Single Slam: Tribe of Ghosts, CherryDead, Sugar Horse, Within Reach, Resolve, Massacre, Tellers Scribe, Lowen, Krooked Tongue, UNI/VS, Swamp Coffin, Dark Bloom, Fuming Mouth, Delain, Weathers, Coma Hole, and Hidden Mothers!

Today’s single slam features Tribe of Ghosts, CherryDead, Sugar Horse, Within Reach, Resolve, Massacre, Tellers Scribe, Lowen, Krooked Tongue, UNI/VS, Swamp Coffin, Dark Bloom, Fuming Mouth, Delain, Weathers, Coma Hole, and Hidden Mothers. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Tribe of Ghosts – Desolation Will Be Their Only Reward

Tribe Of Ghosts have released their new single and chaotic music video ‘Desolation Will Be Their Only Reward’. The first single from their upcoming debut album ‘City’ to be released on October 14^th, 2024.

Speaking on the single, guitarist and vocalist Adam Sedgwick says:

Desolation Will Be Their Only Reward was the last song to be written for CITY, and we wanted to create a firm statement on where the band is now and where we wanted to be going as we further explored our identity. In the story of CITY it represents the build up of pain, trauma and abuse from the ruling classes throughout the story and how all of their actions will never give them what they want when it all comes crashing down.

One of the hottest bands in the UK right now, Tribe of Ghosts turn heads everywhere they go. Building up a stellar reputation as a band both on record and live, it’s finally time to hear their debut full-length album and what a beast they have unleashed to introduce it. It’s stimulating, it’s dangerous, it’s dark, and it’s forceful. The perfect showcase of how creative their industrial metallised sound can be and how well they marry their contrasting elements. It’s short, but that ending might be some of the heaviest music they’ve put out there so far. If Tribe of Ghosts carry on this way, they’re going to start giving people whiplash.

CherryDead – Cynthia

Prepare to meet ‘Cynthia’, the fiery embodiment of strength and rebellion, brought to life by one of Birmingham’s most exciting new metal acts. Hailing from the heart of the UK’s heavy music scene, the all-female four-piece CherryDead is proud to release their debut single, ‘Cynthia.’ Formed in May 2023, the band has already made waves locally and is now ready to step into the spotlight with a sound that fans of My Chemical Romance, Flyleaf, and Deftones will instantly connect with.

Vocalist Emily Drummond says:

‘Cynthia’ tells the story of a character who personifies the unrelenting female rage and resilience that lives within us all. She is the embodiment of fire, revenge, and rebellion.

Welcome to the party, CherryDead. We’re glad to have you here and based off this roaring banger, you’re going to fit right in. Cynthia is angry, Cynthia is brimming with passion, and Cynthia has had enough of being told to keep quiet. The simmering resentment growing in intensity until it explodes in heavy, anthemic fashion. This is awesome stuff. Check it out here.

Sugar Horse – Spit Beach

Bristol-based sludge metal experimentalists Sugar Horse have shared the single ‘Spit Beach’ ahead of their much anticipated second full-length album, ‘The Grand Scheme of Things’, due to be released by Berlin’s Pelagic Records on 4th October, 2024.

Says singer/guitarist Ashley Tubb about ‘Spit Beach’:

This song is almost meant to be a pessimist’s battle cry. When I sing it, I feel like I’m channelling him in a way… Even though he would’ve probably just thought it was a horrible row.

Does anyone need anymore convincing that The Grand Scheme of Things is going to be Sugar Horse’s magnum opus? Or should that be their latest magnum opus? If, by some miracle, you’re still in need of something more then you might be a lost cause, or maybe Spit Beach is what you need. A track with a strong level of melodic dissonance to it, but also a track with some of their most egregious flair-ups of heaviness. It’s another top shelf banger and all the proof needed that this full album is going to mightily special. Check it out here.

Within Reach – Armageddon

Within Reach may be teenagers, but they mean serious business. Packed with talent and licks that would impress bands with members twice their age, the London/Essex metal quintet are here to make a serious impression in the second half of 2024. Their new single, ‘Armageddon’, is a brutal, yet excellent introduction to showcase exactly what these young men are capable of.

