After the success of their debut single, Not Lost, the up-and-coming monoliths of the metal scene, Bridging Oceans, unleashed their rancorously rabid eponymous sophomore single.
After the intro threw us right back to when Job for a Cowboy dominated the death metal scene in the early 00s, a more melodic side to the international outfit started to break through the blast beats and technically frenetic grooves laid down by the crunchily distorted guitars.
For the same reasons I can’t help but return to acts such as SCUMFUCK for the highest-possible-octane catharsis, I’ll want to sink my teeth into the blisteringly hot ingenuity in this release, which promises even greater things in the international pipeline.
With the drummer and lyricist, Stuart, hailing from Brisbane and the vocalist and guitarist, Stanis, residing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Bridging Oceans stay true to their moniker by being the first-ever Ukrainian and Australian metal band. When the war is over, Bridging Oceans will be prepared to celebrate.
Following on from her memorable career in the well-respected underground Progressive/Alt-metal band called Blue Clutch, Sarah Halter returns with a ear-piercing solo fire-raging explosion which will have you shaking rapidly on ‘A Clockwork Destiny‘.
Sarah Halter is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based indie Alt-Metal singer-songwriter and music producer, who makes a viciously rampaging blend of high octane music that might scare many.
”Drawing influence from progressive, alternative, symphonic, and death metal, Sarah Halter brings listeners a single with a fresh approach to dark songwriting inspired by apocalyptic themes, regret, and fleeting memories.” ~ Sarah Halter
You feel her magnetic energy flow up above into the lightning-struck clouds, as her bone-shuddering vocals smash all the nearby neighbors windows without fear. She sings so courageously and you sense her jaw clenching with utter determination throbbing from her veins – as she launches into a scintillating song – that will have all the fragile hairs on your body waking up to attention.
‘A Clockwork Destiny‘ from the electrically charged Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based indie Alt-Metal singer-songwriter and music producer Sarah Halter, is a swirling blend of dark tones that combines to shake all the vital senses back into your hungry soul. In a world that is growing more and more ravenous by the day as possible dooms day approaches, this is that warning sign that should have your awakened eyes wide open again.
Hear this new single on Spotify and see her IG music page for more.
‘Traitor’ is the latest confrontationally fierce alt-rock single released by New Mexico-based luminaries, Seven Days Rest. Their darker take on hardcore allows you to relive the glory days when Job for a Cowboy and the Black Dahlia Murder reigned supreme in the hardcore scene.
Yet, with the progressive nature of the doomy tuned-down guitars, Traitor offers everything you could hope for in an alternative track. The soaring instrumental hooks, frenetic glitchy breakdowns and catchy choruses with arresting female vocals complemented with guttural screams pull together to make an adrenalizingly cathartic track out of Traitor.
Given that most people are by default terrible, I’m sure that plenty of people will find resonance in the track that launches a straight-up attack on backstabbers.
If any new release has made me miss live music, it’s PLAGUES’ latest single “Sentinel”. The throat-ripping roars and intricately melodic speed of light progressions are just two of the reasons why this genre-melting offering of Metal will leave you as in awe of PLAGUES’ provocative release as we were.
With nuances of Speed Metal, Thrash Metal, Post Hardcore and Death Metal all weaved into the atmospheric production, it’s safe to say that PLAGUES have stamped down their signature colossal sound with Sentinel.
You’ll be able to check out the official music video to PLAGUES’ single Sentinel for yourselves from June 26thvia their official website.
Keep up to date with the artist’s latest releases via Facebook.
If you are under the impression that there are no new avenues to take Alt Rock in, Dark World Carousel’s standout single Einhander will smash those perceptions into oblivion.
Einhander kicks off with a Dark-Alt-Folk-style prelude before the progressive track picks up rhythmic momentum and transforms into an electrifyingly serpentine feat of Alt Rock complete with volatile ensnaring vocals.
Yet, Dark World Carousel doesn’t stop there. There’s yet another seismic shift in the soundscape which allows Einhander to experiment with the chaotic insanity of Symphonic Death Metal.
It’s a monster of a track which doesn’t just depend on sheer speed and intensity to leave you gripped. I never thought I’d have the pleasure of indulging in a track which offers reminiscences of Soundgarden and Nekrogoblikon. Dark World Carousel offers a dynamically adrenalizing sound which is all too easy to get obsessed with. Get them on your radar.
