Single Slam: Heriot, Heavensgate, Scarlet Rebels, Kilonova, Cursive, Turin, Giant Walker, Fahran, Rare Words, Wraith, Speaking with Spirits, Alleviate, Windwaker, Blunt Force Trauma, and HammerFall!

Today’s single slam features Heriot, Heavensgate, Scarlet Rebels, Kilonova, Cursive, Turin, Giant Walker, Fahran, Rare Words, Wraith, Speaking with Spirits, Alleviate, Windwaker, Blunt Force Trauma, and HammerFall. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Heriot – Foul Void

The UK’s most exciting new heavy band, Heriot, are proud to announce their long-awaited debut album. ‘Devoured by the Mouth of Hell’ will be released 27th September via Century Media. Accompanying the album news, they have also released their new single ‘Foul Void’.

The band comment:

‘Foul Void’ was one of the last tracks written for our debut album, Devoured by the Mouth of Hell. Sonically influenced by ’90s and early 00’s metalcore, the song delves into the inner struggle of an individual facing uncertainties about their faith.

Let’s f**king go, Heriot. Their time is now, and the buzz around this new release suggests plenty of people are super-stoked for its release. The first taste? It’s f**king heavy and frighteningly filthy. A track that can be summed up as not being for the ‘faint-hearted’. It’s the confirmation needed that Heriot aren’t changing to be more accessible as their name grows. They’re still an intensely nasty bunch and this single has just made the desire for the full album even stronger.

Heavensgate – Ratking

Melbourne metal outfit Heavensgate have released the new single ‘Ratking’ via Greyscale Records in partnership with 1126 Records. ‘Ratking’ is described by the band as “a personal love letter”, as they encourage listeners to find their own journey with it.

F**k. That’s all that really needs to be said here. Especially if you dig into the lyrics. Make up your own mind, but this is Heavensgate spewing absolute venom and most will be all in on it. It certainly does help that they’re going really hard here and have breakdowns that simply slay.

Separate art from artist. With a head cut off. Discarded. Rot. This time I’ll bury you. Fuck you.

Preach, Heavensgate. Check it out here.

Scarlet Rebels – Divide and Conquer

Striking whilst the general election campaigning is hot, Welsh rock firebrands Scarlet Rebels release their new anti-Conservative single ‘Divide and Conquer’. Using their stance as a UK Top 10 band to fight for what they believe is the UK’s chance at a more responsible government, “Divide and Conquer” (written by frontman Wayne Doyle and lead guitarist Chris Jones) underlines the Conservative government’s “misleading” of the UK into market crashes and the doubling of NHS waiting times.

Doyle, the band’s lyricist, comments:

What I’ve seen from the Tory Party is 14 years of abject leadership, constantly creating divisions, shifting blame, senior figures feathering their own nests and using diversion tactics and propaganda to try and take people’s eyes off of what is actually going on.

After 14 years in power, with everything much worse than it was before, with the highest office position in the country having been passed around like a shitty stick between politicians and so-called leaders that we didn’t elect… I wanted to have my say. We deserve better.

You have got to love a band that nails its colours to their mast, and with this scathing anti-Tory song, that is what Scarlet Rebels are doing here. Here’s the thing, even if you’re the most ardent Tory-lover in the world, you’ll find it hard to not move and groove to this infectious rock number. Scarlet Rebels know how to make catchy rock hits, and this is another great one. Check it out here.

Kilonova – Grieve for the Living

Geordie alt-thrashers Kilonova are back with a brand-new single called ‘Grieve for the Living’.

Bassist Joe Bambrick remarks:

Grieve for the Living is a new space for us, we’re always trying to push the scope of what the Kilonova sound is. It’s bleaker and darker than we’ve gone before, but it’s still uplifting in a way. It feels like a new facet to our music but it still feels 100% Kilonova. We can’t wait for people to hear it.

It’s great to have new music from a band that has been doing really well in recent times, but it’s even greater to hear them expanding. This new single is a bit different, more alternative and moody, but with that familiar heavy fire that fans have come to love. It’s not a completely new direction for the band, rather it’s them finding new and interesting ways to grow. The more you hear it, the more it hits. This has all the hallmarks of being one of the fanbases longtime favourites going forward.

