LIONHEART - VALLEY OF DEATH II (Arising Empire)

Shifting from journeymen to juggernaut, Bay Area metallic hardcore collective Lionheart has submitted their most ferocious work to date with Valley of Death II. The follow-up to the break out Welcome to the West Coast III from 2022, which included the cosign of Jamey Jasta and Will Putney, the Oakland hitters have reemerged with a laser-focused brand of unflinching hardcore that never lets off the gas. Weighty guitars, confrontational lyrics and those thudding breakdowns combined with West Coast style points make for a record that bumps. Along with guest spots from both A Day to Remember and Kublai Khan, Lionheart have covered all the bases. 

BITE DOWN - VIOLENT PLAYGROUND (Prime Collective)

Swedish metalcore prospects Bite Down have issued a compelling statement with their latest full length, Violent Playground. Roping in elements of hardcore, the occasional electronic break and a guest assist from cinematic metal countrymen Orbit Culture for good measure, there is an elevated level of technicality that makes this more than a promising metalcore entry. Achieving an album that checks off aggression and artistry with no pretense make Bite Down a serious contender. 

CHOPPING BLOCK - NOWHERE TO RUN (Indecision Records)

Earning their stripes as Seattle's hardcore standouts, Chopping Block made an important move last year. Aligning with hardcore authority Indecision Records, the PNW collective's first full length via the label is a tried and true hardcore record that will no doubt shine a light on the region. Pairing punk songwriting sensibility with hardcore execution and urgency, the band understood the assignment in joining Indecision and more than delivered. 

CALLING ALL CAPTAINS - THE THINGS I'VE LOST (New Damage)

Edmonton unit Calling All Captains have unlocked something special with their latest EP. As evidenced by standout singles like the Tom Denney of A Day to Remember-assisted  "Blood for Blood," the band's caliber of work takes emotive emo punk and supercharged it. While navigating very personal lyrical stanzas, the instrumentation seamlessly shifts from melodic to muscular in a way that is cohesive and calculated. Across seven tracks The Things I've Lost manages to be both explosive and emotive, ensuring something for everyone. 

ALTER BRIDGE - ALTER BRIDGE (Napalm Records)

Here is the reality... when you have both Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti leading the charge, nothing less than elite level songwriting is going to make the cut. Such is the case with the latest full length from Alter Bridge. Backed by two of rock music's most respected and accomplished craftsmen, the technical prowess and decades of consistency are evident in the caliber of songs. Each track is another presentation in a rock music clinic with two tenured professors at the podium.