The Edge of the Abyss sees characters travelling between different dimensions, with people who mysteriously resemble doubles of each of us, like shadows that seem to stalk us but who, in reality, seek to communicate. Who are these beings? What do they want from us? How can we reach them?

The incredible cinematic sci-fi videos for the album singles show different times and worlds where some characters have encounters with their ‘doubles’. They are all VFX and directed by frontperson Jess Allanic.

We had a chat with Jess all about the band’s journey so far, Edge Of The Abyss, touring and more. Read the interview below.

Hi Jess! How are you? How’s things been for Calva Louise recently in the run up to the new album release?

“I’m good! Thank you so much! It’s been hectic but also very good!”

Calva Louise recently released new record Edge Of The Abyss. We know the LP is a concept album which sees characters travelling through different dimensions in an alternate reality. Please tell us more! Who/what were your influences for the themes on the LP?

“The story turns basically around the concept of the human duality represented by the existence of two sides in the human life experience. Following the characters from the Lore of the story that I started to write when I was 10 years old, both sides are identical in appearance and are called “The Travellers” and their counterparts “ The Doubles”.

“As the music videos form part of a larger science fiction project to provide an immersive experience for the audience, all Calva Louise’s songs are linked as prequels or sequels of the first Lore’s video production, which was released in 2020. The video sequences are constantly evolving with each new song, firstly because of  the new skills and effects that I learn continuously, and also because of the budget the band can afford for each new video production, which currently is practically 0.

“Since the beginnings, I wanted the releases to be based on three different perspectives, where the lyrics represent our experience as we the humans live in this world, the symbolism representing portals to new perceptions of reality through our dreams, and the music and videos representing the unification of both sides in an unknown dimension where all perceptions are intertwined.”

As mentioned, the songs also come with some incredible DIY cinematic sci-fi visuals. Where did you draw inspiration from for the aesthetics of this chapter in the Calva Louise universe?

“From everything I love! I am a big consumer of art in any form, especially cinema, so a lot of different movies, directors and genres have been influencing me.”

Edge of the Abyss is your third album. Please take us through your songwriting/creative process for the record. Have you done anything differently this time around? What was your favourite part making the album and what did you find most challenging?

“It was pretty much similar to what we have always done, it’s all very DIY! We recorded it at home, not in a studio, and I wrote it in between tours and shows! We also recorded it that way, whenever we had a chance. The biggest difference this time is that we got to work with legendary artists! Gareth McGrillen co-produced and co-mixed the album, and we wrote two songs together for it as well, it felt like a dream come true, he was our mentor! We also worked with our dear friend Mazare who co-produced and co-mixed it too and with Dean McCarthy from Mechanica studios who did the most amazing job mastering it. The amazing thing is that we did all that post-recording process remotely as everyone was in different places, countries even continents some times! That part was a bit more challenging because of all the deadlines but because this team was so wonderful and so motivated (and motivating!) We managed to get everything done on time and with so much love!”

Calva Louise has quite the origin story! Is everything how you dreamed it would be? What struggles, if any, have you faced as a band and how have you overcome them?

“I don’t know really what I was dreaming at the time, but this has certainly been a beautiful and challenging path. I feel we’ve always done what we could, one of our biggest challenges were not having our families around and money in a country where we didn’t know anyone (Alizon didn’t even speak English at the time!) This meant that we had a lot of misfortunes that were unavoidable and we always did our best to keep on going, which was certainly harder than it seemed to us at the start, when reality sank in with no safety net. But that being said, we could overcome all of it because of our friendship (as cheesy as that sounds) but we chose living by the edge of the abyss and have this adventure that it’s almost impossible for people with no means, so in that regard we have been the luckiest people to have always found a solution to not fall apart in every sense, we feel that to have found each other have kept us going despite the pain and struggle, that’s that little centimeter of luck.”

You finished a tour earlier this year with Bloodywood. Will there be a tour in support of the album? For anyone that has yet to see you live, what can someone expect from a Calva Louise show? How do you want fans to feel after leaving one of your gigs/sets?

“We’re going to the US in September and touring Europe/UK supporting Stray From The Path in November! We’re working hard to give a great show, with lots of diy little devices like the keyboard stand that Alizon built for me, that it’s pretty cool to see live!”

Where else would you love to tour? Which cities do you hope to visit and play in the future?

“As many as we can! I’d love to travel the world as much as we can! Would love to come back to Latin America and also we would love to play in New Zealand!”

Finally, what else is next for Calva Louise? Any goals for the future?

“Just keeping on creating, developing the story and more music of course! We want to work as hard as we can to get a budget to further our ideas and vision!”

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To celebrate the album’s release, Aexylium has also unveiled the official music video for the track ‘Hexe’. ‘Hexe’ perfectly represents the spirit of the album—a high-impact, rhythm-driven song that combines rich melodic lines with a powerful vocal performance from Sam Biganzoli delivering intensity and momentum without ever losing the folk essence that defines the band’s DNA. Visually and sonically, the video amplifies the track’s energy and emotion, offering a powerful introduction to the album’s vision.

UK alternative musical artist and supernatural influencer Brocarde returns with a vengeance on her latest single, ‘Identity Theft’. The new track is a raw, emotionally charged anthem that cuts deep into themes of alienation, acceptance, and the chaos of growing into one’s true self. Produced by Chris Collier (Whitesnake, Mick Mars, Korn), ‘Identity Theft’ blends theatrical rock and alternative metal with haunting melodies and a lyrical journey that begins at birth and storms through adolescence into adulthood, all with Brocarde’s trademark cinematic flair.

The music video for ‘Identity Theft’ released alongside the single was shot inside Gloucester Prison—one of Britain’s most haunted locations. During the shoot, Brocarde claims the ghosts of the Kray Twins—notorious gangsters and former inmates—interrupted filming by headbanging to the track. The video features Brocarde writhing on an autopsy table and giving birth to a blue/pink alien, all layered in eerie, paranormal energy.

Following the haunting release of ‘Seaweed Braids,’ Italian melodic death metal band Hellfox returns with a powerful new chapter: ‘Atlas,’ the second single from their upcoming album The Spectrum Of Human Gravity, due out via Rockshots Records.

Combining heavy melodic death metal foundations with modern textures and acidic synths, ‘Atlas’ is a crushing and introspective anthem. Lyrically, the song draws on the myth of the Titan condemned to bear the weight of the sky — a metaphor for the emotional burdens we carry and the silent expectations imposed by society. “We have no control over what happens around us,” the band explains, “but letting go of that weight may be the most liberating act of all.”

Calva Louise continues their frenetic vision on the explosive new single, ‘Impeccable.’ It pulls you with both hands into their complex cinematic sci-fi universe with a mesmerizing blend of punk, metal and electronica. They’ve dropped another incredibly hypnotic video, once again directed with visual effects by singer/guitarist Jess Allinac.

Set in 1994, ‘Impeccable’ is a direct sequel to ‘W.T.F.’, which introduced the protagonist, Louise, who is experiencing bizarre happenings inside her home and encounters a feeling of dread signalling danger: someone is inside her house and stalking her. She catches glimpses of what has been stalking her: an uncanny version of herself, her “double.” “It is about that feeling of powerlessness that occurs when we are in situations beyond our control, ” said Jess Allanic.

Another high-energy collision of futurism, riffs, apocalyptic drums, and haunting electronics, ‘Impeccable’ continues its journey down the rabbit hole and tells the story of a young man called Jonnie, who has been deadly poisoned and has no choice but to act impeccably to survive.

“I follow you anywhere you go. Death spoke to the warrior, Who was looking for a chance. I follow you anywhere you go. He said to the abyss, On the edge of life, ” the lyrics hypnotically yearn.

“For this, he has to follow his double into another world, the Fractalworld, or death will strike him,” the band says. “Jonnie will have to quickly understand who his double is and cross over the threshold to overcome his fate. ‘Impeccable’ is the direct sequel of ‘W.T.F.’, where we meet the main character Louise and her own encounter with her double.”

