Single Slam: RØRY, LUGOSi, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, Left to Suffer, pMad, Rising Insane, Garden Eyes, Polyphia, Luna Rosa, Sakoya, Luna Kills, and Fit for A King!

Today’s single slam features RØRY, LUGOSi, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, Left to Suffer, pMad, Rising Insane, Garden Eyes, Polyphia, Luna Rosa, Sakoya, Luna Kills, and Fit for A King. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

RØRY – Strange

Critically acclaimed alternative artist RØRY has shared the official music video for their latest single, ‘STRANGE’, a track about resilience, gratitude and choosing life. The video follows the recent announcement that her highly anticipated second album, BLOODLETTING, will arrive later this year on 4th September via SADCØRE RECORDS.

Speaking on the music video, RØRY shares:

We went back to do a rooftop performance which references an old video of mine. But coming back to it from a totally different place. One that feels so much more alive.

I love doing band performance videos, they always bring so much energy and allow for a lot of secret messages to be written on the t -shirts…

On the upcoming album, she adds:

I realised I was sick from being nice. I’d spent so much of my life being the bigger person, forgiving people, understanding people, making excuses for people. I’d become disconnected from huge parts of myself. BLOODLETTING was about reclaiming them.

If you thought RØRY was big before, hold on tight, because they’re about to blast off into space with this new album. Not just because a track like this continues to show off a more developed musical palette, but because you can draw a clear line between what they are doing here and what they have done before. This is a more melody-focused effort, but with the indisputable strength of feeling we have become so accustomed too. RØRY fans will eat it up.

LUGOSi – Matches

Parisian hardcore-punk band LUGOSi have released their brand-new single, ‘Matches’. Taken from their forthcoming LP ‘The Scars’ which is set for self-release on the 18th of September.

The bands lead vocalist Pieriv had this to say on the themes surrounding the track:

The match is kind of our unofficial symbol. I love this symbolism: with a match, you can light up the darkness, start fires — to warm yourself or watch things burn. It’s a symbol of hope.

One of the coolest things about LUGOSi is that they can’t be as easily defined as just hardcore-punk, and there’s a strong argument that you never really know what you’re going to get with their music. Aside from the fact that it is going to be filled with energy and intensity, which is very much the case here with this two-minute blast of anthemic chaos. Check it out here.

Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse – Me-Ye-Ye-Yow!

Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are back and they’re bringing receipts. The California-based (Louisiana & UK born) rock & roots powerhouse group have released their new single ‘Me-Ye-Ye-Yow!’.

As effortlessly cool as always, this new Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse is cheeky, fun, and all kinds of rocking. But I’m preaching to the choir here, right? This is what this band does, and while there’s nothing that different, it doesn’t stop it being an absolute blast. It will get stuck in the head.

Left to Suffer – Gun in a Duffle Bag

Left to Suffer have released their debut track after signing to Hopeless Records. It is called ‘Gun in the Duffle Bag’, and it is out now.

Speaking on the track, vocalist Taylor Barber shares:

This song is about when your anger has boiled over and you’ve lost all sense of control on your emotions. So you’re violently romanticising the downfall for your enemies in your head.

Guitarist Peter Higgs adds:

‘Gun in the Duffle Bag’ is one of the more brutally honest songs we’ve put out when it comes to anger, regret and survival instinct happening all at the same time. Can’t think of a better way to settle in and show everyone this new chapter we’ve entered with Hopeless Records.

A furious blast of heaviness that bristles with threatening intensity, Left to Suffer are pulling zero punches here and it is awesome. I dig this kind of focused aggression, and they deliver it with unbridled authenticity. The kind of track to lose a tooth to. Check it out here.

pMad – NineFortyFive

‘NineFortyFive’ is the new single from pMad, the post-punk and gothic rock artist. Continuing the journey toward the album 1+1=-1. The track reflects on time, uncertainty and the moments that shape us while still searching for hope through the noise.

I really like the tone of this one and how pMad manages to capture an array of feelings in his inimitable post-punk and goth-tinged way. The instrumental tone of this one is a bit turbulent, but the vocals act like an anchor in the swirling winds of uncertainty. Smooth, listenable, with a blend of anthemic properties and drama, it’s another strong effort from pMad. Check it out here.

Rising Insane – DARK (feat. ACCVSED)

Building on the massive momentum of their million-streaming hit ‘Good Enough’, Rising Insane have joined forces with ACCVSED for their new single, ‘DARK’. It is the latest taste of their highly anticipated upcoming album, ‘DEATHRACE’, arriving on 21st August via Long Branch Records.

