Single Slam: Arch Enemy, Garden Eyes, Ice Nine Kills, Hanging Garden, Gaerea, Hands Like Houses, Vanitas, Rising Insane, Blessings of Mara, ERRA, Wildernesses, Desert Storm, Nekrogoblikon, Within Reach, Poison the Well, Sweet Pill, Man Band, and Exodus!

Today’s single slam features Arch Enemy, Garden Eyes, Ice Nine Kills, Hanging Garden, Gaerea, Hands Like Houses, Vanitas, Rising Insane, Blessings of Mara, ERRA, Wildernesses, Desert Storm, Nekrogoblikon, Within Reach, Poison the Well, Sweet Pill, Man Band, and Exodus. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Arch Enemy – To the Last Breath

Swedish extreme metal juggernauts Arch Enemy charge into a new chapter with the release of their new single ‘To the Last Breath’ – the band’s first blast of fresh material since their latest album ‘Blood Dynasty’. The track also marks a major reveal: it’s the first release to feature vocals from the band’s newly unveiled singer Lauren Hart (ex-Once Human).

Michael Amott, guitarist and founder of Arch Enemy, comments:

Connecting with Lauren has marked an important step in my journey. Working with her was an exceptional experience – her remarkable voice, coupled with her dedication and professionalism, brings a rare level of excellence. I look forward to continuing the collaboration!

Make no mistake – this song is a reckoning. Musically, it’s unapologetically aligned with my original vision for the band – and I believe longtime fans will recognise that immediately. Lyrically, it’s about seeing through deception and dismantling the illusion of control. It captures that moment when you realise you’ve been fed poison – and you choose to fight back. Once that clarity hits, there’s no retreat. It’s do or die.

The rebirth of Arch Enemy comes in a very familiar form, which won’t be too much of a surprise as when debuting a new singer, you’re going to want to show consistency. Lauren is one hell of a talented person and fits Arch Enemy perfectly, showcasing range, aggressive range. Alongside her power, the instrumental side of Arch Enemy take a frantic and furious approach here, keeping it simple through sheer extreme intensity. A head banger as only Arch Enemy can deliver.

Garden Eyes – Speak Slow

Emerging Brisbane alternative rock quartet Garden Eyes have shared their melodic new single ‘Speak Slow’. It captures the push and pull of a relationship marked by poor mental health, power imbalance and creeping self-doubt.

A melodramatic, heartfelt, and powerful showcase of alternative rock that is filled with emotional authenticity. Garden Eyes’ passion is undeniable, even if it comes in more reserved fashion. Yet, you can feel the underlying tension in the track that connects to the overall tone. Check it out here.

Ice Nine Kills – Twisting the Knife (feat. Mckenna Grace)

Ince Nine Kills officially enter the canon of one of the most iconic horror franchises with ‘Twisting the Knife’, featured in the forthcoming film Scream 7. Cast member Mckenna Grace joins the band on the new single.

If you’ve heard any Ice Nine Kills songs in the last couple of years, you’ll feel right at home here. Which can be taken in both a negative and positive way. The band have just about hit the peak of what their horror/metal crossover sound can deliver, and it’s all starting to sound overly generic if I’m being honest. Still, the mainstream will lap this up, especially as it’s more melodic, and that is what matters. Ice Nine Kills’ success can’t be ignored and crossovers that put a guest like Mckenna Grace in such a prominent spot won’t change that. Personally though, it’s a track that leaves me feeling apathetic about the band. Check it out here.

Hanging Garden – Isle of Bliss

Finland’s death/doom seven-piece Hanging Garden are previewing their upcoming studio album ‘Isle Of Bliss’ – due out March 20th on Agonia Records – with a lyric video for the album’s title song.

Showcasing a big and bold sound that takes the doom vibes of the group in an epic direction, this new Hanging Gardens’ track is beastly, but beautiful. Especially when the tone switches and we get more death-infused vocals and heavier guitar riffs. It’s an awesome track. Check it out here.

Gaerea – Nomad

After exploring water, fire and darkness Gaerea chase the light in a freezing world with their new single and video, ‘Nomad’.

Says the band about the new single and video:

The ‘Nomad’ is the individual who goes through life at a constant moving pace just to avoid facing oneself—physically drifting, but emotionally running from guilt, self-doubt, and a fear of becoming something to despise. At its core, it’s a confession of alienation: a nomad not by choice, but by self-punishment and inner collapse.

The new album is shaping up to not just be their best, but their most varied, and this latest effort takes things in a blacker direction, albeit melodically charged and atmospherically potent. In fact, there are times during this grand effort that it almost sounds folky. How unique is that for Gaerea? Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, including a chorus that is kind of catchy. This new album really is going to be special.

Hands Like Houses – Flowers

Canberra rock heavyweights Hands Like Houses are back with their new single ‘Flowers’, out now via Civilians. It is about the quiet exhaustion of always being the one who shows up, carries the weight, and keeps going when it would be easier to walk away. It speaks to the need for recognition, not fame or praise, but simple acknowledgment that the effort mattered.

