The Über Rock Singles Club – Feverish February (Part Two)

Curated by Monk

Such has been the level of productivity across the rock and metal Überverse that some of you may have noticed that the Club is opening on a weekly basis, just to keep up with the sheer quantity of quality (see, you can have both) releases that are burning our eardrums at the moment. So, let’s cut the crap and get on with spinning those deathdecks:

Anima Inside ‘Through The Glass’ (Rockshots Records)

Our opening selection comes all the way from tropical Ecuador, from where these progressive modern metallers serve us another compelling and powerful sample of their upcoming album, due for release in the Spring:

Archers ‘Never Enough’ (SBG Records)

This Wisconsin metalcore mob deliver yet another impactful standalone singe, and can be seen here in the Uber Kingdom in June, when they follow their Download appearance with a pair of headline shows in Bristol and Camden:

Forty Foot ‘Operator’ (Self-Released)

The first in a triptych of acts from the Emerald Isle and also the first making a return to our playlist, these Dublin alt-rockers deliver another slice of Nineties-tinged nostalgia with this focus track from their just released debut EP, ‘Body Breaking‘:

Frayed Ends BC ‘Home Truths 2.0 (Halink Remix)’ (Singular Recordings)

As its title suggests, this is a remix of an old track by a band who have quite possibly singularly grabbed a Belfast hardcore scene that was arguably dying on its DM-clad feet and brought it kicking and screaming back to life, with this release timed to coincide with their storming of this year’s Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses competition:

Haunted Images ‘Stay Awake’ (Self-Released)

Regarded as one of the most vital voices in the Irish shoegaze/alt-rock scene, Haunted Images is the singular vision of producer and songwriter David O’Farrell-McGeary, who creates beautiful, ethereal alt-rock shoegaze that juxtaposes modern alt-metal influences such as Deftones and Deafheaven against the left field ambience of Aphex Twin and shoegaze mainstays My Bloody Valentine:

Midland Railway ‘She Loves Ted Bundy’ (Self-Released)

Having met each other through a combination of gigs around Manchester University, Magic The Gathering Tournaments, and the LTA Local Tennis Leagues, Midland Railway have developed their unique brand of melodic nerd-rock that combines Weezer-inspired guitar sounds with some Bright Eyes-inspired misery, Magnetic Fields-esq dark humour, and some extremely specific references to the band’s interests, hobbies, and experiences, leading to songs about topics such as Pokémon, online football management – and serial killers.

Needless ‘Derelict’ (Inertial Music)

The Hungarian technical death dealers deliver “a kind of vision of the future of humanity: a very plausible outcome where we have lost our way, never learning from the mistakes of the past, and becoming completely lost in our own fate” on the opening salvo from their upcoming third album:

Nightstalker ‘Heavy Trippin’ (Heavy Psych Sounds)

These Greek monoliths are preparing to take us on a seriously heavy trip, which will see us ‘Return From The Point Of No Return‘ when they release the seventh studio album of their 30+ year career:

Punchcard ‘Stealing My Identity’ (Self-Released)

The San Diego punk trio are set to release their most intense and electrifying album to date, when they will introduce to their ‘Soap Box Hero’ later this month:

Rainbows Are Free ‘The Gift’ (Ripple Music)

Music is the gift that keeps on giving, and these Oklahoma riffmeisters continue to do the same with this latest doom-laden sample from their upcoming new album, which promises to deliver ‘Silver And Gold‘ by the tonne when it is released at the beginning of March:

Silver Dollar Room ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ (Self-Released)

These Scottish alt-rockers are currently prepping their second album, and wear their influences very clearly on their sleeves with this well drawn, stripped back cover of the Manics classic, taken from their recent acoustic EP, which also saw them rework some of the songs from their debut album:

Stayawhile ‘Venom’ (Self-Released)

Despite their latest single’s title, these friends, brothers and fun-loving tetrad have an easy going, laugh centric attitude to life which often finds itself distilled deep into many of their songs:

Telepathy ‘Augury’ (Pelagic Records)

These avant-garde post-metal instrumentalists are continuing to build momentum for their upcoming album, which will see them making some serious ‘Transmissions’ when it is released at the end of March. This single is actually the second part of the previously released ‘Oath’, with the two tracks designed to be listened to conjunctively:

Vallorch ‘Drink Some More’ (Rockshots Records)

We don’t really need much encouragement to accept the invitation in the title of this, the latest taster from the Italian symphonic folk metallers’ upcoming new album, which will see them completing ‘The Circle‘ next month:

Voidchaser ‘Dogma’ (Self-Released)

Our final selection sees these Mike Portnoy-endorsed Canadian prog metallers combining traditional instruments such as oud and bansuri flute with a violin quintet AND a saxophone solo to push the envelope still further on this second interconnected taster from their upcoming thematic trilogy completing EP, which will see them asking for our ‘Trust’ next month:

So, there you have it, our latest dynamic and eclectic selection. Hopefully we’ve opened your ears to some new sounds, and pointed you in the direction of some fine tuneage to kick your year off in style… We”’ be back next week with one of our special editions, as we focus on some of the most powerful and unique female voices making their mark on the Uberverse at the moment. So, until then, remember: keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on Über Rockin’ in the free world \m/