This edition includes body paint, prog, an emotional covers album, and more! To the metals…
Anubis Gate – Covered in Black
Genre: Progressive power metal
Origin: Aalborg, Denmark
Label: Nightmare Records
Buy now on Amazon.com
These power prog titans are bringing it once again. On their seventh album, they're soaring to epic heights while twisting and turning through the metal landscape. Guitarists Kim Olesen and Michael Bodin shine on this record despite much of it being rhythm and vocal centric.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCBaIZjWtXY[/youtube]
The Convalescence – This Is Hell 
Genre: Deathcore
Origin: Toledo, Ohio
Label: Unique Leader
Buy now on Amazon.com
If you've ever wondered what a deathcore band covered in paint would sound like, The Convalescence will relieve you of that wonder. This band is comprised of extended range guitars, squeals all over the place, guttural vocals, and completely painted members. Like, corpse paint but then also their arms too? Maybe said paint is what gives them a more evil sound, because they're are certainly spookier than most in their scene.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGXh9gyROA[/youtube]
Epica – The Solace System EP 
Genre: Symphonic power metal
Origin: Reuver, Netherlands
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
After fourteen years and eight albums of epic, operatic metal, it's safe to assume what The Solace System EP sounds like. In actuality, it sounds like a continuation of their last record The Holographic Principle which was their best album in quite some time. So if you dug that you'll also enjoy this, or if you enjoyed them before but fell off at some point, give this a go. Sol digs in here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2b3V0VJdW0[/youtube]
Motörhead – Under Cover 
Genre: Rock n roll
Origin: London, England
Label: Silver Lining
Buy now on Amazon.com
I have mixed feelings about this album. This is a covers record, and almost all of these songs have been released in some form over the years. Part of it feels like a post-death cash grab. However, having them all in one place for the first time is cool. I'll probably reluctantly pick this one up, and drive around screaming along with it trying not to cry. I miss Lemmy… Jeremy reviews this here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J06yQb4lbPk[/youtube]
Paradise Lost – Medusa 
Genre: Doom/Gothic rock
Origin: Halifax, England
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
Nick Holmes and the gang are keeping things heavy, epic at times, and mostly slow. Fans hoping for another dance-able record will have to keep waiting (see: Host). I know it shouldn't be too surprising, but I was a little thrown by how much some of the atmosphere on Medusa reminded me of Type O Negative.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufs-kLZFyjU[/youtube]
Septicflesh – Codex Omega
Genre: Symphonic death metal
Origin: Athens, Greece
Label: Prosthetic
Buy now on Amazon.com
This band is killing it on this album. I feel like Titan had some fans divided, but Codex Omega brings back whatever was missing since The Black Mass, and maybe elements from beyond, back to the band. Feels more grim than it's been for a while too. Pretty rad. Tyler has a full review here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPC5-Lw7b9U[/youtube]
Subterranean Masquerade – Vagabond
Genre: Psychedelic progressive
Origin: United States/Israel/Norway
Label: Taklit Music
Buy now on Amazon.com
Let's end this edition in a fun, weird way. On their third album in their twenty years of existence, Tomer Pink and the rest are tapping into 60's psychedelic rock and running it though all kinds of filters. There's some death metal Tossed in, but also some symphonic elements, folk moments, and atypical instrumentation (for metal anyway). Vagabond gives you have one hell of a prog ride.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQPjbZaATuk[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Across The Atlantic – Works Of Progress (SharpTone) – Hard rock
Alazka – Phoenix (SharpTone) – Hard rock
Blindwish – Good Excuses (Rise) – Post-hardcore/Metalcore
