Our latest episode of new music from bands we’ve previously interviewed on the site brings you new rock, metal and punk tracks to get your weekend started. This month, we’ve got new music by seven bands from Canada, France, Greece, Mexico and the UK.
You can listen to all of these bands and many, many more in our range of Spotify playlists, which you can find at the bottom of this page and via our Listen To GigRadar page. But for now, get your weekend started by checking out these 16 new bands in chronological order.
Carences – Bal de contraires
Montreal band Carences fuse elements of punk and post-hardcore in a thrilling sound that channels their collective frustration and disullusionment. We first featured the band’s debut single in our New Music Round-Up last month, and they’re back with its follow-up Bal des contraires (Ball of Opposites).
It starts with moody guitar noises that continue under slow repeating guitar notes. Echoey vocals come in, before drums support the ongoing riff and slow down again as the vocals return. It picks up pace, before exploding into a heavier riff and more intense vocals that conclude with a cry of “Une petite mort bien à moi” (“A little death of my own.”)
You can follow Carences on Facebook and Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music and YouTube.
Cober Mouth – GET A GRIP
Bristol band Cober Mouth harness the aggression of hardcore, the bounce of nu-metal and the weight of metalcore in a groovey nu-metalcore sound. Our New Band of the Week in February just released GET A GRIP, which very much brings that aggression to the fore.
The track launches straight into intense screamed vocals over heavy guitars, vicious drums and eerie distant synths. There’s a brief pause before a cry of “Cos the first one’s free mother fucker” ushers in more intensity that ends with chunky guitar chords and a cry of “Better get a grip quick boy.” That tees up a conclusion led by some really cool vocal delivery.
You can follow Cober Mouth on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music and YouTube.
Cure For The Ghost – The Entrance
French band Cure For The Ghost combine engaging vocals with powerful riffs and soaring synth soundscapes in an engaging, hard-hitting fusion that they describe as “authentic, melodic and energetic.” We introduced you to the band, from the Annecy area in southwestern France, in August, and they’re back with new single The Entrance, the latest in a new batch of songs that will be released through the rest of the year.
It opens up with guitars and synths that continue to build under vocals that intensify to end with a scream, setting up an engaging verse. Whispery vocals set up a big catchy chorus and drops into a heavier verse supported by big rolling drums that drops into a little guitar lick teeing up another chorus. The synths take over, bridging into a smash of heavy guitars and drums before a stabbing riff sets up a final blast of the chorus.
You can follow Cure For The Ghost on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music and YouTube.
Jerusem – Este Tiempo
Mexican band Jerusem offer up a dynamic and cinematic alternative rock sound that blends atmospheric instrumentals and engaging vocals. When we first met them last month, the band showcased Luces Lejanas, which was featured in a movie that the band members had acted in. Now they’re back with new single Este Tiempo, which clocks in at nearly seven minutes long.
The track starts out with dreamy synth sounds that continue over light guitars and flows into laid-back vocals. Funky guitar sounds creep in as it develops into a cool chorus, then the pace drops with drawn-out vocals. The dreamy instrumentals return under mellow vocals, before picking up the pace as the track intensifies with a funky lick, heavier vocals and a fun stabbing riff. That gives way to another chorus, before the track begins to wind down, only to come to a more menacing conclusion with heavier vocals and slightly sinister synth sounds.
You can follow Jerusem on Facebook, and check out their music on Spotify and YouTube.
Matted – Gaslight
British newcomers Matted blend elements of hard rock, grunge and alternative metal in a riff-heavy and anthemic sound. We first discovered the band around the release of their excellent debut single, Material, which had been backed by pop/rock band McFly and recorded by drummer Harry Judd. Then features their second single Flowers and Chains in June’s New Music Round-Up. And they’re back with their third single Gaslight, which was also produced by Harry Judd.
It opens up with a cool stabbing guitar sound that develops into a heavier riff and rolling drums. A funky little lick feeds into a verse led by the engaging vocals of Max Walker, before stabs of guitar tee up a big singalong chorus. The pace drops in a laid-back verse with deliciously delivered vocals before flowing into another chorus. It slows down again with sampled elements, before exploding into a dark section of driving guitar chords that drop into heavier guitars and screamed vocals. Big stabs of guitar and rolling drum loops tee up a big final blast of the chorus, which ends with a cool guitar solo.
You can follow Matted on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube.
OCEANDVST – Ghost
Greek trio OCEANDVST toe the line between pop-punk, rock and alternative in a catchy sound they described to us as “darkness with colours.” We first discovered the band back in April 2023 around the release of NME, which the band had planned to be their final song but ended up bringing them closer together. And thankfully, they’ve kept going, releasing a series of singles over the last couple of years, of which the latest is Ghost.
The track opens up with a light piano intro with building synths dropping into heavier instrumentals. Those drop out to leave Chrysa’s delicious opening vocals, with strings coming in to build up towards a big singalong chorus “I don’t wanna live a lie, Inside your mind, Cause I can’t be the ghost you left behind, Lost in time, Fragile ties, Empty eyes, Your smile is just your ignorance disguised, Can’t win your losing fight.” The pace slows again for a verse building up to another big chorus, which drops back into the light piano and synth sounds, before a piercing guitar and rolling drums support Chrysa’s more intense vocals and drop into a delicious guitar solo over guitar chords, drums and a piercing synth. And that tees up a final blast of the chorus.
You can follow Oceandvst on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
PROTOGONOS – Rise Above
French band PROTOGONOS deliver an immersive metal experience with a fascinating, powerful and slightly sinister metalcore sound. We only introduced them to you on Wednesday, but the Reims collective are back with new single Rise Above, which was released today.
It opens up with a building guitar, drums and synths alongside spoken vocals and choral elements, before a brief pause… that explodes into big groovy guitars and frontman Nicolas Cuvilly’s gruff vocals. Big rolling drums keep the pace flowing, before the delicious choral vocals return for an atmospheric chorus. It continues into a lively verse, before another pause sets up a chorus with more backing vocals. The intensity builds with a piercing sound that drops into a vicious breakdown with stabbing guitars and haunting synths under heavy vocals. The vocals intensify further in a huge atmospheric conclusion with a piercing guitar sound and choral vocals.
You can follow PROTOGONOS on Facebook and Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Deezer, Soundcloud and YouTube.


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