Hardcore continues to make itself known across UK alternative festivals. Whether it is inside a packed-out tent or across an open field lined with food trucks and plastic cups, its presence is immediate. The energy arrives before the bands are even visible, pulling crowds in unexpectedly. To understand why hardcore now holds such weight, it helps to look at its roots. Emerging in the late 1970s and early 1980s, hardcore punk pushed beyond traditional punk with greater speed,

GADGET are, notably, fairly slow with releases. This isn’t a problem at all, but it’s ironically in stark juxtaposition to the immediacy of the genre they primarily operate in - grindcore. Outside of split releases with PHOBIA in 2010 and RETALIATION in 2021, their past two releases have been in 2006 and 2016 respectively. They’ve been around for over half the genre’s lifespan, and a lot can happen within a genre in 20 years, so it’s interesting to see if they can keep up wit

Mayday, mayday - we're already in May; time really flies, doesn't it? While some are putting their heads down and getting through their exams, others are hastily shoving folded clothes into their suitcases for the holidays, and here at Out Of Rage, we're prepping for every metalhead's favourite time of year - festival season. What better soundtrack for that than all these new releases? Here's what we've been listening to lately: Blood Dealer - Apologies BLOOD DEALER have been

Some gigs ease you in. This one didn’t bother. At Rough Trade Bristol, there’s always that split feeling — relaxed on the surface, something heavier underneath. Early on, it felt calm enough. Drinks moving, conversations going. But the room already felt loaded, like it was waiting to tip. The openers made sure it did. KNIFE BRIDE came in sharp and straight to the point. No slow build, no filler — just a set that knew exactly what it was doing. Controlled, aggressive, and prop

There are some shows that are just as unforgettable for bands as they are to the attending public, and this was the mutual feeling shared by Swedish electronic metalcore act SOLENCE and the packed Manchester academy 3 that showed up for a party unlike no other, with a show of non-stop, raw, energy and infectious, rhythm infused metalcore. The Swedish heroes did not come alone, as support came from one of the most exciting up and coming international bands WRITTEN BY WOLVES, a

With a name that references a variety of works - from a song by VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR to a film by Robert Eggers, the band A PLAGUE OF LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS are no strangers to taking influence from across the spectrum of art and culture. Based in Haarlem in the Netherlands, the group has garnered a reputation for unpredictable and intense live shows, all the while collaborating with plenty of other musicians. Now, they’ve come to the point of releasing their debut EP, named T

There’s a fine line between contrast and contradiction, and on brutalist, SACE6 lean fully into the latter. Their whole approach hinges on a simple question: how heavy can something get while still feeling undeniably pop? It’s not about blending genres neatly together, but forcing them to coexist, and more often than not that tension is exactly what makes this debut hit as hard as it does. After making serious waves with 2025’s Limerance, the duo wasted no time in levelling u

Having formed in the Long Island, NY underground back in 2020 KOYO cemented their identity from the jump, bending their hometown’s revered sound into something raw, urgent, and uniquely theirs, with vocals from Joseph Chiaramonte, guitars from Harold Griffin, TJ Rotolico and bassist Stephen Spanos, and drums from Salvatore Argento,. Debut release Would You Miss It? was well received by critics and listeners alike, with people loving the unique blend of emotionally bare punk,

A new day is dawning for alt-metal band SUNGRAVE, a quartet that have been hammering at the French music scene and making space for themselves since 2023, and are now ready to let the world know who they are with debut album Afterglow, releasing through independent record labels including No Need Name, Ace of Wands, and Uproar for Veneration to name a few. Inspired by a mix of 90s grunge, metal, and prog-rock, SUNGRAVE takes all the classically loved features of these genres

As of 2026, it has been a decade since Taran Plouzané and Gavin Purcell formed the formidable post-rock duo BICURIOUS. They first made a lot of noise in Dublin, Ireland for a handful of riff-hungry concert goers with early tracks such as Sugar Beats, before gradually taking their thrilling energy to what’s now a mighty fanbase throughout Europe. They hail two full length albums, the first being re(constructed) in 2021, then in 2024 they released Your life Is Over Now…, a high

Richmond, VA punks STEELBOY keep it classic on their full-length debut Thanks for the Invite…, taking twelve tracks to run the gauntlet from 90s ska punk to pop punk. Lyrically tongue in cheek, the pop punk energy is distilled in musings on former relationships, with enough time taken at the end to talk about their favourite happy hour spot. Thanks for the Invite… starts with Cliffhanger, which sets the angsty yet forlorn energy that embodies the rest of the project as STEEL

ATREYU have fresh eyes on their tenth studio album The End is Not the End, creating their most hardcore-infused album while keeping their signature blend of thrash and metalcore. The End is Not the End's fourteen tracks are placed with purpose to create a satisfying build and resolve, capturing the energy of the new heavier sound for its first half then resolving into a conclusive yet theatrical finale that demands to be heard. A signature of ATREYU is their grandiose soundsc

