Single Slam: Alexisonfire, Veil of Maya, Sunday Fire, Sickjoy, Soreption, Pathos & Logos, The Dark Alamorté, Oakman, Feather Mountain, Casket Feeder, Hollywood Undead, Future Palaces and Conjurer!

This week’s single slam features Alexisonfire, Veil of Maya, Sunday Fire, Sickjoy, Soreption, Pathos & Logos, The Dark Alamorté, Oakman, Feather Mountain, Casket Feeder, Hollywood Undead, Future Palaces and Conjurer. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Alexisonfire – Reverse the Curse

Alexisonfire have unveiled a second track from Otherness, their first full-length album in over 13 years. “Reverse The Curse” is a poetic commentary on facing one’s demons.

Says George Pettit:

Some riffs stick around for a while until they make sense. ‘Reverse The Curse’ has existed in one form or another since Crisis. There was even a version that we used as the original ‘Young Cardinals’ but that one wasn’t meant to be. It found its way to creation during our covid rehearsals and I’m glad it’s finally coming to light.

Otherness will be released on June 24 via Dine Alone Records.

There’s a reason why the Kyuss-worshipping riff is cited as the focal point of this new Alexisonfire track. It’d because it’s an enormous sounding thing that gives this some heavy rock flavour. Though, this is still Alexisonfire and anthemic bouncers is what they do, and Reverse the Curse does no different. A chaotic build leads to a massive chorus and back again, Alexisonfire making sure to hit all the right notes along the way.

Veil of Maya – Synthwave Vegan

Genre-bending metal powerhouse Veil of Maya have released their latest music video for their track “Synthwave Vegan” (out via Sumerian Records).

A shortish slab of savagery that showcases some really meaty (or should that be meatless?) hooks and riffs, brain-frying technicality and in-your-face vocals. It’s like one long breakdown until you get to the actual breakdown and things go off the rails, but in the best way possible. It’s a chaotic blast but clearly, Veil of Maya planned every aspect of this, so it ends up feeling so much more intense because of how measured it is. Check it out here.

A Sunday Fire – The Crowned Owl

Alt rockers, A Sunday Fire, don’t rest comfortably within the realms of a singular genre; instead, they strive to create music that expands beyond genre limits. Their unique, alt-fused, high-energy sound comes with a wave of emotional output. The band explores sounds that are sonically uncommon, pairing their experimentation with personal expansion.

Their new single, The Crowned Owl is out now.

A bubbly and bouncy blast of rock music, The Crowned Owl has an innate accessibility that makes for a catchy listen. Plenty of groove, plenty of foot-tapping rhythm and plenty of sing-along moments. A touch of emotional value, an increase in passion and power near the end, and a confident approach to creating something fresh sounding works in A Sunday Fire’s favour here. Check it out here.

Sickjoy – talking to the drugs

Ahead of the upcoming release of the roaring, fuzzy alt.rock explosion of their debut album, We’re All Gonna F***Ing Die, on July 8th on SO Recordings, Sickjoy have released new single, ‘talking to the drugs’.

Singer/guitarist, Mykl Barton says:

It’s an unrelenting push back against certain people and also myself. Born of a journey back to difficult and darker periods of my life with angry aggressive hindsight. There was no space for minced words. It’s not pro drugs, it’s not anti drugs. It’s consent, responsibility, toxic behaviour and ownership. Just another fuck you.

A dirty and groovy rock sound, Sickjoy have created something of an anthem here. A track that is groovy, catchy and pointed. It’s memorable because of its lyrical content but it also sticks in the mind because of the deep guitar tones, touches of melody and laid-back vocal style.

Soreption – Död Jord

Swedish titans of technical death metal, Soreption, have announced they are rejoining Unique Leader Records. In celebration of the partnership, the band have also unveiled their latest single ‘Död Jord’, taken from their forthcoming album Jord which is set for release on 10th June.

Give a warm welcome back to Soreption and then say goodbye to your eardrums as the tech-death masters are going to destroy them with this new single. An absolute beast that balances a showcase of blistering technicality and brutalising death metal heaviness perfectly. Exciting, interesting, brash and bullish, Soreption have set the bar high for this upcoming album. Check it out here.

Pathos & Logos – Regnum

On June 24th, instrumental progressive duo Pathos & Logos will release their new EP, Cult. For a first preview of Cult, a live video for the new single – Regnum – has been released.

A progressive and heavy instrumental masterpiece, Pathos & Logos pack this 5-odd minute track with a seemingly impossible amount of detail. While stilling delivering discernible rhythm and thrilling twists and turns. Smart sounding, powerful without being too forceful, heavy but still accessible, this is another in a line of classy tracks from this band. It’s great to see Pathos & Logos growing in stature and if this new single is a sign of what is to come on the new EP, things can only get bigger for duo. Check it out here.

The Dark Alamorté – Tusk in the Abyss

Blackened-death metallers The Dark Alamorté have released their new single ‘Tusk in the Abyss’. The track is the third to be released from their upcoming record Lunacrium Thepsis, out on 20th May.

The perfect combination of black and death metal, The Dark Alamorté being the horror from the deepest and darkest corners of the music scene. Delivering an explosive blast of high-powered heaviness that can simply be called ‘relentless. From the beginning to the end, The Dark Alamorté come out as though possessed and the end result is something that leaves the brain that little bit mushier.

