Bad Nerves – Loner
Release Date: 18th November 2025
What can you really do in under a minute? Read one of Donald Trump’s inane rants? Have a rant yourself about why the price of a Freddo is now a million pounds? Ponder why those two things are probably linked? Or just lob ‘Loner’ by British punks Bad Nerves on and dance away the blues. It’s a cliché to say a song ‘leaves you wanting more’ but ‘Loner’ will have you reaching for the repeat button before diving in to Bad Nerves’ ferocious back catalogue.
ILÆNDER – Inside My Head
Release Date: 21st November 2025
Hard rock has combined with many genres over the years and dealt with it like a champ, so much so, do we even really know what hard rock is these days? For ILÆNDER the answer seems to be a little bit of everything all at once. Nu-metal grooves, a dirtiness that feels every bit grunge as well as a bit of alt-rock at the beginning too. All that really matters though, is that this track will have your neck in tatters by the end.
Tiny Ships – Decay
Release Date: 22nd November 2025
American alt-metal outfit Tiny Ships are a noughties gothic throwback mixed with choruses that would probably have felt at home with the likes of PATD! or Fall Out Boy. Advocates of positive mental health, the band’s lyrics will resonate with many as the chorus opens with “Fear has left me overthinking”. If nothing else, this song is an anthem to take into 2026 with you.
Keyton – Lucid Dream
Release Date: 26th December 2025
Whilst not very Christmassy in the traditional Christmas sense, any song released between Christmas and New Year is festive by default and really, ‘Lucid Dream’ is what these few days feel like in truth. With some serious pop-punk vibes that would have Patrick Stump’s ears pricking back, Keyton has created a full blown emo singalong here. You’ll be putting everything you’ve got into this one in no time.
Two Tonne Machete – Pigs Pigs
Release Date: 28th November 2025
Bluesy hard rock from British outfit Two Tonne Machete sees ‘Pigs Pigs’ become one of those addictive rock songs that worms its way in. Distorted vocals combine with catchy guitars on a track taking aim at the worrying move of British policing against free speech and the right to protest. An incredibly worthwhile cause on a track that is great fun.
Fire Blanket – Mayday
Release Date: 21st November 2025
A whole host of UK indie combines with a dose of modern punk and a touch of post-hardcore on ‘Mayday’ from Fire Blanket, just the third single from a band that are already showing they have a lot to offer. Passionate vocals over a twangy guitars mean ‘Mayday’ provides that aural conflict that post-hardcore seems to nail to a tee. One of Manchester’s newest bands is showing what excitement there is still to come from the area.
Chalk Hands – Breaking Waves
Release Date: 12th December 2025
Single one from album two by Chalk Hands sees them release their first new music in a few years in the form of ‘Breaking Waves’. With their new release due at the end of March ’26, this song is a reminder for those that have been gagging for something new that the band still has that has the fire to create songs that so brilliantly portray emotion and hope. This is a band for whom 2026 can’t come soon enough.
Hit Like A Girl – Keepsake Theory
Release Date: 10th December 2025
Heading back to the comfort of emo, we have Hit Like A Girl, a band whose name will have many millennials wincing as they think of being accused of such by out of touch parents and grandparents. ‘Keepsake Theory’ is a challenging yet enjoyable journey through a diary of missed connection, all encompassed in frenetic guitars and dramatically angry vocals. A delightful combination.
Black Budget – STRANGER
Release Date: 19th December 2025
It’s always fun playing ‘spot the genre’ with a band you’re not familiar with. On ‘STRANGER’ from Canadian outfit Black Budget you’ll be bounding around to nu-metal and industrial influences while trying to pinpoint which stoner band would have most influenced those transitional sections. An intense few minutes that pulls influences but feels unique still.
Necrotted – ZEITENSCHLÄCHTER
Release Date: 17th December 2025
No guesses where Necrotted are from based on their song title here. Released just a week prior to Christmas, ‘ZEITENSCHLÄCHTER’ is unrelentingly heavy from a band that have been making finger on the pulse metal for well over a decade and a half. Powerful from start to finish, this is the music that grotty, horrible bars live for and Necrotted should be household names in the scene by now.