Rage Reviews: Recent Releases, July 15th 2026
- Out of Rage Team
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Everyone's fresh out of 2000 Trees festival this past weekend, with a lineup packed to the brim of every alternative genre under the sun. If bands haven't been busy playing to the sweltering masses, they've been busy putting out these banger singles. Here's what we've been listening to lately.
Against The Current - Always You & I
Always You & I sees AGAINST THE CURRENT embrace a cinematic, transcendental sound in a romantic rock ballad exploring themes of eternal devotion and fate across time. The band's third single from their forthcoming album follows Heavenly and Dead Man Walking, opening with a soft guitar that steadily propels the track forward before powerful drums carry it into a grand, almost orchestral chorus. Chrissy Costanza's vocals cut through like a knife, showcasing the emotional depth and power of her range while remaining perfectly balanced with the instrumentals throughout. Haunting, emotional and beautifully crafted, Always You & I continues the darker trajectory hinted at by its predecessors, setting expectations high for the long-awaited full record. Fans won't have to wait long to experience it live, as AGAINST THE CURRENT return to the UK and Europe with their Till Death and Back Tour this autumn.
Words: Lorena Hurtado
Amon Amarth - Upphaf
AMON AMARTH's Upphaf brings a surprising twist, trading the band’s trademark crushing riffs for an acoustic ballad that immediately stands out. Embracing its Nordic roots with the poetic Edda in hand, it mixes ancient tradition with modern songwriting, creating a death metal ballad that feels both intimate and epic. A timely quest to reconnect with one another in a world shaped by technology, distraction, and dissociation. The song serves as a bridge between The Great Heathen Army and the band's upcoming thirteenth studio album, which has been teased as their most diverse release yet. The single also arrives ahead of their 2026 European headline tour with Orbit Culture and Soilwork, making it an exciting new chapter for longtime fans.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Boston Manor - Drowned In Gold (Acoustic)
Taking a stripped backed approach to the energetic track, Drowned in Gold, BOSTON MANOR are celebrating their 10 year anniversary of Be Nothing. With more delicate instrumentals, the vulnerability within the lyrics are spotlighted. Henry Cox offers his clean vocals that embodies the darker themes of feeling lost and overwhelmed. The additional atmospheric instruments to the bridge elevated the sensitivity within the track. With this acoustic re-release, fans are looking forward to their 10 year anniversary tour of Be Nothing.
Words: Theviya R Karunaharan
Chalk - Get Fucked
Thumping drums collide with blaring synths, Ross Cullen's vocals reaching a husky low in pitch as the instrumentals and message progressively build to a pulsating industrial rhythm, coarse yells of "Get fucked" echoing out forcefully. Irish industrial/EDM band CHALK are back with their signature sound and take on life's expectations, particularly the mundane. Get Fucked feels like a love story at first, before descending into an endless cycle of go to work, get a new home, get divorced, Cullen singing he "see[s] the light" in a way that suggests he already sees the anticlimactic end before the start, the instruments increasing in volume and reflective chaos of his defiant shouts, ending in screeching vocals and synths.
Words: Julia Stark
Chat Pile - PEN I S MALL
Mirroring their previous album cycle, CHAT PILE have once again delivered in spades on the second single. The title alone should be enough to pique anyone’s curiosity, but once you look further, PEN I S MALL is one of their most brutal songs yet, and it’s hard to point to what the most intense aspect about it is. It could be Raygun’s demented vocal performance, which on paper seems par for the course for him, but in practice it’s like nothing he’s done before. Or maybe the section about halfway in, which features him coughing over a monstrous sludge breakdown. It’s hard to say really - some CHAT PILE songs are fun, some are arguably even catchy, but this stands in stark contrast, being the rawest they’ve sounded since 2022 track Slaughterhouse. An extremely exciting cut from the upcoming Who Loves The Sun.
Words: Noise Leonard
Citizen - I Can See You From Here
As the release of CITIZEN’s sixth album Halcyon Blues creeps up, they’ve exploded this week with the release of their third single, I Can See You From Here. Providing a much more energetic feel than the two previous singles, starting softly and picking up around the 1 minute mark, holding energy in the vocals through the track until the melodic instrumental that creates a peaceful moment in the latter half of the song, pulling the listener back to the more subtle sounds of the previous single, Halcyon Blues. The Ohioans are heading out in October on an incredible UK/EU tour to celebrate the release of their upcoming album. Words: Kei Wells
Diva Bleach - clean
Releasing a new single only 3 weeks after your last is a brave move from DIVA BLEACH but if their recent form is anything to go off of, then it might be a genius move. The duo have released five singles since February 2025, but the bravery comes from single number five, electro pop-punk track clean, because it’s their only solo venture. Each single has been a collaboration (special shout out to their track One More Time with NOT MY WEEKEND, who have also recently dropped a single) but clean shows what DIVA BLEACH can do on their own. It’s fun, catchy and over just in time to make you yearn for it to start again. It will be on repeat for the foreseeable.
