The Daily Drop (March 1st 2026)

Welcome to The Daily Drop, your roundup of the latest news from the rock, metal, punk, emo, hardcore, and alternative scenes.

We’re ending the week with a packed news round-up that includes news from Beartooth, Atreyu, and ‘A’. We also have new music from The Scratch, Free Throw, XCOMM, and Blush Puppy. There is also the final names announced for the Radar Festival in Manchester.

Here’s everything you need to know from March 1st 2026.

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Beartooth Join Fearless Records and Releases New Single (‘Free’)

Beartooth have started a new chapter by joining Fearless Records. It coincides with the release of a new single called ‘Free’.

For frontman Caleb Shomo, the track signifies a moment of clarity. “‘Free’ is the start of the next chapter of my music and my life. The emotional roller coaster that is living can be very complicated at times,” Shomo shares. “In one day, you can equally experience pure fear and pure joy. This song shows a glimpse of what is to come from the next Beartooth album, which is the most honest depiction of my soul I will most likely ever make.”

On joining the Fearless Records roster, Caleb said “Fearless has empowered me as an artist like nothing I’ve ever experienced. They all truly love what they do, and it shows in the work. They go about their business with humility and a hunger for joy. At the end of the day, they care about the music and supporting the people involved. Their ability to spread that support to artists and listeners alike is truly beautiful and I couldn’t be more proud to sign a deal with Fearless.”

Beartooth are currently on a North American tour alongside Bad Omens and PRESIDENT.

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The Scratch Share Third Single from New Album (‘Gladrags’)

Irish folk metallers The Scratch continue to preview their new album, ‘Pull Like A Dog,’ ahead of its March 13th. They’ve shared its third single, ‘Gladrags.’

Built around a stomping, distorted guitar, the track lyrically pulls from Lango’s (cajon, lead vocals) experiences of inattentiveness. “It’s about how being inattentive can land me in hot water, which ironically makes me wander further into my thoughts, resulting in this perpetual cycle of inattentiveness. But also seeing it in others and observing how they try to cover it up/deal with it,” he shares.

March
16th Rough Trade, Liverpool
17th Signature Brew Blackhorse Road, London
19th Rough Trade, Bristol
April
23rd SWG3, Glasgow
24th The Wardrobe, Leeds
25th Manchester Academy, Manchester
26th Thekla, Bristol
28th The Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
29th Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
30th Electric Ballroom, Camden

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Free Throw Preview New Album with ‘The Outlaw Star’

Free Throw has shared a new track called ‘The Outlaw Star’. The pounding track is the second number to be released from their upcoming album, ‘Moments Before The Wind’.

“The Outlaw Star was born from the ashes of a failed attempt while working in the studio. We took the best parts of a broken song and reworked it to fit a faster, more complete thought,” the band commented. “The pace and power of Outlaw Star complement the entirety of ‘MBTW’. “

Free Throw will be back in the UK in the summer alongside Saturdays At Your Place.

June
26th Outbreak Festival, Manchester
July
4th Electric Ballroom, London
5th Waterfront, Norwich
7th The Garage, Glasgow
8th Newcastle University SU, Newcastle
10th 2000Trees Festival, Cheltenham

‘Moments Before The Wind’ is to be released on March 27th via Wax Bodega.

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‘A’ Set to Release First Album in Over 20 Years

British alt-rock band, ‘A’ have revealed plans to release their first album in over 20 years. It’s called ‘PRANG’ and will be released on May 22nd via Cooking Vinyl.

As a preview, they’ve shared the album’s opening track, ‘Hello Sunshine’. The effervescent number sees the quintet rediscover their identity with a carefree, melodically rich number.

“There’s a messiness to it that allows our personality to come through — which is where the magic really happens,” vocalist Jason Perry explains. “I don’t want anyone to put on an ‘A’ record and think it sounds like it was hard work making it. Life’s hard enough – there has to be fun in making music.”

