Single Slam: Fit for an Autopsy, Rituals of Sorrow, Arimea, Plaiins, After Smoke Clears, Mork, Nameless, Oceans, Comastatic, Ad Infinitum, Clay J Gladstone, Within Destruction, Silverstein, Vicious Rain, and Wind Rose!

Today’s single slam features Fit for an Autopsy, Rituals of Sorrow, Arimea, Plaiins, After Smoke Clears, Mork, Nameless, Oceans, Comastatic, Ad Infinitum, Clay J Gladstone, Within Destruction, Silverstein, Vicious Rain, and Wind Rose. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Fit for an Autopsy – Savior of None / Ashes of All

Fit for an Autopsy have shared their brand new single ‘Savior of None / Ashes of All’, alongside a new music video. The song comes from the band’s forthcoming album ‘The Nothing That Is’ which is set to be released on October 25th via Nuclear Blast.

On the new track, the band shares:

’Savior of None / Ashes of All’ is a reflection of the inherent darkness surrounding one’s struggle to find a place of peace within the pressures of existence. The root causes of suffering that leads us to depression, addiction, etc. can be ever-present in everyone. Whether or not it materializes in a controlling way, it certainly exists as a stain on the human psyche. It’s a powerful thought knowing that we all share this potential to self destruct, and how that can bring comfort in not feeling alone, or more chaos to an already fractured human.

Consistently great, Fit for an Autopsy return with all the death-infused fire and fury all have come to expect and love, delivering a hefty heavy track that will please all corners of their fanbase. The melodeath and deathcore combination is very fresh sounding, and the talent in this band ensure it ends up sounding like an absolute beast. Get those neck muscles warmed up, they’re going to be needed here.

Rituals of Sorrow – Defective

‘Defective’ is the new single from Berkshire / Massachusetts blackened deathcore solo project, Rituals of Sorrow. This new single follows on from their EP ‘Curse Killing’ in 2022 and the split release, ‘Split Sorrow’ with the band ‘Splitbody’.

It certainly falls in the deathcore camp, but the blackened edge that Rituals of Sorrow gives this track makes it a much more standout effort. Rawer and more dangerous sounding, while having a certain level of dark melodious harmony. It’s a really creative listen with some absolutely crushing moments. Impressive for one person. Check it out here.

Arimea – Liminal

Oxford’s fast-rising nu-metal outfit Arimea have unveiled their brand-new single ‘Liminal’. Using their staple nu-metal approach of modulated guitars and DJ samples, the refreshingly raw quartet sonically take a dark and melancholic turn with ‘Liminal’.

Exploring the lyrical context, bassist Joe Landles mentions:

I began writing lyrics one late night while researching the occultist Alestair Crowley, eroto-comatose lucidity and the philosophies surrounding them”. Diving deeper on the inspiration behind some particularly visceral lyrical content, Joe reflects that “I wanted to bring those captivating elements of Crowley’s beliefs very much to the forefront. Let’s be honest, there’s always a perverse intrigue into the less family friendly practices of the occult, those that address sexuality and attempts to talk a higher power as we do in LIMINAL.

The epitome of modern alternative metal and rock, Arimea showcase a piece of music that is entrancing in tone. Moody, but vibrant, having old-school nu-metal aspects but balancing that side of their music with infectiously anthemic modernised rock ways, what seems to be fairly standard stuff at first ends up being pretty damn unforgettable. Check it out here.

Plaiins – Slow Rotting, Fast Decay

Plaiins, the international quartet with members from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Israel and Germany have recently signed to Long Branch Records and are now streaming their new single ‘Slow Rotting, Fast Decay’.

When it comes to Plaiins one thing is assured and that thing is a song that is unique sounding. Once again, the indie alternative act produces something a little weird, a little wacky, and a little off-putting. Yet, once again, they also produce something catchy and fun. The longer it goes on, the better it gets, and by the end it’s pretty lovable.

After Smoke Clears – Unintelligent

South London-based metalcore unit After Smoke Clears have shared the first taste of their upcoming sophomore studio album, ‘Intentions’, (coming later this year via self-release) in ‘Unintelligent’, their brand-new single.

The band states:

Unintelligent is a song about being treated like shit. Berated, and made to feel insignificant, the lyrics tell the story from a beginning, where you’ve heard these things said to you for so long you become accustomed to them, that you’ve become a permanent resident inside your own personal hell. The sample ‘Hell is real’ pays homage to the millions of people around the world, living in their own personal hell, sometimes being gaslit into thinking it’s not actually a problem, or that they’re making it up. But it is an internal reality to overcome.

