Single Slam: Video Nasties, The Bedside Morale, Alienist, Lowlives, Vicious Rain, Break Fifty, This House We Built, Predeceased, Ghost Atlas, Trash Boat, fakeyourdeath, and Gutlocker!

This single slam features Video Nasties, The Bedside Morale, Alienist, Lowlives, Vicious Rain, Break Fifty, This House We Built, Predeceased, Ghost Atlas, Trash Boat, fakeyourdeath, and Gutlocker. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Video Nasties – Harvest of Flies

Halloween may have passed but there’s still some remnants of evil lurking behind as Video Nasties rises up once again with another unearthly offering – new single ‘Harvest of Flies’ released digitally on APF Records.

Bassist Rick Owen says:

HoF feels like a very natural progression from Dominion and Draw The Shades, at its core it’s still very much us but we wanted to explore other areas we only got the chance to touch upon on the first album and experiment with new dynamics. Lyrically, the song is about the duality of the haves/have nots, the living and the dead.

Writing for the album is well underway after a difficult 12 months for the band. We’re excited to get into the studio come spring to lay down the follow up to Dominion. We have a few songs in the bank already and HoF is just a sample of what’s to come from VN in 2024.

Oh s**t, they’re back and back with a mighty banger too. Harvest of Flies’ is a glaring example of how hard it is to put Video Nasties in one singular category. Where dark melodies meet garish punk, layers of death metal heaviness and thrashy head-banging goodness seep in, and the whole package has a catchiness that simply shouldn’t exist. This is a forward-looking Video Nasties too, sounding more vibrant and refined, yet still having that horrific heaviness to their sound. The cherry on top? The guitar solo right at the end. Absolutely banging.

The Bedside Morale – Bitter Things

Indie-rock four-piece The Bedside Morale have released their second single ‘Bitter Things’, taken from their upcoming debut EP due in 2024.

Describing how the song came together, the band explain:

Lyrically with this one we really wanted to draw on a more conversational style that a lot of our favourite musicians do so expertly. That expositional outline of the character of a man. This was the first time we’ve done any real character work in a song. That’s not to say there’s no real world grounding for this person but this man is more of a villain. He uses negativity as a way of manipulation, at some point in his life found that self pity got him what he wanted, and he’ll sink to the absolute depths just to use someone for his own personal gain. So this one’s for that guy. Or, in truth, the deeply insecure, messy reality of that man. We all see you and we all see what you’re doing.

The future continues to look very bright for The Bedside Morale as this second single is a lovely blend of powerful rock and melody. Featuring passionate catchiness, experimental tones that really enhance things, and a chorus that puts a smile on the face. You can tell that there is some really strong song-writing going on in this band, and Bitter Things is a great example of how they don’t stick to the same old ‘indie-rock’ formula. Check it out here.

Alienist – Prisoner of You

Wollongong five-piece Alienist unleash towering metalcore mayhem with their brand new single ‘Prisoner Of You’. The new track also accompanies the group announcing their worldwide signing to UNFD.

A match-made in heaven, it won’t take more than a few seconds of listening to Prisoner of You to know why UNFD snapped this band up. Delivering a persuasive blast of metalcore intensity and stompy groove, with wonderful anthemic moments. There’s nothing ground-breaking here, but it hardly matters when you can happily bang your head to it.

Lowlives – Liar

After a series of independent single and EP releases, West Coast based raucous rockers Lowlives have announced their signing to Spinefarm Music. In celebration of the news, the band have released the new single and video for ‘Liar’.

On the new single, guitarist and vocalist Lee Downer comments:

I wrote ‘Liar’ right in the middle of the first Covid lockdown. Once the panic had kinda settled down, the song came together in about 10 minutes. Lyrically it started out about putting on a brave face pretending that I was okay throughout it when I probably wasn’t… almost convincing myself that everything would be alright. When we worked on the demo I’d written at Luke’s studio, we wrote the rest of the lyrics and it became more about being someone you’re not. Feeling like you don’t fit in to the point of creating a fake world in an attempt to feel more comfortable. You really want to tell the truth, but you’re bought in to the lies so much that they have become your own personal truth.

