Single Slam: Kittie, Coffin Storm, paradise fell, Leather Lung, Mutes, DAMN!ESCAPE, Cult Burial, Modern Mimes, Vilify, Arcane Tongues, Agremorta, Sable Hills, Black Tusk, New Years Day, and Empire Warning!

Today’s single slam features Kittie, Coffin Storm, paradise fell, Leather Lung, Mutes, DAMN!ESCAPE, Cult Burial, Modern Mimes, Vilify, Arcane Tongues, Agremorta, Sable Hills, Black Tusk, New Years Day, and Empire Warning. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Kittie – Eyes Wide Open

In a monumental return that marks their first new music in thirteen years, glass-ceiling-shattering original Queens of Metal, Kittie, have unveiled the brand new single ‘Eyes Wide Open’. The track is accompanied by a gloriously powerful, dark music video that perfectly captures the themes of the track. This significant milestone is made even more special as Kittie announce their signing with the world-renowned independent label, Sumerian Records.

Morgan Lander, Kittie’s co-founder and front-woman, expressed her enthusiasm for the band’s return and new partnership:

Sometimes, incredible opportunities present themselves in surprising ways. Just a few years ago we could have never imagined we would be getting ready to release new music as Kittie. We’ve been given what feels like a second life and are grateful to Ash and the Sumerian family for believing in us.

Well, who expected Kittie to release new music? Let alone a solid banger like Eyes Wide Open? Filled with plenty of nostalgia (for those of a certain age) but not exclusively focused on being something they were. This is Kittie in 2024 and they are bringing the heavy groove, having earned their status, they are clearly aiming to show that they have a ton of relevancy going forward. It’s good to have them back, and if we get more like this track, it could be a return to be remembered,

Coffin Storm – Over Frozen Moors

Norway’s Coffin Storm, the new band consisting of Apollyon (Aura Noir/Lamented Souls), Bestial Tormentor (Infernö/Lamented Souls) and completed by Darkthrone’s Fenriz on vocal duties, have announced details on their debut album ‘Arcana Rising’ which is out on 29th March (Peaceville). The band have also shared first single, ‘Over Frozen Moors’.

What? That’s the first thought that comes into mind here. Are you expecting something harsh, something black, something evil? Well, the last one is correct, but this track is more based in an old-school heavy metal sound with early doom touches. It’s f**king weird as hell, it’s also really off-putting, at first. The epitome of a track needing multiple listens to really enjoy, and even then, it’s hard to love. Hopefully they had fun at least! Check it out here.

paradise Fell – SUFFOCATE

London, UK based alternative nu-rock/nu-grunge project paradise fell. have shared their fourth studio single ‘SUFFOCATE’.

Explains paradise fell:

Suffocate is a twisted dive into my headspace most days. That weight of expectation, that you need to become something more. To do more. Be someone else. It drags you down, it’s heavy, pressure tightening your chest or like a noose around your neck. The future has a chokehold on me.

The eclectic and enjoyable sound of paradise fell has turned a lot of heads, and as they move forward, they seem to really be finding their own place in the music world. This track is nice and catchy, has energy, delivers a strong chorus, and blends the different genre ideas they have, nicely. It’s a likable track with tons of forward thinking elements.

Leather Lung – Guilty Pleasure

Leather Lung turn loose a vicious groove monster in the shape of the third single ‘Guilty Pleasure’ taken from their forthcoming album “Graveside Grin”. The Boston, Massachusetts quintet’s debut full-length is chalked up for release on March 15, 2024.

Big, groovy, and heavy, Leather Lung deliver a meaty offering here that delivers on the ‘guilty pleasure’ of just wanting to head bang with very little care. The group showing off some manic energy and dark nasty intensity. A very lovable track. Check it out here.

Mutes – Televangelist

Birmingham-based post-punk/noise rockers Mutes are back with a brand-new single called ‘Televangelist’. It is taken from their upcoming fourth studio album ‘…buried where you stand’, due for release May 17th, 2024.

