Single Slam: Killswitch Engage, Krooked Tongue, Saor, King Kraken, Zygnema, Thornhill, Those Damn Crows, Eville, Breed 77, Sypha, Beyond Extinction, KEYAN, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Spiritbox!

Today’s single slam features Killswitch Engage, Krooked Tongue, Saor, King Kraken, Zygnema, Thornhill, Those Damn Crows, Eville, Breed 77, Sypha, Beyond Extinction, KEYAN, The Sun’s Journey Through the Night, and Spiritbox. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Killswitch Engage – Forever Aligned

Three-time Grammy-nominated hard rock heavyweights and platinum-selling band Killswitch Engage have announced their new album ‘This Consequence’. It arrives February 21st via Metal Blade and follows 2019’s acclaimed album ‘Atonement’.

The band – Jesse Leach, vocals; Adam Dutkiewicz, guitar; Joel Stroetzel, guitar; Mike D’Antonio, bass; and Justin Foley, drums – have also shared the video for first single ‘Forever Aligned’.

Explains Leech:

‘Forever Aligned’ is one of those songs that is not just about us as humans, our love, and connection, but that connection to the unknown, the greater power, the universe, or God,” explains Leach. “It feels like a really good first song to release not just sonically, but lyrically, as it is all about connection. The device of world we live in could use a lot more connectivity.

While Killswitch Engage rarely do anything that inspiring these days, as far as delivering strong metalcore anthems go, they are bloody untouchable. This new song is them through and through, and when the chorus hits, an even bigger wave of familiarity washes over. It’s a well they keep coming back to, yet it does continue to pay off for them. This is another solid Killswitch Engage track that any head banger can enjoy, provided you’re not looking for something fresh.

Krooked Tongue – Ember Mile

Bristol rock trio Krooked Tongue have released their brand-new single, ‘Ember Mile’. This follows on from September’s celebrated single ‘Nothing Ever Grows’.

Describing ‘Ember Mile’, vocalist and lyricist Oli Rainsford states:

In a lot of ways, ‘Ember Mile’ is the more positive cousin of ‘Nothing Ever Grows’. It’s a victory song. The cry of the inner battle when it comes to trying to create. The concept of ‘Ember Mile’ is something I conjured up that embodied the electricity of a moment. To me it feels like the part of a movie where the hero finally knows what they have to do to save the day. Here comes the triumphant music and the 80s montages. You could say it’s our Rocky 4.

‘Ember Mile’ is the clairvoyance, a beacon to channel your dreams and actually make something happen. SO often we talk about doing things but never follow through. I suppose this is the kick up the arse to make it happen. I wanted this song to feel like an internal monologue, breaking the fourth wall and spitting back with a sarcastic tongue. ‘Ember Mile’ refers to a proverbial golden, fiery strip of road where the final idea awaits on the horizon. In my case it’s referring to the final hurdle before finishing writing a song.

The rise continues, steadily, and all because Krooked Tongue continue to release exciting and interesting music. Crafting stylish rock tunes that have alternative tinges and are often always anthemic. Which is exactly what we get here, an infectious ditty that encourages the body to move, especially with the uptick in power that comes with the chorus. It’s been a good year for them, and with more tracks like this in their arsenal, they seem unstoppable going forward. Check it out here.

Saor – Amidst the Ruins

Scottish atmospheric blackened folk metal band, Soar return with their brand-new and sixth album, ‘Amidst the Ruins’. It is out on February 7th, 2025, on Season of Mist, and fans can now enjoy the first single, the title track.

It feels almost lazy to say it, but Soar have done it again. They’ve released a masterpiece of melancholic and atmospheric blackened metal that captures the untamed beauty of Caledonia as only Saor can. What else do we expect at this stage? Even still, a 12-minute epic as the first single is quite something, yet not a second is wasted and the meticulous attention to detail, the intense melding of metal and melody, and thrilling tone switches leaves nothing but a positive impression of this upcoming album.

King Kraken – Chainsaw Saviour

Welsh metallers King Kraken have announced the release of their upcoming second album, ‘March of the Gods’. The colossal 10-track record will be released on 18th April 2025 and will feature the brand new single ‘Chainsaw Saviour’. In celebration of the announcement, they’ve also shared an official music video for the track.

On the new single, the band comment:

The lyrics paint a nightmarish picture of possessed forests, ancient curses, and inevitable doom. We wanted the track to sound like it was sludging its way through like a zombie rising from the grave. It’s a throwback to classic horror soundscapes, but we wanted to incorporate our modern rock intensity to make it perfect for fans who love their music with a blood-curdling bite.

