Content Breakdown
Nova Twins – Piranha
As December Falls – Bathroom Floor
Slow Crush – Thirst
lowheaven – Chemical Pattern
Coach Party – Girls!
Atlas : Empire – Happy As Lazarus
–
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.
Nova Twins – Piranha
Alt-rock duo Nova Twins have delivered a third taster of their forthcoming ‘Parasites & Butterflies’ LP. ‘Piranha’ follows ‘Soprano’ and ‘Monsters’ and sees vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South serve up a gritty number led by the latter’s low, fuzzy basslines. Building with an uneasy intensity, Love’s guitar struts with swagger. Together, Love and South hone in on a shady blend of vulnerability and conflict.
“This track explores growing tensions around the world, which can feel overwhelming at times, leaving you unsure of where to start,” the band shares. “It delves into themes of confrontation, rebellion, and fear. Using imagery of predatory waters, it symbolises vulnerability, power, and questioning authority. “Piranha” also reflects society’s cutthroat nature, but emphasises coming together and supporting each other. There is strength in unity.”
‘Parasites & Butterflies’ by Nova Twins is released on August 29th on Marshall Records.
As December Falls – Bathroom Floor
Nottingham pop-rockers As December Falls have never been a band to shield away from their emotions. Their latest track, ‘Bathroom Floor’, proves to be a tight, stirring affair with Bethany Hunter exploring inevitably bad relationships.
“[it’s about] when you come out of a bad relationship, after taking the plunge on someone you knew wasn’t quite right for you,” says Hunter. “You go for it anyway and it comes right back at you the way you thought it would. The song then moves into when you’re over the other side and you can recognise the red flags.”
The track is the latest to be lifted from the quartet’s new album, ‘Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine’. The record promises to channel As December Falls‘ exhaustion, anxiety, gratitude, and grit into 14 tracks. Musically, it sees them floatsbetween the fine lines of pop-punk, emo-rock, and pop-rock, allowing them to deliver rich melodies as ‘Bathroom Floor’ and ‘Therapy’ show.
‘Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine’ by As December Falls is released on August 8th on ADF Records via Virgin.
Slow Crush – Thirst
Back in January, dynamic quartet Slow Crush returned with a track called ‘Cherry’. Now the Anglo-Belgian band have shared details of their long-awaited third album. Set to be released in late August, ‘Thirst’ sees them working with Lewis John at his studio, The Ranch in Southampton. Led by vocalist/bassist Isa Holliday, its 10 tracks promise to be the band’s most emotional and musically sharpest songs to date. As a taster, they’ve shared its title track.
As the album’s overarching theme is based on the “the romance of being with a loved one,” ‘Thirst’ ethereally weaves through the yearning and the feeling of desire. Musically, Jelle Ronsmans and Nic Placlé deliver a wall of soaring guitars, with drummer Frederik Meeuwis adding to Holliday’s emotional weight. As always, there is a compelling air to what Slow Crush produce and ‘Thirst’ is no different.
Commenting on the track, the band say, “‘Thirst’ is about an unquenchable desire for what’s next, with focus on essence and balance. Not losing yourself in the ever-growing distractions that surround us. A yearning pulse for renewal, ‘Thirst’ ripples with a craving for something pure, something vital. It churns with an unrelenting drive, building an electrifying momentum that surges forward and breaks through, offering both release and rebirth.”
‘Thirst’ by Slow Crush is released on August 29th on Pure Noise Records.
lowheaven – Chemical Pattern
Toronto post-metal newcomers lowheaven kick off a new era with ‘Chemical Pattern’. Taken from their debut album, ‘Ritual Decay,’ set for release on their new label home, MNRK Heavy, the track leans into the band’s ’90s influences, delivering a tight-knit and spirited example of post-hardcore with hints of screamo and black metal. At its core, the band’s sound is emotionally intense.
It’s a trope that is threaded through ‘Ritual Decay’. The quartet of Dan Thomson (vocals/guitar), Mikey Buchta (vocals/bass), Alex Pley (guitar/keys), and Pat Pajak (guitar) admit they’re not an easy listen. With songs bordering between self-hatred and forgiveness, the ten-track offering explores social isolation and the acceptance of what it means to lose faith in life and yourself.
Nevertheless, ‘Chemical Pattern’ is thematically considered an outlier to what the rest of ‘Ritual Decay’ promises. “This song has taken on a weight of its own, when you see what’s been going on all around us since the beginning of this year, which is kind of wild since the song was written three years ago,” says lowheaven‘s Dan Thomson. “This song was definitely a personal response to the fact that everything around me was melting; there wasn’t a semblance of comfort or familiarity. While a significant amount of ‘Ritual Decay’ is intensely personal, ‘Chemical Pattern’ is a look outwards. Let’s be honest, everything is fucked. And I don’t have the way out. Uncertainty is terrifying.”
‘Chemical Pattern’s metallic crunch and subtle unhinged energy make lowheaven an exciting prospect ahead of their debut release.