Giving insight into the lyrical meaning behind the song, the band state:

Theological projections of an irresolute agnostic; torn between clinging to the assuaging hand of statism and laying waste to internalised idolatry. Catholic guilt is one hell of a trip.

It’s great to hear new Mutes, and even better to know a full album is coming, especially as this baby of a track is both charming and infectious. Showing more of their indie post-punk side but having plenty of noisy touches too. It doesn’t hang around, and is all the better for it, Mutes leaving a strong impression and building up more excitement for the full album.

DAMN!ESCAPE – Give It to Me

Emerging energetic-kickass rock band DAMN!ESCAPE have released their latest single, ‘Give It to Me’. This single follows the successful release of their debut album, ‘Devil’s Friend’, which has accumulated over 130,000 Spotify streams and 50,000 plays on YouTube.

A track that will only help spike their current popularity, Give It to Me is an anthemic rock tune with some serious groove to it. Easy to move to, easy to head bang to, and easy to like. The cherry on top being a chorus that is quite a singalong, DAMN!ESCAPE are a name that everyone will become more familiar with when this is their output. Check it out here.

Cult Burial – Condemnation

Death metal band Cult Burial are back with a brand-new single called ‘Condemnation’. It will be released on the 20th of February, 2024.

No nonsense, no frills, and no chill. Cult Burial deliver dark death metal and this new single sees them stick to type with a furious blast of aggressive heaviness. As savage as it comes, but with some emphatic riffs and punchy drums, if you love this band already, this is only going to make you love them even more. Upon release, check it out here.

Modern Mimes – Roses in Ruins

Alternative heavy trio Modern Mimes venture into dark haunting realms with their new single ‘Roses In Ruins’. Following their latest release ‘Heavy Heart’, Modern Mimes are leaning into progressive and more technical arrangements in this new offering.

A two-piece, this is my first taste of Modern Mimes, and it leaves an impression as it might sit under the ‘alternative’ umbrella, but does so much more. Notably, the progressive and technical edge it has, while having modern metal elements that make it sound more anthemic. It’s got a lot of depth, and it’s quite fun to spend some time plumbing them. Check it out here.

Vilify – Light Bringer

Newcastle metalcore outfit Vilify have shared new single ‘Light Bringer’ and announced the EP ‘Fever Dream’, out Friday April 19th. Vilify will launch their single live at Alpha Wolf’s curated music festival CVLTFEST in Brisbane this February.

Talking about the single, vocalist Amy McIntosh exaplins:

Juxtaposing the serenity of sleep with the misery of life, Light Bringer explores the escape from reality that sleep brings. Light bringer is a bit of a metaphorical deep dive into my love for sleep and the peace it brings. When my waking life becomes overwhelming I find myself searching for “better” or “happier” in the clutches of slumber. The track finds me trying to summon or beacon this personification of bliss – Sleep is my saviour and she saves me from the pain of existence.

This is fantastic. Vilify, who have already made a bit of a name for themselves, proving that there is no limit to their talents as they deliver a metalcore anthem that goes f**king hard. It takes less than 30 seconds to be all in on this track, especially if you like your metalcore to sound really abrasive. The chorus though? That is where it’s at, and you might be surprised by how big it goes.

Arcane Tongues – Valencia

London-based alternative rock band, Arcane Tongues are back! Following on from the success of their debut single ‘Broken Promises’, the group have now released ‘Valencia’.

Welcome back Arcane Tongues, who arrive with a unique listen, one that draws influence from the themes of desert rock but infuses Spanish flavours into it. The end result is a brilliant blend of energetic rock and danceable catchiness. It will turn heads, and is suitably accessible too. Check it out here.

Agremorta – Adrocitas

Agremorta, the band that blends alternative, industrial, and progressive-metal, have released their new single, ‘Adrocitas’. Taken from their upcoming EP, ‘Anomalia’, releasing on March 15th, 2024.

