As the days tick by, the plethora of new music continues to invade our earholes and we've been met with yet another healthy dose of new tunes to feast upon.
Hook in...
PENI PARKER - ‘v.o.i.d.’
PENI PARKER returns with an emo-rocker that throws in some nu metal influences to give this angsty tune some bounce. I asked Parker what influenced the track and she knows here stuff:
“I’m a huge My Chemical Romance and The Used fan, but also have been listening to a lot of J-rock, like Ado, LiAS and One OK Rock. So this song in particular is a bit of a blend of my influences. [It] would fit into the emo character building arc I guess!”
‘V.o.i.d.’ is a cool tune that Parker has said is “for the eldest children”. With lyrics like “Do I matter to you?” and “Challenging you makes me the Anti-christ”, it is a pretty bitter look at the relationship we might have between parents and their first born offspring. Parker futher revealed:
“I’ve always used songwriting as an outlet for my frustrations, a way to escape whatever I was going through. But when I started this project, I was hesitant to release anything that touched on family. While I love writing rage-filled anthems, this song comes from a very personal place of heartache, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to share that.
Now that I’m in a better place, I realised if this can help even one other queer, opinionated human feel a little less alone in their grief, then putting it out there is worth it.”
Given the personal nature of the song, I wondered what it was like to have the song out.
“It’s weird honestly. It’s like showing an old wound to the world and being like, ‘Here… do you like it?’ That’s so strange, isn't it?”
As an eldest child myself (of six), I shared that I understood the sentiment entirely.
“Oh 100%. I think it’s quite a shared experience, honestly… unfortunately white parents/grandparents have a lot of bigoted opinions… and we grew up with more access to education and empathy to question it and push back.”
Stream ‘‘v.o.i.d.’ here
Words by KJ Draven
Lamb of God - ‘Parasocial Christ’
It’s our second surprise Lamb of God single in six weeks! Following the release of the grinding ‘Sepsis’, new single ‘Parasocial Christ’ kicks straight in with thrash that echoes the Ashes of the Wake or As the Palaces Burn eras. It does eventually slow down but it's full of groove metal. The video is appropriately horrific.
With the quick release of two songs, surely an album announcement is imminent?
Words by KJ Draven
Rob Zombie - ‘Heathen Days’
If ‘Punks and Demons’ excited you, then the next Rob Zombie single confirms that everything old is new again. ‘Heathen Days’ also leans into the Astro Creep 2000 vibes of Zombie’s former band, White Zombie. Like the first single, it is heavy and lyrically nihilistic, but has a faster tempo and might be the most instantly accessible Zombie single in a long time.
The Great Satan is shaping up to be a throwback to Rob’s industrial interests but we still have to wait until February 27, 2026 to hear the whole wicked enterprise.
Listen to ‘Heathen Days’ here.
Pre-Order/save The Great Satan here.
Words by KJ Draven
Megadeth - ‘I Don’t Care’
OH. We can tell Dave, we didn’t need a whole song about it. There’s cool Countdown to Extinction style riffing and sick leads/solos for sure but the lyrics are … not it.
This might dampen some enthusiasm for the final Megadeth album but you can’t deny this is absolutely a Megadeth song. No one else writes like Dave Mustaine (for better or worse). The video has some pro skaters, which is cool.
Pre Save/order the FINAL album Megadeth here. It is out January 23, 2026.
Words by KJ Draven
Converge - 'Love Is Not Enough'
Back to the heaviness, Converge is back and they're kicking ass and taking names with the title of their forthcoming album Love is Not Enough - set for release on Feb 13, 2026.
On the song's intense emotion and heaviness, vocalist Jacob Bannon reveals the track:
"...explores what it means to remain empathetic and compassionate in the modern world. A reckoning with who we are today and hope to be in the future— if we can fend off the scavengers..."
Those underlying themes are prevalent throughout society and Converge's upcoming 11th studio album with Bannon further stating:
“I think that realism is missing from a lot of modern music of any genre, but especially our genre... Things either go super raw and almost chaotic to the point where it's distracting, or bands take the life out of what they’re doing by editing every aspect. Sometimes the perfect take is the one that has some wildness to it. It's not perfectly executed. There’s a lot of powerful moments on this record and a lot of angry moments. The realism amplifies that.”
Need some raw, ferociousness in your life? Have at new Converge and lose yourself.
pre-order the album here
stream 'Love is Not Enough' here
Hate Complex - 'Silence'
Hate Complex's newbie 'Silence' is a brutal track that beats you into a submission, then picks you up to pummel you over and over. This heavy banger is the first single from their debut album Dissonance, out January 30th, which seems to be shaping up into an early 2026 addition to the gym playlist.
Stream it here
Words by Tyler Lubke
SLAUGHTERCULT - 'Demo 2025'
New South Wales’ own masters of meat-headed mayhem, SLAUGHTERCULT, have just completed their latest EP titled A three track, 9 minute master stroke that continues to set them up as Australia’s next great brutal death metal export.
This will serve as a beaut taster ahead of their as yet untitled upcoming album. 2026 should be a big year for the Sydney sickos. With their incoming new opus (probably titled RECORD 2026) and an Australia wide tour in support of KRAANIUM in April, things are looking up for this deceptively sweet looking trio.
Grab your blankie and press play. I dare ya.
stream it here
Words by Duane James
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