Single Slam: Torchbearer, The Howling Tides, Slashy Sue, Nazghor, Obsolete Man, Gaia, Speak Easy Circus, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Prime, Her Alone and Future Static!

This week’s single slam features Torchbearer, The Howling Tides, Slashy Sue, Nazghor, Obsolete Man, Gaia, Speak Easy Circus, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Prime, Her Alone and Future Static. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Torchbearer – Dopesick

Hardcore punks Torchbearer have revealed their new single ‘Dopesick’, and announced their new album Solace, due 21st January.

Torchbearer frontman Andy Mansell comments of the single:

I wanted to address the way lives are destroyed by addiction, when all you need is more and what’s keeping you going is killing you.

A frenzied intro explodes with virulent life as the hardcore heaviness of Torchbearer comes out swinging. Passionate and surprisingly catchy, this is Torchbearer showcasing that their reverent and ardent displays over the years are going to continue into this new album. Dopesick is a track that might find yourself addicted too.

The Howling Tides – White Crow

Award-Winning, dynamic, 4-piece hard rockers, The Howling Tides — from Staffordshire in the UK — are proud to release their brand-new single ‘White Crow’.

The band explain that:

‘White Crow’ is about someone getting older and dealing with the challenges of life that come with that, while still living to the full and refusing to be held back. The journey of the song captures that defiance and maverick approach. We couldn’t be prouder to get this song out!” Listen out for some great guitar solos and haunting pulled-back moments as the song develops too.

A powerhouse rock release, The Howling Tides know how to do energetic and catchy numbers. White Crow is just another in a long list of bangers from this band. A cacophony of riffs, pumping and thumping hooks, and a blazing vocal performance. What’s not to love about this kind of straight-forward and no-nonsense hard rock? Check it out here.

Slashy Sue – Wheel of Death

Cannibalism and horror; industrial metallers Slashy Sue have released a new single called ‘Wheel of Death’ from the upcoming debut album; ’The Slasher Tapes’.

Slashy Sue is built around the story of Susan Henderson, a serial killer and cannibal who roamed the streets in the 90’s, killing and eating over 35 men. For 20 years she’s been locked up at a psychiatric institution, and agreed to talk only to professor Ernest Bardreau. The songs are her confessions.

Åsa and Tony Netterbrant, the heads of the project, also the Swedish founders of the critically acclaimed melodeath band Zephyra, states:

We are thrilled to be releasing the first single from our new album. ‘Wheel of Death’ is Sue’s game to choose the way of death of her victims, and what body part to start snacking on. Pure pleasure!

A lovely slab of blood, guts and more. The gory details of Slashy Sue will appeal to horror fans but the industrial metal fan will love the dirty and nasty groove of it. If you like both? Well, you’re in for a horror-fuelled treat here. It will satisfy the bloodlust while having a weird and haunting level of revulsion.

Nazghor – Massive Omen Paradox

After four years since last release, Swedish black metal band Nazghor will release their new single Massive Omen Paradox 26th of November 2021.

There’s a ton of atmosphere in this track. So much wickedness that bleeds through the harsh black metal assault. It’s a powerful blast of heavy but layered with haunting sounds and melodious intensity. It’s would almost be akin to a post-metal track if it wasn’t for the traditional exposure of the blistering black metal. It is utterly brilliant though. Check it out here.

Obsolete Man – Burning in Water/Drowning in Flame

Obsolete Man is a Hardcore/Powervioence band from San Francisco, CA set to independently release their upcoming single, Burning in Water/Drowning in Flame in early December.

An eruption and expulsion of heavy noise, the hardcore ferocity of this track is present from the very first second. All the way through to the very last. A blistering showcase of aggression but with thrilling powerviolence breaks and groove. The tempo shifts are startling; going from chaotic to measured fury. A track that is all about refined intensity. You’ll be able to check it out here upon release.

Gaia – Key and the Gate

Gaia are a 5-piece progressive metal band originally hailing from Brighton, influenced by bands like: Tool, Vola, Jinjer and TesseracT.

In 2020 they won the Brighton Metal 2 the Masses competition and played The New Blood Stage at Bloodstock. Since then, they’ve had a change of vocalist and have been gearing up to release their first full length album towards the end of 2022.

Before that though, they have released their second single, Key and the Gate from the album.

The band offers some insight into the new album and this single with these words:

The album itself will be based around the creatures and stories of HP Lovecraft. “Key and the Gate” is about the all-seeing Yog-sothoth, a being from which no secrets are hidden. We’ve been cooking up what we think is some of our best material to date and we hope you enjoy it too.

