April ‘26 Spotlight
We might be 5 days late but that can be forgiven since we’re dedicated to bringing you the best tracks each month. Here’s 10 singles that dropped in April that we believe to be of god-tier quality. Make sure you check them out to upgrade your playlists, you’ve been advised.
CHRRYOBSESSED - TO YOU, WHOM I LOVE THE MOST
You’re going to get the 00s metalcore sound whether you like it or not from this relatively new Texan band. Expect drop tuned rhythm guitar with beautifully melodic lead playing that could sing to you in the absence of vocals. Sometimes all you need is an astounding entry riff to get you in the mood to spinkick your neighbours’ patio furniture and send it flying as if there was an amber wind warning in place.
Created for crowd participation in mind, the track features a section of clapping over deep, vitriolic vocals that are guaranteed to turn the sweetest person you know into a human beyblade. So put your hands together and get your limbs swinging because that feeds straight into a slot designed for the movers and groovers to tear up the dancefloor, led by stunning clean vocals that you can’t resist the insatiable urge to join in with.
Chrryobsessed should be on your radar as a band to watch if they’re not already because we need more metalcore bands keeping the nostalgia alive. - Hayls
FORCED ORDER - MY WILL NEVER DIES
Hardcore is known for powerful riffs, sections designed solely for two-stepping with your mates, and gang vocals that erupt crowds into unified shouting, and this track is no different. The bass intro builds anticipation before leading into an almost metalcore, melodic riff, which is refreshing to hear from a hardcore band, especially if you’re not a fan of the genre, or struggle to get into it.
The most surprising part of this track is that there’s a half “blegh”, which, if you know your genres, you’ll know this is deep-rooted in metalcore, and very seldom used in hardcore. Sure, it’s more of an “eugh” but it adds that same level of aggression that you feel in the pit of your stomach. Powerful and perfectly placed.
There’s no lack of mosh parts, no downtime, no recovery periods, nothing to indicate that this is a track for those that stand at the back with their arms crossed and complain about those doing cartwheels across the floor. This was made for the dancers. - Hayls
THROWN - SPLIT
Two minutes is all it takes to get you back into the swing of things before you say “God damn, put it back on!” It’s short, bone crushing, pulverising, and straight to the point.
The guitars have always been disgustingly heavy in previous releases, but the fuzz has been cranked up in favour of a more punchy and grittier tone that pleases the brain. The vocals retain a pissed off, spit in your face attitude that does not seem to ever ease up. Expressing a “tired of life and everyone in it and wanting to quit” attitude. Aggressive, frustrated, and unrelenting. The chorus, whilst a change in groove and tempo, makes for a very fresh and unexpected change to what we normally expect from the Swedish Modern Metalcore band.
Split is an intense, eargasmic, destructive track that fans will certainly be pleased with. Certified stank faces all round, with a never ending “F**k You” demeanour. - Nick H
INVENT ANIMATE - FALL LIKE RAIN
Invent Animate return with a new track that leans fully into their signature mix of atmosphere and crushing heaviness while hitting you with raw emotion. Opening with an almost suffocating ambience, the song quickly builds into a storm of intense riffs and anguished vocals that feel deliberately overwhelming.
What stands out most is the vocal performance. Marcus Vik sounds less like he's performing and more like he’s confessing, delivering lines that capture insomnia and anxiety with unbridled emotion and urgency. The repeated idea of “Whispers that fall like rain” becomes a powerful metaphor for intensifying anxiety, reinforced by the track's layered production.
While some listeners may find that relentless heaviness overwhelming, the intensity feels intentional. Fall Like Rain isn't designed to be comfortable. It’s Immersive, bleak, and deeply personal. It's a strong, emotionally charged return from the Texas 5-piece that suggests they are doubling down on both weight and vulnerability. - Nick D
DEADWAX - SHOOK
In recent years we’ve seen bands come onto the scene, try to merge 2 genres together, fail miserably, then disappear hoping that no one would remember their monstrosity of an attempt to be different. That’s not the case with this track, or band for that matter.
Shook is a successful example of blending nu-metal with DnB - two genres you’d expect to cause a dumpster fire when brought together - and progressing through intensity levels into an aggressive track that injects itself into your nervous system with the intention of a full mobility takeover by the end. Lacing demonic-toned vocals in the build up adds a touch of animosity which assists in keeping the menacing vibe throughout.
