(6).png)
Monthly Music Crush: Twin Temple, Northlane, Tony Iommi + More!
- Tiana Speter
- 29 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Welcome to August! If you're in Australia, we're only one month away from banishing winter, and if you're on the other side of the globe, you're peak summer, potentially sweltering but hopefully revelling in some sun.
Since last month's music crush round-up, as per usual there's been a hectic amount of new releases to sink our collective ears, teeth and other into. And as is tradition (at least for the time being), below are six of my fave new tunes from the last month (or so).
Read on to dive into some newbies from Twin Temple, Northlane, Tony Iommi, The Barbarians of California and Windwaker, as well as a delectable bait-and-switch from Electric Callboy to round out this edition.
You can also catch all these songs and more over at The Soundcheck's official Mixtape which showcases 100 tunes that have recently been kicking around in my speakers...and potentially yours too if you follow and listen along. Available on Spotify, Apple Music and/or YouTube (also boo Spotify, but I'm trying to cater for all y'all).
TWIN TEMPLE
Single: Haunt Me
(Pentagrammaton Records)
A newer discovery for me of late (don't @ me, but yes, I am aware this band has been around for almost a decade), LA duo Twin Temple are what would happen if Amy Winehouse and Elvis Presley danced with the devil in the pale moonlight and made music to swoon (satanically) to.
Poised to release their fourth studio album Doomed Lovers on October 5 via their own Pentagrammaton Records, the bewitching duo also just dropped a brand new single Haunt Me. A dusky doo-wop romp that delights with prowling guitar lines, slinky vocals and seemingly wholesome lyrics, Twin Temple also recently performed Haunt Me on their late-night TV debut, busting out their latest tune out with lashings of rhinestone-meets-satanic swagger on The Daily Show.
"We poured everything into this new record that we made with Shooter [Jennings]. We wanted to push ourselves creatively and expand the production further than we have before, drawing inspiration from the lush orchestral productions of Roy Orbison, The Ronettes, and The Shangri-Las, and added in some Countrypolitan flair...The truth is, this album was made during one of the darkest periods of our lives. We had been struggling with grief, health issues, addiction, and depression. But day-by-day, going into Sunset Sound, making music with incredible people who believed in us, and being surrounded by that creativity, slowly brought us back to life." - Twin Temple
Recently dropped from a tour due to their satanic imagery, Twin Temple snagged the attention of Jack White who ultimately invited the duo to open for his how at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles this September. Get in front of me, satan!
Photo Credit: Kane Hibberd
NORTHLANE
Single: CUT_it
(Independent/Immortal Music Group)
A new Northlane era is upon us in 2026, with the Aussie heavy icons set to release a new album Anemoia on October 30 (Independent/Immortal Music Group). Marking album #7 for the band, the announcement of Anemoia was also heralded by the release of a spicy new cut, CUT_it.
With down-tuned dankness and a sharpened layer of menace from vocalist Marcus Bridge, CUT_it also humidly captures elements of exhaustion and reaching full-blown burnout; a sentiment viscerally reflected in the track's accompanying music video.
"CUT_it is about burnout - the feeling of grinding through things when you're completely spent, mentally and physically. The imagery is deliberately visceral, painting a picture of that exhaustion rather than analysing it" - Marcus Bridge, vocalist
With their new album executive produced by Jordan Fish, and following on from their #1 2022 full-length Obdsidian, there's also even more good news for Northlane fans along with this recent new music: the quartet will also embark on their biggest Australian tour of their career this November. 15 years into their career, and Northlane remain one of the most in-demand Aussie heavy exports of their generation, and the legacy is set to continue with the upcoming release of Anemoia.
Photo Credit: Ross Halfin
TONY IOMMI
Single: World Alone
(BMG Records)
There's zero need to introduce Tony Iommi, but on the off chance you need a refresher, this is a man who is pretty much unanimously regarded as one of the pivotal architects (or Godfather to some) of heavy metal. A founding member of Black Sabbath, an utter riff prodigy and a sonic pioneer (who didn't let losing the tips of few fingers deter his journey), Tony Iommi has been making music for over six decades; and in 2026 he will release a new solo album, From The Dark, due out October 23 via BMG.
To celebrate the announcement of From The Dark, Iommi also recently unveiled a new single World Alone, premiering at a special global streaming event, hosted in his hometown of Birmingham. Racking up over 1 million views of the accompanying music video for From The Dark in less than a week, it's safe to say fans are ecstatic to revel in some Iommi riffage once again; and it's a slice of dirty-yet-modern rock, along with vocals from Norway's Jørn Lande.