Words: Jade du Preez
Eva Under Fire - Villainous (feat. Maria Brink)
A fierce dystopian call has been created with EVA UNDER FIRE's Villainous featuring MARIA BRINK. This fast-paced track blends crushing riffs, soaring melodies, and an empowering message of resilience. The singers’ chemistry creates a powerful dynamic that drives the song's emotional intensity, paired with aggressive instrumentation and a memorable chorus. Lyrically, Villainous is about embracing your strength, refusing to be defined by others, and turning adversity into confidence. The single also introduces the band's new album of the same name, released in July 2026, and they will spend the year touring extensively, bringing their high-energy live show to audiences across North America while continuing to expand their growing fanbase.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Gilla Band - Placeholder
It’s been a while since we heard from GILLA BAND, hasn’t it? Most Normal released in 2022 now, a clear highlight of 2020s noise rock, with clean production that somehow never takes away from the intensity of the performances. Thankfully, the wait has been worth it, as both singles for the upcoming Pugnello have been astounding. Their most recent effort Placeholder’s mechanical, ebbing percussion permeates through the entire track, as Dara Kiely wails over the chorus. The polyrhythmic stabs of guitar and bass in the second half have a hypnotic quality that leave you totally entranced until the abrupt ending. As bass player Daniel Fox said in a recent interview with Pitchfork, “The trick is to be louder than everything else”. Right on.
Words: Noise Leonard
HANABIE. - Life Is Short, O Brave Girl
HANABIE.'s Life Is Short, O Brave Girl is another exhilarating showcase of the band's signature "Harajuku-core" sound, seamlessly blending blistering metalcore, electronic flourishes, and infectious pop melodies. Packed with explosive breakdowns, rapid-fire vocal switches, and an uplifting chorus, the song captures the excitement and determination of chasing your passions without hesitation. Despite its chaotic energy, every element feels purposeful, highlighting the quartet's remarkable musicianship and creativity. Serving as the opening theme for the upcoming anime Young Ladies Don't Play Fighting Games, the track reflects the band's own experiences growing up in an all-girls school, adding a personal touch to its empowering message.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Initiate - Numb The Pain
First came disbelief, then came anger and now the despair creeps into INITIATE’s discography, as they gear up to release their new EP With Love // With Rage this August. As with any cycle of grief, the most self-aware band in hardcore has taken the time to reflect on its rugged edges, polishing their new single Numb The Pain into a brilliant diamond of cathartic aggression. There’s a real intention with this new blackened sound, which adds a whole new dimension to their hardcore roots. In this, it feels like the South California collective has truly found its sparkle, and in its pain comes great pleasure.
Words: Amber Brooks
Kiss The Scientist - Life You Want
Blending soaring melodies with post-hardcore intensity, Life You Want showcases KISS THE SCIENTIST at their most emotionally compelling. The track balances driving guitars, atmospheric textures, and passionate vocals to explore the tension between chasing expectations and staying true to yourself. Its dynamic arrangement shifts effortlessly between introspective verses and a powerful, anthemic chorus, creating a song that is both vulnerable and uplifting. Rather than relying on genre clichés, the band crafts a sound that feels fresh while maintaining the emotional depth that defines their music.
Words: Lysandre Pons
KNOSIS - Kushizashi
Ryo’s gone rogue with Kushizashi. Named loosely after ‘the act of skewering,’ the KNOSIS frontman has created a metalcore kebab layered with plunging breakdowns and a total loss of control. There’s a real mean streak running through this track, the same kind that would get those damaging gutterals locked up in Arkham Asylum, referencing the Joker’s menacing rise to infamy. It’s definitely more ICE NINE KILLS than something truly sinister, but that does not mean that it loses its edge. The guts of this record are cut on some cold rap sections, exposed and experimental to the wicked innovation that the band push with each new release.
Words: Amber Brooks
Mayday Parade - Lying to Myself
MAYDAY PARADE blends heartfelt lyricism with soaring pop-punk melodies with Lying to Myself. The song explores the struggle of denying painful truths and the emotional toll of self-deception, delivered through sincere and vulnerable vocals. Driving guitars and a catchy chorus provide the energy fans expect. The track feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern, reminiscent of the band's early work. Its relatable themes of regret, acceptance, and personal growth make it instantly resonant, proving that the band stays true to the emotional honesty that has defined their music for nearly two decades. The track serves as the latest preview of Sugar, due July 24th, the final chapter in MAYDAY PARADE's ambitious Sweet, Sad, and Sugar trilogy released in celebration of their 20th anniversary.
