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.
Rise Against – Prizefighter
Having returned in January with ‘Nod,’ Rise Against have shared their second single of the year with ‘Prizefighter’. It sees vocalist/guitarist Tim McIlrath wrestle with the internal battle between making art and present-day demands. With lines such as “I am not something to be fenced in,” McIlrath explores the topic of artist ownership.
“‘Prizefighter’ is about a compulsion to create, that then creates an audience, and then your connection with that audience and your responsibilities to that audience, and how much an artist is obliged to that audience,” says Rise Against‘s Tim McIlrath. “It’s trying to reconcile the shift from spectator to the public arena, and what you owe the people that are your fans versus what you owe your own mental health.”
An explosive and reliable brand of punk-fuelled alt-rock backs his words. Carried by a defiant energy, it’s an admirable taste of what will be Rise Against‘s yet-to-be-announced 10th studio album.
Greywind – Acid Rain
After a couple of years in the wilderness, Irish sibling duo Greywind reemerged last year with their ‘Antidote’. Since then, they’ve picked up momentum playing shows with The Wonder Years, Madina Lake, and As December Falls, and more importantly, a record deal with FLG, the newly launched imprint of Frontiers Label Group. To kick off this new chapter, they’ve shared a single called ‘Acid Rain’.
If you’re familiar with Steph and Paul O’Sullivan’s energetic emo-rock style, then you won’t be disappointed, as ‘Acid Rain’ delivers with a soaring hook. However, despite its infectious delivery, ‘Acid Rain’ sees Greywind in a reflective mood, looking back on a past at a harmful environment. “This song is about being in a toxic situation and feeling like everything is crashing down around you, which we know all too much about,” shares Steph.
‘Acid Rain’ is wrapped by Greywind‘s tenancy for the dramatics, adding a cinematic scope to their bold emotive rock sound. Paul adds commented on this by stating; “As soon as we finished writing ‘Acid Rain’, we knew it had to be the first song to start the new era of Greywind. It’s cinematic, dramatic and has everything we love about music in it. We wanted it to feel like a movie and you’re now in our world.”
SUDS – State Of Everything
Two years removed from delivering their debut album, ‘The Great Overgrowth,’ Norwich’s indie/emo four-piece SUDS have returned with ‘State Of Everything.’ Considered to be a “reintroduction to the band,” ‘State Of Everything ‘ sees the quartet weave in rich harmonies in their assured and catchy indie/emo sound.
Guitarist Maisie Cater’s vocals have a warming vulnerability as Harry Mitchell’s bass and Jack Ames’ drums provide an upbeat rhythm alongside Dan Godfrey’s jangly guitar. It’s tied together for a clear admiration for midwest emo, that is effortlessly threaded into their musical fabric. Commenting on the track, Ames said, “State of Everything instrumentally, lyrically and tonally is the most direct response to the experiences we as a band and as friends have faced in the last 12 months.”
The release of ‘State Of Everything’ comes as SUDS prepare for tours with Macseal in the UK and Europe this month, and later, with Dikembe in June. Unsurprisingly, there’s more new music on the way.
Carsick – Pub Watch
Salisbury quartet Carsick have always shown leancy to Brisith “lad” culture, and new single, ‘Pub Watch’ no different. Blending pulsating synths with a punk rock chorus, it amplifies Carsick‘s hybrid indie-rock, post-punk sound.
Having garnered a dedicated following through their raucous live shows and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, it’s no surprise ‘Pub Watch’ has been a live favourite for quite some time. It’s a tale of a reckless adolescence and one too many beverages, boosted by a rampant, irresistible chorus.
“’Pub Watch’ is the soundtrack to the most chaotic piss-up of your life. From hammering too many pre-drinks to sneaking contraband into the bar to being kicked out for getting too rowdy, we’ve all had nights which have landed us in the town’s bouncers’ bad books,” the lads in Carsick shared.
You can see Carsick cracking out songs (and probably opening cans) at several festivals this summer, including Rebellion, Boomtown, and Bearded Theory.
