Downcast Archives - Already Heard Staging

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. 156/Silence - Our Parting Ways Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania quintet 156/Silence are the latest name to join the Pure Noise Records roster. To mark the news, the metalcore outfit dropped a new track called 'Our Parting Ways'. The haunting number blends emotional clean vocals with a metallic pound. Lyrically, it sees vocalist Jack Murray express feelings of anger, sorrow, and reflection, showing that suffering and expression can coexist. Commenting on the track, 156/Silence shared, "Our parting ways will always come together. The spaces left between what was and what is hold a place of their own to be remembered with grace. As the pages decrease in our story, we bleed to gain access to the memories of the path we once shared." 156/Silence will be heading to the UK in March 2026 for shows with Fit For A King, Memphis May Fire, and Acres. https://youtu.be/zniQ_hHAsPM Bearings - Freaking Me Out Canadian outfit Bearings continue to preview their new album, 'Comfort Company,' with an assured blast of pop-punk in 'Freaking Me Out'. The energetic number captures the Ottawa group delivering an infectious number with a bouncy hook. However, it's countered by words based on intrusive thoughts, as 'Comfort Company' sees the quartet turn their energy inward. “'Freaking Me Out' was a song that started simple enough on an acoustic, and the more we built it up, the more fun we had with it," shares Bearings vocalist Doug Cousins. He goes on to neatly sum up the tone of the track by saying, "It finds itself somewhere between a pool party and a manic episode where you question the meaning of life.” https://youtu.be/MEEDO_IITFg 'Comfort Company' by Bearings is released on November 7th on Pure Noise Records. Heart to Gold - Double Vision Less than a year from delivering their 'Free Help' full-length, Minnesota trio Heart To Gold have returned with 'Double Vision'. Will Yip (Title Fight, Turnstile) at Studio 4, the track is a snappy anthem of self-reflection. It maintains the bold, guitar-driven sound of 'Free Help' and pairs it with one of the band's most emotionally charged numbers to date. Without a doubt, it captures vocalist/guitarist Grant Whiteoak's sincerity with a bold, widescreen-sized melodic punk punch. "In a world full of terribly dark dates, I just had the itch to make something that sounded more upbeat," says Heart To God vocalist/guitarist Grant Whiteoak. "I can be very paranoid and afraid about my role in the band, people's perception of my life and the leadership I'm forced to maintain. I can even kinda feel lost, always being so in my head, especially when I see myself in the mirror. Those ideas inspired the lyrical direction." https://youtu.be/KwUlKVUZNZQ Knumears - Breaking Ground Up-and-coming screamo trio Knumears have joined Run For Cover Records and its Summer Shade imprint. The news coincides with the release of a 7" single called 'Breaking Ground'. The track serves as an ideal introduction to the Los Angeles-based three-piece. With its scrappy guitars, dynamic shifts, and ferocious energy elevating the old school screamo sound, it's a raw and compelling. It's expected there'll be more music from Knumears in 2026. https://youtu.be/7niFmjMX1g4 Lake Malice - Nobody Wants To Be You Futuristic metal-pop specialists Lake Malice return with their second single of the year, 'Nobody Wants To Be You'. Combining vocalist Alice Guala’s sassy Italian flair with a crushing metal blast and industrial rhythms, it sees the Brighton-based duo at their most venomous. Its lyrics aim at those who are superficial, nepotistic and self-obsessed, elevated by Guala's versatile vocals, as well as guitar and producer Blake Cornwall's metalcore crunch. https://youtu.be/HCuMSAbkuQ0 Grove Street - Self-Sabotage Southampton hardcore mob Grove Street have unleashed the first track from their upcoming LP. 'Self-Sabotage' charges in with a thrash-laden bite and a favourable groove that exemplifies the quintet's position as one of the UK's best underground hardcore bands. It also features guest vocals from Power Trip vocalist Seth Gilmore. "The track is about making mistakes that you consequently blame/hate yourself for, but then realising that the only way to move forward is to forgive yourself and accept the past,” the band shares. “It's written as an internal monologue in the verses, as if you’re talking to yourself in the mirror, the chorus is first-person perspective, and then Seth’s part is from the perspective of a friend/therapist telling you how it is. "The collab with Seth came about through Sandy driving one of his bands on tour, Skourge, and just being good mates with him from there really. His vocals are sick, and we purposely wrote that part in mind for him to lay something gnarly down on, so we were stoked when we made it happen! His vocal part was recorded super DIY style, in a van at Download earlier this summer when he was there performing with Power Trip, proper rock n roll!" Grove Street are expected to release the follow-up to 2023's 'The Path To Righteousness' next summer. Before then, they'll be supporting Gideon on their UK tour in January. https://youtu.be/US3rYgeQKng Sugar - House of Dead Memories After 30 years, 90s alt-rockers Sugar are back. Led by Bob Mould, the trio, completed by bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis, got together this past June to record a new track called 'House of Dead Memories'. It serves as an instant reminder of the trio's guitar-driven hunger with Mould's distinctive vocals in a raw two-minute blast. However, this isn't a one-off as Sugar will be playing two shows at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on Saturday, May 23nd and Sunday, May 24th, 2026. While next month's Record Store Day Black Friday (November 28th) will see a