Single Slam: Cage Fight, Mother Vulture, The Pretty Wild, Chairmaker, Save Us, Prompts, The Hirsch Effekt, Survivalist, The Larches, downcast, Limbs, Rising Insane, and MØL!

Today’s single slam features Cage Fight, Mother Vulture, The Pretty Wild, Chairmaker, Save Us, Prompts, The Hirsch Effekt, Survivalist, The Larches, downcast, Limbs, Rising Insane, and MØL. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Cage Fight – Pig

Cage Fight release new single / video, ‘Pig’. A deeply troubling reflection on inappropriate and unsolicited messages sent to women online.

Vocalist Rachel Aspe commented:

Pig is the expression of my disgust of men sending unsolicited intimate pictures, messages, crossing boundaries and harassing women digitally. I’ve had hundreds over the years, and it’s crazy to think that everyday women regularly get these messages. I just wanted to scream my hatred to them, raise awareness of the issue and show solidarity to other women who experience this abuse.

Cage Fight are on fire at the moment and with an exceptional amount of vitriol, they deliver one of their most potent tracks yet, most of which comes from the fury emanating from vocalist, Rachel Aspe, rightfully so. Heavy riffs, a punchy chorus, savage vocals, and an ending that will warm the heart of every hardcore two-stepper out there. It’s a banger!

Mother Vulture – Phoenix

Continuing to fire on all cylinders, Mother Vulture have unveiled their latest single ‘Phoenix’.

Says guitarist Brodie:

This latest tune holds a really special place in all of our hearts. ‘Phoenix’ is really special to all of us, I think the lyrics kind of speak for themselves on this one. We’ve worked really hard to get where we are, and this tune feels like a cathartic release.

Short and very damn sweet, provided you like your rock and roll to come with a big dollop of energetic sugariness. This is Mother Vulture making a rock statement, letting themselves get loose, and showing just how far they’ve come. It’s a likable effort. Check it out here.

The Pretty Wild – Afterlife (feat. Magnolia Park)

Rising metaphysical metalcore powerhouse The Pretty Wild have unleashed their latest offering, ‘Afterlife (feat. Magnolia Park)’ and the accompanying visualiser (via Sumerian Records). The track can be found on the band’s forthcoming debut album “zero.point.genesis”, out 21st November.

Speaking about the drop, the band commented:

‘Afterlife’ circles the idea of star-crossed souls bound by something ancient and unbreakable. Conceptually it’s plucked from the kind of love you find in mythology and old tragedies, where you have this obsessive devotion and destruction. It isn’t perfect, but it’s dark, beautiful, and eternal. – Jules

‘Afterlife’ explores the idea that love dynamics are rooted in codependent magnetism and resonance patterns. It asks, what happens when obsession doesn’t end with death, but carries your soul into magnetising eternal dynamics? The result is kinda tragic and romantically glitchy. It’s basically a pop-metal requiem. – Jyl

Every time you think you’ve heard everything The Pretty Wild have to offer, they come back with something else wholly attention grabbing. Here, teaming up with the talented Magnolia Park for another memorable slice of anthemic gold that is kind metalcore, but also not quite metalcore. It’s The Pretty Wild and while they’re not breaking new ground, they are delivering their kind of music, and almost always hitting another infectious high. As they do here.

Chairmaker – Hagiographers

Pure, visceral, unrelenting grindcore, Chairmaker is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Neil Erskine, and they’ve just released their second ever single ‘Hagiographers’.

Less than 90 seconds of sickening speed and bowel-loosening noise. The kind that could only come from the world of grindcore, but even then, it takes talent to make it listenable. Which it just about is. Look, a track like this is for a specific audience, and if that happens to be you, well, what the f**k is wrong with you? Check it out here.

Save Us – Bruised

Solid State / Tooth & Nail Records are delighted to announce the signing of Save Us to their global roster. The transatlantic alternative rock/metal outfit formed in 2023 and features members from England and California. now, the band make their label debut with new single and video ‘Bruised’.

