This week’s new heavy metal releases include stoner riffs, secret metal, and more! To the metals…
Architects – The Sky, The Earth & All Between
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Brighton, East Sussex, England
Label: Epitaph)
Buy now on Bandcamp
Starting this week off with one of the perfect examples of the modern metal scene. This is some groovy metalcore with electronics throughout. You’ll get little moments to dance, mosh, and scream along. Sometimes in the same song.
Avantasia – Here Be Dragons
Genre: Power metal
Origin: Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Label: Napalm)
Buy now on Bandcamp
This cover and title feels like Tobias Sammet said, “Fuck it. This is what people think we’re doing anyway. Let’s say it loud!” It’s super rad too. As you’d guess, this is a soaring, epic album. What was unexpected is the gaggle of guest vocalists like Geoff Tate, Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), Adrienne Cowan (Seven Spires) and more.
Cloakroom – Last Leg of the Human Table
Genre: Shoegaze/post-hardcore
Origin: Northwest Indiana
Label: Closed Casket Activities)
Buy now on Bandcamp
To switch things up a bit, here’s the latest from Cloakroom. This is an ethereal record that is more upbeat and varied than you may expect from a “shoegaze” band. I get why they toured with Better Lovers recently despite being so different. They have similar spirits.
Dirkschneider – Balls To The Wall Reloaded
Genre: Heavy metal
Origin: Wuppertal, Germany
Label: Reigning Phoenix
Buy now on Amazon
To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Accept‘s breakthrough album Balls To The Wall, Udo and his band have re-recorded the record…and reloaded the balls? He has a bunch of pals with him too. You’re also getting Doro, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Danko Jones, and more.
Pure Hex – Five of Tears
Genre: Shoegaze
Origin: San Francisco, California
Label: Neon Blood Bath
Buy now from Neon Blood Bath
By now, I’m sure readers know I love when a non-metal band is sneakily metal. I encountered Pure Hex at a local show recently and while shoegaze at their core, I couldn’t help but notice quick blastbeats, moments to headbang, and undeniable riffs. They released part one of this album (or rather the first of two EPs? whatever) Spilling last year, and this is the companion piece. Would pair well with Cloakroom or recent Deafheaven.
Venamoris – To Cross Or To Burn
Genre: Dark pop
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Ipecac
Buy now on Bandcamp
The Lombardos have returned with another creepy pop album to haunt your speakers. While there are indeed drums flourishes on the album, the ex-Slayer-er is not the star. Instead Paula’s delicate voice pulls you in and doesn’t let go. A good one for fans of recent Chelsea Wolfe.
Year Of The Cobra – Year Of The Cobra
Genre: Psychedelic doom
Origin: Seattle, Washington
Label: Prophecy)
Buy now on Bandcamp
After six years, these riffers are back with the riffs. Rhythms are slow and heavy. This one seems poised to be the score to your smokiest of evenings.
Also dropping this week…
- 37 Houses – 37 Houses (Self-released) – Post-punk
- Aasar – I, The Hell (Seek & Strike) – Blackened death metal
- Arion – Like The Phoenix I Will Rise (Reigning Phoenix) – Symphonic/power metal
- Eric Bass – I Had A Name (Self-released) – heavy metal
- Brainstorm – Plague Of Rats (Reigning Phoenix) – Power/heavy metal
- Bronco – Bronco (Magnetic Eye) – Sludge/southern metal
- Cannibal Accident – Disgust (Inverse Records) – Death metal/grindcore
- Caustic Phlegm – Purulent Apocalypse (Hells Headbangers) – Death metal
- Chemicide – Violence Prevails (Listenable) – Thrash
- Christ Dismembered – Ov Vampiricy (Self-released) – Black metal
- Crown Of Madness – Memories Fragmented (Transcending Obscurity Records) – Death metal
- Dark Chapel – Spirit In The Glass (MNRK Heavy) – Hard rock/heavy metal
- Dead Undying – For Life For Death (Self-released) – Death/nu metal
- Enemy Inside – Venom (Reigning Phoenix) – Modern metal
- Fanalo – Fanalo (Klonosphere Records) – Progressive metal
- The Five Hundred – Ghostwriter (Prime Collective) – Metalcore
- Flesh Prison – Flesh Prison (Self-released) – Deathcore
- Godswounds – Cheer Up Sunshine (Sonichimarea) – Experimental
- Grave Infestation – Carnage Gathers (Dark Descent Records/Invictus Productions) – Death metal
- The Grey – Kodok (Majestic Mountain Records) – Post-metal
- Grima – Nightside (Napalm) – Atmospheric black metal
- Havukruunu – Tavastland (Svart) – Black metal
- Hirax – Faster Than Death (Armageddon) – Thrash
- Caleb Hyles – The Darkness Before Dawn (Judge & Jury) – Rock
- Killing Daisies – Echoes Of Tomorrow (Thousand Island) – Punk
- Robin McAuley – Soulbound (Frontiers) – Hard rock
- Metaphobic – Deranged Excruciations (Everlasting Spew Records) – Death metal
- Muskeg Charnel – Decomposition Part 4: Livor Mortis (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Black/death metal
- Obrij – Joseph (Self-released) – Death metal/hardcore
- Oversize – Vital Signs (SharpTone) – Alternative
- Perfect Plan – Heart Of A Lion (Frontiers) – Heavy metal
- Refiner – Return To Dust (Rottweiler Records) – Metalcore
- The Residents – Doctor Dark (Cherry Red) – Avant garde/metal opera
- Ritual Ascension – Profanation Of The Adamic Covenant (Sentient Ruin) – Death metal/doom
- Sepulchral Curse – Crimson Moon Evocations (Dark Descent Records) – Blackened death metal
- Spoiled – Collapse (Gruesome Records/Selvajaria Records) – Thrash/crossover
- Ter Ziele – Embodiment of Death (Tartarus Records) – Blackened doom
- Vacuous – In His Blood (Relapse) – Death metal
- You, Infinite – You, Infinite (Pelagic) –
Source: metalinjection.net