Rock fans pay attention! This band, Newzerror, really means to take this scene by the stones and shake it until it screams. New single Alibi, together with its promo video, has just been dropped and oooooo yes, says me!

I previously likened lead vocalist Dee to the legendary 80s German metal vocalist Doro Pesch, from iconic Dusseldorf band Warlock. I double down on that here. The power in the vocal is spine tingling; the range she belts out takes your breath away. Dee has her own timbre though, don’t get me wrong. It’s the range and power, along with the base genre, that sends me to my 80s metal happy place.

The song itself starts with several tonnes of meaty instruments thrown into your face. Brilliantly engineered as with their last outing on this site, this one is, if anything, heavier and more menacing. The bottom end is chugging and a little staccato, giving it an opening for heavier metal fans (think speed) to appreciate a touch of their fury. Then the vocal kicks in. The melody is not overly stated, nor complex, but that works because the visuals and the mood presented in the really cool video take us to a stark, post-societal dystopian setting where the granite instrumental section – performed with barely contained malice by three guys who Tom Hardy’s Bane would definitely approve of – meets what I can only describe as a dark, Gothic queen, snarling and fey.

Yes, this song crosses genres. I have mentioned the 80s metal scene (not the L.A. Glam but the European one, with one’s rep earned in blood, tears und zwanzig grosse bier bitte!), and the touch of speed metal thrown in, but the imagery – especially the vocalist – and the melody, twined with the utter doom of the instruments, sent me down a Gothic Rock path too. This is a good thing. It’s not a mixed up fail, and it’s not looking for an identity. This track manages to cross genres by just being what it is. And that takes skill.

Mention must be made of the quality of the musicianship. Thunderous drums, deep and beefy bass, and some excellent guitar work, both via lead and some really ballsy rhythm. All highly commendable, and the studio has done them justice. The video is on YouTube, and very definitely lends to the mood.

This is for hard rock, heavy metal fans. It’s for the club beneath the old warehouse, where the vampires are gathered. Where the dance floor is smoky and the lights are midnight blue. Clothes are universally black. Skin in optional. Eyes are heavy and caked in liner. Newzerror are at maximum volume – equally as befitting the venue in person as on the playlist. It’s an unsafe world outside… but it’s no safer in here either…