Cursive – Up and Away

Freshly signed to Run for Cover Records, Cursive have announced their new album ‘Devourer’ will be released on September 13, 2024. As daring as ever, their 10th album ‘Devourer’ is full of intense and incisive songs, proving exactly why Cursive have been so influential and enduring–and why they remain so vital today. The album’s lead single ‘Up and Away’ is also out now alongside a video directed by Brea Grant (12 Hour Shift, Torn Hearts) and starring Jonah Ray.

Explains singer/guitarist Tim Kasher:

‘Up And Away’ is an unusual pop song, it kind of slinks about musically. I had the ‘up, up, up, up, up, up and away’ section of lyrics in my head from its inception but hadn’t planned on using something so bright, cheery and arguably trite…until it occurred to me that what I was really singing about was something floating away from me, something I was losing, not my personal elevation into some stratosphere. So, it stuck. The video is the first in a series of horror-esque stories we’ve been planning for some time now, a collection of videos created by genre directors. Brea Grant conceived this story of a down-on-his-luck loafer who gets consumed by his own depression, swallowed into some surreal underworld of blanket forts where Cursive seems to be wallowing as well.

Poppy and rocky, the overriding thought that comes from listening to this track is one that draws comparisons to the likes of Weezer. It’s got a similar simplicity, peppiness, and catchiness. Nothing too far out of their usual wheelhouse, but fresh enough to turn heads. Mind you, this is Cursive and they’ve been doing this a while, so plenty of heads are already turned in their direction. Check it out here.

Turin – Envy

‘Envy’ is the latest single from UK heavyweights of misery, the intense & visceral Turin (formerly This Is Turin). The current bruiser comes by way of the band’s upcoming album ‘The Unforgiving Reality in Nothing’, scheduled for release via MNRK Heavy on 12th July.

Turin says:

The track is about the dangers of comparing yourself to others. Seeing the projected perfect lives of others and struggling to find this equilibrium in your own life.

One of the most underrated bands in the UK scene for too long, Turin are finally starting to get more attention and deservedly so. Especially when they’re dropping such heavyweight bangers as this new single. It’s savagely heavy and miserable as hell, but wonderfully anthemic. This new album is going to kick ass. Check it out here.

Giant Walker – Halcion

Newcastle’s eclectic rock outfit Giant Walker are back to deliver a masterclass in heaviness and musicianship. Their sophomore LP ‘Silhouettes’ is out through Church Road Records on the 20th of September. To celebrate the announcement, they have also released the new single, ‘Halcion’.

Exciting times! Not only because we have a new Giant Walker album on the horizon, but because they’ve dropped another banger track. One that has a thick and gloppy heaviness, has a moody vein running through it, and allows the vocals to shine. The singing, in particular the crooning moments, adds buoyancy. All while the rest of the instruments add to weight to keep things grounded.

Fahran – Godless

Nottingham’s rock-metal band Fahran (pronounced Fa-Ren) is set to release their eagerly anticipated new album, ‘The Hope That Killed Me’, on October 4, 2024. Following the recent success of their hard rock single ‘Hate Me’, they now present a metal-influenced follow-up titled ‘Godless’.

Great stuff from Fahran, delivering something with some metal meat to the bones, but in their inimitable rocky anthemic style. It’s got all the hallmarks of an arena-ready band, easy to head-bang and move the body to. It’s great to hear them progressing and finding a level of accessibility that covers a lot of ground. It can only benefit them in the long run. Check it out here upon release.

Rare Words – Antidote

Brisbane alternative rock quartet Rare Words channel energy and emotion into their latest arena-ready hard hitter, Antidote, out now. A personal release for vocalist Joel Reardon, Antidote tackles the confusing and tumultuous experience of living with ADHD before diagnosis. The single acts as an open letter to the condition itself, and reflects on the struggles before understanding there was an answer to the symptoms.

Says Reardon:

My diagnosis answered a huge amount of questions I have almost always had about myself. The song talks about how trapped and lost I felt – always crying out for an ‘antidote’ to feel more normal. It’s been a super cathartic experience reflecting back and seeing how much change I’ve been able to make within myself over the last 12 months of understanding and treating ADHD.

