Rage Reviews: Recent Releases, October 7th 2026
There's a chill in the air as we enter this time of year so favoured by goths and emos. The moon hangs high in the sky, and the spirits of Samhain prowl through the dark of the night. Halloween is looming ever closer, and we're hoping for more treats than tricks - like these latest singles. Here's what we've been listening to lately:
Track of the Week:
As December Falls - Nervous (ft. Solence)
Trust AS DECEMBER FALLS to come out with the dancey song of the summer just as we bid farewell to the season. Their latest single blends catchy, electronic elements with Bethany Curtis' signature vocals for a track that will be stuck in your head far longer than the three minute run time. And just when you think the track can’t get any better, SOLENCE's Markus Videsäter slides in with one of the most complimentary additions to a track. This song is made for a festival like Slam Dunk, so it’s just as well the band recently announced their spot on the lineup for 2027.
Words: Jade du Preez
Dälek - Surrealist
Surrealist is a seemingly non-album single, following the release of DÄLEK’s 10th full-length studio album Brilliance Of A Falling Moon, and it shows they’ve still got it. In the nearly 25 years since classic and incredibly influential album From Filthy Tongue Of Gods And Griots, nobody has ever really come close to matching the thoughtful prose in MC Dälek’s lyricism and instrumentals that pull from more avant-garde and industrial influences. Surrealist, as accessible as it may be compared to certain entries in their discography (Black Smoke Rises comes to mind), still retains the same unique, forward thinking feel that they’ve always been known for, with a droney, shoegazey backdrop and sublime production, with echoing vocals during the chorus. It’s always a pleasure to be taken into DÄLEK’s own sonic universe, and this song is a true standout of their recent tenure.
Words: Noise Leonard
Diamante - Cool Down
DIAMANTE returns with the cinematic rock ballad Cool Down, stripping back some of her characteristic 80s-inspired sound in favour of something edgier and heavier. The track puts her vocals at the forefront, showcasing a softer side before gradually slipping into sounds from modern rock territory. Just when the song seems to have settled into its atmospheric rhythm, a heavy breakdown crashes in, and it does not disappoint. Following Bite Of The Beast, the latest single arrives as part of DIAMANTE’s new chapter, continuing her move towards a heavier sound.
Words: Lorena Hurtado
Eville - Flip Phone (ft. Emmy Mack)
Brat Metal is back. And it's better than ever. EVILLE dropped the baddest banger, Flip Phone, featuring the one and only Emmy Mack of REDHOOK. This collaboration feels overdue since exploding the stage together on their 2025 tour together. Littered with Y2K references and vibes, Mack’s Britney-esque vocals are harmonious with the hardcore elements EVILLE are bringing to the table, overall this track is possibly the most perfect team up ever created. EVILLE are about to round up their UK/EU tour with LAKE MALICE and join RISING INSANE in Germany in December!
Words: Kei Wells
From Ashes To New - Love Me
Having honed their sound on their latest album, Reflections, FROM ASHES TO NEW have gone from strength to strength lately which is clear in their new single Love Me. It can be found on the deluxe version of that album, and it’s another confident, emotional output from the band who have enjoyed their most commercial success with this album. And as the first wave of Slam Dunk announcement role in, you might have spotted FROM ASHES TO NEW’s name on the lineup. We’ll just have to wait and see how this song performs live as the US nu-metal outfit roll into Leeds and London, but it’s a pretty safe bet that it will go down well with crowds.
Words: Jade du Preez
Hannah Wicklund - Marionettes
Powerful, unleashed vocals have become a staple of HANNAH WICKLUND records, and Marionette is no exception. A building crescendo of guitars and piano, this track slams into a mesmerising final chorus showing Wicklund’s true vocal capabilities and just how much emotion she can deliver. Part of the EP of the same name, the track sits amongst three other songs that showcase an even more aggressive, loaded side of WICKLUND. Marionettes will inevitably resonate with audiences as she continues to tour the UK, insighting rage and rousing onlookers as she goes.
Words: Jade du Preez
LUNA KILLS - supervillain
Just as the final quarter of 2026 gets underway, LUNA KILLS dazzles with their first release of the year. supervillian combines all the elements you know and love from the band, their nu-metal sound with electronic elements and impressive fry screams. Building towards a screaming breakdown that will have you scrubbing back just to hear it one more time, this track works wonders no matter if you’re listening through headphones or enjoying it live. And London audiences will get two chances to see LUNA KILLS take to the stage in November as they support FUTURE PALACE and VIANOVA.
