Single Slam: Accept, Wolf & Chain, Full of Hell, Acid Hound, Bodysnatcher, Forlorn, Hands of Attrition, The Omnific, OU, Turin, Archives, Enquire Within, and Sugar Horse!

Today’s single slam features Accept, Wolf & Chain, Full of Hell, Acid Hound, Bodysnatcher, Forlorn, Hands of Attrition, The Omnific, OU, Turin, Archives, Enquire Within, and Sugar Horse. You can read our thoughts about the latest singles from these bands below.

Accept – The Reckoning

Iconic heavy metal institution Accept have released their second new single, ‘The Reckoning’, taken from their highly-anticipated album, ‘Humanoid’, out 26th April via Napalm Records.

Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann comments on ‘The Reckoning’:

We’re thrilled to release ‘The Reckoning’ as our second single. It is one of our favorites from the new album: hard-hitting, solid metal with lyrics about a poignant life theme. We hope the fans enjoy it as much as we do!

Continuing to set the metal world alight by being as relevant as ever, Accept’s new single is a headbanger of a throwback. An onslaught of heavy metal that finds the band filled with an immense amount of vitality. It’s fun, it’s heavy, it’s energised, what more could you ask for? Accept are on mighty fine form and The Reckoning is shaping up to be a strong entry into their immense catalogue of metal tunes.

Wolf & Chain – Not Giving Up

Adelaide emo alt-rock five-piece Wolf & Chain have released the nostalgic new single ‘Not Giving Up’.

The single toys with the classic Werewolf trope as a metaphor, contrasting the hopeless, dark version of a person with light and clarity. Explains the band:

It can often feel like you have two sides. Where you have moments of being really down and hopeless, feeling like an entirely different person, not happy with who you are. But, at the same time, you come out of it and you are not that person and you have these moments of clarity that urge you to push through and survive.

Filled with noughties vibes, Wolf & Chain are unashamedly emo, both in sound and style, and true to expectations, deliver something delightfully infectious and fun. From this one track, you can learn a lot about this band, and come away feeling like they’re something pretty special. If you don’t come away with this jammed in your head afterwards, you probably weren’t actually listening. Check it out here.

Full of Hell – Gasping Dust (feat. Ross Dolan of Immolation)

American grindcore outfit Full of Hell will release their brand new full-length ‘Coagulated Bliss’ on 26th April via Closed Casket Activities – and now they up the ante by revealing another devastating single, ‘Gasping Dust’.

The track features a guest vocal appearance by Ross Dolan of Immolation, who comments:

It was a huge honor to contribute some vocals to the new Full of Hell song ‘Gasping Dust’. When Dylan and the gang reached out to me for this, I was so psyched to participate and be part of their new album since I am a huge fan and consider them one of the younger bands leading the way to bring extreme music to the next generation of fans of this genre. Immolation have been close friends and huge fans of Full of Hell since we first met and toured together in 2017, so needless to say I jumped at the opportunity to participate. The song is a short burst of controlled chaos and fury with lyrics that are dark and very relevant. I love the song and can’t wait for the rest of the world to hear it!

It’s Full of Hell, so you know how this goes. Here’s some undiluted chaos and unrelenting noise. Which is exactly what we get with Gasping Dust. A slice of ferociousness that is as fast as it is heavy, feels jam packed with ideas, and even has time for Immolation’s Ross Dolan to sound like a beast. It’s amazing just how much replay value a track like this has. Check it out here.

Acid Hound – Ego Death

DIY hardcore London-based band, Acid Hound have released their brand-new single, ‘Ego Death’.

Week by week, month by month, show by show, and track by track, Acid Hound showcase growth and 2024 is shaping up to be a big year for them. A major part of that comes from the sense that they are beginning to find their sound and to understand what works for them. The proof? This monster of a track that puts hardcore energy at the forefront, focuses on the core instruments of this sound, and has more vitriol than ever in the vocals. This might be the best written track the group have released so far.

