Single Slam: Nickelback, Fear of Falling, Godeater, Box Clone, Cabal, Tarah Who?, Fit for A King, We’re Wolves, The Offering, Wednesday 13, Armed for Apocalypse and Lamb of God!

This week’s single slam features Nickelback, Fear of Falling, Godeater, Box Clone, Cabal, Tarah Who?, Fit for A King, We’re Wolves, The Offering, Wednesday 13, Armed for Apocalypse and Lamb of God. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Nickelback – San Quentin

Diamond-certified, multi-platinum selling Canadian rock band Nickelback have officially announced their long-awaited new album Get Rollin’, set for release on November 18th via BMG. Led by brand new single, San Quentin.

The single, ‘San Quentin’ was inspired after frontman Chad Kroeger met a real-life warden from the notorious high security California prison. The song follows the story as he plots his clever escape.

Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, Nickelback’s success speaks for itself and based off this rocking tune, that’s not going to change anytime soon. San Quentin is a heavier and harder sounding Nickelback. The hum of the bass, the groove of the power chords, a punchy guitar solo, the energised vocals… it’s rocking and catchy in that inimitable Nickelback way.

Strigoi – An Ocean of Blood

Blackened Death Doom outfit Strigoi are now proudly releasing their brand-new single ‘An Ocean of Blood’, which is taken from the band’s upcoming album “Viscera”. The album is set for worldwide release on September 30, 2022 via Season of Mist.

Strigoi comment:

We chose this track as the third single taken from our new album Viscera due to its almost cinematic take on the internal and external conflict of existence. A transformational journey into the bloodshed and horror of the human condition.

If there were any doubts left that Strigoi were about to unleash one of the albums of the year in Viscera, An Ocean of Blood will dispel them completely. A blackened blast of eye-watering intensity, dripping in sinister vibes and with a palatable sense of evil hanging over everything like a cloying shroud. Its slower tempo makes the horror all the more suffocating, yet so easy to love. Such is the immense power of Strigoi. Check it out here.

Fear of Falling – Closer (Kings of Leon Cover)

Hot on the heels of their latest single ‘All My Time’, South African Super Rock Group Fear of Falling is back with ‘Closer’, their rendition of the classic by American Rockers Kings of Leon.

Vocalist Ross Harding shares that:

Kings Of Leon are one of my favourite bands, and the song has always hit home really intensely. Something about the marriage of ghostly lyrics, the droning chord progression and melodic emotion of that song just works. It’s a genius piece in my opinion.

All covers come with a potential problem and it’s simply how you, the listener feels about the original track that is being covered. If it’s a track you hate, you might find yourself struggling to get on with any cover but if you love it, you might find yourself put off by any potential changes. It’s a lose-lose situation unless the band in question puts enough of their own spin on things to make it markedly different but also instantly recognisable. This is exactly what Fear of Falling do here. Turning a track that is both loved and loathed in equal measures into their own thing. Impressively so too. Check it out here.

Godeater – Backwash

Following the announcement of their highly anticipated upcoming album ‘Vespera’ which is set for release on 30th September 2022, Godeater have just released the final instalment to their video trilogy, with new single ’Backwash’.

With ‘God Complex’ taking aim at the powers that be in the UK, ‘Backwash’ continues down the rabbit hole. As a society, we have been used, we have been beaten and we have been lied to for personal gain time and time again, seemingly without a second thought. ‘Backwash’ is as direct it gets and begs the question:

How can you stand yourself when you’ve got no spine?

This one hits hard. A really dark tone, intensely heavy and brutally focused. Godeater deliver a ruthless modern death metal aural experience with Backwash. The hyperactive instrumentation balanced by scathing vocals. The speed is out of this world and then, likes waves breaking over rocks, the chorus hits and we get just a touch of soaring melody to give this a more ‘core’ edge. However, the way in which the track slows down as it reaches its end, is easily the most impressive thing.

Box Clone – My Way

Box Clone have released their fourth single ‘My Way’, an empowering song about following your own path in life despite the odds.

This might be a bit more polarising when compared to their previous output, as it sees Box clone delve into hip-hop territories. Thankfully, they’re very good at it and combine it with robust rock groove and heavier instrumentation to give it a nu-flavour but filtered through the modern landscape. It could prove to be one of their more popular tracks in time thanks to its mass crossover appeal. Check it out here.

Cabal – Exit Wound

Copenhagen’s most visceral metal export, Cabal, have released a brand new single titled ‘Exit Wound’ that displays their willingness to tackle deeply sensitive topics whilst drawing from personal experiences. Focusing on the trauma experienced after the death of a loved one without the chance for a final goodbye.

Singer Andreas Bjulver states:

Exit Wound is a very personal song to me, as it serves as an outlet for the trauma i felt right after my granddads suicide at the beginning of 2021. It deals with the heavy subject of being denied a final goodbye to one of the few people I’ve ever felt a true connection and real kinship to.

A powerful track from a powerful band, Exit Wound bleeds honesty in a scathing and intense metal way. It’s beautiful brutality; the former because of the lyrical content, the latter because of just how raw and unrefined the instrumentation is. The intensity is there from the first second and remains to the very last. The slower pace gives it a deeper sinister sound which works strongly in its favour. Check it out here.

Tarah Who? – Yay or Nay

In support of all independent female rock musicians, Tarah Who? have collaborated this time with the fierce ladies from Spain in their project called Faul. Tarah has discovered the band through the connection that she has with V, the drummer from emerging band Bala that Tarah is a big fan of.

Tarah Who? says:

The song is simply about being able to be told “yes or no”. As independent artists, and in a very competitive world, we get a lot of vague answers as well as “not at this time”, when really, for any situation in life it is about a simple “yes” or “no”, to keep moving forward.

