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Who Are You When No One’s Around is a short, punchy debut from Pincer+ that wastes no time getting to the point. The album blends raw hardcore energy with modern metalcore heaviness, keeping things fast, aggressive, and under three minutes for most tracks. Lyrically, it turns inward, focusing on isolation, anger, guilt, and self-reflection, which gives the chaos a more personal feel. Overall, it’s a tight, intense release that hits hard, says what it needs to say, and gets out without dragging things out.

Overview

• Artist: Pincer+

• Release Date: December 12, 2025

• Label: Greyscale Records / 1126 Records

• Genre: Metalcore

• Tracks: 8 (approx. 22 min runtime)

• Producer: Josh Ang and Nadav Knafo

Track List

1. Hard 2 Kill

2. Cold Frame

3. Concrete Lullaby (feat. noah thomas)

4. Yours To Erase

5. Blue Light Overdose

6. e n d l e s s

7. Defect (feat. UnityTX)

8. Who Are You When No One’s Around

Sound and Style

• Raw hardcore energy mixed with modern metalcore heaviness

• Short, fast songs that hit hard and don’t waste time

• Thick riffs and punchy breakdowns throughout

• Aggressive vocals with an emotional, personal edge

• Dark, introspective tone underneath all the chaos

• Stripped-down, intense, and straight to the point

Review

Pincer+’s Who Are You When No One’s Around is a short, sharp burst of aggression that gets in and gets out without messing around. Right from the start, the album feels urgent and pissed off, with tracks that hit fast and don’t overstay their welcome. It’s the kind of record that feels designed to be played loud and straight through.

Musically, the band leans into raw hardcore energy while keeping a modern metalcore edge. The riffs are thick, the breakdowns are punchy, and everything feels tight and deliberate. Even though most songs are short, they still manage to feel complete, packing a lot of impact into a small runtime.

What gives the album some extra weight is the lyrical focus. Beneath all the aggression, there’s a lot of self-reflection going on, touching on isolation, guilt, and inner conflict. It adds a personal layer to the chaos and makes the anger feel more grounded instead of generic.

Overall, Who Are You When No One’s Around is a solid debut that shows Pincer+ knows exactly what they’re doing. It’s heavy, direct, and emotionally charged without dragging things out. If you’re into fast, no-nonsense hardcore with a modern twist, this album is definitely worth checking out.

Notable Tracks

• “Hard 2 Kill” – A super punchy track that sets the tone with gritty riffs and aggressive energy.

• “Blue Light Overdose” – One of the catchier cuts that still hits hard and shows off their hardcore/metalcore mix.

• “Yours To Erase” – A heavier, more emotional song that pairs raw vocals with strong breakdowns.

• “Alone With Nothing” – Short and intense, this one drives home the album’s introspective vibe.

• “Used Up” – Another standout that’s fast, tight, and packs a lot of force into a small package.

Conclusion

All in all, Who Are You When No One’s Around is a tight, no-frills debut that hits hard and keeps moving. It’s aggressive, focused, and packed with emotion without wasting a second. If you like your heavy music fast, raw, and honest, Pincer+ delivers exactly that.

New World Heat is a high-energy, genre-blending album from Fox Lake that pulls together hardcore aggression, nu-metal grooves, hip-hop swagger, and modern heavy rock into one chaotic package. It’s loud, fast, and built around punchy riffs, hard-hitting rhythms, and rapid-fire vocals, but there’s purpose behind the chaos, with themes of rebirth, personal struggle, and burning things down to rebuild stronger. Guest appearances add extra flavor without distracting from the band’s identity, and the whole record feels tight, confident, and ready for the pit. Overall, it’s an all-gas statement that shows Fox Lake pushing their sound forward while staying heavy and unpredictable.

Overview

• Artist: Fox Lake

• Release Date: August 1, 2025

• Label: MNRK Heavy

• Genre: Metalcore

• Tracks: 12 (approx. 31 min runtime)

• Producer: Connor Haines

Track List

1. For The Love Of The Game

2. Tough luck

3. Freestyle

4. Go 4 The Throat

5. Cold Hard Truth

6. Real Fast

7. h a l f t i m e

8. Pure Adrenaline

9. Headshot

10. Savior

11. Gut Check

12. Excessive Damage

Sound and Style

• High-energy mix of hardcore, nu-metal, and modern heavy rock

• Groove-driven riffs with plenty of bounce and swagger

• Punchy, aggressive vocals with a hip-hop edge

• Fast, chaotic moments balanced by tight, controlled songwriting

• Built for mosh pits, but still fun and catchy

• Confident, gritty, and unapologetically loud

Review

Fox Lake’s New World Heat feels like a band letting everything loose and having a blast doing it. The album comes out swinging with nonstop energy, mixing hardcore aggression with nu-metal grooves and a strong hip-hop influence. It’s loud, confident, and instantly grabs your attention without feeling forced or gimmicky.

