❌

Normal view

New Music Friday: 5 Songs You Need to Hear This Week (10/16)

16 October 2026 at 19:55

Happy New Music Friday, friends! I am glad you made it through another week. You deserve some fresh tunes for all your trouble.

First off, I want to encourage you to check out our exclusive with Eva Elfie, featuring the premiere of her debut single along with a short interview conversation. If you dig dark, otherworldly electronic jams, this one is for you.

Next, I hope you’ll scroll through our weekly list and hear the new music from some really memorable and profound artists. Starting with some heavy metal legends.

“Splatter-Fu” by Gwar

The Scumdogs of the Universe are back, baby!

Gwar has announced a brand new project: GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein. It’s a split/collaborative album with horror master Joe Bob Briggs and his Shudder series The Last Drive-In. Side A of the album will be some new Gwar tunes, and Side B will feature John Brennan and the Bigfeet, the official Last Drive-In house band.

As part of the project, Brenne penned “Splatter-Fu” for the unholy leaders of the Bohabs, and the hard rockin’ tune is our first taste of the record. If you expected anything less than Gwar doing what they do best, well, I’m happy to disappoint you.

“KISS ME LIKE YOU MISS HER” by ADULT LEISURE

If you’re looking for some fresh new alt-rock in your life, look no further than Bristol, England’s Adult Leisure.

The band has announced that they signed with American label Big Loud Rock, a partnership they sealed with the new single “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her”. It’s a ditty that’s catchy as hell. There’s some early 90s shoegaze guitar tone and a dirty disco rhythm that just forces you to groove with it.

You’ll get addicted to this one.

“VAGABOND” by KING BUFFALO

I love the riff on this song so. f**king. much. It’s got this clear stoner metal energy, but there’s also a little post-grunge element to it that feels really good.

King Buffalo ARE those dudes. They jam so hard and leave nothing on the table. The new tune is called “Vagabond”. It’ll be featured on their new independent record, Doomsayer, which is out on Dec. 4.

“Trick Of The Night” by Reiyo The Giant

Reiyo The Giant is a beautiful anomaly who doesn’t fit into any box you try to build for her.

The genre-defying singer has announced her debut album, Trick Of The Night, heralded by a haunting, atmospheric title track. Her smooth, smoky voice glazes through a trip-hop-esque soundtrack. As it intensifies, her jazzy vocals take center stage with vulnerability and soul, leaving you haunted.

The ‘Temilotzin’ EP by TZOMPANTLI

Hailing from Southern California, Tzompantli is one of the most important bands in heavy music these days. The indigenous metal band writes and performs as a channeling of their ancestors, and their songs exude that spiritual maturity.

This week, the band steps outside their typical sound and brings forth an organic, acoustic offering. Dubbed the Temilotzin EP, these three naturalistic and tribal melodies find Tzompantli paying homage to their deep roots and rich heritage. Find the complete project wherever you stream music, but please consider supporting it through Bandcamp.

Feature image courtesy of Pit Records

The post New Music Friday: 5 Songs You Need to Hear This Week (10/16) appeared first on VICE.

💾

This week, New Music Friday brings us some fresh tunes from Gwar, King Buffalo, and Bronx-born/ATL-raised artist Reiyo The Giant.

Fontaines D.C.’s Latest Single Features Their First-Ever Guest Vocalist: ‘She Has a Terrifying Level of Talent’

14 October 2026 at 23:27

Fontaines D.C. have dropped the third single from Dopamine Chamber, the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2024 album Romance, but there’s something different about this one. “Where Is Gone?” not only differs from the previous singles stylistically, but it features a first for the band overall. Here, they’ve added a guest vocalist for the first time.

The band collaborated with Rosalía for the single, and frontman Grian Chatten had nothing but praise for the Spanish singer-songwriter. Speaking with NPR in October 2026, Chatten shared details of the process, from knowing Rosalía was the right choice to actually contacting her.

“I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that there is one grand thing that I’m trying to impart on the world before I get old and die,” he began. “[It’s like] there’s one thing that I’ll always be chasing. I’ve got a suspicion that her heart is similar to mine.”