An open and honest track with strong lyrical content, this new single is certainly one that many will be able to relate to. If you’re not one of those people, you can surely enjoy the dramatic melody, powerful chorus, and bursts of moody intensity. A solid track that nails the tone it is going for. Check it out here.

Wraith – Merchant of Death

Indiana’s Wraith has shared a new single, ‘Merchant of Death’, from their forthcoming album, ‘Fueled by Fear’, which is due to be released via Prosthetic Records on June 28th.

Speaking on the single, Wraith comments:

Clocking in at 2 minutes and 8 seconds, Merchant of Death doesn’t waste any time. This is one of the fastest songs the band has ever written. Both lyrics and music attack with an intensity not yet displayed on our previous albums.

A short and sharp battering from Wraith. This new single is extremely mean sounding, showcasing thrashiness and deathiness. It kind of sounds a bit like early-Sepultura, but with a much smoother and richer style. A guaranteed head-banger.

Speaking with Spirits – Always Pretending

Speaking with Spirits, a new modern metalcore band formed of vocalist Rose Lalique (former Amaterasu bassist), guitarist and vocalist Jamie Brace (former Amaterasu guitarist and vocalist), and drummer Alan Bryant-Lowe (drummer for War Torn Wings), have released their second single, ‘Always Pretending’. This follows on from their debut single, ‘Prison of Silence’.

After a very strong debut single, now it’s time to really start taking this band seriously as this second song shows a more developed metal palette. One that shows that they may not be the easiest band to place in one specific genre as this track has strong alternative vibes and uses melody to create a powerful soundscape. All while having this underlying power. The switch in vocals, backed up strong cinematic sounds and heavier instrumentation is very cool. Check it out here.

Alleviate – Alive

Following the phenomenal success of their previous singles, which cumulatively amassed over 2.5 million plays on Spotify, metalcore supergroup Alleviate have announced their debut album DMNS, due for release on 23rd August via Arising Empire. The band have also released a video for their new single ‘Alive’.

Bigger and bigger they get, and while some of that success can be attributed to the names within in the band, the reality is that few would care if the music was a bit rubbish. It’s not, and once again, they drop a metalcore banger that has plenty of meaty heaviness and a seriously anthemic chorus. The contrast in the vocals is impressive, especially as the harsher side is really scathing sounding. Check it out here.

Windwaker – Get Out

Melbourne metalcore outfit Windwaker have dropped the new single ‘Get Out’, off their new album ‘Hyperviolence’, which arrives July 12th via Cooking Vinyl Australia & Fearless Records.

Says the band:

‘Get Out’ is about wanting someone (or something) out of your life and conscious thought. It explores the discomfort of something negative returning to the present, and the consequences of staying in a relationship for longer than you should.

One of the more exciting modern metalcore acts, Windwaker continue their upward trajectory with an infectious ditty. One that really comes to life the first time the heaviness hits. The harsh vocals and faster instrumentation sounds great, but let’s not ignore the very strong chorus either. Good stuff from a band on the rise.

Blunt Force Karma – Night Terror / Fate

Blunt Force Karma have released the double single ‘Night Terror / Fate’, the follow up to their debut single, ‘Hellfire’.

Two big efforts from a band that has a lot to get excited about. Let’s start with Night Terror as it’s the more elaborate of the two. Featuring thrashy undertones, groove energy, and an alternative metal vibe, warped by a modern approach to heaviness. It goes hard, and the enjoyment of it is capped off by a killer chorus. Check it out here.

How about Fate though? It’s another banger that goes faster and has a more intense focus. Different to Night Terror, but still suitably heavy and groovy. It’s hard to say which is better, but Night Terror might just have it because of its chorus. Check it out here.

HammerFall – The End Justifies

Heavy metal titans HammerFall are thrilled to announce the release of their electrifying new single ‘The End Justifies’. This classic HammerFall anthem is the second single from their highly-anticipated upcoming album, ‘Avenge the Fallen’, set to be released on 9th August through Nuclear Blast Records.

New HammerFall music always brings a warm and fuzzy feeling, as even when they’re not at their best, they tend to deliver something memorable. This new single has some throwback elements, but still showcases a band moving forward and trying to better themselves. It’s a song full of HammerFall greatness, and of course, is mightily epic too.