Musically, the record thrives on groove. The riffs bounce, the drums hit hard, and everything feels built to move a crowd. Even when things get chaotic, the songs stay tight and focused, making it easy to headbang along instead of getting lost in the noise. There’s a real sense of momentum here that keeps the album flying by.

Vocally, New World Heat brings plenty of attitude. The delivery is sharp, aggressive, and full of swagger, adding to the album’s gritty personality. The guest spots slide in naturally and give certain tracks an extra punch without stealing the spotlight from Fox Lake’s core sound.

Overall, New World Heat is pure high-octane fun with teeth. It’s heavy, groovy, and built for the pit, but still catchy enough to stick in your head. If you’re into heavy music that doesn’t take itself too seriously and just wants to hit hard and move bodies, this album is an easy recommendation.

Notable Tracks

• “For The Love of the Game” (feat. Mugshot) – A hard-hitting opener that kicks things off with groove, attitude, and zero hesitation.

• “Freestyle” (feat. AVOID) – A standout track packed with bounce and swagger that really shows off the band’s personality.

• “Pure Adrenaline” – Exactly what the title promises, fast, loud, and built to get the energy going immediately.

• “Headshot” (feat. Silent Planet) – One of the heavier cuts, bringing more intensity and emotional weight with a strong guest feature.

• “Real Fast” – Short, chaotic, and full throttle, it flies by but hits hard while it lasts.

Conclusion

All in all, New World Heat is Fox Lake at their most confident and fun. It’s a heavy, groove-packed record that’s clearly built to get people moving and having a good time. If you want something loud, energetic, and full of attitude, this one absolutely delivers.

Tickets are not available at Avocado Booking.

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Life Is Just a Temporary Plan is a chaotic, hard-hitting release from Abbie Falls that blends modern metalcore and deathcore into a relentless assault. The album is packed with crushing breakdowns, sharp riffs, and aggressive vocals, but there’s an emotional and existential edge running underneath all the chaos. It feels raw, intense, and purposefully unhinged, with just enough atmosphere and experimentation to keep things interesting. Overall, it’s a heavy, cathartic record that hits fast, hits hard, and doesn’t let up.

Overview

• Artist: Abbie Falls

• Release Date: December 12, 2025

• Label: Out of Line Music

• Genre: Metalcore / Deathcore

• Tracks: 10 (approx. 33 min runtime)

• Producer: Vojtěch Pačesný / Oliver Stingel

Track List

1. FURY

2. Black Void

3. Victim

4. descend.exe

5. Purge (feat. Breakdown of Sanity)

6. Anomaly in G minor ft Grapefruit Astronauts

7. Chaos Disciples

8. Approach of the Second Sun

9. Hellbound

10. unnatural order (feat. Distant)

Sound and Style

• Aggressive modern metalcore with strong deathcore influence

• Constantly heavy, packed with breakdowns and sharp, punishing riffs

• Raw, chaotic energy that still feels tight and controlled

• Harsh, in-your-face vocals with an emotional edge

• Dark, bleak atmosphere mixed with moments of experimentation

• Overall loud, intense, and unapologetically heavy

Review

Abbie Falls’ Life Is Just a Temporary Plan is the kind of album that hits you right out of the gate and never really lets up. It’s loud, chaotic, and unapologetically heavy, making it clear early on that this record is built for maximum impact. There’s a raw urgency to it that feels intentional, like the band is channeling pure frustration straight into the music.

Sonically, the album leans hard into modern metalcore with strong deathcore vibes. The riffs are sharp, the breakdowns hit like a wrecking ball, and the drums keep everything moving at a relentless pace. Even with all that aggression, the songs feel tight and controlled rather than messy, which helps the heaviness land harder instead of turning into noise.

What really helps the album stand out is the mood underneath all the brutality. There’s a bleak, almost nihilistic feel running through the record, and it gives the chaos some emotional weight. The vocals sound pissed off and desperate in equal measure, adding to the sense that this isn’t just heavy for the sake of being heavy.

Overall, Life Is Just a Temporary Plan feels like a pure release of energy. It’s intense, fast, and emotionally charged, perfect for listeners who want something heavy that doesn’t pull its punches. If you’re into crushing breakdowns, dark atmosphere, and nonstop aggression, this album absolutely delivers.

