Single Slam: Moonspell, Bad Neighbour, Burning Circus, alt., Blackmarket, Melting, Civil Villains, and Negative Frame!

Today’s single slam features Moonspell, Bad Neighbour, Burning Circus, alt., Blackmarket, Melting, Civil Villains, and Negative Frame. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Moonspell – Far from God

Portuguese gothic metal pioneers Moonspell have released a music video for the first single and title track of their upcoming studio album ‘Far from God’, offering a first glimpse into what promises to be one of the band’s most defining offerings to date. Far from God will be released on 3rd July via Napalm Records.

Goth rock with a cinematic edge, Moonspell are back and going old-school with this naughty little banger. A time machine back to the 80s and 90s, channelling the likes of Sisters of Mercy and Type O Negative, it’s an infectious effort that certainly leaves you wondering what this new album will hold overall.

Bad Neighbour – Rush Apart

Brisbane, emo rock outfit Bad Neighbour will release their sophomore album, ‘Burns From The X-rays’, which is set for release June 5th via Ninth Life Records. Ahead of its release, they have unveiled ‘Rush Apart’, a single that navigates young love.

For vocalist Cooper Riley, the upcoming album is a reflection of change and the uneasy territory between youth and adulthood:

In general, the album is one big love song. The good parts and the awful parts, but mainly it’s about outgrowing a time and a place. I felt very unneasy about my life changing and growing older these past few years, and I wanted this record to be a reflection of that feeling.

‘Rush Apart’ was one of the first songs we wrote for the record. I had the ‘Rush Apart’ line saved in my lyric folder for so long, and I wanted the general theme of the song to be about young, dumb love – we are often so quick to hurt each other when we have no idea what we’re doing.

Throwing a ton of energy, a ton of heart and soul, a ton of drama, and a ton of heavy rock intensity into delivering something notably infectious. This new track from Bad Neighbour has a ton of familiar elements, but their delivery results in something really enjoyable. Check it out here.

Burning Circus – Rodeo

Hard rockers, Burning Circus, have released their brand-new single, ‘Rodeo’, alongside a striking music video.

A groovy butt-shaking head-banger that comes with high-powered riffs, addictive hooks, and a chorus that is so easy to sing along to. Burning Circus’ rock sound is larger than life.

alt. – They’ve Always Lived in the Castle

Adelaide alternative metal quintet alt. have shared their dark new single ‘They’ve Always Lived in the Castle’, out everywhere now via Resist Records (AU) and SharpTone Records (ROW).

The track expands on the thematic world the band began building on their earlier single ‘Sucker Punch’, leaning further into ideas of systemic control, imbalance of power and the boiling point that follows suppression.

Says the band:

‘They’ve Always Lived in the Castle’ confronts a world where power has always protected itself. Where the wealthy remain untouched, and those at the top tighten their grip while the rest are left behind. The song channels a moment when people decide they’ve had enough and rise to reclaim their lives.

Consistently clever and constantly exciting, alt. always deliver something to take note of and this layered effort doesn’t disappoint. That it also happens to be so damn anthemic, so energised, and has a banging chorus, is the cherry on top. Check it out here.

Blackmarket – Asphyxiate

Brit heavy music innovators Blackmarket return with their latest single and video, ‘Asphyxiate’, out ahead of their highly anticipated EP, ‘Radical Views’, out May 29th.

How weird is this? Blackmarket have taken a bit of a ‘kitchen sink’ approach to this new track and it is baffling. But it’s also brilliant. Heavy, intense, wild, wacky, and stupidly addictive. Keep a close eye on this band.

Melting – Glare

Metal outfit Melting, self-described as sonic aggression made in Melbourne, make their return with their violent new single ‘Glare’, out everywhere via Greyscale Records.

Lyrically written prior to the band’s formation, vocalist Xavier Morris says:

Glare stands as one of their most visceral releases to date. The track explores the long-lasting psychological impact of abuse, tracing the lingering trauma and paranoia that can persist even after distancing. “I’ve witnessed it in the lives of those closest to me, and I’ve experienced it myself. An all consuming fear that can be instilled by the most heinous of acts, down to a simple glare.

In your face from the start, this new Melting track goes hard. Showcasing modern hardcore/metalcore, and delivering the thickest of riffs and the most violent of hooks. Furiously intense, it’s a track that will leave you seeing stars. I love it. Check it out here.

Civil Villains – High Achievers/Shadow Weight

Oxford, UK alt-rock/post-hardcore trio Civil Villains have announced that their second album, ‘A Sleeper, Underneath’, is set for release on 8th May 2026 via Thundersnuff Records. To celebrate the news, the double single ‘High Achievers’/’Shadow Weight’ has been released.

First, High Achievers, which is a creative showcase of alternative rock blended with noise elements, wrapped up in theatrical fashion via a unique vocal delivery. It’s a little weird, but addictive none the less. Especially, as it goes on, and it expands in clever ways. Then there is Shadow Weight, a melodic effort that focuses on a subtle delivery, but delivers a different kind of intensity through the sheer beauty of the melody. Both are excellent efforts. Check them out here.

Negative Frame – New Lows

London metallers Negative Frame have released their new single ‘New Lows’.

Vocalist Kesari Gorin commented on ‘New Lows’:

Life is a roll of the dice, it’s suffocating and can close in on you. The hole can always get deeper, there is always a new low to sink to.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows this band that this new Negative Frame effort is quite an aggressive listen. One with hardcore running through its metallised veins, but with more modern anthemic properties that adds layers of interesting harmony to things. It’s very cool.