‘Ritual Decay’ by lowheaven is released on August 29th on MNRK Heavy
Coach Party – Girls!
Hailing from the Isle of Wight, Coach Party tease their second album, ‘Caramel’, with this slice of explosive alt-rock.
Serving as a rally call for community, it’s a bombastic and energetic number that thrives confidence and a unpretentious hook of “Where the fuck are my girls!” “No matter who you are, no matter who you think you are, you’re our girls,” states Coach Party‘s Guy Page.
The track and its accompanying video represent the meaning of Coach Party gigs being a form of escapism. Whether it’s a gig or the video’s ‘Club Caramel’ retreat, Coach Party encourages self-discovery. “When you walk out the door, you can go back to whatever you want, but being at a gig is an escape for every one of us, we’re all doing this thing because we love to be here. You’re at this gig, so you’re one of us. Our girls are everyone in this room,” Page adds.
‘Caramel’ by Coach Party is released on September 26th on Chess Club Records.
Atlas : Empire – Happy As Lazarus
In some shape or form, Atlas : Empire have existed since 2011. In that time, they’ve transformed their sound from progressive rock to a more expansive and textured style. As their new single, ‘Happy As Lazarus’, showcases, their sound borders on a mix of alt-rock, post-rock, emo, and shoegaze. It results in the Glasgow-based trio producing a track that is equally urgent and cinematic.
With the powerhouse drumming of James Lorenzo handling the impactful side of the track, founding members Jamie Sturt and Steven Gillies share raw vocals and hazy ethereal passages. The latter gives ‘Happy As Lazarus’ a dynamic structure that stirringly ebbs and flows. Furthermore, the track highlights the band’s ever-evolving sound.
“We’ve introduced bass synths in place of bass guitar, pushed the electronic elements forward and dialled up the prominence of baritone guitar – all of which fuse together to create a darker, denser feel than a lot of our previous record,” Atlas : Empire tell us. “Thematically, ‘Happy As Lazarus’ examines humanity’s growing reliance on technology & simultaneous disconnection from what’s “real” – blissfully ignorant, spiraling towards oblivion.”
Newish Music Playlist Update
Another busy week sees 65 tracks being added to the Newish Music playlist. It includes new tracks from Lorna Shore, Volbeat, Within Temptation, Born of Osiris, De’wayne, Five Finger Death Punch, Skegss, H_ngm_n, The Young Hearts, Liquid Mike, and Archers.
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.
| Adept – Heaven Archers – Wide Awake As December Falls – Bathroom Floor Atlas : Empire – Happy As Lazarus AURI – Shieldmaiden Beauty School Dropout – On Your Lips Bleed Again – Obsession Born of Osiris – Through Shadows The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers Buckcherry – Set It Free Captain Kaiser – Roadkill Chevelle – Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt.1) Coach Party – Girls! De’wayne – June Deadlands – Limbs Dog Race – Return The Day (Colours) Dr Dr – Vultures Dream State – Bittersweet Scars of My Past The Dirty Nil – Spider Dream Empired – Blood On The Ceiling Fallujah – Step Through The Portal And Breathe FieldHockey – Common Trope Five Finger Death Punch – I Refuse Florence Road – Figure It Out | Gösta Berlings Saga – Ceremonial H_ngm_n – No Place Like Home Hunny – Sidewaze Intercourse – Running A Cemetery Without A License Jools – Limerence Kill The Robot – Western Shores The K’s – The Bends (Here We Go Again) La Dispute – I Shaved My Head / Man with Hands and Ankles Bound / Autofiction Detail Leonov – Auld Ashok Letters Sent Home – September 29 Limbonauts – Man In The Moon Liquid Mike – Groucho Marks / Selling Swords Lorna Shore – Oblivion Lot Lizards – Surprise Party lowheaven – Chemical Pattern Metallica – 2 x 4 (Live at Astoria 2, London, England / 23rd August 1995) Mugshot – Next To Your Idols My Chemical Romance – Helena (Live for BBC Radio 1’s “The Lock Up”, 2005) The None – At Hope Nova Twins – Piranha Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies – Art Is Shit | Pile – Born At Night Pinstock – Wasted Time (I Can Tell You’re Lying) President – In The Name Of The Father The Rasmus – Break These Chains Raphael Weinroth-Browne – Speed of Light Revnoir – Night Terror Safeguard – Sweet Pea Seedbed – Raft Shadow of Intent – Infinity of Horrors Skegss – State of Hawaii Sleep Theory – Gravity Slow Crush – Thirst Somerset Thrower – Motor City Sugar Spine ft. Half Me – To Fade Quietly Swollen Teeth – Unite This Dying Hour – Paranoia Twist It – Undertow Vianova – Whatever Alright Volbeat – Time Will Heal Within Temptation and Jerry Heil – Sing Like A Siren The Young Hearts – The Good, The Bad, & The Rest Of Us Zand – Toes |
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.