Gaia and Lovecraftian influences? It’s a sure-fire hit already but then you hear it and hell, the future is looking very bright for this young band. A technical and progressive marvel. Packed with intricate detail, enigmatic melodies and blistering heavy groove. They’re playing out of their skin and it’s a shame that it’s only around 5-minutes long. You’ll want much more, which will be the full album, until then this will get play after play after play.

Speak Easy Circus – Sewn Up

Jazz/funk indie rockers are looking to end the year with a bang so have released their latest single, ‘Sewn Up’.

In their own words:

The story of the song is really the story of my favourite pair of jeans, that ripped and left me heartbroken, until I watched a YouTube video to teach myself how to sew. From then on, instead of throwing clothes away I started to clumsily stitch them up. It made me think of all the previous clothes I had thrown out. Why didn’t we fix more things? Why weren’t we taught to sew at school? Why was sewing seen as feminine? It seemed to me there were no downsides.

A unique story, it’s far from the only weird thing about Speak Easy Circus but long-term fans will already know that. Here, we get their usual eclectic fusion of jazz, funk, and rock with all the chilled out and super-catchy trimmings. It’s a song that will put a smile on your face as you find your body beginning to move. Check it out here.

The Last Ten Seconds of Life – Invictus Unto Fire

The Last Ten Seconds of Life return with new single ‘Invictus Unto Fire’, taken from their upcoming self-titled album, out 28th January 2022 via their new label Unique Leader.

On the new track, the band state:

‘Invictus Unto Fire’, the opener and tone setter of our upcoming self-titled album, showcases our drummer Steven Sanchez’s introduction into the band and a new atmosphere of heavy for The Last Ten Seconds of Life.

A sign of things to come, The Last Ten Seconds of Life’s new single is a freaking beast of heaving heaviness. A ridiculously savage listen, the inferno of heat that bursts forth from this sinister slab of aggression is face-melting stuff. It will make you grimace and grind your teeth in solidarity. Mean as all hell.

Prime – Sorry

Prime are an explosive rock band band from the East Midlands / Sheffield, UK. Rebellious and entertaining in equal measures. The start of this year saw a Digipak CD release of their compilation ‘Art/Facts’ and their final single is Sorry.

Relaxing and chilled out soft-rock, Prime are bowing out with a catchy and impactful effort. Sorry has sweet melody and strong vocal performances but still exudes energy. It’s foot-tapping listen with a jazzy feel, one that worms its way into your brain, taking up residence for some time after. Though, its lyrical content is far darker than the music might have you believe. Check it out here.

Her Alone – The Last Rays of the Sun

Symphonic metal -band Her Alone have released their second single The Last Rays of the Sun today.

Songwriter Iiro Inkilä explains:

The Last Rays of the Sun is a natural continuation to our Into the Night -ballad, and serves as an introduction to our heavier songwriting without forgetting our key strength, which is in melodies. Lyrical themes and inspiration remain in nature and empathy, so you could say these songs are like siblings. Sound-wise the keyboards have a less dominant role this time around, as I started composing mainly on the guitar, and if you have a sharp ear, you could hear my personal little hats off to Tuomas Holopainen in the main riff.

Booming symphonic elements clash with heavier metal groove for something that is familiar if you’ve been listening to this kind of music over the decades. Her Alone offer foot-tapping and head-banging symphonic bombastic verses and a grandiose chorus with this track. A succinct effort that ticks all the right boxes for this kind of music. Familiar but there’s more than enough about Her Alone to add some refreshment to the style. Check it out here.

Future Static – Waves

Melbourne-based alternative-heavy band Future Static release their mesmerising new single/video for ‘Waves’, streaming now via Wild Thing Records.

Newly appointed front-woman Amariah Cook comments on the new single:

The song resonates with many different experiences that we’ve all faced recently. From doing a whole lot of nothing, to then diving back into a fast-paced, relentless rhythm, with no certainty of anything going ahead. It’s all so overwhelming to even begin to think about. It feels like you’re being submerged, drowning in an ocean, and you can’t get out, even though you know that all you have to do is sit up, breathe, and just feel the waves.

An apt title, the fast-paced rhythm does wash over you and the explosivity of the vocals are akin to having your head submerged unexpectedly. Cook’s ability to go from guttural growls to melodramatic power is highly impressive. It’s got metal catchiness and a powerful chorus but there are also a lot of complexities amongst the washed up dregs.