Single Slam: Rotting Christ, What Will Be, Dorian Shroom, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, Down ‘N’ Out, From Fall to Spring, Attendant, Waterlines, Black Lesion, Erra, Thunderous Jones, Crossfaith, ten56., Major Moment, Gypsy’s Kiss, and Mastiff!

Today’s single slam features Rotting Christ, What Will Be, Dorian Shroom, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, Down ‘N’ Out, From Fall to Spring, Attendant, Waterlines, Black Lesion, Erra, Thunderous Jones, Crossfaith, ten56., Major Moment, Gypsy’s Kiss, and Mastiff. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Rotting Christ – Like Father, Like Son

Rotting Christ, the legendary melodic blackened metal band, return with their brand-new album, ‘Pro Xristou’, out on May 24th, 2024, via Season of Mist. The first single, ‘Like Father, Like Son’ has now been released.

An immensely powerful track that finds Rotting Christ on an epic journey filled with a ton of heart and soul. Thick with atmosphere, heavy and melodic, dense and dark, it’s a layered track that shows a progressed state of mind for the band, but also one that doesn’t betray their roots. What we all know and love about Rotting Christ is present, it just so happens to becoming from a more emotive place.

What Will Be – My Days

Following the success of their recent singles, ‘Slow Down’ and ‘Always,’ Manchester alt-rock band What Will Be are thrilled to mark the culmination of a transformative musical period with the new single, ‘My Days’. ‘My Days’ delves into the complexities of unconditional love, portraying the struggle with feelings of unworthiness.

The impressive run that What Will Be have been on continues with a deep and meaningful piece of music. One with some wicked rock and roll flair, covered in their welcome alternative sheen. Strong instrumentals, nice melodies, and powerful vocals, it’s another great effort from a very likable band. Check it out here.

Dorian Shroom – Carved in Stone

They show up wasted and vexed, and will force you to dance along to their grooves, it’s Dorian Shroom and they have a brand-new single out called ‘Carved in Stone’.

An enjoyable slice of energy and groove with big melodic depth, Dorian Shroom put the emphasis on the riffs here, but balance all the instruments and vocals to create something with an alternative vibe. It’s still rooted in the world of rock, but it does show a more experimental and creative mind exists in this band. It’s a twisting and turning listen that satisfies the craving for power. Check it out here.

Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse – Satisfy Your Queen

California-based roots-rock band Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are happy to announce the release of their 3rd studio album, ‘Hot Nostalgia Radio’ with the release of the first single, ‘Satisfy Your Queen’.

Wickedly weird and wonderful, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse might seem like a rock band on the surface, but spend time in the company of their music and you’ll find so much more. It’s what makes tracks like this so addictive, and this is one hell of a singalong. Even if the vocals are so strong, few would be able to do them justice. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it’s damn accessible.

Down ‘N’ Out – Headspace

Introducing Down ‘N’ Out, an electrifying alternative rock band from Birmingham, composed of Archie Holden (Lead Guitar and Vocalist), Sam Bayley (Drummer), Max Notley (Guitar), and George McGregor (Bass). The quartet have now released their latest single, ‘Headspace’.

A very cool intro leads to some chilled melody, and already, Down ‘N’ Out are creating good vibes. Then, boom, it rocks up and it is really damn good. Those riffs are really addictive, and when the vocals kick in as the melody takes over, it puts a big smile on the face. It’s a lovely track, showcasing a very talented band. Check it out here.

From Fall to Spring – Cast Away

German rock/nu-metal sextet From Fall to Spring have released their brand new single and video ‘Cast Away’, which is out now via Arising Empire.

I’m not always sold on what From Fall to Spring offer as their blend of nu-metal and rock can be a bit hit and miss. Which is exactly where I find myself with this track. It has plenty of wonderful passion, blazing moments of heavy, and some really strong melodies, but the nu-metal stuff can be so distracting. It is an exceptionally well put together track though, and very accessible, which certainly won’t do them any harm, even I don’t love it. Check it out here.

Attendant – Patriot Parade

London based alt rockers Attendant are proud to announce their forthcoming debut album ‘State of Disarray’ (out Friday 21st June 2024). The news of Attendant’s upcoming debut album also comes with the arrival of their new single ‘Patriot Parade’.

