Single Slam: Ghost, Iron Form, This Summit Fever, Blanket, Behemoth, Solothurn, Within Destruction, Calyces, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Benediction, Fallujah, Garrow Hill, Fangs Out, Kill All the Gentlemen, and Volbeat!

Today’s single slam features Ghost, Iron Form, This Summit Fever, Blanket, Behemoth, Solothurn, Within Destruction, Calyces, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Benediction, Fallujah, Garrow Hill, Fangs Out, Kill All the Gentlemen, and Volbeat. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Ghost – Satanized

Ghost has confirmed the release of its feverishly awaited new album: ‘Skeletá’, the GRAMMY-winning Swedish theatrical rock icons’ first full length offering of new material since 2022’s international #1 charting Impera, will manifest April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings.

Skeletá’s impending arrival is heralded by the first single ‘Satanized’, and its unsettling new video featuring a first glimpse of Ghost’s newly anointed ringleader Papa V Perpetua.

The hype train is off and rolling, and for good reason. It’s Ghost and having evolved fully into a pop rock sensation, the world is there’s for the taking. Yet, this track is a fairly unremarkable listen, especially when you contrast it to some the creative efforts that have come from Ghost in the past. At best, it has got a catchy enough chorus, and the guitar solo is solid, but here’s hoping the new album has a few tracks with a bit more bite.

Iron Form – Vengeance Prayer

Iron Form’s brand new single ‘Vengeance Prayer’ is now out. Taken from their forthcoming EP ‘Cut from Cold Blood’, out March 21st, 2025.

Says the band:

‘Vengeance Prayer’ is an insidiously melodic but hostile track, narrated from the perspective of a person who has lost everything they’ve ever known and is seeking bloody retribution. Musically, it’s a heavy and brutal sonic collage of buzzsaw guitars, powerful grooves and a sense of manic urgency. Through twists and turns, the song embodies a transformation from victimhood to revenge.

Iron Form’s combination of old-school post hardcore and anthemic metalcore with modern twists to the melody and metal formula, continues to delight. This new single has some serious ‘oomph’ to it, but, notably, it has impressive layers of melodic harmony too. It’s quite a hit of a track, especially when you start to connect to its transformative power. Check it out here.

This Summit Fever – Currents

This Summit Fever, the four-legged, two-headed fuzzy riff machine are back with a brand-new
single called ‘Currents’. This track is the latest taste of the band’s self-titled debut album due in April 2025.

Slower, thicker, fuzzier, and heavier, This Summit Fever deliver a rousing riff-drenched head banger of a track with this new single. Showing just how much power they have as a two-piece and reminding those who may have forgotten that their hazy and groovy ways comes in many different forms. It’s tight, it’s focused, and it’s bloody great.

Blanket – Levitate

Following the success of their critically acclaimed albums, ‘Modern Escapism’ (Music for Nations) and ‘Ceremonia’ (Church Road Records), Blanket have retuned to the studio to craft their highly anticipated fourth studio album, set for release later this year.

In anticipation of their next album, they are displaying what’s to come in their new single ‘Levitate’, and the band had this to say about the new single:

We matched the energy of the song to the lyrics; it makes you feel like you’re floating in a way hence the title – Levitate.

New music from Blanket already is unexpected, but certainly most welcome. Especially when it comes with such buoyancy. Blanket’s use of melody is always sublime, but here, they make it so light, while having rock heftiness. Its dreaminess comes from the vocals and post-infused guitars, whereas the drums act like a counterweight to keep everything well balanced. It’s another great track from a great band. Check it out here.

Behemoth – The Shadow Elite

Following the announcement of their new album, The Shit Ov God, Behemoth have unleashed their latest single, ‘The Shadow Elite’.

Nergal comments:

‘The Shadow Elite’ is the second single and the opening track from our thirteenth album, The Shit ov God. A raw, high-energy anthem with a relentless drive—a banger built for the stage! Lyrically, it’s a call to arms—a fearless battle cry for outcasts, anarchists, and free minds to rise. We will not be silenced. It’s about uniting and summoning the courage to embrace and amplify the fire of freedom that burns within us!