A very aggressive song, After Smoke Clears deliver frenetic hardcore energy and threaten to break some bones with an intense feel throughout. It’s a manic listen that fills the veins with fire, and even when the tempo shifts, it still has so much heaviness to it. A track to leave you bruised all over. Check it out here.

Mork – Heksebål

Following the announcement of their new album ‘Syv’ and the release of the wonderfully brutal first single ‘Utbrent’ last month, Norwegian black metal masters Mork are now back with their latest instalment of filth and misanthropy, ‘Heksebål’.

Mork creator, frontman and mastermind Thomas Eriksen said:

A depiction of mankind destroying what they don’t understand. Witch-hunts and witches at the stake burned to a crisp. Probably one of the more progressive songs with spellbinding riffs of witchery. May the spell curse those in doubt to a lifetime of bad luck and misery!

The effectiveness of Mork’s progressively tainted black metal ways is undeniable when you hear a measured and focused piece of music like this. The lethargic nature doesn’t stop it sounding delectably wicked, but it’s also a track that rewards patience as the tempo increases and the blackness gets more and more intense. This new album is shaping up to be a very special Mork release. Check it out here.

Nameless – Pacify and Reason

Birmingham-based powerhouse Nameless returns with their latest single, ‘Pacify and Reason’. A track that dives deep into themes of self-perception and the internal battles between outward appearance and the inner turmoil that often remains hidden.

Speaking on the track, the band explains:

The song reflects the pain and struggle of living with negative self-perception and the challenge of seeing oneself through the positive lens others might offer. Despite its heavy subject matter, the song carries a message of hope—one that seeks to remind those who feel isolated that they are not alone, and that help is always within reach.

A big track with an impactful subject matter, Nameless were in a imaginative mood when this was written. The early heaviness of the track, heralded by a vicious scream and robust riffing, develops into something more accessibly modern. Throughout, there are layers of melody which give it a more despondent feel, but this aspect never weighs down the intensity. Something that ends up being the most memorable aspect of the track.

Oceans – Spit

Oceans release their latest single ‘Spit’ as part of their third studio album. Just under a month before the release of their new long-player ‘Happy’, the German nu-metallers give a further impression of what kind of force can be expected.

Timo Rotten comments:

Sometimes life sucks and you just want to shred everything to pieces. In that exact moment we wrote SPIT. Have fun with that one. It’s perfect for cleaning your house, working out or smashing a car with a baseball bat.

The gulf in quality that Oceans produces can make for a frustrating listen because when they’re good, they’re really good. Case in point, this heavy and blackened blast of metal that combines elements of nu and melodeath with modern structure and focus. It’s unusual, but it does work, and it is enjoyable. Hopefully the new album has more of this. Check it out here.

Comastatic – Misery (ft. All to Get Her)

Zurich based alternative rock outfit, Comastatic have shared their brand-new single ‘Misery’. The duo have teamed up with fellow pop-punk Zurich compatriots All To Get Her for a high-energy offering that oozes emotion and explores the struggles through self-doubt.

Comastatic vocalist Mattia Di Paolo shares:

‘Misery’ is about the struggle with dark thoughts like self-doubt, self-hatred, and anxiety. It tells the story of fighting to overcome these feelings, showing the determination to keep going even when it feels impossible. The song captures the pain of facing your inner demons while holding onto the hope that you can eventually rise above them.

Comastatic make good music, that has already been established, but this new single is up there as one of their best, and not just because All To Get Her nail the guest spot. No, what makes this such a great listen comes down to the manic energy and uber-catchiness of it. You can move to this one, and many will, as it has got a serious amount of accessibility to it. Just check out the freaking chorus to understand that. Check it out here.

Ad Infinitum – Surrender

Swiss/German modern metal frontrunners, Ad Infinitum, make a stand by releasing their next staggering offering and new single ‘Surrender’. The track is taken from their upcoming album, Abyss, due for release on 11th October via Napalm Records.

Says Ad Infinitum on ‘Surrender’:

‘Surrender’ is the song we’ve been waiting to release since the moment we created it. It’s just us doing our thing without any boundaries, boxes, or outsider expectations – unapologetically. The song is paired with a music video that crosses over into another form of art, perfectly fitting the mood. We are excited to hear how people will receive it!

Beginning in extremely poppy fashion, Surrender is going to have metalheads a little nervous, but as anyone who knows Ad Infinitum, the heaviness is right around the corner. Although it comes in more limited form here, it still hits hard. It just so happens that this is a more melodic track overall, but with some clever touches here and there. One being a wonderful switch to acoustic guitar right at the end.

Clay J Gladstone – Why Does Everybody Hate Me?

