Single Slam: Urne, Butterfly Hurricane, Heart of A Coward, Vnder A Crvmbling Moon, SWARM6IX, Black Stone Cherry, Burner, Popes of Chillitown, InRetrospect, and Werewolves!

This week’s single slam features Urne, Butterfly Hurricane, Heart of A Coward, Vnder A Crvmbling Moon, SWARM6IX, Black Stone Cherry, Burner, Popes of Chillitown, InRetrospect, and Werewolves. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Urne – Becoming the Ocean

London metal trio, Urne, have announced details of their deeply personal second studio album, A Feast on Sorrow. Due for release on August 11th 2023 via Candlelight Records. They have released the first track taken from A Feast on Sorrow, titled ‘Becoming the Ocean.’

All good things come to those who wait, and we’ve waited a while for new Urne music. What a banger of a track to get the excitement going for their new album. Becoming the Ocean is frantic and furious, chunky heaviness blended with enigmatic turns, and bursts of melody. Urne have always been a heavy band, but this is something else. Their development is impressive, and they continue to deliver huge sounding metal tracks.

Butterfly Hurricane – Barricade

Alternative rock artist Butterfly Hurricane has shared his debut single ‘Barricade’. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences, Butterfly Hurricane writes music that is deeply personal and emotive, exploring the impact of Crohn’s disease on his life and mental health.

In his own words:

A lot of my lyrics come from my battles with Crohn’s disease and how it has affected my personal life and the lives of others. This song in is essentially me venting my frustrations on how I wish I could be someone else and just have a day not having to plan my life around this disease. It’s not all doom and gloom though, the struggle is part of the beauty. It’s helped me grow and realise what’s important in life.

Butterfly Hurricane offers up and alt-rock anthem that is both catchy and groovy, exemplified by a chorus that really gets stuck in the head. Yet, pay a bit more attention and you’ll find a more layered song with bursts of heavier instrumentation and dramatic vocals to keep you on your toes. Check it out here.

Heart of A Coward – Decay

British heavyweights Heart of A Coward have released new single ‘Decay’, a deep track that showcases an emotive and heartfelt side of vocalist Kaan Tasan.

Kaan comments:

‘Decay’ is written about the certainty of time. Every second that passes we move closer to death. Everything we love will die, everything we know will end. So, make the most of the time you have.

Another welcome slice of Heart of a Coward heaviness and intensity, Decay has as much melody in it as it does metal groove. The contrast is something this band is extremely adept at, and Decay is them doing what they do so well. It’s enjoyable, if not a bit forgettable overall. The major highlight being a very strong chorus.

Vnder A Crvmbling Moon – When the Nightmare Came

Out of the bleakness of mankind rise Vnder A Crvmbling Moon. Witness their debut album ‘I:Oblivion’, out 19th May on Church Road Records. Featuring former members of Garganjua, Conjurer and Codex Alimentarius, they have now released their first single, ‘When the Nightmare Came’.

One of the moodiest tracks you’ll hear all year, Vnder A Crvmbling Moon is beautiful misery incarnate. This 13+ minute single begins with simple and morose melody, the volume slowly increasing as more instruments slowly join in, leading to a cacophony of death-infused doom. There was no possible way to prepare for the shift, even though it was obviously coming, so it hits extremely hard. From this point onwards, Vnder A Crvmbling Moon drag you deeper into the mire and it will choke the life out of you. Stunning stuff. Check it out here.

SWARM6IX – Fuego

Trap/metal band SWARM6IX follow on from their debut singles ‘d0pamine’ and ‘$OCIAL $UICIDE’ which were both spun by BBC Radio 1, with new single ‘Fuego’. Out on the 12th May 2023. The band will play Tech Fest later this year, having already played Collision Fest with bands such as Lake Malice and Graphic Nature. The band also tour the UK with Colosseums and Shade UK later this year.

A bouncy, in your face, and exciting blast of trap metal. This is a great example of what makes SWARM6IX such a uniquely memorable band. Where an infectious rhythm makes you want to move, and the genre-bending and crossover sound will get the attention of different groups of music fans. Check it out here.

Black Stone Cherry – Nervous

Black Stone Cherry are thrilled to announce their eighth studio album, ‘Screamin’ at The Sky’, set for release on Friday 29th September via Mascot Records. The opus will be available in White Solid Vinyl, Limited Edition Vinyl Boxset, CD and Digitally. Now, the band reveal another new track, ‘Nervous’, together with an accompanying official music video, to coincide with album pre-orders going live.

It’s a Black Stone Cherry track! Which you can take one of two ways. On the one hand, it’s overly familiar and very samey. On the other hand, it’s a reliable hard rock anthem that is extremely catchy. You kind of know what you’re getting with Black Stone Cherry and they don’t exactly break the mould here. If you love what they do, you’ll love this track.

Burner – Pillar of Shame

South London death metal/hardcore band Burner will release their debut album ‘It All Returns to Nothing’, on June 23rd via Church Road Records. Taken from that album, the group have now released the single ‘Pillar of Shame’.

Burner continues to build massive amounts of anticipation for their debut with this furious and frantic blast of chaotic noise. There’s nothing refined about this, it’s a blistering display of how fast and hard this band can go, and it is stupidly good. Every aspect of this band, from the guitars to the drums to the vocals, works in wonderful heavy harmony. Check it out here.

Popes of Chillitown – Crashmat

Popes of Chillitown have released a brand-new music video ‘Crashmat’, taken from their forthcoming studio album ‘Take A Picture’. Out 30th June on Criminal Records.

Explains vocalist Matt Conner that the latest single is written from the brink and the stance that:

Only you can save yourself from your own demise’ but as a result ‘not wanting to ask for help because you don’t think you need it until it’s too late’.

A band incapable of not delivering something fun, catchy, and authentic. Popes of Chillitown are back and back with a catchy anthem. One that you can dance to, one you can rock to, and one you can skank too. It’s a Popes of Chillitown song and it’s a lot of fun.

InRetrospect – Dream Awake

InRetrospect animate their core beliefs in a relentless barrage of harmonious noise. The band strives to challenge the anguish that we as a species impose on the world around us so willingly, without ever considering the consequences. InRetrospect is a collective aiming to change the insatiable existential crisis known as the modern world. Illustrating soundscapes that display themes of mental deterioration, emotional hardship and pain in its truest and most extreme form, the band deliver their message for change.

Their new single ‘Dream Awake’ is out now.

An interesting effort from InRetrospect, one that combines earnest melody, nu-metal/rap groove, and metal intensity. The contrast between styles and how the band eases through passages of garish ferocity and mellow cleanliness is delicious. Check it out here.

Werewolves – Under the Ground

Australian death metal trio Werewolves have announced plans to release their fourth album, ‘My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me’, via Prosthetic Records on August 11th. Alongside the album announcement, the band has shared lead single ‘Under the Ground’ with an accompanying music video.

Except to feel like you’ve been punched in the face several times when listening to Werewolves and you’re part the way to understanding what this band sounds like. Even then, you’ll be wholly unprepared for the assault that this brutal noise-mongers dish out here. They continue to prove that they are one of the heaviest, but most exiting bands in the death metal scene today.