Notable Tracks

• “FURY” – A straight-up crusher that kicks the album off hard and sets the tone immediately.

• “Black Void” – Heavy and catchy, with sharp riffs and a groove that really sticks.

• “Victim” – One of the longer tracks that hits harder emotionally and shows a bit more range.

• “Purge” (feat. Breakdown of Sanity) – An absolute rager, made even heavier by the guest spot.

• “unnatural order” (feat. Alan Grnja of Distant) – A standout cut that gets extra nasty with Alan Grnja’s vocals adding a fresh edge.

Conclusion

All in all, Life Is Just a Temporary Plan is a relentless, no-frills heavy record that knows exactly what it wants to do. It’s chaotic, aggressive, and packed with moments that hit hard both musically and emotionally. If you’re looking for something heavy that doesn’t slow down or play it safe, Abbie Falls delivers in full.

Here is a list of our top 10 artists we obsessively listened to throughout 2025. They are listed in order from most listened down.

Petros Koutoupis

1. 156/Silence (Apple Music | Spotify)

2. Electric Callboy (Apple Music | Spotify)

3. Fox Lake (Apple Music | Spotify)

4. Darkmatter (Apple Music | Spotify)

5. Darknet (Apple Music | Spotify)

6. Downswing (Apple Music | Spotify)

7. Frontières (Apple Music | Spotify)

8. Abbie Falls (Apple Music | Spotify)

9. If Not for Me (Apple Music | Spotify)

10. The Gloom in the Corner (Apple Music | Spotify)

Jodi Koutoupis

1. 156/Silence (Apple Music | Spotify)

2. Alpha Wolf (Apple Music | Spotify)

3. Make Them Suffer (Apple Music | Spotify)

4. Fox Lake (Apple Music | Spotify)

5. Electric Callboy (Apple Music | Spotify)

6. Fit For A King (Apple Music | Spotify)

7. VCTMS (Apple Music | Spotify)

8. Paleface Swiss (Apple Music | Spotify)

9. Samurai Pizza Cats (Apple Music | Spotify)

10. Wage War (Apple Music | Spotify)

And Everything Was Dark is the newest full-length from Albany’s metalcore crew Downswing, dropped on October 24, 2025 via MNRK Heavy. The album steps up their sound with heavy riffs, big breakdowns, and moody atmosphere, all backed by raw, emotional lyrics. It dives into themes like betrayal, inner struggle, resilience, and loss. Fans and critics alike see it as one of their strongest, most focused releases yet. It is intense and tight from start to finish.

Overview

• Artist: Downswing

• Release Date: October 24, 2025

• Label: MNRK Heavy

• Genre: Metalcore / Alternative Metal

• Tracks: 11 (approx. 35 min runtime)

• Producer: Jonathan Dolese

Track List

1. No God to Me

2. Emptiness Remains

3. Drowned Out

4. Thanks For Nothing

5. In a Daze

6. For What It’s Worth (feat. Travis Moseley)

7. Stand By…

8. Serpent

9. Letting Go (feat. Elijah Witt)

10. Too Little Too Late (feat. Chris Roetter)

11. Eternal

Sound and Style

• Heavy, dark, no-nonsense metalcore sound

• Thick riffs and hard-hitting breakdowns throughout

• Gritty, moody atmosphere without feeling messy

• Strong balance between raw aggression and tighter songwriting

• Mix of angry, confrontational moments and more emotional sections

• Overall intense and focused, showing a band confident in their sound

Review

Downswing’s And Everything Was Dark feels like a band fully locked in on what they want to be. From the jump, it’s heavy, dark, and unapologetic, with riffs that hit hard and breakdowns that don’t overstay their welcome. There’s a clear sense of confidence here, like Downswing isn’t trying to prove anything anymore, just deliver a solid, punishing record.

Musically, the album does a great job balancing brute force with atmosphere. The guitars are thick and aggressive, the drums hit with purpose, and the pacing keeps things moving without feeling rushed or repetitive. Even when the songs slow down or get more moody, the tension never really lets up, which makes the heavier moments land even harder.

Lyrically, And Everything Was Dark leans into themes of betrayal, inner struggle, and emotional burnout. It’s raw without feeling overly dramatic, and the delivery makes it feel honest rather than forced. The guest features fit naturally into the record too, adding variety without pulling attention away from the band’s core sound.

Overall, this album feels like a big step forward for Downswing. It’s aggressive, focused, and consistently heavy, but still leaves room for emotion and depth. If you’re into modern metalcore that hits hard while keeping things tight and intentional, And Everything Was Dark is absolutely worth your time.

