“‘The Ocean Between Us’ is about being set on one life path, going through the motions until something or someone stops you in your tracks,” the band says. “It’s about seeing an alternate version of your life and wondering what if. What if you took the leap and started over somewhere far away, with someone new?”

The song expands upon Conquer Divide’s heavy sound, balancing melancholy and euphoria over an expansive ambient rock soundscape. The ending offers no resolution, leaving the listener unclear on whether they should escape the unfamiliar or immerse themselves in it. Knowing that either path would change reality forever, they feel they can do neither, but they must choose one.

Blossoms Fall are a metalcore band from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The band just dropped an emotional new music video and single entitled ‘Luna’ which happens to feature Wasted Potency on guest vocals. The music video was directed by Luis Escalara of Adelphia Studios. This is the first single and music video taken from their upcoming EP album La Alma which will be released on February 6, 2026 via Eclipse Records. The album was produced and mixed by Matthew Torres (Lights on the Coast, Cloudtrails, Wasted Potency) at Nightscape Recordings, and mastered by Kevin Thrasher (Escape the Fate, Machine Gun Kelly, Blink 182, Avril Lavigne) at Thrasher Productions.

“This song is in the middle of the EP and is full of emotion” says guitarist Matt Torres. “Foxes are very symbolic of spiritual guidance through turmoil in many different cultures and the idea was to encapsulate that ideal. This video is a metaphor for chasing your dreams and not stopping until you’ve made them a reality. The fox manifests a goal and chases it endlessly until it has been achieved. It represents our naturally devious nature that spoils the garden, in a sense. To inspire hope, the message is that we can change our outlook on life and find purity and happiness just by chasing the things that make you happy and bring peace and light. Sometimes that can take longer than expected but never giving up is key. This will be a clear theme throughout the EP and in visuals altogether.”

The Italian rockers IT’sALIE are pleased to announce the release of their new studio album, Wild Games, set for release on February 27, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.

To celebrate, they unveil the first single and official video, ‘Waiting For The Rain’, available below.

The band commented: “Written in collaboration with Mat Sinner and Magnus Karlsson, this track encapsulates our entire hard rock essence: a hypnotic, high-energy groove, a gritty yet melodic voice, and an explosive guitar solo that leaves its mark. A perfect taste of what Wild Games has in store!”

Czech modern metal upstarts STELLVRIS have unleashed their highly anticipated new EP, Shatter and Bloom. The band is also premiering a powerful new music video for the title track, a showcase of their signature blend of crushing heaviness, soaring melodies, and raw emotion.

Bristol-based alt metallers MALLAVORA have announced their debut album. The upcoming record, titled What If Better Never Comes?, is scheduled to be released on March 27, 2026 via Church Road Records.

Speaking about the release, the band says, “we are so proud to announce the release of our debut album, What If Better Never Comes?. This record is a conceptual exploration of sickness – personal and societal – and it’s given us the space to express our experiences of difference in new and expansive ways. We hope its vulnerability, and the message it carries, brings comfort and catharsis to anyone who’s ever lived inside emotions too complex to name.”

Alongside the announcement, the band have released their latest single ‘Waste,’ which confronts misogyny and the impossible expectations placed on women. Speaking about the new single, the band says, “we had fun with Waste and experimenting with its contrasting tones. The track confronts misogyny and the impossible expectations placed on women. It’s scathing, sharp, and almost gleeful in its indictment of this pervasive societal sickness.”

Lindsay Schoolcraft returns with her most emotionally charged and sonically powerful single to date, ‘Crucified.’ A raw outpouring of anger, betrayal, and empowerment, the track captures Lindsay at her most vulnerable — and her most fearless.

Lindsay SchoolcraftLindsay says of the track, “‘Crucified’ is the heaviest sounding and most lyrically honest track written to date. At the time of Its creation it was the song I didn’t know I needed. As my guitarist Cody, along with our drummer Dylan, worked on the track the lyrics and melodies started pouring out of me suddenly. I was mad. Betrayed. Still. Realising the level of how wronged I was and by people I once loved and trusted. Clearly this was still affecting me and needed to heal even more. Around the same time we were writing this track I found the art piece I wanted to use for our album cover and the undertow of religious themes made sense in connecting this art piece to the lyrics and story. This combination went on to inspire the whole look for the music video.

“This song touches on the abuse of power. How those who have power use it to use others. To lie, twist things, get what they want and sometimes and in some sickly way, deep down they find entertainment in it. But eventually there are more victims than the abuser and there’s a ticking deadline coming their way for their malicious reign to end. Justice eventually prevails.

“Those who get it, get it. If you’ve been hurt and tangled up in this vile behaviour and were lucky enough to get out of it and survive, this song is for you.”

Visually, the ‘Crucified’ music video brings the song’s intensity to life through potent symbolism and religious undertones. The imagery of the sword and sand timer reflects these themes — the sword embodying truth and reckoning, the sand timer representing the inevitable countdown to justice. Together, they capture the song’s exploration of abuse of power and the idea that those who manipulate and exploit others eventually face the consequences of their actions.

