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.
Propagandhi – Cat Guy
Canadian punks Propagandhi are close to celebrating their 40th anniversary, yet they show there’s plenty of life left in them with ‘Cat Guy’. Taken from their upcoming ‘At Peace’ record, it sees the quartet provide plenty of sardonic wit and a razor-sharp critique against a sturdy punk rock backdrop. And if that’s not enough, its video is full of cute cats.
Described as a “tribute to societal identity with a twist,” ‘Cat Guy’ exemplifies Propagandhi’s lyrically powerful and poetic approach found through ‘At Peace’. Commenting on their latest single, frontman Chris Hannah jokes, “From my songwriting perspective, the two things I was thinking of was capturing a little bit of Judas Priest’s Firepower LP as if SNFU’s Chi-Pig was writing the lyrics.”
In a time of uncertainty, Propagandhi‘s politically-charged brand of punk continues to be thought-provoking and vital. With the band’s home country being threatened of becoming the U.S.’s 51st State, their social activism and outspoken voice are combined with present-day anxieties. However, as its title suggests, ‘At Peace’s core aim is to provide hope for the hopeless.
‘At Peace’ by Propagandhi is released on May 2nd on Epitaph Records.
Blood Command – All I Ever Hate About Is You
Norwegian “Deathpop” greats Blood Command return as venomous as ever with ‘All I Ever Hate About Is You’. With its big guitars, rumbling rhythm section, and Nikki Brumen’s distinct, piercing vocals, it sees the quartet make a fiery comeback.
‘All I Ever Hate About Is You’ is a bitter anthem of heartbreak and defiance as Brumen is fed up with a former love’s bullsh*t. Dressed to kill toe to toe in Adidas garbs, ‘All I Ever Hate About Is You’ is Blood Command at their most infectious.
With a smattering of European dates lined up, Blood Command continue to surprise and ‘All I Ever Hate…’ is surely the latest step towards a follow-up to 2023’s ‘World Domination‘.
Royal Sorrow – Give In
Helsinki-based outfit Royal Sorrow provide a raw reflection of anxiety and emotional surrender on new single ‘Give In’. With its low-tuned riffs, visceral screams, and towering chorus, it sees the quartet showcase their dynamic range.
Although Royal Sorrow formed in 2022, its members have been playing together in other projects since they were young. Collectively, it has allowed them to develop a sound that richly leans into metal as much as it does pop. Along the way, it has seen them explore a full spectrum of emotions, with ‘Give In’ considerably their darkest offering to date.
“‘Give In’ portrays anxiety, embodied as dark beings that invade one’s space when at their most vulnerable,” Royal Sorrow explain. “The song puts into words the feeling of helplessness, when, in our darkest moments, the only option seems to be to surrender.”
With influences including VOLA, Sleep Token, Spiritbox, and upcoming touring buddies, Leprous, Royal Sorrow continue to progress towards their inevitable debut album in the not-too-distant future. Here in the UK, we’ll get a taster of what they’re about when they hit up the ArcTanGent Festival in August.
REEBZ – Cardinal Sin
The influence of early 2000s nu-metal continues to surge with REEBZ being the latest to lean into it. Her latest single, ‘Cardinal Sin’, crushes with a nu-metal stomp and cathartic melodies. Capturing the feeling of constantly beaten and broken down by your own mind, the enigmatic electronic-metal artist produces a temperamental rager with a soothing hook countering brooding rap verses.
Having left her mark on various dance and electronic collaborations, REEBZ‘s solo work sees her honing in on a raw, unfiltered sound that takes inspiration from industrial, electronic, drum & bass, dubstep and trap, as well as metal. Clearly, a versatile artist with an equally flexible vocal range, REEBZ is an artist on the rise and can’t be ignored.
Runnner – Chamomile
Los Angeles-based songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Noah Weinman AKA Runnner continues to be as productive as ever. 2024 saw him release an ambient record, ‘Starsdust’, an improvisational performance album, ‘Dust 2’, and a series of singles. It’s momentum he is carrying forward with his new single, ‘Chamomile’.
It captures Weinman at his most upbeat and earnest with a sweeping chorus. However, it maintains his humble indie-folk sound and balances it with welcomed immediacy. Its punchy drums, vibrant guitars and swirling melodies allow Runnner to leave a stirring and strong impression.
“I wrote this song back in 2017. It’s kind of about depending on small, insignificant things to make big, important changes in my life, and how silly that is,” explains Weinman. “There’s a lyric in the second verse about re-recording a thousand times that became a kind of prophecy in that I’ve made dozens of versions of the song before this one. I’m very relieved to finally be putting it out.”
