Content Breakdown
Turnstile – Seein’ Stars / Birds
Loathe – Gifted Every Strength
Stateside – Viste Verde (So Far, So Good)
Battlesnake – Murder Machine
The Beths – Metal
The Ataris – Car Song
All Ears Avow – Dark Skies
Knives – Rhinestone Cowboy
Newish Music Playlist Update
Every week, our inbox is flooded with new singles from across the alternative scene, and while we’d love to highlight them all, there’s simply too much great music to keep up with. That’s where Already Heard Recommends: Songs of the Week comes in. We sift through the latest releases to bring you a handpicked selection of the standout tracks you need to hear.
Whether it’s rock, punk, emo, hardcore, metal, or something in between, we cut through the noise and bring you the songs that deserve your attention.
Turnstile – Seein’ Stars / Birds
What’s better than getting one new Turnstile track? Two of course!
Having announced ‘Never Enough’ last month, the quintet have shared a double single in the form of ‘Seein’ Stars’ and ‘Birds’.
The first is soaked in reverb and textured percussion, allowing Turnstile to show their laid-back, groove-leaning side with some subtle vocal help from Blood Orange’s Devonté Hynes and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. The second track, ‘Birds’, reinforces Turnstiles‘ hardcore punk credentials. Bouncing riffs and snappy vocals explode in a blistering two and a half minutes.
Together, both tracks showcase Turnstile‘s ever-growing palette of sounds and sonic textures that merely add to ‘Never Enough’s expectations.
‘Never Enough’ by Turnstile is released on June 6th on Roadrunner.
Loathe – Gifted Every Strength
It feels like we have been waiting for new music from Loathe forever. However, after a three-year wait, the genre-blurring metallers have returned with ‘Gifted Every Strength’.
For over six minutes, Loathe mark their return with an immersive display that shifts between industrious distortion, blissful psychedelia, and harmonious shoegaze. At times, it’s crushingly glorious, the next melodically soaring. It’s executed confidently, allowing the Liverpudlian to transition to loud and quiet textures easily.
Ultimately,‘Gifted Every Strength’ marks an organic evolution of where Loathe were on 2020’s ‘I Let It In and It Took Everything,’ complementing their growth as musicians and their popularity.
Surely, a new record can’t be too far away, or are they going to keep us waiting?
Stateside – Viste Verde (So Far, So Good)
Recent Pure Noise Records signees, Californian quintet Stateside are preparing to release their debut album, ‘Where You Found Me’, next month. ‘Viste Verde (So Far, So Good)’ is the latest cut to be lifted from it.
Firmly in aggressive pop-punk territory, ‘Viste Verde (So Far, So Good)’ perfectly exemplifies Stateside‘s punchy and crunching sound. However, It also shows the band’s sensitive side as frontman Lemus Garcia reflects on his absent older sister.
“When I was 8 years old, my older sister moved away and we have not had contact since. This song I wrote from frustration over not knowing why I never heard from her again or what had happened in her life since,” Garcia shares. “Every holiday season, the uncomfortable question of whether anyone has heard from her comes up and that fueled this song for me.”
As for ‘Where You Found Me’, the album promises to document the highs and lows that Stateside have experienced in recent years. It’s paired with a reliable pop-punk sound that is sure to win over fans of Four Year Strong and Knuckle Puck.
‘Where You Found Me’ by Stateside is released June 6th on Pure Noise Records.
Battlesnake – Murder Machine
You’re going to be hearing a lot from Sydney-based seven-piece Battlesnake in the coming months. With numerous UK festival spots and shows scheduled for the summer, Battlesnake‘s mix of classic rock and metal is going to be hard to ignore.
As their forthcoming album title, ‘Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd’, suggests, they’re not your run-of-the-mill metal band. New single, ‘Murder Machine’ is subtly extravagant, combining rapid metal with cosmic psychedelia. It’s a high-octane number that leans into the album’s conceptual narrative. The track is centred on “The Exultants’ demonic hound pigs, their faithful servants, built to hunt Jesus Christ. The ‘Machina Mortifero’ in English ‘Murder Machine’, they feed only on bile and human waste. The scent of the Son of Man drives them into insanity and the hunt begins.”