Words: Lysandre Pons
No Cure - My World In Flames
Relentless from its opening moments, My World In Flames is an uncompromising assault of metallic hardcore, delivering crushing riffs, punishing breakdowns, and unfiltered intensity from start to finish. NO CURE channels raw frustration into a track that feels both chaotic and meticulously crafted, with venomous vocals amplifying themes of anger, isolation, and personal struggle. Rather than relying solely on brute force, the song incorporates memorable grooves and dynamic shifts that keep the aggression engaging throughout. The single arrives ahead of the release of the band's highly anticipated debut full-length album, I Hope I Die Here, due August 21st, while preparing for a busy touring schedule that is rapidly expanding their reputation as one of hardcore's most exciting rising acts.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Not My Weekend - Over My Head
When he’s not presenting the popular The Mean Time podcast, Patrick Gilchrist fronts LA based pop-punk group NOT MY WEEKEND, who in recent years have dropped bangers with the likes of Kellin Quinn and Brian Butcher of THE HOME TEAM fame. Going out on their own this time, NOT MY WEEKEND brought the quintessential pop-punk goodness they’re known for but with a more polished and assured sound that has been escalating with each new release since their last album in 2023. Clear storytelling, a chorus solid enough to tickle the TikTok algorithm and a nostalgic sound that ties this track together with a neat bow. If recent successes are anything to go off of, it might just be their weekend after all.
Words: Jade du Preez
Ómoia - The Quiet Place
Still in their infancy as a band, Leeds based ÓMOIA are fast proving themselves as hardhitters in their niche emo/post-metal genre, their steadfast commitment to giving a voice to queer history and mental health awareness backed by a wall of sound. Their latest single The Quiet Place hits from the off with a sturdy guitar riff that invites in a robust drumbeat, the rhythms stepping back briefly to give space for singer Cerys Simmons to reach soaring heights with their melodies, the track racing forward into a fever-pitch breakdown of Simmons' primal screams and instruments folding into a darker, post-metal sound. Already hailed as their heaviest work to date, The Quiet Place feels like a promise that ÓMOIA have barely scratched the surface.
Words: Julia Stark
Stay Dead - Electric Mistress (ft. Matt Pike)
Fueled by thick, sludgy riffs and a gritty attitude, Electric Mistress is a powerhouse collaboration that perfectly captures STAY DEAD's heavy sound while making the most of MATT PIKE's unmistakable presence. Blending stoner rock, doom, and classic heavy metal influences, the track delivers crushing grooves, gritty vocals, and a relentless energy that never lets up. The track comes as the latest single from STAY DEAD's upcoming debut album, Kicking & Screaming, due September 5th, as the band continues to establish itself in the heavy rock scene. Meanwhile, Matt Pike remains busy touring with HIGH ON FIRE in support of their Grammy-winning album Cometh the Storm.
Words: Lysandre Pons
The Filthy Souls - Friends Like These
Walking away has never sounded so uplifting as it does on THE FILTHY SOULS' latest single, Friends Like These. Led by frontman Dave Green, the band turns the fallout of broken friendships into an infectious indie-rock anthem full of summer spirit. Bright guitars take centre stage, while Matthew Wiggers' bass and Logan Baudean's drums provide a solid foundation for Green's melodic vocals, creating an instant earworm. Evoking the feeling of a sunny drive with the windows down, Friends Like These pairs its warm, carefree atmosphere with just enough edge to stop it from ever feeling too sweet. One you'll want on repeat.
Words: Lorena Hurtado
The Linda Lindas - Closer (ft. Hayley Williams)
With a previous Universal studios trip and joining THE LINDA LINDAS at their London show, the band are no strangers to HAYLEY WILLIAMS. Whilst growing up is inevitable, one of life's greatest challenges is staying present while feeling as though time is constantly racing by. The track Closer embraces the ever evolving sound of THE LINDA LINDAS. The opening of muted power chords and a steady drumbeat before erupting into a surge of driving guitars and energetic drums. The chorus, featuring HAYLEY WILLIAMS, is layered with hazy backing vocals that embody the nostalgic essence of early-2000s pop-punk. With their upcoming album, Got To Get Out, THE LINDA LINDAS have fans ecstatic to embrace the band's evolving sound.
Words: Theviya R Karunaharan
Westside Cowboy - Pin Up Boys
Combining the attitudes and aesthetics of the modern UK scene with strong influence from classic American indie outfits like MODEST MOUSE, WESTSIDE COWBOY are really on the come-up as of recently. Kick Stones (The Boys), the first single for their upcoming debut album was one of their finest tunes yet. Second single Pin Up Boys, on the other hand, feels different. It’s a much shorter cut, more akin to the material on their first EP, and clearly much less ambitious. That being said, the band’s personality still comes through on here in the lyrics, and the way the vocals coalesce during the chorus. It’s plucky, straightforward, and well worth your attention.
Words: Noise Leonard
YAO - 777 (ft. Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, Paledusk)
If your favourite track from ONE OK ROCK’s most recent album Detox was C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y and you found yourself yearning for more of that PALEDUSK sound with Taka’s powerhouse vocals then you’re in luck. YAO is here to scratch that itch for you. The Japanese supergroup, made up of AWICH, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK and PALEDUSK, effortlessly fuses high energy J-metal with the hip-hop elements of two of Japan’s most exciting musicians. No one walks away from a PALEDUSK track feeling like something was missing, the reigning kings of maximalism metal are no strangers to throwing the kitchen sink at a song until it feels like there’s nothing more that could have been done, and that same energy shines through in this project. Between the killer rap, face melting breakdown (thank you DAIDAI), gang vocals and guttural screams, you will feel satisfied no matter what you needed to get out of this track.
Words: Jade du Preez
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