The cinematic symphonic metal collective CATALYST CRIME return with a powerful new single and video, ‘Cursebreaker’ — out now on all digital platforms via Massacre Records.

Frontwoman Zoe Marie Federoff shares the deeply personal inspiration behind the song: “This song was inspired by the story of my husband’s mother. She was part of a resistance network behind the Iron Curtain in then-Czechoslovakia, and she secretly translated banned literature into Czech before helping facilitate its distribution. I never got to meet my mother-in-law, as she sadly died over a decade ago, but everything I’ve ever heard paints her as a hero with a golden heart who helped change the world around her for the better — the ultimate ‘Cursebreaker’.”

STABBING have announced a brand new album. Titled Eon of Obscenity, the upcoming album from the Texas-based brutal death metal band is the follow-up to 2022’s Extirpated Mortal Process, and is scheduled to be released on January 30, 2026 via Century Media Records.

Alongside the announcement, the band have released the first single ‘Inhuman Torture Chamber,’ which arrives with an official performance video. Speaking about the track, the band says, “’Inhuman Torture Chamber’ was written in regards to the horrific murder of Sylvia Likens. Since gore and torture are common themes in death metal, I try to write songs about real events I’ve read about. They are usually stories that left a negative affect on me.”

AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS have released a brand new single. The track, titled ‘WHAT YOU WANTED,’ features Dani Winter-Bates from BURY TOMORROW and follows on from the UK post-hardcore band’s previous single, ‘POINT OF VIEW,’ which was released back in September.

Speaking about the song, vocalist Charlie Rolfe says, “over the last two years, I have watched various people in my life struggle with addiction issues, mostly related to alcohol. It’s painful and difficult to watch your most beloved people in your life destroy themselves every single day, and not be able to help them. You find it frustrating not being able to help them, not being to do anything, and being angry at their lack of empathy for the pain they put you through every day.”

She continues, “I found a lot of relatable things in the 1980’s film The Shining which is famously seen as an allegory for alcoholism, with Jack’s family being concerned for his health, his wellbeing, seeing him in slow decline. His family are frustrated with the situation he put them in alongside being terrified of him when he is the worst version of himself. It made me realise that I was often frustrated and terrified of that person and felt like I was living in my own Overlook Hotel at times, trying to desperately save that person, but also sometimes the best thing to do is to just get out. I used this world as a creative vessel to tell my own story.”

Australian breakthrough heavy act Future Static return with their highly anticipated new single / video ‘There’s Nowhere Else To Go’ via Wild Thing Records, the first new music from the band since their highly acclaimed Liminality album.

After a two years of international touring, including a headline EU/UK tour, festival appearances and supporting the likes of Babymetal and Electric Callboy in Australia, Future Static mark a new era with their latest single ‘There’s Nowhere Else To Go’. Building on the foundations of their #1 Australian AIR-charting 2023 debut album Liminality, the band have crafted a refined sound and renewed purpose. An expansive mix of heavy, melodic, technical and chaotic, ‘There’s Nowhere Else To Go’ strikes a new depth musically and lyrically for a band that’s ready to push the extremes whilst staying true to their flow.

The band comment on the single: “‘There’s Nowhere Else To Go’ is an analysis on the duality of criticism from inspiring motivation and personal growth to the destructive inducement of self-hatred and insecurity.  Whilst we’ve all experienced the feeling of not being good enough it’s important to believe in yourself despite the constant judgmental commentary especially from the worst critic: your own self.”

PLAGUE OF ANGELS have released a brand new single. The dark alt-metal visionaries have unveiled ‘Black Requiem,’ a haunting track exploring mental health and inner turmoil. Following on from last year’s Beyond Salvation, released this Halloween, the single marks the first appearance of new vocalist Emilie Nox and bassist/pianist Caroline Campbell, expanding the band’s dynamic sound.

Speaking about the track, the band says, “’Black Requiem’ captures the sound of internal chaos, the private struggle that no one else can see. The imagery of Emilie performing from within a perspex coffin reflects that sense of being buried by your own mind yet still finding the strength to sing through it. This is the most conceptually ambitious piece we’ve ever created. From Caroline’s haunting piano that opens the track to the blistering guitar solo, every element serves the story of emotional confinement and release. Bringing Emilie Nox into the band has redefined our sound. Her ability to move between ethereal melody and visceral aggression gives Black Requiem a rare emotional depth. It’s a song that bleeds honesty. We wanted to create something beautiful within the darkness. Black Requiem is about confronting despair, not avoiding it, turning pain into art and noise into meaning.”

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Talking about the personal tones of the song, guitarist Izzy Johnson says,”We are stoked to bring the next era of Conquer Divide with our new song ‘Bad Dreams ft Of Virtue’. Lyrically it touches on the feeling of wanting nothing more than to succeed but being sabotaged by your own thoughts. Analysis paralysis is real and creates cycles that sometimes feel unbreakable, something that we have all individually experienced. Just like our other songs ‘Paralyzed,’ ‘Pressure’ and ‘N E W H E A V E N’ (that also have introspective themes), we hope this song is something our listeners can relate to and find comfort in. Big thanks to the guys in Of Virtue who made the song come alive, we are blessed to create music alongside such talent.”