The band explain:

‘Bruised’ came together surprisingly fast, almost like it was waiting to be written. We’ve always aimed to explore human emotion and experience in our music, and with this track, we feel like we tapped into something raw and real. There’s an honesty in it that we believe many people will connect with. For us, it captures a very special moment in the band’s journey.

Sometimes you can hear a track and understand just how cathartic it must have been for the band to write and record. This is the case here as Save Us bring us something that oozes passion, raw and visceral, but with sensation that is felt all over. Their intensity is real, but it’s also infectious, and that is what makes them special.

Prompts – Deceiver

Established as one of metals most exciting up and coming acts, Japan-based metalcore outfit Prompts unleash pure mania on their latest single ‘Deceiver’, streaming everywhere now via Greyscale Records.

The band explains:

‘Deceiver’ explores the internal conflict between staying true to yourself and conforming to society’s idea of what’s ‘normal’. “What’s considered the ‘right answer’ in Japan isn’t always the same in Korea. And these ideas of ‘normal’ change depending on the country or region. It can be confusing for a lot of people. But honestly, there’s no universal definition of what’s truly ‘right’, that’s why we believe it’s not worth letting all that noise shape who you are.

Do you need to understand just why Prompts are such an exciting up and coming prospect? Then get your ears around this absolute beast of a track. One mighty heavy effort that leans more towards deathcore, albeit one with Prompts’ innate ability to twist melody around intense sounds. The track comes in stages, delivering varied levels of brutality, and leaving such a strong impression. Check it out here.

The Hirsch Effekt – Der Brauch

Since their formation The Hirsch Effekt have carved out a unique niche in heavy music, embracing limitless possibilities. Yet, despite – or perhaps because of – their elusiveness, the band has captivated a devoted audience. Now, the trio from Hanover, Germany, have announced their seventh studio album, Der Brauch, due 30th January 2026, via Long Branch Records. In conjunction with the album news, the band are giving fans a taste of the new work with the release of the title track.

As unique as ever, The Hirsch Effekt takes us on a journey here that begins in subtle fashion but expands in dramatic and powerful ways. It’s got some of the most vibrant guitar sounds, some of the most eccentric vocals, and some of the most bizarre shifts heard this year. It’s very special. Check it out here.

Survivalist – Failure of Being (ft. Josh Sid Robinson)

Rising metal act Survivalist are set to unleash their next single, ‘Failure Of Being’, featuring producer and close collaborator Josh Sid Robinson. The track marks the latest chapter in the band’s evolution as they prepare for the release of their highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘A Place for Those Who Suffer, Alone’.

One of the more notable aspects of Survivalist’s evolution comes from the stronger and more prevalent marrying of intensities. On the one hand, their music can soar and this track really does in the chorus, but on the other, it’s crunchy filth that has a deathcore feel, and this track doesn’t disappoint as far as heaviness goes. It’s a mighty effort that shows plenty of growth and stays stuck in the mind for hours afterwards.

The Larches – Ego Death / The Skin I Live In

Northeast heavyweights, The Larches, plant a prominent marker with the release of their explosive new double A-side ‘Ego Death’ and ‘The Skin I Live In’.

Let’s start with Ego Death, were we get feedback-laden guitars, noisy drums, and smooth vocals that seem at odds with the music, until it all makes sense. Which won’t take long, leaving you with the feeling that you’ve just heard something quite unique.

Then there is The Skin I Live In, a bit of a different beast as it opens with a punchy, doomy kind of riff, before transitioning into something energised, thick, and sludgy. I kid you not, even the vocals have more growl and bite to them. An easy head banger. Check them out here.

downcast – Nothing Left to Give

Bristol natives downcast are coming your way with two huge announcements. First up, they’ve enlisted the services of Dream State’s excellent Jessie Powell to join them on their brand-new single ‘Nothing Left to Give.’

