Ahead of the release of their new album, Burn Me Once, cult Yorkshire goth act Westenra have released ‘Time’ as a single.
Blending the feel of Siouxsie and the Banshees with arena-sized production values, it’s an instant classic.
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Archive for the ‘Recommended Streams and Videos’ Category
Listen: ‘Time’ by Westenra
Posted: 10 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Burn Me Once, goth, Post-Punk, Single, stream new album, Time, Westenra
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Watch: ‘Suck’ (Nine Inch Nails Cover) by Thou
Posted: 9 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux, Compilation, Magnetic Eye Records, Nine INch Nails, Single, Sludge Metal, Stream, Suck, The Downward Spiral Redux, Thou, Tribute Album, Video, visualiser
For the second single from the companion album Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux that will be released parallel to the forthcoming MER Redux Series instalment The Downward Spiral Redux, sludge metal outfit THOU from Baton Rouge, Louisiana pay an ultra-heavy tribute with their cover of the NIN track ‘Suck’.
THOU comment by quoting Emil Cioran: “True confessions are written with tears only”, vocalist Bryan Funck cites an adage of the Romanian philosopher from 1934: “But my tears would drown the world, as my inner fire would reduce it to ashes.”
Parallel to the companion album Best of Nine Inch Nails Redux, Magnetic Eye Records will release The Downward Spiral Redux that contains 14 cover renditions of the original album tracks in sequence, recorded by some of the most compelling artists in hard and heavy music today.
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Watch: ‘Under Dark Skies’ by Tombstones In Their Eyes
Posted: 8 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Francesca Bonci, Indie, Little Cloud Records, Psychedelic, Rock, Shore Dive Records, Single, Stream, Tombstones In Their Eyes, Under Dark Skies, Video
LA-based psychedelic rock outfit Tombstones In Their Eyes presents their brooding single ‘Under Dark Skies’, previewing their Under Dark Skies album, to be released via Little Cloud Records (for North America) and Shore Dive Records (for the UK and EU). Without wallowing in self-pity and emotional upheaval, this song leans hopefully toward a new beginning in the understanding that sometimes the bottom is the best place to start.
The video was created by Italian multi-arts visionary Francesca Bonci, known for her work with Federale (BJM’s Collin Hegna), British bard Philip Parfitt, The Dandy Warhols’ Peter G. Holmström a.k.a. Pete International Airport and Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell.
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Tombstones In Their Eyes is made up of John Treanor (vocals & guitar), Stephen Striegel (drums), Courtney Davies (vocals), Phil Cobb (guitar), Paul Boutin (guitar), Nic Nifoussi (bass) and Clea Cullen (vocals). What began casually a decade ago has evolved into a powerhouse band known for their expansive psychedelic soundscapes. For Treanor, these sonic explorations are like a cosmic therapy session – an immersive subliminal journey, as well as a way to grapple with anxiety.
This record was created during a year of intense personal change, followed by a clearing of the decks and a move forward into a place light and gratitude. Recorded and engineered by Paul Roessler (Josie Cotton, Nina Hagen, Hayley and the Crushers, Gitane Demone) at Kitten Robot Studios, this album was co-produced by John Treanor and mastered by multi-platinum engineer Alex DeYoung at DeYoung Masters (Michael Jackson, BTS, Macy Gray, The Linda Lindas, TSOL).
“’Under Dark Skies’ is essentially a prayer sent for a path forward from the darkness of the spirit into the light. When the spirit is crushed, a rebirth is possible but the way forward is not always obvious. I feel fortunate to have a creative outlet like music to deal with the chaos in my head. Having said that, fighting the urges for self destruction by self-soothing in harmful ways is still not easy,” says John Treanor.
“We live in a tough and harsh world that is also filled with beauty and joy. Finding beauty and joy is the goal. I’m aware that I have many privileges and do not discount that, but mental health challenges do not seem to discriminate. Finding strength and hope is a daily practice that I must undertake and writing these songs is one of the many ways that I cope. By expressing and sharing these feelings, I let go of the poison and seek connection with others.”
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Watch: ‘Will nicht – MUSS!’ by Die Krupps
Posted: 7 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Dependent Records, Die Krupps, Industrial, Metal, offivcial video, single stream, Will nicht - MUSS!
Just back from roads of Europe and full concert halls, Industrial metal legends Die Krupps drop the new video single ‘Will nicht – MUSS!’. This track is taken from the EP Will nicht – MUSS! / On Collision Course that was sold as a hand-numbered collectors’ CD during the already ended and highly successful 45th anniversary tour of this genre defining band.
