Here at Revolver, we're always on the hunt for great new music — indeed, it's a big part of our jobs. With that in mind, here are the tracks released this week in metal, hard rock, hardcore and beyond 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.
Kælan Mikla - "Hvernig kemst ég upp?"
Icelandic post-punk outfit Kælan Mikla certainly live up to their homeland's chilly name. The group has had a huge year, playing to audiences at the Roadburn and Meltdown festivals, the latter of which was curated by goth godfather himself Robert Smith. Frigid synth scales and haunting murmurs occupy their preview track from upcoming full-length Nótt eftir nótt, shaping the framework of what's sure to become one of the most impactful dark-wave releases of the year.
Cult Leader - "I Am Healed"
Formed in 2013 out of the ashes of gnarly, grinding hardcore band Gaza, Cult Leader have yet to release a track that has disappointed. Their newest ripper "I Am Healed" is a fever dream of chaos and heaviness. The song starts at a blazing-fast pace, but it slows down midway through for a recursive, post-metal section that feels as though one is trapped in a black hole of pounding guitar noise. They embrace chaos, and wield it with a skill few can match.
Planet B - "Manure Rally"
Justin Pearson has made his name with spazzy, noisy weirdo-rock outfits like the Locust, Retox and Dead Cross, but his project Planet B — a collaboration with hip-hop producer Luke Henshaw — might be his most left-field yet. The duo smashes together strains of hardcore, hip-hop, industrial and old-school horror-movie scores into the unique, genre-defying sound heard on "Manure Rally," the explosive lead single off their forthcoming self-titled debut LP. An outraged screed against President Trump, it's head-spinning and head-splitting in the best way possible.
Behemoth - "Wolves ov Siberia"
From its galloping war-drum intro and hard-charging riffs to rich mid-song instrumental ambience and rallying cry of "We lost our Eden to own the world," the second single from Polish blackened-death masters' forthcoming album, I Loved You at Your Darkest, is a full-on rabid assault on the senses. "You gotta give up something," says frontman Nergal of the song's concept, "but then you're going to strike back harder than ever and you're gonna conquer all. I think it's a very empowering … super-vital song."
Author & Punisher - "Night Terror"
The music of Author & Punisher is an impressive mix of innovation and throwback — a slowed-down blend of Nineties industrial given a deeply evil doom treatment is a delightful treat for 'heads who cut their teeth on Nine Inch Nails and Ministry. Tristan Shone, the sole artist and mechanical engineer behind the project, doesn't just make entrancing tunes, though; he designed and constructed the custom machines on which the music is performed. On "Night Terror," Shone flips between reflective crooning and harsh bellows. "This is the most personal track on the album and for me hits a raw nerve every time I play it," he's said. It hits a raw nerve when listened to, as well.
This Will Destroy You - "Go Away Closer"
If you ever want a respite from reality, This Will Destroy You's cool brand of post-rock is bound to set you on the correct course. "Go Away Closer" is the band's latest captivating offering, one that changes up the ways in which their chosen genre is usually laid out. Instead of everything leading to some predictable crescendo, the band crashes down wave upon wave of otherworldly bliss, each splash of instrumentation varying slightly and progressing the song, until it reforms in a new brilliant body of sound.
