Single Slam: Between the Buried and Me, Zetra, Ghosts of Atlantis, Caskets, Heavensgate, Fates Messenger, Royal Sorrrow, Eld Varg, lowheaven, Signs of the Swarm, The Fear, Mélancolia, Nailed to Obscurity, Marene, Death Goals, Excuse for an Exit, and Hatebreed!

Today’s single slam features Between the Buried and Me, Zetra, Ghosts of Atlantis, Caskets, Heavensgate, Fates Messenger, Royal Sorrrow, Eld Varg, lowheaven, Signs of the Swarm, The Fear, Mélancolia, Nailed to Obscurity, Marene, Death Goals, Excuse for an Exit, and Hatebreed. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Between the Buried and Me – Absent Thereafter

Between the Buried and Me offer fans a second preview of the prog-metal titans’ upcoming album, The Blue Nowhere (Sept. 12, InsideOutMusic) with the release of the new track, ‘Absent Thereafter’.

Only a band as creative and confident as Between the Buried and Me could put out something like this, a ten-minute blast of insanity that genre bends to the point where nothing is recognisable and have everyone loving it. It’s absurdly brilliant, exceptionally fascinating, and remarkably listenable. The runtime disappears in a frenetic miasma of progressive noise, delectable melody, and so much more. Staggeringly clever.

Zetra – The Spider

Enigmatic synth rock duo, Zetra, have stepped out from the shadows to announce a new 5-track EP, titled ‘Believe’. It will be released digitally on August 22nd via Nuclear Blast Records. They have also released the new single ‘The Spider’.

On ‘The Spider’, Zetra commented:

The golden thread becomes a web.
The silken strands entice you, but do not linger.
Will you climb to brighter heights?
Or descend into madness.
And ever he waits.
And ever he watches.

A dynamic pop-infused rock effort that ticks all the Zetra boxes but shows just how much more developed their anthemic side is becoming. Their songwriting abilities are expanding beyond the synth (although still hugely prominent) and you can really hear where the future of this band lies. If they carry on this way, they really are going to be huge and it’s all thanks to lovable hits like this. Check it out here.

Ghosts of Atlantis – Melkin’s Tale

Rising from the mists of Avalon and the shadows of ‘Witch County’, Ghosts of Atlantis return with a powerful new single, ‘Melkin’s Tale’, out now and accompanied by an official video on August 1st. Followed then by a main stage performance at Bloodstock Open Air Festival on August 10th.

‘Melkin’s Tale’ marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the band, diving deep into Arthurian legend to uncover the cryptic tale of Melkin and the final resting place of King Arthur.

A new day is dawning and there are many more stories to be told, but fear not, Ghosts of Atlantis are still delivering their inimitable symphonic death metal sound. Melkin’s Tale continues the immense refinement that was so evident on Riddles of the Sycophants, pushing the symphonic aspects in more prominent places, focusing on anthemic aspects like a memorable chorus, and exploding with intensity when it’s time to get heavy. It’s a brilliant track that promises a very bright future for this band. Check it out here.

Caskets – The Only Heaven You’ll Know

Yorkshire melodic metallers, Caskets, have announced their forthcoming new album ‘The Only Heaven You’ll Know’, due out November 7th via SharpTone Records.

Speaking of the new album, frontman Matt Flood says:

This record is the sound of me falling apart in real time. Every song is a confession. About love that rots you from the inside, about pretending you’re okay when you’re drowning, about trying to find peace in a world that makes you feel nothing.‘The Only Heaven You’ll Know’ isn’t about salvation – It’s about surviving the wreckage when it never comes. Grieving the parts of myself I had to bury just to cope, Doing anything I could to block out the noise. This record isn’t a cry for help, it’s me trying to make sense of the chaos around me, and find a way through to the other side. These songs are my scars, proof I made it through, even when I thought I was doomed.

To coincide with the album announcement, Caskets have also released its title track, ‘The Only Heaven You’ll Know’.