HOLY WARS have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘I Feel Everything,’ is the brand new single from the Los Angeles-based alternative band and follows on from their previous single, ‘TENSION//RELEASE’, which was released in January last year.

Kat Leon shares, “’I Feel Everything’, lyrically, is about how dissociation and remaining numb for so many years since my parents’ passing could only heal so much. With the loss of my sister this past year, every pain and every emotion eventually rose to the surface.”

“We want to bring the chills factor back into our music,” guitarist and producer Nick Perez states, with Leon in agreement noting, “As a band, we have been reflecting on where we are at in our lives and the legacy we want to leave behind and I feel like we lost some of that raw vulnerability of earlier material,” Leon admits, adding “But with how far we have come in our career, we can now take these themes to a broader place and show the journey of where we are at today and ultimately, the journey of life after death.”

HANABIE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Spicy Queen’, is the brand new single from the Japanese metalcore band and follows on from their previous single, ‘Tasty Survivor’, which was released back in February. The new single is a counterpart to the band’s 2021 track ‘WE LOVE SWEETS’.

Speaking about the new single, vocalist Yukina says, “the song ‘WE LOVE SWEETS’, which we released in 2021, has become a gateway track for listeners to discover our music. It’s a very meaningful track for us. As time has passed and we have matured, we thought, ‘Let’s make a spicy version of the song!’ during our tour. Inspired by the famous Nashville Hot Chicken, we decided to create this new rendition that features a spicy and stimulating musical progression. It also has an addictive quality that will make you want to ‘eat’ (listen to) the track on repeat!”

Guitar/vocalist Matsuri shares, “this song was born during our US tour from the sudden thought, ‘let’s create a track that marks our 10th anniversary year’. It’s also the first track we crafted collaboratively as a band through constant discussions and was incredibly fun to make!! We included plenty of moments for our fans to shout along with us, designing the track with the vision that all the parts will come together during a live performance. So, we hope you listen to it a lot and come join us at our live shows!”

Bassist Hettsu adds, “to celebrate our 10th anniversary year, we created this song that captures the essence of HANABIE.! It’s a track where everyone can shout together during the chorus and has parts that pay homage to our past songs. We feel it encapsulates the 10 years of HANABIE.! Listen to it a lot and let’s sing this track together at our live shows!” And drummer Chika says, “this song was created through discussions among us during our US tour and marks the milestone for the band’s 10th anniversary year! My favorite drum phrase is in the second verse, where the rhythm alternates every measure between on-beat and off-beat! Aside from the drums, I also love Matsuri’s vocal slides at the beginning of the second verse! I hope everyone will shout along with us during the chorus when we perform at live shows.”

Russian metal band Fallcie has released their latest single, ‘Taste of Blood,’ accompanied by an intense official music video. The track showcases frontwoman Maria Balyasova’s dynamic vocal range, seamlessly transitioning between aggressive growls and melodic passages.

‘Taste of Blood’ is featured on Fallcie’s new album, The World Cataclysm, which dropped on May 30, 2025, via darkTunes Music Group. The album continues the band’s exploration of heavy themes and complex compositions, solidifying their presence in the global metal scene.

Halestorm have unleashed the title track from their upcoming album, Everest, set for release on August 8. The anthemic song is accompanied by a music video that can be streamed below.

“Our song ‘Everest’ is the summit of everything we’ve fought for — every scream, every scar, every triumph,” stated Halestorm singer-guitarist Lzzy Hale. “This album is us, louder and bolder, and more brutally honest than ever, standing tall in the face of the storm.”

The track starts out with Lzzy talk-singing the verses before showcasing her powerhouse pipes in the chorus. Guitarist Joe Hottinger gets a spotlight early on in the song with a solo at that begins roughly a minute and a half into the tune.

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“We are proud to be releasing ‘Martyr’ alongside the music video for our new single ‘Primal’. ‘Primal’ is about the shift that happens in someone, when they realize they’ve been wronged for so long, and decide to finally stand up for themselves. ‘Martyr’ explores different mental health battles through the struggles, and the strength it takes to heal. This is our first EP with Sumerian Records, and we are excited to be partnering with them for those new songs. We would like to thank Joey Sturgis for also believing in this project and being a part of it.”

Nashville based artist Royale Lynn announces her debut album BLACK MAGIC due for release on June 27 via Epitaph Records. Produced by Jonathan Roach, the record is a raw exploration of Royale’s personal struggles with mental health, woven through a narrative inspired by mythology and fantasy. Drawing from the legend of Pandora’s Box, each song represents an “evil” that escaped Pandora’s box into humanity.

Taking cues from 2000’s hard-rock icons like Evanescence and Flyleaf, Royale shares the lead single ‘GREED’ with bright, piercing vocals that rise over the urgent, thundering instrumentation of the track. Directed by Scott Hansen (A Day To Remember, Sevendust) with dazzling visual effects, the accompanying music video is set in a dark futuristic fantasy world, featuring a leather-clad Royale performing alongside her band with an army of creepy masked figures that represent “greed”.

There is always a deeper meaning to Calva Louise’s output, and ‘Lo Que Vale,’ their new single is no different. Translated into English as ‘What is Worth,’ it delves into the human psyche and our personal perception. The song is taken from their Mascot Records debut, Edge of the Abyss, which is co-produced by Pendulum’s Gareth McGrillen and will be released on 11 July.

Following their European tour with Bloodywood, ‘Lo Que Vale’ drops as a reminder of their sheer scope of ideas that they are able to pack into a single song. A frenetic combination of raging riffs and vocals meet with elegantly dancing keyboard melodies, before being thrown around the room with a formidable force. Like their 2024 single, ‘La Corriente’, it pays homage to singer-guitarist Jess Allinac’s Venezuelan roots, sung in Spanish and is an important part of their identity.

“’Lo Que Vale’ deals with the honest confusion and contradiction of our personal perception: when we think we understand something, we might actually be getting it wrong, and when everything seems upside down, maybe that’s when it is not,” the band explains.

“These honest exchanges in life act as triggers for letting go of the attachments that keep us chained to our mundane delusions. And while looking to break free of the irrelevant and continuous patterns that keep us stuck in one place, confusion builds up to the point of asking oneself if we’re really appreciating what is worth living for.”

Halestorm have unleashed a new song titled ‘Darkness Always Wins.’ The single offers the first taste of the band’s as-yet-untitled new album, set for release later this year.

‘Darkness Always Wins’ features Lzzy Hale’s powerhouse vocals on full display, with the song reminiscent of an ’80s power ballad. In fact, there are lyrical nods to the era (intentional or not), with such lines as “running with the shadows” (Pat Benatar) and “fading into black” (Metallica).

Around the 2:30 mark, things get heavier, as Joe Hottinger’s guitar kicks in, followed by a primal scream from Lzzy shortly thereafter.

“‘Darkness Always Wins’ is not a song of hope, nor is it a song of despair,” stated Lzzy of the single. “It is reality. History repeating. Evil prevails and the good depart first. But we are not doomed as long as we persist and keep our fires burning. The war may not be won in this lifetime. But our mission is to pass the torch so that those who follow have a light to fight with.” [via Consequence]

Dutch symphonic metal band, Blackbriar, announce their brand new album, A Thousand Little Deaths, which will be released on August 22 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Together with this exciting news the band shares their new single, ‘The Fossilized Widow’. The single channels the eerie spirit of the Victorian era, blending the mysticism of Ouija boards with the brooding passion of Wuthering Heights. A journey through dark love, spectral forces, and gothic intrigue.

Zora Cock comments: “‘The Fossilized Widow’ tells the story of a girl frozen in time, desperately holding on to someone she can never let go. She’s slowly descending into madness by all those words left unsaid, all those questions left to be asked. As the years pass, her home has turned into ruins, yet the legend says she still remains, trapped in her sorrow, waiting and watching. They call her The Fossilized Widow.”