Brightr – Charles Petrescu
Emo pop troubadour Brightr will be making his long-awaited return this summer with his second album, ‘Year Two’. ‘Charles Petrescu’ is its first single and sees Laurie Cottingham demonstrate his stripped-back, lyrically “gloomy” and buoyant sound to the furthest degree. If you’re familiar with Brightr, then you’ll know Cottingham has a knack for hooking you with raw warmth and melodic charm.
As you can probably guess, ‘Year Two’ is the follow-up to ‘Year One’, which was released nine years ago. Since then, Cottingham has released several split EPs. Along with a pandemic and fatherhood being a focus, ‘Year Two’s delay goes emotionally deeper.
“I’ve been writing Year Two pretty much since I completed Year One, but it’s been a lengthy work in progress. I think it ultimately took a while to finish some of these songs and bring others to the surface because I’d buried the feelings and memories so far down, or maybe even morphed the true narrative of them to feel better than they were, to somehow protect myself,” explains Laurie. “Whatever the reason, ‘Year Two’ is finally here. It’s painful, it’s poppy, deeply honest and brutally vulnerable. It’s joyfully crushing but it’s me.”
The album sees Brightr once again team up with producer/engineer Matt O’Grady (You Me At Six, Don Broco) and promises to be as cathartic as ever.
‘Year Two’ by Brigthr will be released this summer on Sugar-Free Records.
Bratakus – Final Girls
Formed a decade ago, Bratakus are a sibling duo consisting of Brèagha Cuinn (guitar and vocals) and Onnagh Cuinn (bass and vocals). Together, they’ve been firmly going the DIY route in the Scottish highlands. However, their garage punk rock brand has caught Venn Records‘s attention (Meryl Streek, Aerial Salad). ‘Final Girls’ marks their first release with the label.
Rooted in urgency and confrontation, Bratakus are unhinged with its fuzzy and infectious delivery. Drawing on the influence of The Distillers, The Donnas and X-Ray Spex, ‘Final Girls’ thrives with confidence, allowing the Cuinn to stand up for themselves.
“The song talks about how the rules and standards that these characters have to abide by reflect the unspoken rules that society puts in place for women. Women are taught that we have to behave in a certain way, present ourselves in a certain way and deny ourselves certain things in order to stay safe or be treated with respect. This song is calling that out,” shares Bratakus vocalist/guitarist Brèagha Cuinn. “We should not live in fear for simply existing in the way that we choose. The narrative needs to change around these situations. People need to stop putting the onus on women and girls and holding us to very outdated standards.”
With a rising live reputation, following support slots for Propagandhi, The Hives, Bis, and Discharge, Bratakus is a name you’re likely to hear more of in the coming months as they prepare to release a new album.
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.
| Accvsed – Killer Of Mind Alchemize – Unbound Athletics – Gaps Backhouse – Reflections Balance and Composure – Alive & Well Ben Basile – Cacao Knibb Blood Command – All I Ever Hate About Is You Blood Vulture – A Dream About Starving To Death Bratakus – Final Girls Brightr – Charles Petrescu Buckcherry – Come On Burner – The Night Does Not End Bury the Masses – Hitta Lick Cash Bribe – Death Tax Cassyette – Phantom Limb CLKWRK – Burn Bright Desolated – Glass Ceiling The Devil Wears Prada – For You The Dirty Nil – Gallop Of The Hounds | fallfiftyfeet – The Kingsport Curse Fallujah – Labyrinth of Stone Gigi Gold – Sweet Honey Graveyard and Goat – Ship Of Fools Heartwells – Backstabbers Hudson Freeman – Dean Jools – Live Deliciously Kent Osbourne – F*ckdaclubup Kicked In The Teeth – Werewolves Lakes – Version Leftover Crack – White Guilt Atrocity Quilt Mayday Parade – Who’s Laughing Now Mhaol – Miss My Dog Militarie Gun & Dazy – Tall People Don’t Live Long Nerves – Dirty Fingers newshapes – wax Nvage – Blind Eye Odd Palace, Afterlove – All In My Head | Press Club – I Am Everything Problem Patterns – Sad Old Woman (ft. Matt Korvette) Propagandhi – Cat Guy Reebz – Cardinal Sin Royal Sorrow – Give In Royale Lynn – Greed Runnner – Chamomile Sarina – Toast to the Broken secondSELF – Grape Soda and Gasoline Sledges – Fading Somerset Thrower – Never Going To Therapy Stay Inside – Monsieur Hawkweed Tamiw – We Are Not Friends (ft. SOMAOTA) TÖRZS – Levegővétel Vader – Unbending (Mystic Festival Anthem 2025) vide – Tomorrow Will Be Worse We Came As Romans – Bad Luck Year of No Light – Les Maîtres Fous, Pt.1 |
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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