Content Breakdown
Trash Boat – Get By Then Die
Matt Pryor – Union Transfer
Mothica – Evergreen Misery
Knife Bride – alone at the altar
Atlas : Empire – Rêverie
Cabin Boy Jumped Ship – Chemicals
Self Torque – Wicker Incident
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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.
Trash Boat – Get By Then Die
Trash Boat kick off a new era with ‘Get By Then Die’. It sees the alt-rockers return reinvigorated, delivering a rush of reflection that utilises their pop-punk origins, and blends it with introspetive lyricism. Overall, ‘Get By Then Die’ serves as a taster of the band’s forthcoming EP, ‘Even If I Never Get There’.
Due for release on January 30th, the short collection of songs promises to highlight Trash Boat‘s sense of purpose. It also sees the quintet channel the energy, emotion, and experimentation that have threaded their discography to date. “Trash Boat have always been a risk-taking band. Always experimenting and never wanting to release the same song twice,” reflects vocalist Tobi Duncan. “In this constant evolving flux, this EP was a chance to stop and reflect on everything we have done. Looking back with respect and love for everything we’ve been through and seeing how that will mold our future. There’s something for every fan of every stage of this band, whether you’ve been with us since 2014 or 2024, you can check in on our story so far and hopefully be pumped for what comes next.”
The release of ‘Even If I Never Get There’ will be followed by a UK headline run in February. It’ll see Trash Boat heading to Southampton (Feb 3rd), Exeter (4th), Bristol (5th), Sheffield (6th), Glasgow (7th), Newcastle (9th), Norwich (10th), and Nottingham (11th).
‘Even If I Never Get There’ by Trash Boat is released on January 30th, 2026.
Matt Pryor – Union Transfer
Coinciding with the release of his seventh studio album, ‘The Salton Sea’, Matt Pryor shares what he calls “the most vulnerable song” he’s written, ‘Union Transfer’. The track plays a significant part in ‘The Salton Sea’s narrative. As the album documents Pryor‘s realisation of addiction and his recovery, ‘Union Transfer’ comes as he reaches an existential crisis, not feeling his former self.
On it, he sings of being an imposter while touring with The Get Up Kids as they were celebrating ‘Four Minute Mile’s 25th anniversary in 2022. Its pensive alt-rock tempo allows Pryor‘s introspective words to take centre stage, with occasional bursts drifting briefly in. While his voice has a distinct warmth and familiarity, adding to ‘Union Transfer’s sincerity. The accompanying live acoustic video sees the story have a resolute conclusion, debuting the song in the same city where the Union Transfer venue is, Philadelphia.
As a whole, ‘The Salton Sea’ proves to be a candid tale of self-discovery. It’s complemented by an expansive sound that anchors toward roomy alt-rock guitars with shimmering production.
‘The Salton Sea’ by Matt Pryor is out now on Big Scary Monsters/Nightshoes Syndicate.
Mothica – Evergreen Misery
Having grown up going to metalcore shows, and citing a love for Nine Inch Nails, Bring Me the Horizon, Evanescence, and Sleep Token, it’s no surprise Mothica has entered what fans are calling her “Rockica” era. Her latest single, ‘Evergreen Misery,’ captures the US artist utilising cinematic synths, gritty guitars, and emotional hooks to deliver a bold slice of alt-metal.
Not only does the track mark her debut on her new label, Sharptone Records, but it also sees Mothica reflect on a turbulent time, which includes a spell in rehab, ultimately building an element of redemption and finding purpose.
“Writing ‘Evergreen Misery’ was a journey full of every twist and turn you could imagine,” Mothica shares, pulling back the curtain. “I was a few months out of rehab and I needed to release this simmering anger and deep melancholy that I was numbing for so long. Getting swept up into the underbelly of the music industry took a huge toll on my mental health. When I checked into a 30-day treatment program, I was ready to leave music entirely. Behind the scenes, a lot of animosity, envy and sorts of ugly emotions stirred up. I took a step back to focus on my recovery, and finally felt ready to reconnect with the pure feeling of writing music again.”