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

‘DARK’ was actually on the chopping block for the album for a long time before it unexpectedly transformed into a single. When Sven played the instrumental for the first time, some incredible vocal ideas immediately clicked. But as it often goes, initial ideas don’t always pan out the way you hope. As a result, the song ended up gathering dust for a while. Yet, that initial spark from the instrumental version never truly faded, which pushed us to give it a second shot – and that definitive rewrite finally brought ‘DARK’ to life. Being able to bring ACCVSED on board for a feature was an absolute blessing, and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

The kind of collaboration that is worth paying attention to, I was sold before I even hit play. I dig what both bands do and here, they seem to be having a bit of fun. Especially as it’s not exactly a complex listen. Who cares, when it goes as hard as this though. If you like both bands, you’ll get a kick out of this.

Garden Eyes – Sunshine

Rising Brisbane alternative rock quartet Garden Eyes return with their third release of the year, the single ‘Sunshine’, hinting at a larger release later down the line. The song works through the process of losing someone you love and the intimate, painful moments that come with it, balancing love and grief.

A very pretty song with a bit of indie rock oomph behind it. Garden Eyes are great storytellers, and this song embodies their impressive ability to draw the listener in. I’m not going to tell you that it thrilled me, because it didn’t, but I did find myself interested and caught up in the vibe. Check it out here.

Polyphia – Can You Feel It

Progressive outfit Polyphia are back with a surprise new single called ‘Can You Feel It’, alongside a video.

What on bloody earth is this? Bravo to Polyphia for doing their own thing, but 90’s house music is not something I am particularly interested in. I really do admire the boldness of the track though, as well as the video. It’s what we call expressionism, and sometimes that comes in a very provocative way.

Luna Rosa – Lift Me Up

Luna Rosa step from the darkness into the light – and you’re coming along for the ride. ‘Lift Me Up’ is their new single, out now via VB@H Records & Blaggers Records.

A powerful listen that has tons of personality delivered in alternative rock fashion. The cool thing about this track is how it delivers a certain amount of punchiness while having uplifting harmonies. All of which is impressively crossed with anthemic qualities. This is a track you remember. Check it out here.

Sakoya – Strangers

Alternative rock/metal band, Sakoya, have released their new single ‘Strangers’ via Adventure Cat Records.

Says the band:

Strangers captures the defiant act of cutting someone out emotionally, declaring that a person who once meant everything will mean nothing from here on. It’s about the contradiction of hoping for release from a love you claim no longer has power over you, doing the slow work of willing yourself into indifference. The song sits in that strange territory between still being wounded and refusing to admit it, which is exactly where so many people land after a love that didn’t end cleanly.

If you’re looking for something you can head bang to, sing along to, and move to, then Sakoya have you covered with this likable anthem. A digestible showcase of modern alternative power, what it lacks in originality, it makes for by being pretty damn addictive. Check it out here.

Luna Kills – Lower

Following the release of their highly anticipated album ‘Deathmatch’ last year, Finnish alternative metal powerhouse Luna Kills are already charging forward with a brand-new single ‘Lower’ via Sharptone Records.

Speaking about the single, the band shares:

The lyrics of the song are about dealing with the feeling that you don’t belong anywhere. You feel the weight of not fitting into the expectations that society or others have placed upon you, or even the expectations you have for yourself. It makes you question your reality, and at the same time, you slowly begin to feel like you’re fading away piece by piece and turning into someone you don’t recognize. The song carries a theme – both in lyrics and music – about the contrast between the softness of accepting yourself and the world you have built around yourself and the crushing weight of a never leaving dread whispering whether you made the right choices.

The future is now, and Luna Kills’ upward trajectory continues with aplomb, courtesy of a new track that expands their musical horizons and delivers something quite original sounding. Their style isn’t easy to define, and that gives them more appeal, with this track proving to be a good example of how far and wide that spreads. It’s a banger, but not obviously so, yet it compels the listener to keep coming back. Check it out here.

Fit for A King – Blood Pact

Fit for A King have returned with new standalone single ‘Blood Pact’, their first new music since last year’s album Lonely God.

Explains vocalist Ryan Kirby:

‘Blood Pact’ is a song that, unfortunately, has become more relevant as time goes on. It’s about how the decisions of people in power affect the rest of us. And how as a human race, we face the reality of destruction, even when it’s not the majority making the decision.

I do like Fit for A King when they go hard and heavy, and this track gives me a ton of satisfaction. A feral sounding track with chunky riffs and roaring vocals, the cherry on top is a breakdown that will leave you seeing stars. More of this please, Fit for A King.