A hooky effort that shows growth, Hands Like Houses refusal to stagnant ensures that all who have followed will find themselves excited and encouraged by the exciting blend of alternative rock and metal that comes from this track. It’s a potent effort that has tons of memorable aspects, least of all a chorus that gest jammed in the brain. Check it out here.

Vanitas – Nobody

UK progressive metal act Vanitas are back! Kick-starting their 2026 with their brand-new single, ‘Nobody’. Written about vocalist Jade’s experiences as a woman in the music industry.

A new year, a new Vanitas banger. Talk about being so consistent. Their reputation is such that each new effort comes with expectation, and thankfully, they continue to deliver. Offering up a scathing, blistering, and powerful explosion of progressive heaviness that comes with a very sharp point. Layered and complex, but not to the extent that it won’t have wider appeal to those who just want to bang their heads and sing along to an immense feminine rage anthem.

Rising Insane – Good Enough (feat. Matt Flood of Caskets)

German metalcore masters Rising Insane storm into 2026 with their new single ‘Good Enough’, featuring Matt Flood from Caskets. The single is an intense song about inner conflict, vulnerability, and the search for self-acceptance. Caught between doubt and inner storms, ‘Good Enough’ questions self-worth.

Caskets frontman Matt Flood adds:

Being invited to feature on Rising Insane’s new single was an incredible experience, and I can’t wait to see how fans respond to ‘Good Enough.’ It’s a high-energy, powerful track, and I think both Rising Insane fans and Caskets fans are really going to connect with it.

A potent force by themselves, Rising Insane’s modern metalcore sound takes on a whole form when someone as talented as Matt Flood guests. Together, they deliver an infectious and emotionally impressive effort that has lyrical content that will speak to so many. I like both bands, and they really do compliment each other here. Check it out here.

Blessings of Mara – After Despair

Blessings of Mara, the metalcore band from South London, are back with their brand-new single, ‘After Despair’.

Having previously left one hell of an impression, Blessings of Mara expand their metalcore sound with even more alternative elements, giving things a richer feel. The melodies are still potent, but the burst of heaviness that comes in the chorus really stands out. It’s this side of the band, a bit more aggressive and intense, that I find more compelling, even though the drama they infuse will draw in a wider audience. Check it out here.

ERRA – i. the many names of god

Prolific metalcore progressives, ERRA, have shared their new single, ‘i. the many names of god’, out now via UNFD. The song is the first part of the album’s closing trilogy, that includes ‘ii. in the gut of the wolf’ and ‘iii. twilight in the reflection of dreams’.

Shares Jesse Cash (guitar/clean vocals):

The many names of god is the first in what we consider the trilogy of silence outlives the earth. The trilogy represents a distinct shift in tone from the previous songs on the record. we wanted the aesthetic of the track listing to persuade the feeling of that shift. the record transitions to a darker place at this point, and the many names serves to take the heaviest moods expressed in the preceding tracks and visceralize them.

A huge track that shows off an expanded metalcore palette, ERRA have worked hard to show off more layers to their sound here while also delivering one of their most crushing efforts too. It’s a track that has a technical edge, downright djenty (you won’t be able to stop yourself thinking of the likes of Meshuggah) in places, and leaves one hell of an impression.

Wildernesses – Summertime, 1917

London-based alt-rock band Wildernesses have unveiled their latest single, ‘Summertime, 1917’, ahead of their debut album Growth, out 27th March via Floodlit Recordings.

The new single explores love and loss, telling the story of two male soldiers in World War One, seen through the eyes of a modern narrator who discovers their love letters while renovating a deceased loved one’s house.

The best track so far from this new album? The argument is there, especially if we focus on just how pretty it is. Laidback instrumentals filled with emotional power, haunting vocals that touch the soul, and atmosphere that creates an unforgettable environment. This is a gorgeous effort that becomes quite impossible to turn off. Check it out here.

Desert Storm – Law Unto Myself

UK heavy and melodic sludge metal stalwarts Desert Storm continue their relentless march forward with their new single, ‘Law Unto Myself’. The latest track to come from their new album ‘Buried Under the Weight of Reason’, which is out on March 6th through Heavy Psych Sounds.

Desert Storm comments:

‘Law Unto Myself’ is a groove-driven blast of raw and unfiltered rock’n’roll defiance. Rejecting authoritarian control and institutional power, pushing back against obedience enforced through fear. Rooted in underground and anarchic spirit, a refusal to submit and a demand for personal sovereignty. Direct, confrontational, and unapologetic.

I am now 100% convinced that we’re getting Desert Storm’s magnum opus with this new album, and it’s this track that pushed me over the edge. Everything heard so far has been immense, and this groovy, riffy head banger is the cherry on top. A punchy and intense blast that comes with a middle finger pointed sharply in the air. I love it. Check it out here.

Nekrogoblikon – Secret Elephant (feat. Reel Big Fish)

Nekrogoblikon return with their new EP, ‘The Boiling Sea’, slated for April 17th, led by the new single ‘Secret Elephant’, which features ska rockers Reel Big Fish.

