Photo Credit: Yngwie Vanhoucke

Belgian mathcore heavyweights BEAR celebrate the physical release of their new EP Anhedonia, which arrives today 22nd May via Pelagic Records.

To coincide with the new EP, the band reveal their new video 'Lacerate'.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/xi6l5vIz760

Get Anhedonia here: https://orcd.co/bear-anhedonia

The band state: “‘Lacerate' is probably our collective favourite song on the EP, and is a perfect encapsulation of everything we want to bring to a BEAR track. The brutality combined with the emotion-filled chorus make it everything we wanted it to be, and we hope our fans will agree.”

Anhedonia will be released digitally later this year.

BEAR’s sound is a calculated collision of technical precision and unfiltered aggression — a modern strain of European metal that balances math-inflected complexity with visceral, live-wire intensity. At the core of their identity a combination of brains and brute force.

With Anhedonia, BEAR deliver five songs of pure adrenaline and unfiltered heaviness that capture a band confronting the strange emotional vacuum that can follow trauma. Anhedonia is both a battle cry and a confession; a visceral document of resilience carved from years marked by illness, loss, uncertainty, and hard-won perseverance. 

The EP was recorded live as a full band, with no click track, no studio safety nets, no artificial alignment. What you hear are four musicians locked in, feeding off each other’s raw and volatile energy in real time.

Guitarist James Falck comments: "After writing Vanta which was written during a particularly unpleasant moment in my life (cancer, surgery, treatment, family deaths, breakups), I personally was able to exorcise a lot of demons, and since then a lot of incredible things have happened in my life. Making music has always been a big source of therapy for me, and these songs really represent this state I was in until recently; where I had a lot to be grateful for, but the trauma and pain I had experienced in the years before had created a certain level of numbness, apprehension, and indifference." 

Bassist Dries Verhaert adds: "We indeed approached this project quite differently, both creatively and in the studio. Looking back, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. Anhedonia is BEAR at our most authentic and vulnerable. If you ever find yourself in the dark, keep pushing. Accept help from those around you, and keep moving forward. This album is proof that even in the toughest times, there’s a way through." 

BEAR are:

Maarten Albrechts - Vocals
James Falck - Guitar
Dries Verhaert - Bass
Serch Carriere - Drums

BEAR online:
https://www.bearpropaganda.com
https://www.facebook.com/bearpropaganda
https://www.instagram.com/bear.propaganda

Tracklisting:

1.    Empty Markers
2.    Lacerate 
3.    The Smile 
4.    Anhedonia 
5.    Metastatic   

Michigan metalcore outfit, Of Virtue, are giving voice to one of the quietest, most common struggles in their brand new single, 'What's It Like To Be Happy', out now via Arising Empire. Released in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the track arrives as the third and most intimate chapter in an already commanding 2026, following the explosive reception to previous singles, 'Death Of The Altar' and 'The Art Of Love'.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/kWWX-DFEPfA
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/ofvirtue

Holding a mirror to the part of depression that is the hardest to admit, Of Virtue tackle articulating the gap between who you are and who you want to be, and how insurmountable that gap can feel on the worst days. Rooted in the debilitating effects of depression and all that follows, "'What's It Like To Be Happy' leans into the disconnect of watching life carry on around you while you stay perfectly, painfully still.

In doing so, the track continues the band's ongoing focus on the emotional and relational toll that addiction, mental health, and the stigma surrounding both leave in their wake. The brand new track, co-written alongside Lee Albrecht (Bilmuri, The Devil Wears Prada, etc) and Evan McKeever (Starset, Koe Wetzel, etc), adds another chapter to the story they began on their 2023 record, OMEN, which has amassed an impressive 65 million streams since its release.

True to the band's unflinching commitment to honesty and their longstanding advocacy for mental health awareness, vocalist Tyler Ennis reflects: "When we were writing this song, the title itself was a question that was asked out loud in a somewhat joking way - but hit me in all the ways I didn't think it could. A lot of the experiences that I’ve had to go through in my adult life flashed through my mind in the blink of an eye. The loss of family members, revolving door toxic relationships, body dysmorphia/health issues were the tip of the iceberg. I was diagnosed with ADHD, my dopamine levels have been nonexistent or been overloaded constantly.