Of Virtue’s Tyler Ennis adds, “I’ve been a fan of Conquer Divide ever since I heard ‘Messy’. It’s an absolute honor being asked to bring both our bands together on their newest single and we’re excited for it to finally be released!”

Italian power/gothic metal band Risen Crow returns with their second single, ‘Believe In Me’, from the upcoming album Requiem For A Damned Love, dropping February 28 from Rockshots Records.

‘Believe In Me’ is an anthem of trust, inner turmoil, and connection, blending symphonic textures, intricate guitars, and emotive vocals. Concept-driven, haunting, and melodic, this single sets the tone for a journey through obsession, madness, and the destructive power of love. The music video delivers a cinematic experience, perfectly complementing the emotional depth of the track. Don’t miss it! Let Risen Crow take you into their world of powerful storytelling and atmospheric metal.

LA musician Madison Violett has released her powerful debut single ‘Circling.’ Madison says, “‘Circling’ is about realizing that it’s okay to acknowledge that people have hurt you, and that’s the first step to recognizing that you are above the ones who have wronged you. You are so much more than the people who have put you down- and after all, their words are just words. The fact that people are trying to bring you down confirms that they’re intimidated by your resilience and strength. What I want to convey to all my listeners is to stay strong. Keep your head up and don’t let anyone dim your flame. Don’t stop chasing what you’re after.”

Swedish hard rockers, Thundermother, are premiering a new music video for their latest single ‘Can’t Put Out the Fire’. The charismatic rock quartet is releasing their new studio album titled Dirty & Divine on February 7, 2025 via AFM Records.

In a gesture of solidarity with friends and fans in Southern California the band says: “Our hearts go out to the City of Angels. We love you Los Angeles and know you will come back stronger than ever. This song was written and recorded last year and we hope everyone can still enjoy it.”

LUNA KILLS have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Leech,’ is taken from the Finnish alternative metalcore band’s upcoming debut album, DEATHMATCH, which is scheduled to be released in April this year, via SharpTone Records.

Speaking about the new single, vocalist Lotta Ruutiainen says, “’Leech’ is a raw depiction of battling depression and thoughts of self harm” vocalist Lotta Ruutiainen explains. “Its lyrics portray the denial and avoidance of facing the depths of the illness, even as it spirals out of control. Ultimately it conveys the painful understanding of staying in that place, where fear and self-hatred have entwined so tightly with one’s identity that they seem impossible to separate. The song was one of the last few we wrote for the album, and the music came together in a more relaxed and joyful manner than the lyrics might suggest. It’s one of those songs that came together quickly because everyone instantly connected with the melodies and rhythms and had a shared vision for it.” [via Distorted Sound]

DAWN OF OUROBOROS have announced a new album. Titled Bioluminescence, the upcoming album from the Oakland, California-based progressive black metal band is the follow-up to 2023’s Velvet Incandescence, and is scheduled to be released in March this year, via Prosthetic Records.

The upcoming album was primarily self recorded before the mixing was handled by Lewis Johns at The Ranch in Southampton, UK, and mastering by Grant Berry at Fader Mastering in Manchester, UK. Additional engineering was then completed by Nick Loiacono at Fang Studios in San Mateo, before the ethereal artwork was crafted by Alex Eckman Lawn.

Alongside the announcement of the new album, DAWN OF OUROBOROS have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming album; the title track ‘Bioluminescence.’

Speaking about the new song, the band shares, “the ocean has always been a major inspiration for us as a band, but this song is the first where we’ve directly composed something about it. Particularly, it’s about the chemical process found in many deep-sea animals called bioluminescence. We wanted the title track to be an introduction to the more adventurous vibe of the overall album. To create something that pushed ourselves into a more progressive area of our creativity, while still maintaining the emotional intensity and melodic sensibilities the represents the qualities of our music that are so important to us as a band.” [via Distorted Sound]

Deathless Legacy has released a video for ‘Miserere’, first single taken from the new album, Damnatio Aeterna, to be released on March 7 by Scarlet Records.

Directed by Frater Orion, the video translates the dark and provocative theme of the track into images: a confession turned into an obsessive and disturbing ritual, where the line between redemption and sin dissolves. With haunting atmospheres and powerful visual symbolism, the video for ‘Miserere’ offers an interpretation of the twisted relationship between sin and salvation, immersing the viewer in a cathartic experience. [via Brave New Words]

Aligned, your new favorite Gothenburg-based purveyor of both earworms and riffs, is now streaming their new single ‘Elysian’. The single comes alongside a video by Linda Florin and music produced, mixed, and mastered by Jonathan Thorpenberg at Welfare Sounds.

On the single itself, Aligned offered: “‘Elysian’ is the first in a series of singles to be released during 2025 and marks a leap forward for Aligned, merging the raw intensity of metalcore with subtle touches of melodic metal and a haunting sense of melancholy.” [via Metal Injection]

German-based alternative outfit SEVEN BLOOD have released their brand new single and music video for ‘Monsters’, produced by Anfy Hartmann, mixed by Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Holding Absence, Bury Tomorrow) and mastered by Dick Beetham. The track follows the release of their previous single ‘As We Bleed’, the cathartic ‘House ≠ Home’ and their debut release ‘Killing From The Inside’, all of which are available for streaming now.

