The Daily Drop: June 24th 2026

Welcome to The Daily Drop, your roundup of the latest news from the rock, metal, punk, emo, hardcore, and alternative scenes.

Today’s Drop sees Loathe and Russian Circles share new music ahead of their respective upcoming albums. The Xcerts and 156/Silence also preview their forthcoming records, while Arcane Roots drop a Bandcamp-exclusive EP and Fiddlehead announce a new EP. There are also 18 new additions to the ‘Newish Music’ playlist.

Here’s everything you need to know for June 24th.

Hear Loathe’s New Single (‘Fangs’)

As they prepare to release ‘A Stranger To You’ on July 17th, Loathe have shared another preview of the album with ‘Fangs’.

Drawing on ambient atmospheres, reverb-drenched acoustic guitars, and shades of R&B, ‘Fangs’ points to the Liverpool group’s more eclectic side. The industrial blasts remain, but they sit alongside something considerably more ambitious.

Russian Circles Announces New Record (‘Nine’)

Post-metal specialists Russian Circles have confirmed their new album, ‘Nine’, will be released August 28th through Sargent House. A press release promises the record will lean into the trio’s “strengths while pushing at the boundaries of their sound.”

Although they originally formed in Chicago, the band are now spread across the country. Guitarist Mike Sullivan lives in Los Angeles, drummer Dave Turncrantz remains in Chicago, and bassist/keyboardist Brian Cook lives on Vashon Island, outside of Seattle. Distance, they say, has not dented their creative unity.

“The music we make is a collective process of reconciliation, navigation, and reflection upon ageing both as individuals and as a creative entity. Life has created very real distances between us, but the band continues to be at the centre, and this creative collaboration is a way of charting the passage of time while also giving us a reason to look to the future,” the band explains.

As a preview, they’ve shared ‘Empath’. It makes for a striking teaser: black metal riffs, d-beat forays, and a hardcore-inspired breakdown.

The Xcerts Share Final Preview of New Album

With just over two weeks until the release of ‘i think i want to go home now’, The Xcerts have given fans one last taster of the record. ‘bury you’ captures the Brighton-based trio’s punchy sound, pairing it with a song about tough love.

“Towards the end of the writing process I was taking stock and I wanted something that had, what’s the right way to put it, not a sense of hope, but something that’s almost meant to feel like a sobering conversation,” explains frontman Murray Macleod. “I had a lot of those with close friends of mine who were also having tough times during that period so I wanted to have a song that represents tough love. It also acts as a reflective conversation and a statement of intent for myself. ‘This ain’t your first rodeo’ is a funny line but I’ve found myself saying it a lot and it’s true.”

The Xcerts will also be embarking on a run of in-store shows, starting on ‘i think i want to go home now’‘s release date, July 10th, via FLG.

July
10th Fighting Cocks, Kingston (in-store show)
11th 2000 Trees Festival (full album playthrough set)
12th Rough Trade, Nottingham (in-store show)
13th Crash Records, Leeds (in-store show)
14th Jacaranda, Liverpool (in-store show)
15th Assai, Glasgow (in-store show, 1pm)
15th Assai, Edinburgh (in-store show, 5:30pm)
16th Assai, Aberdeen (in-store show)

156/Silence Previews New Album with ‘Proxy Idols’

Having recently shared plans to release ‘From A Distance’ via Pure Noise on September 4th, 156/Silence have shared another track from the record.

‘Proxy Idols’ sees the Pittsburgh metalcore group take aim at celebrity culture and the way fandom can consume people’s lives. “Celebrity worship is more prevalent than ever. They come and go as they do, being forced into our faces until the next batch comes through,” 156/Silence say. “People’s obsessive compulsion to follow other people’s lives that they’ll never once meet. It’s almost as sad as it is maddening.”

Following the release of ‘From A Distance’, 156/Silence will be touring the UK supporting The Devil Wears Prada.

October
20th Electric Bristol, Bristol
21st Project House, Leeds
23rd Brixton Electric, London
24th New Century Hall, Manchester
25th Institute 1, Birmingham
* w/ The Devil Wears Prada

Arcane Roots Release Bandcamp-Only ‘A Wave, Across The Sea’ EP

Earlier this year, Arcane Roots made their return with a single called ‘A Wave, Across The Sea’. Today, they have released a Bandcamp-exclusive EP containing three completely different, alternative endings of the original single. The endings, ‘[Hands Of God]’, ‘[Heal Them]’, and ‘[There He Is]’, see the track reworked, rewritten, reproduced, and remixed.

“We always knew our first release would be a very particular labour of love, especially after being away for so very long, but with so many new pathways opening up to us it felt as though we were compelled to create a beacon of things to come from this new version of Arcane Roots. If only just to capture these new possibilities,” shares vocalist and guitarist Andrew Groves. “‘A Wave, Across The Sea’ EP, the most deluxe version, was completely remixed and reproduced to scratch every little aspiration and itch we’d had along the way. The story itself demanded its own grandeur and a visceral & narrative-led approach to the production. Each section and character with its own space, tempo and sonic palette.”

“The abrupt ending of the single version of ‘A Wave, Across The Sea’ was left on a question and somewhat narrative juncture of sorts: ‘What will you do with all your pain?’ The alternative endings each explore that question in turn and the potential outcome of those decisions. It was so fun to be able to work on a track in that way and explore it fully, both musically and thematically. A massive thank you to Karl Pestka (Viola & Violin) and Gudni Franzson (Clarinet & Bass Clarinet) for their beautiful playing on each ending. What an honour it was to have you grace our music and take it to such dizzying heights,” Groves adds.

Fiddlehead Set to Release New EP This Friday

Ahead of their appearance at this weekend’s Outbreak Fest in Manchester, Fiddlehead have announced they will be releasing a new EP this Friday (June 26th).

‘Baby I’ll Change’ will consist of three tracks and will be available digitally on Friday. A vinyl version is available to pre-order via Run For Cover.

The EP follows a trilogy of albums that began with vocalist Patrick Flynn grieving the death of his father, and concluded with him settling into his role as a father of two. In the autumn of 2024, Flynn’s mother passed away. With support from guitarist Alex Henery and bassist Nick Hinsch, they began writing new material.

As the title track shows, ‘Baby I’ll Change’ finds Fiddlehead exploring new sonic territory while keeping their emotional hardcore spine intact.

“We’ve gone into every record with the idea that it might be the last thing we ever do. Everything’s been treated that way because of the nature of our lives and our relationship with making music and creating art; it’s not career-driven,” Flynn says.

“Those guys are my brothers and I wanted to stop playing with them? Now I want to keep this thing going until the wheels fall off,” he reflects.

Today’s New Songs

Here’s a rundown of the latest additions to our ‘Newish Music’ playlist.

Loathe – Fangs
Chelsea Wolfe – The Dark
Chelsea Wolfe – Death Is Not The End
Russian Circles – Empath
156/Silence – Proxy Idols
Noahfinnce – Mr Overwhelm
The Xcerts – bury you
Gen and the Degenerates – Sex Symbol
Cor de Lux – The Cringe
Kingdom Collapse – Unwritten
Holy Pinto – one tattoo
Petey USA – Like A Mantra
SAKI – PLUVIA
KULK – For Blood
Ignea – Dreams of Lands Unseen
Luther – Giving The People What They Want
Michael Cloud Duguay – Change Is

Keep up to date with all the latest rock, metal, punk, and beyond, by following AlreadyHeard‘s ‘Newish Music’ Playlist.

Find the playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.