"It’s an album we’ve really enjoyed making. We’re not trying to prove anything – it’s a great album, it rocks!" - Tony Iommi
Co-produced by Iommi and long-time creative partner Mike Exeter, From The Dark is Iommi's first solo endeavour since 2005's Fused, and it's clear this absolute icon (who also recently was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire aka MBE) is having the time of his life still making music at the ripe age of 78. Rock the fuck on.
THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA
Single: REALLY REALLY RAD
(Villains For Good)
The Barbarians of California first caught my attention when I was shown their tune Bomb To A Knife Fight (and subsequently absolutely played it to death on repeat in my gym playlist for far longer than I care to admit). But I digress! In late July, the Los Angeles five-piece dialled up some caustic, woozy goodness with a new track REALLY REALLY RAD.
An insanely tight combo of kooky lyricism and sharp dynamic shifts, including a hypnotic dancefloor-ready outro, REALLY REALLY RAD also boasts riffs that could crush a row of skyscrapers in a singular swoop. In short, REALLY REALLY RAD is spiky and gleefully chaotic but, as per usual, it works.
"REALLY REALLY RAD’ was really fun to make. ‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ has really fun dynamics. ‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ is really good." - Aaron Bruno, vocalist
If you like your hardcore with some genuine personality that can bludgeon you but also make you laugh in equal measure, The Barbarians of California are truly the band for you. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it features AWOLNTION's Aaron Bruno on vocals along with Tinfed's Eric Stenman. Whether you're a longtime fan of this bunch or a more recent convert, later this month the Barbarians will release their sophomore full-length album, with MEGATONS primed for release on August 21 via Villians For Good. Come for the mayhem, stay for the salient genre-rattling treats within.
WINDWAKER
Double Single: closer
(Civilians/Fearless Records)
Another Aussie group set to release a brand new album this year, Windwaker are gearing up to unleash their third studio album smile, you're on camera, due out on October 23 via Civilians and Fearless Records. And if you wanna grab a taste of what's to come, the band also most recently dropped a new single closer; a glossy explosion of vulnerability and percolating modern metalcore with a twist.
Soaring with post-industrial hues and existential themes, closer was co-witten in Los Angeles by Windwaker with Daniel Braunstein (Spiritbox, Dayseeker), ultimately emerging as an alt-metal anthem for the digital age, heaving with ruminations on both uncertainty and empowerment.
"smile, you're on camera is undeniably our best and most focused collection of songs to date. We learned so much making this record together, and we're incredibly proud of what it's become. It opens the door to who we are, and offers a glimpse into our world through the highs and the lows. It's the most personal and honest Windwaker has ever been." - Windwaker
Following the release of smile, you're on camera on October 23, Windwaker will also head off on an Aussie headline run to celebrate, joined by special guests The Pretty Wild, RinRin and DREGG, before returning to North America this November and December supporting Beartooth, and heading to Europe in February 2027 with Bury Tomorrow and Stick To Your Guns.
Photo Credit: Dajo Eberlei
ELECTRIC CALLBOY
Single: THE WAY YOU ARE
(Century Media Records / Sony Music Australia)
Back when I was growing up, my generation was dubbed "Gen Y" before the media decided to re-label us as "millennials", and part of my so-called millennial culture and upbringing was heavily adjacent to the 1990s boy band explosion. I will not apologise that I was definitely a fan of the boys doing their synchronised dances and harmonising like nobodys business back in the day, and in 2026 Electric Callboy have fused my teenage boy band leanings with my adult love of heavier tunes with the absolutely bombastic new single THE WAY YOU ARE.
Opening with visual and sonic nods to the Backstreet Boys and co., THE WAY YOU ARE kicks off as a candy-covered ballad before rabidly morphing into one of the heaviest songs the German collective have ever released (and blood. Lots of blood. Watch the clip below if you haven't already). Taken from their upcoming new album TANZNEID which officially releases tomorrow, August 7, THE WAY YOU ARE dashes between syrupy sweetness and deathcore brutality, proudly cementing the band's refusal to play by any genre-driven rules at all times (and unsurprisingly landing a slam dunk with their choreography).
"The Way You Are’ started with a pretty simple idea: what if the sweetest late-’90s boy band love ballad suddenly turned into one of the heaviest songs we’ve ever written? We loved playing with that contrast, both musically and visually. The result is probably one of the most unexpected songs we’ve ever released, and definitely one of our favorites on TANZNEID." - Electric Callboy
Electric Callboy are also set to return to Australian stages next month, bringing their TANZNEID World Tour down under, joined by special guests Ice Nine Kills and Coldrain. But before they get here, don't miss TANZNED out August 7 via Century Media Records and Sony Music Australia.
