Rage Reviews: Recent Releases, August 12th 2026
Did you catch the eclipse tonight? The brief moment the moon passed in front of the sun, casting a shadow on its glaringly-bright surface. Rest assured, unlike that fleeting glimpse, these singles aren't going anywhere, and they certainly aren't about to pass us by. Here's what we've been listening to lately:
Track of the Week:
SiM - Freeze Me Up
SiM returns with Freeze Me Up, delivering another explosive dose of their trademark mixture of metal, punk, reggae and electronic. Released as the opening theme for the upcoming anime Black Torch, the track also serves as a preview of their seventh album Hooman After All, due September 2nd via UNFD. The song hits hard from the start, combining aggressive guitars and powerful screams with the rhythmic bounce that has always made SiM stand out. Vocals shift effortlessly between raw intensity and melodic parts, laced together with a smooth production. There’s a hectic but empowering energy to Freeze Me Up that makes it feel built for both anime opening credits and chaotic festival crowds.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Accept - Save Us (ft. Tobias Forge)
There’s something wonderfully unexpected about hearing Tobias Forge step into ACCEPT’s world on Save Us. Originally released on 1980’s I’m A Rebel, the track gets a new life for Teutonic Titans 1976-2026, celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary. Forge reportedly told Wolf Hoffmann that Save Us was his song from them, making this collaboration feel more personal. The classic heavy metal riffing remains intact, but the new production gives the guitars more punch and definition. It’s a surprisingly natural meeting of generations and an excellent reminder that great sounds don’t age.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Blind Channel - Diana / No Encores In A Swan Song
BLIND CHANNEL makes a surprising return with Niko Moilanen handling the lead vocals on Diana / No Encores In A Swan Song following co-vocalist Joel Hokka’s departure in 2025. They come back with a bang, Diana immediately embracing a heavier metalcore direction (with a WHILE SHE SLEEPS like edge), proving that the band is ready to reinvent themselves. Beautiful imagery and an irresistibly catchy chorus hint at a huge live potential while the seamless switch to echoing, clean vocals adds another dimension that connects the listener into the second song. No Encores In A Swan Song is faster, bringing an unexpected electronic undertone without sacrificing the screams or clear singing. Equally catchy and full of surprises, it complements Diana perfectly. This double single feels like a confident reset ahead of the release of their upcoming album Painstream on October 30th. BLIND CHANNEL is back, stronger, heavier, and with greater range than ever.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Bugeye - This Is What I Want
This Is What I Want doesn’t waste time explaining itself, it demands attention. BUGEYE turns a sharp social critique into something bright, rhythmic and genuinely fun. This becomes a tool for communication, making an upbeat disco-punk pulse to deliver lyrics about control, gender expectations and refusing to be treated like a product. The contrast is what makes the song so effective, the music invites you to dance while the words challenge everything underneath that surface. The bass and drums keep the track constantly moving, with synths adding a glossy electronic layer around the raw guitar work. Angela Martin’s vocals have plenty of bite, switching between playful and more confrontational when the chorus lands. Taken from The Shape Of Things, released last May, the track reflects BUGEYE’s approach to the album: live energy colliding with electronic textures to capture the chaos and contradictions of modern life.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Chloe Star - games
Distortion-heavy guitars, a pitter-patter drumbeat, and sardonic, dead-girl vocals collide in CHLOE STAR's latest single games. It's messy, playful, and a total brat anthem. This alt-pop singer isn't afraid to show some ego, teasingly whispering "baby, I'm good at games" throughout the chorus. She delves into the core of situationships, connections that neither side really wants to define, and how they devolve into just what she sings about: playing games. Having just 2024's the bed i lie in to her name as an EP release and a steady stream of singles to follow: are we due a debut album?