Speaking on the new single, Matt Flood continues:

‘The Only Heaven You’ll Know’ is a confession I didn’t know I needed to make if I’m going to be brutally honest. I find it hard to let myself be me – out of pure anxiety, fear of rejection, the ever growing weight of being misunderstood. This song is a raw and relentless look at my own identity, and that constant push and pull of wanting to be and desperately wanting to hide. It’s about my grief – not grief for someone else, or a relationship but for the parts of myself I feel I’ve lost over time. All the walls I thought I had to build just to survive, I’m finally trying to let them fall so I can try and find peace in what’s left. It’s painful but it’s honest. This song is the moment I stopped running from my truth and faced it head on.

Caskets are back and back with an anthemic banger that displays their immense melody-charged metal ways and delivers a chorus that is downright epic sounding. It’s not the most creative track the band has ever put out, but as an introduction to the new album it does what it needs to and is undeniably memorable.

Heavensgate – Rain

Melbourne metal outfit Heavensgate have unveiled their frenzied new single, ‘Rain’, out now via Greyscale Records and Pure Noise Records.

The track is a poignant shift for the band, and tackles the emotional haunting after the significant event of loss, underscoring the band’s ability to translate the human experience in a relatable and cathartic way.

Shares the band:

While this is a personal story told by us, the symptoms of emotional isolation and helplessness are symptoms of grief we all share.

Moving in a sludgy direction with this track, while retaining the energetic ‘core’ aspects of their sound, Heavensgate are evolving and if you like your music to sound utterly chaotic and pissed off, you’ll enjoy the hell out of this. It is very heavy (breakdowns to make your asshole tighten), manic throughout, and downright dangerous sounding. It’s great! Check it out here.

Fates Messenger – Doomloop

Metalcore titans Fates Messenger have unleashed the second single and music video ‘Doomloop’, out today via Greyline Records. The track is taken from their forthcoming EP ‘Eternal War’, out 22nd August.

Says Fates Messenger:

‘Doomloop’ is a sonic gut punch dripping in groove, it zeroes in on the way governments and corporations continue to fuel global conflict, not to resolve it, but to extract wealth from suffering. The track is both personal and political, capturing a sense of exhausted fury at watching history continue to repeat itself, like the horrific events we’re seeing across the globe.

Their incredible form continues with an absolute beast of a track, one with stompy hardcore-infused intensity and metallised groove. Fates Messenger aren’t just eye-wateringly heavy and ear-bleedingly intense, they’re audaciously anthemic too. It’s another banger from this band who seem incapable of creating anything less than brilliant right now. Check it out here.

Royal Sorrow – Release Your Shadow

First making waves with their October 2024 debut single ‘Metrograve’, Finnish progressive metal group Royal Sorrow has since cultivated a growing following due to their technical precision, immersive soundscapes, and a heavy, dynamic style that balances melodies with raw intensity. Now, after nearly a year of anticipation, the band have officially announced their long-awaited debut album, ‘Innerdeeps’, set for release on 26th September, 2025 on InsideOutMusic.

To celebrate the album’s announcement, Royal Sorrow is pleased to share ‘Release Your Shadow’, the 5th single from the forthcoming album.

The band said this about the song:

The song is a vocal-driven journey about learning to accept imperfection – a celebration of uniqueness. It urges one to face their darkest parts and, instead of suppressing them, recognize them as an integral element of who we are.

Progressive rock and metal with an uber-catchy edge, Royal Sorrow have well and truly made an impact, and this debut album is hotly anticipated, especially when it features glorious tracks like this. A new single that shows off their immense palette, features layers of exciting detail, and pushes the boundaries of modern progressive music… again.

Eld Varg – Black Starlight

Scottish heavy metal power trio, Eld Varg, return with their thunderous sophomore album, Destroyer, set for release on Friday 14th November. Landing ahead of the album, the band offer a blistering taste of what’s to come in the shape of their new single and video, ‘Black Starlight’.

