Single Slam: Pupil Slice & Tayne, Shevils, On Borrowed Time, Dimmu Borgir, Joel H Bulsara, Crowned Lands, Civil Villains, Small Town Saviours, Ashes of Perishing, Alunah, Windwaker, and A.A. Williams!

Today’s single slam features Pupil Slice & Tayne, Shevils, On Borrowed Time, Dimmu Borgir, Joel H Bulsara, Crowned Lands, Civil Villains, Small Town Saviours, Ashes of Perishing, Alunah, Windwaker, and A.A. Williams. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Pupil Slice & Tayne – W.N.

Pupil Slicer have wasted no time keeping the momentum from their recent ‘Fleshwork’ alive, they return with a new track that sees them pair with industrial noise outfit Tayne.

Says Pupil Slicer:

We took TAYNE on tour last year, they amazed us every night with a stellar performance! They then approached us to work on “W.N.” and we were stoked to see their take on a Pupil Slicer track come to life in such a transformative way, it’s such a sick bopper.

Says Tayne:

It’s been a dream to work with Pupil Slicer on this track. We have so much respect for their music and artistic outputs so having them trust our musical vision and allow us to inject a bit of TAYNE into this track is a massive high point., We can only apologise for bringing them down to our level! I think the end result is a well rounded harmonious balance that represents what both do best – Absolute HONKIN!

Two of the most creative acts in the UK combining forces to show just what makes both bands so damn desirable. Both acts exemplify chaos, but the way in which Tayne takes Pupil Slicer’s measured anarchic stylishness, reshapes it, and sends it back out into the world in a different, but familiar form, delights. I think this is one of the best examples of what makes Tayne such a unique experience, but I also can’t stress enough just how fucking good Pupil Slicer are.

Shevils – Mind Control

Norwegian hardcore band, Shevils are back with a brand-new single, ‘Mind Control’. It is the first single from their fifth album ‘Sect Resurrection’, coming this winter.

I really like how intensely odd this track is. Showcasing a creative blend of maddening electronica, tense beats, and explosive punk-infused hardcore heaviness. It’s a track that builds and builds, unleashing a cacophony of hardwearing noise on the unsuspecting mind as it goes on. Yet, if that wasn’t enough, there’s a fair amount of catchiness to it too. Dare I say, it’s quite a hypnotic listen. Check it out here.

On Borrowed Time – After All

On Borrowed Time have unveiled their second single ‘After All’, taken from their forthcoming album ‘In the Dark Before the Dawn’ out 29th May via Omen Records.

Says Damien Carter (lead guitar/backing vocals):

‘After All’ is one of our most personal songs, born from confronting the weight of things we can’t change and learning to find strength within that struggle. While it speaks to isolation, the anthemic gang-vocal ending transforms that loneliness into unity, making it a real call to arms for anyone fighting their own battles. The track represents acceptance rather than resolution—embracing every scar and flaw as part of who we are. More than anything, it’s an invitation for listeners to stand with us and shout those final words together.

I’m digging what this band does, and this potent crowd-pleaser of a statement track puts a smile on my face. On Borrowed Time’s delivery of melodic hardcore comes with so much instrumental passion, wrapped up in expressive lyric content and intense vocals. Undeniably authentic sounding, five minutes flies by and trust me, it leaves one hell of an impression. Check it out here.

Dimmu Borgir – Ascent

Norwegian extreme metal titans Dimmu Borgir will release their long-awaited new studio album, ‘Grand Serpent Rising’, on May 22nd via Nuclear Blast Records. The second single from the album, ‘Ascent’, is out now.

I liked the first single, but I really like this one, mainly because it is such a heavy throwback. It’s beginning to seem like Dimmu have looked to their past to find their sound on this album, combining powerful symphonic detail with blistering speed and hostile heaviness. They’ve not sounded this intense in quite some time, and all parts of the band are firing on all cylinders here.

Joel H Bulsara – The Yellow Signed Piper

Yorkshire stoner/doom solo artist Joel H Bulsara brings Lovecraftian heaviness, NOLA-groove riffs, and the gritty underbelly of UK underground metal with his debut solo album, ‘Hastur the King’. The first single, ‘The Yellow Signed Piper’, is out now.

