Formed in Cardiff in 2015, the band is working as a three-piece since long-term drummer Ashley Green departed the band in 2024. The current lineup consists of vocalist Lucas Woodland, guitarist Scott Carey, and bassist Benjamin Elliott. After signing with Sharptone Records in 2017, the band released albums ‘Holding Absence’ in 2019, ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’ in 2021, and ‘The Noble Art of Self Destruction’ in 2023.

Their general sound is a more modern, polished take on 2000s emo, taking a framework of contemporary post-hardcore and packing it with emotional lyrical depth and atmospheric moods. Woodland’s impressive vocal talents balance the heavy and soft sections equally, which made him a natural candidate when Welsh emo royalty Funeral For A Friend needed a stand-in vocalist in 2023. He has since split time playing live shows with both bands, with no new music appearing since he took on the role until this week.

The trio announced vague plans on New Year’s Eve 2025, with a simple Instagram post reading “Holding Absence will return in 2026”, before leaving a trail of breadcrumbs on social media throughout March. The hints culminated in the reveal on the 31st of March that the new single ‘Whisper Of A Dream’ would come out on the 2nd of April. The single came with the news of the change in label – American label Sumerian Records are best known for their endorsement of metal bands, but Holding Absence will be accompanied by their musical peers Bad Omens and Static Dress.

‘Whisper Of A Dream’ maintains the band’s classic emotional post-hardcore styling, while incorporating glitchy electronic stabs and robotic vocoder vocal cuts, providing the voice for their new mechanical mascot who stars in the video. Frontman Lucas Woodland states “Lyrically and conceptually, the song draws heavily from cyberpunk media. Contemplation, sentience and dreaming in an ever-evolving world. The music video also introduces our robot mascot Y4-BB0, a character you’ll be seeing more of in the coming years.” Speaking of where the song fits into the grand scheme of their return to the fray, Woodland also says ‘Whisper Of A Dream “felt like the perfect song to return with. In many ways, it represents everything Holding Absence has always been, while introducing new elements to our sound and opening the door to what comes next.”

This cyberpunk-inspired rebirth of Holding Absence ironically follows the dystopian news last year that an AI band trained on their music had overtaken them on Spotify streaming figures. Woodland spoke out on social media site X about the AI-generated music released by “Bleeding Verse”, which openly listed both Holding Absence and US group Dayseeker as its influences, and how it had surpassed his band’s listening statistics for the year in just two months. In the thread of his musings, Woodland commented “It’s shocking, it’s disheartening, it’s insulting – most importantly – it’s a wake up call. Oppose AI music, or bands like us stop existing.”

‘Whisper Of A Dream’ is available now on streaming platforms, with more music likely to arrive via Sumerian later in the year. Catch Holding Absence on Enter Shikari’s tour this November, as it hits the UK and Europe with The Callous Daoboys opening. Dates for the run are here:

NOVEMBER
• 3 – Sporthalle, Hamburg
• 4 – Zenith, Munich
• 5 – Haus Auensee, Leipzig
• 6 – Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Düsseldorf
• 7 – Columbiahalle, Berlin
• 10 – Forest National, Brussels
• 11 – 013 Poppodium, Tilburg
• 13 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
• 14 0 Utilita Arena, Cardiff
• 15 – Connexin Live, Hull
• 18 – OVO Hydro, Hull
• 19 – Co-op Live, Manchester
• 20 – Alexandra Palace, London
• 21 – Alexandra Palace, London

Along with the announcement on July 4, the group dropped a new single titled ‘You Say It’s Love’, giving fans a taster of what the upcoming album will hold. In a press release, they broke down the meaning of the new song: “Following the bruised introspection of ‘Save Your Words’, ‘You Say It’s Love’ sharpens the focus – no longer lost in aftermath, but standing face-to-face with the quiet duplicity of love spoken, not shown.

“This is not a song of heartbreak, but of exposure. It peels back the veneer of romantic performance, revealing the rot beneath sweet words left unproven. There is a simmering restraint here – a tension that asks, ‘What is love without truth?’ It’s a confrontation, not a collapse. The bitterness is measured, precise – ‘bleeding out the bitter heart of you’ doesn’t scream; it cuts. In that wound, the track finds its strength: the clarity that comes when illusions finally fall away.