This is better. So much better. Seeing the black metallers really embrace their past and go for the jugular with an aggressive blast of blackened fire. Here, the whole ‘shit ov god’ thing feels less cheesy (only just though), and it’s nice to just bang your head to a good Behemoth track without having to think about it too much.

Solothurn – Waves

Solothurn, the alt-metal band based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, are back with ‘Waves’. Their first new single since the release of their debut EP, ‘Servitude’ in 2023.

Says the band:

‘Waves’ is a high-energy song that follows in a more direct and heavy manner than our debut EP and we are proud of how this has captured the evolution of our band, and the introduction of Mike Andrews on lead guitar (ex Annapurna/ex Toska).

They’ve grown, something that’s clear from the start as they do a great job of creating the sense of crashing waves of heaviness breaking on the mind. A nice amount of groove, killer riffing, powerful rock harmonisation, and a really hooky chorus, help make this a very memorable listen. Check it out here.

Within Destruction – Incomplete

Slovenia’s most awesomely audacious, genre defying metal pioneers, Within Destruction have dropped the brand-new single ‘Incomplete’. The track is the latest single taken from the band’s upcoming album ‘Animetal’, set for release on 11th April 2025, via Sumerian Records.

Speaking on their latest release, Within Destruction share:

The song’s animated video delves into the heartbreaking journey of losing someone deeply cherished and the emotional turmoil that follows. It begins with a raw expression of grief and loss of purpose in one’s life, consequently, the protagonist’s colour palette is darker in the intro. As the song unfolds, it moves through various stages of mourning—loneliness, longing, sadness and the haunting feeling of absence i.e. feeling incomplete. There are also moments of reflection, where the protagonist recalls fond memories, trying to hold on to the love that once was, but slowly realising that they must let go in order to move on.

A band that you can honestly say you never know quite what you’re going to get with each new release. Heck, you can’t even be sure that you’re going to love whatever it is, such is the genre-bending way of the band. They polarise a lot of the time, but not with a track like this. A track that can be summed up as beautiful, and if it connects right, liable to cause some emotional drama in many a mind. That it comes with core heft too just makes it even more special.

Calyces – Wastelands

Athenian progressive metal band Calyces have released their third single ‘Wastelands’, ahead of their forthcoming album ‘Fleshy Waves of Probability’, out 21st March 2025.

The band have this to say about their newest single:

‘Wastelands’ speaks about those people with a ‘spark’ in their eyes, who have emerged from incredibly difficult situations even stronger. Their actions and journey shape the way you see life, becoming a source of inspiration, not just for writing music and telling their stories, but also for shaping the important decisions you make in your life.

On an album filled with varied and progressive thinking, Wastelands stands out for its vigorous style, delivering a fast-paced guitar-led showcase that sounds heavier thanks to the thump of the drums. It’s Calyces letting loose a little bit here, but with so many interesting twists and turns along the way. Check it out here.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra – I Can’t Save You (featuring Matt McDougall from Boundaries)

Recent Prosthetic Records signees Maryland deathcore group Thus Spoke Zarathustra will be releasing their forthcoming sophomore album, ‘I’m Done with Self-Care, It’s Time For Others’ Harm’, on May 23rd. Intended as an examination on the duality of the self and human existence, I’m Done With Self-Care, It’s Time For Others Harm is a conceptual horror-inspired excavation of the bipolarity of self-betterment and healing with mankind’s more malevolent inclinations towards turmoil, anxiety and vengeance. The first single ‘I Can’t Save You’ (featuring Matt McDougall from Boundaries) is out now.

A two-ish-minute blast of aggression that can be summed up as a frenetic and furious deathcore beast. Yet, it is surprisingly rhythmic, at least until Matt McDougall joins the fray. Then it gets a bit more chaotic. Still, it’s a head banger, provided your neck muscles can handle the intensity. Check it out here.