Gothenburg’s purveyors of all things catchy (and heavy) Aligned is back with yet another kickass single, this time in the form of ‘Fortress’. The song comes alongside a video directed by Lucas Englund (Parkway Drive, etc.).

“This track is born from the ashes of deep loss and emotional ruin,” wrote Aligned of the single. “It captures the raw experience of wandering through life weighed down by trauma, and the haunting remnants of something once whole. It echoes the inner turmoil of grief, while its soaring melodies fight to rise from the rubble. It’s also about the strength it takes to face brokenness, build again, and finding power in vulnerability.”

Swiss folk metal giants Eluveitie release their triumphant new album Ànv via Nuclear Blast. In celebration of the day, the band have also unveiled the new video for their single ‘Taranoias‘.

Eluveitie commented: “And along comes – on this special day – our brand new single and video clip off ANV: TARANOÍAS! It’s the opening track of the album and pretty much wrapping up the entire essence on which the album is based in one single song! It’s quite a hard and dark track and surely one of these roller-coaster-feeling songs, like “Rebirth” or “Aidus”, for instance. What we’ve tried when writing this track is to create a song that in itself becomes some kind of a dark entity that comes upon you with the first note of it! Enjoy the ride!”

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‘Aimless’ is a reflective catharsis of human communication. Sometimes, it feels like we communicate in monologues where it feels impossible for someone to understand our point of view while simultaneously asking oneself: Do we act the same way towards others? “The song deals with the fragility of our beliefs but at the same time with the importance of knowing our true essence and standing up for it,” Jess Allanic says.

The Swiss band POWERHILL is creating quite a buzz with its unique ‘Farm Metal’, which is explosive, rousing, and full of humor, and is stirring up the rural idyll with its first single ‘Powerhill’.

The musicians from Taverne carved out their very own tongue-in-cheek genre that is now being unleashed with full force and spiced with a pinch of country air on fans, rockin’ the wild Alpine prairie. Led by vocalist Veronica Torre, the musicians blend powerful melodies with a hefty dose of humor. With their debut album, to be released via Dr. Music Records on June 27, the band around guitarist, mastermind, and producer Alberto ‘Cep’ Ceppi proves that Metal and farmyard charm can be a surprisingly explosive mixture. Driven by Luca ‘Chewbe’ Gentile’s grooving basslines and featuring drum legend Jörg Michael (i.a. Stratovarius, Running Wild, Axel Rudi Pell) behind the kit, the album’s ten diverse songs inspire with catchy anthems and humorous accents and shows POWERHILL at the peak of their creative powers.

Dutch symphonic metal band BLACKBRIAR release their brand new song ‘I Buried Us’, a powerful track blending crushing guitar riffs, soaring orchestral elements, and raw, emotional vocals.

Zora Cock comments: “‘I Buried Us’ captures the haunting aftermath of love laid to rest. In this song, I mentally dig a grave for a romance, but my imagination refuses to stay buried. I envision the two of us side by side, six feet under, a decayed heart still aching for their warmth. In my mind, we’re still dancing in the afterlife, twirling in the ‘what-ifs’ and ‘could-have-beens.'”

Orlando heavy crew Not Enough Space have just dropped a new single, ‘Devil Left Me On Read.’

The band state that this is their “heaviest release yet, drawing influences from Suicide Silence and The Black Dahlia Murder to capture a fresh yet nostalgic deathcore sound”.

They add: “The lyrics illustrate the seven deadly sins – greed, envy, wrath, lust, sloth, gluttony and pride – and how negative thoughts and past mistakes can lead to becoming one’s own worst enemy.”

New York heavy metal trio SANHEDRIN presents their latest single, ‘Let’s Spill Some Blood.’ The track comes alonsgide the band’s Heat Lightning full-length, out now.

Notes vocalist/bassist Erica Stoltz. “The lyrics of ‘Let’s Spill Some Blood’ reflect how fortunate the human race is that most people seek justice as opposed to revenge. There are many dark forces in the corridors of power pretending to be forces for good, and this song calls them out for what they are and urges the listener to stand up and fight for what’s right.”

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The first single and accompanying video, ‘Haunted’, are out now, offering a taste of what to expect with this new record.

Calva Louise burst into 2025 with the release of their relentlessly captivating new single, ‘WTF. ‘ The song delves further into their own cinematic universe.

Fresh from a breakout performance at Shiprocked Festival last week alongside the likes of Parkway Drive, Nothing More, The Ghost Inside, Kid Kapichi and more, they’re setting the start of the year alight with the new single produced by Pendulum’s Gareth McGrillen along with Mazare and Calva Louise’ Jess Allanic.

The video is set in January 1994, and ‘WTF’ introduces the protagonist, Louise, who is experiencing bizarre happenings inside her home. Set in the universe laid out in their previous singles, Louise encounters a feeling of dread signalling danger: someone is inside her home and stalking her.

She catches glimpses of what has been stalking her: an uncanny version of herself, her “double.” We follow her as terror and courage take hold as she experiences a glitch through reality: the real world is not what she had been told. Aligning herself with those circumstances, she voluntarily accepts contact with her double, exclaiming, “WTF!”

Talking about the song, Jess Allanic says, “‘WTF’ is about that feeling of powerlessness that occurs when we are in situations beyond our control. Even being stoic or positive is not enough to withstand and face the challenges thrown at us, but at the same time, we don’t want to completely give up. The song deals with that limbo of falling apart while not wanting to succumb to nihilism. It’s an angry cry at whatever forces are listening, asking: “WTF am I meant to do?”

Rockshots Records and Lay Of The Autumn proudly present the official music video for ‘Thrown Away’, one of the standout tracks from their debut album Of Love And Sorrow released on October 25.

A striking blend of Symphonic Power Metal, cinematic soundscapes, and electronic elements, ‘Thrown Away’ explores struggle, catharsis, and empowerment themes. The song is driven by intense riffs, soaring melodies, and fast, intricate guitar and keyboard solos, complemented by ERIA’s evocative vocal performance, which captures vulnerability and strength.

Electro-emo angst-pop trio AIR DRAWN DAGGER have released new track ‘Apparitions’ featuring Tobi Duncan from Trash Boat. It’s the second track from their upcoming debut album A Guide For Apparitions set for release on April 4 via Long Branch Records. The accompanying music video, directed by Aaran McKenzie (While She Sleeps), also features an appearance from the Trash Boat frontman.

“A return to big guitar riffs, it’s time to take accountability for the mess we’re in or accept our fate. On the other side of this song is an element of the hurt, and sometimes anger, you feel once you realise you’ve outgrown areas of your life and belief systems you held onto for so long. Relish in letting go of what no longer serves you, they’ll have to cross realms if they want to reach you. Featuring Tobi from Trash Boat, we knew this breakdown was the heaviest point of the album, the fight scene, the crescendo; and required an extra element to complete this track,” says the band on the new track.

New York-based band DEADLANDS, who joined the Spinefarm roster in 2024, are kicking off 2025 with a vicious new track. Now, the band has shared the video for new single ‘Kundalini,’ which is a complete collaboration with The Pretty Wild.

“When we started writing ‘Kundalini,’ everything just felt so natural. CJ [Arey] and I walked into the studio and instantly clicked with The Pretty Wild girls (Jyl and Jules), and of course, Andrew (Wade) the producer. From the very start, there was an incredible synergy, and we got right down to business. In just two days, we had created something truly special. The experience was infused with divine, feminine energy, and it was nothing short of inspiring,” says Deadlands singer Kasey Karlsen.

She continues, “I’m beyond thankful to have worked alongside such brilliant and badass women. Jyl and Jules brought their unique artistry and creativity to the table, elevating the song to a whole new level. CJ and I were also blown away by Andrew’s immense talent — his contribution was extraordinary, and we’d love to collaborate with him again in the future.”

