Single Slam: Lorna Shore, Autumn’s Grief, Spoiler, Celldweller, sunbleached, Kassogtha, As Sirens Fall, Seething Akira, Sugar Horse, Fantazmaz, The Plague, Candlemass, When Angels Came, Alda Sky and Bowling for Soup!

This week’s single slam features Lorna Shore, Autumn’s Grief, Spoiler, Celldweller, sunbleached, Kassogtha, As Sirens Fall, Seething Akira, Sugar Horse, Fantazmaz, The Plague, Candlemass, When Angels Came, Alda Sky and Bowling for Soup! You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Lorna Shore – Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear

Today marks the next chapter in the epic journey of Lorna Shore, leading up to the release of new album, Pain Remains (due to be unleashed October 14th via Century Media Records): “Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear”.

The band comments on “The Pain Trilogy”:

‘The Pain Trilogy’ is a three-part tale focusing on the stages of grief and vulnerability and exemplifying it through a love story. The first song, ‘Pain Remains I: Dancing like Flames’ begins with the main character becoming enamored by the person within his dreams. He decides to turn to this reality as a sense of purpose despite knowing that the closer he gets to his goal, the further it seems to drift away. This leads to the second song, ‘Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear’. This is the part where the person vanishes and the main character struggles to accept the pain. He as well wishes to disappear and seeks to throw it all away.

Lorna Shore supports suicide prevention and support. We encourage all to speak to their issues and spark conversations that help and mend us all. National suicide prevention hotline: 800-273-8255.

To say the second part of the pain trilogy has been hotly anticipated is to play down the brilliance of Pain Remains I: Dancing Like Flames. A track that we called one of the best singles we’d heard this year. A track that was brutally heavy but emotionally wrought too. How does Pain Remains II compare as the next stage of the story? It’s even darker this time, just as savage and just as tear-jerking. The sense of losing yourself to grief ever prevalent, the feeling of loss being too much to bear and the anger at such cruelty, dominating. There’s simply no stopping Lorna Shore at the moment. Check it out here.

Autumn’s Grief – The Sea of Apathy

Finnish metal band Autumn’s Grief has released a new single called ‘The Sea of Apathy’. The track is taken from the upcoming second studio album Dead by the Dawn which will be released via Inverse Records on 9th of December 2022.

Strong melodic gothic vibes, doomy touches and a post-style ring to the guitars, The Sea of Apathy is delightfully eerie. Yet, it hits a powerful high in the chorus. Autumn’s Grief take us on a melodic metal journey here and it has a lot of staying power. Check it out here.

Spoiler – Carousel

Spoiler return with their sixth single ‘Carousel’. A track that surrounding grief and loss, a tragic story portrayed from the view point of a mother who lost her young child.

Well, isn’t this a bit of a surprise but a seriously welcome one. Spoiler revealing a more melodic side to their sound. Yet, still delivering an anthemic and powerful blast of deathcore blended with nu-metal beats. It’s one of the strongest pieces of music the band has put out and shows an immense level of growth.

Celldweller – Blind Leading the Blind

Celldweller has dropped their new single ‘Blind Lead the Blind’ (album version), out now, from new album ‘Satellites’ out on 14th October on FiXT.

Blending heavy electronica with rock and metal blasts, Celldweller has the kind of crossover appeal that a lot of bands would kill for. Their new track, Blind Leading the Blind as likely to get the floor of an electro-club moving as it is to get a circle pit going. Catchy and energetic, but certainly not going to appeal to those who dislike intense electronica in their music. It’s certainly a unique sounding track. Check it out here.

sunbleached – Spinning Around

Brisbane alternative rock outfit sunbleached release moody new single ‘Spinning Around’. A track that explores the cycle of anxiety and the process of second-guessing other people’s motives.

Powerful lyrical content, punchy guitar riffs and strong percussion. This is a track with a ‘shoe-gaze’ edge but also fits nicely in the alt-metal genre. The melodies and heartfelt vocals making it feel lighter than it is. sunbleached do a good job of making you feel ‘spun around’, ensuring that it’s a track that will get multiple listens. Check it out here.

Kassogtha – Complacency

Swiss progressive death metallers Kassogtha have released their fifth single ‘Complacency’, accompanied by a video featuring live footage from their steamrolling recent gig with Triptykon. The track drops alongside details of their support tour of Swedish heavy metal troupe Avatar. ‘Complacency’ is the final glimpse of Kassogtha’s incredible debut LP, rEvolve, before it’s released on 11th November via Klang Machine Music.

Of ‘Complacency’, vocalist Stephany comments:

‘Complacency’ personifies depression and gives it a voice by modelling it onto an ugly, vicious monster. This is the point of no return in the rEvolve story: that moment where you choose to let everything go and fall into depression’s arms, definitively trapped in the cycle of complacency.

A blistering example of how Kassogtha’s bristling intensity and amazing technical prowess can translate into something unexpectedly rhythmic and daringly catchy. To a point, as there’s no ignoring just how intensely heavy and wildly progressive it can be. The peaks and valleys of this track are breath-taking.

As Sirens Fall – Heaven (Spat Us Back Out)

Emerging from the grit of Northern England, AS SIRENS FALL are back with their unique brand of genre-bending alternative rock in the form of their new single ‘Heaven (Spat Us Back Out)’. Accompanied with a beautifully captivating music video, the single will appear on the bands anticipated EP ‘Coming of (R)age’ which is set for release on the 4th Nov 2022.

