Single Slam: Lacuna Coil, Shower Beers, The Fallen Prophets, Black Surf, HRTLSS, New Skeletal Faces, ALT BLK ERA, Arimea, Fangslinger, Turmion Kätilöt, Like Moth to Flames, Midnight Feature, and Soilwork!

Today’s single slam features Lacuna Coil, Shower Beers, The Fallen Prophets, Black Surf, HRTLSS, New Skeletal Faces, ALT BLK ERA, Arimea, Fangslinger, Turmion Kätilöt, Like Moth to Flames, Midnight Feature, and Soilwork. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Lacuna Coil – Oxygen

Italian metal titans Lacuna Coil announce their 10th studio album, Sleepless Empire, their first collection of new songs since 2019’s Black Anima, with their new single ‘Oxygen’.

Cristina Scabbia commented on the track and her experience filming the video:

‘Oxygen’ is a powerful exploration of emotional struggle and inner conflict. The lyrics convey a sense of drowning in a toxic environment, both literally (in the video) and metaphorically, where attempts at salvation, represented by “oxygen” are somehow futile. This song encapsulates the feeling of struggling to break free from what holds us down, when the journey is filled with difficulty. It’s a raw anthem of vulnerability, resilience, and the courage to face what seems insurmountable. Having to stay in the water for so many hours during the video shoot was cathartic for me, the realisation that the pleasant sensation of floating could in an instant become dangerous and deadly if I wasn’t careful was very fitting with the song’s theme.

Aging like a fine wine, Lacuna Coil are back and back with a bit of a banger. If this kind of heaviness, this kind of infectious melody, and this level of quality is what we can expect from the overall new album, we’re looking at one of the strongest Lacuna Coil releases ever. That’s how good this new single is. The chorus, in particular, is fabulous.

Shower Beers – Static City, USA

Fresh off of releasing their second EP ‘Miracle on 34th & 3rd’, NYC-based pop-punk band Shower Beers have released the dynamic single ‘Static City, USA’. A new sound for the band and a brief detour from their party anthems.

Says vocalist/guitarist Sean DeKay:

It’s a rally against the corporate slog. Plus, there’s a Midwest emo bridge where we pretend to be musicians.

Sure, it’s a bit different sonically, but it certainly retains the anthemic vibe that runs through this band like a bulbous vein. It just so happens to have an earnest style that leans towards alternative rock and emo. One of the catchiest modern examples of hearing a football style chant. Shower Beers continue their winning run. Check it out here.

The Fallen Prophets – Beneath the Veil of Flesh

South Africa’s death metal titans The Fallen Prophets are set to unleash their new EP ‘Primordial
Instinct’ on November 1st, 2024. The first single ‘Beneath the Veil of Flesh’ is out now, with the music video following on October 9th, providing a taste of the EP’s intricate fusion of styles.

If this is your first experience of The Fallen Prophets, the acoustic guitar intro of this new track might be something of a surprise when you’re expecting something more visceral. It’s odd, unexpected, and interesting, especially as the cacophony of noise that follows is laughably different. Here, The Fallen Prophets unleash hell via the guttural sound of groove-infused death metal and it goes really freaking hard. Exceptionally enjoyable, especially as there are a few more twists and turns along the way.

Black Surf – Get Up

Black Surf, the British punk, grungy, and alternative rock band have released their brand-new single, ‘Get Up’.

There’s a real loveliness to the Black Surf sound and there’s no doubt that they wanted to create something that touched listeners hearts, while also having an inherent infectiousness. The melodies in this track sound great, the more robust chorus is very catchy, and it holds the attention right to the very end. Check it out here.

HRTLSS – Good Intentions

Fast rising alternative rock outfit HRTLSS (pronounced Heartless) have declared that summer is officially over with their dark and moody new single, ‘Good Intentions’ – the follow up release to their debut ‘Blood Moon’ EP (released May 2023).

Speaking about the new single, HRTLSS says:

The concepts presented in Good Intentions centre around a rebellion against control and displaying behaviors that are out of character for the role you were forced to play. To break free, one must flip the narrative.

A big modern day alt-anthem that has elements of surrealism, is infused with pop-inspired aspects, and delivers anthemic energy throughout. HRTLSS consistently push the boundaries of alternative rock and metal, and this track is no different. It’s not going to be for everyone, but everyone it is for will love it. Check it out here.

New Skeletal Faces – Until the Night

After recently announcing their signing with Peaceville Records, California death-rockers New Skeletal Faces return now with a new single and details of their upcoming album, ‘Until the Night’.

The single, also titled ‘Until the Night’, is the first track from the band’s Peaceville debut and delves deep into the forgotten, dark underbelly of rock and roll.

The band says:

Until The Night is about the ritualistic deviancies partaken by the lost souls of our planet. It’s an anthem for the heathens that plague the night.

What a cool track this is. New Skeletal Faces delivering a delightful slice of groovy death rock that has a gleeful punk infusion and twists the gothic rock knife in deeply. A track to make you move, courtesy of the fiends that are New Skeletal Faces. As a harbinger of things to come, this is a mighty fine one.

ALT BLK ERA – Come on Outside

Genre defying sisters ALT BLK ERA have unveiled their anthemic new single ‘Come on Outside’, the third single taken from their upcoming debut album ‘Rave Immortal’, set for release on 24th January via Earache Records.

This emotive rock song is about the care, love and support that Nyrobi received from her younger sister Chaya, which gave her the strength to battle through the emotional and chronic physical pain that she felt.

Nyrobi comments:

We want ‘Come on Outside’ to be a source of comfort and strength for anyone who feels hurt, lost or alone. We want our listeners to feel that they have a sister in us, who is offering them the exact same warmth, love and gentle encouragement that I got from Chaya, when I was at my most vulnerable.