Due to high demand for the EP, Die Krupps will offer only 45 copies of ‘Will nicht – MUSS!’ as an exclusive 45th Anniversary Gatefold Vinyl edition that is filled with a petrol-green liquid. A limited transparent green gatefold vinyl will also be made available. Both versions will be released on December 12, 2025 and can be pre-ordered at this shop link: https://spkr.store/collections/die-krupps
The Will nicht – MUSS! / On Collision Course EP contains guest contributions and remixes from prominent musicians of renowned acts such as MINISTRY with whom DIE KRUPPS have successfully toured in the US earlier this year. The two single tracks of the EP also offer a first glimpse at the upcoming new album.
DIE KRUPPS comment: “The original idea for ‘Will Nicht – MUSS!’ is based on the classic German movie M (1931), which was directed by Fritz Lang following his huge success with Metropolis, Jürgen Engler explains. “The movie’s subtitle ‘A City Is Hunting for a Killer’, sums up the basic plot. The child-murdering antagonist keeps whistling the main theme from Edvard Grieg’s ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ throughout the movie. This inspired us to take Grieg’s melody and add our classic harsh Die Krupps sound to it. The composition came together just as quickly as our 2013 hit ‘Robo Sapien’, which is always a good sign for us. We sincerely hope that you will receive the track just as positively!"
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Watch: ‘Come On Outside’ by The Hangnails
Posted: 6 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Alternative Rock, Cinematic, Come On Outside, epic, moody, Single, Stream, synth, The Hangnails, Two Piece, Video
The Hangnails have certainly evolved. Recent releases have been a very far cry from the raw garage blasts of their early works, starting out almost fifteen years as a full-throttle garage duo.
There was something of a fallow spell after the release of DOG in 2017, after which Martyn Fillingham and Steven Reid made an understated return, the dropping of the ‘…and the’ signifying their shift towards different territories.
‘Come On Outside’ may be their most different yet. Stripped back, mellow, atmospheric, and synthy, it boasts epic, cinematic qualities – and they still make sound that you’d think impossible for a two-piece.
The visuals for the video are pretty striking, too.
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Watch: ‘We Are the Resistance’ by Sword Tongue
Posted: 5 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: alt rock, Bonfire In the Tempest EP, Darkwave, goth rock, human rights, Official Video, Post-Punk, Protest, Single, Stream, Sword Topngue, track, USA, We Are the Resistance
Oakland-based alternative rock / darkwave trio Sword Tongue presents the video for ‘We Are The Resistance’ , a dark gem showcasing their explosive fourth EP Bonfire In The Tempest. Galvanized, song by song, during our current age of cultural upheaval, this release is bursting with raw emotion and tempered by sophisticated production, launching the band into uncharted territory.
This EP is a love letter to the music we all loved in the 90s. Long delays, lush chorus sounds, deep flanges and modulations – a guitar tone chaser’s dream, married with deep distorted growling bass lines, hard driven drums and pulsing, electronic dance beats provide the texture over which soaring female vocals triumph. At times a whisper, and other times a roar, each song crafted in the crucible of these modern, unprecedented times.
In these five loaded tracks, vocalist Jennifer Wilde delivers alluring vocal lines that oscillate between a croon and a roar, seduction and rage. Gaetano Maleki’s signature shimmering guitar tones and bass lines mesmerize and ensnare, while Dan Milligan’s intricate drum lines drive the message and become the heartbeat of this sonic tour de force reminiscent of the 90s.
Capturing the essence of 90s alternative music, reimagined for a new era, Sword Tongue weaves together rock, industrial, shoegaze, post-punk and trip hop, giving voice to anguish, anger, transformation and triumph. Pulling from an array of musical styles, from electronic music to space rock, the band earlier shared the single ‘Diamonds To Rust’.
“Originally, this album was meant to be more of a danceable opus with a trip hop flavor. However, after the U.S. Presidential election, we realized that our album had to carry a more specific message on the current pollical climate, on aging, and on transitions. We wanted to give voice to the frustration, the anguish, the strength, and the hope in all of us,” says Jennifer Wilde.
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Debuting in 2020 during the pandemic, Sword Tongue creates dark music for dark times, casting a shadow of hope in the twilight. Formed by husband-and-wife duo Gaetano Maleki and Jennifer Wilde, the project is their love language and the culmination of their life’s work as musicians. Wilde, a classically trained vocalist who has performed with the Oakland Symphony Chorus, has been a guest vocalist and lyricist for seminal shoegaze band Love Spirals Downwards. Maleki brings an intensity from his background in heavy music, infusing his shimmering guitar soundscapes with sonic weight.
The pair were then joined by renowned producer and drummer Dan Milligan, whose driving contribution has infused the music with more depth, drive and dimension. The brainchild of The Joy Thieves, he has quite the history co-creating, producing and remixing such artists as Chris Connelly, PIG and Consolidated, and members of such bands as Ministry, Stabbing Westward, The Rollins Band, Killing Joke, David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails, among others.
