Single Slam: Alpha Wolf, In Sφnder, Sworn Against, Indevth, Scott Stapp, Joe Below, Eyes Wide Open, Child, Shower Beers, Alleviate, Queen Layla, and Ministry!

Today’s single slam features Alpha Wolf, In Sφnder, Sworn Against, Indevth, Scott Stapp, Joe Below, Eyes Wide Open, Child, Shower Beers, Alleviate, Queen Layla, and Ministry. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Alpha Wolf – Sucks 2 Suck (feat. Ice-T)

Aussie metalcore behemoths Alpha Wolf return with the announcement of their third full length album ‘Half Living Things’, officially set to unleash on Friday 5th April via Greyscale Records and SharpTone Records. Heralding the announcement of the upcoming album, the band have also released ‘Sucks 2 Suck’, a brand-new single featuring none other than the legendary Ice-T.

Alpha Wolf and Ice-T? Who could have seen that coming? Few, but what most can see coming is that this track is a banger. Alpha Wolf have been having a good few years, and doesn’t look to be changing in 2024. This new single is the band sounding quite abrasive, but going for an anthem that will blow up live. Groovy as f**k, with a punchy chorus, and a big finish. As for Ice-T? He leads the song into a killer breakdown and it’s very cool.

In Sφnder – Evenpath

Based in Chester, England, cyber metal outfit In Sφnder is comprised of former members of the symphonic metal band Curse Of Dawn, and current members of Disconnected Souls and Fight The Tornado. 2023 saw the band reveal their first singles – ‘Quintessence’ and ‘Damage Control’. Now, in 2024, they are gearing up to unveil their first EP ‘Rumination Theory’, releasing the single ‘Evenpath’ on January 30th.

In Sφnder have proven themselves to be one to watch, standing out with a unique flavour of cyber-infused metal. Something that continues to be the case with a more melodious and dramatic track. Showcasing more depth to their sound with haunting atmosphere and ethereal clean singing, but balancing that with lovable layers of synth and riffs. It’s a very catchy listen. Upon release, check it out here.

Sworn Against – Tyrant

Hailing from Kingston Upon Hull, Northern Metalcore outfit Sworn Amongst have unveiled their latest single ‘Tyrant’. It’s the quartet’s 2nd release after their 3-year hiatus spanning from 2020 – 2023, kickstarting their campaign for a bigger release later.

The resurgence of Sworn Against continues with great aplomb as the metalcore outfit make sure the current crop is given even higher bars to try and reach. Bringing a frenetic and furious blast of speed and heaviness to the forefront. It’s a meaty headbanger with an epic chorus. This band are soaring at the moment and the proof is in tracks like this.

Indevth – Nothing Left

South England fast paced metalcore band Indevth have announced the upcoming release of their new EP ‘Drowning’. The EP, which deals with mental anguish, hopelessness and feels born out of the grit and grime of a bleak modern Britain will be released on Friday 15th March 2024. It will feature the bands unrelenting previous single ‘Lurk’ and brand-new single ‘Nothing Left’, of which the official music video has also been unveiled.

Indevth vocalist Sam Culverwell explains that:

The concept of the band’s upcoming EP ‘Drowning’ is ultimately all about loss, last year was a hard year, and honestly I spent most of it alone, feeling trapped by a lot of things going on around me I had no control over. And lyrically, honestly I just wanted to write something raw, aggressive and violent that did not give a fuck, And I think we have definitely delivered on that.

A dark and depressing listen, that is stupidly heavy, Indevth are bringing so much aggression on this track, it might startle some people. They’re not holding back in the slightest, and the end result is one of the filthiest sounding ‘core’ tunes heard this year so far. This is the kind of track that will cause bloody carnage when played live. It’s a new level of violent rawness that beggars belief and it’s great. Check it out here.

Scott Stapp – Deadman’s Trigger

Grammy winning, platinum-certified artist and the voice of Creed, Scott Stapp has released ‘Deadman’s Trigger’, the fourth single from upcoming solo album ‘Higher Power’, due for release on 15th March 2024 via Napalm Records.

Not sure what to expect from a Scott Stapp solo album? Well, it may come as surprise to find the artist leaning into heavier rock territories here. Albeit with his recognisable voice front and centre, and with a structure that is designed to be anthemic. Which it is, accessible and catchy. What it isn’t though, is exciting. There’s nothing obviously wrong with it, but there’s also nothing that really stands out either. Check it out here.

Joe Below – Forever Mine

Helsinki-based hard rockers Jo Below have released the second single from their upcoming ’New Worlds’ EP. ’Forever Mine’ is out now and the EP will be released on March 15th, 2024 via Inverse Records.

A groovy body-shaker with an old-school, riff-driven vibe. This new single has all the makings of a classic rock tune, with the highlights coming from the riffs and the vocals. Joe Below aren’t changing the world with tracks like this, but they sure make it a more fun place to be. Check it out here.

