Emerging Artist Reviews

Defector Release Brutal New Single "No Heart, No Mercy"

by The Metalverse

Updated January 18, 2026

Metallic Hardcore band Defector Release Brutal New Single "No Heart, No Mercy" | The Metalverse.net

Defector, a metallic hardcore quintet hailing from Yorkshire, England, just released their 2nd song to date, No Heart, No Mercy. Since the band's start in early 2025, they have built an impressive audience with their debut single, Tomb, already racking up over 20,000 streams on Spotify.

No Heart, Mercy wastes no time, kicking straight into drop-tuned slamming guitar chugs, explosive drums, and raw screams. While they use modern production to create a polished sound, Defector's musical style brought me back to the early origins of metalcore, where tracks are filled with extreme vocals, onslaughts of heavy riffs, and booming breakdowns.

After 2 and a half minutes of fast pacing and high energy, No Heart, No Mercy introduces the classic hardcore "ringing" guitar dissonance before launching into a series of visceral breakdowns and slowed-tempo destruction. Defector introduces a new bright accent snare that makes intense sections feel even more crushing. In a final burst of momentum, the band speeds things up to end on an explosive note.

With No Heart, No Mercy Defector delivers a visceral sound that draws from hardcore and old-school metalcore while looking forward with modern production. You can stream No Heart, No Mercy available on all platforms now.