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Watch: ‘Take Control’ by Overstand
Posted: 4 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Hardcore, Overstand, Punk, Single, Stream, Suicidal Tendencies, Take Control, Video
One of Arizona’s fastest-rising hardcore acts, OVERSTAND, are taking things to the next level with the release of their long-awaited debut full-length album, Take Control, out October 3.
In a major show milestone, Overstand brought their explosive live energy to Arizona’s legendary Marquee Theatre earlier this summer, supporting hardcore icons Suicidal Tendencies. It was a fitting match for a band that’s spent the past few years building a reputation for unrelenting, classic hardcore fury with a modern edge.
Born during the stillness of the pandemic lockdown, Overstand formed in 2020 when longtime collaborators and veterans of the hardcore scene came together with purpose and urgency. In isolation, they wrote 23 songs, seven of which became their 2022 debut EP — released self-titled in the U.S. and as 24 Hour Catastrophe in Europe via Conviction Records. That record lit the match, and now Take Control is the explosion: ten tracks of pure, unrelenting, no-bullshit hardcore.
Check the title track here:
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With former members of Warzone, Roger Miret and The Disasters, Vision, District 9, Casket Life, and North Side Kings in the ranks, Overstand has quickly become a name to watch, both in the States and abroad. They’ve torn up stages alongside Sheer Terror, Ignite, The Dwarves, Death by Stereo, Manic Hispanic, Kill Your Idols, and more, as well as holding their own at festivals like Within These Walls.
The full-length’s cover art is a collaboration between Mick Lambrou and Steven Huie — two highly respected names in the world of punk and hardcore visual culture. Lambrou, based in Australia, is known for his iconic designs for Murphy’s Law, Slapshot, Shutdown, Agnostic Front, Madball, and many more. Huie, owner of Flyrite Tattoo, is behind legendary artwork for bands like Madball, Crown Of Thornz, and Sick Of It All, adding even more legacy and impact to Take Control’s visual identity.
Bassist Roy Valencia also holds down low-end duties for The Outlaw Vinnie Stigma, a powerhouse lineup featuring Vinnie Stigma (Agnostic Front), Chip Hanna (U.S. Bombs), and Jesse Wagner (The Aggrolites) — along with members of Gogol Bordello, including Eugene Hütz, Sergey Ryabtsev, and Leo Mintek. Roy recently wrapped a high-energy East Coast run with the band, delivering the same fierce intensity onstage that defines his work with Overstand.
Overstand isn’t interested in nostalgia or posturing — they’re here to Take Control, and their new material makes that abundantly clear. Brutal, focused, and burning with intent, this is hardcore done right.
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Upcoming Shows:
Oct 11th – Middletown, Connecticut @ Silk Arcade
Oct 12th – NYC @ The Bowery Electric w/ Incendiary Device
Oct 18th – Tempe, AZ – Record Release Show @ Yucca Tap Room
Nov 20 – Houston, TX – Winter Weekender Preshow
Nov 22 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater w/ FEAR
Dec 12 – Mesa, AZ @ Rosetta Room w/ Madball
Listen: ‘050809’ by Spotlights
Posted: 2 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: 050819, AA Williams, Heavy, Ipecac Recordings, Rarities, Single, Spotlights, Stream, Tour
Spotlights, the beloved trio of Mario and Sarah Quintero with drummer Chris Enriquez, release Rarities, a remastered nine-song compilation of early and rare tracks spanning the band’s full discography on 21st November via Ipecac Recordings.
A preview arrives with ‘050809’, the first song the now married Mario and Sarah Quintero ever wrote together. “Sarah and I had been talking about making music together before we were even dating,” Mario shares. “05/08/09 is the day we became an item.”
Hear it here:
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Rarities traces the band’s evolution, from their debut single to standout tracks from their 2023 Séance EP. After relocating from San Diego to New York in 2013, the band released their first EP, Demonstrations, in 2015. That was followed by the Spiders EP and their full-length debut, Tidals, in 2016 – releases that drew attention from artists like Deftones, Shiner, If These Trees Could Talk, and ultimately led to their signing with Ipecac Recordings.
Now, after a decade of releases, the band is reflecting on these songs, all of which are appearing on vinyl for the first time. “It’s a really fun listen,” Mario adds. “You can hear and feel the development of the band over the years, not only musically but emotionally and production wise as well.”
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The band will be selling copies of the Rarities vinyl on tour, and via the Ipecac website. Tickets for the band’s shows supporting AA Williams are on sale now, via Ipecac.com/tours.
