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.
Svalbard - "Feminazi?!"
You've spent the past seven years touring and recording with your band, in your native England as well as around the world. It's been a bumpy road as of late in the three years since your debut: You lost your bassist, your bandmates battled long-term illnesses, and to top it all off, you and your romantic partner — who happens to be the band's guitarist — part ways. Against all odds, you tough it out, and at last, the debut video from your sophomore album hits YouTube. The first comment? "Nice Boobs."
All that work, all that pain, just to be objectified in the dumbest way possible: Can you really blame Serena Cherry, frontwoman of the English hardcore band Svalbard, for striking back and speaking out with a letter-bomb like "Feminazi?!" Can you blame her for taking the bros to task with hard-charging percussion and tremolo-laden riffs, inspired by the aforementioned experience? Nope and nope — impact requires action, which necessitates strength, and this four-piece brings all three in spades. So here's OUR comment: Nice song.
Sleep - "Leagues Beneath"
The titanic trio of Pike, Cisneros and Roeder aren't content with having a red hot surprise-released comeback LP; the Sleep boys have also blessed us with a new stand-alone song to guild the lily. The track is "Leagues Beneath," an epic 17-minute monster with all of the makings of a classic Sleep jam: droning, transcendental, punctuated with next-level riffing. The only thing missing from "Leagues Beneath" is a physical product to hold onto for posterity.
Full of Hell - "Latched and Snared"
Need some tunes for that upcoming Memorial Day barbecue? Lucky you! Industrial-grind stalwarts Full of Hell have cooked up a limited-edition split with their fellow noisesmiths Intensive Care, packed with enough synth stabs, death growls and leaden misery to keep the party going all night — though keep in mind, the release itself is less than 10-minutes long. "Latched and Snared," Full of Hell's marquee contribution to the 7-inch, is particularly ruthless: a sludge-doom eruption caught midflow, right when the riffs are at their hottest and heaviest.
Julee Cruise - "Floating" (Demo)
It's easy to credit Angelo Badalamenti with creating the strange and beautiful atmosphere of Twin Peaks' fever-dream soundtrack, but he couldn't have achieved the full effect without the haunting vocals of alternative-music chanteuse Julee Cruise. Sacred Bones Records is releasing Three Demos, a special 12-inch featuring early versions of the singer's collaborative recordings with Badalamenti and David Lynch, including "Floating (Demo)," which truly nails the space between beautiful and terrifying. It's a far different and arguably better take than the better-known final version, and is a must-hear for any Lynch acolyte.
Black Tusk - "Agali"
"Agali" is the first song back from the riff-worshipping hellions Black Tusk since the passing of their much-beloved bassist Jonathan Athon. While everything that you'll likely read about the track will include said eulogy, the fact is that "Agali" is a well-executed and gloriously fun ripper will remind you why you liked the trio in the first place. R.I.P. Athon, but you can count on the boys doing right in your memory.
Hyro the Hero - "Bullet"
Hyro the Hero has quietly become an expert in the rap-rock game over the past 10 years, and his new track "Bullet" is a scathing summation of what he's been working on. His voice showcases much of the same energy Zack de la Rocha bristled with in his prime, and his rhymes mesh well with the infectious bounce of the guitar work. Hyro's lyrics position him at the end of his rope, ready to move beyond the picket line and fight for real. "Bullet" is a hell of a soundtrack to do so.
