Happy New Year! The Mic Recs are back with a particularly heavy and awakening selection to begin 2023. Check out our writers' opinions on new tracks by Trivium, Enter Shikari, Sleep Token and more.
Implore The Darken Sky – Trivium
American metal heavyweights Trivium have dropped a cover of their current tourmates’, Heaven Shall Burn, 2002 song Implore The Darken Sky. The song is off the album Whatever It May Take, and the band twist it into a new sound: they level up the production but also keep it within the original vein of the song. Trivium have managed to inject their own brand of groovy, heavy, death-influenced metalcore into the song with a brilliant outcome. Heaven Shall Burn have recently dropped a new single and Trivium have also decided to copy the single art for their cover, which is a fun little way to promote the band and the excellent metal they’re also releasing! Whilst I must confide that I don’t know much HSB myself, having enjoyed this cover immensely I will be going back to them to explore their discography much more intently, which frankly is possibly the exact outcome that was intended, and certainly has done that well! Jake Longhurst
(pls) set me on fire – Enter Shikari
The British band have come back with a triumphant sound. Describing this single and upcoming album as their rebirth, and the second era of Enter Shikari, you can hear the newfound energy and invigoration of the St Albans-based four-piece. Bringing a high-intensity electronic/punk sound to the table in a similar vein to their third and fourth album, but mixed with the higher production level of their most recent releases, snippets of their post-hardcore beginnings, and the musical maturity they’ve gained over the years, that all congregate to give us one of the most jubilant and uplifting songs the band have released ever. The new album has the potential to set the tone for the British scene over the next year or so, and starting on such a high is only a good thing. Bring on more Shikari! Jake Longhurst
Chokehold – Sleep Token
Sleep Token kicked off 2023 with two new singles within one week. The first one being Chokehold: a captivating track by the enigmatic band, bringing the smooth vocals from the frontman, Vessel. The soft and impressively balanced vocals lay over some killer riffs, bringing a whole new take on metal. The highly melodic number is paired with a darker element of artwork and instrumental feeling. The song is packed with a swaying groove and a taste of the eerie and unsettling, with the croon from the anonymous ‘Vessel’, a classic slice of Sleep Token and their incredible presence and theatrics. Kerenza Hudson
The Summoning – Sleep Token
Only 24 hours after their first release this year, Chokehold, Sleep Token caused an earthquake within the metal scene with a ground-breaking track The Summoning. This whirlwind of a 6-minute long magnum opus showcases the range that the alt-metal band bring and the surprises that hide around every corner. The track is a groovy and brutal masterpiece with an earth-shattering breakdown which leads into a sultry and jazz-like ending. The screaming vocals are some of the best Sleep Token have demonstrated to date alongside the guitar instrumental solos. This insanely varied track has become one of my favourites of Sleep Token, and even if it is a bit too early to tell, may quickly already become my song of the year. The noise following this track assures me their next album going to be crammed with exciting experiments. Kerenza Hudson
As You Die – Bloodbather
Florida-based metallic hardcore/deathcore group Bloodbather have turned up every volume dial they could find to 11 on their new single As You Die. They’ve managed to concoct an unholy marriage of Knocked Loose’s uncompromising aggression, Code Orange’s ear-ripping tone and glitchcore vibe, and the crushing heaviness of the best hardcore and deathcore bands in the business. Make no mistakes, this is not music to study to - this is the kind of music medieval soldiers would’ve used in combat. The band haven’t got too much released as of yet, only one album that came out in 2018, but the release of this single appears to signify the potential for a second LP, and any fans of this side of music should pay really close attention in case this group blows up and becomes the next big thing. Jake Longhurst
Edited by Roxann Yus
Cover image courtesy of Sleep Token via Facebook.
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