Admittedly, we’re not sure what it means, but it all sounds very metal. Nevertheless, Battlesnake‘s intricate storytelling, tongue-in-cheek presentation, and knack for displaying plenty of riffs and headbanging moments means they have plenty to offer.
‘Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd’ by Battlesnake is released June 6th.
The Beths – Metal
New Zealand indie-rockers The Beths have become a critically acclaimed band in recent years. However, they’re now starting a new chapter with a new label, Anti- Records. To mark the news, they’ve delivered a sparkling new single called ‘Metal’.
Despite its title, it doesn’t see the quartet embrace heavy riffs. Instead, they ride a breezy jangle rock wave, allowing Liz Stokes to reflect on her mental health struggles. Aided by Jonathan Pearce’s glistening, plucky 12-string guitar, ‘Metal’ demonstrates The Beths‘ sincere and warm sound.
“In some ways ‘Metal’ is a song about being alive and existing in a human body,” Stokes explains when discussing the track. “That is something I have been acutely aware of in the last few years, where I have been on what one might call a ‘health journey’. For parts of the last few years, I kind of felt like my body was a vehicle that had carried me pretty well thus far but was breaking down, something I had little to no control over. All of the steps in the Rube Goldberg machine of life are so unlikely, and yet here we are in it. I have a hunger and a curiosity for learning about the world around me, and for learning about myself. And despite all the ways that my body feels like a broken machine, I still marvel at the complexity of such a machine.”
Ruminating with newfound optimism, The Beths will be touring the UK and Ireland in September, with an inevitable fourth album expected for release at some point.
The Ataris – Car Song
It can be argued that The Ataris are seen as a nostalgic act. However, they’re far from done and are preparing to release their first new album in over 15 years. While the currently untitled album is still being finished, its first single has arrived.
‘Car Song’ blends the rose-tinted nostalgia of ‘So Long, Astoria’ and combines it with an Americana punk rock sound to provide a welcome return for The Ataris. Through its driving rhythm, it highlights Kristopher Roe’s storytelling ability as he pays tribute to his late father, William.
As for its title, and spark for The Ataris‘ return can be credited to Walter White’s iconic Volvo car from Breaking Bad. Roe purchased the car that appeared in the show’s final season from a friend and would later trade it with producer Bob Hoag in exchange for studio time.
“I like to say that Walter White’s Volvo was the catalyst for ‘Car Song’ and the new album,” says Roe. “It all just came together from there, and now, here we are.”
The release of ‘Car Song’ (along with a re-recorded version of ‘In This Diary’) comes as The Ataris prepare to return to the UK later this month. They’ll be appearing at the Slam Dunk Festival, before a show at London’s O2 Academy Islington on May 27th.
All Ears Avow – Dark Skies
Based out of the relatively unfashionable Swindon, All Ears Avow continue to show alt-rock strength with ‘Dark Skies’. Led by vocalist and guitarist Claire Sutton, the quartet’s latest offering is a steady number that sees them lean into an edgier sound while maintaining their melodic richness.
Inspired by panic attack experiences, the track allows Sutton to examine the cause and effect, capturing the internal, swirling chaos. Complemented by a stirring guitar work and towering percussion, ‘Dark Skies’ adds to All Ears Avow‘s versatility.
“For me, ‘Dark Skies’ is about acknowledging how scary it can be when your own mind turns against you, but also how cathartic it is to express that fear out loud. It doesn’t fix it, but it helps,” shares Claire Sutton. “I hope it connects with anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed and needed a moment of release.”
It’s no doubt that ‘Dark Skies’ is thoroughly cathartic, allowing All Ears Avow to radiantly explode.
Knives – Rhinestone Cowboy
With its fuzzy drive and snappy vocal delivery, Bristol newcomers Knives leave a lasting impression with ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’. Coinciding with the release of their debut album, ‘Glitter’, this sextet noise collective delivers a raucous offering from it.