Karlsen finishes, “‘Kundalini’ is Deadlands’ first-ever collaboration, and it’s an honor to have teamed up with The Pretty Wild.”

Jules from The Pretty Wild also offers a look into the song, saying, “‘Kundalini’ represents the primal, divine energy waiting to awaken, and that untamed force became the heartbeat of this song, a surge of calling out toxic femininity, empowerment, and transformation. We loved channeling that metal-physical edge, stitching together the spiritual and the brutal. Collaborating with Deadlands was an unforgettable journey, and we all poured everything into this beast, we can’t wait to unleash it live.”

Laurenne/Louhimo – the collaboration between powerhouse Finnish vocalists Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound) – announce the release of their sophomore album Falling Through Stars, set for release on April 18, via Frontiers Music Srl. The first single and accompanying video, ‘Damned’, are also available now.

Netta Laurenne said: “Falling Through Stars is our second collaborative album with Noora, and it gave us the opportunity to step in and out of our comfort zones to meet halfway. We had a great time writing and recording the album, which I co-produced with my husband, Nino Laurenne”.

“This album takes us on a journey through both the past and future of metal. We’ve aimed to incorporate styles, instruments, and emotions spanning from the ’70s to the present day. It’s a dynamic album that showcases both raw power and delicate moments, and we’re excited to share it with everyone”, she added.

Netta also described the new single: “’Damned’ is our first single release, and it represents the most classic style of melodic metal and hard rock on the album. Full of energy and attitude, we wanted to create a video that shows us performing alongside the musicians who played on the album. The song explores the struggles of battling inner demons, depression and self-doubt – while also capturing the determination to rise above them.”

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KITTIE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Fire’, is the title track from the Canadian metal band’s brand new album, which is released now, via Sumerian Records. Speaking about the release of their new album, vocalist/guitarist Morgan Lander says, “we’ve gone from 0 to 100 within the last few years and it’s almost unfathomable that the culmination of all of our work, sacrifice, pain and triumph has finally come to fruition with the release of our seventh studio album, Fire. We burn with more determination, focus and drive than ever, and hope that these elements resonate with every word, and can be heard in every note of this album. Fire is for you!” [via Distorted Sound]

Stand Atlantic have released a new single from their upcoming album. ‘CRIMINAL’, a collaboration with Polaris, is the latest cut from WAS HERE. The full-length is set for release on August 23 via Hopeless Records, and has already been teased by early singles ‘LOVE U ANYWAY’ and ‘GIRL$ (Feat. PVRIS and Bruses)’. “’Criminal’ is a small insight into how it can feel to be in this industry,” Bonnie Fraser explains. “It sometimes feels like you gotta keep your life a certain level of fucked up, so you can make art that comes from a real place. I found myself wanting to invite the pain in and sometimes go looking for it… just to create some cool shit that gets sold by people, who at times may not give a damn about how you got there.” On collaborating with Polaris, she adds: “It felt so right to have Polaris on this track. Dan and I personally bonded over this exact topic on a night out, after the song was already written so it felt like fate. We have wanted to work together for so long, so having another Australian artist we absolutely love was a pure blessing and created a perfect storm.” [via Dork]

Oceans of Slumber have officially unveiled their upcoming album Where Gods Fear to Speak, and dropped a performance video for the second single, ‘Poem of Ecstasy.’ The track puts the band’s signature dark and cinematic style on full display, and strings together numerous standout moments, sorta giving the feel of a mini-epic. We got haunting vocals and a smooth piano entrance, with a transition to doom-laden power metal, culminating with death growls and blast beats, in some sort of a “dystopian grindcore”. [via Metal Injection]

Fresh from her Download Festival set – which not only etched HARPER into its history books as the festival’s youngest ever performer but marked her first ever live show – now the astonishing 12-year-old vocalist releases a brand new track, ‘Bird In A Cage.’ ‘Bird In A Cage’ was co-written by Leo Valeri (Brand Of Sacrifice) and Ben Lumber (Acres). Valeri performed all instrumentation on the single. Harper enthuses, “’Bird In A Cage’ was written about feeling trapped and alone and being let down by the people who are close to you. This song is different to any song I’ve done before and I really wanted to show I can do more than just scream. It’s possibly my favourite song I’ve done to date!” [via Metal Planet]

FUTURE PALACE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Dreamstate’, is taken from the German post-hardcore band’s upcoming new album, Distortion, which is scheduled to be released in September this year, via Arising Empire. The band collaborated with Pavel Trebukhin once again for the Dreamstate music video, returning to Riga, Latvia. “At first, I actually intended to write a piano ballad,” says guitarist Manuel Kohlert about the new song. “But the song quickly became much harder.” Vocalist Maria Lessing adds, “it’s now one of my favourite songs on our new album.” The organic development process of the song, in which quiet sounds were ultimately overtaken by massive anger, can perhaps even be read symbolically – after all, the vocalist was also thinking about her career as a musician, which sometimes seems just as overwhelming. “Very often I lack the strength to see it all through,” she continues. “I think many people can empathise with this feeling of being overwhelmed in our performance-oriented society.” [via Distorted Sound]

DEFENCES have released a track. ‘The Almost’, is the brand new single from the Hertfordshire-based alternative metal band and follows on from their previous single, ‘Gold In The Dark’, which was released last month. Speaking about the new song, the band says, “with ‘The Almost’ we wanted to dive into the dangers of comparing yourself and your achievements to the people around you. It is all too easy to see the often manipulated, idyllic versions of people’s lives on social media and come to the conclusion that you’re missing out, that you’re not living life to the fullest. To be stuck in a place where you feel like your life has not begun is a horrible and unnecessary feeling, and we wanted to put a name to it. That’s where ‘The Almost’ comes in. [via Distorted Sound]

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Irish indie rock band Pillow Queens dive into intoxicating feelings with punchy, cathartic track and official video ‘Heavy Pour’. ‘Heavy Pour’ is a track that lays the foundation for a story of unshakable conviction in the face of doubt and feeling inadequate. Sonically, lead guitarist and vocalist Cathy McGuinness shares, “It feels like a bit of a bizarre journey or a fever dream.” Opening with a 90s grunge vibe, twangy distorted guitars and open strings, it gets progressively heavier before a cathartic release. McGuinness says, “The guitar becomes more palatable in the middle eight, totally contradicting the previous section of discordant chaos. It then falls into a glorious half time with ‘oohs’ to support the instruments, giving a feeling of clarity and resolve before snapping back to the chorus.” Lyrically, lead vocalist, guitarist and bassist Pamela Connelly adds, “A lot of the lines in this song could convey the typical sweetness of a love song, but it has brief moments of outside perspectives that cast doubt over the conviction represented. The song tries to show the “heavy pour” as a compulsion that while having moments of joy, ultimately heightens personal insecurities.” The band also touches on gender and common misconceptions with the line, “I want more, but I’m not man enough.” Vocalist, guitarist and bassist Sarah Corcoran says talk regarding that line has sparked conversations about gender, particularly the tendency to equate masculinity with bravery. “Intrigued by this dynamic, we wanted to delve into and dissect the idea that one’s gender expression is impacted by their perceived level of courage. Spoiler: it’s not. All genders can be courageous and/or scared.” The track’s accompanying video, directed by Kate Dolan, is inspired by old silent films like The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, Faust and Nosferatu. The idea for the video came immediately to Dolan upon hearing the track. Dolan says, “The song felt like a haunting and I felt the video needed to be something quite stylistic. I came up with the idea of the music video being a long lost silent film that has never been seen, a haunted piece of art buried in an attic somewhere. Then, as the band performs the cursed film is purged, burning up. The band are always up for having some fun so the shoot was a lot of fun and we played a lot on set.” The spooky video was aptly shot at Glenmaroon House in Dublin. The Tudor-style Edwardian mansion, dating back to the 1850s and once owned by a member of the Guinness family, exuded an eerie charm perfectly suited for the video’s aesthetic.