This is such a cool track. The bass at the start, the finger-snapping rhythm that follows, the anthemic chorus, and the message, it’s such a lovable piece of music. Based off this one track, it’s clear that Attendant are a creative bunch and know what to do, to get attention. A track that you listen to over and over again, with no diminishing results.

Waterlines – Brace

Yorkshire metalcore heathens Waterlines are back with brand-new single called ‘Brace’. A a song about a plane ride with an unhappy ending, and those last few moments of life after everything has gone wrong.

I love Waterlines experimental and varied ways, but I will never complain about them just going for outright chaos and carnage as they do here. Is this the heaviest track they’ve ever put out there? It sure seems to be on another level as far as intensity goes. It’s f**king great. A raging and spitting beast that makes the heart race and begs to pitted to. Waterlines are great, but you already know that. Check it out here.

Black Lesion – Bodyslave

Black Lesion are an Edinburgh-based, heavy rock band with a passion for creating hard hitting music. Their latest single ‘Bodyslave’, out now, encapsulates the raw energy and emotion that defines their sound.

A really strong start, that builds up nicely, leads to quite a cacophony of noise. Black Lesion might come from the rock world, but they’re on the heavier and louder side of things. This track has a grubby undercurrent that really appeals, yet for its rawer vibes, it’s got a ton of accessible groove. The chorus is great too, the harmonised voices working together wonderfully, but not taking away from the overall heavy feel. Check it out here.

Erra – Blue Reverie

Prolific metalcore progressives, Erra, who recently announced their brand-new album, ‘Cure’, for an April 5th release, have now shared a new single, ‘Blue Reverie’.

There is no stopping Erra’s march to world domination, and this new album is already shaping up to be their best yet based off this first single. A track with a ton of melodic heart in it, but also a track that goes freaking hard when its time. Something Erra chose not to rush, and because of that, it has a lot more impact. Emotive and emphatic music from a band always capable of delighting.

Thunderous Jones – I.N.W.Y.W (It’s.Not.What.You.Wanted)

I.N.W.Y.W (It’s.Not.What.You.Wanted) is the second single, taken from Thunderous Jones’ upcoming EP, ‘A Heart From Hell’ due out in the spring. The lyrics tell a depressing tale of self loathing, bad decisions and regret. Ultimately that the wrong choices and certain vices can lead you to a place you don’t want to be.

Thunderous in name, thunderous in nature. This is a bit of a beast of a track, abrasive and intense from the very start. It has moments of levity, namely cleaner vocals and a smoother instrumental section, but the overall vibe is one that gets ‘in your face’. It’s quite a unique sounding listen, and while all deserve a shoutout, the drums in particular, are awesome. Check it out here.

Crossfaith – Zero

Japanese genre-blenders Crossfaith have returned with a roaring new single titled ‘Zero’. It finds the band continuing to cross-pollinate metal and industrial music into a DNA-distinct blend.

Says the band:

After approximately one year of hiatus, we’re finally coming back in the game. This song is filled with primitive energy, showcasing our distinctive style to the fullest. It becomes a music full of the desire to tear through the dark abyss with our own hands and be reborn anew.

They’re back, as weirdly fun, and as savagely heavy as always. It’s Crossfaith and this anthem is every bit them, showing minor progression here and there. It’s not a ‘shake-up’ track, but that’s not a big surprise. Though they do really hit manic levels of heavy at the end. It’s Crossfaith, and they’re back. Check it out here.

Lowlives – Loser

West coast based raucous rockers Lowlives have shared their new single and music video for ‘Loser’. A celebration of love between outcasts, the single comes alongside the announcement of their debut album, ‘Freaking Out’, due May 31st via their new label home Spinefarm Records.

Explains vocalist and guitarist Lee Downer:

‘Loser is a love song about a self-proclaimed ‘loser’ who has fallen in love with someone they also see as a misfit outcast like themselves. Both as awkward and weird as each other just wishing they could be losers together. Musically it’s definitely the most pop song on the record and is an ode to 90’s alternative radio.

It’s poppy, but damn, it’s really catchy. Lowlives taking moody alternative rock in an infectious direction that has a 90s shine. That perplexed look you have your face? It’s long gone by the end, replaced with a big smile. It’s a really great piece of music.

ten56. – Good Morning

In the wake of their meteoric rise within the metal scene, ten56. delivers yet another powerful evidence to their creative journey with the release of their new single and accompanying video, ‘Good Morning’.