"Imposter syndrome and identity issues have put me in some of the worst depressive states I have ever experienced and there were times where I wondered out loud if this is the way my life would be forever. 
In some of my darker moments as well, I turned to the wrong things to try and make myself feel better. Being a people pleaser and putting others before myself, self medication and not holding myself accountable was on full display. Posting only the "happy" moments on social media for validation, looking at other people and wishing I could feel the way that they did - not realizing in real time that a lot of them are also doing the same thing. It creates this weird feedback loop where everyone is pretending for everyone else and no one is truly happy at all."

Catch the band live supporting Unprocessed:
 
29/09 — Brussels, BE — Botanique
01/10 — Manchester, UK — Academy 3
02/10 — London, UK — Electric Ballroom
03/10 — Paris, FR — Maroquinerie
04/10 — Tilburg, NL — 013 Next Stage
05/10 — Nijmegen, NL — Doornroosje
06/10 — Cologne, DE — Gebaude 9
07/10 — Hamburg, DE — Kent Club
08/10 — Berlin, DE — Hole 44
09/10 — Munich, DE — Strom
10/10 — Frankfurt, DE — Batschkapp

With 'Angel Engine', rising alternative heavy act PLUME dive deep into paranoia, fractured memories and the desperate search for something to hold onto in the middle of emotional collapse. Blending dark emo metalcore with hyperpop tension, trance-like build ups and massive modern production, the track creates a hypnotic atmosphere that feels both haunting and strangely euphoric.

Watch 'Angel Engine' here: https://youtu.be/xFSwSD7s-tg

Driven by eerie imagery and emotionally charged songwriting, 'Angel Engine' explores themes of control, fear and the blurred line between salvation and destruction. Lyrics about watching eyes, shifting realities and fading identity paint the picture of a mind slowly unraveling, while the recurring plea for guidance from angelic figures like Uriel and Cassiel adds an almost spiritual weight to the song’s emotional core. Rather than offering clarity, PLUME embrace the chaos — transforming anxiety and vulnerability into something cinematic, immersive and impossible to look away from.

At the same time, PLUME officially announce their upcoming album Saferooms & Healing Frequencies, set for release on September 25th, 2026. With 'Angel Engine' serving as a powerful glimpse into the record’s emotional and sonic world, the band also launch the album’s pre-order starting now.

Pre-order here: https://arisingempire.com/plume

Catch the band live:
 22.05.26 I Umsonst & Draußen Festival I Passau, DE
26.06.26 I Ab Geht Die Lutzi! Festival I Rottershausen, DE
04.07.26 I Fest der Demokratie I Pfaffenhofen, DE
25.07.26 I kultURKNALL Festival I Murnau, DE
01.08.26 I Rock auf der Burg I Königstein

With 'ROCKSTAR', New Zealand heavy genre-blenders Banks Arcade deliver a bold, adrenaline-fueled anthem driven by ambition, obsession and the hunger to rise above the chaos. Fusing crushing metalcore riffs with hip hop swagger, massive hooks and late-night studio energy, the track captures the mindset of chasing greatness while still feeling trapped at the bottom.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/aKaTt6t-rKU
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/banksarcade

Fuelled by distorted visions, inner demons and relentless determination, 'ROCKSTAR' balances raw aggression with undeniable confidence. Between explosive guitars, hard-hitting rhythms and razor-sharp vocal delivery, Banks Arcade channel the emotional high of believing in yourself even when everything around you says otherwise. The massive chorus - “We’re just second place superstars” - turns frustration and burnout into an anthemic rally cry for anyone still fighting to make it out.

Lyrically, the band paint vivid pictures of sleepless nights, creative obsession and refusing to fold under pressure. Lines like “Late night in the studio I’m locked in” and “I’m so up right now / But I’m still at the bottom” perfectly capture the contradiction at the heart of the song: feeling unstoppable while still battling doubt, exhaustion and the fear of never truly arriving.

Since forming in 2017, Banks Arcade have steadily built international momentum through relentless touring across the UK and US, a rapidly growing global fanbase and a sound that seamlessly blends modern heavy music with hip hop, alternative and electronic influences. With 'ROCKSTAR', the band transform raw hunger into an explosive modern anthem built for loud speakers, dark nights and anyone refusing to give up on themselves.
 