Inspired by The Evil Dead and delivering the kind of groove to even get a Deadite moving, King Kraken are back with a chunky head banger. One that has a kick ass chorus, brash guitar soloing, and plenty of bloody action (especially if you watch the video too). Check it out here.

Zygnema – Grind

Mumbai-based heavy metal veterans Zygnema’s have released the single ‘Grind’, taken from their recent five-track EP ‘Iconic’. A track that centres itself around the band’s pride in their city and in their people.

Discussing the lyrical themes behind the track, the band state:

We are proud of the city that we live in. It has made us who we are. The city is what it is because of the people and their hustle and GRIND to live a good life despite the challenges they’re faced with. This is what inspired us to write and dedicate this song to the city and to the amazing people of this city.

The accompanying music video highlights the day to day grind it takes to live in the hustling, bustling city of Mumbai. Discussing what they hoped to achieve with the video, the band say:

The People of Mumbai are resilient, and are having fun grinding it out in their day to day lives. The grind of Mumbai spares no one. It doesn’t matter what strata or class you belong to; Nobody is complaining. At the end of the day, they have fun and celebrate their achievements. That’s what we want to showcase through our music video.

India produces so many great metal bands, and one that should never be overlooked are the heavy veterans, Zygnema. Especially when they come armed with a track like this (heck, the whole EP is a beast). Here, we get groove with some really hearty moments of heaviness blended with traditional Indian musical elements. A familiar combination, but one that never fails to be enjoyable. Especially when a band as punchy as Zygnema is delivering it. Check it out here.

Thornhill – nerv

Melbourne heavies Thornhill return with a brand-new single called ‘nerv’, out now via UNFD.

Shares the band:

With nerv, Thornhill explore themes of a dangerous relationship through conflicting and contrasting images, desire and danger. The lyrics reflect the struggle between longing and the need for self-preservation, highlighting how intimacy can be both alluring and risky. This tension shows the complexity of love, illustrating how beauty and peril intertwine in an emotionally intense dance.

Consistently boundary-pushing and the epitome of a band that does what it wants to do, Thornhill’s new track is heavy. Not just because of the heft of the instrumentals, but because of the emotion that comes from the vocals. Thornhill are throwing a lot of passion into this one, and it is impactful. However, it’s hardly an inspired track. The band are drawing from the modernised world of nu-metal and have gone for this really raw mix that just sounds a bit ‘meh’.

Those Damn Crows – Glass Heart

High flying Welsh rockers Those Damn Crows are thrilled to confirm their fourth album, ‘God Shaped Hole’, will be released on 11th April, 2025 via long-time label home Earache Records. The first single, ‘Glass Heart’ is available now on all streaming platforms.

Says frontman Shane Greenhall:

The whole premise of that song is, ‘I’m going to tell it like it is, flaws and all/ I can be anxious, I can be unstable when sometimes It looks like I got my shit together, and have all the answers. I’ve been hurt and broken – who hasn’t got a glass heart? But it’s OK, because we’re still here, we’re still fighting.

If this track was being rated on just the heart and soul that burns within it, it would be the track of the week. Those Damn Crows are being open and honest here, it’s relatable as hell, and delivered in catchy ways. Of course, music is judged on a bit more than just the heart and soul within it, and as a fairly basic modern rock tune, it struggles to hold the attention, with even the chorus coming across a little unseasoned. Check it out here.

Eville – Ballistic

Eville’s signature industrial brat metal sound meets the grit of grime punk with their latest single, ‘Ballistic’.

Speaking about the single, vocalist Eva Sheldrake says:

Ballistic is an unfiltered, raw and authentic display of female rage, unapologetically calling out the misogyny women face on a daily basis. It’s time to smash the glass ceiling and stamp on the pieces.

Take f**king that, misogynists! There is nothing coy about Eville here, and the intensity showcased is so good. That it’s short and sharp makes its impact even more effective, and the mania of the instrumental side works with Eva Sheldrake’s impressive vocal range (some of her screams and roars are so intense). Eville are a great band, and it’s tracks like this that prove it. Check it out here.

Breed 77 – Just Act Like You Know

Breed 77, the Gibraltan / UK flamenco metal maestros have released their brand-new single ‘Just Act Like You Know’. This new single follows on from previous singles, ‘End of the Line’ and ‘Outside’, which were both heralded as a return to form.

The Breed 77 resurgence continues with mighty aplomb, showcasing a band with new and creative ideas, and ensuring that this is so much more than just a nostalgia trip. Case in point? This latest single, another slice of high-powered and anthemic flamenco metal that has nods to their past but continues to push the band forward. The world is all the better for having Breed 77 active in it.

