Single Slam: Kittie, Spiritual Cramp, 1914, Still in Love, Second Cities, Windwaker, Testament, Deaf Havana, Biohazard, Terjiz de Horde and GORE.

Today’s single slam features Kittie, Spiritual Cramp, 1914, Still in Love, Second Cities, Windwaker, Testament, Deaf Havana, Biohazard, Terjiz de Horde and GORE. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Kittie – Spit XXV

Canadian heavy music pioneers Kittie mark a quarter-century milestone with the announcement of Spit XXV, a four-track EP celebrating the 25th anniversary of their gold-certified debut album. The collection features freshly updated and re-recorded versions of four of the albums biggest tracks, ‘Brackish’, ‘Charlotte’, ‘Do You Think I’m A Whore’ and the title track ‘Spit’, all produced, once again, by Garth Richardson who helmed the original 1999 sessions at EMAC Studios.

The EP arrives 19th September via Sumerian Records, with the brand-new version of the title track, ‘Spit XXV’ available now across all streaming platforms.

Speaking about the milestone project, KITTIE vocalist/guitarist Morgan Lander reflects:

It’s hard to believe that 25 years after its release, and almost 30 years since KITTIE began, people are still talking about Spit. There is something truly unexplainable in why our debut album is still resonating with people, finding a new audience and has had such a lasting impact on so many. Reimagining some of these classic songs for the 25th anniversary of ‘Spit’ was a lot of fun and a true testament to their longevity. It reveals just how relevant in the musical landscape they still are today. We were honoured to work with Garth again where it all began after more than two decades, and doing so was a cool way to pay homage to the past while updating these songs with a modern sound, bringing them into the future.

I was 16 when the original Spit came out, and now that I’ve stopped rocking with despair, I can thoroughly enjoy the hell out of a rejuvenated Kittie looking backwards, and giving an iconic track the modern treatment. It doesn’t quite have the raw energy of the original, but the spirit of it is there, it’s just a bit more grown-up. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the EP.

Spiritual Cramp – Young Offenders

San Francisco punks Spiritual Cramp announced their sophomore album ‘RUDE’, out 24th October via Blue Grape Music/Civilians, last month and now they are back with a new song ‘Young Offenders’.

A track you can dance to, Spiritual Cramp’s new single is very infectious, showcasing a retro pop rock and punk style, but infused with modern anthemic vibes. The beat is simple, but so likable and fun, and the vocals capture the floor filling energy nicely. Check it out here.

1914 – 1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)

Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal unit 1914 return with unrelenting power on their fourth studio album, ‘Viribus Unitis’, out 14th November via Napalm Records. Alongside the album announcement, the band have revealed their first single, ‘1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)’.

Recounting the brutal Battle of Asiago, 1914 make the Austro-Hungarian attack on Italy tangible, and with that bring forth a thunderous and unrelenting blackened blast of death and doom. It’s so dark, so haunting, and so harsh, but that’s the 1914 way. Albeit with some enigmatic twists and turns to the heavy formula that makes this track far more compelling. It’s grim, but 1914 grim, and that’s always a delight.

Still in Love – Preserve & Cherish (featuring Sam Carter)

Containing members of Dead Swans, Throats, Brutality Will Prevail, Last Witness and [ex] Bring Me the Horizon (to name a few!), Still in love is the brainchild of UKHC’s brightest talents. Their new single ‘Preserve & Cherish’ (featuring Sam Carter) is out now via Church Road Records. The track is taken from their debut album ‘Recovery Language’, out 5th September via Church Road Records.

The ’soon to be’ kings of modern melodic hardcore, Still in Love are on incredible form and here, deliver a passionate showcase of hardcore intensity with layers of potent melody, exemplified by the vocals and an inspired Sam Carter guest spot. There only going to get bigger and bigger when this is the sort of music they’re releasing. Check it out here.

Second Cities – Divide

Second Cities, the Birmingham, UK based alternative rock and metal band are back with their brand-new single (and video), Divide. It is the first single from their new album ‘Secrets’ which is set for release in November 2025 and follows a four-part video dramatic series through this release.

We’ve waited, so damn patiently, but finally, it’s time for new Second Cities’ music and what an absolute banger they’ve returned with. A track that embodies their intense side, but also their desire to make everyone feel accepted. It’s remarkable to hear just how far they’ve come since they first came my way, having refined their style to a sharp point, never losing the core of what makes Second Cities special, but evolving to sound fresher and more modern. This is an excellent showcase of their development and that it comes with such a strong example of story telling is all the more impressive.

(The band’s Facebook page has been blocked from running ads – this has meant they have had no choice but to start again on the platform – cheers, Meta. Please go to their new page here and follow the band/give it a like).

Windwaker – Victory Lap

Aussie genre-bending up ‘n comers Windwaker post a major “W” on the leaderboard with their new single ‘Victory Lap’, out now via Civilians & Fearless Records. The release also follows last week’s announcement that they’ll play Good Things Festival this December.

As creative as ever, Windwaker’s new track is a smash-mouth hit that genre bends in mightily clever and attention-grabbing ways. Abrasive, but melodic, intense, but with focus, and stupidly anthemic, and while all of this might seem obvious if you know this band, they’re not stagnating as this is a track with some challenging aspects. Check it out here.