a4xLP boxset called 'Copper Blue – The Singles Collection' released. Mould formed Sugar in late 1991. Within the space of 12 months, their debut album, 'Copper Blue,' had received plenty of critical acclaim, including NME's Album of the Year. They followed it up with a mini album, 'Beaster', in 1993, before a second full-length, 'File Under: Easy Listening,' arrived the following year. They would call it a day after a Japanese tour in early 1995. “The return of SUGAR is a moment that I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time,” says Malcolm Travis. “What we managed to accomplish in the short span of time we were in existence still boggles my mind. There was so much packed into that period....the travel, the shows, the recordings and getting to meet so many people who loved and supported us. To get back to working together again with Bob and David is such a gift and I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for us.” https://youtu.be/-S72djtUIFk downcast - Nothing Left To Give (feat. Jessie Powell) Bristol natives downcast are gearing up to release a new EP, 'Nothing Left To Give,' next month. As a preview, they've shared a track called 'Nothing Left To Give'. While the emo/alt-rock quartet have shown their fun side with covers of the Backstreet Boys' 'Just Want You To Know,' 'Nothing Left To Give' shows their grittier side, one that hints at an angrier approach. Furthermore, it allows downcast to demonstrate their introspective songwriting capabilities. While Jessie Powell of Dream State adds to the intensity. "This song is about how the constant struggles of life have, at times, left me feeling unrecognisable to myself. I find that the modern expectations of us as humans can often feel comparable to selling your soul," explains downcast frontman Liam Edwards. "Life moves so fast that you rarely get a chance to pause and reflect, but during the times that I’ve been able to do so, I’ve often found myself asking, “What am I even doing it for?” The lyrics explore the mental spaces that my brain has taken me when I’ve been feeling low. Often during these moments, even places that once felt like home and brought me comfort have left me feeling like I don’t belong." https://youtu.be/HSgEW6ZN8FE 'Nothing Left To Give' by downcast is released on November 27th. Dear Youth - Where You Haunt Me Taking from the newly released EP of the same name, Canadian pop-rockers Dear Youth showcase their textured and darker side with 'Where You Haunt Me'. Led by Devon Cleary's punching drums and Jared Zuckerman's soaring vocals, it sees Dear Youth deliver a haunting and anthemic slice of pop-rock. As for the EP, 'Where You Haunt Me' is a sleek, cinematic, and bold exploration in alt/pop-rock. Elevated by emotional storytelling, its five songs confidently place Dear Youth alongside their contemporaries with a broad, melodically rich sound. https://youtu.be/eK5A2ZeNuh4 'Where You Haunt Me' by Dear Youth is out now on Adventure Cat Records. Newish Music Playlist Update With over 70 songs being added over the past week, our 'Newish Music' playlist includes new tracks from Alexisonfire, South Arcade, Big Special, Set It Off, Cage Fight, Lakes, Spite, Story of the Year, and more. 156/Silence - Our Parting Ways Ab-Natural - Catastrophe Imaginée Ain’t - Long Short Round Alexisonfire - Misogyny Altarboy - Rave From The Grave AVTT/PTTN - Heaven's Breath Bearings - Freaking Me Out Beauty Sleep - You (You’re All I Wanted) Big Special - PLAINTIVE NATIVE Bitters and Distractions - The Threads Bruise Control - Gone To Ground Cage Fight - PIG Caligula’s Horse - Across The Universe Cody Frost - Violence Despised Icon - Apparition The Devil's Trade - Your Pieces Scattered DFL - No U Don’t Dream Theater - Barstool Warrior (Live) Duff McKagen - Holy Water / I Wanna Be Your Dog Embraced By Darkness - Darkness Awaits Eva Under Fire - Awakening Excide - Call Box False Reality - Mirror Feldspar - Pasta Day Floodlights - Tricky Gaerea - Hellbound Grove Street - Self-Sabotage Half Dizzy - Darkest Day The Hara - Violence (feat. As December Falls) Heart To Gold - Double Vision Heavy Pettin - Line In The Sand The Hirsch Effekt - Der Brauch Kid Kapichi - Shoe Size Knumears - Breaking Ground Lake Malice - Nobody Wants To Be You Lakes - Just Another Day Limbs - Doesn't Feel Like Home M. Woodroe - Fog of War The Maple State - No Time To Waste Militarie Gun - God Owes Me Money Mini Skirt - Squeeze Down Mirrorball and Cane Hill - Pleasure MØL - Garland Mother Vulture - Phoenix Nothing More - We're In This Together NOWHERE2RUN - Motives The Pretty Wild and Magnolia Park - Afterlife Rancid - Sex & Death Rising Insane - Error (feat. Steven Jones) Saint Blonde - Dirty $$$ Save Us - Bruised Seething Akira - Insomnia Self Torque - (All The Things I) Wannabe Set It Off - Pathological Silent Child - Inside Out Soccer Mommy - Gold Soundz (triple j Like A Version) South Arcade - Drive Myself Home Spite - LOOKING GLASS Story of the Year - Gasoline (All Rage Still Only Numb) Sugar - House of Dead Memories Summer Hoop - You Vs. Everyone Survivalist - Failure Of Being Sypha - Here We Go Again Tape Trash - Save Yourself Torus - Solitary Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts - Love Don't Live Here Anymore venues - Duality The Veer Union - Sunk Your Teeth In Vienna - Quiet Season What Will Be - Tides ZU - Golgotha https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6uq9yITpdLIUKdNzPvJmxr?si=L3bkslQrR8quJtSo95KKgg 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. Consider supporting Already Heard on Kofi. 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.

Downcast

Already Heard Recommends: Songs of the Week (19/10/2025)

Influences: downcast

Released This Week (11/01/2019)

Review: Downcast – Downcast EP

Album Review: Nathan Detroit – Downcast

Nathan Detroit Stream New EP (’Downcast’)

Nathan Detroit Detail ‘Downcast’ EP