Channelling SEVEN BLOOD’s most technical influences – notably Architects and Bring Me The Horizon – ‘Monsters’ is as heavy thematically as it is sonically. “’Monsters’ is about the demons that haunt you, and pull you down in dark moments,” vocalist Azaria Nasiri states. “It’s a song that for me is about what it means to be haunted by depression, but I think everyone will be able to relate to the monsters hiding in their own story.”

For guitarist Oli Arnold, the song strikes a particularly personal chord. “When I was about thirteen years old, my best friend died very suddenly,” he reveals. “The tragedy of that moment has shaped my life more than any other. I began suffering from panic attacks, and my parents weren’t capable of handling that situation. For a long time I didn’t feel connected to people. My childhood ended that day. It’s only now that I’m really able to begin to process that experience and to write about its impact on me.”

Nu metal from Warsaw? It’s been a while! Screeching scratches, building riffs, pissed-off raps—.bHP is back with their new single ‘Roadblock,’ and it’s pure energy to fuel your week. Two years after their self-titled album, this Warsaw band storms in, proving nu metal is still alive and kicking.

This track is a raw mix of anger and shifting dynamics, flowing like an energy drink straight into your brain. The riffs hit hard with rising aggression, while Asia’s vocals swing between melody and pure fury. Filipek and 44 tear it up on guitars, Martinez holds down the low end, and Igorek’s beats bring the punch. Bartek ties it all together with sharp, screeching scratches that give the sound that nostalgic nu metal edge.

The lyrics? Dirty, honest, and straight to the point: “There is a roadblock and we cannot solve it / It goes all the way down the road, pointless.” It’s a song about frustration—hitting walls that keep you from moving forward—but also about not backing down. It channels rage with a mix of self-awareness and brutal truth. [via Idioteq]

Not Enough Space‘s new track ‘Solace In Silence’ tackles themes of mental health, suicide awareness and coping with loss.

Explaining more about how these issues are revealed in the song, the band have shared: “‘Solace In Silence’ is a song dedicated to mental health, suicide awareness and the lasting impact on loved ones. The lyrical content explores the concept of losing yourself and wanting the voices in your head to silence themselves. Hence the title, ‘Solace In Silence.’ The track explores the aftermath of losing a loved one to suicide and the dangers of alcoholism as a means to cope with loss.” [via Rock Sound]

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Modern metal sensation Conspiracy of Blackness has inked a deal with Wormholedeath for the reissue of their critically acclaimed album Pain Therapy. The highly anticipated re-release is scheduled for September 22, and promises to captivate metal enthusiasts with its powerful and aggressive sound. Witness the captivating power of Conspiracy of Blackness by watching their official music video for ‘Welcome Death’ below.

Emerging from the vibrant UK Metal scene, Broken Calling is back to shake the foundations of the genre with their anthemic and heaviest release to date – ‘VIRUS’. Bringing forth the raw intensity and the electrifying dynamics that they’re known for, Broken Calling are adding another exciting dimension to their sound with the addition of the new vocalist, Tanzy Velane. Her voice, laced with power and grit, imbues a fresh energy into the band’s core, driving their signature sound to new, explosive heights. ‘VIRUS’ is more than just a Metalcore track; it’s a scathing commentary on the plague of social media, that omnipresent entity influencing our lives. The song echoes the silent cries of countless individuals pressurized into painting a perfect picture for the world to judge, while their authentic selves remain hidden beneath layers of pretense. It’s a rallying cry for truth, resonating with the anger and attitude that Broken Calling has become synonymous with.

Taking aim at those who doubted her return to songwriting and performing post-pregnancy, 51st Avenue’s Alynnis Zizza is empowered, fierce and forthright in their new single ‘Mind Your Own’. Pulling sonic inspirations from artists such as Bring Me The Horizon, alongside the score of hit series Stranger Things, the Sydney trio are continuing to expand on their proclaimed ‘hyper-modern pop rock’ sound with ‘Mind Your Own’. Thick guitars and syncopated drums back Alynnis Zizza’s impassioned, soaring vocals throughout, with the track culminating in a colossal bridge with guitar leads atop a half-time final chorus. Using technology to their advantage, 51st Avenue constructed the initial beat and synths for ‘Mind Your Own’ using a phone app. After scoping out the fledgling pieces of the track here, the rest of the song came together quickly, with the band combining with a sole direction for the track. Recording out of Keywork Audio in Sydney with Mark Williamson (Inertia, After Touch, Broken Earth), the band then sent the track across to legendary producer Kris Crummett (Dance Gavin Dance, Sleeping With Sirens, Real Friends) for the finishing touches and mastering. “We knew straight away what we were going for musically when we wrote this track,” the band say. “We wanted to blend the styles of Bring Me The Horizon with the eerie vibes of the Stranger Things score. The lyrics came quickly as our vocalist, Alynnis, was very early in her pregnancy so it was at the forefront of her mind giving the track the lyrical message it has. It started as a beat and some synths made on a phone app. The rest of the track came together pretty quickly, we wanted a specific vibe for the track so we knew what direction we wanted to head in. We’re really happy how it turned out!”

