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.
Korn - "You'll Never Find Me"
Back with the announcement of their 13th album and new single "You'll Never Find Me," Bakersfield legends Korn have returned with a bang and proven themselves still interesting, relevant and ready to move on from the dark times they've faced in the recent past. Full of the band's signature elements (scratching, absurdly deep bass tones, buzz-saw guitars) revolving around the emotional fury of Jonathan Davis' alternating screams and whispers, the track sounds mature and updated without compromising on the band's hallmark angst-ridden sound.
Killswitch Engage - "Unleashed"
A mix of smooth-flowing, soaring vocals, djenty riffing and the occasional gut-rumbling roar, Killswitch Engage's new track "Unleashed" is a dynamic tour of the band's abilities, talents and commitment to incorporating unexpected elements for an interesting listen. Dejection and anger infiltrate the song's mood, but a glimmering touch of hope shines through the bleakness and makes for a cathartic, captivating listen.
Ceremony - "Turn Away the Bad Thing"
Cali post-punks Ceremony have created an infectious bop with their latest danceable number, "Turn Away the Bad Thing," a jaunty cut that owes equal debt to Joy Division and Green Day. In an era when retro-leaning musical experimentation can often turn dull, the group injects fresh elements to keep things lively: tempo changes, dual vocals and a serious reveling in music's sunnier side all converge to give Ceremony a catchy edge among their peers.
Russian Circles - "Milano"
While many bands in the previous decade's post-metal boom have fallen by the wayside, long-running Chicago act Russian Circles are keeping the flame burning with consistently fresh takes on their expansive style of heavy music. Their latest, "Milano," really does feel like a journey into some kind of faraway place — kicking off with a grooving, psychedelic guitar lead that eventually fades in and out, giving way to quiet harmonies. The song becomes a kind of sonic narrative, taking detours into other patterns and sounds before ending on a powerful note that pulls everything together.
Babymetal - "PA PA YA!!"
You think when Jonathan Davis and Company were cooking up their sound in a Bakersfield garage back in the early Nineties they could have ever imagined that Korn would eventually influence a teen-fronted Japanese kawaii-metal group that worships a sun god? Well, that's exactly what's happened with Babymetal's latest track "PA PA YA!!"— an infectious, groove-filled banger that's closer to nu-metal than any of their previous efforts. The cherry on top is the guest spot from Thai rapper F.HERO whose verses give the song a huge bounce that'll get jammed in your head for a while.
Hesitation Wounds - "Paragons of Virtue"
The purpose of Hesitation Wounds seems to be simple: write the most absolutely vicious hardcore possible — and holy shit do they succeed. The supergroup's new single "Paragons of Virtue" features the team of Touche Amore's Jeremy Bolm, the Hope Conspiracy's Neeraj Kane, Trap Them's Stephen Cross and Gouge Away's Thomas Cantwell all bringing together their collective strengths for a two-minute ripper that dips into powerviolence and grindcore. It's nuts.