Bodysnatcher – Murder8 (feat. Jamey Jasta)

US deathcore heavyweights Bodysnatcher have released their new single ‘Murder8’, featuring Jamey Jasta, ahead of their UK tour supporting Spite.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the release, Bodysnatcher drummer Chris Whited comments:

‘Murder8’ is a street name for fentanyl. I lost my older brother in 2022 to fentanyl and then I lost my younger sister just one year later in 2023 to fentanyl as well. Opioids have been prescribed at alarming rates since the early 2000’s and have affected millions of families across the world, especially the United States. If you have lost someone due to overdose this song goes out to you.

A very meaningful subject matter that is put at the forefront of Bodysnatcher’s aggressive and intense new track. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind, upon hearing this track, that this means a lot to them, and the absolute fire in their bellies is dangerously close to erupting throughout. It’s mean as all hell, and an appearance by Jasta is never something to complain about. Check it out here.

Forlorn – Creatress

UK Folk Horror outfit Forlorn explore the element of Earth with their new single ‘Creatress’, which is out now on all platforms. ‘Creatress’ heralds a new dawn for the band after they closed their ‘Sæl’ cycle on a high note in 2023.

Centred around the element of Earth and inspired by the ancient norse deity Moder, ‘Creatress’ draws parallels between humanity’s relationship with Mother Earth and women in modern society. Female empowerment has been a core theme that has developed across Forlorn’s offerings; ‘Creatress’ honours the ancient matriarch, a societal archetype often disregarded as worthless, particularly in modern day society.

Speaking of ‘Creatress’, vocalist Megan Elliott comments:

This new offering marks the beginning of a new, experimental and visceral journey for Forlorn. ‘Creatress’ delivers an empowering and important message not only about the importance of respecting the Earth but also advocating for a greater presence for Women within the music industry.

A band that oozes atmosphere, often delivering hefty drama with their experimental take on heavy music, and this new single is no different. Dripping in dark, sinister vibes, drawing from the world of black metal, but with tons of effective melody to make it feel even colder. It’s as haunting as it is heavy, and once again, Forlorn leave you enamoured by their music.

Hands of Attrition – Shrouded in Silence

Hands of Attrition have always been synonymous with raw energy, groove filled riffs and melodic choruses that keep you wanting more. Formed in 2017 in Birmingham UK, their latest single ‘Shrouded in Silence’ pushes the boundaries of their skills as song writers and musicians. This new single makes up just one of many scheduled for this year.

Great stuff from a band who know how to kick ass constantly and consistently with their brand of riffy groove metal. This new single will get you banging your head, that much is guaranteed, featuring a smorgasbord of fiery ferocity, but always with that underlying infectiousness that makes their music so memorable. This is a heavyweight banger from this band. Check it out here.

The Omnific – Base Camp

The world’s most prominent bass driven instrumental rock act, Australia’s The Omnific, return with their second album, ‘The Law Of Augmenting Returns’, to be released on 7th June 2024 via Wild Thing Records. The Omnific are also celebrating the release of their latest single and album lead – the nostalgic and heroic adventure of ‘Base Camp’, and newly minted EU/UK Tour for July & August 2024.

An absolute thing of beauty, The Omnific are back and once again, setting out to change the face of music with instrumental bass-driven sounds. It might sound par for the course when it comes to this band, but it bears repeating regardless. The Omnific are unbelievably skilled at making you feel, while also showcasing layer upon layer of complex detail. This track is filled with nostalgic soul, but still feels inimitably fresh and exciting. One of the best bands in the world, and based off this track, this new album could be a strong contender for the best of the year. Check it out here.

OU – 淨化 Purge

Prepare for OU’s (pronunciation: “O”) epic sophomore album, 蘇醒 II: Frailty, co-produced, mixed, and featuring Devin Townsend’s magic! Their newest offering “淨化 Purge” urges you to embrace the infinite possibilities, resonating in every corner. Surrender to the hypnotic visuals feat. mastermind Devin Townsend.

OU comments on the new single:

淨化 Purge is the second track off our second album, 蘇醒 II: Frailty, the song was written as a kind of brutal meditation, for added power we asked Devin if he would be willing to sing his first song in Chinese along with Lynn, thankfully he was down, and the result is quite astonishing.

