Single Slam: Underoath, Airports, Accvsed, Royal Sorrow, Jackson Colt, Burn Down Eden, Dead Icarus, and Arch Enemy!

Today’s single slam features Underoath, Airports, Accvsed, Royal Sorrow, Jackson Colt, Burn Down Eden, Dead Icarus, and Arch Enemy. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands and listen to our updated Single Slam playlist below.

Underoath – Survivor’s Guilt

Last month, metalcore legends Underoath returned with a new single ‘Teeth’, and hinted at plans for a full album release via MNRK Heavy in 2025. Now, they are sharing another taste of what’s to come with the punishing new song, ‘Survivor’s Guilt’ and its music video.

Speaking on ‘Survivor’s Guilt’, its lyrical themes and origins, the band’s Spencer Chamberlain says:

I feel this heavy guilt about making it out alive when so many of my friends didn’t. There have been many times during my recovery when I’ve felt guilty, and that’s a mindfuck in itself, but it’s a real feeling. The opening line explains it pretty bluntly. I’ve been off drugs for 7 years, and I’ve lost 8 friends in 2023 alone to the same demon I was entangled with. It’s a heavy feeling to bear because it’s not like you’re better than anyone else out there—you literally just got lucky. I got my shit together before it was too late and I’m grateful for every single day I wake up now, especially because there was a time when I wasn’t sure I would.

On the form of their lives, Underoath have found a near-perfect balance of expected heavy sounds with unexpected experimental sounds. Meshing together impressively in a modern concoction of noise that is filled with vitality and fuelled by passion. This is a track to lose your mind too, while fully appreciating the anthemic intensity of it all.

Airports – Bloodrush

Hot on the heels of a new EP and a run of single releases which have drawn over 600,000 streams worldwide, Australian born and London relocated artist, Airports continues his momentum with the release of his brand-new single, ‘Bloodrush’. A track about exploring dopamine highs with someone, then navigating those emotions:

Says Airports:

I’ve never heard anyone put a house banger in the middle of a punk song tastefully, so I figured out how to do that. I grew up playing in pop punk bands and then had a career as an EDM DJ/Producer too. I’ve circled back to my rock roots now which is more me but I think the fully realised sound of the AIRPORTS project sits somewhere between them both. I want to make something unique to me while still having a bit of pop appeal.

A very interesting subject with an even more interesting approach from Airports, Bloodrush comes from the world of alternative music. Where the artist combines pop melody with EDM infectiousness and rock excitability into a hybrid listen that has popularity written all over it. Airports’ momentum will continue when this one hits the ears of those who both like to boogie, but also want a bit more meaningfulness to their music. Check it out here.

Accvsed – Never Enough

Heavy act Accvsed have unleashed their latest single, ‘Never Enough’ via Arising Empire, signalling a bold evolution in their sound. Seen through the eyes of a late-stage capitalist, this new single is a confession. About an insatiable greed for more that will not cease until everything is consumed.

The core is strong in this one and Accvsed deliver a heavy sound with mighty aplomb. Not just hitting hard with heavy groove, but hitting hard with speed, and hitting hard with a fabulous melody-infused chorus. This is one that demands a lot of energy, but it’s very easy to give when it’s as enjoyable as it is.

Royal Sorrow – Metrograve

The Helsinki-based outfit Royal Sorrow have been quietly preparing for the launch of their new band in collaboration with InsideOutMusic, part of the Sony Music label family. Now, they have released their debut single, Metrograve, a launch that is accompanied by a music video directed by Jaro Koho.

Royal Sorrow need to leave an impression with this debut single, and after four-ish minutes, it’s safe to say most will be feeling the impact of a progressively tuned piece that screams of big and complex thoughts. It’s clean, very clean, and that might not be to everyone’s taste, but it does allow so much of their nuances to shine through. The biggest takeaway through? It’s progressive music that seems to be focused on being catchy as well, which is certainly welcome. Check it out here.

Jackson Colt – Monsoon

Inspired by Jackson Colt’s personal experiences, including a fever-induced delirium in 2012 that left him feeling as though he was trapped in the middle of a storm, ‘Monsoon’ is his powerful new instrumental guitar track. Offering an immersive experience that reflects the duality of nature and life.

Woah, this is awesome! Starting in such chilled fashion, then turning into an absolutely incredible showcase of guitar playing. This is just a really cool showcase of someone’s ability to not just play the instrument, but craft a listen that touches the soul. A total banger through and through.

Burn Down Eden – Tears of Persephone

German tech-death metal band Burn Down Eden have released their third single, ‘Tears of Persephone’, taken from forthcoming EP, ‘Epiphany’ set for release on December 6th, 2024, via Seek & Strike.

Looking for a reason to head bang until your brain feels like it’s going to fall out? A reason to gurn and grimace with intensity? If so, Burn Down Eden have what you need with a violent and furious sounding slab of technical death metal. It starts off in furiously chaotic fashion and stays that way until the end. Laughably absurd, but lovably memorable. Check it out here.

Dead Icarus – 1 Million Days

Dead Icarus, the new project from former Atreyu lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas, as well as Gabe Mangold of Enterprise Earth and Brandon Zackey, have released a new single called, ‘1 Million Days’. The single is inspired by classic ‘80s horror films and is taken from their debut album, ‘Zealot’, which is out on October 31st via MNRK Heavy.

Explains Alex Varkatzas:

‘1 Million Days’ is as close as Dead Icarus gets to a power ballad on Zealot. When I first started writing the lyrics, I thought it was about failing someone else and seeking their forgiveness. As I finished the lyrics, it became more first person and about letting one’s self down and forgiving one’s self for mistakes made. Sometimes, the weight we bear is placed upon our own shoulders by ourselves and only we can remove it.

The video is sort of a tongue-in-cheek homage to late ’80s horror, filmed inside a haunted house that is housed inside a haunted building from the 1800s.

A super-creative anthem that is impressively heavy, empathically melodic, has a solo that sounds huge, and a breakdown that will crack a skull or two. Dead Icarus have well and truly built up anticipation for this debut album to feverish levels, but this might be the strongest track they’ve released so far just because it has so many parts that hit. Check it out here.

Arch Enemy – Liars & Thieves

Swedish metal legends Arch Enemy have unveiled their latest single, ‘Liars & Thieves’, from their upcoming album, ‘Blood Dynasty’. Delivering a powerful message of resilience and inner struggle, wrapped in fierce melodic death metal with intense lyrics about battling deception and enduring hardships.

So far, so good with the new Arch Enemy offerings and this latest release continues their streak with a more melodic effort, but one that has plenty of straight-forward death metal intensity to it. In fact, when it gets going, there’s an old-school vibe courtesy of the riffs, with the vocals giving it a more modern feel. Combined, and with vibrant energy, it can be called another good Arch Enemy track.