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XCOMM Launch Ferocious ‘Hot Pursuit / One And Nothing’ Double Single

Hotly-tipped Venice, California hardcore group XCOMM have delivered a double single in the form of ‘Hot Pursuit / One And Nothing’. Together, both tracks show their rising quartet’s versatility. ‘Hot Pursuit’ showcases their unrelenting urgency and firey punk-fuelled delivery. Meanwhile, ‘One and Nothing’ reins things in, allowing the young band to demonstrate their more ethereal, melodic side.

“’Hot Pursuit’ is about everyday frustrations and the way we put energy and purpose to combat those frustrations. I remember this one was written at our second-ever rehearsal,” says XCOMM frontman Michael Gatto. “‘One And Nothing’, on the other hand, is about moments of clarity and realizations that you do have control over your surroundings and the way things play out.”

Details of XCOMM‘s debut album is expected soon. It will be released through Blowed Out Records and is produced by Ross Robinson (Korn, The Cure, Slipknot, Glassjaw, At The Drive In).

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Atreyu Set to Release ‘The End is Not the End’ in April

Melodic metal greats Atreyu will return on April 24th with a new album called ‘The End is Not the End’ via Spinefarm.

Alongside previous singles, ‘Dead’ and ‘Ego Death,’ the record will feature their new single, ‘All For You’.

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SikTh, Einar Solberg, The Hara, and Glass Bridges Complete Radar Festival 2026 Line-Up

The final names for this summer’s Radar Festival have been revealed. It sees UK tech metal legends SikTh, Einar Solberg (Leprous), The Hara, and Glass Bridges joining an already impressive line-up.

SikTH join the Friday line-up that includes Thy Art Is Murder and Chelsea Grin. Saturday’s additions, The Hara and Glass Bridges, will see them perform alongside Skindred, Northlane, Protest The Hero, and more. While Leprous‘ Einar Solberg will be playing alongside the likes of Animals As Leaders, Voyager, and The Pineapple Thief.

The Radar Festival takes place at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse from 31st July to 2nd August. Weekend and day tickets are available here.

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Hear Blush Puppy’s New Single – ‘Tears in Rain’

Rising Midlands quartet Blush Puppy are preparing to release their debut EP, ‘Here You Dream,’ via Venn Records on April 10th.

Having left an impression with ‘Under the Water,’ in December, the Coventry-based band have shared a new track called ‘Tears in Rain’. While the former highlighted the band’s knack for producing catchy choruses, ‘Tears in Rain’ proves to be a more emotional offering. With its heavier delivery, the track guitarist Luke Osmond and bassist Isabelle Smith explore the notion of masking emotions while internally struggling.

“I wrote Tears in Rain from a really personal place. It’s about all the things you don’t say, and how heavy that becomes over time. Writing it made me realise how painful silence can be, and how easy it is to hide behind a smile instead of letting people see what’s really going on,”  explains Luke Osmond. “At the same time, it reminded me not to take everything so seriously; sometimes it’s the small stuff you bottle up that ends up feeling way bigger than it ever needed to be.”

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Today’s New Songs

Here’s a rundown of the latest additions to our ‘Newish Music’ playlist.

Lamb of God – Blunt Force Blues
Atreyu – All For You
A – Hello Sunshine
XCOMM – Hot Pursuit, One And Nothing
Codefendants – Lonely Life
The Last Vinci – Begging for some Help
Frozen Soul – No Place Of Warmth (feat. Gerard Way)
Dark Divine – Midnight Masquerade
LO RAYS – Playing Both Sides
NOST – High & Low
Erik Grönwall – Bad Bones
talker – Gold Rush
Rogue Awakening – Take My Pleasure
Ty Freeman – Dig For Gold
Succulents – Underdog
palettes – amethyst. (unravel again,
Divine Chaos – Without a Trace
The Crash Years – Afterlife
Vaticinal Rites – Augury of the Bloodied Crucible
Antariksh – Naaqis
The Orphaned Bee – More Mountains More Madness

Keep up to date with all the latest rock, metal, punk, and beyond, by following AlreadyHeard’s ‘NewishMusic’ Playlist.

Find the playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.