Single Slam: Zeal & Ardor, Arkness, Graywave, Candy, Below the Stones, Born of Osiris, Nouri Yetgin, Pallbearer, Callas, Hillbilly Vegas, House of Ousey, and HammerFall!

Today’s single slam features Zeal & Ardor, Arkness, Graywave, Candy, Below the Stones, Born of Osiris, Nouri Yetgin, Pallbearer, Callas, Hillbilly Vegas, House of Ousey, and HammerFall. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

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Zeal & Ardor – to my ilk

Inventive and iconoclastic, Zeal & Ardor isn’t just a band; it’s a living and breathing entity. Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.

After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length, self-produced album, Greif, set for release on August 23rd, 2024.

At the beginning of this next chapter, the evocative group have chosen to first showcase the album’s conclusion, sharing its plaintive and poetic final track, ‘to my ilk’.

There are few bands that can excite like Zeal & Ardor, so any new release comes with a lot of anticipation. This first single from the upcoming new album is a simple and melodic piece. Soft and dramatic, with a vein of darkness running through it, it’s all about the vocals here, which are unsurprisingly great. As a first taste of the new album, it doesn’t tell us a lot, except that Zeal & Ardor continue to confound expectations.

Arkness – Sisyphus Hill

French progressive metal collective Arkness are back with their latest single ‘Sisyphus Hill’. A track where the collective deal with loss and despair in a way that only they can.

What is that way you may ask? Well, it’s melancholic and thought-provoking, but it’s also progressively layered and deeply melodic. The passion behind this track comes through strongly, and across its near eight-minute long runtime, it digs into the brain matter until you’re all consumed by its dramatic beauty. Check it out here.

Graywave – Dark Spell

The exciting time has arrived for another single from the forthcoming Graywave EP to drop! ‘Dark Spell’ is the second single to be released from the new EP ‘Dancing in the Dust’ (out May 31st).

Lead vocalist/guitarist and band leader Jess Webberley said this about the track:

‘Dark Spell’ is about the feeling that something isn’t quite right. The lyric ‘Missing a piece of your puzzle’ essentially alludes to that, and the wider theme of the song aims to capture the sense of impending doom – and the feeling of isolation that goes along with it.

Dreampop with shoegaze elements, Graywave are an esoteric listening experience, one that always manages to capture the sense of being untethered from your physical form. It’s as close to a spiritual experience as you’re going to get in music, and once again, that is showcased in an emphatic way here. Dark Spell is a beautiful piece of music, but it also comes with a dark vibe, that creates just the right amount of discomfort. Deeply layered and with twists that work so well, it’s a great track. Check it out here.

Candy – Love like Snow

Candy have unveiled their latest single, ‘Love Like Snow,’ showcasing a shift towards a more melodic and soft sound, accentuated by electronic and trance-like production elements. The track features vocals from Mirsy, the side project of Marisa Shriar from Fleshwater, and mmph, the moniker of Los Angeles producer Sae Heum Han, who mixed and co-produced the song. In addition to the single release, the band have shared a cinematic and eerily camp music video directed by Candy’s Michael Quick. ‘Love Like Snow’ peels back another layer of what can be found on the band’s new album, ‘It’s Inside You’, due 7th June through Relapse Records.

Candy continue to provide a unique musical vision here, revealing something that has contrasting electronica abrasiveness with poppy melody. It’s as discombobulating as it sounds, yet there is an addictive quality to it that makes you want to relisten to it, even if it’s just to unpack some of the detail. For every person that loves it, there will be another that hates it, but that’s the Candy way of making music!

Below the Stones – Goliath

Coventry, UK, based progressive metalcore band, Below the Stones, have released their first single, ‘Goliath’ as a reformed band.

