Nearly halfway through the year and it feels like the world is ending, yet the international metal scenes are still churning. There’s been some insane singles spewing out all over, from South America to Eastern Europe.
Bronze Tier: Metal Single of the Month – May 2025
Matraque
“Volya”
Released via Ashen Tree Records
Based in Minsk, Belarus
“Paranoia is just a heightened sense of awareness,” quoted Hunter Thompson. Conceptually on the topic of surveillance and freewill, the four-piece of Matraque plunge into murky music on “Volya.” Alexander Goncharov’s blackened vocals shriek and downtrodden synths blare out with the inertia of life – slow, plodding, torturous. The instrumental section (Vlad, Anton, and Evgeniy) lay down asphalt heaviness, sometimes reeking of sludge-doom, other times with experimental death metal aggression.
FFO: Goatwhore, Primitive Man, Chat Pile
New album ‘Nature Morte’ is available on cassette and CD
Silver Tier: Metal Single of the Month – May 2025
Pridian
“Convoy”
Released via Century Media
Based in Tartu, Estonia
Amongst the recent singles churned out by this modern metalcore act, “Convoy” is the most vulnerable. Waves of ambience echo out, leaning on the scene’s experimental Deftones influence. I’m certain that the crowd will be absolutely emotionally moved once Pridian brings this to the live stage. Meshed with lonely, intergalactic visuals by Aleksei Kulikov, this music video and track is a serious vibe.
FFO: Loathe, Allt, The Devil Wears Prada
New album ‘Venetian Dark’ is available on vinyl and CD
Gold Tier: Metal Single of the Month – May 2025
Mawiza
“Wingkawnoam”
Released via Season of Mist
Based in Santiago, Chile
Genuinely, Mawiza sounds like no one else; native instruments and indigenous rhythms orchestrate groovy, folk metal through their music. Directed by Andrés Hetzler, the video for “Wingkawnoam” (translated to “decolonize”) depicts the Mapuche people holding a Catholic priest hostage, playing the traditional field hockey game of palin, and clubbing said priest to a bloodied death – revisionist history at it’s most tasteful. The combined vocal force of Awka, Karü, and Zewü paired with Txalkan’s percussion here is truly inspiring.
FFO: Alien Weaponry, The Hu, Gojira
Upcoming album ‘ÜL’ drops on July 18