A very cool track that will have everyone head banging and air guitaring from the very start. It’s an old school heavy metal track, no nonsense, and focused. Resulting in a fun track that is undeniably infectious, especially when the chorus hits. Check it out here.

lowheaven – Amherst

Toronto post-metal artisans lowheaven unveil their latest single, ‘Amherst’. The new track comes off the band’s ‘Ritual Decay’ debut full-length album, set for release on August 29th on MNRK Heavy. Amherst evokes an emotion of decomposition. A deadness that stays.

Vocalist/guitarist Dan Thomson elaborates:

This is a tough one for me. From where this song started, until where you hear it now, it has been through the wringer. This was the first song written for lowheaven, but probably the last one to feel finished. It was hard to let go of; hard to accept that there would be a point where it was done. Letting go of this song was like letting go of a part of me that I wasn’t ready for. A rock bottom and a redemption all at once. Even listening back to it now, preparing to play it with the band, it stirs something that I’ve been burying.

Highly dramatic, nostalgically alternative, emotionally wrought, and intriguingly uncomfortable to experience, this latest track from lowdown is unique. Creating an immersive soundscape that keeps the listener on edge but also drawing you in via strange melodies and effects, heartfelt vocals, and a potent switch to heaviness. It’s a very impressive listen. Check it out here.

Signs of the Swarm – To Rid Myself of Truth

On 22nd August, Pittsburgh deathcore titans Signs of the Swarm will release their sixth full-length, ‘To Rid Myself of Truth’, via Century Media Records. now, the band are giving fans the final preview of the record before its release with a new video for the title track.

Reveals drummer Bobby Crow:

I started writing this song after Dave and I had a chat about getting back to the roots that made us want to make stupid-heavy music. I wanted some straight up knuckling-dragging, slack jaw shit. It felt like a great way to open the album and make a statement that we aren’t here to fuck around.

Explains vocalist David Simonich:

I personally think this is the heaviest breakdown on the record—maybe tied with closing track ‘Creator’. My favourite line from ‘To Rid Myself Of Truth’ was inspired by the recent Nosferatu movie: ‘The shrieks of two, the screams of one, the cries of none.’

The heaviest Signs of the Swarm album to date? It’s shaping up to be just that, while also being their most varied. Although this track simply says, ‘fuck nuance’ and goes straight for the jugular. It’s sickeningly savage, absurdly intense, and utterly brilliant.

The Fear – Sit Down (James Cover)

Manchester’s music legacy is undeniable. Outside of the currently unavoidable Oasis reunion which is everywhere you could look right now, the wealth of music history in the city is rich from The Smiths to The Courteeners and The Happy Mondays to The Verve.

Being fellow Mancunians themselves, nu metal / alt-rock outfit The Fear wanted to salute their hometown by covering one of its most iconic indie songs. You will all know James’ mega hit single ‘Sit Down’ – well you’ve not heard it quite like this before!

The cover we never knew we needed, let alone wanted, but a cover that will delight just about everyone. Offering up a fun and infectious homage to an iconic tune, but with a smile-inducing twist (spoilers – it gets heavy). It’s a great version, and that’s coming from some who really doesn’t care for the original (over-played, of course). Check it out here.

Mélancolia – Picking Scabs

Melbourne blackened nu-metal force Mélancolia have revealed their new single ‘Picking Scabs’, the latest taste of their anticipated sophomore album, ‘random.access.misery’, set for release Friday 29th August via Greyscale Records and Nuclear Blast.

A wild and intense listen that creates layers of dark and disconcerting atmosphere, this new Mélancolia is a savage listen. Albeit with a bit more going on thanks to their modern outlook and willingness to experiment with other genres. It’s hard and heavy, but you’ll be back multiple times just to unpack it all. Check it out here.