While this may be one of the bands’ slower songs in terms of tempo, that doesn’t mean they’ve sacrificed creativity or energy. They say what they mean and mean what they say, which is accompanied by the standout grooves of nu-metal and industrious cadence of DnB MC-ing. - Hayls
KORN - REWARD THE SCARS
Korn’s new single, Reward The Scars is reminiscent of what Korn used to fundamentally be about. In recent years they strayed away from the iconic and unique nu metal sound they were known and celebrated for. The riffs on this track are extremely nostalgic of peak 1990s/early 2000s core nu metal. The track highlights exactly what Korn was all about, sick riffs and korny (pardon the pun) lyrics.
While this is a genuinely good track, Diablo 4 lovers may be biased since this is also from the new expansion in the video games, and what else would you want to listen to while slaughtering demons and summoning 20 skeletons? There’s nothing more motivating than nostalgic nu metal.
Here’s to hoping Korn continues to go down the path of releasing GOOD nu metal rather than modern day nu metal and embrace that they are one of the best to do it, this is their genre after all and it’s refreshing to see that they’ve got their foot back into the race. - Timi
FALLWEATHER - KILL MY DOUBT
A heavy, emotional, beautifully melodic track from the Australian modern metalcore band. They say there’s something in the water over there because their musicians are on another calibre, and this is yet another example that proves that rhetoric.
There’s nothing intricate or technically challenging about this track, which is exactly what makes it weigh down on you with sorrow and deliberacy, aided by the nature of the lyrics. Beginning with piano layered under sombre vocals sets the melancholic tone before joining forces with guitars that lay the foundation for the vocals to take centre stage and project transparency from the human mind.
When you need to pay attention, the band makes sure that you do by stripping back the instrumental and allowing for focus on the deliverance of the lyrics. It’s a track engineered to be felt in your core and offer a different perspective to whatever you may have held before. It’s an exquisite side of Fallweather that shows they’re a diverse band who never miss the mark in the modern metalcore scene. - Hayls
LOATHE - REVENANT
What begins off as a disgusting ear pounding but almost cinematic opening is quickly turned into a simple but effective sludge like riffage that instantly hooks the listener into a head banging groove. Sinister breakdown after breakdown that does not seem to lighten up.
The song has a completely unorthodox structure and goes into a frenzy, total obliteration, and showcases a lot of interesting ideas that meld together to form a monstrosity in the best way possible. Emphasis on fast paced rhythms, groovy but frantic bending chromatic guitar riffs, and vocals that are sent into overdrive with every scream.
Only after the heaviness has ended are you met with an ambient outro that lets the listener process, “What just happened?”
Unpredictable, unstructured, and unapologetic. - Nick H
SEMATARY - RAGING WOLF
The Grave Man takes a slightly new approach to his style in this new single which appears to be the start of a new era in his ever-evolving sound. The witch house influence really shines through in the production, as beginning to end, RAGING WOLF will have you moving involuntarily to its infectious melodies and hypnotizing jerk drum patterns placed over Gigi D’Agostinos L’amour Trojours played on the organ by Andreas Gärtner.
Sematarydelivers one of his most powerful vocal performances to date on this single, with his vocals feeling like another instrument in the dark cacophony that is a Haunted Mound production. Grave Man's production is solidified as top notch among his contemporaries as the instrumental on its own could pass as a fully thought out release on its own. You have to listen to this.
“Haunted Mound, we walk the Earth 'cause Hell is full.” - Rich
LONELYMAGNOLIA - EDGERUNNER
If you miss early Enter Shikari, then this band is a gift to you. Reminiscent of the OG sound that we grew up with in the 00’s with a modern edge. The alien-like synths layered throughout the entire track give that psychedelic feel that’s designed to lift moods and flip furniture.
In true fashion, Edgerunner features a dance break midway through, which perfectly fits into place and pushes this band into the spotlight as ones to watch because they’re different, and they’re bloody fantastic at finding what works.
There’s a lot to get excited about throughout the 5:14 runtime, with the composition allowing for a mashup style track, overall vibe of a sound you grew up with as a teenager, catchy hooks designed to nestle into your brain and feed back into the forefront of your mind days later, dance breaks to get the blood flowing from involuntary movement, and a band only at the beginning of their journey, so you can get in the know early to be able to say, “I knew them before they were big.” - Hayls
