Single Slam: Sylosis, Healing Wound, Tallboy, Eihwar, Hecate Enthroned, Exploring Birdsong, Lord of the Lost, fakeyourdeath, Hamarr, Comastatic, Hawxx, Matador, and A.A. Williams!

Today’s single slam features Sylosis, Healing Wound, Tallboy, Eihwar, Hecate Enthroned, Exploring Birdsong, Lord of the Lost, fakeyourdeath, Hamarr, Comastatic, Hawxx, Matador, and A.A. Williams. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Sylosis – Lacerations

Sylosis have revealed ‘Lacerations’, the third single from their fiercely anticipated record, ‘The New Flesh’, due to drop on February 20th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Josh Middleton states:

Lacerations has become a firm favourite amongst those that have heard the new record. After this song came together during the early stages of writing, I felt a huge sense of relief knowing that we had achieved our best song to date. I couldn’t get the chorus out of my head and that’s usually a good sign. Once we had this song under our belts we knew this album would a big step up in terms of our writing abilities.

Musically it calls back to some of the darker melancholic sounds from Edge of the Earth or even The Supreme Oppressor but with a ton of heavy riffs in there. Lyrically, this song is about facing your own mortality and health anxiety. I think a lot of people can relate to spiralling out of control when they think something’s wrong and how differently you look at your life, and what matters most when confronted with those intrusive thoughts.

I think it’s safe to say that this new album is going to be Sylosis’ biggest, heaviest, and grooviest yet. Every track so far has been a banger, and this one is no different. The riffs are head banging gold, the drums are brutal, the vocals are intense, and the cherry on top is a very anthemic, cleaner, chorus. It’s going to be a very good year for this band.

Healing Wound – Purging Visions

The Brighton, UK based blackened metalcore band, Healing Wound have released their brand-new single, Purging Visions.

The more I hear from this band, the more I wonder why they’re not being screamed about. Especially when they’re delivering ferocious efforts like this. The combination of blackened intensity and pit-inducing ‘core’ elements is fascinating, but what really makes it special is how effortlessly it shifts in the tone. That explosive burst that comes right near the end is disgusting. I love it. Check it out here.

Tallboy – The One Below All

The UK alternative metal band, Tallboy, are back with a brand-new single called ‘The One Below All’.

The band describes it as:

A crushing descent into apocalyptic horror, summoning a seven-headed beast from the depths as a symbol of corrupted power and inevitable collapse. Fueled by relentless repetition and oceanic dread, the track unfolds like a prophecy already set in motion. There is no resistance, only surrender as the world sinks and the beast reigns.

Showcasing imagination that comes with a bit of theatrical flair, this new Tallboy track is a punchy and groovy track. Not only quite a heavy effort (brutally so in places), but wild and layered with sinister atmosphere, and plenty of infectious elements too. It’s fantastic to hear them expanding their sound. Check it out here.

Eihwar – Freya’s Calling

Eihwar return with ‘Freya’s Calling’, the second single taken from their upcoming album ‘Hugrheim’. Rooted in the fantastical, playful cosmology that defines the project, the track channels the raw, ecstatic force of Freyja, Norse goddess of love, battle, fate, and ancient magic.

Suitably dreamy, impressively folky, and notably lively, this new Eihwar track sums up the band perfectly. Shamanic, mysterious, and delightfully infectious. It’s music with a fantastical edge, but with the capabilities of filling up a dance floor too. An aspect that makes Eihwar special and this track defines that perfectly.

Hecate Enthroned – Gallery of Rotting Portraits

Symphonic black metal band, Hecate Enthroned return seven years since the release of the group’s last album with a brand-new single called ‘Gallery of Rotting Portraits’. It is the first glimpse of the much-anticipated new album ‘The Corpse of a Titan, A Lament Long Buried’ to be released May 29th, 2026.

Welcome back, Hecate Enthroned. The symphonic black metallers returning with fire in their bellies, darkness in their hearts, and so much layered creativity flowing through their veins. This is a savage listen, of course, but it’s how the symphonic elements are expertly weaved into the brutality that makes it so special. It’s a beast of a track and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Check it out here.

Exploring Birdsong – 42

Following back-to-back sold-out headline shows in London, alt-pop trio Exploring Birdsong step confidently into a new era with their new single, ‘42’, which is out via Long Branch Records.

Speaking of the track, vocalist Lynsey Ward shares:

42 is a song about paranoia, conspiracy theories and confirmation bias – it is written from the perspective of someone who has lost touch with reality, seeing patterns in their day to day life that are leading them to some answer, or a warning – but never quite getting the full picture of what it could all mean. Thematically, the song was drawn from personal experience in childhood, where a few coincidences with numbers could spiral into a feeling of being ‘followed’ by a number or symbol, and like the storyline of the rest of your life was being written with this at the centre, or as a clue.

An unstoppable force with widespread appeal, Exploring Birdsong are a band you simply can’t ignore. Especially when they’re dropping potent alternative rock and pop-infused efforts like this. Where catchiness is key, but only because all the elements work so well together. The lyrics are brilliant, and the chorus is a singalong, but for me, it’s all about the bass.

Lord of the Lost – I’m A Diamond (feat. Alea of Saltatio Mortis)

Lord of the Lost extends their latest journey with yet another collaboration, coming in the form of ‘I’m A Diamond’. For the latest single leading up to OPVS NOIR Vol. 3, which releases on 10th April via Napalm Records, the genre-defying band teams up with German medieval metal torchbearers Saltatio Mortis.

