Single Slam: Jinjer, Prompts, Tayne, Dawnwalker, 1349, NTH RD, Call to the Void, Nightwish, Doomcrusher, Our Nameless Boy, Molder, Grand Magus, Those Who Dream, and Black Label Society!

Today’s single slam features Jinjer, Prompts, Tayne, Dawnwalker, 1349, NTH RD, Call to the Void, Nightwish, Doomcrusher, Our Nameless Boy, Molder, Grand Magus, Those Who Dream, and Black Label Society. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Jinjer – Rogue

Ukrainian metal juggernauts Jinjer unleash their brand new single ‘Rogue’, showing once more their refusal to conform to the musical genre rule book.

Jinjer comment on ‘Rogue’:

Our new single ‘Rogue’ is a reaction to many things … it’s brutally honest, it’s in-your-face and one of the most intense tracks Jinjer has ever released. We are so excited about this new track, about the new album and everything that‘s on the way…

The progression of Jinjer is in full force now, as this latest single is a technical beast of the most brutal kind. Serrated guitars, scathing vocals, and pulverising percussion wrecks here. The new direction of this band is very intense and it is very complex, which does mean it lacks a hook. A bit a problem when it comes to long term memorability, but in the short term, it’s a heavyweight head banger that is the equivalent of organised chaos.

Prompts – Edgerunner

Established as one of metals most exciting up and coming acts, Japan-based metalcore outfit Prompts return with their second blistering single of the year, ‘Edgerunner’, out now via Greyscale Records.

The new single is about losing faith in ourselves when striving to achieve our goals, contrasted with the idea that sometimes we have to sacrifice parts of ourselves to reach our destination. The question is asked: can we be saved from ourselves?

A track of two halves (kind of), with the first couple of minutes being some of the heaviest of heavy sounds heard all year. Prompts sound possessed by some demonic force and are attempting to expel it here via the medium of noisy metal. It’s insane, and then, it changes into something more melodic and more traditionally metalcore sounding. It’s where the track gets more accessible and catchy, but the heavier side of this band is far more appealing. Check it out here.

Tayne – Down

London-based purveyors of beauty and chaos, Tayne, have unveiled their captivating new single ‘Down’, a tantalising glimpse into their highly anticipated debut album.

Matthew Sutton (vocals/bass) explains:

We wanted to take Tayne into a new territory that felt modern and give it more pop sensibilities. ‘Down’ embodies the core theme of the album, love is conflict. ‘Our lust for hurt is love’s metaphor’ –  desires of love and acceptance destroyed by intimidation, make us fake, afraid, lie and cause pain.

Dreamy and psychedelic are two words that don’t just sum up this new single, but sum up the Tayne listening experience overall. Showcasing pop sensations with alternative rock and metal ideology, it’s a track that is both weird and wonderful, interesting and exciting, and definitely memorable.

Dawnwalker – Cancer (Rising)

UK underground progressive champions Dawnwalker unveil their latest opus The Unknowing. Helmed by mastermind and songwriter Mark Norgate, The Unknowing features an exciting new cast of players including Luke Fabian (ex-Pupil Slicer), Sofia Sourianou (Deathbloom, Lure In), Chris J Allan (ex-Malefice) and flautist Bella Band. The first single, ‘Cancer (Rising)’ is out now.

An experience that grows and grows, blossoming in the mind as more melodic and progressive detail is unveiled. The dramatic start and burgeoning build is really effective, but it’s how the track develops into something so much more substantial and sustainable that ends up mattering the most. It is an unusual piece of music, but far from being off-putting, it’s actually quite captivating. Check it out here.

1349 – Inferior Pathways

Black metal legends 1349 unleash their new single, ‘Inferior Pathways’, the latest onslaught from their forthcoming album, The Wolf and The King. Out on October 4th, 2024, via Season of Mist.

Raging black metal ferocity that continues to showcase a new 1349 album that is going to be downright feral, overall. The furious speed, the brutalising heaviness, the thick blackness that coats every aspect of the song, it’s a 1349 special and there’s nothing wrong with that. Check it out here.

NTH RD – Remember

Melbourne metalcore quartet NTH RD share moody and nostalgic new single Remember, opening up a new chapter for the band. 

