Bedfordshire-based Ali Robbins, who's previously lived in Suffolk and London, has always considered music a major part of his life, having primarily featured as a guitar player. However, life events saw Ali take a shift in approach, launching his solo career with his debut single, The Darkest Sunrise, at the end of last month.

aving recently moved to Sheffield, I've been on the lookout for exciting Steel City bands and we've only gone and found exactly that - thanks to their management company holding one of their meetings in my pub! Emerging indie rockers Cargos are on a mission to get music crowds moving with an increasingly heavy sound they describe as "energetic, chaotic and memorable" and live shows that are "energy, choruses and moshpits."

As perenials supporters of new British metal, we're always on the lookout for exciting gigs and festivals - even if recent work commitments have basically prevented me from personally attending live gigs. However, when one popped up in Sheffield, where I moved in March, with a stellar lineup, I wanted to get involved.

Leeds trio Versus offer up a thrilling fusion of grunge and post-hardcore in a gritty sound that they describe as "heavy, emotional, and a whole bag of genre-juxtapositions."

South Wales trio nineplanfailed have honed a tense, uncomfortable, powerful and fascinating post-punk meets alternative noise sound that they describe as "urgent, hook-driven and communal."

Italian duo R.O.T. (Revolution of Two) admit their music isn't perfect, but encourage anyone "looking for something weird and different" to give it a go. The duo offers up a diverse modern metal sound that experiments with a variety of styles and elements, which they describe as "heterogeneous, contaminated and modern."

Surrey duo Dethrüt have crafted a vicious nu-metalcore sound with elements of deathcore, which they describe as "chaotic, pissed, and (mostly) tongue-in-cheek."

Boston band Bleach The Sky take us on a journey back to the late 90s and early 2000s alt-rock with their own twist of modern dynamics in a sound that they describe as "catchy, nostalgic and dynamic."

Bristol band Our Nameless Boy lean on the dynamics of the 90s/2000s alternative and emo scene to craft a captivating alternative rock meets post-hardcore sound that they describe as "melancholic, chaotic, melon."

Brighton band soul nest blend heavy riffs, massive breakdowns and cyberpunk influences in a modern metalcore sound they describe as "intense, hard, fun."

Spanish band The Stein aim to make loud, honest rock music that's uncompromising and packed with attitude, in a sound they describe as "raw, powerful and emotional."

London band Night Thieves fuse seismic riffs, hooky vocals and synth soundcapes in a powerful alternative metal sound that they describe as "massive, catchy earworms."

This batch of tracks offers up a mix of rock, metal and nu-metal by bands from France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US, listed in alphabetical order.

The vicious sound of Colorado's Under Society was born out of a drive to create something emotional, aggressive and real, which comes to life in an intense metalcore meets deathcore hybrid.

Join us in the magical land of Atlandia, where we'll tred a fascinating path into the world of symphonic metal opera with French band Avaland. The band, whose name is the capital city of the realm, welcomes wanderers into its lands with engaging vocals and dramatic instrumentals in an enthralling style that they describe as "theatrical, genuine and many-sided."

Israel-based Witchlake combine big riffs and melodies with contrasting vocals and folk elements in an enthralling sound that they describe as "melodic, groovy and folk-influenced."

French band Eleven Ounces have crafted a compellingly feisty alternative rock sound that sounds like it stepped straight out of the 2000s, and they summarise as "catchy, energetic and sincere."

Built on years of friendship and including some familiar faces, France's DECIDER offer up powerful riffs and synth soundscapes in a delicious metalcore sound that they describe as "sincerity, conviction, and connection."

London-based newcomers Kin Kabal blend hooky guitars, satirical lyrics and late-capitalism dread edge in an alt-rock sound that they describe as "energetic, sharp and gritty."

Australian hardhitters FALSEFRONT 45. offer up a powerful sound that aims to be as diverse as possible, honing metallic hardcore with elements of nu-metal, deathcore and beatdown.

Back in February, we attended a pretty epic day-long celebration of all things prog metal, and discovered an intriguing band called Opensight. The London-based quartet have crafted what they describe as 'film music' based on 'spy themes.' As frontman Ivan David Amaya explains: "People have used those words to describe us because of Opensight being inspired by many genres with film scores being one of our main influences.

Colombian band Primal Sinner offer up a highly tuned, thrilling metal sound built on the principles and techniques of classical music and they describe as "strength, beauty and poetics."

Like Rocky Balboa joining forces with Apollo Creed to take down Clubber Lang, Scottish newcomers Delta Fire crossed the divide of rival bands to create a new rock force. The result is an alternative rock sound that offers a nostalgic nod to 90s rock and grunge, which they describe as "energetic, powerful and fierce."

American band She Hates Me Not offer up a turbulent, high-octane hardcore and thrash hybrid sound that comes with a sore neck hazard warning and they describe as "remorseless, loud and aggressive."

German band Smii aim to have the listener expecting the unexpected with a catchy and edgy brand of dirtpop that they describe as "fresh, relentless and unexpected."