Nailed To Obscurity – Generation of the Void

Nailed To Obscurity have released a video for the title track of their upcoming fifth studio album, ‘Generation of the Void’, which will be out on September 5th, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Nailed To Obscurity commented:

‘Generation of the Void’ is a mirror held up to a world that feels increasingly disconnected. We tried to capture the overwhelming sense of unease that defines our time, but also the inner battles we all face. It’s a song that grew out of chaos, but from a desire to understand and endure.

Well, how about that? Nailed To Obscurity’s latest single is a bit different, but in an exciting way. Showing off the band’s versatility, their evolution, and ability to take their heavy sound in fresh directions. It’s very melodic, features strong clean singing, and has a chorus that needs to be heard to be believed, but remains robustly dark and heavy.

Marene – Finchie

South Africa’s flash rock five‑piece marene explode into their newest era with ‘Finchie’. Written by Tyler Duggan at age seventeen, this cinematic track captures the ache of unrequited love.

A very sweet-sounding track that has a joyful rock infusion. It’s a track that might make you feel a bit reflective, but it’s not showcased in dour fashion. Instead, Marene focus on infectious rock rhythms, run likable piano melody throughout, and let the vocals tell a story. Good stuff. Check it out here.

Death Goals – Tchotchke (feat. Jenna Pup of HIRS Collective)

Death Goals have released their brand-new single ‘Tchotchke’ (feat. Jenna Pup of HIRS Collective). It is the first single from their recently announced EP, ‘Survival Is an Act of Defiance’, set to be self-released on August 29th.

Speaking about the new single’s theme, Death Goals said:

Tchotchke is about the queer experience of being fetishised by members of the heterosexual community; the casual ‘harmless’ flirtation of a drunk straight friend, or the anonymous message on social media recounting all the sordid ways they’ve thought about you that evening. Queer people don’t exist to be objects of lust; we deserve love just as much as anybody else.

Less than two minutes of noisy intensity as only this exceptional band can deliver. Death Goals are back and in a riotous mood. That they’re aided by the incomparable Jenna Pup makes it all the better. It’s a really impactful listen, especially if you pay attention to the lyrics, and that is what Death Goals do so well. It’s great to have them back.

Excuse for an Exit – Snap

Melbourne dark pop group Excuse for an Exit share a rallying cry of feminine rage and protest with new single ‘Snap’.

Fuelled by the rise of fascism in the West, atrocities in Gaza and the Congo, and the suppression of dissenting voices, ‘Snap’ channels vocalist Edelle Merson’s political frustrations into a powerful alt rock belter.

Says Edelle:

What began as political frustration quickly intertwined with personal experiences of being pushed too far, until something broke. The opening line, ‘It starts slow, I never even felt it, hit low, and I was so above it,’ reflects my own blind spots, how easy it is to miss the signs until they become impossible to ignore.

A potent blast of alternative music that walks the line between pop and rock, delivering the best of both worlds and infused with modern thinking. Something that is made all the better as it comes with outspoken intensity that you can’t help but pay attention to. That it just so happens to be catchy is a bonus too. Check it out here.

Hatebreed – Make the Demons Obey

Grammy-nominated, Connecticut hardcore icons Hatevreed, who remain one of the most impactful and enduring bands of the modern era, have dropped the tectonic plate-shifting new single ‘Make the Demons Obey’.

It’s the first new music from the band since 2020’s Weight of the False Self album.

Says vocalist Jamey Jasta:

Lots of bands say that their newest release will be their heaviest and I guess we are no different. We’ve managed to push the envelope and surpass our expectations. We’ve become tighter, harder and more vicious than ever. This is the most excited I’ve been for any Hatebreed release.

Hatebreed doing Hatebreed things, albeit with a thrashier infusion, this new single is a fan pleaser through and through. You don’t have to be wowed by this band to enjoy them, and this new single epitomises that. Heavy and aggressive, but infectious and groovy, it’s Hatebreed doing what Hatebreed do so well. Who is going to complain about that?