After navigating a major shift in their lineup, NTH RD welcome new vocalist Dan Charlton to the fold on Remember. Their first release in nearly a year, Remember came to fruition following a period of introspection, growth and change. The single explores the impermanence of self and the fallacy of legacy, delving into the fear of being forgotten and the need to be remembered.

Explains the band:

In shaping the release for this track, we sought to expand on the universe and themes that we’d established so far with NTH RD. And in searching for the ‘next step’ for the band, we arrived at what we feel is the most authentic representation of ourselves and our vision to date.

A track that reflects the turbulent times of NTH RD, showing how order out of chaos comes about. What sounds a little confused, certainly hesitant, and structurally loose at first, becomes more ordered and better put together on multiple listens. It’s a track that you have dig into to really enjoy, even if the surface level passion and catchiness is still notable.

Call to the Void – Viper’s Venom

Mesmerising UK rockers, CALL TO THE VOID, have revealed their anthemic new single, ‘Viper’s Venom’, out everywhere now.

With some rocking alternative vibes that stray into groovy grunge and dreamy pop infused territories, Call to the Void offer up a really catchy effort here. Embodied by its banging chorus, but not defined by it alone. You don’t expect to find a track like this nearing the seven-minute mark, but Call to the Void are all about surprising and have plenty of twists to the rock formula to showcase here. Check it out here.

Nightwish – An Ocean of Strange Islands

Finnish Symphonic metal veterans Nightwish have shared a new song, ‘An Ocean of Strange Islands’, available for streaming now. The track is the third to be taken from their upcoming studio album Yesterwynde, due 20th September via Nuclear Blast.

Tuomas Holopainen states about ‘An Ocean of Strange Islands’:

The song ‘An Ocean Of Strange Islands’ gives you sheer heaviness with its massive guitars, epic orchestrations and phenomenal vocals by Floor Jansen. Classic NIGHTWISH at its best! ‘An Ocean Of Strange Islands’ takes us on the ultimate musical island-hopping adventure, reminding the adventurer that happiness is most joyous when shared.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Nightwish are on epic form here. Delivering a lavish and elegant piece of music that combines the best of Nightwish’s more elaborate and progressive side with their accessible, infectious and dramatic side. It’s a big track, but it’s pretty clear now that this is a big album. Floor sounds immense… as per usual, but the most impressive thing about this track is the weightiness of the percussion. Check it out here.

Doomcrusher – Adrenaline (feat. Any Given Day)

German modern metal quintet Doomcrusher have released their new crushing single ‘Adrenaline’, ft. label mates Any Given Day, via Arising Empire.

While the team-up is exciting and the result is notably accessible, this track lacks something. Maybe it’s the lack of oomph, maybe it’s the lack of spark, maybe it’s the lack of big hooks, or maybe it’s all of it, and the fact that it’s an overall bland sounding piece. Excitable and energetic, with some big melodies and a solid chorus, it’s not a bad song, it just isn’t that great either.

Our Nameless Boy – Leaving Party

Following their 2021 debut album ‘Colour from the Doves’, which provided a deeply personal account of lead vocalist Iain’s’ battle with cancer and a recent change in sights, outwardly attempting to make sense of the modern human condition, Bristol based alt-rock band, Our Nameless Boy, have returned with their brand-new single ‘Leaving Party’.

About the single, vocalist Iain Gorrie explains:

Leaving Party was a reaction to the dangerous rhetoric of the likes of Suella Braverman et al. I guess I was trying to fill what felt to me to be a void in empathy, compassion and humanity left by such people. ‘LP’ is an attempt to write from the perspective of a father fleeing war with a young daughter, having lost his wife in a bombing. I try to imagine as best I can the sense of loss and hopelessness in a position like that (“… that decision, like my love, was taken from my hands”).

A powerful piece that fully envelops the alternative rock style, proving to be meaningful, catchy, and accessible. Everyone can enjoy this, with Our Nameless Boy keeping it simple and likeable. Unless you’re the type to get outraged by the political stance they take here. Boo freaking hoo, Our Nameless Boy has something to say and they say it with power and passion. Check it out here.

Molder – Bursted Innards

Molder has shared a new single, titled ‘Bursted Innards’, from their forthcoming third album, Catastrophic Reconfiguration. It will be released via Prosthetic Records on November 8th.