If you don’t know who Lowlives are, you will soon enough, as their stock continues to rise, and now they have Spinefarm behind them too. So, what is making them so popular? It’s simple enough… their hard rock sound is incredibly infectious and accessible, while also having a meaningful and relatable honesty to it. They’re a band who have ‘superstars’ written all over them and it’s songs like this that prove it. Check it out here.

Vicious Rain – Crown Of Thorns

Swiss metalcore act Vicious Rain have released their third single ‘Crown Of Thorns’ along with a stunning video via Arising Empire.

Says guitarist and vocalist Mauro Gugerli:

‘Crown Of Thorns’ echoes the notion that evading one’s challenges can lead to greater troubles, ultimately exacerbating the situation. Yet, it also sparks an awakening to face the uncertainties, initiating a path towards healing and self-exploration.

There’s a lot to enjoy about Crown of Thorns, but the cinematic feel it has might be what really gives it an edge over other metalcore releases in recent times. Vicious Rain don’t just throw in melody and clean singing just because ‘that’s what you do’ with metalcore. It’s a core aspect of this release and the balance between heavy and soft is perfected here. The word is ‘banger’ and it completely rings true here. Check it out here.

Break Fifty – I Still See You

One week ahead of their forthcoming EP release, UK Nu-Core band ‘Break Fifty’ have unveiled a brand-new single called ‘I Still See You’. Taking on an unravelling journey, ‘I Still See You’ reveals a desperate desire to escape an unending nightmare, concealing hidden self-doubt.

Break Fifty vocalist, Angus explains:

Unveiling the narrative, ‘I Still See You’ lyrics depict a relentless cycle of nightmares where blossoms morph into darkness. Lingering pain and silent screams echo, offering a chilling exploration of self-doubt and hidden agony. it captivates, leaving an indelible mark on the soul with its profound exploration of torment. As the song unfurls, it bravely confronts past trauma, beckoning listeners to ‘tear away every memory of that day’ giving a feeling of trying to forget the ever present past.

I Still See You is an emotive example of the nuanced metallised heaviness that Break Fifty have to offer. The new EP is an overall showcase of bristling and blistering intensity, and this single is one of the highlights. If you’ve been captivated by what they’ve released so far, I Still See You will only deepen that feeling. It’s a very strong track, but you already know that.

This House We Built – You’re The Voice (John Farnham Cover)

Rockers This House We Built have released their modern twist on the classic John Farnham song ‘You’re The Voice’, in which they are joined by vocalist Danny Vaughn of Tyketto.

Scott Wardell, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, shares his enthusiasm for the project:

I always loved this track growing up, and performing it live at acoustic shows was a hit. With Dave Boothroyd’s input, we put our own mark on the song, and adding Danny Vaughn’s vocals took it to the next level.

We should all be very familiar with original track, it is a legendary song after all, yet this version doesn’t pale in comparison. In fact, it’s a damn great version that changes up the style immensely. It’s one of those covers, where you can instantly hear and feel the tone of the original, but the artist makes it their own thing completely. This House We Built have given it a much rockier edge and Danny Vaughn is sounding great. This is how you do a cover. Check it out here.

Predeceased – Scene Parole

Predeceased is a three-piece loud and noisy grunge/hardcore band with members of Chubby and the Gang and Thee MVPs. Their impressive 2023 continues as they have been handpicked by Mclusky and John for exclusive support shows and headlining a fest for Socks on Records in East Anglia. If that wasn’t enough, they’ve also released the video their song, Scene Parole. A little tale about a particular hubris filled scene king messing up on the lack of morals he accused others of having.