Babe Club says they were inspired by Mark Ronson and Lykke Li’s song ‘Late Night Feelings’ to make a new dance groove beat. While ‘Late Night Feelings’ is about heartbreak, Babe Club’s new single, ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,’ is about uncovering your deep dark secrets. Here’s what the band had to say about their new song: “We wanted to make a dance song that inspired people to get weird and mischievous. We abandoned the idea for a year, picking it back up while being inspired by how interactive and hype Chappell Roan’s songs get with the audience. Singer Jenna Desmond recalls channeling her inner weird Barbie-the damaged one- for the lines, ‘let’s just have fun, kill the lights now turn it up,’ in hopes people will be sweating out their demons with strangers on the dance floor. It’s murder on the dance floor.” [via Holy City Sinner]

Australian trio Telenova returns with their latest elegant, disco track ‘Power.’ The song comes with an official video directed by frontwoman Angeline Armstong that is brimming with vibrant colour and otherworldly imagination. In a day of big announcements, the band has also shared news of their debut album Time Is A Flower (to be released on August 16 via Fiction) which will be played live across their forthcoming European tour which will see them touch base in London on October 1st at The Outernet’s The Lower Third. The track was co-produced by the band and Styalz Fuego who has also produced tracks for Troye Sivan, Tate McCrae, Odesza, Imagine Dragons. Speaking about the song’s creation Angeline explains “The song is a fable-like story of a flower in love with the sun, but the sun is setting. And the flower is afraid of being left alone in the darkness without the very thing that gives it power and strength. Of course, the flower unaware that the sun inevitably always rises again. The more we kept building out the lyrics the more Josh and I realized its a fairly multi-layered metaphor for love. Inevitably (and beautifully) people will hear different things in the meaning of ‘Power’, it resonates on a romantic-love kind of micro level, but can really extend out to a divine kind of love and existential longing – whatever your idea of ‘God’ or the universe or something ‘bigger’ it’s the cry of a human being out to whatever is out there, to like, not be abandoned basically, not be left to our own devices all on our own. And then we shroud that all in a big fun dancey disco tune – because why not.”

On her brand new single ‘Comic Trip’, Sylvie Kreusch nosedives into a fantasy world where anything is possible. It is a song that buzzes with colors, sensations and Big Emotions – with a stylistic nod to bands like The B-52’s and Stereolab. “On ‘Comic Trip’, I wanted to create a world where everything is possible, where reality and fantasy intertwine.” Kreusch says about her latest song. “The inspiration came from the nostalgia for my childhood, when I could lose myself for hours and hours, reading vintage comic strips in my grandmother’s attic. I was immediately reminded of those Roy Lichtenstein-sounds, which I added in both the arrangements and the lyrics.” With its bright, sparkling arrangements, ‘Comic Trip”’resonates like the pop music version of a retro sixties comic that’s brimming with spectacle, intrigue and suspense. Kreusch turns into a superheroine protagonist who jumps kinetically from panel to panel. “’Comic Trip’ harkens back to childhood, the days when you still looked at the world with wonder. I think we as adults can learn a lot from that.” Kreusch adds. “I am now in my thirties and everything is becoming slightly predictable. I now have a little more control over my life, so it is sometimes shocking when you lose that spontaneity. Being a bit more naive in the world, especially as a creative person, is a very important thing to keep doing. So that’s what I’m looking for now.” ‘Comic Trip’ is a very visual song, so there really had to be a video. The things I wanted to do weren’t that easily executed either. It is about children who completely lose themselves in comic books and look in amazement at a world in which everything is possible. I tried to put that world visually in a video. It turned out really cool, and it required a lot of preparation. It’s very conceptual, even though I don’t normally write like that. You constantly bump into things that are not feasible. There is certainly something of a Western influence in it: comics and Westerns are two worlds that often go well together. There was a lot of shooting in terms of choreography on a treadmill. The world I am in is a kind of desert landscape, in which things travel my way. And the children act as a shadow of me. Sometimes they follow me around and then they disappear again. That was maybe the hardest part: finding children in which gender and age looked fluid. That there is something very playful and young about them, but they are also very mature in how they move, in their way they imitate me a little bit. Part of the video for ‘Comic Trip’ was actually filmed on location, and partly animated. The idea behind it is that you’re not supposed to be able to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s fantasy.”

Kate Nash has shared ‘Space Odyssey 2001’, as the latest single from her forthcoming album, 9 Sad Symphonies. The track sees Kate nash recount a first date with her now-partner and pokes fun at her own movie choice. “It’s the wrong film for a date, but I love the film. I like making jokes in songs. I like that there’s this beautiful love song but it’s also complaining about this critically acclaimed film being too long. I don’t recommend it for a first date,” she explains. “‘Space Odyssey’ is a love song about my partner who I was friends with for many years, but we met up at just the right time in the summer of 2017, both single and very unexpectedly fell in love,” Nash continues. “Romance came back into my life in this effervescent, joyful and healing way. I’d been through so much pain and toxicity. In the video, I arrive at this homestead having been through hell, exhausted and at the point of no return. I am rescued by a half man/half donkey. It’s inspired by Shakespeare and the way his plays use surrealism, fairy tale and classic love stories, but also the genuine complexities of human relationships. I’m taken into this homestead as I’m ready to give up and am healed by sunshine, friendship, food, joy, animals, nature and falling in love with someone you really don’t expect, which transforms me from a broken, bloody mess to a higher level self (in this case, a fairy).” [via Line Of Best Fit]

MOTHICA has shared another new single and video from her upcoming album Kissing Death. Following last month’s first single ‘Doomed,’ the artist unveils a song attached to her name, ‘Curiosity Killed The Moth’ – and as such, she says that it felt like an especially “daunting” one to write. “I thought of the phrase ‘curiosity killed the cat’ on the way to a session with David Burris and Alexandra Veltri, and we twisted it to be about a moth,” MOTHICA explains. “Like a moth to a flame. Icarus flying too close to the sun. “I’ve always wanted to write a song about moths, but of course, it being my namesake that felt like a daunting task. I wanted every song to feel like it was from a soundtrack since I knew I was going to do a music video for every song, and so it turned into this dark cinematic feeling that I really love.” [via Kerrang!]

Calva Louise has revealed the extraordinary cinematic Sci-Fi video for their new song, ‘Under the Skin’, and the news they have also signed to Mascot Records—home to P.O.D., VOLA, Defects, Conquer Divide, Dragged Under, and Oxymorrons,. ‘Under the Skin’ was co-written by Allanic and Pendulum’s Gareth McGrillen and is a mesmerising blend of raging metal riffs, swirling electronica, and Allanic’s extraordinary ability to flit between ethereal vocals and demonic howls. It swoons in and out of a stunning narrative, with melodic twists along the way that are penetrated by an attack of hypnotic aggression. ‘Under The Skin’ follows a complex Sci-Fi narrative and is the introduction of a conceptual storyline about the characters and their counterparts called the Doubles. Talking about the song, Allanic says, “The lyrics deal with the obstacles that arise between them as one is looking for freedom and the other is looking to perpetuate their consciousness, but the expectations are not the same for both sides.” The video is a feast for the eye and was directed and edited with VFX by Jess Allanic. This first single release is accompanied by Calva Louise’s most ambitious music video production, including a Sci-Fi movie-style short film telling a story about parallel dimensions where the characters are looking to perpetuate their consciousness beyond the real world.