Says Within Reach guitarist and clean vocalist Bailey Dopson:

Before I get into the actual meaning behind the song for some of us when we wrote it, I will always say to anyone to look at any lyrics from any of our songs and take something from it they can relate to something that’s personally happened to them so that each of our songs mean different things to different people which is what I think makes music so powerful.

The major theme behind the song is about someone important in your life that you know isn’t good for you but you still have attachment to them, so the song tells the story of someone trying to break that cycle. The chorus lyrics talk about how you might have so many thoughts and pent up emotion about a certain situation or person but when it gets to that moment, when you are face to face with that person and you have to opportunity to say what your mind has been racing over, your mind goes blank and you feel kind of numb in the moment because you’ve thought about it so long.

As well as this, the whole ideology of “dancing with the stray ghost of a person that I used to know” describes still dealing with past traumas that may create struggles you face in the present time because of someone in your past.

Age means f**k all when it comes to delivering addictive levels of modern heavy metal layered with groove and melody. It draws from the ‘core’ genres, but also has alternative rock elements, and a daring touch of nu-metal here and there. While this combination might not be wholly original, few bands are delivering in quite the convincing way that Within Reach are here.

Resolve – Molotov

French metalcore quartet, Resolve, who released their critically acclaimed sophomore album ‘Human’ in September 2023, have today announced the forthcoming ‘Human’ deluxe edition, due for release on Friday 25th October 2024 via Arising Empire. Building upon a world shaped by the original version, the deluxe will also include brand-new unheard music and ‘The Fire, The Aftermath, The Everlasting’ live performance. To mark the announcement, the band have unveiled a brand-new single titled ‘Molotov’ – their first offering of new music since the ‘Human’ album was released.

As if anyone needs an excuse to return to Human, but if it’s been a while since you spun the banging record, Resolve has a ton of reasons to encourage you to hit play again and one of them is this punchy and passionate new song. Featuring all the anthemic glory of this band still at the heights of their creative powers, fast and heavy, but a singalong through and through too. It alone is a massive selling point for this deluxe edition of Human. Check it out here.

Massacre – The Colour Out of Space

Fresh off a summer festival run, American death metal legends Massacre, spearheaded by growl forefather Kam Lee, have announced details of their long-awaited fifth studio album, ‘Necrolution’, set for release on November 8th via Agonia Records. The album’s first single, ‘The Colour Out of Space’, is out now.

An old school slab of violent and gory death metal, nothing more and nothing less. If you like it fast, ugly, and heavy, then you’re going to get what you want here. Massacre could do this sort of music in their sleep and still deliver a banger, which this new single certainly is. Slap a gurn on and get the neck muscles well and truly warmed up. Check it out here.

Tellers Scribe – Bella

Fast emerging UK riff merchants Tellers Scribe have unleashed their new single and video, ‘Bella’, out now. The five-piece draw from the world of doom, heavy metal, theatrical rock and gothic metal, expressing Dickensian and Victoriana metal that transports the listener through tales of history, lore, and legend.

A creative force with a ton of talent in their ranks, Tellers Scribe enter the heavy fray with an intriguing soundscape that combines a number of different elements. Most of which works well together, such as the melodic metal intensity and soaring cinematic style vocals. However, this track becomes really notable when they let the side of their personalities that likes to showcase flair go a bit wild. That’s when things get really good.

Lowen – Waging War Against God

‘Waging War Against God’ is the third single from Lowen’s forthcoming LP ‘Do Not Go to War with The Demons of Mazandaran’. Out through Church Road Records on the 4th of October.

It’s beginning to really look like Lowen have reached a completely new level on this album and this new track might be the pinnacle of what they’ve been able to accomplish with this upcoming album. It’s stunning, so intensely big sounding, deeply mystical and atmospheric, and with a midpoint pattern switch up that is heavy beyond belief. This is a stupidly good track from Lowen, but haven’t they all been so far? Check it out here.

Krooked Tongue – Nothing Ever Grows

Bristol rock trio Krooked Tongue return with their highly-anticipated new single ‘Nothing Ever Grows’ on September 6th 2024.