As unique as ever, Nekrogoblikon’s new single will put the silliest smiles on faces willing to subject themselves to some infectious nonsense, and then you take into account that it’s a collaboration with Reel Big Fish. A team up that no one was asking for or would have ever expected, but a team up that delivers one of 2026’s most unique efforts. Like so many Nekrogoblikon tracks, be prepared for it to get stuck in the brain matter for a long time afterwards.

Within Reach – Hesitate

Within Reach are kickstarting their 2026 with their first new music of the year. Their new single ‘Hesitate’ is out now.

Within Reach’s guitarist / co-vocalist Bailey Dopson says:

I wanted the narrative point of this song to open the listeners eyes. Life has its obstacles and sometimes we get consumed by these things that make us lose sight of what matters and our true selves. It’s even harder watching loved ones go through these motions and this is what the song was born from. The lyrics come from the stand point of these loved ones because I wanted to convey the juxtaposition in value to how someone can view themself compared to how valuable they are through the eyes of the people around them which is what I felt was a subject that needed light shed on it because I feel this song is a song people need to hear in the masses. The song moved me as I wrote it, I’m confident it’ll do the same for the people.

An energised effort that comes with a powerful amount of expression, showcasing melody and metal in exciting fashion. Sitting in the alternative metal camp, the modern blend it offers will turn heads, especially those who desire anthemic properties. Which it has plenty of. Check it out here.

Poison the Well – Everything Hurts

Poison the Well will release ‘Peace in Place’, their first album in 16 years, on March 20th via SharpTone Records. The latest single, ‘Everything Hurts’, is out now.

Says vocalist Jeffrey Moreira:

‘Everything Hurts’ is about the patience and effort it takes to keep relationships alive. I care deeply about the people in my life, but even the people you love can be frustrating sometimes. And it’s important to remember that we can be just as frustrating to them. We all have our moments — and I have my moments too. The ones that stick around are the ones you have a unique connection with. You can’t put up with everyone’s shit, so the people you keep close are the ones whose shit you actually want to deal with.

Excitement continues to build, and all because this Poison the Well return is coming with so many fresh ideas, albeit twisted by maturity and age. Poison the Well aren’t trying to turn back the clock, rather, they’re changing it and the end result is a track that hits hard, especially as it has got a message that everyone can relate to. A comeback like no other, this one is special.

Sweet Pill – Smoke Screen

Sweet Pill have shared their new single ‘Smoke Screen’, the fourth and final advance single from their forthcoming album ‘Still There’s A Glow’.

Explains singer Zayna Youssef:

This song is sorta like the inner monologue of battling your self doubt. The album has a lot of lyrics about burning or any sort of thing associated with fire: ‘Sun Blind’ mentions a sun, ‘Glow’ references haze, ‘Slow Burn’ with cigarettes and literally slow burning! For ‘Smoke Screen,’ I see myself being destructive like fire, not easy to contain and ruining everything I touch, spreading fast. Sometimes we need to slow down and clear the voices out of our head. Or in this case, blow away the smoke screen and have a little clarity. So unlike ‘Glow,’ where I want to be blanketed in ignorance, ‘Smoke Screen’ has this yearn to get out of the smoke and open my eyes.

I think it is safe to say that the album is going to be damn good, and capping off the single run is a really pretty, smile-inducing, alternative rock banger that nails so much of what we all love about this band. Infectious, dramatic, poppy, potent, and just a little bit weird in places. Sweet Pill are great, and a single like this only makes anticipation for the new album even stronger. Check it out here.

Man Band – Dane Valley

Man Band [featuring ex members of OHHMS] have announced their debut record ‘Strong Man’, out 17th April via Faith Healer Records. The debut single ‘Dane Valley’ is out now.

Explains guitarist Dan:

Dane Valley is about Chainy (vocals) being a skinny guy who got mugged for £50 in Dane Valley park, a notoriously rough part of Margate. He then decided to become super strong, muscle-covered and learned kick boxing, so that no one could ever mug him again.

A bit weird, a bit wonderful, and quite memorable, this introduction to Man Down is quite something. They call themselves a genre-fluid band, and hearing this track, you can tell anything was game when it came to creating an album. It’s got such a unique structure, and the different clashing elements come together in an impressive way. They’re going to turn a ton of heads with this one. Check it out here.

Exodus – Goliath

Exodus have unleashed the colossal title track from their new album, ‘Goliath’, out 20th March via Napalm Records.

Says the band:

‘Goliath’ may quite possibly be the heaviest thing we have ever done, and certainly the slowest song in our catalogue, as close to doom metal as Exodus can get! Just pure evil, as sinister as it gets, featuring our friend Katie Jacoby, who laid down 18 tracks of strings in the middle harmony section, making the song go from just pure horror to a thing of beauty.

Warm up the neck muscles, because this track is going to make you bang your head hard, albeit in slower fashion. Exodus do heavy, but this is a different beast altogether, coming from a doomier standpoint. It’s so cool to hear them experimenting, and while there are familiar Exodus elements within, there’s no denying that it’s going to surprise a few people, but in a positive way.