LIVE DATES IN SUPPORT OF AA WILLIAMS:
27/01 – UK Norwich, Arts Centre
28/01 – UK Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
29/01 – UK Nottingham, Bodega
30/01 – UK Manchester, Deaf Institute
31/01 – UK Glasgow, G2
01/02 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
03/02 – UK Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
04/02 – UK Bristol, Strange Brew
05/02 – UK London, Bush Hall
06/02 – UK Southampton, Papillon
07/02 – BE Diksmuide, 4AD
08/02 – FR Paris, Nouveau Casino
10/02 – FR Toulouse, Le Rex
11/02 – ES Barcelona, La Nau
12/02 – ES Madrid, Villanos
13/02 – PT Lisbon, Casa Capitão
14/02 – PT Porto, Mouco
15/02 – ES Donosti, Dabadaba
17/02 – FR Grenoble, l’Ampérage
18/02 – IT Milan, Legend Club
19/02 – CH Aarau, KiFF
20/02 – DE Munich, Live / Evil
21/02 – AT Vienna, Chelsea
22/02 – CZ Prague, SUBZERO
24/02 – PL Warsaw, VooDoo
25/02 – DE Berlin, Neue Zukunft
26/02 – DE Cologne, Gebäude 9
27/02 – NL Eindhoven, Effenaar
28/02 – NL Utrecht, Tivoli Cloud Nine
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Watch: ‘Short Ass Bus (ft. Big Ass Truck and Ignominious)’ by Bonginator
Posted: 1 October 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Big Ass Truck, Bonginator, Ignominious, Metal, Retrodeath, school, Short Ass Bus, Single, Stream, Testimony Records, Video
BONGINATOR celebrate their big bad yellow tour-vehicle with the new video single ‘Short Ass Bus’. The New England death metal posse has invited Abel Abarca, vocalist of American hardcore maniacs BIG ASS TRUCK from Inland Empire, CA, and vocalist Colin Richardson from their brothers-in-grooves IGNOMINIOUS to the party and you should totally feel free to join the fun, too!
The track has been cranked from the Americans’ second full-length Retrodeath, which will change the rotation of this planet on October 24, 2025.
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BONGINATOR comment: “When you were a kid, did you have to ride the short bus to school?”, vocalist and shredder Erik Thorstenn wants to know. “Wait… that was just us? Anyway, this song is a banger and features our homies Abel Abarca from Big Ass Truck and Colin Richardson from Ignominious. It’s a song about going to school, being covered in drool, and having a big ass. Also the guitar solo is sick. Just saying. No clue, how we will pull that off live. Listen and tell us what you think! But uh… Are you serious that none of you rode the short bus to school?”
Watch: ‘Deny Reality’ by Worst Ones
Posted: 30 September 2025 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPsTags: Abolish ICE, Dewny Reality, dirge, Godflesh, Heavy, Industrial Sludge Metal, Nine INch Nails, Rage, Single, Skinny Puppy, Stream, Video, Worst Ones
Philadelphia’s industrial sludge metallers WORST ONES is back with a new powerful single, entitled ‘Deny Reality’. The song channels the bleak pulse of Godflesh, the twisted hooks of Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, and the sample-driven chaos of Skinny Puppy, creating something both claustrophobic and hypnotic.
‘Deny Reality’ is a mid-tempo industrial sludge anthem built on relentless electronic percussion and skittering hi-hats that slice through layers of noise loops. The guitars have been shredded, resampled, and reconstructed into something ripped and inhuman. A towering chorus cuts through the haze, while a crushing breakdown in the middle drags the listener deeper into heaviness.
Lyrically, ‘Deny Reality’ confronts the culture of wilful ignorance that has metastasized into complicity. Lines like “Cast out your empathy, behold your tragedy” and “My nightmares are dreams, you deny reality” attack the blindness that sustains power and allows violence to thrive. The song reflects a world where denial has become survival, even as that denial drives us toward collapse. In its imagery of poisoned breath, hollow faith, and the erasure of empathy, the track positions ignorance not as escape but as the very engine of destruction.
In addition to its digital release, Deny Reality will appear on Abolish ICE, a compilation CD of Philadelphia-area metal, hardcore, and punk bands. The CD features 16 artists, including Trunk, L.M.I., Sunrot, Boozewa, SOJI, Detox Meds, and Get Well. Copies are available from the bands in exchange for donations to Juntos, a community-led Latine immigrant rights organization based in Philadelphia. Through this release, WORST ONES aligns its music with direct action, using its sound as both protest and support for those most affected by systemic oppression. With Deny Reality, the band continues the mission of turning noise into resistance. The result is not just another sludge anthem, but a dirge for a society choking on its own denial and a demand to confront the truth, no matter how unbearable.
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Aural Aggravation 