Catch the band live:
 
June 10, 2026  I Naumanns (Felsenkeller Leipzig) I Leipzig, Germany 
June 14, 2026 I Chalk I Brighton, United Kingdom
June 16, 2026 I Proton The Club I Stuttgart, Germany
June 25, 2026 I Musikzentrum I Hannover, Germany
July 10, 2026 I 2000trees Festival I Cheltenham, United Kingdom
 
Banks Arcade online:
https://www.instagram.com/banksarcade

With 'TELL ME I’M NOT ALONE', Leipzig-based metalcore act blacktoothed dive into the fear of change, the weight of self-doubt and the painful comfort of staying stuck in familiar darkness.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/wBnEgENbUSc
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/blacktoothed

Blending ethereal vocals, restless drum & bass-inspired energy and crushing modern heaviness, the band transform inner turmoil into an emotionally charged anthem that feels both deeply vulnerable and explosively cathartic.

Driven by haunting melodies and an irresistibly massive chorus, the track captures the emotional contradiction of trying to move forward while feeling terrified of what lies ahead. Lyrics like “Every step feels like losing while I’m winning” and “I’m afraid of what I create” reflect the uncertainty of growth and the struggle of leaving old versions of yourself behind. Rather than offering easy answers, blacktoothed channel those emotions into a desperate plea for connection: “Tell me I’m not alone.”

Following tours alongside The Amity Affliction, Emmure and Bad Omens, blacktoothed continue to establish themselves as one of Germany’s most compelling modern heavy acts, combining cinematic atmosphere, raw emotion and crushing intensity into a sound that resonates far beyond genre boundaries.
 
Catch the band live:
 
30.07.2026 I Full Rewind Festival I Löbnitz, DE
15.08.2026 I Summer Breeze I Dinkelsbühl, DE
 
blacktoothed online:
https://www.instagram.com/blacktoothed

Photo Credit: Olle Petterson

Swedish progressive metalcore outfit Allt will release their new full-length, Ataraxia, on 31st July via Century Media Records – featuring nine tracks of "third album energy", even though it's only their sophomore record. For a first preview of Ataraxia, Allt have released new single 'Snowblind'.

Watch the 'Snowblind' video here: https://youtu.be/czWxJiQGmdA

Pre-order Ataraxia here: https://allt.bio.to/Ataraxia-Album

Allt comment: "With Ataraxia, we wanted to write from the place we actually live in, not an ideal version of it. The album is about the search for peace, but also about the parts of you that resist it. We've all experienced moments where you know what would be better for you, but
something in you pulls in the opposite direction. That tension became a central part of the writing."

Formed in 2020 in Karlskoga, Sweden, Allt are known for their audiovisual storytelling and innovative approach to metalcore. The name Allt, meaning "everything" in Swedish, reflects the band's philosophy: never to be confined within genre boundaries, continually delivering conceptually rich compositions inspired by the world around them and the stories and myths told through the ages.

Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut album From The New World in 2024, a record exploring societal collapse, survival, and humanity through a fictional post-apocalyptic lens, the band now announces their sophomore album Ataraxia.

Ataraxia marks a shift inward; the album draws directly from lived experience. Musically, Allt continue to evolve their signature blend of modern progressive metalcore, placing greater emphasis on emotional space and restraint. The aggression remains, but is now placed in direct dialogue with vulnerability. The result is Allt's most intimate, human, and honest work to date.

Ataraxia is available in the following formats:

-Ltd. CD Digipak
-Standard CD Jewelcase (USA exclusive)
-Pearlescent deep-blue LP
-Ltd. black-white splattered LP (limited to 1000 copies via Allt)
-Clear LP (USA exclusive)
-Digital album

Allt will appear at some of the biggest festivals this summer, including Wacken, Mystic Festival and Jera On Air, before embarking on a European headlining tour in November/December.