Bloody hell, this is an emotional track. A really commanding piece of alt-rock that is deliciously catchy and delectably heartfelt. The vocals are stunning but don’t overpower the impressive instrumentation. As Sirens Fall deliver an exposed, soul-searching track that is nice and tight. No overstaying a welcome here. Stunning. Check it out here.

Seething Akira – Dioxide

Seething Akira have released the new single ‘Dioxide’, out now on FiXT. Their new album ‘Nozomi’ is out on the 11th November.

Pure electronica/crossover energy, Seething Akira have gone for a dance-floor anthem with this one and it certainly hits. Although, anyone else getting the 1996 Mortal Kombat movie theme vibes? No bad thing as that theme hits hard and so does this track. It’s going to get a lot of people moving! Check it out here.

Sugar Horse – Super Army Soldiers

The ever-mercurial, boundary-pushing UK rock quartet Sugar Horse have released their new single, ‘Super Army Soldiers’, taken from their thrilling new collaborative EP Waterloo Teeth. Featuring Adam Devonshire (IDLES) and Mike Vennart (Vennart / Biffy Clyro).

A defiantly melodic track, the post/gaze side of Sugar Horse is present on this one but it’s also combining poppier sounds with notable drone tendencies. The discombobulation is strong with this one but it certainly makes you feel. The vocal disparity, the unexpected guitar solo and the strong melodic disorder combines to create another unique Sugar Horse track.

Fantazmaz – New World’s Dirty Legacy

Visceral punk band Fantazmaz are back with a brand-new single called ‘New World’s Dirty Legacy. Released on the 23rd of September, 2022 and available now everywhere.

Angry and intense, Fantazmaz bring the punk fire, alongside elements of noise with this short and sharp jab to the brain. The frantic pace energises the mind, delivering the sound of rebellion and defiance. Check it out here.

The Plague – Not the Only One

The Plague have released their new single ‘Not The Only One’, taken from their new album ‘Hope For The F.U.T.U.R.E (2.0)’ which drops 1st Dec via FiXT.

Surprisingly grand sounding but also intensely anthemic, The Plague deliver an alt-metal/pop-punk twist with this new single. The highlight coming from the heartfelt chorus that really soars. It’s catchy and it’s memorable, everything you would want from this band. Check it out here.

Candlemass – Sweet Evil Sun

Legendary classic doom icons Candlemass recently announced the release of their new album, Sweet Evil Sun, out 18th November 2022 via Napalm Records and have now unveiled the title-track.

Stepping away from the ‘epic doom’ aspect of their sound, Candlemass deliver a peppier and focused track here. One that is still undeniably doomy, the main riff is killer, but feels more ‘radio-friendly’ than ever before. It would probably just be an ‘alright’ sounding track if it wasn’t for that riff and the really strong guitar solo. Both knock it up a notch.

When Angels Came – About You

South African / Dutch Rock Singer-Songwriter Jacques van der Merwe (performing under the name When Angels Came) is back with his commanding new single ‘About You’ (produced by Mark Beling).

Jacques shares that:

Sometimes we can blindly get caught up in ourselves, and selfishly leave loved ones and friends behind on the grind to get to the top. Then, when you get there, you realise you are alone, and the sacrifice was too big and not worth it. It’s pointless being there alone, and not having anyone to share it with. It is important to always maintain a healthy balance. Work, family, and friends must always be balanced, intertwined, and connected, to provide happiness and meaningful fulfilment. If you sacrifice your friends and family, you will only end up alone at the top, which is pointless and depressing. Use your time wisely, as it is not just about you!

A catchy beat, strong and smooth vocals, and one hell of a chorus, About You delivers a powerful message about not taking people for granted. Something that is conveyed well by the melody, bursts of rockier intensity and lyrical content. It’s a track that sticks in the mind long after the final notes have played out. Check it out here.

Alda Sky – Disintegration

Adelaide metalcore outfit Alda Sky return from a brief hiatus with a tight grasp on their sound and future with brand new single “Disintegration”. To prove they’re here to stay, the quintet accompany their new single with the announcement of forthcoming EP, ‘A World Divided’, which will be available to stream on Friday November 25th.

Hyper and heavy, Alda Sky come screaming out of the starting blocks with one hell of an intense track. The spitting and snarling from the vocals and instruments hits extremely hard. Yet, it’s the chorus that really lands as the melodies soar and the clean vocals sound immense. A really strong effort. Check it out here.

Bowling for Soup – Hello Anxiety

Anxiety is something so many people know all too well. Be it for work, school or home life, new or unfamiliar social situations or all of the above, anxiety works differently for every person. With their latest single, Texas’ favourite pop punkers Bowling For Soup have tackled a subject close to their hearts. With their frontman Jaret Reddick being an advocate for positive mental health following his own struggles in recent years, on Hello Anxiety Bowling For Soup have tackled a subject that will relate to music fans and people the world over.

Jaret Reddick says:

Hello Anxiety! Unfortunately, over the years, it’s become something I’ve said under my breath or out loud much, more than I’d like. I knew the premise of this song before Linus and I sat down to write it, but it was important to me that it didn’t turn out just like all the other songs about mental health. There comes a point in your life when you can just feel it coming, and you almost have to laugh. It isn’t funny by any means, but geeeez….how do I see it coming so often now. That’s what this song is!

A strong and important subject matter covered in their inimitable anthemic style. Bowling for Soup might be dealing with a serious issue but they make it fun and catchy. It’s what they do and here they really do deliver a foot-tapper and smile-inducing track. Sure to be one hell of a sing-along in the live environment, it’s always wonderful to see this band tackling real issues but making them feel light and fun.