This edition features a lot of weird shit, some epic shit, some spooky shit, and more shit! To the metals…
The Atomic Bitchwax – Force Field 
Genre: Stoner
Origin: Neptune, New Jersey
Label: Tee Pee
Those looking for some energetic stoner rock to get them through their weekend should look no further than this gem. It reminds me a lot of Dunsmuir (the Clutch/Fu Manchu/Vinny Appice band), which is not a bad band to be reminded of. It's a shame that this was released so late in the year, as I could see it on end of the year lists, but they're already popping up sooooooo.
Cleric – Retrocausal 
Genre: Experimental
Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Label: Web of Mimicry Records
Buy now on Bandcamp.com
This album is a ride, and a dark one. Cleric are on a late era Mr. Bungle-level of madness. Like Atomic Bitchwax, this album could've benefited by being released and earlier. Regardless, it's here and it's great.
Sample it here.
Diablo Swing Orchestra – Pacifisticuffs 
Genre: Avant garde
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden
Label: Candlelight/Spinefarm
DSO have been mashing up genres for a long time now, but Pacifisticuffs has them at their craziest. Like Cleric, there are some Mr. Bungle vibes to DSO, but this is easier compare to earlier Bungle. The fun stuff. This band benefited from lineup changes, and released an album that I was happy to include on my end of the year list (Spoiler).
Iron Savior – Reforged – Riding On Fire
Genre: Power metal
Origin:
Label: AFM
Here is some straight up power metal for you. The energy, the vocalist, and the cheese are all at eleven. This is a two-disc set of re-recorded tracks so they're going to sound super familiar to fans, but may be a good spot to start if you're looking for some power metal in your life.
Thaw – Grains 
Genre: Ambient black metal
Origin: Sosnowiec, Poland
Label: Agonia
Buy now on Bandcamp.com
This shit right here is a blackened cocktail of darkness, echoes, and shrieks. Calling it a cocktail even seems like too light of a description. This is rusted pail that someone chose to sip from.
War of Ages – Alpha 
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Erie, Pennsylvania
Label: Facedown
Let's end this week on some epic metalcore. Their eighth album is their first to feature their new rhythm section, and those fellas have chops. This is some pretty solid Christ-core.
Also dropping today…
Deep Purple – The inFinite Live Recordings, Vol. 1 (earMusic) – Heavy metal
Feared – Svart (self) – Death Metal/Thrash
J.D. Overdrive – Wendigo (Metal Mind) – Southern/stoner rock
Luup – Canticles Of The Holy Scythe (I, Voidhanger Records) – Chamber music/Avant garde
Nightingale – Rock Hard Live (InsideOut) – Progressive metal
The Clearing Path – Watershed Between Firmament And The Realm Of Hyperborea (I, Voidhanger Records) – Black metal
Wildestarr – Beyond The Rain (Scarlet) – Power metal
