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.
Lingua Ignota - "Butcher of the World"
It's hard to categorize exactly what Lingua Ignota, a.k.a. Kristin Hayter, does in her music. But one thing's for sure: it's always a wild ride. On her latest single, "Butcher of the World," Hayter marries completely disparate sounds, styles and musical elements into one strikingly weird new form. It opens with a film score kind of overture with her voice shrieking some incredibly harsh lines as a counterpoint. As the song progresses, she introduces operatic vocals to the mix, which take this extremely unsettling — and utterly transfixing — track to a whole new level. It's a total experience.
Knocked Loose - "...And Still I Wander South"
Knocked Loose have undeniably leveled up since the release of their 2016 album Laugh Tracks. Their latest single, "...And Still I Wander South," shows the band expanding the range of their musicality and incorporating elements of death metal and slam into their metallic hardcore sound. The young Kentucky group also reveals previously unseen levels of restraint and confidence in their craft: allowing melodic parts to ring out so that when the heaviness hits, it absolutely destroys.
Abuse of Power - "What on Earth Can We Do"
Immediate, clobbering and directly to the punch, Abuse of Power's "What on Earth Can We Do" is a brash and pissed-off dark anthem that channels the driven rage of the group's intent into two-and-a-half brief, but impactful, minutes. The track's staccato pacing and unconventional melodic elements reflect both the Atlanta outfit's love of Nineties hardcore, and their ability to energize this often-tired genre by injecting freshness and passion into every note.
Russian Circles - "Arluck"
Russian Circles' new track "Arluck" is complex and engaging, making it easy to get wrapped up inside the intricate layering of the trio's straightforward but hypnotic sounds. Kings among the heavy instrumental scene, the band continues to impress with their ability to create new interesting channels through well-trodden musical territory and move seamlessly between scenes and genres with their near-universal appeal.
Alexisonfire - "Complicit"
Back this year with their first new music in over a decade, Alexisonfire's latest jam "Complicit" brings the gruff, snarling post-hardcore to the forefront for a nonstop, anthemic fire starter from start to finish. Intensely catchy and listenable, the round-style breakdown is sure to incite some aging punks to get back out and mosh like it's 2006 all over again.
$uicideBoy$ x Travis Barker with James "Munky" Shaffer - "Killing 2 Birds With 22 Stones"
Kicking off your heavy-metal–meets–punk-rap hybrid track with a seemingly pure sample of "Hey kids, let's go to church!" is always a good start to something completely wicked. $uicideboy$ and Travis Barker's new collaborative track from the just-released Live Fast, Die Whenever EP is a total pipe bomb — a lethal combo of screams, raps and defiantly heavy guitar work courtesy of Korn's Munky. It all comes together perfectly — a genre-defying banger that will absolutely piss off multiple generations of parents with its blasphemy and chaos.
