THE FRONT ROW

Belfast progressive-metal outfit Lock Horns return with new single Frenzy, a razor-sharp standalone track ahead of their upcoming slot on the Sophie Lancaster Stage at Bloodstock Open Air 2025. It’s their first release since last year’s acclaimed album Red Room, and it lands with clear intent: tighter, heavier, and thematically more biting.

Written and recorded in just six weeks with Josh Sid Robinson at Belfast’s JSR Audio, Frenzy compresses the band’s signature blend of complex rhythms, weighty riffing, and melodic power into six minutes of well-drilled chaos. There’s no excess here, every element is purposeful, from the pummelling drumwork to the abrupt tempo shifts that keep listeners on edge.

Thematically, Frenzy dives into uncomfortable truths about societal behaviour, blind obedience, and fear-driven conformity. Vocalist Alex da Costa delivers the lyrics with conviction, his performance balancing fury with clarity. Instrumentally, there’s a lot going on under the hood. Junior Afrifa’s guitars switch between slicing riffs and more atmospheric phrases, while Rhys Fraser on bass locks everything together with focused intensity. The interplay between technicality and groove is where Lock Horns thrive, complex without being alienating, aggressive without becoming noise for the sake of it.

There’s also a strong melodic core. The chorus pulls things into sharper focus with a vocal line that’s more immediate, adding contrast without softening the track’s impact. It’s a welcome counterbalance that gives Frenzy staying power, and it’s easy to imagine this landing well in the live set.

That’s a good thing, because the single doubles as a curtain-raiser for the band’s next big festival moment. Returning to Bloodstock this August, Lock Horns graduate from the Metal 2 The Masses scheme to a main stage appearance, earning their place alongside heavyweights like Kataklysm and Nailbomb. For those who’ve tracked their rise, this feels like a well-earned leap. For those who haven’t, Frenzy is a solid introduction.

Lock Horns have spent the last few years building something quietly impressive. Frenzy doesn’t reinvent their sound, but it does sharpen it. There’s clarity here, of purpose, of message, and of execution. It sounds like a band that knows what they’re doing and where they want to go.

Verdict: A tight, confident release that plays to the band’s strengths while planting the flag for a big summer. Frenzy is less about reinvention and more about refinement, a clear sign Lock Horns are ready for bigger stages and bigger moments.