UK headline dates:with special guests Avralize, Bite Down:

Nov 7 - Nottingham (UK) - The Rescue Rooms
Nov 8 - London (UK) - The Garage

Allt are
Robin Malmgren (Vocals)
Olle Nordström (Guitar)
Adam Björk (Drums)
Viktor Florman (Guitar)
Samuel Mills (Bass)
 
Allt online:
Website
Instagram 
Facebook  
YouTube
TikTok
Spotify  

Ataraxia track-list:

1. New Day
2. Omertà
3. Nevermind
4. Enemy
5. Ataraxia
6. Ultraviolence
7. Snowblind
8. High Hopes
9. Avalon

Austrian deathcore collective Castiel continue the descent into psychological collapse with new single ‘Act II: A Festering Wound’, the second chapter from their forthcoming EP All Returns to Hollow and Silence, due for release on 24th July via Seek and Strike. Expanding on the conceptual framework introduced in the devastating opening salvo ‘Act I: Defile // Denounce’, the new track explores the slow erosion of identity within a relationship, where silence replaces connection and emotional absence lingers long after physical presence remains.

Watch the video for 'Act II: A Festering Wound' here: https://youtu.be/09SLkoMyI58

Pre-save All Returns to Hollow and Silence here: https://orcd.co/castielep2026

The band commented: "'Act II' focuses heavily on the gradual loss of a person within a relationship. The lyrics describe emotional distance, a sense of speechlessness, and the feeling of watching someone mentally disappear even though they are still physically present. Recurring themes include silence, emptiness, coldness, and the breakdown of a shared reality. The song itself is still somewhat calm in the first half and then becomes faster and more aggressive with the breakdown. This is also shown very well in the video with effects. 

"The video itself also has a darker colour palette. We wore black makeup and used “black blood” pills to visually illustrate just how dark this song is. In the video, you see two actors who helped us bring the lyrics to life visually. The setting is a forest, which is usually associated with tranquility; we wanted to use that very contrast to frame the scene." 

All Returns to Hollow and Silence is a genuine step forward for the band. Drawing from a diverse range of influences, Castiel have crafted a sound that is pulled together with purpose. Firmly rooted in deathcore, the EP pushes beyond the genre confines, embracing contrast and atmosphere alongside its more destructive elements.

Speaking on the release, the band said: “This EP is heavier, more brutal but also more emotional than anything we’ve done before as a band. We’ve pushed ourselves creatively while staying true to who we are, this feels like the most complete version of Castiel yet.”

The new EP is built as a continuous story with each track acting as a chapter in a wider narrative. That idea carries through visually too, with every song set to receive its own video. 

At its core, All Returns to Hollow and Silence explores the shifting relationship between two central protagonists, tracing a journey shaped by tension, transformation and emotional conflict. Subtle inspiration has been drawn from the lore of World of Warcraft, particularly the arcs of Arthas Menethil and Jaina Proudmoore. 

Musically, the release channels the oppressive weight and atmosphere of Black Tongue and Humanity's Last Breath, while incorporating the raw aggression of Bodysnatcher and The Acacia Strain. The result is a record that moves seamlessly between suffocating heaviness and explosive intensity. 

Emerging from Klagenfurt, Austria in 2014, Castiel quickly made their mark with their bleak atmospheres and downtempo heaviness. Early releases including their debut single 'Human Scum' and the Exitium EP (2015) set the tone, followed by Blasphemy in 2017, before lineup changes forced the band into a hiatus. 

They returned in 2023 with Shadowlands, signalling a clear step up in both sound and ambition. That momentum carried into 2025’s Khaos EP, a darker, more introspective release that pushed further into themes of psychological collapse and existential weight.

Now, with their signing to Seek and Strike, Castiel enter a new chapter. All Returns to Hollow and Silence not only marks their first release under the label, but their most ambitious work to date. 

Having already shared stages with the likes of Distant, Carnifex, Born of Osiris and more, the band have built a reputation for intense, no frills live shows. Stay tuned for live dates to follow. 

For more:
Instagram || Facebook || Spotify 

Track-list:

1. Act I: Defile // Denounce
2. Act II: A Festering Wound
3. Act III: Vile Spirits
4. Act IV: Empty Throne

Photo Credit: Rob Blackham

Hotly-tipped UK rocker Dan Byrne has unveiled his anticipated debut album This Is Where the Show Begins, released today 22nd May via Frontiers. To celebrate the release, Dan has also unveiled the focus track 'Pulling Me Under'. 

