Single Slam: Vukovi, Speaking with Spirits, Suffer, Distance Divine, Gaupa, Catalysis, Those Damn Crows, and ALT BLK ERA!

Today’s single slam features Vukovi, Suffer, Speaking with Spirits, Distance Divine, Gaupa, Catalysis, Those Damn Crows, and ALT BLK ERA. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Vukovi – SNO

Vukovi have released the video for their melodic new single ‘SNO’ that nods to the sound of 90’s alternative greats such as The Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage, whilst retaining Vukovi’s unique identity. The track is taken from their upcoming album, ‘My God Has Got a Gun’, that’s set for release on 24th January via SharpTone Records.

On the new single, Janine Shilstone comments:

‘SNO’ is a raw, emotional journey that captures the fragility and power of confronting your inner shadows. Vulnerability dancing with heavy-as-fuck guitars felt like the perfect soundtrack for an exorcism of trauma.

An absolute stunner of a track that exposes all manner of emotions, feeling so damn powerful, but also having a massive amount of anthemic quality too. Vukovi’s creativity is unparalleled, and the two-piece’s ability to sound so dreamy, beautiful, and rocking is on show with this unforgettable effort. It is a masterpiece of pop-infused rock that will be remembered for how cathartic it is.

Speaking with Spirits – Vessels

Speaking with Spirits, the modern metalcore band, have released their latest single, ‘Vessels’. This follows on from previous singles ‘Always Pretending’ and ‘Prison of Silence’.

What’s on offer this time? Something exciting, something impactful, and something that continues to show that Speaking with Spirits have a lot to offer the metal world. Their ‘newbie’ shine is beginning to wear off, so now it’s all about consistency, and this nu-tinged effort is enjoyable. The balanced vocals, the sharpness of the guitars, the weight of the drums, and the memorable chorus, banging stuff.

Suffer – Feast of Decay

Suffer, the UK deathcore band, are back having gone through a line-up change, they’ve been working hard behind the scenes and the first single of this new chapter, ‘Feast of Decay’, is out now.

It’s good to have Suffer back, especially when this is what we have to enjoy to as they move menacingly forward. Not just heavy and chaotic in classic deathcore style, but with thick veins of wickedness running through it. The structure of the track is wild, and you can hear the differences in style with this new line-up, but the core idea remains and that is to wreck, which Suffer easily accomplish with this beast.

Distance Divine – Self-Destruction

After a three-year hiatus, anthemic UK metalcore outfit Distance Divine have returned with their explosive new comeback single, ‘Self-Destruction’, featuring Jordan JJ Olifent (Hacktivist, ex-Borders). A self-produced and politically charged single, and the band’s first with new frontman Jonny Nelson (ex-Violet, Tahoe, Verbalinchi).

The band states that:

‘Self-Destruction’ serves as an anti-establishment anthem, inspired by current events and resonating with listeners who feel the weight of societal pressures.

With stompy intensity that combines modern hip-hop elements with powerful melodies and chaotic heaviness, Distance Divine couldn’t have made more noise upon their return than they do. It’s a statement, one hell of a statement, and it just happens to be so damn anthemic too. Jordan JJ Olifent is an inspired guest adding even more weight to an absolute titanic track. Check it out here.

Gaupa – Heavy Lord

Progressive stoner rock purveyors Gaupa have released a video for their new single, ‘Heavy Lord’.

An imaginative style of stoner rock that ticks plenty of the ‘progressive’ boxes but isn’t limited to one specific style over another. For example, it has chuggy groove, likable melodies, and infectious rock elements that are fully unleashed in the chorus. Not only is it a very fine track overall, but there’s something so cool about it. Check it out here.

Catalysis – Lazarus

Dundee metal crew Catalysis are back with their powerful new single ‘Lazarus’. The track marks a bold new chapter for the band, having undergone a significant lineup change, ‘Lazarus’ is the first new music from the reinvigorated band.

Crashing, smashing, crushing, and devastating, Catalysis put the emphatic stamp on their return with a fast-paced, energised, groove-infused, effort that hits its highest point in the chorus. Which is just excellent as the melodies soar. That being said, the overall heavy intensity is just as lovable. It’s a head banger, simple as that.

Those Damn Crows – Still

Welsh rock squad Those Damn Crows have dropped ‘Still’, not only a brand-new single from their forthcoming new album ‘God Shaped Hole’. On it, frontman Shane Greenhall opens up about one of his lowest moments, when he was at his most vulnerable, sharing that:

‘Still’ is an exact time and place where in my mind the thought of ‘the end’ was more comforting than actually being here. I don’t reflect with any negativity at all, in fact quite the opposite. Thankfully… through music I’m constantly reminded that all thoughts pass, and all forms are temporary, reinforced when I visit my ‘go to’ place on the coast of Southerndown, where I had those thoughts and wrote this song.

I always sense and feel a contradicting force/truth there, validating just how tiny and insignificant we all are yet how incredibly lucky and fortunate we are to be here at the same time. Whether we’re here or not, been and gone, the world will carry on regardless, but we can choose to make it a better place while we’re here.

There won’t be many words that fully do this track justice, and as far as openness goes, there aren’t many as intense as this powerful acoustic effort. Which, when you consider they’re a band we associate with catchy feel-good rock and roll anthems, shouldn’t be that appealing. Yet, it is, and all because of the heart and soul within it. It’s going to help some people, and that makes it special beyond belief. Check it out here.

ALT BLK ERA – Hunt You Down

Boundary breaking sisters ALT BLK ERA have released the new single, ‘Hunt You Down’, along with a powerful music video. It is the fourth single taken from their highly anticipated debut album ‘Rave Immortal’, out 24th January 2025 via Earache Records.

Vocalist Nyrobi comments:

We often explore uncomfortable topics in our music in the hope that they raise awareness and become conversation starters. Hunt You Down was written on the back of developing a chronic illness during the pandemic, which led to me being bed-ridden and years of isolation. I wanted to explore human interaction of those who have been shut off over a period of time, and how through a need for connection, behaviours can become inappropriate and obsessive.

They’re on target to becoming one of the biggest alternative bands out there and part of that appeal comes from their ability to genre-bend and be accessible, no matter what. This is them at their poppiest, but it’s also them at their catchiest. Insanely so, offering up a unique anthem for all. Haters are gonna hate, but ALT BLK ERA are becoming an unstoppable force in alternative music.