Benediction – Crawling Over Corpses

British death metal legends, Benediction, have released the single, ‘’Crawling Over Corpses’ taken from their upcoming new studio album, ‘Ravage of Empires’, which is due to be released on April 4, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records.

A Benediction special, which if you know this band, is a reason to be excited. The legendary band delivering a grin-inducing slab of death metal heaviness rooted in the old-school sound and style. Nothing complex, nothing to overanalyses, just a heavy head banger that will sate the thirst of all those who like extreme metal done really freaking well.

Fallujah – Kaleidoscopic Waves

Masters of progressive death metal Fallujah will make their anticipated return this spring with the release of their 6th album, ‘Xenotaph’, due out June 13th from Nuclear Blast Records. Alongside this announcement, the first single, ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves’, is out now.

Embrace the past while always looking forward. That’s the summation of this new Fallujah track, and it shows just how confident they are these days. Drawing from their extensive history but refusing to stagnant as they deliver a punchy and powerful progressive blast of heaviness. While this is great, it’s how they layer in the clever melodies, switch up the vocal styles, and still show off an insane amount of flair that impresses the most. Check it out here.

Garrow Hill – Camouflage

Brit heavy rock crew, Garrow Hill, have released their new single and video, ‘Camouflage’.

The band comment about the single:

’Camouflage’ is about the hidden layers people have. We conceived the track a while back and now were finally able to realize our vision. The song retains core elements of our sound, but embraces a more chaotic, organic conclusion – we hope listeners will dig it!

A cool track with layers of alternative rock to unpeel. On first listen, the melodies and post-punk vibes do grab the attention, but there is a slipperiness to it. It’s only on multiple listens that the grip tightens enough that you can really drink in the groove of this track. Through this, a deeper appreciation for the anthemic qualities of the track arrives. It’s a banger, it just needs a bit of time to sink in.

Fangs Out – Gory

Fangs Out, the 4-piece hardcore punk band from Birmingham, UK, have released their brand-new single, ‘Gory’.

Speaking about the new single frontman Mikey White said:

Lyrically ‘Gory’ explores the human tendency to avoid confronting personal issues and challenges. The title “Gory” metaphorically represents the mess and chaos that ensue when we ignore or sidestep the difficulties in our lives.

The heart races, the muscles twitch, and the mind bursts into flame as Fangs Out deliver one of their most likable anthems yet. It’s fast and chaotic, vicious in places, but so catchy. You’ll be listening to this one over and over again, but I reckon it’s even better live. Check it out here.

Kill All the Gentlemen – There Will Be Carnage

‘There Will Be Carnage’ is Devon, UK- based death metal band, Kill All the Gentlemen’s second single from their highly anticipated new EP, ‘Come Die with Me’.

Says Kill All the Gentlmen frontman, Adam Martin:

There Will Be Carnage is a testament to what Kill All the Gentlemen has become. Keeping the drive and energy as we’re known and loved for with added melody and catchy hooks from the likes of Iron Maiden and Megadeth that I’ve grown up with and has inspired me along the way.

A killer blast of heavy and fast metal that has all the makeup of death metal, but comes with bundles of groovy flair, turning it into a different, and very appealing beast. The riffs slay, there are clever melodies, the vocals are so powerful, and the chorus is just one big freaking hook. Killer stuff. Check it out here.

Volbeat – By A Monster’s Hand

Volbeat have announced their ninth album ‘God of Angels Trust’ is set for release on June 6th via longtime label Vertigo/Universal. To celebrate the announcement, they have also released the first single, ‘By A Monster’s Hand’.

While there’s nothing here to get too excited about, especially if you’re a long term Volbeat listener, there’s also nothing to complain about either. There’s an old-school riff and groove attack, a chorus that is immediately infectious, and energetic twist that takes the track in a heavier, solo-focused, direction. All very familiar, but very likable.