Anomalia is a concept album that is combines modern metal music and an imaginative short story. The single ‘Adrocitas’ is the climax of that story, focusing on the challenging themes of perspective and arrogance in a “just” war. It’s a personal reflection on power and the “road to hell paved with good intention”.

No idea what to expect? Join the club! A club that gets the joyful experience of hearing something fresh. It’s not easy to categorise Agremorta, outside of saying they push and pull in different genre directions but are acutely progressive. This single is a great example of their different ideas and their different approach. Perhaps the most impressive thing is how focused and professional they sound. There’s nothing amateurish about this and it creates plenty of anticipation for the full EP.

Sable Hills – No Turning Back

Tokyo riff lords Sable Hills have shared a brand-new single of the band’s highly anticipated third album Odyssey, due for release this April via Arising Empire. ‘No Turning Back’, featuring Trevor Phipps of Unearth, is out now.

Guitarist Rict comments:

The new song ‘No Turning Back’ is full of energy. You can mosh, stagedive, circlepit, singalong, whatever you want to do in metal/hardcore live. The song is fast and short, within 3 minutes. And we feature one of the metalcore legends as well as our good friend Trevor Phipps of Unearth on the song. We toured with Unearth in Japan and Taiwan. And making the friendship, this happened. So honored to feature him at this time, and so excited to see how people react to the song.

It doesn’t get much more metalcore than this, and that’s before you even note the guest spot for Unearth’s Trevor Phipps. However, Sable Hills seem to be drawing inspiration from the earlier days of the sound, and it gives this track an old-school melodic metal vibe. Riffy, with some punchy drums, and a beastly breakdown, it’s pretty good!

Black Tusk – Brushfire

Metal punks Black Tusk are back, announcing that their seventh album, ‘The Way Forward’ will be released on April 26th, 2024, via Season of Mist. To celebrate this announcement, they have also dropped the first single, ‘Brushfire’.

Dropping metal bombs, Black Tusk are back with a filthy and furious track that delivers riffs you can worship. The balance of punk and metal is perfected by this band, and this one motors along with undeniable heavy intent. As the first taste of the new album, it certainly leaves the listener salivating. Check it out here.

New Years Day – Half Black Heart

New Years Day have shared the title track from their upcoming studio album, ‘Half Black Heart’, which is set for release on 1st March via Century Media Records. The latest single follows the previously revealed tracks, ‘Secrets’, ‘Vampyre’, ‘I Still Believe’ and ‘Hurts Like Hell’.

Discussing the new song, vocalist Ash Costello shares:

‘Half Black Heart’ is my anthem! The concept behind it is simple yet powerful – no one is purely one thing. Nobody is so flawless that they have the right to pass judgment on someone else’s flaws. We all exist as a mix of good and bad, innocence and guilt, a bit angelic and a bit devilish. The message is rooted in the idea that “he who is without sin can cast the first stone,” meaning that no one is in a position to judge, because everyone makes mistakes. I don’t believe in the idea of a flawless human being, and this song is my way of addressing those who may expect perfection from me. Essentially, it’s a declaration that neither I nor anyone else will ever be perfect.

We’re almost there. Almost at the album release date, and if you weren’t excited about it before, this single might be the banger to push you over the edge. A more melodically charged listen, with a chorus that soars, New Years Day continue to show their metal versatility with this anthemic hit. Check it out here.

Empire Warning – Be My Victim

Empire Warning, the five-piece groove metal band from London, UK, mark their return with the brand-new single ‘Be my Victim’, taken from their upcoming EP ‘Destiny’, to be released on March 29th, 2024.

When you already think a band is great, it’s going to take something pretty awful to change the mind. In the case of Empire Warning and their new Candyman inspired effort, it just solidifies that thought process. This is a f**king banger and is sure to be a favourite amongst the fanbase for many years to come. Intense, groovy, fast, and horror-laden, it’s the showcase of a band having developed over the years while not losing what everyone loves about them.