Here at Revolver, we're always on the hunt for new songs to bang our heads to — indeed, it's a big part of our jobs. With that in mind, here are the tracks released this week in metal, hard rock and hardcore that have been on heavy rotation at Revolver HQ. For your listening pleasure, we've also compiled the songs in a Spotify playlist, which will grow each week.
Run the Jewels - "JU$T (feat. Pharrell Williams and Zack de la Rocha)"
We're not gonna lie: The second that Run the Jewels, a.k.a. the incendiary hip-hop duo of Killer Mike and El-P, surprise-released their new album, RJT4, for free download two days early, we skipped right ahead to track No. 7: the track featuring Rage Against the Machine's Zack de la Rocha. It does not disappoint. Revolving around the biting hook, "Look at all these slave masters/Posin' on yo' dollar," the cut also features Pharrell Williams, but of course Zack steals the show, spitting fire with his verse just when we need him most. "The breath in me is weaponry." Indeed.
Wargasm - "SPIT."
At first your head might spin at this challenging yet furiously fun new track from Wargasm, a coed London duo that aims to write "angry songs for sad people." They don't necessarily sound like their U.K. comrades Bring Me the Horizon, but they employ a similar tactic: pack as many genres into one song and see how it rips. And "SPIT."? It's absolutely chaotic in the most brilliant way possible with a heavy dose of old-school English punk, charging electro and insane pop rock plus a touch of trudging nu-metal. Whatever international model Milkie Way and D.I.Y veteran Sam Matlock are up to, we're here for it.
Giver - "Order From Above"
German hardcore quintet Giver are no strangers to sociopolitically charged songs — their recent album Sculpture of Violence includes powerful cuts that take on everything from toxic masculinity to climate change. Written during the sessions for that LP and released at the timeliest moment imaginable, "Order From Above" is an inspired tantrum about police brutality that's no less impactful than any album track. Putting their money where their music is, Giver are donating all proceeds from the single to the ISD (Initiative of Black People in Germany.)
Poppy - "All the Things She Said"
While artists are currently and understandably occupied with the issues of racism and police brutality, June is also Pride Month. In honor of that fact, genre-bending musician Poppy covered t.A.T.u's "All The Things She Said" to promote LGBTQIA equality: "We still have a long way to go," she commented, "and there still remains an absurd amount of injustice for minorities in America." Her take on the Russian pop duo's catchy international hit is explicit, bold, fearless and super hard not to play on endless repeat.
Black Crown Initiate - "Sun of War"
Progressive death-metal group Black Crown Initiate's "Sun of War" is a stunner off their forthcoming album, Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape. A seven-minute epic, it starts as an atmospheric crawl, which leads up to blasting, aggressive technical riffs and in-your-face gutteral vocals, which then lead up to a daunting breakdown to close it all out. The Pennsylvania-based quartet continue to impress.
Low Estate - "Servants of Progress, Slaves to Fear"
If the name Jimmy Hubbard sounds familiar, it might be because the dude is one of our own, namely, Revolver's badass creative director. He's also the vocalist and lyricist for Low Estate, a multi-state supergroup of sorts that features guitarist Geoff Garlock (Orchid), bassist Brendan Tobin (Red Sparowes) and drummer Christopher Todd (ex-Sannhet). Their first offering since 2017's Covert Cult of Death LP, this Adult Swim single is a gnarly slab of noise-rock-scarred extreme metal. Crank it up loud.