Sydney-based sad party punkers Clay J Gladstone share news of their debut album ‘Is This How I Die?’, out Friday November 1 via Def Wolf Records. The lads pair the long-awaited announcement with new single ‘Why Does Everybody Hate Me?’ and get set to tour across the country supporting Sienna Skies in November.

The ‘emo’ direction of this track, blended with their usual brand of impactful punk rock, is delightful. Clay J Gladstone are making some of the most infectious modern tunes in this genre, and this new single continues that impressive form. Yes, it’s got a ‘miserable’ twist, but it’s still such a party anthem. Doesn’t misery like company after all? Check it out here.

Within Destruction – Demon Child

Slovenian metal trailblazers Within Destruction have announced that they have inked a brand new deal with globally renowned independent label, Sumerian Records, marking a significant milestone in the band’s career. To celebrate this monumental signing, the band has unleashed a blistering new single, ‘Demon Child’, accompanied by a high-octane music video shot on location in Tokyo, Japan.

Vocalist Rob Rupnik delves into the inspiration behind the track, sharing:

Before I even started writing lyrics, I listened to the song a couple of times and immediately knew the final words of the chorus would be ‘Demon Child’, which also ended up being the title of our second single. The lyrics dive into the nature of a love-hate relationship, where one would rather embrace a passionate turmoil over a mundane life.

Guitarist Howard Fang and drummer Luka Vezzosi add:

We’ve had a lot of fun during the pre-production of the song which is getting released pretty much in the initially envisioned idea. This time, we went with a fast-paced song built around a catchy singalong chorus with a blegh breakdown as a cherry on top. The only funny thing about this song, is the fact that it was supposed to be without a breakdown, but while we were in the studio tracking the song, we found a place for it at the last minute and we think it works really well.

The constant slew of modern metalcore bands that overuse effects means you need to be really special to stand out from the pack. Sadly, if this track is anything to go by, Within Destruction are going to struggle to make anyone take note of what they can do. Offering up something so generic, it’s actually annoying. Nothing is played poorly, but the lack of life it has means most will have forgotten about it the moment it ends. Check it out here.

Silverstein – Skin & Bones

Acclaimed Canadian rock band Silverstein have shared their visceral new single ‘Skin & Bones’, out now via UNFD. Along with the song – the band’s first release of 2024 – they have also shared a new music video.

Shares vocalist Shane Told:

‘Skin & Bones’ is a deeply emotional song, written about the sudden loss of a person who was once very close to me. Every day we’re stuck in our own heads worrying about trivial things and never thinking about just how fragile we are. Life can be gone in an instant. I lost one of the greatest people I ever knew.

Recording out in Joshua Tree, in the middle of the desert, made it feel like we were starting with a totally blank canvas. Without external distractions, I found myself turning my attention inward. How did I really feel? What did I really want to say about it? And once I found that, the performance just poured out of me. Talking, singing, yelling, screaming…it’s all raw emotion in this track.

New Silverstein is always welcome and the creative tear the band has been on as of late continues with this lovably infectious post-hardcore hit. Few bands could make the verses and chorus sound so different, yet fit together so seamlessly. That’s modern Silverstein for you, a band that (currently) can’t do no wrong. It’s another absolute banger.

Vicious Rain – Play Pretend

Heavy new Swiss band Vicious Rain has unveiled their latest single, ‘Play Pretend’, which is taken from the highly anticipated debut album, ‘There Is Beauty in Letting Go’ out on 11th October via Arising Empire.

The Vicious Rain train continues to pick up speed as we barrel towards the release of the debut album and it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s going to be special. This latest single is another banger, featuring big harmonised highs and brutally heavy lows. Vicious Rain proving, once again, that writing passionate and relatable heavy music that has a ton of catchiness to it is their bread and butter. Check it out here.

Wind Rose – To Be a Dwarf

Dwarven power metal warriors Wind Rose have unleashed their second single, the epic ‘To Be a Dwarf’, taken from the upcoming album, Trollslayer, out 4th October 2024 via Napalm Records.

Wind Rose comment on ‘To Be a Dwarf’:

We chose ‘To Be a Dwarf’ as the second single off of Trollslayer because we wanted to take you deep into the incredible world of the dwarves once and for all. This song is an anthem that makes you feel like you belong to this great folk of fierce warriors, skilled blacksmiths and heavy drinkers. The song also comes with one of the best video clips we have ever made, and it will let you dig through your imagination and see with your own eyes what it is like to be a dwarf.

We’re all going on an adventure when we’re listening to Wind Rose music and this one is taking us deep into dark mines. Yes, the theme is dwarves, the vibe is adventurous, and Wind Rose ask only that you are in fine of voice and stout of heart. It’s a fun singalong that will, no doubt, go down well in the live environment. Wind Rose have found their niche and this album is only going to broaden their fanbase.