really big really clever – Back Door
Release Date: 6th June 2025
Track two from their second album …huh, ‘Back Door’ has become the quintessential really big really clever song with the Brighton-based quartet’s entire sound summed up nicely within the first minute. Chunky riffs, engaging vocals and a message that is entirely relatable. If you like your emo to be a little heavier than that you get from across the pond, this is where you need to hang your hat.
The Dirty Nil – Rock N’ Roll Band
Release Date: 11th June 2025
Up there with the hardest working bands in the world right now, The Dirty Nil released a track in June that sums up what life is like for them and thousands of touring bands around the world. All of the signature TDN elements are there, the parts that will have you bouncing, the parts that will have you headbanging and the parts that will have you yelling along, all wrapped up in lyrics that vent their frustrations at the lack of fairness in the music industry. How very meta.
Beauty School – Day of Iva (feat. Artio)
Release Date: 11th June 2025
If you’ve been to a gig or festival in the past couple of years, chances are you’ll have bumped into one or both of Beauty School and Artio. Earlier this year though, they decided to combine forces to create one of the most singalongable (it’s a word, shush) songs of 2025. To call ‘Day of Iva’ catchy would be an understatement. Whether it be the actual lyrics or just the melody itself, this is a song that will be bouncing round your head for days.
Banquise – Crystal Cage
Release Date: 25th June 2025
Alt-rock from France sees Banquise pulls together soaring guitars, soft cleans and piercing screams to create an emotionally charged song by the name of ‘Crystal Cage’. A song that is begging for a huge stage and dramatic lighting, the track pulls at that part of the brain that loves theatrics and drama. One to be played as loud as possible.
FVRIA – Trash Mob
Release Date: 22nd September 2025
Finishing on some Swiss electronicore, FVRIA’s ‘Trash Mob’, together with Thrasher themed cover art, is everything that’s right about combining electronic and heavy music. Verses you’ll want to dance to and choruses you’ll have to headbang to. Does music get any better than this? Even the lyrics are simple enough to be blaring out after a listen or two. Delightful.