Describing the single, vocalist and lyricist Oli Rainsford states:

‘Nothing Ever Grows’ is a right moody geezer of a song. It was one of those tunes that transpired really quickly and it just captured the essence of the mood perfectly. I think it stems from frustration with yourself when you can’t finish that idea, or that lyric. It’s an ode to the tortured artist. It’s a splash of cold water, a slap across the face followed by a shot of whiskey. A defibrillating wake up call to say ‘Oi, if you don’t get yourself in a better headspace, nothing good or prosperous can come out of it’. Hence ‘Nothing Ever Grows’. And I think that relates to every aspect of life, not just to creativity.

Krooked Tongues never disappoint and with this new single they, once again, deliver something that will make you move even though it has a thicker and moodier instrumental sound. That just ends up giving the catchiness an extra edge, like it could explode into something quite heavy at any stage, but instead of that, we get a rocking chorus that worms its way into the brain matter. Check it out here.

UNI/VS – A Chosen Death

Brisbane metalcore outfit UNI/VS offer up their latest single ‘A Chosen Death’ and accompany the news with the announcement of their ‘A Chosen Death Australian Tour’ that will run across the East Coast through October and November.

Tells the band:

We wanted to pose the question ‘Can we really trust the narrative of our elected leaders or that of whomever is pulling their strings?’ We hope to invite critical thought and observation as well as hope that if we all speak our truth things may get better.

The Aussie metalcore scene continues to prove itself to be one of the strongest ‘core’ scenes on the planet as UNI/VS drop another raucous banger. One that hits all the highs of the sound, none of the lows, and has moments of UNI/VS flair that make it stand out from the pack. The chorus is great, but so is everything around it too.

Swamp Coffin – This Was Always Going to End in War

On 29th September 2021, the day before the launch of debut full-length ‘Noose Almighty’, Swamp Coffin bass player Martyn White attempted to take his own life. Following his treatment and recovery, shortly before the album’s release in November that year, Martyn’s father and vocalist/guitarist Jon Rhodes’ mother-in-law both passed away within hours of each other.

This is the backdrop to which Swamp Coffin started to write their heaviest, most powerful songs yet. Now the band are back with their crushing new album, ‘Drowning Glory’, out on September 27^th, 2024, via APF Records. The writing process was triggered by one conversation – “this band is f*cking cursed”.

On latest single ’This Was Always Going to End in War’, Jon comments:

It doesn’t feel like anything we’ve ever done before. Simple as that. It has the relentless nastiness and bile soaked words you’d expect from us but squeezed in to a hate-filled package less than four minutes long with some hardcore swagger thrown in for good measure. All the double kick, a bass tone that could melt teeth and lyrics I can’t wait to be spat back at us. It’s gloriously vicious.

My only goal when writing TWAGTEW was that I didn’t want anybody to have even the slightest chance to catch their breath, whether it’s the audience or us on stage. Playing it live recently has confirmed it’s vocally, mentally and physically draining to perform but it’s been incredibly rewarding seeing crowds stagediving and generally kicking the shit out of each other to it. It feels like the perfect soundtrack to a busted lip.

Just when you thought Swamp Coffin couldn’t sound any more savage, deliver any more encouragement to be violent, and brutalise the senses to the point of pain, they arrive with this f**ked up beast of a track. Which to most ears probably sounds like hell, but to everyone else, it’s heaven and Swamp Coffin are pros at making this kind of senseless intensity so freaking lovable. This album is going to wreck bodies, provided most have recovered from the injuries dished out by this monster of a track. Check it out here.

Dark Bloom – Blur

Expanding on the triumph of their recent explosive singles, ‘Grace’ (featured twice on BBC Radio One’s Introducing Rock with Alyx Holcombe) and ‘In the Haze’ (premiered on BBC East Midlands), Dark Bloom mesmerises listeners once again with the launch of their colossal new single ‘Blur’.

Ignore the first six seconds of this track (that synthesised voice is grating) and you’ll be blessed by the sound of a big alternative metal anthem. One with clever touches of harmony, an easy to enjoy chorus, experimentation with effects, and plenty of fiery expulsions of heaviness. It’s a really strong listen that showcases creativity, especially as it starts to sound more unhinged in the latter half. Check it out here.