Testament – Infanticide A.I.

Bay Area thrash metal icons Testament return this autumn with their fourteenth studio album, ‘Para Bellum’. The album which will be released on October 10th via Nuclear Blast Records stands as both a battle cry and an observation of humanity’s uneasy alliance with its own creations. As technology accelerates and disconnection grows, Para Bellum sees Testament reflecting the modern chaos through music that’s urgent, sharp, and unflinchingly human.

The first single from the album, ‘Infanticide A.I.’ is out now.

Testament’s Chuck Billy comments:

The new album Para Bellum consists of some fast, heavy and melodic tunes. Once again Peterson has found a way to keep the song writing fresh and modern sounding. It’s gonna be hard to choose what songs to play live cause to many to choose from.

Testament’s Eric Peterson states:

It’s been 5 years since our last record Titans Of Creation was released. Since then, we all waited to get back to it and we all did in a big way! Now our long over due new record Para Bellum is upon us and about to be released in October. We are super stoked and excited to release new blood and fury to you all! With our first single ‘Infanticide A.I.’ we’re coming out swinging! But with new velocities of fury, while maintaining a balance that we all love and know from a Testament track, enjoy!

Old-school thrash, Testament turn the clock back to a time when their sound was straight-forwardly heavy and nothing more. No complaints though as this kind of intensity hits hard and, kept short and sharp, it results in something really memorable. Bang your head, get in the pit, and hail f**king Testament.

Deaf Havana – Carousel

Deaf Havana have released their new single ‘Carousel’, taken from their new album ‘We’re Never Getting Out’. The album will be released on October 3rd via So Recordings/Civilians.

On course to release one of their best albums to date, this latest single from the alternative rock band is heartfelt, powerful, honest, defiant, and catchy. The chorus alone nails all of this, but it’s also cool to see just how collaborative a track like this is as it features Ross McDonald of The 1975 on bass and Freddie Sheed (Lewis Capaldi, Take That) on drums. Check it out here.

Biohazard – Eyes on Six

Brooklyn hardcore legends Biohazard have unleashed their explosive new single ‘Eyes on Six’ from their upcoming album Divided We Fall, their first studio release in over a decade, out 17th October via BLKIIBLK.

Billy Graziadei (vocals/guitar) on the song:

You don’t have to come from the ‘cold streets’ to feel like the odds are stacked against you and to know what it feels like to rise above hard times – when we find ways to survive, against all odds, we adopt a mindset of welcoming challenges. Forged in fire, that strength and determination and grit and heart is the underlying credo of BIOHAZARD. Knock us down nine times, we’ll get up a tenth time and push forward, no matter what! No matter where you come from, play your cards right, know who your friends are, and keep your circle tight!

We excited yet? Of course we are, and this latest single only increases that excitement. Especially as it’s, arguably, the best of the bunch so far. The slow and methodical intro, the tempo shift and hardcore expulsion, the violent sounding chorus… it’s damn good. Biohazard have a total new lease on life, and the result is clearly going to be an album everyone is going to have to hear.

Terjiz de Horde – The Shadows of Prefiguration

Church Road Records has joined forces with Dutch purveyors of esoteric black metal, Terjiz de Horde. The band have just announced their latest LP ‘Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone’, scheduled for release via Church Road Records on October 10th. To celebrate, they have released the new single/video ‘The Shadows of Prefiguration’.

Joost Vervoort (vocals) breaks down the important themes behind the song’s lyrics:

Prefigurative politics are about making a desired future something that can be experienced in the present. Much of this future is built in the shadows of power, in underground networks and communities. Long term strength and capacities form the backbone for revolutionary action when the time is right. The fight against capitalist fascism is long and requires deep roots.

There is a need for an alchemical transmutation of the world from the chokehold of modernity to something that is more truly connected to life. This transmutation is a threat, because it opens us up to a world that is infinitely larger, more challenging and more invigorating than what the powerful want us to experience in our disempowerment.

A furious and feral flurry of black metal, raw and horror-laden, Terjiz de Horde may not be a band many are familiar with here in the UK, but rest assured that if you like your metal to sound evil beyond belief, they have what you need. It’s an unrelenting seven minutes, with wicked shifts in tone and tempo, but with very little nuance, yet it has a hypnotic quality. Check it out here.

GORE. – Wrath

Texas metal quartet GORE. are back with their brand-new EP, titled ‘If You Do Not Fear Me’, out Octboer 3rd, 2025. The new single, ‘Wrath’, is also out now.

Says the band:

‘Wrath’ is the culmination of resentment, cynicism and fear that was made from the experiences in A Bud That Never Blooms. Between the societal turmoil of ‘Doomsday,’ the death of romance in ‘Babylon,’ and the familial heartbreak in ‘Heaven Is Above Me,’ the human condition can wreak havoc on what was supposed to be stability and peace.

There’s a ton of momentum behind this band, and they continue to push forward in exciting fashion, releasing a strong showcase of who they are. Hearty melodies, dramatic effects, powerful vocals, and some serious heavy intensity. When it’s time to go for it, GORE. does not mess around and this ends up being one hell of a beast.