Coming in hot with their third single for 2024, 51st Avenue continue down a heavier path with their pulsating new track ‘The Dark’. As we saw on the bands previous single ‘Moments’; ‘The Dark’ is full to the brim with riffs, dynamic vocal passages and a brilliant use of atmosphere. With a future-forward approach sonically, the band blend elements of electronic music, pop-punk and metalcore with ease – weaving in and out of melodic, scene-setting verses and fully-fledged breakdowns effortlessly. Thematically the track lives up to its title – describing a scenario where a path without adversity is hard to find. “Guess who’s back? 51st emo’s back again! Sometimes the dark just calls – see what I did there? I think I felt a bit lyrically messy with this one, really in my head. We just get into situations where our backs are against the wall and there’s very little choice on our part but the choice made will still have a huge effect. Like you’re stuck in the middle and it’s too hard to make the right decision because that will still have collateral damage. Essentially, all roads lead to ‘The Dark’. I wanted to show that one sided dialogue of justifying and pleading all in one. I think we’ve all been there and I think we forget that as much as people are out there judging those choices, there are those who’d understand if they knew what was up.” ‘The Dark’ marks the second collaboration with the band’s new bassist, Anthony Carollo, and was recorded and mixed once again at Keywork Audio by Mark Williamson (A Swift Farewell, Alienist, Keepsake). While staying true to the classic 51st Avenue formula, the band have continued to evolve in both the songwriting and production process, elevating their sound to a new level on each release., “The last few songs we have pushed ourselves into a different direction. The song ‘The Dark’ revisits our usual 51st Avenue formula. Heavy riffs, electronic verses, driving drum beats and catchy melodies. While using the 51st Avenue formula we still incorporated new elements. This song like MOMENTS features a breakdown and is still slightly heavier than our other material.”

Building on the wave of momentum from the September release of her highly anticipated debut album, This Is Doom Trap, Mimi Barks continues to challenge the conventions of heavy music. Expanding on the visual narrative of her debut album, Mimi Barks has dropped an explosive new music video for her collaboration with Raven Grey. Speaking on the track Grey shares: “While you were waiting outside the burrows of her soil, she laid dormant underneath…fragile and incomplete. From the gallows she has risen. It’s time you finally meet – wormgirl.“ [via Amped]

Symphonic metal storytellers, Delain, have released their new EP, Dance With The Devil, this via Napalm Records and are all fired up kick off their UK tour in Glasgow on November 15. Ahead of the release, the band dropped a new single ‘The Reaping’, cut from their latest offering. The gripping track offers a whirlwind of emotions; articulating foreboding and sorrow through hooky electronic melodies and modern heaviness. Its collective themes express disillusionment with society’s current path toward imminent and inescapable consequences. Keyboardist, founder, and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt says, “’The Reaping’ is a very expressive song with a serious subject – where the world/society is heading and metaphorical storms on the horizon. Musically the song can be recognized as a typical Delain song filled with heavy guitars, but also with the very recognizable 80’s synth elements Delain is known for.“ [via Amped]

BURNING WITCHES bring back the vibe of ’80s heavy metal and update their powerful force with renewed sonic clarity on their new maxi-single, The Spell Of The Skull, set for release via Napalm Records on December 10. With screaming guitars, the Swiss/Dutch/American band is back for a heavy metal blast session in the snow. This time, they curse their audience with two new songs from their latest conjuring of witchcraft. Witchqueen Romana Kalkuhl hypnotizes your mind with her melodic riffs, while diabolic priestess Laura Guldemond conquers your soul with crowd-pleasing shouts. Title track ‘The Spell Of The Skull’ starts off with a short but mighty heavy guitar intro that perfectly sets up Laura’s powerful vocals, which especially shine in the chorus of the song, making it a true sing-along experience and creating an epic atmosphere pleasing every fan of heavy metal. After five attention-grabbing albums, BURNING WITCHES prepares for another attack in 2025. Kalkuhl on ‘The Spell Of The Skull’: “We are busy bees and in between all the shows we managed to write the first new songs with Courtney on guitar. We are so excited to present you some fresh music and this keeps us all entertained till the next album. Working on this was such a blast, ‘The Spell Of The Skull’ could be a new WITCHES anthem, what do you think? Lean back and enjoy and get enchanted by your favorite WITCHES!” [via Blabbermouth]

Milan, Italy-based Alternative Metal outfit, Increased Decay have released a new single and music video ‘Strong Enough’.

Italian Industrial Metal act Hand of Juno have released a new single and music video ‘Hug my Death’, taken from the new album Psychotic Banana, out now!

Finnish progressive metal band Rioghan is set to release the second studio album Kept on February 14 via Inverse Records. The second single ‘Hands’ is out now. Rioghan comments: ”‘Hands’ hits with raw agony from the get go, compiling complicated emotions arising from a place of abuse and unsafety, threading back and forth on the line of apathy and fight or flight-response. Musically the song gives you a false feeling of safety at first, until it sheds its’ skin halfway through, evolving to a new version of itself.” [via Metalheads Forever]

Bristol-based heavy-pop quartet Bitter Kisses have released their new single, ‘Social Demons’. ‘Social Demons,’ the band’s eighth single, is characterized as an angst-fueled torrent of thought and rhythm. The track was produced by Alex Copp, known for his work with As December Falls and Led By Lanterns, and mastered by Grant Berry. Recording took place at Steel City Studios, ensuring a polished and powerful sound that aligns with Bitter Kisses’ signature heavy-pop style. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the single, the band stated, “’Social Demons’ puts words to the struggles of coping with our own hyperactive and often unfair inner monologues (inner demons). The ambition of the track was to expose the conversation between ourselves and our not-so-selves.” [via Click Roll Boom]

Butcher Babies have been reborn. A few months out from the departure of co-founding vocalist Carla Harvey, the L.A.-based metalcore outfit have returned with a single called ‘Sincerity,’ which also marks their first piece of music through new label home Judge & Jury Records. ‘Sincerity’ follows the band’s 2023 full-length, Eye for an Eye… /… ‘Til the World’s Blind, and it’s their first release since Harvey’s exit. With the band now reconfigured as a one-vocalist enterprise, Heidi Shepherd’s singing is fully front and center on the modern metal track, and reliably powerful. A press release explains that the song is “rooted in wishful thinking,” but is likewise about being put into a situation where someone manipulates your emotions “to feed their own ego and benefit.” “Over the last decade and a half, Butcher Babies has become known for our aggression and soaring melodies. This new release is no different,” Shepherd said of ‘Sincerity.’ “Diving into real-life experiences and expectations while exposing the rawest part of our souls, this single is bound to invoke an emotional rollercoaster between looking toward the future with hope while reminiscing of past losses.” [via Revolver]