Your guide to new rock, metal and punk bands worldwide
When a band has two members dedicated to “theatrics” and builds a narrative around a serial killer, you can guarantee we’ll be intrigued. And British shock rockers Ward XVI don’t disappoint with a diverse, dark and moody metal sound that they describe as “mad, eclectic and innovative.”
With a name like Holy Hell, it’s only fair for us to expect something dramatic, powerful and vicious. And the Canadian newcomers very much deliver on those expectations in an emo-meets-metalcore sound they describe as “emotional, aggressive and epic.”
German band Moonarch blends engaging vocals and powerful instrumentals in a catchy rock sound that they describe as “big, anthemic and ethereal.”
From deep within the Savoie region in the heart of the French Alps comes a dark fusion of drum’n’bass and nu-metal that the exciting duo KEVA describe as “violent, tormented, and hybrid.”
French band Karvane have crafted an alternative metal sound that fuses filthy riffs and heavy bass with rapped vocals, which they describe as “groovy, massive, and sharp.”
German duo Let Me Drown combine aggressive instrumentals with dual clean female and intense male vocals in a catchy but affronting sound they describe as “raw, cathartic, relentless.”
Creeping out of the dungeons somewhere near Marseille we discover the intriguing psychedelic punk-metal sound of Joe La Truite, who introduce us to the concept of Zguen.
Australian duo Lost Cathedrals aim to thrill and surprise by blending anthemic rock with electro and cinematic elements in a genre-being sound they describe as “eclectic, infectious, and unexpected, like a surprise party, but with better riffs.”
Essex band Chloe and the Butlers are somewhat of a departure from our usual rock/metal focus but we’re hooked on their fantastic funk and soul sound, which they describe as “funky, empowering and heartfelt.”
We usually don’t write follow-up articles on bands, but the growth of Belgian band Moments encouraged us to bend this rule. Moments fuse big riffs and clean and vicious vocals in an engaging but powerful sound that they describe as “courageous, aggressive and melodic.”
Metal solo artist Eric Dalton has crafted an engaging but hard-hitting sound that he describes as “energy, powerful and deep.”
Ohio’s Faith In Failure aren’t afraid to mix things up, to the extent that they’re as likely to drop a hard-hitting metalcore banger as they are a punky ballad
GigRadar 