“In the end, ‘You Say It’s Love’ doesn’t mourn what was lost – it questions whether it was ever there at all.”

A recent article from Already Heard detailed some of the storytelling behind ‘In The Hope This Finds You’, visually and conceptually. The release will centre around two characters: the anonymous figure (concealed beneath a red sheet) and the main protagonist. It’s said that the anonymous figure represents the “personification of deceit”, while the protagonist is embodied by two symbols: a blindfold and a crown. You can see some of this imagery manifest in their music video for ‘You Say It’s Love’, where both characters are present.

@lonesomebanduk Describe this in one word #metaltok #altmusic #posthardcore #bandsoftiktok ♬ Liar – Lonesome

It will be Lonesome’s first release through Easy Life Entertainment, and independent business that provides artist management, recording and PR services. Founded in 2020, their roster has included acts like Bury Tomorrow, SOTA and Bears In Trees, and has also delivered Top 40 albums for groups like Lower Than Atlantis and Tonight Alive.

You can find the full tracklist for the upcoming album below.

Lonesome – ‘In The Hope This Finds You’ Tracklist

1. Liar
2.  Save Your Words
3.  Can You Hear Me
4. When I Speak To You
5. You Say It’s Love
6. We Are Sleepless
7. And I Am Just Alone
8. For We Are Strangers Again
9. You’re Nothing
10. Just Like You Wrote To Me

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A post shared by Sunny Day Real Estate (@sunnydayrealestate)

The Seattle-based quartet, formed in 1992, will embark on a full North American and European tour, celebrating their return to the stage and the release of new material. Their comeback has been eagerly anticipated by fans who have long hoped for a revival following their sporadic reunions over the years. Sunny Day Real Estate played a pivotal role in shaping the second wave of emo music. Their debut album ‘Diary‘ (1994) is often regarded as a defining record of the genre. 

Though predominantly associated with the US emo movement, Sunny Day Real Estate gained a cult following in the UK. Tracks such as ‘Seven‘, ‘In Circles‘, and ‘Pillars‘ resonated with British fans, many of whom discovered the band through underground scenes, alternative radio stations, and record stores specialising in indie and punk music. The band’s influence was also felt in the UK’s post-hardcore and indie-emo scenes in the late ’90s and early 2000s, with acts such as Biffy Clyro preivously citing them as an inspiration.

The band has recently re-emerged with new material, notably the single ‘Novum Vetus’, their first release in a decade. Originally conceived during the 1997 sessions for ‘How It Feels to Be Something On‘, the band revisited and recorded the track at Seattle’s London Bridge Studio, resulting in a seven-minute composition that blends their signature sound with contemporary elements. In addition to the single, the band undertook a live re-recording of their seminal 1994 debut album at the same studio. This project captures the raw energy of their early work while reflecting the band’s evolution over the past three decades.

While there has been no official word on additional UK shows, the overwhelming demand could potentially lead to more dates being added. The Outbreak Festival is an annual music festival renowned for celebrating underground music, with a strong emphasis on hardcore and punk genres. As of now, tickets for both the London and Manchester events are still available for purchase. Given the festival’s popularity and the high-profile lineup, it’s advisable to secure tickets promptly to avoid missing out.

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A post shared by Outbreak Fest (@outbreakfest)

As Sunny Day Real Estate prepare to bring their signature sound to London and Manchester, UK fans will finally get to witness the raw energy and powerful performances that have cemented their legendary status in the emo scene. For further tour updates, visit the band’s official website and Instagram.

The Utah rockers will start touring in April 2025 through nine North American cities, scheduling three back-to-back dates in each city to dedicate a night to each of their first three albums.

In the UK, they have three dates in three different venues, playing their self-titled at The Dome in London on May 22^nd, In Love And Death at Slam Dunk South Festival on May 24^th in Hatfield, and Lies For The Liars at Slam Dunk North on May 25^th in Leeds.

In a press release, vocalist Bert McCracken announced he’s “Overwhelmed!” at the chance to honour the bands early catalogue and hit the road. “These first three records are what put The Used on the map. I can’t wait to experience the joy in playing all three records from front to back. I know it will be an amazing time. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Sending love to you all and I hope to see you there!”.