Oakman – Night

France based pop/rock trio, Oakman make their Rude Records debut with their brand-new single, ‘Night’.

Written by lead singer Marine, the track reflects on the fleeting moments of life that we tend to take for granted, and reminds us to live in these moments and enjoy life.

Says the band:

This song was written in one day. Marine had just learned that she might have a serious health problem. Without knowing it, Geremia sent an idea for a riff to Marine that day, who was instantly inspired by the mood. It matched so well with what she was feeling at the time that the whole song was written in one go. She was in a very special mental state that day. It was a kind of happy-sad nostalgia of life. Between the reality of losing everything and the people that you love and the strong desire to just live and exist. We spend our time complaining but when life can suddenly stop, that’s when we realise how much the smallest thing is worth. This song was like a mourning, a last night before everything stops forever.

It’s the first time we wrote such a personal song and it’s one of our favourite tracks. It allowed Marine to not sink that day.

You can feel the authenticity in this poppy-rock number, a track that is mellow but with such strong lyrical content. The guitars shine, the drums hit nice but the star is the vocals and that is highlighted by the sing-along chorus. It leans a bit more to the pop side of things but that doesn’t stop it being a hell of a catchy rock tune. Check it out here.

Feather Mountain – Sincere

The Danish progressive metal ensemble Feather Mountain have announced its second album ‘To Exit A Maelstrom’ for a September release and simultaneously released the album’s first single ‘Sincere’.

The band’s lead singer and lyricist Mikkel Aaen Lohmann states about the song:

On ‘Sincere’, we as a band have managed to combine all the elements we want to have in our music. Thematically we explore the fear of the unknown and the discomfort that can exist in the unsaid with oneself and ones closest. I’m proud on behalf of the band, and I am excited to see how our fans and new listeners will receive it.

A moving and touching bout of progressive melody, heartfelt vocals and laidback instrumentation. Feather Mountain certainly create easy going atmosphere and a sense of lightness here. Though, as it goes on, more and more elements sneak in and it begins to grow in stature. More and more passion coming in, before things get kind of heavy with a second set of vocals, more guttural, join the fray. Check it out here.

Casket Feeder – Doomsday Prophecy

Last month, death-hardcore upstarts Casket Feeder dropped their blistering single ‘Vulture Culture’. Taken from upcoming album Servants of Violence, the track was the perfect taste of what this intense five-piece have to offer. Now, Casket Feeder are here to present yet another exceptional single in the form of ‘Doomsday Prophecy’, which sees the band set their sights on doomsday cults and their apocalyptic obsessions.

Speaking about the single, Casket Feeder say:

Lyrically, the track takes aim at the proliferation of doomsday cults, with their apocalyptic obsessions and doctrine of murder. An outright rejection of those who support their evil cause.

Servants of Violence is shaping up to be one hell a banger and further proof of that statement comes from this new single. A Casket Feeder on top form, showing just how well their brand ruthless metal and impetuous hardcore goes together. That it has a more restrained tempo yet feels so damn heavy and intense, is testament to the talents of Casket Feeder. If they keep this up, we could be looking at one of the albums of the year. Check it out here.

Hollywood Undead – Wild in These Streets

Celebrating 4/20 in a way only they know how, platinum certified quintet Hollywood Undead have shared their band new track ‘Wild in These Streets’. Taken from the band’s yet to be announced forthcoming album.

Like ‘em or loathe ‘em, Hollywood Undead are having a bit of fun with this track and that, in turn, makes it more fun to listen to. That being said, it’s par for the course for this band. Nothing particular special, the band going through the motions with their mix of hip-hop, metal and electronica. That would be fine if there was a hook but there just isn’t, In fact, the chorus falls extremely flat.

Future Palace – Defeating Gravity

German post-hardcore trio Future Palace have released a video for their new single ‘Defeating Gravity’, a sonic blend of emo and post-hardcore, melody and brute force, impetus and vulnerability. The track is another glimpse into their upcoming sophomore album Run, due for release on 10th June 2022 via Arising Empire.

Another top-shelf hit from a band that just understands how to modernise post-hardcore without moving too far away from the core sound. Future Palaces’ latest single is a catchy blast of anthemic heaviness. One that features electrifying riffs, dreamy and powerful vocals, punchy drums and clever layering of electronica and effects. One of the best songs the band have put out so far. Check it out here.

Conjurer – Rot

The future of British metal lies in safe hands with Conjurer, who deliver their breath-taking new single ‘Rot’, taken from their long-awaited new album Páthos, which will be released 1st July via Nuclear Blast.

The band comment:

Rot looks at the same topics of anxiety, fear, and depression that feature in ‘It Dwells’ and flips the perspective/narrative. We wanted to hone in on the most visceral and disgusting parts of our sound when we were writing it and, along with the lyrics, play with the idea of giving that fear and dread a voice. (It’s not very nice.)

The most anticipated album of the year? Such is the buzz around Conjurer, it’s a statement that rings true. So far, the band have shown that we have good reason to be excited and Rot is further proof of that. A moody, cold and atmospheric start gives way to a filthy sludge sound that stops and starts in such a way, you’ll suffer heart palpitations. Conjurer are possibly sounding their heaviest here and good gods, is it great.