Devin Townsend comments:

As I age, I find myself growing easily bored with new music, which is disappointing as a music fan. Despite being very busy, mutual circumstances aligned myself and the band ‘OU’. I appreciate this connection, as their music is exceptionally well executed and interesting to me. I am pleased to have been involved with something refreshing like this.

The team-up you never knew you needed, but a team-up you’ll be so glad happened, once you’ve got your head around this mind-bending release. By themselves, OU are a very special sounding band, but when you add Devin Townsend into the mix, you end up with something very special indeed. It’s simple, give this challenging and fascinating tome of heaviness a go, and be prepared to be stunned.

Turin – Loss

UK Heavyweights of misery, the intense & visceral Turin (formerly This Is Turin), have announced their new album ‘The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing’, will be released on 12th July via MNRK Heavy.

New single ‘Loss’ is a self-reflective view of losing a fundamental part of yourself that made you human. Clawing at the hope of being saved through any means but being ultimately abandoned.

Intense from the very start, Turin’s style of misery comes with a hell of a lot of heaviness, but it’s always focused and well structured. Loss is a harsh piece of music, not just because it is such a cacophony of noise, but because it sounds so gloomy. Don’t let that fool you into thinking this isn’t wonderous though, because it is. It just so happens to come with so much heft. Check it out here.

Archives – Make No Mistake (feat. Benji Mars of Waterlines)

Northern Irish metal outfit Archives build up to the release of their new album ‘No Bliss In Ignorance’ with the addition of their new single ‘Make No Mistake’ which is out now on all platforms.

Talking about the new single, vocalist Adam Holland shares:

Make No Mistake lyrically deals with the idea of the general toxicity there is in todays society with personal progression/growth I.e. if you start doing well with a new business or project in your life people who should be happy for you, attempt to drag you down or simply slander you. When you’re climbing the ladder there’s always someone trying to loosen the screws.

A band that continues to improve and improve, Archives are on manic form here, going absolutely apes**t at times, but also having massive amounts of melody too. If that wasn’t enough to get excited, they also bring in a guest vocalist who knows a thing or two about letting loose. It’s a great combination, and the end result is a track that slays.

Enquire Within – Seeds of Destruction (feat. Howard H Smith of Acid Reign)

Imposing Brit hard hitters Enquire Within continue to rise with the launch of their ferocious new EP, ‘Elysium’, out on 31st May. The EP is heralded by their explosive new single and video, ‘Seeds of Destruction’, which features Howard H Smith (Acid Reign).

One of the UK’s best and brightest, Enquire Within get the EP party rolling with a thrilling blast of metal. Chunky and groovy, with some proper old-school riffing, and with a level of intensity that makes the whole thing sound harder. How about Howard H Smith of Acid Reign’s guest spot? Now that is something! Check it out here.

Sugar Horse – New Dead Elvis

The monolithically heavy, uniquely mercurial UK quartet Sugar Horse are proud to announce their new album ‘Grand Scheme Of Things’, to be released 4th October via Pelagic Records. In celebration, Sugar Horse have unveiled their new single ‘New Dead Elvis’.

In the words of Sugar Horse:

This song is about reflecting on celebrity culture around death and its glorification, immediately following the death of my father. There is a romanticisation of “the tortured artist” or “the biblical hedonist” that follows celebrity and music culture around that I find pretty appalling. It’s something that I believe is responsible for the deaths of a large number of some of the most profoundly talented people that have ever graced this miserable planet and it should be prevented as soon as possible…

Alas, the mob want their blood and I fear it shall persist until the sun swallows us.

If a new single from Sugar Horse wasn’t enough to get excited about, it comes with a new album announcement too! We can never have enough Sugar Horse music, and it is absolutely joyful to hear them boundary push again. A track that has a fascinating level of alt-twisted tones, daringly odd, with flair-ups of more intense heaviness. Leading to a final minute that showcases some really incredible riff-focused power and harsh vocals. Love it. It’s uniquely Sugar Horse.