The masters of old school death metal worship FROZEN SOUL are back and ready to get nasty. New record No Place of Warmth is all but upon us, so here’s a look into the next stage of life for the Dallas five piece. Opening into the pummelling title track, FROZEN SOUL have pulled all the stops out and, on this introduction to the album, have managed to coerce the iconic Gerard Way of MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE to come and spew vitriolic verse. His black metal style is a fantastic depar

While still a brand-new venture and yet to be known, SHORTDAUGHTER are undoubtedly a band that have overflowing potential to reach peak heights with their annihilating EP Promo 26, releasing 8th May. Hailing from Manchester, the newcomer alt-punk rock duo blend a variety of punk, emo, and hardcore genres into a sound that feels like being kicked in the teeth and asking for more. SHORTDAUGHTER is self-described as a vent system for lead singer Red Longson to “yell about men” a

The German metalcore outfit THE NARRATOR returns with their sophomore record Phosphor, a powerful follow-up that builds on the foundation of their debut while pushing their sound further into both emotional and aggressive territory. Opening with the title track Phosphor, the band wastes no time setting the tone. The track delivers raw metalcore energy right from the start, backed by great production and crushing breakdowns. It’s a confident opener that immediately showcases t

HAGGARD CAT are synonymous with the post-hardcore scene, already establishing their artistry in previous project HECK and their prowess and nerve by powering through the 2020 lockdown to create bone-shaking rhythms in their album Common Sense Holiday and follow up EP Cheer Up. They’re back to break down your door and crush the status quo with their charged up album The Pain That Orbits Life, via their new label Church Road Records, a blistering 10-track record that pushes the

Summer isn’t just around the corner, it’s epitomised by newcomer TRIAL TAPES on his debut EP 5 Notes, releasing 5th May. Every track feeling like you’re in an 80s movie where the colours are over-saturated and gauzy and you’re driving down the beachfront in a classic convertible to the promenade funfair. Perhaps a little too specifically descriptive, but from the first unrushed, hazy guitar licks and softened but poignant lyrics it conjures an affecting emotion that can’t qui

Chaotic, aggressive, ferocious yet equally danceable—this is the most accurate way to introduce TRIP VILLAIN as they unleash their debut album Dose. Formed in 2021 in Brooklyn, New York, the quartet pull from a wide spectrum of influences, fusing them into a psychedelic, doom-laden strain of industrial metal. They show no restraint in crossing genres mid-riff or mid-section, creating a volatile cocktail—abrasive, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming, yet strangely intoxic

Thursday night for a group of London metalheads was one of the most insane gigs in the alternative space this year. GRAPHIC NATURE played a sold out headline show at The Dome and the energy was electric. In the past year alone GRAPHIC NATURE have supported bands like THROWN and STRAY FROM THE PATH and played a multitude of festivals including Download, Slamdunk and 2000trees. Their momentum is far from slowing down with the start of a new era marked with the release of their

Nottingham’s Rock City was already spilling onto the streets on Saturday night. A sea of black stretched down the queue, wrapping around the block. A quiet signal that this was more than just another tour stop. By the time Florida’s DARK DIVINE took to the stage for their first ever Nottingham appearance, the room was still filling - yet the energy inside was already at full capacity. DARK DIVINE wasted no time establishing their presence. Opening with intensity, they leaned

There’s something about modern heavy music that thrives on contrast. The quiet before the breakdown, the tension between vulnerability and fury, the collision of electronic atmosphere with guitars that feel like they could tear the walls down. Few bands embody that balance as effectively as BAD OMENS . Over the past decade, the Virginia outfit have evolved from promising metalcore newcomers into one of the most compelling names in alternative heavy music, building a sound tha

Forming 30 years ago and becoming one of the largest bands on the planet, LINKIN PARK have cemented themselves as one of the greatest metal bands in history, even after the passing of their legendary singer Chester Bennington , they have continued on the legacy with Emily Armstrong ; This year they return to Download for the first time in 12 years so we thought it only right we have a retrospective on what led them to this point and rank all of their albums. 8 - ONE MORE LI

BATHORY has long defined the extreme side of metal. Being one of the founding fathers of the first wave of black metal, their legacy rings through the sound of many bands, with their sound still coming through today. BATHORY was founded in Sweden in 1983 and during its time active featured frontman and the only songwriter of the band, Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg . Their debut self-titled album was released in 1984 and became arguably the first truly black metal album to be r

KIM GORDON, the icon behind the cultural sensation that was SONIC YOUTH, has returned to London after two years. Bringing songs from her third studio album, Play Me, as well as her other work, the night was indeed a nostalgic leap in the past and a celebration of the present. Opening the night was LONNIE GUNN. The New Jersey-born and Brighton-based artist brought a full band with her to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and from the beginning it was obvious the performance at the w