Shannon & The Clams release their latest single ‘Big Wheel’ and its accompanying music video. The song will be featured on their upcoming album The Moon Is In The Wrong Place out May 10 via Easy Eye Sound. Kicking off with resounding Moog synthesizer instrumentals and vocals from guitarist Cody Blanchard, ‘Big Wheel’ chronicles the unavoidable passage of time and life’s impermanence. On the track, Shannon & The Clams showcase their remarkable knack for making big, devastating feelings more tangible through upbeat melodies and creating a place for listeners to celebrate life. In August 2022, singer and frontwoman Shannon Shaw’s world was turned inside out: with mere weeks to go until their wedding, the singer’s fiancé, Joe Haener, died in a horrific car accident. It was a devastating loss that hit Shannon & The Clams — who were all incredibly close with Haener — with cataclysmic force. Cue ‘Big Wheel,’ guitarist Cody Blanchard’s response to Joe’s death — a meditation on how time and reality become distorted in the face of sudden loss. The lyrics ruminate on the feeling of helplessness as time marches on after someone dies, like the feeling of being strapped into a ferris wheel seat that you don’t want to be on — as if you have accidentally gotten on the wrong ride and everything has “gone off the track” and you desperately want to pull the stop lever. The song also explores the impotent desire to rewind time and to keep the gap between “now” and “before” as small as possible, like the urge to keep a child at a certain innocent age before the harshness of the world turns them cynical. “See the boy waiting in line, weep for him on the other side.” The accompanying music video, directed by Vanessa Pla, is an eerie exploration of time visually reminiscent of silent era films. [via Concord]

Following last month’s single ‘Maverick’, self-styled brat punk Delilah Bon has unleashed another ferocious single in the form of ‘Finally See Me’. Taking inspiration from her school days, it’s a raw and riotous exploration of Delilah’s teenage school experience, and the mental health struggles she faced, feeling lost and alone as a free-thinker in a system that didn’t understand her. “This song is about craving recognition and validation,” says Delilah. “I receive messages from so many young people who feel just like I did back in school. They tell me they use my music to get through the day, which hits close to home for me. I remember spending lunch breaks hiding in the school toilets, listening to P!nk, just trying to escape the world.” [via Kerrang!]

Cross Dog is a noisy, experimental, bass-driven hardcore punk band from Peterborough, Ontario. Their music is played at ear-splitting volumes, but the band’s socially conscious messaging cuts through the noise loud and clear. Formed in 2013, the intentional omission of a guitarist from the lineup leaves Cross Dog lacking absolutely nothing. Affirming the power in the rule of three, Tracy A (vocals), Mark Rand (bass), and Mikey Reid (drums) explode with a multiplicative force that betrays the finite bounds of their instrumental limitations. Cross Dog’s newest album (and first for Stomp Records), All Hard Feelings (out June 7), sees the band maintain the sonic onslaught they’ve become known for, but with a few tweaks. ‘Hard Feelings,’ the first single to be shared ahead of the LP’s launch, is a pseudo-diss track that stemmed from Tracy feeling blindsided and betrayed. It encapsulates the moment when you are all pure and reactive emotion before you calm down and view your current situation through a healthier, more balanced lens. It’s the perfect “scream-it-in-your-car” song, so you don’t end up screaming it in someone else’s face.

Taylor Swift has released her first Tortured Poets Department music video. The visual is for the album’s opener, ‘Fortnight,’ featuring Post Malone. Watch the new video, written and directed by Swift and co-starring the musicians with Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles, below. [via Pitchfork]

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Halifax, Canada’s Kilmore are gearing up for the release of their new EP From The Inside at the end of March. It’s six tracks of groovy, stoner rock with metal elements. Its lyrics were written at a time when there was a real change around the world and an internal bittersweet struggle. Along with that, vocalist/guitarist Heather Harris became a new mother and was trying to find her place in a new reality really speaks loudly in the emotions on the record. Some themes are of destruction while others of hope, each song has its own theme/feel. The quartet unveils their next single ‘Firestone’ accompanied by a music video. The song is about feeling broken and alone and looking for the light through the darkness. This was an old song the band rehashed when drummer Jon MacIsaac joined the lineup. The song locked in the right direction lyrically with the new groove and the band felt they have created a fierce and intense track. The video was filmed after a snowstorm and showcases a magnificent Canadian winter.

The SoCal hardcore band Initiate have shared a new track plus details on a new album. Cerebral Circus — Initiate’s first record since the Lavender EP in 2020 and their first full-length since 2018’s Before Long… — will be out in a month on Triple B. New single ‘The Surface’ toggles between intense verses spearheaded by Crystal Pak’s harsh demonic rasp and a chorus so harmonically rich it basically qualifies as pop-punk. Watch the song’s music video below. [via Stereogum]

Metal quartet, The Dark Side Of The Moon, have released their first original song, the harmonic ‘The Gates Of Time’. The fourth single from debut album, Metamorphosis, highlights Melissa Bonny’s distinctive voice, combined with the beautiful harp playing by Jenny Diehl. The Dark Side Of The Moon on ‘The Gates Of Time’: “We are beyond proud to present to you the very first song we’ve ever written together as a band! We started this journey with covers of famous songs from movies, series, and video games but soon we realized that writing our own stories and melodies was a must. Four creative minds with so many ideas to share – ‘The Gates Of Time’ is just the beginning!” [via Brave Words]

Finnish pagan metaller Vermilia releases a new music video for ‘Marras’, which is taken from her latest album Ruska, originally released on September 9. In Finnish, the season of autumn colours and fall foliage is called ruska where the name of the album comes. The video was mainly filmed in Kemiönsaari, except the aerial videos were filmed in Häme. As before, the video is directed by Vermilia herself. [via Kronos Mortus]

Hungary’s The Hellfreaks are ready to serve another dose of their skillfully-combined modern metal blend, featuring heavy post-hardcore and skate punk influences galore. Topped with a mix of delicate clean vocals and aggressive screams, they are primed to drop jaws around the world. The Hellfreaks are off to a flying start with their upcoming fifth album, Pitch Black Sunset, out April 14 via Napalm Records. Showing off the band’s versatility and unquestionable talent, their third single, ‘Weeping Willow’, leans towards modern electronic metal. With a drastic change towards the end – the dark and eerily atmospheric track surprises the listener with extraordinary vocalist Zsuzsa “Shakey Sue“ Radnóti’s impressive core-breaking shouts. ‘Weeping Willow’ comes along with a smashing, highly-energetic official video, proving once more that The Hellfreaks don’t compromise on any rules and defy norms. Waving the flag of a new generation of metal and punk, The Hellfreaks are experts in the fusion of punk sub-genres and chart-storming modern metal. The Hellfreaks state on ‘Weeping Willow’: “Do you ever feel like you’re in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by waves, and even though you know how to swim, you still can’t find the shore? Do you know how it feels being haunted by your own mind or when your memories feel more alive than yourself? ‘Weeping Willow’ is a raw and brutally honest portrayal of the battle with our inner demons. This song reveals the darkest and vulnerable side of the album that we wanted to reveal it with the most cinematic video we’ve ever shot by using symbolism and imagery, that truly captures the essence of the song. We wanted our fans to know that they are not alone in their struggles. Mental health is a battle that many people face, including us and ‘Weeping Willow’ is a reminder that for some of us it is normal to feel overwhelmed and to ask for help. We believe it is an important release that deserves to be heard, and we are proud to share it with our familys, fans and supporters. Stay strong, and remember, you are not alone!” [via Brave Words]

London’s Pupil Slicer will follow their great 2021 debut LP Mirrors with their sophomore album Blossom on June 2 via Prosthetic. It was produced by Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Svalbard, Employed To Serve), and singer/guitarist Kate Davis says it’s a “hard sci-fi/cosmic horror concept album” that covers a lot more musical ground than the mathcore-inspired Mirrors. They say: “‘Blossom’ is the culmination of 2 years spent with razor focus on crafting a journey like no other. We are incredibly proud of the feats we have achieved on our sophomore album, building upon the experience and feedback from our debut to further break down the walls between metal, hardcore, shoegaze, electronic music and pop. We have delivered the most concentrated Pupil Slicer experience yet. A hard sci-fi/cosmic horror concept album, the story told across ‘Blossom’ draws on some of my favourite media to craft these 10 tracks where instrumental, lyrical and visual elements have been cohesively refined to serve the world I have created.” The first single is the title track, which closes the record, and you can very much hear the band going in a new direction on this one. It’s got a much greater use of clean vocals than we’ve heard from Pupil Slicer in the past, and it goes in a handful of new directions for the band. Sometimes it hearkens back to the era of 2000s flamboyant post-hardcore, but Pupil Slicer do it in a way that feels futuristic. Kate calls the song “the final point beyond time and space, a nexus of everything that could have been and a vantage point into everything that came before.” Check out the track and its David Gregory-directed video below. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

