Here at Revolver, we’re always on the hunt for new songs to bang our heads to — indeed, it’s a big part of our jobs. With that in mind, here are the tracks released this week in extreme thrash, hellbound metalcore, frenetic screamo and more that have been on heavy rotation at Revolver HQ.
For your listening pleasure, we’ve also compiled the songs in an ever-evolving Spotify playlist.
Exodus – “3111”
Exodus told us this week that they wanted to “go hard” with the first preview of their impending Goliath LP — and go hard they did.
A brooding storm cloud of soul-shuddering gloom rumbles through the slow-mo intro, but the thrash vets soon up the tempo with classic, Bay Area nastiness — think rapid-fire drums, ruthless riffage and more. For his first release with the band in 16 years, raw-throat ripper Rob Dukes scratchily reports on the horrors of the international drug trade, here highlighting “ransom slayings” and “plazas of carnage”.
The band’s video, which includes violent crime scene footage, was too brutal for YouTube, but you can see it on X.
The HU – “The Real You”
Imma keep it real with you, chief: The latest HU single is a certified banger.
After having toured with and covered Iron Maiden in 2024, the Mongolian folk-metal phenoms bring a noticeably gnarly, galloping pace to this preview from their in-the-works third album — though throat singer Temka also said the rhythms make them think of “our ancestors, riding fast on the horse back through the landscape.”
“The Real You” is a heavy plea for people to reflect on their actions, and perhaps combat “human cruelty” with kindness and understanding. Solid messaging through and through.
Knumears – “Fade Away”
L.A. trio Knumears are on the right path with this skramz-styled preview of their upcoming Run for Cover Records/Summer Shade debut, Directions.
The deftly bruising, melancholically intoned, 3/4-rhythmed “Fade Away” nods to the similarly-affecting dynamics of turn-of-the-century, HeartattaCk-approved screamo. Bringing Jeromes Dream vocalist Jeff Smith aboard to wail along with ‘em adds a touch of old-school legitimacy, but Knumears do the heavy lifting well enough on their own
Megadeth – “Hey God?”
Having put together the just-released Megadeth as his band’s final studio statement, it’s understandable that Dave Mustaine would want to clear the air and get a few things off his chest while he still has the time.
To no one’s surprise, the metal icon has got a lot of things on his mind — he says as much on this melodic, mid-album standout — but “Hey God?” has him acknowledging faults and desires with compelling vulnerability. The song, meanwhile, harnesses “Symphony”-style hard-rock hooks aplenty.
Poppy – “Empty Hands”
“You can’t be spared from hell’s routine.”
Just like Sideshow Bob staging his one-man H.M.S. Pinafore, Poppy’s new Empty Hands album was determined to send us to heaven before dragging us to our infernal demise. Rather, it’s a record that finds the genre-busting auteur delivering many melodic highs (think “Unravel”), but closes with a fierce and fiery finale.
“Empty Hands” arrives as one of Poppy’s most savage, heat-seeking attacks, producer Jordan Fish’s low-slung and slippery metalcore riffs conjuring Converge at their most unflinching. Poppy tromps an unknown foe beneath her feet before unleashing one of the biggest brees of the young year thus far.
The S.E.T. – “T.M.T.”
Many wondered what hardcore shredder Brady Ebert would get up to following his exit from Turnstile in 2022. The glow-up, it turns out, is hella heavy.
With new band the S.E.T., the Balitmore riffer’s down-picked fury is paying homage to the NYC lords of yore, like Leeway. The first single from the band’s debut EP, meanwhile, takes stock of the chaos of the modern world, the act’s blend of crossover speed and gargantuan groove viciously rebuking the powers that be putting their boot on the working class.
Here’s the motherfucking truth: We can’t wait for the rest of their Self Evident Truth to arrive.