This week's new heavy metal releases includes a long-awaited return (No, it's Not Tool time yet dorks), chunky breakdowns, sonic immersion, and more!
To the metals…
Crobot – Motherbrain 
Genre: Hard rock
Origin: Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Label: Mascot
Starting this week with one of the most electric bands in rock right now. These guys are a straight-forward rock band, but they're such a fun act. They bring smokey riffs, catchy melodies, and, occasionally, some crazy space shit.
Infinity Shred – Forever, A Fast Life 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: New York, New York
Label: 3DOT Recordings
Infinity Shred are a wildly unique band. They combine new wave synths, progressive rock musicianship, and post-metal atmosphere. So much is said on these songs without a single word being uttered. Killer instrumental.
Knocked Loose – A Different Shade Of Blue 
Genre: Hardcore
Origin: Oldham County, Kentucky
Label: Pure Noise
Fine, fine. Here's some heavy shit. This is a band of anger and chunky breakdowns. Seriously, every part of the song below is a different sort of breakdown. All in a hue of blue you've never seen…or something?
Meth. – Mother Of Red Light 
Genre: Blackened noise
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Label: Prosthetic
Much like Knocked Loose, this band fancies a breakdown. Unlike Knocked Loose, this band also channels Dillinger Escape Plan-level madness into their chunkiness. Mother Of Red Light might be the most erratic thing I've heard all year.
Sacred Reich – Awakening 
Genre: Thrash
Origin: Phoenix, Arizona
Label: Metal Blade
Thrash fans have been listening to Tool fans whine for a new album for a while, and they must find their sadness adorable. Sacred Reich haven't dropped a new album in TWENTY-THREE YEARS. Bill Clinton was still president when they dropped Heal. Anyway, these thrash masters have finally returned with thirty-one minutes of shredding and everything you'd want from the band. Jerome has a full review here.
Wrvth – No Rising Sun 
Genre: Technical death metal/deathcore
Origin: San Jose, California
Label: Unique Leader Records
I'm honestly surprised that I haven't heard more about this album dropping. I almost missed it. I LOVED the self-titled record, and No Rising Sun seems to keep that atmospheric death metal train rolling. I haven't heard it all yet, but I'm excited to get immersed once again.
Also dropping today…
Agenda – Apocalyptic Wasteland (Blues Fysisk Format) – Hardcore
Book of Wyrms – Remythologizer (Twin Earth Records) – Doom/stoner
Cemican – In Ohtli Teoyohtica In Miquiztli (M-Theory) – Power/folk metal
Ceremony – In The Spirit World Now (Relapse) – Death metal
Coarse – Cut and Preserved (6131 Records) – Hardcore/grindcore
Darkened – Into The Blackness (Edged Circle Productions) – Death metal
The Dead Daisies – Locked And Loaded: The Covers Album (SPV/Steamhammer) – Hard rock
Dead Feathers – All Is Lost (Ripple Music) – Psychedelic Rock
Death Valley High – Duel (minus HEAD Records) – "Death disco"
Domination Inc. – Memoir 414 (SPV/Steamhammer) – Thrash
The Electric Mud – Burn the Ships (Self-release) – Hard rock
Freedom Call – M.E.T.A.L. (SPV/Steamhammer) – P.O.W.E.R.M.E.T.A.L.
Helhorse – Hydra (Rodeostar) – Hardcore/"Dirty metal"
In Cold Blood – Legion Of Angels (Fast Break) – Hardcore
It Prevails – A Life Worth Living (Stay Sick Recordings) – Melodic hardcore
Nemesea – White Flag (Napalm Records) – Symphonic metal
Ole English – Ole English (Self-release) -Stoner rock/"Warlock rock"
Michael Schenker Fest – Revelation (Nuclear Blast) – Hard rock
Scimitar – Shadows of Man (Self-Release) – Melodic death metal
Symphony For Auto-Horns – Captain Cheesebeard (Mottow Soundz) – Experimental/Avant-garde
Walking Bombs – Sphinges, Sibling (Self-release) – Experimental
8kids – BLŪTEN (Napalm Records) – Post-hardcore
