This week’s new heavy metal releases include a lot of deathcore, shredding guitar wit saxophone accompaniment, Star Wars metal, and more! To the metals…
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Aethereus – Leiden
Genre: Progressive/technical death metal Origin: Tacoma, Washington Label: The Artisan Era
Getting this week started with some tech-death. As one might expect from an Artisan Era band, this is an album of complex musicianship combined with moments of earworm melodies. This one also dips into prog territory as many of the songs are lengthy. Austin has a full rundown as part of Tech-Death Tuesday here.
Deadscape – Of The Deepest Shade
Genre: Melodic death metal Origin: Sofia, Bulgaria Label: Self-released
Next we have some solid melodic death metal. The sound of this is like a combination of Amon Amarth, Soilwork, The Agonist, and a dab of Katatonia. The multiple voices on this one really create a compelling and dynamic experience as well. Their vibe is constantly shifting between driving, soaring, catchy, and a little sad.
Ecryptus – Kyr'am Beskar’gam EP
Genre: "Galactic Death metal" Origin: Atlanta, Georgia Label: SBDC
Over the years there have been several Star Wars influenced bands. You've had Galactic Empire and WAY back in the day Anchorhead, and others. Now rather that playing metal versions of the the Star Wars score you're getting bands playing straight ahead metal tracks about the universe. Over this EP's four track Ecryptus created death metal about lightsaber death, dying in a sarlacc pit, and more.
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Enterprise Earth – The Chosen
Genre: Deathcore Origin: Spokane, Washington Label: eOne
I frankly know little of Enterprise Earth. The samples I've found of this record showcase a band that is one of the more frantic and one of the more melodic bands in their genre. Some choruses border on post-hardcore, but when they shift back to deathcore guitar chugging it gets real chunky.
Fit For An Autopsy – Oh What The Future Holds
Genre: Deathcore Origin: Jersey City, New Jersey Label: Nuclear Blast
Since deathcore is the underlying theme of this week, here we have the latest from Fit For An Autopsy. Like the chaps above, this has really grand melodic moments and lots of chunk, but the truly evil sounding moments separate the two bands. They pair well together though.
Born of Osiris' guitarist is dropping one of the cooler shred albums I've heard in a long time. There is plenty of guitar frettery here, but Lee implements some weird techniques that I have never heard before. When you're not impressed by the sheer skill, you'll be wondering what the hell is happening. It's also a rather beautiful record.
Wit's End is a two-track EP that will haunt your brain. The title track is a doom epic that's just shy of fifteen minutes and the second is a spooky ambient soundscape that is sure to be conjuring something.
Party Cannon – Volumes Of Vomit
Genre: Brutal death metal Origin: Dunfermline, Scotland Label: Gore House
Party Cannon are great at standing out. Every time they pop up on a flyer there will be a sea of pointy borderline illegible metal logos, and then in colorful balloon letters, "PARTY CANNON." On Volumes Of Vomit, they bring the slamming death metal party. Lyrically, this is goofy, but fuck it hits hard.
Shadow Of Intent – Elegy
Genre: Symphonic death metal/deathcore Origin: West Hartford, Connecticut Label: Blood Blast
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We have reached the end of my unintentional deathcore trifecta, and this one is the most epic of the bunch. While the others I mentioned are no strangers to grand moments, Shadow Of Intent keep the symphonies going throughout. They also implement some more traditional death metal in their sound, so this isn't just violins and breakdowns. These guys have grown up a lot since their early days as a Halo worship band. Max has a full review here.
Underoath – Voyeurist
Genre: Metalcore Origin: Tampa, Florida Label: Fearless Records
Wrapping this week with the second album form Underoath since their reunion. Like lots of albums, this saw delays due to supply shortages, covid stuff, you know the drill. Fans, of empowered, synthy metalcore with have a lot to enjoy here.
Also dropping this week…
Arise From Worms – Arise From Worms EP (Goremaster) – Death metal
Autumn's Child – Zenith (Pride & Joy) – Helodic hard rock
Big Scenic Nowhere – The Long Morrow (Heavy Psych Sounds) – Desert rock
Breaths – Though Life Has Turned Out Nothing Like I Imagined, It Is Far Better Than I Could Have Dreamt (Trepnation) – Black metal/shoegaze
Buffalo Revisited – Volcanic Rock Live (Ripple) – Heavy metal
Crawl Below – Its Ministers On Earth (Lawnmowerjetpack Records) – Folk/post-black metal
Dance With The Dead – Driven To Madness (Self-released) – Electronic metal
Descent – Order Of Chaos (Redefining Darkness) – Death metal
Desolate Grave – Det Sista Steget (Grind To Death) – Doom
Devil In Me – On The Grind (Dead Serious) – Hardcore
Electromancy – Technopagan (Metal Assault) – Technical black metal
Eliminator – Ancient Light (Dissonance) – Heavy metal
Eradication Of The Unworthy Infants – Change Is Good (Wormholedeath) – Death metal/grindcore
Ereb Altor – Vargtimman (Hammerheart) – Folk/black metal
Furis Ignis – Decapitate The Aging World (Iron Bonehead) – Black metal
Goreskincoffin – Release My Suffering (Funeral Goat Records) – Blackened death metal
Ghost In The Machine – Journey To The Otherwise (Sliptrick) – Rocktronica
Gurschasch – Hypnotic Disasters EP (Self-released) – Experimental/groove metal
Horndal – Be Evil (Prosthetic Records) – Sludge/hardcore
Ilium – Quantum Evolution Event EP (Self-released) – Power/symphonic metal
In Loving Memory – The Withering (Funere) – Melodic death metal/doom
Inferno Sunn – Injustice Plagues American Lives (Self-released) – Thrash
King Bastard – It Came From The Void (Self-released) – Psychedelic/doom
Lament in Winter's Night/Obsidian Grave –Yearning for Darker Days split (Atrocity Altar) – Black metal
Magnum – The Monster Roars (SPV/Steamhammer) – Hard rock
Tony Martin – Thorns (Dark Star) – Heavy metal
Maule – Maule (Gates Of Hell) – Heavy metal
Nullification – Kingdoms To Hovel (Personal) – Death metal
Oceans – Hell Is Where The Heart Is Part I: Love EP (Nuclear Blast) – Post-metal/metalcore
Oshiego – Jaljalut (Seven Kings) – Thrash/death metal
Out Of This World – Out Of This World (Atomic Fire) – Hard rock
