In very old English currency there were 63 groats to a guinea. By our reckoning, at today’s prices that’s about a bucketful of coins to hand over the bar for each pint. One more reason to be grateful for contactless payments.
12:55 GMT God Unknown is the new single from Porto-based Spiralist. The song is taken from Violent Feathers, due for release on 23 May 2025. The album blends heavy, industrial, electronic flavours with a tinge of Rock and more accessible sensibilities.
The band describe God Unknown as “A deeply personal song about generational trauma. It tells the story of an ageing patriarch forced to confront the consequences of his narcissistic ways while grieving a significant personal loss.”
Formed in 2018, Spiralist was the brainchild of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bruno Costa as a vehicle to extremely personal lyricism and both traumatic and therapeutic subject matter.
12:20 GMT Himalayas have released the new single Surrender today, taken from their new album Bad Star, which is set for release on 25 April 2025 via Nettwerk Music Group. This new single is a haunting, cavernous rock track that explores the dangers of blind loyalty to individuals and organizations, confronting the willingness to accept their words without question.
“Surrender was one of the earliest tracks written for Bad Star,” guitarist and songwriter Mike Griffiths says. “We wanted to create something heavy and in your face while keeping it interesting and allowing the music to keep moving forward.
“It started off with a handful of riffs that felt like they worked together, and once we had added drums to the demo, the song took on a new energy which influenced the ebb and flow of the guitar parts.”
There are themes in the song of exposing the struggle to understand differing perspectives—fueling division rather than fostering unity in pursuit of a common goal.
“The lyrics and vocal parts were written to complement the aggression of the music,” Griffiths “and discuss the stubbornness of overly partisan ways of thinking.”
The Cardiff rock band are currently in America performing a number of showcases at SXSW and their final show is at the British Music Embassy tomorrow (15 March). They are performing further festivals this year, including Y Not Festival and In It Together Festival 2025.
09:59 GMT The Mary Tyler Whores have just released their fourth single, Whip It. Produced by punk legend Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks / Bad Religion), this is a high-voltage version of Devo’s cult classic.
For frontman Frankie ‘Crime’ Cassara, this cover is more than just a tribute – it is a full-circle moment. “The first time I ever heard Devo’s Whip It,” Frankie told us, “I was 10 years old in Bushwick, Brooklyn. My father took me to my brother’s dive bar, and the song was blasting while some wild daredevil chick was riding a mechanical bull.
“That moment seared itself into my brain. I asked my brother, ‘What the hell kinda music is this?’ and from then on, Devo became a cornerstone of my love for punk and new wave.” Whip It is available from here.
09:46 We all loved it so much last time that it is great to hear that Tank and Leader Of Down are getting together for another night of exceptional Metal fun at Cart & Horses, the birthplace of Iron Maiden. This epic evening is written in concrete in our diaries for Thursday, 5th of June 2025.
The last show there saw a brilliantly strewn-together show that had the crowd right in the palm of Tank’s hand. We spoke to Cliff and Mick after the gig. Hardly being able to hear anything above the after-show excitement that had wrapped around the Cart & Horses, the guys were almost as buzzed as we were.
Tank have just released Live In Texas, a blistering live EP recorded at Hell’s Heroes Festival 2024. You can read about that and much more here.
We are expecting to see Karl Wilcox back on stage for these dates after his quadruple bypass. Karl spoke at length with MetalTalk’s Steve Ritchie recently, and you can read that interview here.
Leader of Down are the brainchild of Grammy-nominated former Motörhead guitarist Würzel and bass player Tim Atkinson. They have a worldwide deal with Los Angeles-based label Cleopatra Records and have now released The Screwtape Letters, the follow-up to Cascade into Chaos. We love Leader Of Down, too, and you can read more about them here.
Lukather Joins Van Halen?
09:20 GMT Reports in a Dutch newspaper remarkably claim that Alex van Halen is working with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather on songs for a new Van Halen album.
In an interview with the Telegraaf, the Dutch drummer revealed that there were many recordings he made with his brother Eddie van Halen before his death. Hmm….
Claro Que No – Running On Empty
09:03 GMT Bucharest’s Claro Que No have released their debut EP, We Couldn’t Settle On One, with the first single, Running On Empty, released this morning.
Driven by tribal-style rhythms, Running On Empty builds tension with brooding intensity, layer by layer, until its final detonation into a massive, fuzz-fuelled climax. Lyrically, the songs looks at overcoming burnout and depression and delivers the kind of cathartic release that fans of Royal Blood or Queens Of The Stone Age crave.
Claro Que No will headline the legendary Control Club in Bucharest on 18 March 2025 to celebrate the release of the EP, with further live dates to be announced soon.
Claro Que No are Dany Serrano (vocals, guitars), Andrey Baydin (lead guitar) and Andrei Ilie (drums).
Djerv Unleash Explosive New Single Reignbreaker
08:59 GMT Norwegian Heavy Metal outfit Djerv have just released their latest single, Reignbreaker, written for the new action game of the same name. Known for their seamless fusion of Metal and gaming culture, Djerv have previously collaborated on major titles like League Of Legends and Arcane: Season 2.
Reignbreaker continues this tradition, delivering an intense, rebellious soundscape that perfectly complements the dystopian themes of the game. The track captures the essence of resistance, echoing the game’s anti-authoritarian narrative and protagonist Clef’s struggle against a tyrannical regime.
Vocalist Agnete Kjølsrud describes Reignbreaker as a unique departure from the band’s usual sound, incorporating a slower tempo yet maintaining the raw intensity Djerv is known for. “With this track, we wanted to try something new,” Kjølsrud said. “It has a different vibe – almost like a march, something we’ve never done before. We’ve slowed down the tempo, but the energy is still intense. It’s about channelling the power and drive needed when you’re ready to tear down the system.”
Reignbreaker, developed by Studio Fizbin, is set to launch on 18 March 2025. Alexander Pieper, head of Studio Fizbin, has praised Djerv’s ability to channel the energy and spirit of punk and Metal, making them the perfect choice for the game’s title track.
For more details, visit ffm.to/reignbreaker.