Rock duo Janet Gardner and Justin James have announced that their brand new album, No Strings, will be released via Frontiers Music Srl on June 9. A first single from the record, ‘Don’t Turn Me Away’, is available now. Their most exciting and memorable release to date, No Strings is the follow-up to Synergy. “Mine and Justin’s work flow has become so effortless that the creative process never gets bogged down in the technical aspects until it comes time to mix and master,” states Gardner. [via Metal Planet]

Following their newly developed sound for their next album, coming in September 2023, Calva Louise release their next single ‘Feast Is Over’. The song deals with the circumstances that keep pushing us back to square one. Inspired by Sci-Fi movies and comics, Calva Louise’s songs are linked to a story about the duality of the human being. ‘Feast Is Over’ sets the mood of a dysopian world at the outset – the track launches with industrial , Metropolis-esque sounds that are heavy and hit hard. This is off set with melodic harmonies which are interspersed with furious, raging vocals. “It reflects our rebellion against feeling convinced that the best thing to do is to start over again, and instead we choose to keep on going forward, fighting and assuming the consequences of our own decisions, it feels like accepting a new challenge so we can get out of a loop once and for all,” say the band. The video for this latest single is a direct sequel to their last – ‘Third Class Citizen’. [via Loud Women]

RedHook have released a new single featuring fellow Aussie scene favourites Yours Truly. The two bands join forces for ‘Imposter’, which is taken from RedHook’s upcoming debut album Postcard From A Living Hell (due out on April 21). Says Emmy Mack of the song: “There’s no head-fuck quite like discovering that the person you love most, and who you think you know better than anyone else, has been lying to you and manipulating you the entire time. At first, it feels like death, you grieve for the person you loved as if they’ve died, and yet somehow they still exist. It’s almost as if some kind of evil, alien life force has taken up residence inside their body and is walking around wearing their skin. Eventually, it causes you to question your own sanity; you question whether that person who meant so much to you ever really existed at all.” [via Kerrang!]

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London-based powerhouse Lily Moore has returned with her brand new single, ‘Hard Days Love’ via Believe. Showcasing her signature soulful and soaring vocals, the track was co-written by Lily and The Nocturns (Mimi Webb, James Arthur, Dylan and more), who also produced the song. The long-awaited ‘Hard Days Love’ is Lily’s first musical offering since her More Moore mixtape featuring Maverick Sabre (on track ‘In-between’) and Dan Caplen, and is the start of a brand new compelling chapter for her. Lily explains, “’Hard Days Love’ is about knowing when it’s time to give up. Being a musician is my favourite thing in the world but the last few years made that nearly impossible, and to lose that part of myself nearly over night was the hardest break up I’ve ever gone through! A sexy little cocktail of the world going mad and my own personal issues finally catching up with me, meant it felt like the world was putting a big old middle finger up to me and all my friends trying to make a life in London.” Alongside the release, the artist has also revealed the official music video which was directed by Claryn Chong (Holly Humberstone, flowerovlove, Tommy Lefroy). The visuals were shot at an arduous assault course near Brighton, which Lily was already very familiar with as she took on the challenge at school when she was just 14. Watch the video here. Lily says of the video process, “It has been a very long time since I did any music video. They’ve always felt quite scary to me and I get more nervous about them than I do for any shows. The beauty of this video was that I was so cold and busy concentrating on not stacking it, that I didn’t even notice any of my usual self conscious, annoying, little thoughts.”

Jessica Winter has delivered a third outing from her new Limerence EP titled ‘Clutter’, which sees her team up with Lynks and is accompanied by another Ella Margolin-directed video. Winter says of the new song, “I moved house and found love letters, photos and other bits from relationships over the years that at the time meant so much yet hold no significance now. I’ve carried these things around with me all this time and a spring clean was needed; physically and spiritually from all past and present relationships! Lynks embodies a divine solitary strength so there’s no one better than him to help deliver this message.” [via Line Of Best Fit]

The producer Yaeji has been putting out music for nearly a decade now — she’s released many singles, some EPs, and, in 2020, she shared a full-length mixtape called WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던. Now, she’s ready to put out her debut album. It’s called With A Hammer, and its cover art shows her wielding a large hammer, which per a press release actually has a name: Hammer Lee. With A Hammer will be out on April 7, and it includes contributions from Loraine James, Nourished By Time, and producers K Wata and Enayet. Yaeji is sharing the album’s lead single, ‘For Granted,’ with a self-directed music video. [via Stereogum]

UK songwriter Fenne Lily — who moved to New York City in the time since she released her sophomore album, BREACH in 2020 — has announced a new album, Big Picture, which was recorded at Brad Cook’s studio in North Carolina. Fenne Lily co-produced the album with Cook, save for one track that was produced with Christian Lee Hutson, with whom she’ll head out on an extensive tour later this year. Now, she’s sharing the album’s muted and shimmering lead single ‘Lights Light Up.’ “Iʼd never really written about love in the present tense before this, but even though I was still in love and not thinking about the end, there was something else going on subconsciously that led to a song about moving on before the moving on had begun,” she noted in a press release, continuing: “When it came time to record, the band and I had been playing it live for a while and itʼd become something joyful and positive, but when I started recording vocals, the lyrics made me cry. By that point the song was over a year old and I thought those wounds had healed but I guess it hurt to admit Iʼd been letting go of something while still trying to hold on.” [via Stereogum]

Los Angeles based Lisel (Eliza Bagg) just released the new song and video for ‘Immature’ from her upcoming album, Patterns For Auto-Tuned Voices And Delay, out February 17 on Ba Da Bing. The song features Bagg’s operatic voice, layered, cut up, and warped. The video straddles the experimental and pop realms, combining minimalist dance in the vein of Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker’s Rosas Danst Rosas and Yvonne Rainer with pop culture aesthetics that reference Beyoncé and Charli XCX. Lisel and two dancers walk in high-heels on treadmills, enacting something both bizarre and pedestrian.

The C.I.A.’s Surgery Channel is ripe with straightforward conviction. The trio made up of Denée & Ty Segall and Emmett Kelly have constructed a world where everything is piercing and pinpointed. Every word brings confrontation – The C.I.A. make you question what could be happening here…or what they’re after. Just ahead of its Friday release, they revealed a new video and single ‘Bubble’ — a story of anxious desire. We will be consumed by what we must consume. Restraint backfires and drives a person to madness. Or maybe that’s just what they want you to think. It feels as though Denée (vocals, lyrics) is whispering directly in your ear, amplified by the suspense of tick-tocking drum machine beats. Ty (bass, percussion, back up vocals) and Emmett (bass, synth, back up vocals) paint a jarring and dissonant landscape behind Denée’s story. Words are rhythm at The C.I.A.

