Next month, New Jersey hardcore punk freaks Gel will release Only Constant. Gel have already proven themselves as an intense, fervent live act, and they’ve released a bunch of EPs and stray tracks. Gel have shared another new song. ‘Honed Blade’ is a seething, guttural rager that’s less than two minutes long. Gel shot the ‘Honed Blade’ video with director Carlisle Jones, and it’s just them ripping though the song at the Alabama venue and studio Lawnchair Youth. Check it out below. [via Stereogum]

Burning Witches have announced a new album. Titled The Dark Tower, the upcoming album from the Swiss heavy metal band is the follow-up to 2021’s The Witch Of The North, and is scheduled to be released in May this year, making their label debut at new home Napalm Records. Alongside the announcement of the new album, the band have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming album; the title track ‘The Dark Tower’. Speaking about the upcoming album, and the new single, the band says, “wow that was quick, right? Album No5 is already done and we are back with the brand-new single The Dark Tower. The title track of the new record will fit perfectly into our set list with its relentless beat, the truly epic riffs and the striking but melodic vocals! The theme of Elizabeth Bathory and her infamous ‘blood countess’ reputation was a fantastic inspiration for a breathtaking video clip. We all could relate to the story and its creepy saga and knew from the beginning, it would be a new highlight in the WITCHES history! Last but not least, we want to thank the fans that supported us here and played the extras, in this very emotional and creepy little ride! Enjoy the clip!” [via Distorted Sound]

With their 2021 breakthrough debut album, Within Each Lies The Other, British metal act, As Everything Unfolds, garnered over 20 million streams, international media acclaim and legions of fans alike. Just two years later, the band marks their return as they officially announce the release of their upcoming sophomore full-length, entitled Ultraviolet, out April 21 via Long Branch Records. The band has released a new track, entitled ‘Flip Side’. Singer Charlie Rolfe comments: “‘Flip Side’ is the song with the most frustration, the most surface level anger. But it’s actually a song of relief, a song of a new side of life. Lyrically the song focuses on the feeling about being an artist, being one with yourself, looking at people who put you down, and asking them, how is it living life on the other side?” [via Brave Words]

Following a string of singles last year, alt-metal four-piece Vilify are here to make their mark on 2023 with blistering new single ‘Take The Pill,’ alongside its intense warehouse-set music video. Truly putting the metal in metalcore and favouring the extreme side of things over the “melodic”, ‘Take The Pill’ is four minutes of groove-laden heavy goodness, packing plenty of big distorted guitar hooks, a thumping rhythm section and the ferocity of singer Amy McIntosh’s captivating vocals… and a big, weighty breakdown for good measure, of course. On the meaning behind their new single, Vilify said “This song is about the battle of balance between SSRIs, depression and drive. Finding the balance between what makes you feel alive but what keeps you sane. It’s about accepting different points in life that call for different plans of attack. What worked for you once might not work next time and that is ok. Always striving to be better is what’s important even if it feels unattainable at times.” The video for ‘Take The Pill’ was filmed, directed and edited by Joel Black (Tommirock), full of quick cuts that capture the band’s energy and passion. “We did something super unheard of and did a band playthrough in a warehouse,” the band comments. “Had to be done. There is no concept except showing people that we can dance like queens while we play the heavies.” [via Pilerats]

Scarlet Aura presents new video and digital single ‘Fire All Weapons’ featuring one of the most recognizable voices of power metal – Ralf Scheepers from Primal Fear. The filming took place at the very special place full of history near Bucharest, Romania and continued for 16 hours, right before rehearsals for the Rock United event made by Scarlet Aura, in which Ralf and Doro Pesch were invited guests to play together with the Romanian power metallers. Scarlet Aura comments: “’Fire All Weapons’ is by far one of our greatest songs Mihai Danciulescu wrote for Scarlet Aura and having Ralf with us gives to it an even more importance and charm. It’s a powerful song we made with the intention to show how serious we are on the heavy metal stage and how we’ll continue fighting for our right to be here, to sing, and to make people happy with our music. Ralf is such an impressive artist, he is also a good friend that we’ve got to cherish, love and respect him very much, one of the few that got our backs and that forever can rely on ours. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the song and the video as much as we do, a video that we’ve made with our talented friends Laurentiu Tomoroga, Roberto Stan and Paul Decu.” [via All About the Rock]

The UK band Svalbard have released a new single, ‘Eternal Spirits,’ their first material since the 2020 album When I Die, Will I Get Better?. “’Eternal Spirits’ is one of the most tragic songs we have ever written, yet it is also a celebration of legacy and musical heritage,” the band’s Serena Cherry said in a statement (via Kerrang.) “It is a song about late metal musicians who sadly passed away too soon and the loss we feel within the metal community without their presence.” She continued: “This song is a heartfelt tribute to our metal heroes who are gone but will never be forgotten, because their legacy lives on in the millions of hearts they have touched with their music. It’s crushing when your heroes die, but with this song we want to commemorate our late heroes’ glorious music and the legions of bands they have inspired. That inspiration will never die. On a more personal level, Joey Jordison was the person who inspired me to pick up an instrument. I started learning drums when I was 12 years old because of the energy and passion he exuded from his playing. When I listened to his drumming, every hit gave me a surge of motivation. His creative spark lit a fire within me that will never be extinguished. I’d like to dedicate Eternal Spirits to his memory.”