Says downcast frontman Liam Edwards:

This song is about how the constant struggles of life have, at times, left me feeling unrecognisable to myself. I find that the modern expectations of us as humans can often feel comparable to selling your soul. Life moves so fast that you rarely get a chance to pause and reflect, but during the times that I’ve been able to do so, I’ve often found myself asking “What am I even doing it for?” The lyrics explore the mental spaces that my brain has taken me when I’ve been feeling low. Often during these moments, even places that once feltlike home and brought me comfort have left me feeling like I don’t belong.

The second half of downcast’s announcement is the news of a brand-new EP, of which their new single is the title track. Nothing Left to Give (the EP) will be released on November 27th 2025, and includes their new single, another new original track called “home” (which features Sammy from WSTR) and their two recent covers: Backstreet Boys Just Want You To Know, and My Chemical Romance’s I Don’t Love You.

I think I might have told you this already, but it bears repeating anyway, pay attention to downcast, they’re creating really cool and interesting music. Music that takes elements of emo and alternative rock, twists them around heavier rhythms and beats, adds layers of fascinating complexities, and in the case of this track, experiments with nu-infused sounds. The result is unique, exciting, and extremely listenable.

Limbs – Doesn’t Feel Like Home

Florida-bred post-hardcore outfit Limbs have released the new single ‘Doesn’t Feel Like Home’, paired with a music video filmed in locations connected to each member’s past. The track is the band’s first since signing to Papercut Recordings, the joint label venture between Leo Valeri and Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary.

The song and video trace the unease that hits when a life you knew starts to shift. At the center is a breakup, the quiet wreckage of giving everything and coming home to silence, with the camera walking past rooms and corners that once held two and now hold one.

Says the band:

Doesn’t Feel Like Home was written from the perspective of a close friend losing the love and life they’d known for so many years. It’s an all too familiar feeling; Giving every part of yourself to another only to be left alone at the end of it all. This is technically a love song but sometimes love fucking hurts.

A hyperactive explosion of anthemic metal that starts off hot and stays that way throughout, even as it shows off more melodic ways. It’s a punchy post-hardcore slice of lovable noise being delivered by a band who believe in what they’re doing here. You’ll come for the catchiness, but stay for the authentic beauty. Check it out here.

Rising Insane – Error (ft. Steven Jones of Bleed From Within)

German metalcore masters Rising Insane return with new single ‘Error’ featuring Steven Jones from Bleed From Within. The single is a relentless look in the mirror of one’s own inner turmoil. A song that transforms self-doubt, inner emptiness and longing for healing into pure energy.

A track with encouraging two-step action, this new effort from Rising Insane sits on the heavier side of things, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Especially as the hardcore part of ‘core’ has a stronger voice here. The instruments slam hard, the vocal back and forth slays, and we even get an anthemic chorus too. What more could you want!? Check it out here.

MØL – Garland

MØL have announced their forthcoming album, ‘Dreamcrush’, set for release on 30th January 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. On their third studio record, the Danish alt-metal visionaries push the boundaries of creative expression even further. Ahead of the album, MØL have unveiled their first single ‘Garland’.

Drummer Ken Lund Klejs comments on the new single:

’Garland’ emerges as the first single from Dreamcrush. The song represents the broader scope of the album, yet only hints at the full journey, its shape and texture revealing fragments of the evolving sound and lyrical depth that define the record.

With each release, MØL are seeking to weave powerful imagery into both sound and vision, forging a sense of coherence across the singles while expanding the themes of Dreamcrush. To bring this vision into focus, MØL once again worked with filmmaker John Bradburn, whose eye and creative spirit we fully trust to illuminate the album’s core ideas.

If you had asked me what an important part of MØL’s evolution on a new record would likely be, I would have said something about the clean singing being a more focal part. An aspect that they had experimented with on Diorama. I can’t promise you that I would have been confident about it, but I would have been excited as MØL never disappoint.

Clean singing is a prominent part of this new track, and it is breath-taking stuff, especially when paired with the soul-touching melody and intense blasts of recognisable MØL heaviness, vocal screams included. With absolutely no hyperbole at all, I think this is one of the best things I have heard this year and possibly the best track the band have released to date. It’s just so complete and it left me an emotional wreck, but I loved it for that. Give me this new album now!