A very cool song, one that has two different speeds but combine well to end up being a punk rock banger. One with an interesting message, the collaboration is messy but considering the punk stylings of the song, it actually works really well. The passion in the vocals, different languages and energy makes it something quite unique sounding.

Fir for A King – Falling Through the Sky

Fit For A King release their new album The Hell We Create on October 28th via Solid State Records. Now, the band have shared a new single and music video for ‘Falling Through the Sky’.

Says vocalist Ryan Kirby:

‘Falling Through the Sky’ represents the mental struggles I had dealt with during the pandemic, and how little my upbringing prepared me to deal with it. Between adopting two children, my wife having constant health issues, and me losing almost 70 percent of my income, I was an absolute wreck.

A really strong showing from Fit for A King, one that shows their versatility as they go down a more melodic route. Clean vocals, melodic guitars and a powerful, heartfelt and meaningful chorus and then the breakdown happens. Unexpected but so very cool sounding, it’s a fascinating track and one that will grow and grow the more it’s heard. Check it out here.

We’re Wolves – One Step Closer (Linkin Park Cover)

As a dedication to Linkin Park’s indispensable influence on hard rock and a nod to Chester Bennington’s everlasting impression on We’re Wolves, the band shares their spin on the beloved Hybrid Theory hit, “One Step Closer.”

Says AJ Diaferio, Vocalist of We’re Wolves:

Linkin Park is one of the most influential bands in our generation. We have always wanted to pay tribute to them by covering one of their songs. One Step Closer was my personal introduction to the band and has always been on my mind when we’ve discussed working on covers. Chester Bennington was and still is an absolute icon. I can speak for all of us when I say upon hearing of his passing we were all individually devastated. It’s been 5 years since he passed. We felt the time was right to honor the man who had such a huge positive impact on music today. We hope we can make all you Linkin Park fans proud with this cover.

If there’s one band you know will do Linkin Park’s iconic banger, One Step Closer justice, it’s We’re Wolves. The horror metal band aim for respect here adding their own heavier edge but don’t make any major changes to the make-up of the track. Of course, the most obvious differences being the vocals. Of course, Chester’s voice was unique and AJ doesn’t attempt to imitate him. Instead, delivering his own style which is rampant and rambunctious. It’s a very good cover and a stellar tribute.

The Offering – Tiny Disappointments

The Offering have released the new track ‘Tiny Disappointments’, taken from their upcoming new album, Seeing the Elephant, out on November 4th via Century Media Records.

Expect the unexpected with The Offering. The band are beginning to really show of their diverse sound with this new album and Tiny Disappointments might be the most unexpected song they’ve released so far. It might also be their finest effort so far, as the power they exude runs headfirst into their passion to create a slow burn, melodic and gorgeously concentrated. Check out that guitar solo too, it’s a banger. Check it out here.

Wednesday 13 – Insides Out

The Duke of Spook, Wednesday 13 reveals another taste of his hotly anticipated 9th studio album Horrifier, in the shape of ‘Insides Out’. Horrifier is set to arrive on 7th October via his new label home, Napalm Records.

Wednesday 13 tells us:

Our latest single ‘Insides Out’ is a very heavy song, so it only made sense to make a video to match the sound! Torture and violence is the main theme of this song, and we continue along the lines of the last music video with another horror movie theme here too.

Don’t ever say that Wednesday 13 has lost the fire as this new track will make you seem like a fool. Easily one of the heaviest tracks the artist has produced. Insides Out is dark, twisted and uncomfortable intense. The tempo is almost doom, the guitars literally scream and Wednesday 13 himself sounds possessed. A really surprising release but in the best way possible.

Armed for Apocalypse – Live Through the Storm

Californian sludge metal crew Armed for Apocalypse have released their tortured new single, ‘Live Through the Storm’, ahead of their third album release, Ritual Violence, which debuts on 7th October via Candlelight Records.

Vocalist Nate Burman comments on the caustic new single:

At the time that I wrote this I was in a pretty dark place in life and found myself being wildly self-destructive. It was right at the peak of the pandemic so I was also pretty isolated from everyone which really started getting to me. I remember finding myself just trying to drink through the boredom and depression night after night. That’s also partially where the album title comes from. It felt like every night was a ritual of self-destruction. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.

This new album from Armed for Apocalypse is shaping up to be the sludge-metal album of the year and if you needed any more proof, the chaotic and savage Live Through the Storm is it. If you thought this band was heavy before, you’ve not heard anything yet. Not only that, it’s a track the epitomises the inspiration and delivers on the promise of destruction and devastation. Brutal and brilliant. Check it out here.

Lamb of God – Grayscale

The momentum continues for Omens, arguably Lamb Of God’s most aggressive and ambitious work to date … and today the Grammy-nominated goliaths unleash their third single “Grayscale” from the forthcoming Omens album out October 7 on Nuclear Blast Records.

Guitarist Willie Adler comments:

Grayscale has just a smack you in the face, bit of hardcore feel to it. We had basically finished writing the record and I wrote this song thinking it won’t necessarily be a Lamb song. I sent it to Josh Wilbur, our producer, to check out and he responded with ‘Perfect, this is the last song we need for the record!’

As in your face and potently heavy as always, Lamb of God do not mess around with this blazing blast of intense groove metal. A head-banging, circle pit and mayhem inducing track if there ever was one. It almost sounds disrespectful to call this ‘simple’ because it’s not, but by Lamb of God standards it’s so straight-forwardly them that you just have to smile. Or gurn. Such is the heaviness of the track.