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, which will grow each week.
Alien Weaponry - "Blinded"
Everyone's favorite Māori metal act Alien Weaponry are back with their new video and single "Blinded," on which the rapidly maturing group maintains their djent-based, alternative sound while enacting a more patient build this time around. The track's emotional delivery expands through hulking riffs and meandering quiet valleys before a stop-motion third act leads to an eruptive finale that blends heavy and catchy in gorgeously fluid measure.
Opeth - "Heart in Hand"
Opeth continue to lean into the Seventies-prog, classic-rock dad vibes on the new "Heart in Hand," but this go-round sounds less King Crimson and more Zeppelin at their "Immigrant Song" heaviest. The song is also another vehicle for Mikael Åkerfeldt to stretch his impressive pipes, but a throbbing bass line and attention-grabbing licks refuse to take a back seat to his suave crooning — and ultimately combine for a gallivanting ride that extends nearly nine head-bobbing minutes.
Obituary - "A Dying World"
Florida death-metal stalwarts Obituary have always kept their lane interesting, as you can hear on their latest single "A Dying World." The song imagines a reality when death metal and hardcore did not create a genre filled with screamy scene kids, but instead one that totally fucking rips. The punk-as-hell pace keeps the song barreling forward as the veterans fire off killer riffs and face-melting solos.
Year of the Knife - "Sick Statistic"
Metallic hardcore might be the most overstuffed genre going right now, but Year of the Knife continue to make themselves stand above the pack with every new track. "Sick Statistic" sounds like it was straight-up crafted for the pit, opening with a massive mosh part, and never letting up for a second. The groove of the song keeps on hitting before settling into a final breakdown that'll be perfect to crowd-kill your best friend to during the band's set on this year's Pure Noise Tour.
Portrayal of Guilt - "Scarcity"
Portrayal of Guilt have been on a mission to make screamo great again since bursting onto the scene two years ago. The band pushes itself well beyond the traditional confines of the genre by trying vastly different approaches on each new release. Their latest track, "Scarcity," is a slow-burner that uses singer Matt King's vocals to create a looming terror that hangs over the proceedings. After a build up, the band launches into a mega-fast assault that just keeps on hitting. It's the real deal.
Zonal - "No Version"
Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, Jesu) and Kevin Martin's evil electronic project Zonal just signed to Relapse Records, and to celebrate they released a pair of buzzing tracks that scratch the itch for unsettling ambiance done up in entrancing, nauseous style. The darker of the two, "No Version," is an expansive subconscious wandering through the caves of a sonic hell, expanding and contracting in measured time with wavering gradients of fearful trepidation that showcases the duo's talent for inciting the full range of human emotion through the application of vibration and sound.