Treading the fine line between post-punk and post-hardcore, ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ is merely a snapshot of Knives‘ ability. With an ethos based on inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment within the alternative scene, they came together three years ago through diverse backgrounds. It seeps through ‘Glitter,’ as they rampage and bounce through with flashes of experimental jazz and alt-rock acumen.
‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ elevates their controlled chaos through guitarists Dan Farren and Josh Cook’s stabbing distortion, Erin Cook’s penetrative drums, and Jay Schottlander’s post-punk barking. If anything, it showcases why Knives are exciting rookies within the UK’s alternative music scene.
‘Glitter’ by Knives is out now on Marshall Records.
Newish Music Playlist Update
Hear all of this week’s choices and more through our ‘Newish Music’ playlist. Consisting of the latest rock, punk, hardcore, metal, emo, and everything in between, it’s your go-to playlist for new music.
70 tracks have been added to the playlist this week, including new music from Silverstein, Yungblud, Skunk Anansie, New Found Glory, PUP, Perturbator, House of Protection, Bears In Trees, Artio, Humour, and Split Chain.
| All Ears Avow – Dark Skies ALYSSAD – bitter taste of a god Artio – Split Soul The Ataris – Car Song Battlesnake – Murder Machine Bears in Trees – Left, Right, Goodnight! Beast In Black – Enter The Behelit The Beths – Metal Beauty Sleep – Radical Happiness Believe In Nothing – Complete Desolation Beyond Extinction – Winter Sun Burp. – Ricky Mortis Cash Bribe – Demonomics Chthonic – Endless Aeons Conflict – Cut The Crap Cwfen – Bodies Daze of June – In Time dead7 – HOLE Death Angel – Wrath (Bring Fire) Dropsonic – This Ain’t Living The Elephant Man – Lies Are My Perfect Drug Firmament – Beneddictional The Halo Effect – Not Yet Broken | Hemelbestormer – Usil Hotline TNT – Candle House of Protection – I Need More Than This Humour – Plagiarist KEYAN & Connor Kaminski – Oscillate King 810 – Rustbelt NuMetal Knives – Rhinestone Cowboy Lifeboats – Old Habits Loathe – Gifted Every Strength Lowswimmer – Sleeper (Hit) The Manic Standstill – Bulletproof Mammoth – The End Morning In May – A Master Class In Classless Acts Nailed To Obscurity – Overcast New Found Glory – 100% Nick Karcher – In Another Life Novelty Island – Rainy Panic Shack – Girl Band Starter Pack Perturbator – The Art of War Press Club – To All The Ones That I Love PUP – Olive Garden Pure Obsessions & Red Nights – As Dirty As It Cleans Realwell – Too Much, Not Enough | Recall The Remains – Cerberus Redd – Jeans So Baggy Rise of the Northstar – Neo Paris Rothco – Coming In Hot Ruston Kelly – Half Past Three Sammy Hagar – Encore, Thank You, Goodnight. Save Ferris – Get Dancing Secondself – Moving to LA Shadows Fall – Souls Devoured Shadows of a Silhouette – No Matter Where I Go Signs of the Swarm – HELLMUSTFEARME Silverstein – Negative Space Skunk Anansie – Animal Slung – Limassol Split Chain – Subside Splitview – What You Gave Stateside – Viste Verde (So Far, So Good) Svarta Havet – Härlig Är Jorden Tekulvi – Transmission Turnstile – Seein’ Stars / Birds Walt Hamburger – Insolence Water Machine – River Whitehall – Baby Steps Yungblud – Lovesick Lullaby |
The ‘Newish Music’ playlist is also available on Apple Music.
Have a song to consider for a future edition of ‘Already Heard Recommends? Tell us about it here.
We are an independently owned website run by one person (Sêan Reid). By supporting AlreadyHeard on Ko-Fi, you can help cover hosting costs and keep the website ad-free.