Notable Tracks

• “No God to Me” – A crushing opener that sets the tone with pure aggression and zero buildup.

• “For What It’s Worth” (feat. Travis Moseley) – One of the album’s standouts, mixing heavy grooves with a strong hook and memorable guest vocals.

• “Thanks For Nothing” – Short, pissed-off, and direct, this one hits hard and doesn’t waste time.

• “Letting Go” (feat. Elijah Witt) – Leans more into atmosphere and emotion while still keeping the weight intact.

• “Too Little Too Late” (feat. Chris Roetter) – A highlight for fans of modern metalcore, balancing intensity with melody and dynamic vocal trade-offs.

Conclusion

All in all, And Everything Was Dark proves that Downswing knows how to deliver heavy, memorable metalcore without losing their edge. It’s intense, tight, and full of moments that stick with you long after it’s over. For anyone looking for a record that’s both brutal and thoughtfully crafted, this one definitely delivers.

People Watching is the fourth full-length album from Pittsburgh metalcore band 156/Silence, released on September 13, 2024 via SharpTone Records. It feels like a big step forward for the band, mixing their heavy, aggressive foundation with more melody and a cinematic sense of atmosphere.

Overview

• Artist: 156/Silence

• Release Date: September 13, 2024

• Label: SharpTone Records

• Genre: Metalcore / Alternative Metal

• Tracks: 14 (approx. 46 min runtime)

• Producer: Jonathan Dolese

Track List

1. Character Development (Cold Start)
2. Target Acquired
3. Sleep Spikes
4. Better Written Villain
5. Product Placement
6. Blood Loss (ft. Carson Pace)
7. Wants I Need (ft. Craig Owens)
8. Funeral Arrangements
9. Unreasonable Doubt
10. People Watching
11. Change Agent (ft. Trae Roberts)
12. Intravenous
13. Terms and Conditions
14. Healing Process (Leave of Absence)

Sound and Style

• Heavy riffs and hard-hitting breakdowns grounded in metalcore and hardcore punk.

• Melodic hooks and atmospheric layers that add depth without dialing back the intensity.

• Cinematic, almost literary touches, with songs that feel emotionally charged and thoughtfully layered.

Review

With People Watching, 156/Silence turn in their most focused and emotionally sharp album so far. It sounds like a band that knows exactly what it does well and is finally comfortable pushing past those boundaries. Still rooted in metalcore, the record balances punishing riffs and jagged breakdowns with moments of melody and atmosphere that actually feel intentional. Right from the start, it sets a tense, almost voyeuristic tone, pulling the listener into a space that is uncomfortable, reflective, and unrelentingly heavy.

Sonically, People Watching lives in the contrast. Crushing low-end chugs give way to cleaner, more introspective sections, creating a constant push and pull that keeps things interesting throughout. The production is thick but controlled, letting the heaviness hit without burying the details. Vocally, the performances really stand out, moving smoothly between feral screams and more restrained, emotional moments. The guest features are well chosen too, adding to the songs without pulling focus away from the band.

Lyrically, the album digs into themes of observation, self-reflection, and social unease. That feeling of being watched or judged, by others and by yourself, runs through the record and ties it all together. Instead of leaning on vague angst, the lyrics feel direct and deliberate, matching the album’s darker, more thoughtful tone. This isn’t heavy just for the sake of it. It’s confrontational in a way that sticks with you.

In the end, People Watching feels like a real step forward for 156/Silence. It’s the kind of album that rewards repeat listens, with new layers revealing themselves over time. For fans of modern metalcore who want both brutality and depth, this easily stands as one of the band’s strongest and most confident releases yet.

Notable Tracks

• Character Development (Cold Start) – A fierce opener that wastes no time hitting hard right out of the gate.

• Better Written Villain – A sharp, aggressive track that leans into menace and groove, showing off the band’s heaviness with a lot of confidence.

• Funeral Arrangements – Crushing and bleak, this one pairs suffocating riffs with a somber mood that really sticks with you.

• Change Agent (ft. Trae Roberts) – A chaotic, high-energy standout where Trae Roberts brings extra bite, pushing the intensity up another notch.

• Terms and Conditions – Dark and confrontational, it builds tension with heavy atmosphere and punishing riffs that leave a lasting impression.

Conclusion

In short, People Watching is a strong, layered metalcore album that shows how much 156/Silence have grown, blending raw intensity with unexpected touches of melody and cinematic flair.

This is probably my favorite album of the year and my Apple Music Replay ‘25 pretty much reflects that.