Eyes Wide Open – Watch You Bleed

Swedish melodic death metal four-piece Eyes Wide Open have released a video for their new single ‘Watch You Bleed’, out now via Arising Empire.

The band comment:

That invisible wound that you see on someone, keeps getting bigger and bigger. Powerless you just watch while they deteriorate before you. The heart screams in silence when you descend. What the hell should you feel? This is our downfall.

Credit to Eyes Wide Open, who are taking the melodeath sound, and giving it a more modern twist that draws from the ‘core’ world. All while having elements that are traditional. It’s a very lavish track, that hits a new level of brilliance with the chorus. Seriously, that thing is nuts, and it’s going to turn a ton of heads.

Child – Time Island

Swedish crust/grind outfit Child will release their second full-length album ‘Shitegeist’ on March 29th via Suicide Records. The leading single ‘Time Island’ is out now.

At 1:39 seconds and being rooted in the chaos of crust/grind, it should come as no surprise to find that this track is akin to a shotgun blast to the face. Child do not mess about, but still come up with something compelling as you can pick out the individual parts and hear the effort gone into make the track work, all while trying to be as dangerously noisy as possible. Check it out here.

Shower Beers – London (feat. Glimmers)

NYC-based pop punkers Shower Beers have teamed up with Atlanta’s pop rock group Glimmers to cut their newest triumph of a track in ‘London’, out now. It is the second single off Shower Beers’ sophomore EP Miracle on 34th & 3rd, which features a globe-trotting cast of features including Australia’s SoSo, Boston’s We Demand Parachutes, and Orlando’s Outatime!

Shower Beers’ singer Chris Diorio says of the track:

’London’ is our most ambitious song to date, and we’re thrilled with how we feel we were able to communicate a grounded story of love found and let go through the song’s anthemic production and songwriting.

As pop-punk as it comes, fans of traditional heartfelt and anthemic vibes will find plenty to enjoy here. Shower Beers and Glimmers combining talents to create something delightfully infectious. It’s one hell of a nostalgia kick, sieved through a modern filter, some of which may alienate listeners. The chorus, in particular, while quite catchy, has some questionable effects on the vocals. It’s not enough to ruin a really sweet tune though.

Alleviate – Trying to Survive

After their successful debut singles ‘Die for Me’, ‘Broken’ and ‘Better’ that have gained over 1.6 million plays on Spotify, metalcore supergroup Alleviate are back with their fourth banger ‘Trying to Survive’, out now via Arising Empire.

Inspired by feelings of anxiety and depression, Alleviate pull from their immense talents to create a metalcore track that is familiar, but hits harder than most. Partially because the clean singing and chorus sounds so big, but also partially because Alleviate can be so damn scathing when they want to be. It’s metalcore 101, but Alleviate just happen to be one of the better bands at it right now. Check it out here.

Queen Laya – Rage

Rising from the ruins of the past few years, Queen Laya is emerging into uncharted waters, defying expectations as she demonstrates a ferocious new sound. She has unveiled the official music video for her new single ‘Rage’.

Queen Laya delves into the context of the track:

‘Rage’ is about suppressing your emotions so that you appear smaller to others, well behaved to others, in compliance with others, liked by others – to create a safe space within yourself, until all your thoughts and feelings are so congested that you can’t even fathom keeping in even a single ounce of these emotions within you. This intense energy eventually manifests itself into uncontrollable rage.

An apt title, Rage’s draw comes from the underlying tension that exists with in the track. However, the genre-bending that goes on throughout is what will keep people coming back. Big poppy vocals, chaotic and modernised post-hardcore instrumental heaviness, and plenty of delightful melodies. It’s quite an impressive track, that doesn’t quite hit in the chorus, which is a bit of surprise. However, that f**king breakdown is class. Check it out here.

Ministry – B.D.E.

Toxic misogyny, violence against women, and incels are the latest target Al Jourgensen takes aim at in the song ‘B.D.E.’ (aka Big Dick Energy) out now. ‘B.D.E.’ hails from Ministry’s upcoming 16th studio album, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES (out March 1, 2024 on Nuclear Blast Records) and follows the release of earlier singles ‘Just Stop Oil’ and ‘Goddamn White Trash’.

Says Jourgensen of the track:

The incel subsect and general misogynistic tendencies in our society are dangerous yet seem to fly under the radar so we figured it’s time to shine a light on it. In true Ministry fashion we battle it with sarcasm.

If you think Ministry are talking about you here, they probably are. B.D.E. is not pulling any punches, as you would expect, and it’s Ministry 101. Industrialised sarcasm with heavy 90s groove, it’s an easy song to enjoy, even if it’s not exactly Ministry at their best. The problem is that some of the lyrics are a bit cringy and it never really goes anywhere interesting. It feels like an attempt to capture the heady days of the past, but without the same love and passion.