Stream 'Pulling Me Under' and get the album here: https://ffm.bio/thisiswheretheshowbegins
Watch the visualiser here: https://youtu.be/7rindoKdZpI

Dan comments: "'Pulling Me Under' dives into the darker depths of the album. This is a dark, atmospheric alternative rock track built on tension, emotion, and contrast. It’s haunting and anthemic, with verses that feel suffocatingly close before breaking into a huge chorus that hits like a breath of air after the plunge.

"The song explores the internal chaos of reaching out for help from the very person who’s dragging you down and the feeling of emotionally drowning when the one you trust most becomes the source of your pain. It’s a confrontation of that paradox: needing saving from the person who’s breaking you.

"It’s about that mental struggle, when you’re asking someone to pull you up, but they’re the reason you’re sinking in the first place. I wanted the music to reflect that push and pull; the verses are tight and claustrophobic, and then the chorus opens up like coming up for air. It’s dark, emotional, and one of the most cinematic moments on the record."

"With its weighty production, layered guitars, and emotional scope, it embodies that recurring theme throughout the record: the beauty and release that come from surviving your own storms."

The single follows Dan's triumphant headline tour, with nearly every date sold out. He follows this with an acoustic record store tour. Dates: 

May 22 Glasgow Assai Records (Matinee)
May 22 Edinburgh Assai Records (Evening)
May 23 Newcastle Beyond Vinyl (Matinee)
May 23 Bury Wax & Beans (Evening)
May 24 Sheffield Arundel Emporium (Matinee)
May 24 Oxford Truck (Evening)
May 25 Portsmouth Pie & Vinyl (Matinee)
May 25 Swansea Derricks (Evening)
May 26 London Fighting Cocks (Evening)
May 27 Nantwich Applestump Records (Matinee)
May 27 Leeds Crash Records (Evening)

May 28 Liverpool Jacaranda (full electric show, playing album in full)

Dan will also be performing at Steelhouse Festival on 25th July.

Dan Byrne swept in off the Mersey, announcing himself as a solo artist in 2023 with his debut EP, Beginnings. His powerhouse, soul-inflected vocal and deftly-executed, yet hugely accessible songcraft has quickly marked him out as an artist on the rise. Blending contemporary edge with classic influence, Byrne’s music is powerful, honest, and deeply emotive - widescreen in scope yet intimate at its core. It rocks, without question, but what truly sets him apart is the courage to weave sensitivity and vulnerability through the intensity. This isn’t just rock music - it has the heart and authenticity to connect with an audience beyond any one genre.

In just two years Dan has toured the UK three times, delivered standout performances at multiple festivals and found overwhelming support from Planet Rock - the UK’s leading rock station - where his first four singles amassed an impressive 25 weeks on the playlist. With that foundation firmly in place, Byrne now turns his focus to the release of his long-awaited debut solo album, marking the next powerful step in his evolution as an artist.

This Is Where The Show Begins - Dan’s debut album - is full of joy and confidence. There’s a swagger alongside the sensitivity, a further broadening of musical scope. But at the centre of it, is that voice -  as powerful as it is vulnerable, as emotive as it is strong.

The lead single, ‘Saviour’ - the perfect album opener - bursts to life with attention-grabbing hard-rock stabs and pile-driving riffs. Its verses simmer with drama before the tension breaks in a chorus that makes it clear we’re in for one hell of a ride. It struts, it shimmies and it absolutely rocks. “Light ’em up,” indeed. There’s no let up as we barrel headlong into ‘She’s the Devil’ - Dan weighing in with a colossal vocal punctured by gonzo guitar gymnastics, the sheer euphoria spilling forth here is palpable.

Elsewhere, we're taken to church with ‘Praise Hell’, and ‘Sober’ is stained with regret. We even perhaps get a glimpse of where Byrne is heading next with album closer ‘Home’ - a sprawling, soaring, shapeshifting piece of alt-rock which essentially is never in danger of losing its soul. It’s what Glenn Hughes and 30 Seconds To Mars might come up if they ever combined their superpowers.