I do like how varied these Lord of the Lost releases are turning out to be and a lot of that is because of the collaborations. Case in point, a collaboration that I don’t think anyone could have predicted. A collaboration that cleverly blends styles, while keeping the anthemic goth and synth side of Lord of the Lost at the forefront. It’s one hell of an infectious song, and the chorus slays. Check it out here.

fakeyourdeath – Shapeshifter

fakeyourdeath are back with a brand new single called ‘Shapeshifter’. This is the first offering from ‘(NON)ENTITY’, the 2nd EP, which is set for release on March 13th, 2026.

Says vocalist Candi Underwood:

‘Shapeshifter’ is a song about regaining power and self-worth after years of masking and pretending to be someone else, just to fit in. It’s the story of unmasking and being unashamedly yourself, whatever the consequences may be. I hope it inspires others to be brave and to ignore the haters – they are boring anyway.

Hot damn! I’m so pleased to see this band back and even more pleased to hear them with a creative banger in tow. This new single is fascinating because it immediately reconnects you to their sound and how they effortlessly combine electronica and industrial with post hardcore. it’s familiar, from a fakeyourdeath stance, but incredibly, it sounds so evolved too. They’ve not been sitting still and have looked to refine what they do while pushing the intensity in a whole new direction. If this is what we have to look forward to with this band, we’re all in for a bloody good time.

Hamarr – Mortuary (feat. Alex Cloutier of Primal Horde)

Indianapolis death metal duo Hamarr have released their new single, ‘Mortuary’. Taken from their upcoming debut full-length, ‘Necrotic Rituals,’ due February 27 via Iron Fortress Records.

A crunchy, chaotic blast of aggressive death metal, Hamarr pull zero punches here and everyone who gives it a listen will be left seeing stars. There’s nothing game-changing, but it’s got such a mighty and heavy sound, it’s easy to love. Especially if extreme metal with a bit of virulent groove is your jam. Check it out here.

Comastatic – Déjà vu (feat. Mikaila Delgado of Yours Truly)

Zurich-based alternative visionaries Comastatic have released their brand-new single ‘Deja vu’ via Hopeless Records. The track sees the band joined by Yours Truly vocalist Mikaila Delgado.

Speaking of the track, Comastatic vocalist Mattia Di Paolo explains:

‘Deja vu’ is about running from yourself. It captures the rush of living fast, the denial that comes with addiction and the moment you realize the damage is already done. It’s about losing control, repeating the same mistakes and finally facing the consequences.

It’s not my favourite Comastatic track, if I’m honest, but damn it, if it doesn’t stick in the head, especially the chorus. A powerful vocal-focused effort that has two immensely talented artists working together to deliver something more pop-orientated (up to a point – the heavy switch up at the end rocks). I like it. Check it out here.

Hawxx – Macho Bullshit

Hawxx, the London based progressive punk metallers are flexing their queer feminist rage with their latest single, ‘Macho Bullshit’.

On the new single, HAWXX comment:

We’ve always believed mosh pits are better when they are full of queer feminist rage, and ‘Macho Bullshit’ is for exactly that purpose. It’s our liberation song, about building your own world outside of patriarchal structures. It’s about tapping into your own feral hunger and seeing where your animal instincts lead you. Speaking your mind. Aspire to become the unhinged, chaotic-as-fuck-crone with nothing to apologise for. When we play this song live, we counteract macho mosh pit flailing fist energy with a “wall of friendship” instead of a wall of death. The crowd parts and when the beat drops, instead of crashing into each other, everyone gives each other multiple high fives. Open up the pit. Fuck Macho Bullshit Forever!

Making a point, sharply and intensely, that is hard to argue with, Hawxx’s passion boils over here, yet what’s really notable about this track is how it goes through stages, giving a ‘calm before the storm’ feel. Hawxx at their darkest, heaviest, and angriest. If that doesn’t appeal, you’re the problem, I think.

Matador – Glitter Skin

Matador continue their unrelenting march forward to the release of ‘Above, Below and So’, their brand-new album (27th February via Church Road Records), with the latest single, ‘Glitter Skin’.

Says the band:

Glitter Skin was the last track we wrote and recorded for the album. Created at a point when we’d really found our stride, the process of getting it together was very organic – it just kind of fell out of us.

The album as a whole is pretty light on vocal sections, but this track definitely has the lion’s share for whatever reason. A progressive track that comes back to get you in the face at the end.

I’m digging this band and this stoner-infused groovy progressive psych-tinged effort is another highlight. Immensely creative, intense throughout, but with layers of heavy rock, melody, and metal warped by Matador’s genre-bending ways. The album had already suggested it would be unforgettable, but this track has just made that seem like a guarantee. Check it out here.

A.A. Williams – Wolves

Acclaimed heavy artist A.A. Williams returns with ‘Wolves’, a new single that delves into the liminal space where consciousness and subconsciousness intertwine.

Says A.A. Williams:

‘Wolves’ describes the blurred lines between dreams and reality. Ideas and emotions bleed across the boundary, their imprint faint but profound, a softly etched signature on your psyche. Hazy memories begin to fade, you force your feet to touch the ground, yearning for things that were never yours, hopelessly, endlessly searching for the unattainable.

While calling an A.A. Williams track ‘emotional’ might seem par for the course, every so often the enigmatic artist delivers something that has deeper rivets of feeling. One such track is this one, a haunting, dramatic, showcase of dark melody and rock, anthemic in a way, but potent because of how meditative it feels.