Seven Blood – To The Unknown
With their debut album not being released until November, we think you’ll be hearing a lot about Seven Blood in the coming months. ‘To Be Unknown’ marks the launch of the German alt outfit’s upcoming full-length, ‘Life Is Just A Phase’. Charged with raw emotion, the track showcases the quartet’s cinematic alt-rock with atmospheric flourishes, rising melodies, and dense instrumentation.
Proving to be a powerful anthem of resistance, it highlights Seven Blood‘s introspective storytelling. “We wanted to point out the moments we experience in life when you know the time has come for a change,” explains Seven Blood vocalist Azaria Nasiri. “You don’t know if things are gonna be better or worse, I often didn’t even know what exactly to do. Insecurity kicks in. I’m sure everybody has their own experience with this kind of topic, and I just wanna support everyone to surrender to the unknown.”
Seven Blood‘s formation came at a personal, emotional and creative crossroads for Nasiri, guitarist Oli Arnold, drummer Anfy Hartmann, and later, bassist Josi Hille. Since coming together in 2023, they’ve been honing a lyrically cathartic brand of alt-rock that is rich in melody.
‘Life Is Just A Phase’ by Seven Blood is released on November 21st, 2025.
Matter Of Mind – Frozen
Hailing from Greater Manchester (Stockport, to be exact), meet Matter Of Mind. This week they returned with ‘Frozen’. Channelling their old school emo/post-hardcore influences, it’s a stomping rush of emo rock that is reminiscent of The Used, Silverstein, and My Chemical Romance, and pairs it up with a memorable pop hook.
However, Matter Of Mind are far from merely imitaters. ‘Frozen’ is rooted in a visceral and icy narrative that sees vocalist J Lambert-Philp reflect on his experience with sleep paralysis while being stressed. The track captures the haunting vulnerability and the sheer panic, painting a picture of isolation and disconnection.
H_ngm_n – Spotlight
Brighton duo H_ngm_n prepares us for summer with this nostalgic blast of pop-punk and emo. ‘Spotlight’ is the follow-up to ‘Reach Out,’ which was released in February. The track sees vocalist/guitarist Chris Childs and drummer James Martin deliver a punchy number as they grapple with getting older. Its rhythmic drive is hard to ignore and is complemented by a radiant and lyrically vulnerable chorus.
“This was the first song we had finished for the album, written during lockdown, and it perfectly captures what h_ngm_n are about – short, punchy, and driven by hard-hitting drums and a driving rhythm guitar,” explains H_ngm_n‘s James Martin. “We’ve been playing this one live for just over a year now, testing where it fits in our set. It’s one of our favourite songs to play and really gets the crowd going. We hope you love it as much as we do — it’s the perfect way to kick off our debut LP!”
Be on the lookout to hear more from H_ngm_n in the coming months as they prepare to release their debut album.
Raue – Are You Bored Yet?
California duo Raue (pronounced Roo-AY) continue to show lyrical maturity beyond their young years with their latest single – ‘Are You Bored Yet?’ The upstart pairing of vocalist/guitarist Paige Kalenian and drummer Jax Huckle have been gaining admirers since picking up some viral momentum last year with a cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep‘.
‘Are You Bored Yet?’ is the second cut released from Raue‘s upcoming ‘too scared to explain’ EP. The soul-bearing cut ruminates in 90s grunge and 2000’s alt-rock with an atmospheric pull, allowing Kalenian to explore her creative paralysis. It results in a compelling raw undertone, allowing Kalenian’s vocals to take a hypnotic tone. The EP’s other single, ‘Escape’, showcased Raue‘s tendency to write sonically bold anthems while maintaining their emotional depth.
‘too scared to explain’ by Raue is released on May 9th on (Dis)Harmony Recordings.
Follow/Subscribe to the #NewishMusic Playlist
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.
This week saw major tracks from Sleep Token, BabyMetal (ft. Poppy) Machine Head, Hot Milk, Static Dress, Stand Atlantic,and Volbeat be released.
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.
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