Sypha – Limbo

Brighton riff slingers, Sypha have announced themselves with their new single and video, ‘Limbo’, out now. The track is lifted from the band’s blistering debut EP, ‘Borderland’, which arrives on January 24th, 2025.

Fast, energetic, and furious sounding, Sypha have dropped an intense one here, but also continue to progress their sound in effective ways. They are beginning to find the perfect balance of heaviness and melody, while focusing on being anthemic, and still sounding gritty as hell. It’s another banger from this band. Keep a close eye on them, big things seem assured. Check it out here.

Beyond Extinction – Tyranny (feat. Alex Teyen of Black Tongue)

Essex-based death metallers Beyond Extinction have released their latest single and accompanying music video for ‘Tyranny’, which features a monstrous guest vocal appearance from Black Tongue’s Alex Teyen.

On the new single and collaboration, Beyond Extinction comment:

This was a crossover that we’ve dreamed of since we were teenagers. Dropping down to double drop B and adding Alex from Black Tongue onto the track feels completely natural and a step into a sound we have refined for our upcoming music. It’s slow, nasty and feels massive in scale which ties soundly into the lyrics and foreshadowing of the track.

It’s time to have your ass kicked by Beyond Extinction… again. The death metal band are back, they’re in a very malicious mood, and they haven’t come alone. Black Tongue’s Alex Teyen is also here, knuckles cracked and a wicked glint in the eye. Together, they dish out a pummelling that has a deliberate never-ending feeling. The tempo of this track ensures you feel every single blow.

KEYAN – Arrest (feat. ft Marcus Vik of Invent Animate)

Adelaide-based shred-lord, YouTube sensation and Fender/Jackson endorsed artist KEYAN, has joined forces with the formidable Marcus Vik of Texan metalcore leaders Invent Animate on blistering new single ‘Arrest’.

The final chapter of a cardiac themed trilogy of singles, Arrest finalises the notion that even the darkest sides of one’s being still share the same heart. Arrest conveys this lyrically portraying a person battling an internal conflict, struggling to come to terms with the worst version of themselves.

Two immense talents working together to create some serious noise, KEYAN and Marcus Vik offer up a manic metalcore anthem with this new single. Yet, that’s not the only thing that makes this track special. You see, it has got layers and layers that cause constant eyebrow raising moments. Time after time, listen after listen, more detail is uncovered and while at its core, this is a track that the listener can go a bit wild to, it’s the deeper detail that ensures it lives much longer in the memory. Check it out here.

The Sun’s Journey Through the Night – No Light Left to Bear

Raw, chaotic and cathartic black metal from England, it’s The Sun’s Journey Through the Night and they have now released their new single ‘No Light Left to Bear’. This new single comes in the wake of the success of their 2023 LP ‘Worldless’ which took the band to new heights, conquering stages at ArcTanGent, Damnation, Siege of Limerick and many other prestigious festivals. The new single acts as a statement of intent from The Sun’s Journey Through the Night. Something has started which now cannot be stopped. Come along freely or be sucked in against your will, your fate is still the same.

The melancholic blackness of this track and how intense The Sun’s Journey Through the Night gets on it, is startling. They are renowned as a powerful figure in the world of black metal, but they continue to find ways to sound even rawer and harsher with each new release. Which, if that was all they offered, would be satisfying enough, but The Sun’s Journey Through the Night have deep and dark depths, this track has deep and dark depths, and the compulsion to explore them is too great. Check it out here.

Spiritbox – Perfect Soul

Two-time GRAMMY-nominated progressive heavy metal band Spiritbox are gearing up for their next chapter with the announcement of their second album, ‘Tsunami Sea’, set for release on March 7th, 2025, via Pale Chord in partnership with Rise Records. Alongside the announcement, the band has also dropped their latest single, ‘Perfect Soul’.

Aside from Sleep Token, there’s no other band that has enjoyed a rise quite like Spiritbox, but unlike the polarising aspects of Vessel and company, Spiritbox are more universally lauded. Not just because Courtney LaPlante’s vocals are staggeringly good (clean and harsh), but because the band haven’t compromised their progressive sound as more accessible modern metal aspects have been explored. Spiritbox can do anthems, they really can, but it’s the fact that they still focus on being heavy and ‘djenty’ that wins them so much favour in the wider metal community. This is another heavyweight effort from the band, and there’s a real sense that this new album might be the most game-changing of all for them.