What does new ten56. music offer? An unbelievable amount of heaviness. A stupid amount of heaviness. This is eye-watering stuff from ten56. Which, isn’t too much of a surprise as they know how to do heavy, but even then, this is non-stop intensity and it’s quite something. That they are able to sustain this for nearly three-minutes is truly spectacular. Check it out here.

Major Moment – Victim

Following a relentless 2023 for US Pop-Metal outfit Major Moment which saw them take to the stage at the prestigious Louder Than Life Festival, receive full radio rotation of two singles (Toxic and Overcome) on SiriusXM Octane, and become the only unsigned self-managed artist to chart up to #12 on the station’s ‘Big Uns’ list for several weeks, the band are back with one of the heavier songs in their catalog, ‘Victim’. The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming album ‘The Pain That Makes Us Grow’.

Says vocalist Andrey Borzykin:

Victim is one of my favorite songs on the album. I got very angry after one of the phone calls with my parents, with whom we sadly don’t see eye to eye on a few sensitive and important topics. They are well educated as far as traditional education goes, but they never travelled much, never took much of a risk in their lives, they don’t go out, they rarely watch new movies, they are still relatively young, but live the same way they lived for the past 40 years, so their idea of the world is kind of dictated by propaganda on TV. As their son, they think I don’t have enough authority to teach them. This song is what I want them to listen to and realize it’s about them.

Bouncy and energetic, with unique melodic turns, Major Moment’s rise is only to continue when they’re releasing music with this much wide-spread appeal. It’s got tons of heavy rockiness to it, but it draws plenty from the pop world too. The end result is a lovable piece that gets stuck in the head.

Gypsy’s Kiss – We’ve Come to Play

Gypsy’s Kiss, an integral part of the revered ‘Iron Maiden Family Tree,’ proudly announces their latest milestone: celebrating their 50th Anniversary with the release of a highly anticipated album due for release summer 2024.

The debut single, ‘We’ve Come to Play’, marks a poignant return for the legacy band. Reflecting on their journey, the song narrates their resurgence after a hiatus following their initial run. However, this return isn’t about vanity, ego, or financial gain; it’s a heartfelt resurgence driven by a profound love for music, the exhilaration of performing live, and the sheer joy of entertaining audiences.

David Smith, the founding cornerstone of the band, describes the single as semi-autobiographical.

It would take a stone cold heart to not feel something listening to this delightful rock and rolling effort from the legendary band. A track with so much heart and soul, and a track that is infectious and fun. It’s a Gypsy’s Kiss special and there’s never going to be anything wrong with that. Just don’t be surprised if you have a wistful look on your face as it plays out. Check it out here.

Mastiff – Void

Mastiff have released ‘Void’, the second crushing single to be taken from forthcoming album ‘Deprecipice’, out on 22nd March via MNRK Heavy.

Comments guitarist James Lee:

‘Void’ might not fall in the literal middle of Deprecipice, but in many ways it acts as a thematic centrepiece, both musically and lyrically. There’s a strong Converge influence in the guitars for sure, and we wanted it to have a ragged, almost punk sound that gradually evolves into this monstrous, lurching breakdown. Dan and Joe (Clayton, producer) then worked on washing the song over with some nasty, unsettling electronic noise that gives it this really queasy vibe.

For a good while we had the music finished but hadn’t landed on a lyric, but then in the few weeks between the initial album tracking and Jim’s vocal session my mother passed away after a short but brutal battle with lung cancer, and this song ended up becoming the outlet for all of the pain and grief I had spilling out of me. To suddenly not have that safety net of the person who created you, for them to just be gone with nothing to take their place, it really did feel like a void opened in my chest, and this song was my humble attempt to put that feeling into words.

What do you expect me to say? That it’s heavy? That it’s nasty? That it beats you over the head until you’re seeing stars? It’s Mastiff, of course it does all of these things, but, and this is so important, branches are growing on the tree of their sound. Branches that give this a punk-infused flavour, branches that give it a really abrasive feel (even more than usual), and branches that show an even more personal side to the band. It’s feral as f**k, but the way it goes through different tempos makes it so damn listenable. This track can be pulled apart, section by section, and even more impressive elements are found. For example, the latter part features some of the most throat-tearing vocals heard from this band. Excited for Deprecipice yet? Of course you f**king are, we all are.