Tāmaki Makaurau’s original pop royal Princess Chelsea aka Chelsea Nikkel has unveiled a new video for ‘Time’ from her fifth studio album Everything Is Going To Be Alright, filmed in Prague while touring the globe last year. Directed / edited by Julie Reynaud and made with support from NZ On Air, viewers are invited to peer inside a gothic storybook to encounter a vampiric PC roaming amidst the Czech Republic capital’s jam-packed graveyards, ancient cathedrals and cobblestone-lined streets under cover of darkness — pondering the future and glamorously garbed in outfits including red flowing velvet cape and an amazing chainmail style hoodie. The artist’s famously talented bandmates (recently acclaimed by Shayne P. Carter) Joe Kaptein, Jasmine Balmer, David Harris, Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent and Joshua Worthington-Church make an appearance too, having a fun picnic with Nikkel in the clip’s closing moments. [via Under The Radar]

Black Honey have kicked off their 2023 with another taster from their upcoming album, A Fistful of Peaches, ‘Up Against It’. “This song is an open letter to my younger self,” Izzy Phillips explains. “And to every young discriminated and marginalised person out there. I want so bad to give them an anthem that was instead of “fuck the world” would give them a screaming discovery of new found kindness towards themselves. Troubled young people give themselves the hardest time of all. I want to tell them that you are hurting and things are harder than you ever thought they could be, but all you have to do is show up for yourself every day. Things aren’t always going to go to plan but I know that future you is fucking proud of who you are now. And you will look back on yourself with huge admiration. Give yourself a break kid, you were up against it.” It comes alongside a video directed by Izzy and the band, which you can check out below. [via Dork]

Mercury Prize winner Arlo Parks has announced the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album, Collapsed In Sunbeams. My Soft Machine will be out May 26 and features the lead single ‘Weightless,’ out now.

It’s been a bit since we’ve heard from Gisela Fulla-Silvestre, the electronic musician who puts out music as NOIA. Her Crisàlida EP landed back in 2019, and now she’s finally ready to announce her debut full-length album. gisela is out at the end of March, and it features contributions from Ela Minus, Maria Arnal, and Buscabulla, whose Raquel Berrios duets on the glimmering lead single ‘eclipse de amor.’ “’eclipse de amor’ is like a movie set in a tropical night that ends with a knife and blood,” NOIA said in a statement. “A love story and a mysterious murder. It’s a song about duality, two people mirroring each other, an eclipse of love that ends up consuming you in the name of becoming something beautiful together.” She continued: I guess it’s an ode to toxic consuming love? This song is also an ode to old boleros. it has that energy of old romantic duets, but then the chorus feels like entering a future dystopian tropical video game party, so it holds those two very different worlds. I was very excited to sing this duet with Raquel from Buscabulla. She has a unique vocal tone, it evoques darkness and echoes from another era somehow. We complemented each other so well with the two characters of this song. Luifre (the other half of Buscabulla) recorded this retro synth line over her verse that gave it even more of a classic vibe. I started working on this song as part of the music for a film that needed a romantic bolero kind of track, and then the song evolved when i was making some beats for a reggaeton artist that he ended up not using. So in a way it always has felt like a very playful song.” [via Stereogum]

Wishing us happy holidays a month ago with her festive insta-classic ‘Meri Kirihimete’, Erny Belle aka Aimee Renata’s (Ngāpuhi) gifts us a romantic alternative to the nine-five grind with a new video for ‘Island Time’, from her acclaimed debut album Venus Is Home. Self-directed and produced by Renata, shot at Te Arai on analogue film stock by Ezra Simons (Earth Tongue, Soft Bait) and made with support from NZ On Air, the clip co-stars Navakatoa Tekela-Pule (Strangelove) as the Stetson hat wearing The Man From The Islands, tenderly strumming his acoustic guitar and dancing with the red-garbed songwriter on the sandy shore. Originally self-released in early ’22, Venus Is Home is being reissued in a new vinyl edition courtesy of Flying Nun. Erny Belle says, “‘Island Time’ is an ode to the Pacific. I picture myself and the times I spent looking out at the view from Te Arai beach, from the waters edge and my sister’s porch. I spent a lot of time contemplating my creative visions and the loss and prospects of love on the horizon. The chorus is a mantra on perseverance and self belief. Though there’s a lot behind the love story, I think really it’s a love song to pacific culture and beautiful brown people, maybe I needed to give myself that back. My good friend Navakatoa plays The Man From The Islands. He is also the bassist for the Erny Belle band, It’s special that we’ve been able to capture ourselves at this time, I think it’s really sweet we’ll be able to look back at it in years to come and be reminded of everything we were doing musically at this time. It was shot at Te Arai, which is a special place to me.” [via Under The Radar]

It’s been a couple years since Kali Uchis’ last album, 2020’s Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), but she’s kept busy. She’s playing a bunch of festivals this year and has been teasing a new project, which started with ‘No Hay Ley’ last fall. Now, she’s back with a new single, ‘I Wish You Roses.’ “This song is about being able to release people with love,” Uchis said in a statement. “It could be a friend, a lover, or someone else, but the point is to celebrate releasing people from your life without being resentful or bitter.” [via Stereogum]

Calva Louise have just released their new single, ‘Third Class Citizen’. It’s is the first single taken from their upcoming EP, Over The Threshold, which will be released later this year. Vocalist and guitarist Jess Allanic explains, “’Third Class Citizen’ is about the never-ending struggle to become masters of our own destiny by merging the real, the imagined and the dreamed”. The track is accompanied by an otherworldly music video that was animated and directed by Jess, which you can check out below. [via Upset]

Tragic Sasha, the moniker of London-based artist Sasha Gurney, brings atmospheric, futurism-infused alt-pop on her new single ‘Bottle It Up’. Vocals bathed in a rhythmic autotune with bouncing vocal chorus gently drench atmosphere over Sasha’s soft and sincere vocal deliveries, bringing ethereal melody to the cutting synth bass and organic drum beats. A minimal and industrial yet artistic video aesthetic reflects Sasha’s sound perfectly; modern and cutting-edge, yet somehow still a blend of old and new. Speaking on the songwriting process, Tragic Sasha shares, “I wrote ‘Bottle It Up’ a while ago with my co-writer Scott Colcombe about holding in emotions. I wanted the song to feel like a stream of consciousness that spiralled into chaos at the end. We wrote it in two hours- it was surprisingly easy to write and very cathartic!” [via Earmilk]

Get ready to experience a new level of pop perfection with the latest release from the multi-talented Asy Saavedra, a Swedish-American singer-songwriter, producer, and composer. As the lead singer and keyboard player of the electro-pop sister duo Chaos Chaos, Asy has been making waves in the music industry for years, and now she’s kicking off her solo career with her new single ‘Masterpiece’. With this playful new release, Asy teases us with a taste of her unannounced upcoming record and takes us on a journey through her unique and genre-bending production. ‘Masterpiece’ is a powerful anthem of self-empowerment and insecurity, with lyrics that delve into the theme of not feeling like a masterpiece at all. Asy’s powerful pop songs are known to be a force to be reckoned with, but her recent venture into experimental production takes her artistry to a whole new level. Asy’s ‘Masterpiece’ is a visceral construction of the playful dance between self-empowerment and insecurity. The song is forthright and relatable, with a vulnerability that is evident in the lyrics and in the way Asy’s voice breaks intentionally when she delivers the high notes in the chorus. The production on ‘Masterpiece’ is a tantalizing blend of pop and avant-garde, with sultry “oohs” that evoke the intimacy of the bedroom and hint at a messiness beneath the surface. Asy has a knack for crafting powerful pop songs, but her recent venture into experimental production has cracked open a sonic universe in which she challenges her own formulas and doesn’t hesitate to take the reins.This is just the latest chapter in Asy’s industrious music career. [via Wonderland]

Alt-pop sensation, songwriter, and filmmaker Zolita has released her new single and video ‘Ashley’ from her highly anticipated Falling Out / Falling In EP (out February 10). ‘Ashley’ is a stripped-back and heartfelt love song which picks up directly where her previous single ‘Ruin My Life’ left off. Zolita is getting ready for Ashley’s wedding while unearthing old memories of young love between her and the bride-to-be. The video is the next installment in Zolita’s new cinematic story that began with her recent singles ’20 Questions’ and ‘Ruin My Life.’ “‘Ashley’ is a sapphic love song written for my close friend, now girlfriend,” shares Zolita. “It’s a song about yearning, falling in love, and knowing the lows that inevitably come with a relationship will be worth it. It’s sickly sweet and one of the most earnest, heartfelt songs I’ve ever written. It’s the queer ‘Hey There Delilah’ I wish I had growing up!” [via QueerForty]

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