Bassist Jeph Howard says the group feels “Extremely lucky and humbled to have been a part of something way bigger than ourselves for the past 25 years. To everyone that has been there from the beginning or is just starting out your adventure with us thank you. Here’s to the next 25!”

During an era where there’s been a resurgence in popularity for 2000’s alt-rock/emo, reunions of bands like My Chemical Romance, critically acclaimed music from Paramore, and festivals like When We Were Young hosting sets from legends like Weezer, Panic! At The Disco and Taking Back Sunday, McCracken is happy to see a comeback for the genre, telling Kerrang “We’ve been an emo band for the last 23 years. We never stopped. We never broke up. We never went anywhere. I could be bitter about that, but music is music, man. Ultimately, seeing people return after so long makes us grateful that we never left.”

The Used formed in the summer of 2000, naming their band after their friends told them they felt “used” as their relationships strained, while the band became more focused on their music. They released their debut in 2002, to a good reception for their melodic post-hardcore anthems like “The Taste Of Ink”. They followed this up in 2004 with the emo/alt-rock sounds of In Love And Death, featuring hits like “All That I’ve Got”. They experimented with an eclectic range of sounds for their 2007 album, Lies For The Liars.

Speaking on the release of their ninth album Toxic Positivity in 2023, and the subsequent tour after COVID, Bert said “Having it taken away from us gave us this whole new appreciation for what we do. We all take this a lot more seriously now. We rehearse for real. We play a warm-up before every set each night. We’ve never been tighter.”

An artist and Ticketmaster pre-sale will be available tomorrow (December 11) at 10am local time. A Spotify pre-sale will happen on Thursday, December 12 at 10am again, and general ticket sales will commence on Friday, December 13^th. Check the bands website for the full list of dates and links to tickets.

What you’ve all been waiting for

Announcing our 25 Year Anniversary Tour. 3 nights each city. 1 album per night in full.

Artist pre-sale Wed, 12/11, at 10 AM local

General on sale Fri, 12/13, at 10AM localhttps://t.co/2EmKk47XFG for access.

We’re just getting started pic.twitter.com/63fxsD0rdj

— The Used (@WeAreTheUsed) December 9, 2024

In February, the band announced that they would split after 20 years together and left fans devastated but understanding as there are very few bands that last 20 years and if they do, line-ups and members are subject to a revolving door of change and movement from members. Something about You Me At Six which makes them special is that they seem to be an anomaly or have at least avoided the curse of becoming a band once iconic but who have become almost unrecognisable due to the substitution of members. The band themselves are delighted with this fact with lead singer Josh Franceschi was quotes in an article by the BBC that he thinks ‘that’s the thing that we’re all fundamentally the most proud of’.

According the BBC, lead singer Josh Franceschi intends the tour to offer a chance for fans to ‘celebrate… rather than [us] slipping out the back door’. The tour will consist of songs from all eight of their albums however as of right now, the band are unsure what they will play or even how to fit 20 years of award winning music into just 2 hours.

You can take a look at the new dates for the ‘Final Days of Six’ tour below.

The band also announced the exciting news in an Instagram post which fans were quick to respond on however it’s not the excitable array of comments you would expect with many hopeful fans feeling cheated by the ticket sites that You Me At Six are using to sell their tickets. Some fans have been commenting expressing their grievances with one user stating ‘this isn’t the announcement we want, we just want ticket sites that don’t crash and links that work’. Many fans have taken to the band’s Instagram page to express disbelief that tickets for the first wave of shows all seemed to sell out at 9am – the exact same time of their release. Still, this hasn’t dampened fan’s anticipation to see the group one final time before the disband for what looks like forever.

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In a bittersweet ending, the band’s last show will fall 20 years after the groups first ever practice to the day on the 4th of April 2025. Tickets go on sale from today, Friday the 31st of May, from 9am BST and you can check out dates for the new flurry of shows on the LIVENATION and Ticketmaster websites as well as the official You Me At Six site here.

These landmark performances will pay homage to the 25th anniversary of their 1999 self-titled debut album, affectionately known as ‘LP1′. In a statement shared via Instagram, American Football expressed their enthusiasm, stating, “We’re thrilled to be going back to the UK this summer / fall for a few very very special shows to commemorate the 25th anniversary of LP1! Outbreak passes are available now and tickets for headline shows go on sale Friday 10am (if you’re on the mailing list though look out for a link sometime this week…)”

Pre-sale tickets for the September dates will commence at 10 am GMT on Wednesday, January 31, with general sale starting at 9 am GMT on Friday, February 2. Tickets for the UK tour can be purchased here, while tickets for Outbreak Festival are already on sale here.

