(Editor’s Note: Every once in a while we’re asked why there aren’t more Don Caballero puns around the site, and you know what? Maybe we haven’t lived math rock, maybe that’s on us. Either way, Singles Broken Up is meant to function as a speed date of sorts for readers short on time but still find themselves thirsting for math rock new and notable, so… meet the singles. Here’s hoping you’re ready to mingle, because this week we’ve got you covered with the drops below:)
Deer Hoof – “Sun Like It Hot”
When it comes to math rock, there are few as meaningfully punk rock as Deerhoof. They don’t have a particularly crusty sound, and there’s not a liberty spike to be found within the group, we can’t think of anyone adjacent to the genre that knows how to platform anti-establishment leaning as elegantly as they do. On top of being perfectly outspoken, the band deliver a masterclass every time they drop a record, and that’s saying something because since we last checked in on them, they’ve literally released two that flew under our radar. “Sun Like It Hot” is lush, poetically dense journey with vintage prog twists and turns that lure you deeper into its narrative danger. But above all it makes us proud to be fans – we’re not sure we’re ready for Divine Schism to drop in a few days, but we know we’ll be there on the frontlines waiting to take it on.
Frontierer – “Our Mainframe Headache”
Frontierer are one of those mathcore bands that hardly need an introduction – if you’re into heavy technical music, there’s very little chance you haven’t heard of them thanks to legendary records like Orange Mathematics and Unloved. This new banger almost has more of a groove to it, even bordering on the word ‘fun’ at some points. It doesn’t dial back their sound so much as redistributes some of it more evenly, and though we expect to be fully baffled by Ultraviolet Parasite once it’s out, “Our Mainframe Headache” is a cathartically non-linear jumping in point.
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Awful Things – “Indigo”
This Singaporean shoegaze act comes crashing out the gate with a slab of weighty, energetic post-rock we didn’t know we needed. The parts are varied, the vocals are transcendent, and the mix is impeccable, but above all group’s heart feels apparent. Sometimes bands falter at first mixing the heady with the heavy, but Awful Things’ confidence is warranted, and the results are instantly rewarding. Also, “Indigo” gets bonus points as the song stretches outward without repeating itself outside its memorable chorus, so all in all, it’s far from awful and we’re eagerly awaiting more.
All Human – “Fly in Honey”
We almost missed this one if it wasn’t for Haunt’s recommendation, and we’re really glad we didn’t. Not just because it’s a hauntingly majestic post-pop bop, it features members of Fear Before the March of Flames and Trophy Scars. THey’ve got a new album coming out at the end of next month called Horror Porn and the Eviscerating Climax, which is perfectly on brand for eternally spooky Adam Ruper Fisher and Brian Ferrera, but musically this single asks more questions than it answers and we can’t wait to get to the bottom of it October 30th.
Strawberry Blonde – “Enemy”
We’ve been shamelessly enraptured by a lot of new grunge and nu-gaze bands, and We’re Trying Records’ downright dreamy Strawberry Blonde is quickly finding its way to the top of our list of acts to watch out for. Nailing the sonic and visual aesthetics are inescapable parts of marketing and they do that well, but their sweet-and-sour mix of melancholy with joy is sure to catch with anyone listening. The band actually released their EP Drown 2 a couple weeks ago, so be sure to check out the whole thing to see what they mean.
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n000000000 – “Humor Me For A Moment”
An improvised jam fest featuring SEIMS and Alex from Basil’s Kite and Orphaned Bee? This is usually where we’d say “say no more” but please, please give us everything available. Some might say Birds Robe Records was brave taking this on, but that’s a label that knows their audience, and seeing them enable something brash and brave like this brings a smile to our face. Improv, whether it’s musical or theatrical, often comes down to chemistry, and this duo have that in spades – what these guys are cooking up is raw, pointed, and exhilarating, and we’re stoked as hell to hear N000000000.1 when it’s out October 23rd.
Scary Kids Scaring Kids – “Something In The Water”
We can scarcely believe our ears and eyes – it’s 2026, right? So then how is this band back all these years later and sounding so fresh? If you’re a fan of Circa Survive, but also the expansive heavy rock that From First to Last did with their return album, you’ll likely find yourself as surprised as we were to be enjoying “Something in the Water” without a hint of irony. When we were teens they used to play a local venue all the time, and though that venue isn’t there anymore, we think of them every time we drive down that street, but above the nostalgia there’s something here and we’re certainly curious to see what the future holds.
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