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NJ hardcore band Gel formed in 2018, picked up a lot of steam post-lockdown with their 2021 EP Violent Closure, and kept that momentum going with their 2022 split with Cold Brats. Now they’ve finally announced their debut album, Only Constant, due March 31 via Convulse Records. The album was recorded by drummer Zach Miller along with Trish Quigley, and it offers up 10 songs in 16 minutes. Vocalist Sami Kaiser says, “A lot of this record is about trying to live more of a happy and healthy life. I’ve been in recovery for alcoholism for the past couple years and really taking it seriously. I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to address negative feelings, and the album is about trying to let go of those self-destructive tendencies and embrace change.” The first single is ‘Attainable,’ which clocks in at under two minutes and interjects the band’s fast-paced hardcore punk with a danceable post-punk beat and some psychedelic-leaning guitar work. It challenges the boundaries and traditions of hardcore without toning down the band’s attack, and it comes with a cool black-and-white performance video directed and edited by Ian Shelton and Will Acuna. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

Germany’s symphonic metal icons XANDRIA are back with their eagerly-awaited album, The Wonders Still Awaiting out now via Napalm Records. Right from the start, album opener ‘Two Worlds’ takes you on a journey through epic, fantastical soundscapes, as well as imposing arrangements. Lyrically, the band expresses their personal feelings towards the future of humanity, wondering if humanity is on its way towards a dystopian world (especially with the constant environmental destruction) or if it is moving towards a fantastical utopian world? Ambre Vourvahis embraces her magnificent vocal diversity and uses its power to merge the contrasting worlds together in the new breathtaking music video. XANDRIA about the new single ‘Two Worlds’: “We have – perhaps still – the choice between two worlds. A dystopian one if we continue on this way into reversing the progress of civilization and destroying the environment which we are living in. Or a utopian one where we can see the wonders that might be awaiting for mankind’s future. But the bridge between those worlds gets frailer with every second. Musically, this epic and bombastic 7 minute song takes you on a journey through the polarity of the two worlds, showing you the surprises, treasures, and diversity the new album The Wonders Still Awaiting will have in store. This song is almost a little movie on its own with the combination of metal mixed with huge film score orchestration, a 40-piece choir of the Bulgarian National Radio Children´s Choir.” [via Outburn]

Frozen Crown has released the third single taken from the new album Call Of The North, set to be released on March 10 through Scarlet Records. Check out ‘Black Heart’ below.

D.C.-area group VOSH are fronted by former Blacksage singer Josephine Olivia, and their lineup is rounded out by current/former members of Coke Bust, Repulsion and more. This isn’t the members’ first rodeo, and you can hear their experience on the pulsating, steamy, insanely catchy ‘Pray,’ the lead single from their upcoming debut LP, Vessel (out March 3 via Trash Casual), alongside its captivating music video. Musically, ‘Pray’ recalls the classic post-punk sound of bands like Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus, but with an extra kick in the driving guitars and thumping drums that brings to mind bands like Ministry and Nine Inch Nails. Common reference points, but VOSH know exactly how to make these sonic combinations sound fresh again. “‘Pray’ is a song about undying devotion to a lover,” the band tells. “We wanted to write something heavy, catchy, and driving. Something to dance or fuck to. This was one of the first songs we wrote together and it encapsulates the heart of VOSH: distorted guitars, a cool mix of electronic and live drums, heavy synths, and vocals that are equally commanding and haunting. This is for the warehouse, the club, the stadium.” [via Revolver]

UK Pagan Metal outfit Forlorn have today shared their brand-new single ‘The Weight Of It All’ which is out now via Silent Cult. Forlorn blend folk horror and paganism to carve out their own brand of ‘Midsommar Metal’. The juxtaposition of ethereal vocals and haunting soundscapes with chaotic drums and crushing low-level guitars, paired with Megan’s brutal screams, bring together Forlorn’s unique sound and visual identity. Produced by George Lever (Loathe, Sleep Token, Monuments) ‘The Weight Of It All’ ebbs and flows between sweeping cinematic passages and unrelentingly heavy moments of chaos. Accompanying the new single is a stunning Winter Solstice-inspired music video that shows the conflict between two characters within the same human-vessel; the fragile, ageing Maiden in the white dress and the old, wise and fearsome Crone, in the black crown with her wild eyes. We see the season demonstrated in frozen landscapes, sacred smoke, the wearing of ritual masks and the pounding of the bodhrán. “’The Weight Of It All’ is lyrically centred upon the notion of living a double life; switching between two paradoxical personas that coexist within one fragile lifeform. Instrumentally this song immediately reminded me of a score from a Christopher Nolan film. I felt a strong connection to the iconic vigilante and their opposing personalities. The double-life concept resonates strongly for me, where my day-to-day life is so far removed from who I really am. On a daily basis I wear a metaphorical (and physical) mask, never really allowing anyone to get beneath the surface, until I’m back within the realms of comfort,” says Megan Elliott, vocalist.

Check out our playlist featuring more women in heavy music below!

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