Conquer Divide have revealed a stunning video for new single ‘N E W H E A V E N’. “N E W H E A V E N was born out of the idea that you’ll never be satisfied with what you have if you don’t define your expectations,” the band offers. “We got together in Atlanta with Johnny Andrews for this one, and he’s a musical mad scientist. We played with religious metaphors, although the song is not about religion. You throw your whole life into something, and then you finally reach the pinnacle and get to pull the proverbial curtain back, but it’s not what you expected at all. So now you need a new high to chase. We did crowd-sourced gang vocals on this one, and it was fun to make that come together.” As for the accompanying video, the band shares, “This video was sort of a continuation from last music video where in the opening scene you see the Grim Reaper take his hood off to reveal he is now the priest overseeing the funeral. Kia figuratively ‘went to heaven’ and came back after realizing heaven wasn’t what it was cracked up to be.”

Brighton’s Industrial / Post Metal band Tribe Of Ghosts have today shared a brand new single titled ‘HIVE’. ‘HIVE’ is an all out barrage of frenetic and furious sound design and a vicious addition to Tribe Of Ghosts genre-melting discography that depicts a first person view of a world spoilt by dehumanisation and barbarous oppression. “When we were writing Hive, we felt that we were at a point where we understood our sound and what we wanted to create. With this in mind, we wanted to craft a song that sets the scene of the world that we build with our music, that explores the electronic and the organic, and declares our intent of giving into the chaos that oozes out of us on stage and in the writing process,” says guitarist Adam Sedgwick.

Portland metalcore band Dying Wish have announced their sophomore album, Symptoms of Survival, due November 4 via SharpTone Records. “Symptoms of Survival is an eleven-part piece covering the complexity of human suffering in all forms,” says vocalist Emma Boster. “From the honest and personal perspective of heartbreak, painful trauma, loss, rage, and regret — to the more objective perspective of war, greed, and ultimate survival.” The album features recent single ‘Torn From Your Silhouette,’ as well as the just-released ‘Watch My Promise Die.’ The new song has a great mix of melody and aggression and Emma says it’s “about the overwhelming anxiety of pre-destined failure. When you commit everything you have to one area of your life, the idea of it falling apart looms with such heavy importance. The song is written from the perspective of toying with that fear, allowing your weakness to overcome before you lose everything in a means outside of your control.” Check out the song and its Anthony Altamura-directed video below. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

SinHeresy has released a video for ‘The Life You Left Behind’, the second single taken from the new album Event Horizon to be released on August 25 through Scarlet Records.

After the release of their very successful self-titled album Beyond The Black in January 2023, the band now share brand new single ‘Call My Name’ with their fans. Beyond The Black have also just announced their Dancing In The Dark European tour for 2024. Jennifer Haben comments: “With ‘Call My Name’ we wanted to create a song with whom you cannot help but bang your head real hard. It’s organic, honest and in your face. Inspired by the story of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower we’ve formed a symbiosis of its elements and our own to tell a whole new tale about yearning, persistence and these wounds of human life that feel as if they will never heal completely.” [via Metal Planet]

Sydney based heavy rockers Wicked Envy have released their devilish new single and music video called ‘Paralysis Demon’. The hard-hitting single encourages listeners to reach out for help when struggling with their mental health. “’Paralysis Demon’ was written about my personal struggles with anxiety and insomnia, in everyday life. This song will hit home for a lot of people who also struggle with these feelings and that’s exactly why I really needed to convey this into a song, to let people know they’re not alone in this demonic mind battle and it’s ok to ask for help,” says vocalist Desiree Hancock. [via Rockpit]

Nashville heavy duo Friendship Commanders present a new video for ‘Vampire’ from their upcoming album Mass, out September 29. Guitarist/vocalist Buick Audra says about the track: “There was a season at the end of my time in Boston where I was being turned into The Problem by someone who wanted to control me and couldn’t; it was a moment where I could have played small and gone along with what she wanted, as I had once done. But I didn’t. I played big. I kept what was mine instead of giving it away—which included parts of my identity. And while the result was a scorched earth reality that impacts my sense of self to this day, it also ended the whole thing. I learned a valuable lesson in that season: don’t fuel the narcissists. Keep your power for yourself. It’s what they hate. And if they’re going to drag your character out in front of everyone you know, you might as well burn it all down for the warmth.” [via Decibel Mag]

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Gloom and heartbreak take a glossy, anthemic turn with the brand new single ‘Misery’ out now via Greyscale Records from beloved alt-rockers The Beautiful Monument. Following on from the group’s previous 2023 single, the razor-sharp electronicore delight ‘Hellbound,’ ‘Misery’ oscillates with lush and ominous synths, prowling, stripped-back verses and soaring choruses, before building to a salient breakdown as Lizi Blanco declares “I deserve better”. “’Misery’ is a theme song for those who are completely oblivious to their one-sided relationships. It is the painful reality of a profound sense of loneliness that an individual begins experiencing when their ‘perfect relationship’ begins to crumble and their metaphorical see-saw starts tipping. I wrote this song as an onlooker about a person I know who is very obviously blinded by their warp ed view of ‘love’. Originally my heart broke for them, but there’s only so many times a person can ignore the warning signs before your words turn into mumbled sounds of nothing.” says Lizi Blanco. [via Heavy Mag]