Sometimes all it takes is a good intro to sell a track, and bloody hell, does this track have a good intro. Heartening melody that transitions into crunchy heavy instrumentation with a bit of groove about it. You can tell immediately that this is going to be an anthemic hit, and that vibe just increases as the track goes on. Below the Stones revealing an infectious style of metalcore that makes melody a focal point of the overall tone. A guitar solo in a metalcore track? It’s here, and it’s bloody great. Check it out here.

Born Of Osiris – Elevate

Born Of Osiris have released their brand new single ‘Elevate’ along with an official music video, streaming now via Sumerian Records.

The band shares:

‘Elevate’ embodies the essence of our roots. The combination of ethereal melodies with down-tuned guitars has helped inspire lyrics that evoke darker emotions.

One of the most eclectic bands out there, if Born of Osiris has new music out, it’s time to get excited. Especially when it’s a progressive beast that is insanely catchy. That’s what they give us with this new single. Delivering an array of scorching riffs, crushing drum beats, infectious melody, and fierce vocals. It’s a certified banger. Check it out here.

Nouri Yetgin – Skin & Splinters

Renowned for pushing the boundaries of deathcore with his band Distant, songwriter and guitarist Nouri Yetgin embarks on an exhilarating solo journey, showcasing his unparalleled songwriting prowess in a new light. Yetgin proudly unveils his debut single ‘Skin & Splinters’, featuring vocalists Mees Stevens of Torn From Oblivion and Josh Muncke of Sugar Spine.

Says Nouri Yetgin about the single:

I am thrilled to share ‘Skin & Splinters’ with the world. Collaborating with Mees Stevens and Josh Muncke has been an incredible experience, and I am immensely proud of what we have created together. This project allows me to explore new dimensions of my creativity and connect with fellow musicians who share my passion for heavy music. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.

It’s probably not too much of a surprise that this single is heavy, after all, look who it comes from and look at the guests that are featured on it. Yet, even then, the manic energy of it will have some people leaning back in fear. It’s the chaotic nature of the track, where everything feels barely held together, yet the hysteria is so enjoyable. If you’re after something that simply compels you to lose your s**t, this is the track for you.

Pallbearer – Endless Place

Pallbearer have released ‘Endless Place’ the second song from their highly anticipated new album, ‘Mind Burns Alive’, due 17th May via Nuclear Blast Records.

‘Endless Place’, which features the band’s first ever musical collaboration (a saxophone solo from Norman Williamson of Amasa Hines), encapsulates the thematic essence of the album, as described by vocalist-guitarist Brett Campbell:

These are vignettes which tell the stories of people who deal with myriad sicknesses of the spirit. These are illnesses communicated by the world we live in, and the subjects are the symptoms of its disease.

Turning anticipation into feverish desire, Pallbearer bring us a doom track that only they could be capable of creating. Epic, progressive, psychedelic, and very heavy. This is this band at their grandest sounding, and at over ten minutes long, they drag the listener into the deepest and darkest of depths. Yet, it’s not a terrifying journey down, all because Pallbearer are with every step of the way. It’s not comforting music, but it is beautiful in its own way. Check it out here.

Callas – Days

Callas, a post rock/metal and experimental band from Cork, Ireland, have released their explosive second single, ‘Days’.

Speaking about the single, vocalist and guitarist Dom Murphy says:

‘Days’ is a panoramic snapshot of where the band is right now and easily deserves to act as the backbone for our upcoming EP. It’s a sprawling and explosive song that blends a potent mix of drama and melancholy wrapped up under a dreamy soundscape. It has a radiance and energy to it that we are really happy to have captured during the recording process. Play it loud!

Ireland is producing some killer bands as of late, and it should please just about everyone to see a fantastic band like Callas joining the ranks of bands to be excited about. Showcasing a poignant style of post rock and metal that gets under the skin. There is a rawness that permeates the instrumental side of the band, but it contrasts so well with the dreamy melodic style of vocals. It’s a really strong track that oozes glorious gloominess. Check it out here.

