Single Slam: Soilwork, Invictus, Box Clone, 156/Silence, Enterprise Earth, The Frst, Spoiler, Armed for Apocalypse and Red Rot!

This single slam features Soilwork, Invictus, Box Clone, 156/Silence, Enterprise Earth, The Frst, Spoiler, Armed for Apocalypse and Red Rot. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Soilwork – Nous Sommes la Guerre

Soilwork continue to please their fans by releasing the second single from their upcoming album ‘Övergivenheten’. After already delivering the title track of their new long-player some weeks ago, the Swedes now release the next single called ‘Nous Sommes La Guerre’. This track represents the next massive piece of their highly anticipated album. which is due on August 19th.

Soilwork about the new single:

‘Nous Sommes la Guerre’ evolved around a “fight or flight” theme. The song is about internal struggles and confronting your own worst sides. It’s a cry for help in defeating the darkness inside of you and move towards a brighter path.

Continuing to evolve, the 80’s themed rock and roll proclivity this track has will certainly take occasional Soilwork listeners by surprise. This is not a melodeath song by any stretch and is certainly up there as one of the ‘softest’ tracks Soilwork have done. That’s interesting in itself but there is a problem and that’s the fact that the track lacks a wow moment. It motors along nicely and weirdly but never really gets into full gear. Even the guitar solo is just so-so meaning this track can be called forgettable at best.

Invictus – Exiled

Invictus, the new solo project led by Maurizio Iacono, has unveiled a new single and video for ‘Exiled’. The new track serves as the first taste of Invictus’ new full-length release, Unstoppable, set for release 23rd September via MNRK Heavy.

Iacono comments on the new single:

‘Exiled’ deals with feeling completely disconnected with your surroundings and society in general, where nothing is logical to your understanding of life, and in return standing your ground for what is real to you and makes sense to your life and survival. The song is personal to me on more than one level, but people can interpret this how it fits best their own world, it has an open concept.

What does this first taste offer? A heaving and hefty beast of crunchy drums, tight riffs and thick bass. Then you have two different styles of vocals; one guttural and one clean, offering up meatiness and grandiosity. It’s a wickedly good combination on a track that is head-banging gold. It’s a statement making track, Invictus kicking open the door, taking a seat at the heavy metal table and putting their feet up. Ain’t no-one telling them to take them down based off this monster. Check it out here.

Box Clone – Fight Addict

Following on from the success of ‘Lie to the People’, Box Clone keep up the pace with their third single ‘Fight Addict’. Released on June 10th, 2022. The song is about:

Being tied to someone who, no matter how good things are, recurring finds fault in a given situation. Which inevitably results in an argument.

Box Clone impress yet again, with a groovy, energetic and riff heavy track. Fight Addict is a strong example of a band pointedly aiming for catchiness without compromising the rock aspect of their sound. The first 30 seconds alone will have you tapping your foot and nodding your head along with a certain amount of joy. It’s a track that really grows in strength as it goes on. Box Clone really are a band to keep an eye on.

156/Silence – For All to Blame

Pittsburgh hardcore/metal juggernauts 156/Silence will make their eagerly-anticipated return this summer with the release of their 3rd full-length record, “Narrative,” on September 2nd via SharpTone Records. The band have now revealed the record’s pummelling new single, For All To Blame, and an accompanying video.

A tense start that can’t prepare you for the explosion of hardcore violence that follows, 156/Silence bring the energy and intensity on this snarling beast of a track. The band are giving it their all but impressively, the clarity in their sound makes it way more listenable than your average hardcore/metal infused listen. The word that comes to mind when listening here is passion and nowhere is that better exemplified than by the chunk and squeals that make up the gurning and grunting finale. Check it out here.

Enterprise Earth – Psalm of Agony

Progressive deathcore outfit Enterprise Earth are pleased to officially welcome singer Travis Worland (Aethere, Bite//Down, The Willow) to their ranks. Worland has been fronting the band throughout their 2022 live adventures. The band have also released a brand-new single, ‘Psalm Of Agony’, the first to feature the new frontman.