Blackwater Drowning is now streaming the music video for their single ‘The Caged’ from their debut album Sonder // Satori. The video was filmed by Garrett Barefoot. “It’s about breaking free of the mundane,” said vocalist Morgan Riley. “We all die the same no matter what we got in life, so why pour your minutes into the rat race and never be happy? For the video, Garrett the videographer came up with the idea of fire as a whole concept. Fire is both destructive and cleansing, and that’s a fitting application for the theme of the song. There is a note of excess with the awesome vintage cars and fire dancer, balanced with the rawness of our own performances. We feel the video captures the spirit of ‘The Caged’, the dichotomy of dark, light, and the desire to go out in a blaze of glory.” “Creating with Blackwater Drowning has been some of the most intense, visceral and being entirely candid, deeply emotional experiences of my entire career!” added Barefoot. “When I proposed to BWD about doing a second video they were elated at the prospect. I explained that I saw simply fire and wanted to chase that concept. They lined up their resources and crew while I learned some basic pyrotechnics and the rest was history. I’m forever impressed by their ingenuity and how they can pull off anything, regardless of the obstacles. ‘The Caged’ is one of my favourite video productions to date and making it was so damn cool. Blackwater never ceases to amaze me!” [via Metal Injection]

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Belle Morte’s newest single called ‘Blame Me’ is a unique blend of symphonic metal, Armenian duduk, and blues influences. It develops the band’s international collaborative series even further, becoming the fourth song with guest musicians. With ‘Blame Me,’ the band explores the concept of intense emotions and feelings of guilt. The mournful notes of the Armenian duduk, played by Lernik Khachatrian, evoke the sense of emptiness and longing that can be found in the barren deserts.

Lake Malice continue their streak of innovatively heavy alt-anthems with new single ‘Bloodbath’ which is self-released by the Brighton-based duo. ‘Bloodbath’ is lyrically descriptive of abusive and controlling relationships, acting as a rallying cry against being stuck in that spiral of abuse. Vocalist Alice Guala says “’Bloodbath’ carries a potent message about the perils of abusive relationships and explores the painful and all too common experience of feeling trapped with a controlling partner. This song is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped and alone.” Alice shifts seamlessly between pure soaring melodies and guttural screams as she flexes her vocal prowess throughout ‘Bloodbath’. This duality is mirrored in the music video which glitches between two different Alices and takes inspiration from cyberpunk classics like ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘The Fifth Element’.

MODERN MIMES, the alternative heavy rock outfit from South Florida have just unleashed their new single ‘Heavy Heart’. Following their latest single ‘Down and Dead’, ‘Heavy Heart’ ventures into darker realms. Heavy distortion, dynamic electronics and stunning vocals combine to create a thrilling and powerful offering. The band say: “We aren’t saints. We aren’t prophets. We are simply emphatic people with an ear to the whispers of the future. When the waves of messages come, we put it into songs and let the spirits guide us. We stand for strength, grounding, magic, becoming, expansion; opening the doors to your own portals. We are MODERN MIMES”.

UK mathcore trio Pupil Slicer have leveled up big time on their sophomore album, Blossom, expanding on the head-spinning sound of their 2021 debut, Mirrors, with elements of grunge, shoegaze, electronic music and more. So far, fans have gotten to hear the LP’s alt-rock-inflected title track, the much heavier rager ‘No Temple’ and the fiery, dynamic new single ‘Momentary Actuality.’ The song arrived accompanied by a cinematic music video that continues Blossom’s cosmic horror rock opera storyline. Watch and listen above. Pupil Slicer commented in a joint statement: “‘Momentary Actuality’ serves as the starting point for the story of Blossom and also encapsulates a musical mission statement for the album, the song encompasses a broad range of styles that are found on the rest of Blossom. This song really showcases our progression as musicians on a technical as well as compositional level, with a lot of care taken to craft a very satisfying structure to the over-the-top riffs and breakdowns we’ve come to be known for.” [via Revolver]

All the world’s a stage, and Melbourne chaotic metalcore outfit The Last Martyr take their place atop theirs with new single ‘Comedy/Tragedy’. ‘Comedy/Tragedy’ is a bold, sassy new offering that mixes fierce electronic elements with heavy foundations and pop flare, produced by Chris Lalic (Windwaker). The track is about faking happiness while you’re fully aware that everything around you is burning. “So many of us wear a mask or play a character in our everyday lives and in a lot of ways, it helps us,” explains vocalist Monica Strut. “But there comes a point where being incongruent with your true self, or ignoring certain negative aspects of our lives starts to take a huge toll. The song is written from the perspective of being aware that something is wrong but not wanting to admit it yet. It’s sarcastic, angry and just a little unhinged.” The song moves through theatrical moments that contrast the manic highs with the diving lows, showcasing Struts lacerating screams. The swirling instrumentals compliment the sentiments of the lyrics, echoing the metaphor of the carousel spinning around in a cycle of denial. [via Everblack]