Lyrically, the track reflects on what Mothica calls “some energy vampires,” taking aim at those who tried to ride on her coattails. “[It’s about] people I let into my life who tried to borrow elements of my story as their own, knowing they didn’t experience the pain my art stems from. There’s a dark humour in that for me, this idea of ‘take what you want from me, my misery is bottomless’ – which is a bit dramatic, but that’s how it felt,” she explains.
Knife Bride – alone at the altar
Brighton’s Knife Bride continue to build their world of “nu-gothika” with new single, ‘alone at the alter’. With cathartic pop elements weaving in between soaring melodic metal, it proves to be another compelling track from the rising band.
Commenting on the band’s namesake character, vocalist Mollie Clack considers the Knife Bride to be “narcissistic, nihilistic, sensational, and shamelessly braggadocious”. However, on ‘alone at the altar’, she’s flawed with Clack wanting to “bring her to life in all her chaotic glory” on the track. “The title ‘alone at the altar’ embodies a woman possessed: possessed by desire, by destruction, by the need to hurt others and herself,” explains Knife Bride‘s singer. “It’s a visceral exploration of self, told through the eyes of a merciless yet hopelessly romantic bride.”
The release of ‘alone at the altar’ comes as Knife Bride look to end the year strongly. Having recently recorded a session at the famous Maida Vale studios for BBC Radio 1 Introducing Rock, including a cover of Gwen Stefani’s ‘What You Waiting For’, they will be joining Svalbard on their UK tour this week.
Atlas : Empire – Rêverie
Glaswegian outfit Atlas : Empire have always been a band about evolving. 2023 album, ‘Everything Is Temporary’ saw the trio blend post-rock and shoegaze textures into their assured brand of alt-rock. Now they’ve shared their second single of the year. Following on from ‘Happy As Lazarus,’ ‘Rêverie’ highlights Atlas : Empire‘s impactful and cinematic nous. Its gentle, harmonious verses burst into a soaring, hypnotic chorus, led by the James Lorenzo.
Alongside founding members Steven Gillies and Jamie Sturt, ‘Rêverie’ sees Atlas : Empire push their sound towards prog territory, yet retains the textured alt-rock. It results in an emotionally deep and powerful offering from the Scottish trio.
“Rêverie is a song about learning how to accept love again,” said the band. “We’re all shaped by our experiences, both positively & negatively, and Rêverie explores the barriers we create following traumatic relationships, the process of overcoming those fears and ultimately allowing yourself to fall for someone again.”
A 7″ single pairing both ‘Happy As Lazarus’ and ‘Rêverie’ will be independently released by the band this month.
Cabin Boy Jumped Ship – Chemicals
After three years away, Cabin Boy Jumped Ship has returned with an explosive blast of electronicore. With their cutthroat take on intense metalcore and pulsating EDM underbelly, ‘Chemicals’ sounds absolutely massive. Musically, it puts them on par with modern metal acts, with Abel Aguado Sánchez’s biting riffs and Conor Peek’s screams being countered by drummer Reece Miller’s towering melodies. Meanwhile, Miller and bassist Jayke Davenport add to ‘Chemicals” heftiness with a bouncing rhymic section.
Besides the tracks’ bold and sharp sound, it sees the Leicestershire group be lyrically introspective. “’Chemicals’ is our first release since ‘Sentiments’ (2022), exploring the natural chemistry in our brains that drives our emotions and connections”, commented Cabin Boy Jumped Ship. “It’s about the rush, the comedown, and how overwhelming it can be when your own mind is the thing pulling the strings. Energetic and introspective, it reflects the intensity of feeling everything all at once.”
Further new music is expected in the near future.
Self Torque – Wicker Incident
Brighton indie-punks Self Torque are preparing to release their debut album, ‘A Brutal Nadir’, in the New Year. As a preview, they’ve shared its opening track, ‘Wicker Incident’. Thriving with a raw DIY punk tone, it sees the trio deliver a high-octane number that pulls from old school pop-punk bands such as the Buzzcocks.
