Features

Dream Nails: “Queer punks are here. Black punks are here. Trans punks are here… Back us, we back ourselves”

British punk quartet Dream Nails’ new album, Doom Loop, deals with incels, toxic masculinity, sexual assault and the “joy and grief” of being queer, with vibrance and fun. “We take what we have to say very seriously, but not ourselves…”

Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter: “My objective is to challenge people”

Lingua Ignota is no more, now bear witness to the resurrection. Leaving her former moniker and outlet behind, the new Reverend has finally found inner peace, having exorcised her demons through one of the most uncomfortable records of the year. From speaking in tongues to confronting her own relationship with religion, this is the second coming of Kristin Hayter.

Saint Agnes’ Kitty A. Austen: The 10 songs that changed my life

From listening to music as a “weirdly serious kid” to obsessing over Nine Inch Nails in the present, Saint Agnes’ Kitty A. Austen reveals the most important tracks in her life.

††† (Crosses): “It’s a trip to really trace where my head was at for each song”

Last year’s PERMANENT.RADIANT EP was the first Crosses release in eight years. But now, Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez are already back with even more music: their incredible second album Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. The duo talk teaming up with Robert Smith and El-P, creating a musical journey, and working their way through life’s “maze”…

Mike Shinoda: “It feels good to say, ‘I’m in a different phase now.’ We put a little extra love into this”

Simultaneously a return to his roots and part of a fresh solo chapter, Mike Shinoda is back with a brilliant new single, ALREADY OVER. And from doing the whole thing himself to putting added “thoughtfulness” into this era, he’s here to make it count…

Bambie Thug: “I don’t like fighting with people but I will hit them with my lyrical fist, no problem”

Bambie Thug has never been one to conform to rules or convention. And the ouija-pop artist is getting even more experimental with their genre-bending new EP, Cathexis. Say hello to music’s coolest new weirdo…

“A guy was drinking fluid out of the dry ice machine”: Inside Shane Embury’s new autobiography

Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury’s new autobiography is an unbelievable ride. In this exclusive extract of Life…? And Napalm Death, we find the band in America where they witness wild gigs, violence and odd drink choices…

Citizen’s track-by-track guide to new album Calling The Dogs

From its “whirlpool” opening to “triumphant” closer, Citizen vocalist Mat Kerekes details the meaning and inspiration behind every song on Calling The Dogs…

Tropic Gold: “If someone has their darkness dampened by our music, we’re happy”

Tropic Gold are one of the hottest new bands in Britain. Here’s five reasons you have to check them out, in their own words…

Creeper: “It’s harder to take left turns the more you do it… this had to be darker and more grandiose”

Since their 2014 formation, Southampton goth-punk heroes Creeper have been the undefeated masters of defying fan expectations. And third album Sanguivore – the band’s “big vampire record” – is no exception. Allow the newly-christened William von Ghould to reveal all…

Svalbard’s track-by-track guide to new album The Weight Of The Mask

Svalbard’s brilliant and deeply personal new album, The Weight Of The Mask, comes out on Friday. Serena Cherry guides us through its emotional valleys, one song at a time…

From Paris Hilton to Pierce The Veil: The icons who inspired Scene Queen

Which artists helped shape the artists you love? For Scene Queen, it’s all about killer songwriters, an emo nice-guy, and a hotel heiress…

Grove Street: “The hardcore scene is saturated with bands trying to look tough. But that’s not us!”

They’ve dropped ‘Families’ from their name and refined their crossover hardcore sound. Now Grove Street are releasing their long-awaited debut. They’re still having a goof, even if their rising profile means they have started taking themselves “a tiny bit seriously…”

Ben Barlow: “We’re going back to our roots and we’re really stoked. This feels like Neck Deep”

Following an unsuccessful trip to Los Angeles to work on their fifth album, Neck Deep decided to return – quite literally – to their roots, and record back home in Wrexham. Vocalist Ben Barlow reveals how this helped them shape the most “true” version of the band, and how good it feels to just play pop-punk rippers…

Koyo: “There’s no smoke and mirrors here – we’re going for it”

As Koyo prepare to unveil excellent debut album Would You Miss it?, vocalist Joseph Chiaramonte looks back at the lows, highs and – most importantly – friendships that power Long Island’s best new hardcore band…

10 reasons why you need Undeath in your life

In the past 18 months, New York heavyists Undeath dropped one of modern death metal’s best albums and destroyed Download Festival. As they prepare to return to the UK, vocalist Alex Jones and guitarist Kyle Beam tell us everything we need to know about big riffs, killer shows and how brutal a pair of Crocs can be…

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