Formed in Urbana, Illinois in 1997, American Football consists of frontman Mike Kinsella, guitarist Steve Holmes, and drummer Steve Lamos. Despite disbanding shortly after their debut album, the trio reunited in 2014, releasing subsequent albums ‘American Football (LP2)’ in 2016 and ‘American Football (LP3)’ in 2019, further cementing their place in the emo genre.

Beyond their musical contributions, American Football recently made headlines with their purchase of the house featured on their debut album cover. This symbolic purchase, jointly orchestrated by the band, Polyvinyl Records, and collaborators, was spurred by the impending sale of the property. Located at 704 W. High Street in Urbana, the house has evolved into a symbol of the band’s identity and holds profound significance for both the band and their fans.

As anticipation builds for their UK tour, the acquisition of the historic house serves as a poignant reminder of American Football’s enduring musical influence and the milestone represented by their 25th anniversary.

Catch American Football live at the dates below:

• 30/06/24 – B.E.C. Arena – Manchester
• 11/09 – Rock City – Nottingham
• 12/09 – Barrowland Ballroom – Glasgow
• 14/09 – Roundhouse – London

Engulfed but still I’ll cope…. Believe is out NOW!

Taken from our sophomore album “REFLECTIONS” out Aug 11th – we’re super excited to share this album with you all! What’s been your favourite single so far?!

– @oliduncanson pic.twitter.com/GS9rfyC1tP

— CASKETS (@Caskets_band) July 14, 2023

As the Leeds based metalcore band prepare to unleash what promises to be a high flying follow up to 2019’s debut Lost Souls, Caskets have given fans a glimpse of what to expect from the new album, with “Believe.” Caskets have already shared four previously released singles, including “More Than Misery”- featuring a guest spot by The Word Alive’s Telle Smith.

Speaking about the new single and video to accompany it, frontman Matt Flood said the song is about “realising and recognising your own worth. It’s about letting go of your own toxicity in your life and making that step forward. Believe in yourself and the choices you’re making. Even if the path doesn’t seem clear right now, they’ll get you where you want to be.”

Caskets announced Reflections back in May and have hinted that the album is a result of the band approaching songwriting in a more collective way-producing a sound that has doubled down on their previous releases while still pushing the boundaries of what they are capable of. Flood said of the new album, “Reflections shows how much more we can get out of the band musically if we all put our heads together a bit more….If we can fit as much into our sound but it still sounds like us, that’s my lifelong goal with Caskets.”

If the five singles released thus far are anything to go by, it is safe to say that Caskets have certainly stepped up their abilities and will deliver a record that is certain to get the scene talking. In a genre that has seen criticisms from some commentators as being saturated with like for like bands, all with similar sonic signatures, it is difficult to stand out from the rest but Caskets are aiming to up the ante for both themselves and for the scene in which they inhabit.

If 2021’s Lost Souls laid the groundwork for what Caskets are capable of, Reflections aims to place the band in a closer trajectory to metalcore giants such as Architects or Bring Me The Horizon-bands that have seen unprecedented success within the sub-genre by extending their sound beyond the confines of metal and adding sounds and flourishes that have set them well apart from their contemporaries.

Our new album “Reflections” is out August 11th. Pre-orders & merchandise are live right now and you can hear the new single More Than Misery on all major streaming platforms https://t.co/zRTH0lkaq9 pic.twitter.com/JQmgpgPIed

— CASKETS (@Caskets_band) May 12, 2023

Caskets are set to tour Australia later this month before then heading to North America. Reflections can be pre-ordered here.

This year’s Slam Dunk Festival is now sold out across both sites! Thank you all for your support in making this year our biggest event yet!

Final tickets for the afterparties and the north pre-party are still available, but all are close to selling out as well. pic.twitter.com/tUKvo74iZ2

— Slam Dunk Festival (@SlamDunkMusic) April 29, 2023

Billed as one of the largest music festivals in the UK this summer, the problems plagued both venues in Hatfield and Leeds respectively. The issues seemed to stem from the first day of the festival in its south location of Hatfield Park, when an unprecedented amount of festival-goers showed up to the venue without advanced parking tickets. This caused a huge strain on the organisation of the venue, as ticket holders found themselves queueing for parking and, in many cases, missing performances that were highly anticipated.