Hillbilly Vegas – Shake It Like a Hillbilly

Hillbilly Vegas, the enigmatic, hard-working rock band from Oklahoma are back with a brand new single & video ahead of their Long Way Back Tour.

‘Shake It Like a Hillbilly’ has been remixed by legendary producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, The Who, Bernie Marsden) and is set to be the soundtrack to your Summer.

Well established in the USA, the band have a deep love for the UK and are eagerly looking forward to returning this Summer. Hillbilly Vegas also announce the dynamic 4-piece hard rockers The Howling Tides as special guests on the July dates. This USA / UK pairing will prove an irresistible cocktail of great new rock bands.

Long Way Back Tour – July 2024

Wednesday 17th – Hull, The Adelphi
Thursday 18th – Newcastle, Trillians
Friday 19th – Crumlin, The Patriot
Sunday 21st – Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill
Wednesday 24th – London, 100 Club
Thursday 25th – Hastings, The Carlisle
Saturday 27th – Sittingbourne, The Appleyard

Keeping it very simple, but if you know this band, that just means we’ve got a catchy ditty to enjoy. Which is exactly what we get. A hip-shaking and foot-tapping infectious rock tune that is Hillbilly Vegas through and through. If you love what they do, and are eagerly awaiting their UK tour, then this track is just going to please you even more.

House of Ousey – Of Love and Desire

Power metal/hard rock Mafia-themed New Zealand band House of Ousey are back with their second single ‘Of Love and Desire’. The song lyrics set a darker tone exploring the dangerous push and pull between Love and Desire.

Back with another power-infused head-banger, House of Ousey are proving to be a band well worth keeping a close eye on. Delivering a big sound here that blends genres, but ones that are natural bedfellows. The heavy instrumentals and the epic vocals make for a very enjoyable listen, but it’s the dark vein running through it, that really makes it special. Another banger from this band. Check it out here.

HammerFall – Hail to the King

HammerFall have announce their 13th studio album ‘Avenge The Fallen’ will be released on 9th August via Nuclear Blast Records. To celebrate, the band have revealed the first song from the album, ‘Hail To The King’.

Do you like epic, hair-raising, head-banging heavy metal? Of course you do, and because of that, you love HammerFall. After all, they’re the kings of this sound and we have all spent many years hailing them. Something that isn’t going to stop anytime soon when they’re realising harmonic fist-pumping listens like this. It’s power metal gold, what more do you need to know?




Author

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Zeal & Ardor, Arkness, Graywave, Candy, Below the Stones, Born of Osiris, Nouri Yetgin, Pallbearer, Callas, Hillbilly Vegas, House of Ousey, and HammerFall!
  • Zeal & Ardor – to my ilk - 7/10
    7/10
  • Arkness – Sisyphus Hill - 8/10
    8/10
  • Graywave – Dark Spell - 9/10
    9/10
  • Candy – Love like Snow - 6/10
    6/10
  • Below the Stones – Goliath - 9/10
    9/10
  • Born Of Osiris – Elevate - 8/10
    8/10
  • Nouri Yetgin – Skin & Splinters - 8/10
    8/10
  • Pallbearer – Endless Place - 9/10
    9/10
  • Callas – Days - 10/10
    10/10
  • Hillbilly Vegas – Shake It Like a Hillbilly - 8/10
    8/10
  • House of Ousey – Of Love and Desire - 8/10
    8/10
  • HammerFall – Hail to the King - 8.5/10
    8.5/10
8.2/10
User Review
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    Zeal & Ardor – to my ilk
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    Arkness – Sisyphus Hill
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    Graywave – Dark Spell
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    Candy – Love like Snow
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    Below the Stones – Goliath
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    Born Of Osiris – Elevate
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    Nouri Yetgin – Skin & Splinters
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    Pallbearer – Endless Place
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    Callas – Days
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    Hillbilly Vegas – Shake It Like a Hillbilly
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    House of Ousey – Of Love and Desire
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    HammerFall – Hail to the King