RosalíA’s ‘Classical’ and ‘Dystopian’ Vocals Were Exactly What Fontaines D.C. Needed on New Track

The Fontaines D.C. frontman spoke of a “kinship” between himself and Rosalía as they worked together. It seems that their creative priorities were exactly in alignment, reassuring Chatten that he and the band made the right choice for a guest vocalist.

“She’s such an incredible arranger and composer and lyricist,” Chatten said of Rosalía. “It’s just so humbling that she was into singing on something that we had arranged.” He added, “It’s a career high for me, for sure.”

Speaking with MOJO, also in October 2026, Chatten doubled down on his praise for Rosalía’s artistry. He made note of her genre-bending talent, comparing her to others who have made their music into an experimental art form. Rosalía may seem like a typical pop star on the surface, but her discography is artfully crafted with a wide net of influences, including literature and traditional Spanish folk music.

But when asked why Fontaines D.C. wanted to work with Rosalía, Chatten highlighted her vocals specifically. “Because I think her voice, there’s a classical nature to it,” he said. “But there’s also something kind of eerily sort of dystopian in it.”

That’s just what Fontaines D.C. were looking for on this new track, and on Dopamine Chamber as a whole. “I just think she’s a bit of an auteur,” Chatten added. “She reminds me of Bowie and Björk. She has a terrifying level of talent. So it’s an honor.”

Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage

The post Fontaines D.C.’s Latest Single Features Their First-Ever Guest Vocalist: ‘She Has a Terrifying Level of Talent’ appeared first on VICE.

💾

Fontaines D.C. have invited a guest vocalist on an album for the first time, and they couldn't have chosen anyone better than Rosalía.

Every Millennial Remembers These 3 Alternative Rock Hits From 2001

7 October 2026 at 17:09

For Millennials who always had the radio tuned to their local alternative rock station, these three songs should sound familiar. Here’s a hit of nostalgia all the way from 2001, just don’t think too hard about how many years that is.

“Wish You Were Here” by Incubus

“Wish You Were Here” appeared on Incubus’ fourth album, Morning View, released in August 2001. This single was in heavy rotation on alternative rock radio, and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It’s a simple song with not much meat to it. But the sentiment expressed in its simplicity captured fans, and “Wish You Were Here” became a hit for Incubus.

In general, the lyrics express contentment with living in the moment. Instead of looking forward to the next thing while still in the current experience, “Wish You Were Here” keeps its focus on the present. The chorus is simply those four words repeated with varying inflection. So while it’s generally about being present, there’s also a bit of melancholy at not having someone to share it with.

“In The End” by Linkin Park

Linkin Park occupies a special place in the lives of many Millennials, at least those who were into alternative rock at the time. More specifically, their debut album Hybrid Theory resonated with those who were maybe not having the greatest time existing. Linkin Park gave fans the opportunity to channel their own struggles through Chester Bennington’s emotionally raw vocals.

“In the End”, which was released as a single in September 2001, became a huge hit for the band. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 78, peaking at No. 2 within just a few months. “In the End” essentially became Linkin Park’s signature song, and it retains a prominent place on many Millennial playlists.

“How You Remind Me” by Nickelback

Nickelback released “How You Remind Me” in September 2001 on their third album Silver Side Up. Those who were tuned in to alternative rock radio should know this one top to bottom, as it seemed to saturate the airwaves. The thing about Nickelback is that despite becoming the band everyone loves to hate, they really aren’t that bad.

A lot of Nickelback’s early work is pretty decent alt-rock. But they dominated the radio for a certain span of time, and that oversaturation led to misguided contempt. “How You Remind Me” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and placed at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. Whether by our own free will or not, a lot of Millennials have Nickelback lyrics buried in our subconscious. We’re just waiting to be activated like sleeper agents.

Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

The post Every Millennial Remembers These 3 Alternative Rock Hits From 2001 appeared first on VICE.

💾

This heavy dose of nostalgia from 2001 is for the Millennials who always had the radio tuned to their local alternative rock station.
❌