Author: Leland Holden

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After Smoke Clears “The Fear” ensues with CJ McMahon!

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London metal band, After Smoke Clears, swoops in with “The Fear,” a brutal combo with CJ McMahon from Thy Art is Murder.

What really draws me into this track is the increasingly intense and energetic growl lines. The track doesn’t stop at a singular style of showing aggression, alternating between slow and fast paced yelling. The main riff section really picks up with spitting lines and driving progressions. Being a bass player, I always enjoy a good crunchy bass line, and this track doesn’t disappoint when slowing down around the 1 minute mark. They’ve even found space for a chunky doom breakdown in this 3 minute banger. If you like a constant stream of aggression, with clarity and strong riffing, give this one a look!

Listen to “The Fear,” by After Smoke Clears here, and be sure to follow them for future updates!

Follow After Smoke Clears on: Spotify | Facebook | Instagram

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“Do Your Worst,” that’s what you do best! Commands Outline In Color and Loveless

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Post-hardcore band, Outline In Color, team up with Loveless for a melody driven banger of a track, “Do Your Worst.”

Outline In Color have some solid post-hardcore songs that emanate passion and feeling effectively. “Do Your Worst” is no exception to this, with its relatable lines and close ties to personal hardships. Through the song, there is smoothly executed synth transitioning, reverb, and super catchy melodies from verse to chorus. The dynamic shift between sections is killer, bringing the close and personal verses to full and wide choruses. I hope that whoever is doing their worst here realizes and stops making a negative impact on others. If you like the melody driven side of post-hardcore, and you want something to sing along to while banging your head, give this one a peak!

Listen to “Do Your Worst” by Outline In Color, featuring Loveless, and be sure to shoot them a follow for upcoming releases!

follow Outline in Color on: TikTok | Facebook | Instagram

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Scarlett O’Hara get spooky with their book on the “Witching Hour”

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Texas metalcore band, Scarlett O’Hara, open a portal to Halloween with their new track “Witching Hour.”

This track has all the grungy growls of a typical metalcore song, with the powerful and catchy choruses of a heavier alternative song. I greatly enjoyed the fact that they are literally opening a book of mayhem in their video. The addition of synths and vocal effects in suddenly lower intensity sections creates effective contrast for the following heavy portions. The extra expansive chorus lines fill out the track perfectly with lurking synth and driving guitars. If you like the more melodic side of heavy music, with a touch of spookiness, and combatting aggression, scope this one out!

See Scarlett O’Hara’s music video for “Witching Hour” here, and be sure to give them a follow to stay updated!

Follow Scarlett O’Hara on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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“Quiet Echoes” in a heavy, loud, and pounding track by Dearly Departed

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Metalcore band, Dearly Departed, from Polson, Montana, blast out of the gates with their new track “Quiet Echoes.”

Quiet Echoes is anything but quiet, bringing a rampaging drum and guitar progression that carries throughout the entirety of the song. The mix between barking growl vocals and long sustained clean vocals creates an epic atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the gritty growl sections with intricate guitar riffs and chugging. The breakdown section is perfect for a stomping mosh pit, and even features some spacey vocals to transition back to the chorus. If you’re looking for a straightforward metalcore track with lots of energy and a powerful sustaining chorus, give this one a listen!

Take a listen to “Quiet Echoes,” by Dearly Departed here, and be sure to give them a follow for upcoming releases!

Follow Dearly Departed on: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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If you’re always waiting for the “Breakdown,” Icon For Hire has you covered!

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Icon For Hire has been killing it out there for a while, and their new track “Breakdown,” brings heavier elements to their hard rock style!

The track is full of excitement building, catchy vocal melodies, and big dynamic punches. The main vocals have a consistent and confident flow to them that goes from chorus-effect, to aggressive, to massive sounding sustained notes. The progression with synths, guitars, and pounding drums creates a beautiful middle-ground between melody and grinding riffs. Of course there is a breakdown in this, and it kills, so that’s reason enough to take a look. If you like a full, punchy, and heavy track, with melodic vocals, and some electronic effects, don’t sleep on this one!

Give “Breakdown” by Icon For Hire a listen here, and be sure to follow them for updates on their upcoming album: “The Reckoning” coming out September 9th!

Follow Icon For Hire on: Facebook | Instagram | Website

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Trying Times has gotten the “Best of Me” again with their powerful tracks!

