Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor has been one of the busier folks that I've written about over the last year and a half. Last year he released ten archival Bulb records and now he's releasing his long-awaited full-length proper debut solo record. Like the archival series, this has electronic and symphonic bits, but because it's a Misha record it's progressive, guitar-driven music at it's core.
Cognitive – Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Execution
Genre: Technical death metal Origin: Jobbstown, New Jersey Label: Unique Leader
If you seek death metal that's equal parts hefty and technical, then Malevolent Thoughts of a Hastened Extinction is the record for you this week. This record includes tracks about the machine that destroy all of humanity, killing people that are "Only fit to feed the worms," and a track called "Tearing Tendon from Bone." Cognitive are clearly setting out to be the soundtrack to your summer with these bops.
Inner Stream – Stain The Sea
Genre: Symphonic metal/Gothic rock Origin: Argentina Label: Frontiers
I listened to Stain The Sea once and I can't get it out of my head. This is well crafted, catchy pop-influenced metal. There is so much going on as this features djent-like grooves, electronic backdrops, epic guitar work, and the equally epic voice of Inés Vera Ortiz. Fans of Within Temptation and/or Delain should give this a shot.
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Ophidian I – Desolate
Genre: Melodic/technical death metal Origin: Reykjavík, Iceland Label: Season Of Mist
This is an album that snuck up on me. Desolate sounds like someone sped up Scale The Summit and added demonic vocals on top of it. This is nonstop melody and energy. Ophidian I came back with quite the return after nine years away.
Paradise Lost – At The Mill
Genre: Doom/Gothic metal Origin: Halifax, England Label: Nuclear Blast
Last November Paradise Lost went out to a mill in England and did a livestream, and this is that show. The band gives you a bit from MOST of their albums over their lengthy career with theese sixteen tracks. They also debuted a few songs from their latest record Obsidian and those feel like the stars of the show.
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Powerwolf – Call Of The Wild
Genre: Power metal Origin: Saarbrücken, Germany Label: Napalm Records
It's only been a year since these fellas unleashed an album of powerful wolf-themed metal, they're already back with more. This record is power metal in it's heart, but includes classical and European folk influences throughout. If the thought of more Powerwolf wasn't enough for you, the band are also sweetening the deal with a bonus disc on some editions called Missa Cantorem. This includes re-imaginings of some of their older material with folks like Matthew Heafy (Trivium), Björn Strid (a guest spot on most albums), Doro, and more. Then if that still isn't enough for you, there is even an ep of the songs in French! The bonus materials are truly out of hand on this one.
Times Of Grace – Songs Of Loss And Separation
Genre: Metalcore Origin: Boston, Massachusetts Label: Wicked Good
On their first album under the Times of Grace banner in a decade, Jesse and Adam from Killswitch Engage are pushing this band's sound further from their main band. The Hymn of a Broken Man sounding like A Killswitch album sort of made sense at the time since Jesse wasn't in the band at the time and it gave the duo an outlet to create that sound together. The separation here feels more deliberate here as the band works in soaring post-rock guitar work and slower songs along with galloping positive vibes metal. However, Adam can't not do what he does so this thing is still full of his unmistakable pinch harmonics.
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Umphrey's McGee – You Walked up Shaking in Your Boots but You Stood Tall and Left a Raging Bull
Genre: Progressive rock Origin: South Bend, Indiana Label: Nothing Too Fancy
Back when I had my prog column I expressed my admiration for Umphrey's McGee who are a band often written off as just a Phish-like jamband. On a stage they will certainly stretch a song out to fifteen-plus minutes improvising much of it, but on their albums these guys are streamlined progressive force. On the wordy You Walked up Shaking in Your Boots but You Stood Tall and Left a Raging Bull the band are a dropping studio version of tracks that have been utilized as set or song jumping off points on the road for years like "Nipple Trix," "Gurgle," "October Rain" and more. It's nice that these can now be enjoyed without that overly excited drunk and/or high guy behind you that won't stop screaming.
Vouna – Atropos
Genre: Atmospheric black metal/doom Origin: Olympia, Washington Label: Profound Lore
Wrapping with some bleak and beautiful shit. Atropos is the sophomore album from Yianna Bekris and she's doing everything on it save from some harp by Asia Kindred Moore and some vocals from Nathan Weaver of Wolves In The Throne Doom. If you're looking for something (mostly) slow and (quite) dark, then this should be your pick this week.
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Also dropping today…
Big City – Testify (Frontiers) – Melodic metal
Bottomless – Bottomless (Spikerot Records) – Doom
Bummer – Dead Horse (Thrill Jockey Records) – Sludge
Calliophis – Liquid Darkness (Solitude Productions) Death metal/doom
Crippled Black Phoenix – Painful Reminder / Dead is Dead (Season Of Mist) – Post-rock
Death on Fire – Six Foot Box (Self-released) – Death metal/thrash
Downcaste – Pre-Apocalypse (Self-released) Sludge/death metal
Dungeon Serpent – World Of Sorrows (Nameless Grave Records) – Melodic death metal
Fell Harvest – Pale Light In A Dying World (Self-released) – Doom
Heartsick – Cinco (Godsize Records) – Alternative metal