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Brooklyn, NY-based Medieval Fantasy Doom Metal band Castle Rat (est. October 2019) share a brand new single, ‘Feed The Dream,’ the first in a series of new tracks set to come out in the next few months. ‘Feed The Dream’ was recorded in a 150-year-old abandoned church at a secret location in Philadelphia, PA. The single was produced and engineered by Davis M. Shubs (Grave Bathers) with Thomas Johnsen (Thantophobe). The mixing process was entrusted to the wise and wizardly hands of Rafferty Jennings Swink (Evolfo) in Brooklyn, NY, and mastered by JJ Golden of Golden Mastering in Ventura, CA. As Riley Pinkerton (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) wrote of their newest single: “‘Feed The Dream’ was written in isolation. It’s the longing for the closeness of a creature that does not exist in the physical realm. It’s the act of turning a fantasy over and over in one’s mind until its very existence becomes a lustrous pearl of questions that need not be answered.”

Former Alice Cooper and current Demi Lovato guitarist Nita Strauss has dropped brand new single and accompanying music video, ‘The Wolf You Feed’. The epic, headbanger of a track features huge, chunky, metallic riffs and the insane vocal talent of Alissa White-Gluz. Nita comments: “If you look back at old interviews from the last ten years, any time I was asked about collaborating with a vocalist in the future, Alissa White-Gluz was always the first name out of my mouth. She is truly one of my favorite vocalists and performers in the industry and creating this track together was everything I hoped it would be. I’m very proud to release this track, especially now with everything else that’s going on. This time in history, whether in politics, music, social media, or our personal lives, has been an eye-opening look into the two wolves of a lot of people out there, and maybe this song will be a reminder that we all have the ability to choose how we respond to things.” The lyrics of this song were inspired by The Story Of The Two Wolves, a legend widely attributed to Native American storytellers. An old grandfather was teaching his grandson about life: “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil — he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued: “The other is good — he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather simply replied: “The one you feed.” Alissa adds: “Nita and I finally got to collaborate — something we have both wanted to do for years! ‘The Wolf You Feed’ is a kickass, catchy metal track with a really cool vibe. I kept the ‘two wolves’ analogy as a foundation throughout the song while playing up the dichotomy of the two sides of the tug of war we all have inside us. I recorded my parts in my home studio and it was an absolute pleasure to build this song with Nita. I am honored to be a part of it! Can’t wait to do this again!” [via Blabbermouth]

Hard Rock band Eternal Frequency has released the final chapter of their “Matrix- esque” trilogy titled War. The perfect wrap up to their commanding, hard hitting story about a girl who is struggling to be who she wants to be while battling with what the world wants her to be. Will she become just someone that belongs on an assembly line or will she break free from the inner chains that bind and become who she is destined to be, free and basking in her own originality. The band say: “‘War’ is the wrap up of our epic 3 part trilogy. Starting with ‘Step Up’, then ‘A.I.’, and now this single. The song is about finding yourself in an internal struggle where you can look at yourself in the mirror and you’re still unsure about which side of you is actually pulling the strings.” [via Insane Blog]

Earlier this fall, Cleveland’s Frayle released their excellent second album, Skin & Sorrow, and to kick off November, the occult-doom band will be supporting the LP with shows over in Europe. Ahead of the tour, the group — led by enigmatic singer Gwyn Strang — teamed with Revolver to premiere the new music video for Skin & Sorrow standout ‘All The Things I Was.’ As is their way, it’s a bloody, skin-crawling affair perfect for the Halloween season. “This song is a reminiscence of the things I was and the regrets I had,” Strang tells Revolver. “The video shows how any rebirth or transformation can be painful and often times isn’t pretty or comfortable, but results in a more learned and wise self.” [via Revolver]

In 2020, metalcore outfit Conquer Divide resurfaced after an extended hiatus, and now the quintet have continued their second chapter with an emotional new single, ‘Paralyzed.’ As guitarist Kristen Sturgis explained, the song is about “battling with mental illness and depression — especially during the pandemic — and feeling like you are too mentally paralyzed to move forward.” Specifically, it was inspired by her harrowing experiences on the front lines as a critical care nurse. ‘Paralyzed’ arrived along with a dark, twisted music video that brings to life the inner struggles addressed in the song. “I was in a dark place because, as some people may or may not know, I am a critical care nurse when I am not touring,” Sturgis commented. “I was traveling around the country to all these hot spots to help out with COVID, and I saw dozens of people lose their lives. And I still really have not fully processed it.” She added, “But if you do not disconnect, you can’t do your job effectively. So, it is the kind of depression where you don’t feel anything at all, and you turn your emotions off. There was a point where they had psychologists visiting us on the unit to talk about our feelings. But it was like, ‘I don’t have time for this right now. I need to hang the next bag of x/y/z medication and keep this person alive. Get back to me in a year after this is all over.’ I think a lot of health care workers are also going to have PTSD or depression from what we went through. I hit a bit of writer’s block as a result of my mental state, and this song was a bit cathartic for me.” [via Revolver]

