Single Slam: Amon Amarth, downcast, Rising Insane, Tales of Perdition, Save Us, Those Made Broken, The Barbarians of California, Garrow Hill, and Hatebreed!

Today’s single slam features Amon Amarth, downcast, Rising Insane, Tales of Perdition, Save Us, Those Made Broken, The Barbarians of California, Garrow Hill, and Hatebreed. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Amon Amarth – Gjallarhorn

Amon Amarth have announced ‘The Allfather Awakens’, their brand-new album, out October 2nd via Metal Blade Records. Following the release of Amon Amarth’s first-ever acoustic excursion Upphaf’, the band now unleash the album’s opening track and epic tale of ‘Gjallarhorn’.

Good news if you didn’t vibe with the acoustic track, this is more like the Amon Amarth we know and love. A punchy, riff-driven battle hymn that calls to ancient gods and epic times. It has a bit of a throwback feel as far as the heavy drive goes, but there are still plenty of melodies that help make it more anthemic.

downcast – falling to pieces

Bristol emo/alt-rock quartet downcast are back with their first new music of 2026. Thew new track is called ‘falling to pieces’ and it is the most deeply personal song the band have ever released.

Says downcast frontman Liam Edwards:

‘falling to pieces’ is about my little brother who passed away last September at the age of twenty-eight. He struggled with severe alcohol addiction for a long time, which eventually caused fatal medical complications.

The song was written during a time of confusion, before we understood exactly what took him from us. All I knew was that nothing could change what had happened. The song captures the anger and frustration I carried while learning to accept this.

It feels somewhat wrong to sit in judgment of a track that is so damn personal. It is a track that sees downcast, and vocalist Liam in particular, ripping themselves open for all to see. Exposed, raw, and incredibly potent, it’s a special track because it is so authentic. You can feel the frustration, feel the desperation, and feel the anguish.

Check it out here.

Rising Insane – Outrage

Building on the massive momentum of their million-streaming hit ‘Good Enough’, Rising Insane unleash their new single, ‘Outrage’. It is the latest taste of their highly anticipated upcoming album, ‘Deathrace’, due out 21st August via Long Branch Records.

Reflecting on the song’s turbulent journey from the cutting room floor to centre stage, Rising Insane share:

‘Outrage’ is about that feeling of being stuck in your own head and unable to shake things off. The lyrics describe an inner chaos, a constant struggle with oneself, and the feeling that old thoughts and experiences are always simmering beneath the surface. ‘Rip it up’ served as an outlet while writing – this desire to somehow free oneself from it all, even when you know it’s not that simple. Ultimately, the biggest thanks go to Steven Jones from Bleed From Within, who saw a lot of potential in the song and helped us finish it. In the end, we can say that it was exactly the right way to go.

A high energy anthemic effort that gets jammed in the brain, Rising Insane have hit a high with this banger. Delivering infectious intensity, a bouncy chorus, and a meaty breakdown near the end. I rate this band highly, and it’s all because of tracks like this.

Tales of Perdition – The Outer Pale

Symphonic metal band Tales of Perdition have released their new single, ‘The Outer Pale’. It is the fourth release from their upcoming debut album ‘The Theatre of Existence’ which is scheduled for release on 3rd September.

A fast-paced head banging inducing effort that has spectacular symphonic touches that give it an epic edge. All capped off by a chorus that is simply wonderful. Tales of Perdition have smashed it here, sounding grand and imposing, but having a colourful metallised edge that makes the track so much more appealing.

Check it out here.

Save Us – Seraphim

Transcontinental trio Save Us have released their new single, ‘Seraphim’, taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘Death to Something’ (produced by Landon Tewers of The Plot in You), out October 16th via Solid State Records.

Speaking of the track, vocalist Miguel Owls shares:

‘Seraphim’ is the absolute face melter of the record. It has some of the heaviest moments we’ve ever written, and it hits hard right from the start. What makes this one really stand out is the contrast. The verses go full aggression, then the chorus flips everything into this dreamy, almost floating vibe. Vocally, it’s a wild shift from nonstop screaming into something way more atmospheric, and it just works. This one is built for the live show. I already know it’s going to move crowds.

Save Us at their heaviest? It’s certainly in with a shout as it finds the band in the most venomous of moods, albeit with notable melody and a chorus that drifts serenely. It’s all about the verses though. Explosive and intense, it’s a track that will cause carnage in the live environment.

Check it out here.

Those Made Broken – Echo Chamber

Glasgow’s Those Made Broken have premiered a new music video for ‘Echo Chamber’ ahead of their slot at Hammerdown Festival and the release of their sophomore album, ‘A Door You Can Never Close,’ on 1st September.

Making a strong point, lyrically, and then driving that point home with punchy riffs, thick drums, and dramatically potent vocals, this new Those Made Broken track hits hard. Their hard rock sound is given more vibrancy via modern touches that help make it even more infectious.

Check it out here.

The Barbarians of California – Really Really Rad

The Barbarians of California, featuring Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed and a noted producer, have dropped their new single and music video ‘Really Really Rad’. Taken from upcoming new album ‘Megatons’, out 21st August via Villains for Good.

Says Bruno:

‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ was really fun to make. ‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ has really fun dynamics. ‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ is really good.

A unique mashup of groove metal, hardcore, and synth pop, I s**t you not. It’s a track that stomps and crashes about for two and a half minutes and then, out of nowhere, it shifts in baffling fashion. You’re either going to love it or hate it.

Garrow Hill – IX

York-based metal duo Garrow Hill return with their new single, ‘IX’, ahead of the release of their EP, ‘IX’, on Friday 31 July.

The energetic tempo, shout along chorus, and extended guitar soloing is what makes this track really stand out, but I also think it’s a good showcase of what Garrow Hill are capable of as far as genre-blending goes. There’s imagination here, and that makes for a more immersive listen overall.

Check it out here.

Hatebreed – Kill Count Increase

Hardcore legends Hatebreed have announced their long-awaited studio return with ‘Fatal Paradox’, arriving November 6 via new label BLKIIBLK. The first taste of new music comes via ‘Kill Count Increase’, out now.

Frontman Jamey Jasta states:

‘Kill Count Increase’ is the lead track on Fatal Paradox and a perfect way of summing up our first album in six years from the start. It’s straightforward, in-your-face Hatebreed. Fast. Hard. It gets down to business and comes up for air two-and-a-half minutes later. The room and everyone in it gets wrecked and comes back wanting more.

A Hatebreed track through and through, what we have here is around two and half minutes of furious, fast, and feral sounding hardcore noise. It is aggressive, but in their inimitable uplifting way. No complaints here.