A short slice of energetic excitability, Scene Parole is a fast-paced, punk-infused, blast of rocking noise. A little bit hardcore, a lovely vein of grunge, and plenty of anthemic capabilities exist in this track and it’s nicely memorable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oj0eJtw7OM&t=8s&ab_channel=EEASYRECORDS

Ghost Atlas – Lesser Gods

Ghost Atlas is the melodic alt-rock side project from Jesse Cash of ERRA. An intensely personal project, every conceptual part of Ghost Atlas’ music, lyrics, and visuals is an intentional outpouring of Jesse’s mind.

Jesse has teamed up with UNFD for the release of highly anticipated new album ‘Dust Of The Human Shape’, released January 26, 2024. The first single, ‘Lesser Gods’, is out now.

Says Jesse about ‘Lesser Gods’:

My goal when starting the instrumental for Lesser Gods was to commit to a singular chord progression and maintain it throughout the entire song. I play with this idea on a few songs on the record. It just keeps your ear very locked into the vibe while challenging me to find other creative ways to introduce dynamic. In the case of this song, the most notable means is the time signature change in the bridge, when the rhythm progression switches to 7 beats per bar. It’s a little bit of trick I’m playing on the ear to bring some technicality and tension into the song. While the timing changes, the chord progression remains exactly the same to alleviate the change feeling forceful or distracting.

A really soulful and heartfelt piece of music, Jesse Cash is doing some wonderful thing with melodies here and it feels important. Those expecting something akin to the heaviness that ERRA bring forth, will be in for a bit of surprise. Not a bad one though, as this single is filled with calming passion. Check it out here.

Trash Boat – Liar Liar

St Albans quintet Trash Boat, currently out on tour with Don Broco, aren’t messing around with their brand new single, ‘Liar Liar’!

The song is an unloading of frustration surrounding modern ‘podcast bro’ culture. Every team of morons talking about body count, sexual value, drop shipping, 3am wake up routines and generally anything jarring and useless from people desperately trying to be relevant and controversial to get views. People that talk in a completely ham-fisted way about things they know nothing about or just generally woke or anti-woke things to maximise their ability to create an engaging thumbnail and video title.

We love it when Trash Boat decide to unload in this fashion. Liar Liar is this band at the most forceful, delivering a frantic expulsion of energy, to mixed results. Massive metalcore elements, intense electronica, and an attempt at anthemic chorus (that just doesn’t quite work), it’s a bit different for Trash Boat and it is enjoyable overall.

fakeyourdeath – humanity

Brighton based electronic post-hardcore duo fakeyourdeath have released their brand-new single ‘humanity’. Following on from fakeyourdeath’s second single ‘consume’, humanity continues to explore the band’s visually dark and disturbing side.

Explains vocalist, Candi Underwood:

humanity was born from frustration of feeling powerless in the world today, where bad shit happens all the time and nothing seems to change. it’s about feeling anger towards the corruption by those in power, who seem to thrive on keeping the masses oppressed for their own gain. fuck them.

They’re a fascinating bunch and each new release challenges the perception of what modern bands can do with heavy music. Which is high praise, fakeyourdeath sounding wholly unique, and demanding you pay them the attention they deserve. This single is a chaotic listen, heavy on effects, but with plenty of abrasive heaviness too. Multiple listens are required, as there’s a fair bit to unpick, but it is very rewarding. Check it out here.

Gutlocker – The Payoff

Gutlocker, the four-piece metal band from Woking armed with gnarly riffs and posh accents, are back with a brand-new single called ‘The Payoff’. A song about trying to do what’s right to only have shit slung back in your face.

The faith we all have in Gutlocker to deliver something freaking wild is high, and once again, they don’t disappoint with The Payoff. A cacophony of heaviness that swarms the mind with garish wickedness. The serrated riffing, pulverising percussion, and scathing vocals come together to create something groovy, but exceptionally intense. Pure head-banging noise that is so lovable, Gutlocker’s output in recent times has been so strong, so here’s to the future!