Sci-Fi alt-metallers SICK N’ BEAUTIFUL are excited to announce the release of their new single and video, ‘DEATH POLICE’, out now via Frontiers Music. ‘DEATH POLICE’ is one of their heaviest track to date, accordingly to bass player Big Daddy Ray. “The idea behind the song was to imagine an afterlife where there is no heaven or hell, just another dystopian plane of existence – he says. “Where an authoritarian entity rules over the souls of the departed.” “The video is even crazier than our typical fare,” emphasizes singer Herma. “We wanted to create something that was glamorous yet horrifying at the same time. This one is definitely going to be a banger to play live!”

Rising alt/rock powerhouse LYELL has teamed up with Detroit rockers Eva Under Fire and rapper Hyro The Hero for new single ‘Lighthouse’, available to stream now via VERSION III. Instead of a pretty, sweet lullaby luring you in, the track, produced by Kevin Hissink (grandson) and Zach Jones (MOTHICA, Nova Twins), is rock’s version of a Siren Song. “Eva Under Fire has always been someone I’ve looked up to as a woman in rock and we finally connected when she happened to come into one of my TikTok Lives. We chatted about doing a song together and I thought this was the perfect one. Between her and Hyro the Hero’s genre-bending energy, it took the song to another dimension” shares LYELL on the track and her collaborators.

If you needed some riff-related whiplash today, you should give Red Handed Denial‘s new single ‘Parasite’ a spin. Sure it’s a lot of parts in one song, but damn if Red Handed Denial doesn’t make it flow smooth as hell the whole time. “It’s about a person you can’t get rid of who feeds off your energy,” said Red Handed Denial vocalist Lauren Babic. “Truthfully, these are my feelings about social media. If I could, I’d throw my phone into the ocean, because it truly sucks the life out of me. My connections to friends and family have suffered because of social media. ‘Parasite’ embodies my anger of wanting to watch it die.” Red Handed Denial will release their new record A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia on May 24. [via Metal Injection]

The first single from the new line-up of Finnish-Ecuadorean melodic heavy metal band BLACK SUN is here. ‘Slay the Queen’ is a track that combines all the elements of BLACK SUN‘s sound featuring crunchy guitars, catchy hooks, and impressive vocals from the matchless talents of vocalist, Netta Laurenne. Laurenne is backed by founding members Nicolas Estrada (drums), Christopher Grünberg (guitar), and Santiago Salem (bass) as well as the band’s producer-turned-friend, Thunderstone guitarist Nino Laurenne whose production credits include Amorphis, Lost Society, The Rasmus. As a result, Ecuador and Finland are now bonded and represented by a band that is one of a kind. BLACK SUN is writing a new chapter, a rebirth as a band. About the track, Netta shares: “’Slay the Queen‘ is a story about time ruling over people’s lives and the wish to stop its reign. In our society, we are forced to obey this chosen, structured perception of time that doesn’t allow us the freedom so often needed to live a life truest to ourselves.” [via SLR Magazine]

We are seeing a rise in bands taking a stand against and calling out the outdated standards (and snakes) within the music industry. First came Redhook with their infectious jam ‘SAY‘, then Belle Haven had a crack with ‘Grimace‘ and just last week ex-Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell fired shots with his solo single ‘ANTI-DROID‘; Now it’s Vilify’s time to shine as they set their sights on users who over-promise and under-deliver in this thumping new offering. “Split Tongue’ is about those slithery, slippery little snakes that are only out for themselves,” explains the band. “The tracks draws from the disdain we have all felt from believing in and taking chances on people in the industry only to have it returned to us like a kick in the teeth. The music industry is already hard enough and once you sprinkle in some rats it becomes a full blown blood bath.” As Amy Mcintosh spits venom into the mic, you can’t help but feel the anger seeping through the speakers. An ominous two-step beat invokes utter chaos as guitarist Deni Hourihan and bassist Lizi Mcintosh go toe-to-toe while drummer Kieran Jackson keeps the fills flowing until that tasty breakdown takes us to climax. [via Wall Of Sound AU]

Progressive metalcore outfit Reliqa have announced the details of their new album, Secrets Of The Future, which is set to be released on May 31 via Nuclear Blast Records for all territories outside of Australia, where it will be released via Greyscale Records. Alongside the announcement, the band have revealed the video for their brand new single ‘Killstar (The Cold World)’. Vocalist Monique Pym comments: “We’re so pleased with the feedback we received for Terminal, especially because it fuelled our excitement in knowing that Killstar was coming next. It really flips the switch – we’ve gone from an airy, introspective debut track to this spiteful, sharp-tongued groove that has some more worldly and politically driven themes behind it. We think these two sides of us are the perfect taste test for Secrets of the Future, not because the whole album sounds like this, but because it shows we’re not afraid to take risks. Can’t wait for you to hear it in May!” [via Ghost Cult Mag]

Almost 20 long years since the release of their latest studio album Heathen Machine, UK heavy metal act BALANCE OF POWER returns with a new band line-up and brand new studio offering. Fresh From The Abyss will be released on April 19 via Massacre Records. Founding members Tony Ritchie (bass) and Lionel Hicks (drums) are joined the band’s new lead vocalist Hazel Jade as well as guitarists Chris Young and Adam Wardle, who have since taken over the reins from guitarists Chris Masimore and Stoney Wagner, with whom the band worked on and recorded the upcoming album Fresh From The Abyss. Following previously-released album tracks such as ‘Never Be Here Again’ and ‘Abyss’, BALANCE OF POWER present their new single ‘One More Time Around The Sun’. Tony comments: “The song is about wanting to spend another year and then another and another with the person you love. I don’t usually write about specific people, but this song was inspired by my love for my wife Diki and never wanting it to end. Hazel changed the melody of the line “Take me one more time around the sun” which added such a great hook to the chorus. Lionel was responsible for the double time sections which lifted the song onto another level for the solos.” [via Grimm Gent]

Melbourne-based heavy outfit The Last Martyr have unleashed their glitchy alt-metal track ‘Antidote’. The message is simple: When the world makes you sick, love is the Antidote, even if you don’t want to admit it. The track was written on a writing retreat last year where the group and their producer Chris Lalic (Windwaker) locked themselves in a house for a week to focus purely on composing the band’s next chapter. “We wanted to see what would come out of a week of purely focusing on music and the band without any other distractions,” the band said. “We rented an AirBnb in the Mornington Peninsula and all had writing stations set up around the house. I think that really allowed all of us to feel safe and present enough to dig into our creativity more than ever before. I’ve always struggled to open up and let love in but amongst the world’s chaos of the last few years, I’ve realised that love is really the only anchor we have, and something we all deserve. I wrote the line, “You are the antidote” first and the rest of the track was written around it.” [via Heavy Mag]

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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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