Doomy enough to make your teeth ache, Joel shows off a ton of talent with this single, and while thick riffs, potent vocals that come in different forms, and dark harmonies are notable on their own, it’s how everything comes together that really makes the difference. You might be surprised just how listenable a track it is, even if the power behind it threatens to crush. Check it out here.

Crowned Lands – Blackstar

Canadian progressive rock duo Crown Lands will release their new studio album ‘Apocalypse’ on the 15th of May 2026. Fresh off the back of their Canadian headline tour, the band are pleased to launch their new single ‘Blackstar’.

Progressive rock with a power twist, Crowned Lands are a blast to listen to, and they continue to show off just how varied their sound is with a rip-roaringly catchy effort. It’s a body shaker, a foot tapper, and a head banger that just so happens to come with a side of cheese.

Civil Villains – Punching Down

Oxford, UK alt-rock/post-hardcore trio Civil Villains have revealed the official video for their new single ‘Punching Down’, out now. The single is the final cut to be taken from their forthcoming second album, ‘A Sleeper, Underneath’, set for release on 8th May 2026 via Thundersnuff Records.

Effortlessly making upbeat instrumentals sound darker and more thought-provoking through a varied approach, this new Civil Villains track comes with a bit more bite than initially expected. Are we really surprised though? They’ve proven to be quite a creative band already, and this new album is shaping up to be something quite special. Check it out here.

Small Town Saviours – Alkaline

UK rock ‘n’ rollers, Small Town Saviours, charge onwards, armed with their new single and video, ‘Alkaline’.

A rocking blast of infectious energy that oozes heart and soul, this new Small Town Saviours track is delightful. Uncomplicated, but with enough layers to feel like it has more to say, they’re a band on the rise and it’s because tracks like this have such universal appeal.

Ashes of Perishing – Rapture

Ashes of Perishing, the Helsinki-based modern metalcore group, have released the single ‘Rapture’, along with a music video, via Inverse Records.

Says the band:

Rapture is a journey deeper into the Void, devoid of all light and hope.

The melodic intro isn’t really much to get excited about, but the eruption of heaviness that follows certainly is. A wild showcase of modern metalcore that has a big, anthemic chorus. There’s nothing too complicated here, but there are symphonic touches layered within that help make it a bit more potent. Check it out here.

Alunah – La Pucelle

Birmingham heavy rockers Alunah present their brand-new video for ‘La Pucelle’, taken from their forthcoming ‘Embers of Belief’ split record with Samavayo, slated for a June 5th release on Heavy Psych Sounds. This new song also marks Alunah’s first studio release with new vocalist Daisy Savage.

A new look Alunah but the same groovy hard rock sound, it’s comforting to hear them sounding as potent as ever. Daisy is a great vocalist and fits the riff-driven mold of the band nicely. It’s a likable listen, especially as it develops in interesting ways, showing off more layers to Alunah’s sound as it goes on.

Windwaker – click. (feat. RinRin)

Australia’s genre-bending Windwaker are thrilled to release their first new music of 2026 in the form of ‘click.’, with RinRin, out now via Civilians & Fearless Records.

New Windwaker is reason enough to celebrate, but new Windwaker that features the immense talents of RinRin? I don’t think I need to tell you how exciting that this. So, what do we get with this track? A hyperactive blast of heavy modern alternative metal that will get stuck in your head for a long time. A banger track that will surely have widespread appeal. Check it out here.

A.A. Williams – Poison

A.A. Williams has unveiled the artwork and track list for her new full-length album ‘Solstice’, set for release on 5th June 2026 through RPM, alongside the video for her powerful new single ‘Poison’.

A.A. Williams says:

‘Poison’ is a song of learning not to fear freedom. Restraints slowly melt away, you push yourself, you long for more. Recklessness begins to consume reason, limitations are forgotten, euphoria and self-sabotage look like one and the same. Desperate to satisfy the craving you torch everything you’ve built. As the old world crumbles, and you rise, unafraid.

Another excellent track from an artist who excels at creating music that stays with you long afterwards. Haunting, intense from a poppier perspective, layered with gloom, and featuring more alternative rock elements, once again A.A. Williams impresses. This new album is shaping up to be her masterpiece.