stuff. Check it out here.
Behemoth – Lvciferaeon
Poland’s kings of extreme metal, Behemoth, have unveiled a stunning music video for their new single, ‘Lvciferaeon’.
Nergal commented:
It seems fitting to announce ‘Lvciferaeon’ as our next single amongst all the protest activity seen on the streets of the Unholy Trinity Tour. Lucifer has been a recurring symbol for us over our three decades of existence – a symbol of defiance and humanity in contrast to the divine ideal. Our fight continues!
It’s now beginning to look like the misstep that was the first single was a one-off as this, and the previous single, have showed a more nuanced side to the black metal band. It’s great to hear (and see) and this new effort burns with righteous blackened fire. Yet, it’s the flair, in particular the fact that it has a discernible chorus, that makes the difference. It’s a blunt listen none the less, enjoyably so, and capped off with a blistering guitar solo. Check it out here.
A Swift Farewell – The Haunting (Feat. Amariah of Future Static)
Rising Sydney emo pop-punk quartet A Swift Farewell have released their highly anticipated second single ‘The Haunting, ft. Amariah of Future Static’ and announce their debut EP ‘Hollow Threats’ – due June 6th.
Fast becoming a favourite here, A Swift Farewell are back with another impressive single that gets the feet tapping, the fingers rapping, the hips shaking, and the head nodding. Especially as the uber talented Amariah of Future Static has a guest spot on the track, and they sound great. Yet, even if that wasn’t the case, we’d still have a delightful slice of catchy emo pop-punk that has emotive weight behind it. Check it out here.
Acres – Built to Bleed
As the countdown to Acres highly anticipated new album ‘The Host’ (due out on May 2 via Solid State / Tooth and Nail Records) continues, the British metallers are back with their latest single, ‘Built To Bleed’.
Says bassist Jack Rogers:
I wrote ‘Built to Bleed’ lyrically about how I realised I have been valuing myself for pretty much my entire life. I’ve never been one to feel positive about myself or celebrate ‘achievements’ or be happy with the way I look, etc. Starting therapy made me realize how I’d manage to normalize those feelings and believe them whole heartedly. It’s a song where I’m at my absolute lowest mentally, laced with guilt for feeling the way I feel and being so good at hiding it and masking it. It’s definitely the most lyrically open I’ve ever been about my inner thoughts of myself.
We’re almost there, and to celebrate that fact, Acres have dropped one of their heaviest tracks to date. Showing that this new album is going to be varied. If you’ve been waiting eagerly for a single to come along that sounds dangerous, creatively so, then you are in luck. This is an eardrum busting, skull cracking, and bone crunching effort that just so happens to be impressively infectious. That’s Acres for you though.
Kilonova – Gatekeeper
Since 2018 Kilonova have been carving out their place in the UK metal scene with their unique take on Thrash. With a recent groundswell they’ve earned support slots with Cavalera, Crypta, Hellripper and more. The new single ‘Gatekeeper’, mixed and mastered by Meyrick de la Fuente (Vexed, Hacktivist), is a sonic brawl that carries the distinct brand of violence Kilonova have made their trademark.
Guitarist Jonny Sloan recalls:
We drank beer, ate pizza and then went to see Anthrax. The very next day Gatekeeper arrived. It was all the classic ingredients to make a straight-up Thrasher!
Vocalist Ellen Hill adds:
Gatekeeper’s one of those songs that gets you riled up and moving. We wrote it for people with something to rally against, get all the anger out as a collective rather than being isolated.
With an injection of new music, Kilonova are touring across the UK in Spring 2025, to welcome a growing number into their base of headbangers.
Kilonova will be performing at:
Fuel – Cardiff – April 17th
The Dev – London – April 18th
Heartbreakers – Southampton – April 19th
Santiago’s – Leeds – April 20th
Corporation – Sheffield – May 24th
Zerox – Newcastle – June 28th
Let’s f**king go, Kilonova are back and back with a rager. Going hard from the start, the band’s thrashy sound is very ‘in your face’ here, but as always, there are layers to what Kilonova do. This is a modern thrash sound, one with experimental touches, and coming from a band with an ear (and eye) for flair. It’s a track the compels you to head bang and head bang very hard. When it’s coming from a band as talented and ‘on fire’ as this, few will be able to deny its pull. Check it out here.
Orthodox – Sacred Place
Orthodox’s fusion of frenetic rhythms, pushed-to-the-breaking-point riffing and explosively emotive vocals have progressed on their intricate, expansive fourth studio album, ‘A Door Left Open’ which sees its release on 6th June via Century Media Records. Now, the hardcore / metal forerunners share their monolithic crowd pleaser ‘Sacred Place’ which is about when “home isn’t home anymore”.
Vocalist Adam Easterling tells:
Every now and then, if you’re lucky, you end up writing a song that you’ll be stuck playing for the rest of your career. I have a strong feeling that ‘Sacred Place’ could be ours. We knew once we put a bow on what was then called ‘Chameleon’ (the working title), that we had something special on our hands. We immediately started playing it live, and have been for nearly a year, which cemented that feeling.
How hyped are you for the album now? Out of 10? If it’s lower then 10 before you hear this new single, trust me, it will be 10 afterwards, This is a band inspired, a band on the form of their lives, and a band focused on world domination. It’s going to happen and all because of creative brutish bangers that get stuck in the mind. One of the best songs heard this year, full stop. Check it out here.
We Lost the Sea – A Dance with Death
Australian post-rock band We Lost The Sea have announced details on their new album ‘A Single Flower’ which is out on 4th July via Bird’s Robe, (Australia), Dunk (Europe), Translation Loss (USA) & New Noise (China). As well as the album details, the band have also shared the video for the first single and sprawling 10-minute epic ‘A Dance With Death’.
A beautiful epic that embodies the brilliance of the post rock scene. Filled with drama, yet not to the extent that it overshadows everything else, few bands can create such a turbulent level of emotion and once again, they’ve crafted something you just have to sit back and marvel at. It’s music that makes you feel and there are very few bands as good at doing it as We Lost the Sea. The proof? This new single.
Author
Katatonia, Hiroe, AloneKitty, Death Pill, Confessions of A Traitor, Those Once Loyal, Behemoth, A Swift Farewell, Acres, Kilonova, Orthodox, and We Lost the Sea!
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Katatonia – Lilac - 8/10
8/10
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Hiroe – Tides - 10/10
10/10
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AloneKitty – Gotta Let it Go - 7/10
7/10
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Death Pill – Craterface - 8/10
8/10
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Confessions of A Traitor – Noble Bloom - 9/10
9/10
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Those Once Loyal – Glass Hands - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Behemoth – Lvciferaeon - 7.5/10
7.5/10
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A Swift Farewell – The Haunting (Feat. Amariah of Future Static) - 8/10
8/10
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Acres – Built to Bleed - 9/10
9/10
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Kilonova – Gatekeeper - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Orthodox – Sacred Place - 10/10
10/10
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We Lost the Sea – A Dance with Death - 9/10
9/10