Comments guitarist Gabe Mangold:

We’re very stoked to officially announce Travis Worland as the new singer of Enterprise Earth. His vocal style, performance, personality, and work ethic are a perfect fit for us and we cannot wait for everyone to hear the first song that we’ve created together, ‘Psalm Of Agony’. Prepare for the best incarnation of Enterprise Earth yet.

New vocalist, same intensity and same progressive mastery, it’s Enterprise Earth and they’re bringing a lot of fire and fury on this new track. While also continuing to showcase their always excellent combination of shredding technicality and melody. Of course, for most, the focus is going to be on Travis but rest assured, he’s bringing it here. Snarling and spitting with unending amounts of venom. He fits the Enterprise Earth mould and this next stage of the band’s sound is going to be very exciting indeed based off this track alone. Check it out here.

The Frst – Geronimo (feat. Just a Ride, Solcura)

Nashville’s most unpredictable rock band, The Frst, is back with an anthemic and grungy new collab championing mental health. Called Geronimo, the new track features Just a Ride and Solcura.

The word ‘anthemic’ can be overused but when it’s right, it’s bloody right and The Frst have released an anthemic track. One with emotional pull and rock punch, the subject matter and personal nature of the music and lyrics makes it all the more impactful. Bitter sweet, as it’s catchy rock music but one with a serious message. It’s got so much heart, soul and feeling while being wonderfully memorable. Strong stuff from The Frst.

Spoiler – Beyond the Pale

Essex-based modern metalcore outfit Spoiler are back with a brand-new single called ‘Beyond the Pale’. Beyond The Pale is the second of four new singles for 2022, all which will release via BloodBlast Distribution (Nuclear Blast, Believe).

In the bands own words:

This is a track that speaks out for those impacted by abuse, and spits its anger, upset and pain through every word. We envisage becoming that monster within ourselves but as the protagonist, in a want for retribution and dark cold-blooded revenge. Sometimes a guilty verdict just isn’t enough.

Call them metalcore all you want but there’s so much more to Spoiler and this track is further proof of that. Mixing in elements of nu-metal, deathcore and electronica. The end result hasn’t sounded this good though as Spoiler have released their best work to date with Beyond the Pale. A blast of unbridled aggression and noise, it also sees the band really experiment. Just wait for the unexpected melodic drop and then prepare yourself for what follows. It’s intense and bloody awesome.

Armed for Apocalypse – Full Of Phlegm

Uncompromising sludge juggernaut Armed for Apocalypse have announced their third album, Ritual Violence, is set for release on 7th October via Candlelight Records. Serving as a punishingly-heavy taster for their new album, the band have released first single ‘Full of Phlegm’, a blistering track that embodies the feeling of guilt and shame brought on by the decisions we make when we are in an intoxicated state.

Urgh, this is nasty. The kind of nasty that you feel corrupting your soul as you listen on. Like the filthy and heavy sludge Armed for Apocalypse deliver, Full Of Phlegm spreads through the mind like an infection and blackens the thoughts. Sickeningly harsh, unwaveringly intense and undeniably heavy, this stuff sticks, and for all the horrid feeling it leaves within, it’s simply too good to not love. Check it out here.

Red Rot – Dysmorphia

Italy’s Red Rot, the new extreme metal band of Luciano Lorusso George and Davide Tiso, formerly of Ephel Duath, recently announced the release of their debut album ‘Mal de Vivre’ on 26th August. Now they have shared the video for ‘Dysmorphia’.

There’s not a lot to sink your teeth into here (1:36) but what is dished up is very tasty indeed. A track with doomy tones, death metal aggression and fast-paced thrash force. It’s a baffling listen, yet it fascinates and requires multiple plays just to take it all in. It’s one hell of an introduction to Red Rot and an example of how extreme music continues to surprise and entertain.