If you’ve been keeping an ear on the metal underground over the past couple of years, you might have encountered Welsh band Celavi. They’ve issued some brilliant singles so far in 2026: ‘Sori’, in particular, did a superb job in giving an instant hit of heaviness via a pleasing nu-metal and industrial mix, with its dirty riffs offset by confident and clean vocals, while the much spikier ‘Morgana’ showed off a brilliant rhythm with a world of pneumatic drums and throbbing basslines, without detracting from the band’s love of huge guitar sounds.

Their current single ‘Ar Dy Liniau’ ups the ante yet again, with a slab of alternative metal that’s as big on groove as it is pure heaviness. Following an intro loaded with pulsing keys hinting at the crossover sounds of Premier Jester, the track hits its audience with a breezeblock of a riff that pushes the guitars to the fore. Sharing a sound that falls somewhere between Spineshank, Ill Nino and early, classic Fear Factory, it isn’t exactly subtle, but in terms of bringing a nu-metal inspired sound into the present, very few bands have managed a more perfect job.

Contrasting the sheer weight of riffs comes a typically clean vocal – as usual,delivering a lyric in Welsh – showcasing some fantastic tones from Sarah Wynn Griffiths, whose choice of more accessible tones offsets the sheer heaviness of Gwion’s guitar riffs perfectly. The riffs may appear to be the overriding feature here, but the use of layered vocals on a great chorus gives this track a huge sense of melody too, and these contrasting moods help to create something genuinely exciting. Honestly, this is HUGE. If you’ve not yet heard Celavi, prepare to meet your favourite discovery of ’26.