Digging Graves – Disarm
Release Date: 6th February 2025
Post-hardcore comes in many shapes and sizes and Swedish outfit Digging Graves are doing it their own way, though with a familiar tinge to it too. Dirty guitars and raspy vocals are the order of the day as this second track of theirs (followed by ‘Timebomb’ shortly after) gets the pulse racing and the legs bouncing. As far as introductions to new bands go, their opening trio of tracks is right up there.
Dirty Blonde – Adore Me?
Release Date: 13th March 2025
The Manchester pairing that make up Dirty Blonde are really starting to make a name for themselves with their emotive and gritty rock tracks and ‘Adore Me?’ from their EP Looking For Trouble is another beast of a song. Building through softer verses, the choruses implore that you learn the lyrics and sing them back. Pop hooks are intertwined with the softer end of grunge and the result is sepctacular.
Slung – Thinking About It
Release Date: 13th March 2025
A band that could bring grunge back for good or kickstart another blues renaissance, Slung have dropped ‘Thinking About It’, a track from towards the end of their debut album In Ways. The single, released in March before the May album, epitomises what the band are about. Brooding guitars and addictive vocals, the sort that you can just close your eyes and let them wash over you. This is a band going places.
Guteren – Dissolving
Release Date: 14th March 2025
Fans of the likes of L.S. Dunes would do themselves a favour if they took a look at Guteren, a band that take their signature vocal style, keep the drama of the tracks and add some more electronic vibes to it too. Many songs fail to capture the sheer rawness of the live arena, but ‘Dissolving’ dials it up somehow. A unique track that pulls from the softer end of a metalcore, keeping the power of post-hardcore too.
PHWOAR – Surge
Release Date: 21st March 2025
Indie rock with a classic rock twist sees ‘Surge’ from British rockers PHWOAR dial up the danceability. From the very start there’s a inevitability to it – you’re going to bounce whether you like it or not. Think Electric Six without the overt sexuality and you’re some of the way to getting it. The outro’s repetition of the title track is a great way to end and will be a fun closer to live shows.
San Demas – You & I
Release Date: 28th March 2025
A catchy, pop-y affair from San Demas sees a bit of punk and a bit of indie rock go a long way. ‘You & I’ is a signal of intention from a band that have been picking up a strong following and this track is another step towards the domination of the alt-rock scene that they’re clearly heading towards.
From Tyranny – Blood Warden
Release Date: 28th March 2025
Something a little heavier from Glasgow based From Tyranny on ‘Blood Warden’, a track pulling us towards the heavier end of metalcore. Blast beats, feral vocals and a delightful electronic undertone, ‘Blood Warden’ isn’t just a copy and paste of the past decade of metalcore like a lot of bands do, this is an assault.
Nol K – XP
Release Date: 31st March 2025
Grungy alt-metal from Brunei Darussalam in the form of ‘XP’ from Nol K sees them put out their most shoegaze-infused track to date. Transitioning between heavier guitar sections and those softer, almost twinkly shoegaze elements means the track is constantly moving into new areas and despite being almost four minutes long, is over in a flash.
Watch Your Tone – Just A Prank
Release Date: 1st April 2025
Catchy skate punk from the US in the form of ‘Just A Prank’ by Watch Your Tone sees them relive some of the childhood adventures that caused minor inconveniences that we caused. As the lyrics increase in severity, the catchiness of the riffs increase. There aren’t many songs that can have you bouncing and smiling while talking about replacing shampoo with hair removal cream but here we go. There’s at lest one now.
Carne – J.U.M
Release Date: 30th April 2025
British rockers Carne are well and truly new kids on the block with ‘J.U.M’ being their debut studio release. Recorded at Brighton’s Electric Studio, the song is a celebration of alt-rock-cum-grunge without feeling like a copy and paste of any of the bands from either scene. Carmen Mellino’s engaging vocals are a big draw, but this four-piece show plenty of talent and ‘J.U.M’ is a fantastic jumping off point.