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Back again, Trying Times are killing it with high energy dynamic tracks! Their newest one, “Best of Me” is no exception.

This is another track that starts off strong, punching you in the face with riffing and gritty vocals. Soon after the raw intro, the melodic elements of the song kick in for the chorus section. Clean vocals throughout the chorus offer a wide chorus-effect sound that pairs well with the following signature grinding bass and growls. This one even has a sudden drop in intensity for a spacey breakdown section to top it off. If you like a high energy metal track, with some space to breathe throughout, “Best of Me” might be one to listen to!

Listen to “Best of Me” here, and give Trying Times a follow for those future updates!

Follow Trying Times on: TikTok | Instagram | Spotify

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You’ll definitely need sunscreen for these “Ultraviolet” rays from Westhand!

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Metalcore band: Westhand, from Detroit, Michigan, fry us with their new track “Ultraviolet.”

We have been covering a bunch of heavy bands with synth production rounding out the mix, and this song is no exception! With many tracks getting shorter and shorter nowadays, this offers a refreshing middle-ground between a ten minute progressive track, and a two minute punk banger. One of the best parts of the song is its diversity in aggressive vocals, moving from growling, to rapping, to yelling. When paired with the song’s expansive clean vocals, the aggression really hits home! Slowing it down for a killer breakdown always gives a certain amount of depth and punch to the song and following section as well. If you like the metalcore style, but want something a little more fleshed out with instruments and structure, this might be the one!

Give “Ultraviolet” by Westhand a listen, and be sure to follow them for those future updates!

Follow Westhand on: TikTok | Instagram | Spotify

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The God Particle brings down the “Guillotine,” with the help of Chris Clancy and Dan Sugarman!

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Jeff Sanna is at it again, with his solo metal project, The God Particle. Teaming up with Dan Sugarman, from Ice Nine Kills, and Chris Clancy, from Mutiny Within, they bring us “Guillotine.”

The track starts off strong with your typical massive guitars and bell tolls, fit for a Viking invasion. Between heavy chugging and more intricate riffing, the guitar prowess is ever-present throughout the entire structure. Chris’ vocal performance on this one is extra full and beefy, while allowing the melodic nature to return in choruses. Of course there is a blistering solo section, so be sure to scope that out when listening! If you like a beefy power vocal, intricate lines, and instruments to match, you might like this extra metal track!

Give “Guillotine,” by The God Particle (Feat. Chris Clancy and Dan Sugarman) a listen, and be sure to follow them for future updates!

Follow The God Particle on: Instagram | Spotify | Bandcamp

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Whatever Wholeheart has on the end of this “Spirit Leash,” is bound to be terrifying!

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Metalcore band, Wholeheart, from Grand Rapids, MI, give us a straightforward hardcore style with depth-centric guitars for “Spirit Leash.”

This track starts it off with the infamous Pro Tools click track sound that any studio musician most likely despises at this point. It works great with building into the absolute slammer of a hardcore progression though. The guitars are beefy, the vocals are aggressive, and the bass has that low growling nature that pairs so well with the intensity of the track. The instrumentation following the spitting vocal lines brings a freight train of heaviness and unity. The lead guitar lines give the track a touch of melodic appeal that contrasts excellently with the aggression. If you like a to-the-point metalcore style, that simultaneously keeps you engaged and banging your head, this one is worth a listen!

Give Wholeheart and their track “Spirit Leash” a listen, and be sure to follow them for more updates!

Follow Wholeheart on: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify

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4 Oceans enter the mosh pit “Unbidden,” and they bring Dominic Christoph of Cypecore!

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German metalcore band, 4 Oceans, slam out a new heavy track, Unbidden, with Cypecore vocalist, Dominic Christoph.

4 Oceans really kicks into the track with strong synths fading into a depth charge of rhythm guitars. Where this song strikes the ear, is through its rising progression, setting itself apart from a standard grindy metal track. The synth action and intermittent clean vocals help lift the progression while the drums and guitars keep it gritty and metal in production. Growl vocals in this one are well controlled and combo excellently with the sustained cleans. If you want to get hit by a train of metal, but also like quick high-register progressions and melody, this one might be for you!

Give Unbidden, by 4 Oceans (Feat. Dominic Christoph) a listen, and be sure to follow them for future updates!

Follow 4 Oceans on: Instagram | Facebook | Spotify