Words: Jade du Preez
Nicotine Dolls - Here To California
NICOTINE DOLLS return with Here To California, a track that turns heartbreak and uncertainty into something restless and forward-moving. The single builds around distorted guitars, pounding drums and Sam Cieri’s increasingly impassioned vocals, creating a sound that feels both vulnerable and explosive. There is a sense of escape running through the track, with California becoming less of a destination and more of an idea of leaving everything behind. As the instrumentation grows, Cieri’s vocals push the emotion further, giving the track a cathartic quality that feels built for both a crowded room and a long drive away from home.
Words: Con Macadam
Palaye Royale - Lost in Translation
PALAYE ROYALE make their long-awaited return with Lost in Translation, produced by Chris Greatti, arriving alongside the announcement of their sixth album, Amsterdamage. The guitar work is outstanding, bringing out the indie Brit-rock influences that have appeared throughout their work over the years, while taking that sound further into a more radio-rock feel. The brothers have spoken about how making this upcoming album together healed them, and that connection is apparent in the song, with the vocals, instruments, and production bleeding into each other and becoming one. The bridge makes it an anthemic PALAYE ROYALE song, creating that heartwarming feeling that has become part of their sound. But this time, there’s a sense of leaving the darkness behind, with Lost in Translation becoming a guiding light for the future.
Words: Lorena Hurtado
PISS - Blocking A Scene You Can’t Remember
With each passing day, it becomes all the more clear that PISS’ full-length debut album is going to be one for the ages, and we’re simply not ready for it. Their live sets were a good indicator of their talent, but whether or not those songs would translate to a studio setting is a different question entirely. Time Loop At Hot Slit’s single release was promising, but Blocking A Scene You Can’t Remember is a different thing entirely. The devastation, incredibly well-thought out lyrics spoken through the veneer of a stream of consciousness, the trembling yet heart-wrenching vocal performance, and the motif of Taylor Zantingh of having to interrupt herself with “cut, again” every so often before having to repeat the line, as the two-chords that score the song gradually ramp up in intensity. The anger, heartbreak, trauma and hopelessness delivered within just five minutes alone is palpable. This band’s music is utterly essential, and this is their best work yet.
Words: Noise Leonard
Spanish Love Songs - Doom Tripping
SPANISH LOVE SONGS maintain their signature composition of hazy, upbeat melodies with end-of-the-world-but-we’ll-be-ok lyrics. A bright, 80s synthpop sound takes centre stage on Doom Tripping. The second release from their highly anticipated sixth album Future Nausea, Dylan Slocum takes you through his sombre internal monologue on the state of today. Recommended to be played loud in your car with the windows down and hoping for a better tomorrow; or at their upcoming UK tour in February 2027. “I’m vibing in hell” - with this single.
Words: Kim Horsley
Stand Atlantic - NEXT2U
With only 15 days remaining before STAND ATLANTIC drop their latest album GODBREATH, the Aussie four piece released their final single NEXT2U. The group might be known for their slightly more unconventional love songs (we’re looking at you LOVE U ANYWAY), but this latest track is an ode to friendship and the loved ones they leave on the other side of the world every time they tour outside of Australia, as much as it’s for the romantics. And as a band approaching their 15 year anniversary in 2027, it’s refreshing to see that the love (and consistent, catchy pop punk tunes) are still there.
Words: Jade du Preez
Taylor Acorn - Growing Pains
In TAYLOR ACORN’s latest slowed down track, Growing Pains, she laments about the pains that follow you throughout your life, even when you think you’ve moved on as an adult. It’s a gut punch of a message rolled up in her classic pop punk sound. A track from the deluxe version of her upcoming album Poster Child, which sees four new TAYLOR ACORN songs slip onto the new record, this song will be the perfect slowed down addition to her live set list.
Words: Jade du Preez
Weathers - Teeth
WEATHERS continue their strong run of singles with Teeth, an alt-rock track driven by grungy guitar work and an incredibly catchy chorus. The guitars give the song a heavier edge, with lo-fi backing vocal effects appearing at key moments. Cameron Boyer’s distinctive vocals are a natural fit for the genre, giving the track the gritty quality that suits it so well. Longtime fans will also spot a cheeky lyrical nod to the hit C’est la vie, connecting the song to the band’s earlier work. The accompanying lyric visualiser further establishes its aesthetic, while its release alongside recent single Antidote continues to build excitement for whatever WEATHERS have in store next.
Words: Lorena Hurtado
Editor: Naomi Colliar Duff
Photos: Various Artists
Comments