Hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, alternative metal band foulplay. have a new album on the way, with a lead single that is just as fast and exhilarating as the title suggests.

‘Run’ plays out a bit like a story: it’s cinematic, thrilling and rapidly shifts in mood and tempo throughout its runtime. The main hook is laden with sludgy guitars and a riff that swirls around like a whirlpool, and the vocals are loud, harsh and authoritative. In between these choruses are slower instrumental breaks, where the drums get a chance to showcase a more intricate pattern sprinkled with really cool snare work and fills. The song is under two minutes long, but gets across its mood and themes quickly enough that it continues to sound rewarding on repeat listens.

I began watching clips from the band’s recent live performances and was blown away by how great the band sounds. There is an incredible atmosphere created in these spaces, where the nuances of this genre really get to shine. It’s very tough to translate this raw, live sound to studio recordings, and admittedly there are reservations I have around the mixing of ‘Run’. But seeing what this band is capable of when performing live, I’m excited to see their new album come out this autumn, and what other singles will be announced in due time.

On a more personal note, I’m really happy to see a fantastic alt-metal scene thriving in Stoke-on-Trent. It’s a place I would visit constantly as a child, and it’s great to know such a serene place is home to some spectacularly gnarly music.