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 death metal, metalcore, doom and more that have been on heavy rotation at Revolver HQ. For your listening pleasure, we've also compiled the songs in an ever-evolving Spotify playlist.
Witch Fever - "Congregation"
The rising U.K. band Witch Fever have only gotten heavier with each release. Their slew of 2021 singles are all ripping grunge-punk tunes in the vein of L7 and the Screaming Females, but their latest, "Congregation," lives up to their moniker, with spellbinding goth-rock vibes seeping outward like Frankincense over a sturdy foundation of plodding doom-metal. The whole thing builds to a stormy climax of metallic racket, while singer Amy Walpole's haunting caterwaul rises above it all.
Killing Pace - "Extortion"
Richmond, VA, is going through a heavy music renaissance right now — especially in the hardcore and death metal realms — and Killing Pace are one of the city's latest acts to keep an eye on. The band just dropped an incredibly promising debut EP this week, and "Extortion" is a great taste of their bludgeoning, no-nonsense sound. It's not quite hardcore, not quite death metal and not quite grindcore, but it definitely shares DNA with all of those genres. Think Nails, early Full of Hell and their equally ripping contemporaries in No/Más.
Cane Hill - "A Form of Protest"
Cane Hill have been pretty transparent about how thankful they are to have parted ways with their formal label, and their first song "post-independence," as they call it, basks in the freedom of being as heavy as they damn well please. While much of their recent material has leaned on their croony melodic side, "A Form of Protest" is a relentless djent banger that leaves all catchiness at the door in favor of chuggy breakdowns and loogie-hockin' anger. We're here for it.
Speed - "Not That Nice"
Speed have been one of the most-hyped bands on the Australian hardcore circuit for several years now, and their upcoming LP on Flatspot Records has them situated for an international breakout. "Not That Nice" is a great summation of their gleefully nasty, infectiously rambunctious sound — a slightly sped-up take on Madball-style NYHC with the metallic punch of bands like Terror and Trapped Under Ice.
Bleeding Through - "Rage"
Bleeding Through haven't been away for that long (their last LP dropped in 2018) but the O.C. metalcore vets' return feels more fitting now than it did last time. With a whole host of younger bands drawing influence from their early 2000s catalog and once making it the sound du jour, "Rage"'s dreary piano drapery and gothic-tinged breakdowns feel revitalized and urgent. They haven't missed a beat.
Arch Enemy - "Sunset Over the Empire"
Arch Enemy are a melodeath band who actually have the chops to take the "melo" to its furthest conclusion and write songs with clean vocals, glowing guitar leads and huzzah-style energy. But hearing them strip back the catchiness and whip out the Swedish death-metal savagery that influenced their early incarnations is always a particularly satisfying treat. "Sunset Over the Empire" just plain rips. Nothing fancy, nothing particularly experimental. Just sleeveless shirt and hair-in-your-mouth from headbanging too hard melodeath.