Slam Dunk organisers sought to correct the issue for the second day’s north location in Leeds by only allowing parking ticket holders to enter the car park which, in turn, caused delays on entry to the grounds. Many fans took to social media to vent their anger and frustration but also highlighted long queues for food and toilets as well as a lack of adequate security. On the evening of the 27th, following the Hatfield Park event, Slam Dunk issued an apology to those fans who found themselves stuck in traffic causing a late arrival-blaming the hold up on the arrival of non-parking ticket holders and external factors beyond the organiser’s control.

We sincerely apologise for anyone that was caught in the traffic issues whilst arriving on site today for Slam Dunk South. Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/PKtq0MHlwS

— Slam Dunk Festival (@SlamDunkMusic) May 27, 2023

Voicing disappointment to news outlets and social media, one fan reported, “music was brilliant but pretty much everything else was poor. Food queues were huge, like 100/150 people easy in each line. felt for the girls as the portaloo queues were worse. 7 quid pints and took us 3 hours just to get out.”

Slam Dunk had for weeks announced that the two venues had sold out but many were left exasperated that, at an organisational level, the venue was severely lacking. On the festival’s social media accounts, fans demanded partial refunds, highlighting a lack of clear signage to direct patrons through the car park and once inside the venue.

The criticism undoubtedly serves as a black mark for the festival that featured otherwise brilliant performances from bands that played both sites. Slam Dunk Festival is an annual UK showcase of pop-punk, emo and alternative music that often attracts huge bands and crowds alike. This year’s edition featured headlining sets from Enter Shikari and The Offspring as well as performances by Yellowcard and Creeper.

.@STATICDRESS is now a part of the ROADRUNNER family!!!!! (@RRUSA) https://t.co/3oXF7gaRh4

— johnnyminardi (@johnnyminardi) May 18, 2023

What better way for the group to announce their big news than with a re-issue of their debut album Rouge Carpet Disaster, titled Rouge Carpet Disaster (Redux). The band have been making a considerable splash on the hardcore/metalcore scene with their ambiance building brand of emo, metalcore and electronic rock. Notable for their penchant for world-building through thought provoking lyrics and sonic resonance, the band have been favourably compared to such scene legends as My Chemical Romance and Underoath.

Formed in Leeds in 2018 by vocalist Olli Appleyard, guitarist Tom Black, bassist Connor Reilly and drummer Sam Kay, Static Dress had its roots in hardcore punk but soon evolved into incorporating many different styles from a profusion of genres within heavier rock music.

Like many up and coming bands just beginning to find their feet, Covid-19 shut down the live music scene as well as the world and Static Dress found themselves having to not only adapt, but survive. Determined to be as active as possible, the band continued to release studio tracks as well as lockdown- safe music videos to accompany them, keeping interest in the band alive.

An ambitious band not content to rest on their laurels, Static Dress announced themselves, post-lockdowns, in the best way possible by landing a slot on the second stage at the all British led Download Pilot-the first large UK based festival to earn a ‘trial’ run during the second phase of UK restriction easing. In what was critical exposure for the band, Static Dress resumed heavy touring, providing support for heavy hitting bands such as Knocked Loose and Higher Power.

The hard work has now paid off for the four piece, as they have taken a giant leap forward signing to American based metal label Roadrunner Records. Roadrunner is perhaps most familiar to metal heads as being the record label that Slipknot found a home on, releasing all of their current studio records to date on the distributor. A prestigious label, Static Dress will count bands such as Gojira, Turnstile and Trivium as label mates.

For their expanded release, Static Dress have included all original songs from Rouge Carpet Disaster as well as four remixed versions which includes a new rendition and video of song “Courtney, Just Relax” featuring World of Pleasure. The re-release also features brand new artwork to mark the band’s exciting new era.

Static Dress will be taking part in Slam Dunk Festival in Hatfield Park and Leeds later this month, as well as Download in Donington Park. Unfortunately for fans who didn’t have a chance to grab tickets, the festivals are sold out.