“In some way, it (‘Wicker Incident’) picks up where the last EP ‘No Rest For The Depressed’ left off. Short, fast, angry and poppy. Ramonesesque in its relentless chuggery, with a suggestion of Californian surf.” Self Torque vocalist/guitarist Gabriel MacKenzie shares. “Lyrically, it sets the tone for the record. One of self-reflection. Looking back and inwards. It’s about how the understanding of childhood experiences can change with age. How other people remember a situation and how that can inform your own narrative.”
Completed by Luke Ellis on drums and Jay Cross on bass, Self Torque was born out of the ashes of several bands from a battle-hardened punk scene. Since coming together just three years ago, the trio have honed in on a brand of indie punk that utilises garage rock urgency as its pulse. It’s interlaced by sombre themes of exhausted despair and the fierce drive to survive,
‘A Brutal Nadir’ by Self Torque is released on January 30th on Sugar-Free Records.
Newish Music Playlist Update
Over 60 songs have been added to our ‘#Newish Music’ over the past week. Amongst them is new music from Better Lovers, Heriot, POPPY, Broadside, Waterparks, Sick Joy, Melrose Avenue, Black Stone Cherry, Profiler, Ecca Vandal, and more. There are also tracks from up-and-comers such as Autumn Fires, Villanelle, and HRTLSS, along with live tracks from Dream Theater, The Dirty Nil, and Black Foxxes.
| 1914 – 1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape) (feat. Aaron Stainthorpe) A Thousand Horses – Part of My Story Atlas : Empire – Rêverie Autumn Fires – Fall For You Avralize – fading faster Awake The Dreamer – See Through Ben Quad – All Your Luck Better Lovers – Don’t Forget To Say Please / The Impossible End Black Foxxes – Badlands (Live at Vada) Black Stone Cherry – Celebrate Bobby Mahoney – Smoke and Drive Bodysnatcher – Blade Between The Teeth Broadside – Blissed Out Cabin Boy Jumped Ship – Chemicals Caliban – You Only Live Once The Dark.FM – [zippermouth] feat. Smash Stereo EF – Ett (20th Anniversary) The Dirty Nil – Fail in Time (Live at the Dine Alone Store) Dream Theater – Night Terror (Live) Ecca Vandal – MOLLY |
Einar Solberg – Stella Mortua Fourth Heaven – Priestess Glitterer – Not Forever Grade 2 – Cut Throat Great American Ghost – Scars Hacktivist – Masquerade Hawxx – Resistance Is Justified Heriot – Commander of Pain Hokka – In The Darkness Home Front – Between The Waves Hot Face – Pink Liquor HRTLSS – Breathe Me In HUM – This Means War Jamurai Sack – Field Sobriety Stressed Katatonia – A World Without Heroes KNIFE BRIDE – alone at the altar Lakes – Peach Fuzz (Acoustic) Lakeview – Sorry Lights & Motion – Brother LostAlone – Compilation of Complications Luxury Apartments – Life Behind Bars Mascara – Nova Ador Matt Pryor – Union Transfer |
Melrose Avenue – This Is The End Mothica – Evergreen Misery The Narrator – Aurora Of Mice & Men – Flowers The Orphaned Bee and Solkyri – 18oh4 Pabst and Snake Eyes – Big Big Heart Palaye Royale – Feel Something, Great PONY – Middle Of Summer POPPY – Bruised Sky Profiler – Illusion Raven – Metal Militia Really Good Time – Shit One Say Anything – Death, Dancing Self Torque – Wicker Incident Sick Joy – Cinnamon Burn SPIN – Right Around Teen Mortgage – Below The Christmas Tree Thistle Sifter – One Fleeting Glance Trash Boat – Get By Then Die Twat Union – Tiny Shorts Villanelle – Measly Means Waterparks – ANY MINUTE NOW |
The ‘Newish Music’ playlist is also available on Apple Music.
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