Fuming Mouth – Metal on Metal

The revered New England death metal band Fuming Mouth return with their new single, ‘Metal on Metal’, out now via Nuclear Blast.

Describing the single, vocalist/guitarist Mark Whelan says:

Equally parts death metal and hardcore. Get to head banging and get to moshing.

Death metal that you can two-step or head bang too. Bringing the best (and worst) of both scenes together for a violent party who are in equal admiration for the viciousness of Fuming Mouth. It’s a great track, and the combustion works brilliantly with both aspects coming from an old-school slant.

Delain – Dance with the Devil

Dutch metal maestros Delain are set to captivate fans with their upcoming EP, ‘Dance With The Devil’, due for release on November 8, 2024 via Napalm Records. The release features a thrilling collection of two brand new tracks, two newly-presented favourites, nine electrifying live performances, and two instrumental bonus tracks. The first of the two new tracks, ‘Dance with the Devil’, is out now.

Says founding member and band master mind Martijn Westerholt:

We’re really excited and eager to share this new DELAIN song with the world. It captures the recognisable and signature sound of DELAIN but with a fresh and modern touch. We’re thrilled to have brand new material ready to be released! In addition to the new songs, it was fantastic to have captured some magical live moments of our European tour earlier this year as live tracks for the EP. We’re definitely very excited for this release and are really looking forward to bringing the new music to the stage!

The new era of Delain continues to march forward with focus and drive, and while important things about the band are new, the familiar symphonic and cinematic metal sound that Delain is known for is well and truly in place. It’s a very catchy tune with a clean sheen over everything, which doesn’t quite fit the brief explosion of heavy instruments and vocals, but does fit the big keyboard melodies and wonderous clean vocals. Check it out here.

Weathers – Wasn’t Gonna Go Out

Southern Californian alt-pop trio Weathers have released their new single ‘Wasn’t Gonna Go Out’, streaming now via Sumerian Records.

Of the latest single, singer/guitarist Cameron Boyer asserts:

‘Wasn’t Gonna Go Out’ is about reclaiming what you’ve lost after a breakup. When someone goes through a breakup, they tend to lose a lot of normal things in their life, like the places they like to go to eat. They feel like they can’t go eat there anymore. You lose the bar that you met at, so ‘Wasn’t Gonna Go Out’ is saying, ‘No, I’m gonna retake all those things back and take back what’s mine.” And one of those things includes your heart, too. It’s supposed to be an empowering song about not letting someone else ruin the things that were yours, too.

The most positive thing that can be said about this track is that it will find an audience, and a wide one at that, but it’s going to garner as many haters along the way too. Why? Simply because it is such an easy track to dislike. Not because any aspect of Weathers is performing badly or that it sounds terrible, but because it’s just so… meh. It’s the word that comes to mind, but bland and uninspired are another two that sum this track up. It’s alternative rock with a heavy pop edge doing nothing fresh or interesting. Check it out here.

Coma Hole – Nevermind

Psychedelic doom duo Coma Hole has unveiled their latest single, ‘Nevermind’, from their highly anticipated upcoming album, ‘Hand of Severance’, set for release on November 1st, 2024.

A piece of music that will set your teeth on edge, make your brain rattle around your skull, and shake the soul out of your body… temporarily. It’s the fuzzy psych edge the track has, put up against an infectious type of doom nastiness, that creates this unique and likable environment. This is a kick ass track. Check it out here.

Hidden Mothers – Still Sickness

The progressive post-hardcore band from Sheffield, UK, Hidden Mothers will release their long-awaited debut album ‘Erosion / Avulsion’ on November 29th, 2024, via Church Road Records. ‘Still Sickness’, the second single from the upcoming album has now been released.

Excited yet? Of course you are, you and so many others were chomping at the bit even before we got the fantastic first single and now, we have the second and it’s just as special. Beginning with light and melancholic melody, the robust drum beat keeps the focus on a peppy rhythm as the guitars threaten to wander off into the ether. After a couple of minutes of this, things switch and do so in such a startling, but lovable way. It’s Hidden Mothers getting more intense, more ethereal, and looser. Does that make sense? It hopefully will once you hear this stunning track.