Speaking on the new single, Aaren Pantke (vocals / guitar) comments:

Those that have seen us live in the last year should be familiar with this one. This is actually the first song we wrote for the new record and the first new one we started “testing” live. This one is indirectly about my frustrations with being on the road. Balancing “real life” on top of “living the dream”. Being so fed up I could just explode. But what if I did, in a literal sense? Please just excuse the mess…

It doesn’t get more ugly and garish than this, but what else would you expect from a band as disgustingly brutal as Molder? It’s the sound of fury, focused fury, and expelled with all the might of a band at the height of their death metal power. If that gets your senses salivating, than you’re going to love this. Especially as this is the sound of a band progressing and finding new and fresh ways to devastate the mind.

Grand Magus – The Wheel of Pain

Battle-hardened heavy metal warriors Grand Magus release ‘The Wheel Of Pain’, the second single from their upcoming tenth studio album, Sunraven. 

Sunraven will be released on October 18th through Nuclear Blast Records, and conceptually deals with the legendary poem Beowulf, an ancient tale of epic proportions about heroes and monsters, honour and bravery, victory and defeat. In short, themes that have always played an important role in the lyrical concept of Grand Magus.

JB (vocals & guitar) comments:

The album is about Beowulf and Grendel. In essence, Sunraven is Beowulf, and that’s my own invention. But some of the songs are written about and from the perspective of Beowulf, and some of the songs are written about and from the perspective of Grendel, the monster he faces in Denmark. That kind of steered me and carried me through the lyrical process this time. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve always been fascinated by that tale. These myths and legends are about all the basic things that we sing about – life, death, glory, dishonour, love, hate, overcoming difficulties, facing impossible opposition and so on.

While not quite Grand Magus at their best, this new single still brings plenty of that glorious riff-driven groove with an epic vibe. Something that does embody the album story while not losing what makes Grand Magus a special band. What it lacks is a hook, something that grabs hold and won’t let go. The main riff is class, but class riffs are what we expect from this band. Check it out here.

Those Who Dream – Mannequin

Perth emo-pop-rock sweethearts Those Who Dream have announced their long-awaited EP ‘Therapy Machine’ , set to be released Friday October 18th, and share leading single Mannequin as the first teaser.

Leading single Mannequin sets the tone for what’s to come. Those Who Dream have always championed inclusivity and being one’s most genuine self – Mannequin is an anthem for the unapologetically authentic. The single explores the torment of grappling with criticism and alienation but finding the courage to pick yourself up stronger than before.

Says the band:

Maybe it’s some dumb comment on Instagram, or somebody you know constantly shutting down everything you do, or your own brain telling you you’re not good enough. This song is about standing up for yourself in the face of alienation, when all you hear is ‘you can’t do this’, ‘you’ll never be good enough to do that’, Mannequin is an unyielding rejection of that, like looking that person dead in the eyes and saying ‘watch me’.

We can never have enough emo rock tunes, especially when they’re as lovable as this. Those Who Dream are unashamedly capturing the style and sound of emo rock with pop twists and doing it in a way that everyone who likes this sound can enjoy. It’s fun, it’s powerful, it’s damn catchy, and it’s the sign of a very good band. Check it out here.

Black Label Society – The Gallows

Black Label Society, the hard rock powerhouse founded by guitar icon Zakk Wylde, have unleashed a brand-new single titled ‘The Gallows.’ Streaming now via Spinefarm Records.

Says Zakk Wylde:

BERZERKERS!!! Here’s a New BLACK LABEL song called ‘THE GALLOWS’. What do you call a fake noodle??? An Impasta!!! See You ALL at THE BERZERKUS ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14th at POCONOS PARK, PA!!!

It should come as no surprise to anyone that this new BLS track has stonking riffs and some killer soloing. It’s the bread and butter of this band, after all. It will also not come as too much of a surprise to learn that there’s very little else notable about this track and to sum it up, is to call it an extremely boring piece of music. As often with BLS, if the track was being judged on proficiency alone, it would be one of the strongest of the year, but when judged on everything else, it falls short. Neither lovable or hateable, this one sits squarely in the middle.