Here at Revolver, we're always on the hunt for new songs to bang our heads to — indeed, it's a big part of our jobs. With that in mind, here are the tracks released this week in metal, hard rock and hardcore that have been on heavy rotation at Revolver HQ. For your listening pleasure, we've also compiled the songs in a Spotify playlist below, which will grow each week.
Cult of Luna - "The Silent Man"
There was a time when everyone and their mother heard Neurosis and Isis, picked up a guitar and wrote 9-minute post-metal tribal epics that would swell and contract with slow-burning fury. Most of those bands have fallen by the wayside or have been forgotten by time, leaving room for the remaining handful of greats to stretch out and explore new territory. Cult of Luna are one of the lucky survivors — and their latest track, "The Silent Man," exemplifies just how far the Swedish band has grown past those initial comparisons. Progressive, post-metal, post-hardcore, post-sludge — who cares where it falls or what you call it. This track crushes.
$uicideBoy$ - "NOTHINGLEFTNOTHINGLEFT"
On their own, NOLA's $uicideboy$ have been doing some pretty exciting things in their quest to combine hip-hop and heavy music. Adding Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker to the mix has helped them go even further with their genre-blending on new collaboration "NOTHINGLEFTNOTHINGLEFT." The result is a brash, ripping, loud-as-hell banger that calls to mind that genius Slayer/Atari Teenage Riot collab — a beyond-sick blend of electronic elements, rap and pure fuck-you heaviness.
Tomb Mold - "Infinite Resurrection"
Tomb Mold blast into space with their latest single "Infinite Resurrection," from their recently announced upcoming record Planetary Clairvoyance. But that's not to say that the Toronto-based crew has gone all Origin on us. In fact, the band's previous caveman approach to death metal is firmly intact — thank god. But with "Infinite Resurrection" they manage to introduce another level of melodic complexity to the proceedings while still keeping true to their overall gnarly sound. We can't wait to hear what heavy-as-hell galaxy they explore next.
Pinkish Black - "Dial Tone"
Experimental rock band Pinkish Black have been sculpting worlds of sound and atmosphere through heavy music for a while now, and their latest "Dial Tone" is one of their biggest sounding songs yet. The duo creates a huge sonic landscape by using only a sparse array of instruments, working in synthesizers and bass as the song progresses. It's beautifully heavy, and an exciting next move for the Texas group.
Skourge - "Holy War"
If we told you that Skourge was a super buzzy band with hardcore roots, strong Obituary influence and hailed from Texas, you might just scratch your chin, think, Cool, a Power Trip worship band, and move on. But you'd be incredibly, deeply incorrect. Skourge is one of the state's most furious exports, creating palpable rage on a level that rivals Infest singer Joe Denunzio's near aneurysm-causing vocals. On "Holy War," from their new Condemned EP, the band dips into some Hellhammer influence, making for one of the angriest hardcore outings in recent memory. Still wholly independent, Skourge just might be hardcore's best-kept secret.
Paladin - "Awakening"
Atlanta's Paladin get straight to it on their latest burner "Awakening," which explodes in a blaze of riffs, pick scrapes, howling vocals, ripping, extended leads and the kind of melodic progressions and soaring moments that would make any Eighties hair band (or Helloween) jealous. Call it power metal, melodic thrash or just plain heavy fucking metal, this shit is real — technically excellent, raise-your-beer-to-the-sky music. (Plus bonus points for the fact that it's literally about The Legend of Zelda.)