This Is Where The Show Begins is the culmination of what has been an incredible journey so far. It’s a marker for what can happen when you back yourself, a calling card for following your gut. Bursting with ambition, diversity and authenticity, this is where it may truly begin for Dan, the exciting thing for us to ponder is where it should lead to next.

Dan Byrne online:

https://www.danbyrne.co
https://www.instagram.com/danbyrne__
https://www.facebook.com/danbyrneofficial

Tracklisting:
1. Saviour
2. She’s The Devil
3. Praise Hell
4. Sober
5. Cherry & Leather
6. Death Of Me
7. Temple
8. Pulling Me Under
9. Hate Me
10. Home

Photo Credit: Annette Rodriguez

Legendary post-hardcore band Quicksand have today revealed their new single 'Crystallize', the latest single from their forthcoming new album Bring On The Psychics (Equal Vision Records / Rude Records). 

"’Crystallize’ opens a new lane for us,” the band says of the new single. “Post-punk self-actualization-core meets 1960s Batman fight scene.”

Watch 'Crystallize' here: https://youtu.be/iu3xqskepyg
Stream 'Crystallize' here: https://quicksand.lnk.to/crystallize

Pre-order Bring On The Psychics here: https://quicksand.lnk.to/BringOnThePsychics

Marking an entirely new era for the storied three-piece — guitarist/vocalist Walter Schreifels, bassist Sergio Vega and drummer Alan Cage — Bring On The Psychics serves as the sonic bridge between the band’s heavy and influential Nineties sound and the ambitious, experimental output contained within its more recent era. Produced and mixed by Jon Markson (Drug Church, Drain) across 10 days, Bring On The Psychics once again finds Quicksand reinventing the sound they helped pioneer. 

It’s impossible to overstate the influence that Quicksand have on the hardcore scene. Formed in New York City in 1990 out of the ashes of Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Burn and Bold, the band took the aggression of hardcore and added a more groove-driven crunch to it, unintentionally inventing the genre known today as post-hardcore. After releasing two major-label masterpieces in the Nineties — 1993’s Slip and 1995’s Manic Compression — the band split up at the peak of their powers, only to reunite in 2012 and release Interiors and Distant Populations.

Inspired by a quote from scientist Carl Sagan, Bring On The Psychics, Quicksand’s first album in five years, sees guitarist/vocalist Walter Schreifels examining his past through his present reality. “For this album, I was going back to a lot of my earlier influences about ‘break down the walls’ or ‘start today,’” he explains. “Regardless of whether you're into hardcore or youth crew, they're really cool records because they're speaking to the time and providing possible paths to a better future … with mosh parts. That’s the energy that I wanted to bring to this.” 

From the hook-driven heaviness of the opener 'Get To It' to the shoegaze splendour of 'Crystallize', the band cover a lot of sonic ground on Bring On The Psychics, but it always sounds like Quicksand. Its technical virtuosity is on full display here as well, from bassist Sergio Vega’s locked-in bass grooves on 'Cool Guy' to Alan Cage’s dynamic drumming on the album’s title track. The band also stretched out, musically, on the album as evidenced by the breezy ballad 'Days You Run To', a song that might even surprise longtime fans. “To me, that is the kind of thing that Fugazi would do on their more chill kind of tunes,” Schreifels says of the laidback feel of the aforementioned track. “It's nice to have something that was more expansive to show the Pink Floyd side of Quicksand.” 

That aspect of the band has never been a secret; anyone who has seen the band’s psychedelic light show can attest to that consciousness-expanding vibe. Bring On The Psychics just sees the band encapsulating their creative vision in a fully, more integrated manner. 

“I'm really psyched to play these songs live,” Schreifels summarises. “I feel really fortunate to still be playing music with these guys and be able to take it to different places.” 

Quicksand are: 
Walter Schreifels (guitar/vocals)
Sergio Vega (bass)
Alan Cage (drums)

Quicksand online: 
Official | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Shop

Tracklist:

1. Get To It
2. Regenerate
3. Agency
4. Crystallize
5. Supercollider
6. In Full Color
7. Days You Run To
8. Cool Guy
9. Moving Forward
10. Bring On The Psychics