You can check out Dark World Carousel’s single Einhander for yourselves by heading over to Reverb Nation.
Breaking Alt Metal 5-piece Icarus cooked up a cataclysmic storm with their debut EP “Undivided Attention”.
Rather than trying to find their sound within the constraints of a metal sub-genre, you’ll find everything from Thrash to Hardcore Punk to Groove Metal to Nu Metal in the four blisteringly mind-bending tracks.
Each track is an aural juggernaut which will demand repeat attention at max volume. Track 1 “Bleeding Out” is the best introduction to Icarus’ expansive sound. Their sound may be heavy, dark and brutal, but you’ll still be able to expect massive choruses and sharp lyrical hooks in the high-octane super-charged Metal perennial earworm.
The gutturally fierce vocals use a clear enough diction to enable the angst-driven lyrics to resonate in a way in which could unite fans of punk pioneers Napalm Death and fans of Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes alike. If Download 2020 was going ahead, Icarus would deserve a mainstage spot.
You can check out Icarus’ EP for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.
Gus McArthur’s latest Symphonic Death Metal single is about as effective as a cattle prod when it comes to getting your attention. Straight from the prelude, you’re locked into a frenziedly magnetic hit.
After recently becoming overly enamoured with Nekrogoblikon, I’ve been on a constant search for other artists offering a similar sound. The San Diego-based fourpiece Gus McArthur not only do this through their latest single “Both Eyes Closed”, but they set themselves apart with an intellectual amount of distinction.
With each member bringing different styles and energies to the mix, their music transcends the usual thrashing and pounding monotony. Yes, it’s heavy, yes, it’s monstrous, but it’s no mere cacophony. It’s a melodic emotive masterpiece born through the infusion of everything from Hip Hop, Classical strings, Thrash, and Metal.
Yelawolf himself may have been spitting the Rap bars which sit against the insanely emotive Matt Belamy style vocal harmonies and fiercely guttural screams. And there are just as many switch-ups in the instrumental progressions. Hearing Both Eyes Closed may have marked the start of an aural obsession. Long may it continue.
You’ll have to wait until January 31st to check out the phenomenal single. In the meantime, you can head over to SoundCloud and check out their earlier releases.
Keep up to date with news of the release via Facebook.
I’m no great fan of Metal, but I am a moth to the flame of ingenuity and Nekrogoblikon and For I Am King were on fire last night.
Rebellion Bar hosted Manchester leg of the Californian Symphonic Power Metal band’s UK and European tour where they were joined by an eclectic array of angsty talent including Footprints in the Custard, For I Am King and Harbinger.
I ambled in just as Party Metal trailblazers Footprints in the Custard started their set. The procession may as well have been started by Andrew WK himself. Footprints in the Custard may have warmed up the room, but the following act For I Am King absolutely dominated it. The Amsterdam-based Metal band fronted by the ferociously talented vocalist Alma Alizadeh not only has a larynx of pure metal. She’s also an artist who you immediately warm to. You’d have to have a soul made of steel not to be endeared by her on-stage wit. For I Am King’s melodic, atmospherically momentous take on Metal carries a vicious amount of distinction. If you get a chance to catch them live, take it.
After London-based Deathcore band Harbinger laid down embolism-inducing technical Metal, Nekrogoblikon took to the stage and kicked off their set with their jauntily carnivalesque track The Many Faces of Dr. Hubert Malbec. The symphonically-euphoric aural delight may just contain the catchiest chorus found in Death Metal.
With the help of John Goblikon, the rest of the band made light work of feeding the crowd pure unrelenting insanity. Which proved too much for one person who found themselves on-stage and divebombed from side stage. After checking that they were okay to carry on after a crowd member had probably broken their leg, their one hour set contained their ingeniously frenetic hits such as Bears, We Need a Gimmick, Dressed as Goblins, Goblins and concluded with Powercore.
Nekrogoblikon prove that fantasy and comedy have just as much of a place in music as they do in fiction and film. Their gory goblin-inspired light-hearted escapism allows you to forget the more odious insanity which you’ll see if you’re masochistic enough to turn on the news in our apocalypse-obsessed decade. Each member of Nekrogoblikon’s talent is only matched by their charisma. I could attempt to put their virtuosity into words. But you’ve got ears, use them.
Admitting to liking a band such as Nekrogoblikon may deplete your stash of pretentious points, but you’ll find that they aren’t worth all that much anyway.