Oozing emotion, in that unique ALT BLK ERA way, this new single certainly comes from the heart and the group do a fantastic job of making something so personal also so relatable. Straight from the old-school of alt-rock styles, even the video has a ‘retro’ vibe and that just makes the song even more likable. Check it out here.

Arimea – Deliver Me

Oxford’s fast-rising nu-metal outfit Arimea have announced their forthcoming debut EP ‘Orchid Street’, due for release on Thursday 28th November 2024. To coincide with the announcement of their debut EP, Arimea have also shared a brand-new single from the record titled, ‘Deliver Me’.

On new single, ‘Deliver Me’, vocalist Whitney Cooper mentions:

Deliver Me is a fun song that glamorises exorcisms and the unspoken role of a deliverance minister. After reading the book ‘Deliverance’ by Jason Bray, I was engulfed into a world that I thought was only real in movies. The book had such a hold on me, I have always been a believer in the supernatural from a very young age. Deliver Me takes aspects of the book and twists them into a hollywood-esque exorcism, a picturesque scene bursting with horror and power. This is one of my favourite tracks on the EP.

A track with a wickedly dark vibe and vein of tension running through it, Arimea certainly offer up something memorably catchy with this new track. Even if the nu-vibes are little too retro in places. That’s not to suggest that Arimea are a bad nu-metal band, they’re certainly one of the more talented modern groups and this track is a fine showcase of their abilities. Check it out here.

Fangslinger – The Lost Souls Saloon

Hammer Horror meets Spaghetti Western in the form the new hard rocking band, Fangslinger. Their debut single ‘The Lost Souls Saloon’ is out now. Combining elements of blues-rock, country and heavy metal, this song begins to tell the story of three immortal outlaws from the Old West on the hunt for souls.

Keep an eye on Fangslinger, this debut single is a grand showcase of their groovy power, but there’s also sense that we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Especially as far as story-telling and world-building goes. That this kind of thick hard rock has a horror edge is very cool, and really adds a unique flavour to the band and the sound of this track.

Turmion Kätilöt – Pulssi

Finnish industrial metal group Turmion Kätilöt have released their second single ‘Pulssi’ featuring Kasperi Heikkinen from Beast in Black – another glimpse of their new album Reset (25th October, Nuclear Blast Records). The single coincides with the publication of the band’s first autobiography En tahdo unohtaa koskaan (‘I never want to forget’).

MC Raaka Pee comments about ‘Pulssi’:

You know you’re living when you feel your pulse up to your gums. The song arrangement and lyrics were born in one evening without any pre-planning or notes. That night the moon burned my face. This time, the song was kept really simple. I wanted to include a riff that I would have been able to play as a 14 year old. Sort of like ‘Smoke On The Water’ for many youngsters at the time when they first tried playing the guitar. For me that was the 90s and you can hear that kind of middle school riffing in Pulssi. Works damn well I think! Give it a try yourself!

Banging. It’s as simple as that, but let’s be honest, that’s what we all expect and once again, they deliver. It’s silly, it’s fun, it’s energised, and it’s stupidly catchy. Especially when you throw in a guest like Kasperi Heikkinen from Beast in Black. Try as you might, you’ll be singing this one long into the night after you hear it. Check it out here.

Like Moth to Flames – Soul Exchange

US metalcore giants Like Moths to Flames have shared the visualiser for the new standalone track ‘Soul Exchange’. A moody, dark track that was written during the sessions for the last album.

Vocliast Chris Roetter states:

‘Soul Exchange’ is a weird one. It kind of feels like the one that got away. When we were putting together the record, it was hard to find a place for it. The song is an encapsulation of my experience and relationship with my career. The struggles of writing and feeling like it hits no one. The feeling of falling on deaf ears, being unheard.

It’s odd that this was left off the album as it certainly does feel like part of that picture, and it just so happens to be a bit of a beast too. One that does a great job of combining melody and metal, in that familiar but enjoyably metalcore way. The star of the show are the drums though. If you love this band, you’re not going to be left disappointed with this one.

Midnight Feature – From the Grave

Midnight Feature is a horror punk/gothic rock band that hails from the Black Country’s darkest depths. Recently signed to the fast-becoming iconic home of horror We Are Horror Records the band is inspired by late-night creature features and gothic tales of old. Their debut single ‘From The Grave’ is not only an ode to the Hammer Horror films they grew up with, but the spark of creative freedom this musical project has given them.

Do you like it spooky? Of course, you do and Midnight Feature have the old school horror punk sound to get the dead up and dancing. However, there’s a really interesting gothic vein running through this track that gives it an unexpected freshness. It’s a raw listen, but catchy as hell, none the less. Get your dancing shoes on and join the ghouls for a night like no other when this band’s music is playing. Check it out here.

Soilwork – Spirit of No Return

Swedish melodic death metal legends Soilwork are back with a brand new single, ‘Spirit of No Return,’ along with a powerful and visually striking music video. The track marks a significant milestone in the band’s evolution, with long-time live guitarist Simon Johansson recently officially joining the ranks of the band.

Frontman Björn “Speed” Strid comments on the song:

‘Spirit Of No Return’ is a fierce reminder of the past, but also an introduction of the new SOILWORK era, where we’ve taken the thrashier early days and dressed it in a new heavier suit. Lyrics are dealing with the urge of belonging and fitting in – and how it in the end can be disastrous as you abandon your true self.

The kings of melodic death metal are back and delivering as they always do, even if this new track comes with a certain amount of sadness seeing as it’s the first music from Soilwork since David Andersson’s passing. Soilwork honour him and his work with a classic blast of melody and metal as only they are capable of delivering. It’s a fast paced head banger with some epic harmonies and clean singing. What more do you need to know?