Words: Naomi Colliar Duff
Dead Poet Society - Cold
Distorted and darker, Cold sees DEAD POET SOCIETY push their alternative rock sound into a more atmospheric territory. The track carries a tense and almost hypnotic energy, balancing restrained verses with explosive moments that give the song a real emotional weight. Nick Cogan’s vocals shift effortlessly between vulnerability and intensity, adding to the feeling of isolation running through the track. The instrumentation is equally effective, moving from subtle textures to heavier, distorted passages without ever feeling predictable. There’s something raw and uneasy about Cold which is exactly what makes it so captivating. Rather than relying on a straightforward formula, DEAD POET SOCIETY builds the song around contrast, creating something that feels both intimate and wide open.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Eleine - Watch As We Rise
There’s something almost regal about Watch As We Rise. ELEINE doesn't simply go for heaviness; they build a dramatic wall of sound where orchestration, guitars and pounding percussion all work together to create a sense of momentum. Madeleine Liljestam's voice moves across the layers, from controlled and delicate to commanding; it brings the song’s uplifting character. The track is a strong continuation of ELEINE’s 2026 run of singles, following Empire Of Lies and We March, with the band also preparing for their European and UK headlining tour.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Frontierer - Ultraviolet Parasite
The angular and abrasive tones of FRONTIERER’s devastating approach to sonic pulverisation are ringing out once more. Ultraviolet Parasite will instantly satisfy fans of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS with its gigantic energy and searing guitar tone, as well as the crazy structure and phenomenal instrumentation. Few things are as enjoyable as a guitar that sounds like it could kill you - for a lesson on the subject, check out this track and turn it up to full.
Words: Jasmine Longhurst
Miss May I - Hand Me A Halo
Hand Me A Halo feels like MISS MAY I is charging straight back into their roots but with a sharper, more focused production. The guitars are aggressive and gritty, yet it’s Jerod Boyd's drumming that really drives the song forward. The punchy kick work, tight fills and shifting rhythms give the verses a relentless momentum before the track opens up into a huge, memorable chorus. Levi Benton sounds particularly ferocious here, matching the intensity of the instrumentation while the melodic moments give the song some breathing room. Lyrically, the track deals with losing your sense of self and confronting intrusive thoughts, making it an even harder hit. This stands as the third preview of No Place For Me, their upcoming eighth album, arriving October 2nd.
Words: Lysandre Pons
moksha - Three Rivers
Rising from the ashes of the deeply sad dissolution of ITHACA comes their former guitarist Sam Chetan-Walsh’s new project MOKSHA. The eight-piece are best described as a spiritual art-rock collective, taking influence from sounds like Midwest Emo and classic folk music. Debut single Three Rivers is our first glimpse into the world this group inhabits, and it’s a world of deep understanding and acceptance. The song asks if everything is temporary - and if so, what changes because of this? Fans of deeply satisfying emotional resonance, euphoric ecstasy, and profound musical development will be entranced by this song and band, who have their second set ever at this year’s ArcTanGent festival next week.
Words: Jasmine Longhurst
Nothing But Thieves - Baby Kool (Evelyn)
Baby Kool (Evelyn) allows NOTHING BUT THIEVES to embrace a lighter, fun, and more playful side of their sound. Released as the latest preview of their upcoming album Stray Dogs, out September 25th, it announces a new unpredictable era for the band. The song is instantly catchy, with a groovy rhythm, upbeat energy and a chorus that is almost impossible to shake off. It carries hints of pop rock and even a touch of GREEN DAY while Conor Mason’s distinctive vocals remain at the centre. It may be a lighter note following their darker material, but that willingness to experiment is exactly what makes it work and so infectious.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Sigh - Unputenpu (ft. Mikael Åkerfeldt)
Japanese black metal legends SIGH are back and as epic as they’ve ever been on Unputenpu. The music harks back to the ‘80s with a bombastic and melodic guitar line, but still retains a heaviness that only black metal can provide. The Japanese influence is also as overt as its ever been, but that’s not the only point of interest - OPETH’s iconic vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt has been enlisted to provide his trademark ominous tones and, of course, smashes it as only he can. For a surprisingly upbeat and fun take of a traditionally downcast genre, look no further.
Words: Jasmine Longhurst
Vicious Rain - Intertwined
Intertwined is a different approach for VICIOUS RAIN. Instead of going for an all-out metalcore assault, the Swiss band chooses restraint, allowing the track to breathe and reveal a more vulnerable side to their sound. The drums are particularly effective in controlling that movement. Instead of simply providing speed, the percussion leaves deliberate gaps and uses accents to make each transition feel heavier. The cleaner vocals sit beautifully against this atmospheric instrumentation, while the guitars gradually build a sense of tension without ever needing to explode. As the closing track on The Anatomy of Surviving, released in March 2026 through Arising Empire, it feels deliberately placed. After an album packed with aggression, grooves and crushing moments, Intertwined provides a softer landing.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Editor: Naomi Colliar Duff
Photos: Various Artists
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