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The Sacramento-based quintet Graveshadow – who deftly mixes symphonic/gothic metal with elements of doom, thrash and epic progressive power metal – have unveiled ‘The Swordsman,’ the latest single from their forthcoming album, The Uncertain Hour. The band’s third album will be released July 15. ‘The Swordsman’ is also special as it features guest vocals from Chelsea Murphy (Dawn of Ouroboros, Cailleach Calling, Tegmentum). “I’m really excited to release ‘The Swordsman’ which has kind of snuck up on me as another favorite off the record, explains vocalist Rachl “Raxx” Quinn. “The interplay of the clean and harsh vocals was something I was thrilled with the outcome on. The way they support each other really adds a great dynamic to the song. As a band it was great to have Chelsea guest on the track, her performance is absolutely incredible!”

WARGASM announce their debut mixtape Explicit coming soon via slowplay/Republic Records. To celebrate the project’s announcement, Wargasm share the lead single ‘D.R.I.L.D.O’. with accompanying music video. The new track flitters between electronic and heavy metal as WARGASM give us a taste of what’s to come next. ‘D.R.I.L.D.O’ features a nocturnal bassline as Milkie leads us into a false sense of sultry security before Sam counters with his signature vocals and a fiery guitar riff to match. Speaking on the track “It’s a good bridge between the two elements of Wargasm, which are super fun, sexy, and electronic and also fresh and metal,” Sam continues. “You can clearly hear the both of us. We want there to be two characters in the music. You should have a favourite.”

Eternal Frequency has released a music video for their song ‘A.I.’. The clip is the second installment in the band’s Matrix-esque video series that kicked off with ‘Step Up’. They had this to say about the new video, “Drawing inspiration from cult classic films such as The Matrix, Blade Runner, and The Fifth Element, ‘AI’ offers a chaotic cinematic viewing experience and a look into the future, creating a high-intensity, action-packed visual.” Frontwoman Emelle shared, “‘A.I’ is the second installment of our epic trilogy and this picks up where ‘Step Up’ left off. ‘A.I.’ brings up the unavoidable challenge that every artist will eventually face and that is someone who is not part of your camp telling you what they think is best for you. It is about not conforming to anyone’s preconceived notion about you and refusing to be controlled by the system. This is our message to be who you are in your image alone.” [via Anti Music]

Conquer Divide have released the official music video for the band’s lead single from their upcoming new studio album. The song, ‘Atonement,’ was premiered by Sirius XM’s “Octane”. Guitarist Kristen Sturgis shares, “The song touches on feelings of regret, which we tried to convey in the video. You can see one of our other music videos in the reflection of the eye, for example. They’re watching the time tick by wondering what their life could have been like if they would have toughed it out and put the work in. The hardest things in life are the most rewarding, and life is short. So, if you’re not ready to meet us on our level, then get out of the way.” Drummer Sam Landa adds, “The word atonement is about making reparations; about seeking forgiveness; about feeling sorry for something you’ve done and hoping to make things right. In the context of this song, it’s too late for that – the damage has already been done and there’s no going back. The song tries to capture the feelings of betrayal, of being left high and dry by people who wanted to take the easy way out. The emotions really explode in the breakdown, and the progression mirrors how situations like this can build up in real life. There’s a kind of calm before the storm, and then another sense of calm after. ‘We don’t know who you are’, and we’ve accepted that – just don’t try to come back and beg for forgiveness when you’ve exhausted all of your chances.” [via All About the Rock]

We’re still a couple months out from Arch Enemy releasing their new album, Deceivers, but the Swedish melodeath troupe are back to tide us over with a crushing new single titled ‘Sunset Over the Empire.’ Compared to the Judas Priest-esque ‘Handshake With Hell’ and the galloping ‘House of Mirrors,’ this track is more in-line with the band’s death-metal origins — no clean vocals, no moody experimentation, just skull-crushing riffs and demonic vocals from frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz. “This is a faster song with some manic riffs and a relentless beat that I can envision becoming a ‘hit in the pit,'” said songwriter Michael Ammott. “Lyrically, it’s sadly one of those that seems to ring more true with each and every passing day nowadays…’Words turned to war, brother fighting brother, another false truce, as the people die.'” [via Revolver]

Blackwater Drowning is now streaming ‘Aberrant Leaves’ off their new album Sonder//Satori. If you’re in the mood for a song that’ll kick you right in the teeth and then never stop (think somewhere between Behemoth and Jinjer), and then this one is for you. “This song is about corruption in places of power, and the dichotomy that lies there,” said the band. “An entity that’s supposed to protect and serve you, using you for their own ends to further their own narrative. We worked with the fabulously creative Garrett Barefoot for this video, as he was also a major part of the recording process of this entire album and really understood what our mindset for this track is. We wrote the chorus in the studio with Jon Berrier, our amazing producer, hopped up on energy drinks at about 2am one night, and it’s one of our favorites on the album! We are incredibly proud of this finished product and hope it resonates with this current world climate as much as it does with us when we wrote it.” [via Metal Injection]

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