Back in April Ad Infinitum dropped their debut album Chapter I: Monarchy and now they're back with reimagined acoustic versions of those songs. The unplugged takes on the songs sound like folk songs rather than melodic metal. Yet, even without heavy guitars and Melissa Bonny's harsh vocals, these songs still carry weight and they remain just as grand.
Deafheaven – 10 Years Gone
Genre: Atmospheric black metal Origin: San Francisco, California Label: Sargent House
In 2020 Deafheaven had plans to celebrate their decade as a band on the road. 2020 happened so the band is adapting and celebrating differently. This release is a live in studio set of presumably what they were planning on playing on their tour. Your getting a taste of just about every release they've done from their first demo through their most recent Ordinary Corrupt Human Love album. This is a must have for fans if only to hear updated takes on old tracks, and newer stuff without studio trickery.
Gama Bomb – Sea Savage
Genre: Thrash Origin: Dublin, Ireland Label: Prosthetic
Let's get weird. On Sea SavageGama Bomb are telling tales of their adventures on the high seas in search of a yeti (a creature that doesn't seem terribly aquatic, but you'll have to listen to figure out how that works) as well as songs about 80's and 90's movies. This is a high energy, fun as fuck record.
Gone Is Gone – If Everything Happens for a Reason…Then Nothing Really Matters at All
Genre: Progressive rock Origin: Los Angeles, California Label: Clouds Hill
Troy Sanders is not slowing down in this pandemic. A few weeks back Killer Be Killed released their second album and Mastodon are hard at work on their next one. So of course, now is the time to drop his spacy rock project's new record with Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age), Tony Hajjar (At The Drive-In), and Mike Zarin. The sophomore full-length from the band is still just as atmospheric as the band's pervious material. Frankly, it might not grab you the first time, but it's a record that rewards on repeat listens.
Poppy- A Very Poppy Christmas
Genre: Electronic metal/christmas Origin: Boston, Massachusetts Label: Sumerian Records
One of the more divisive artists in heavy music in recent memory is dipping into an even more divisive territory – Christmas music. I Disagree showed her heavy side, and this has none of that, but she's one of us now, so I wanted to highlight this EP. It's four tracks, three are original (I think), and it's a pleasant listening experience. Certainly beats hearing Bing Crosby for the millionth time.
Soilwork – A Whisp Of The Atlantic EP
Genre: Melodic death metal Origin: Helsingborg, Sweden Label: Nuclear Blast
Here is yet another win in this stage of Soilwork's career. Seriously, since The Living Infinite these guys have been on a roll. This is one of their proggier releases that retains their melodic death metal core. It's a shame that it's only five tracks, but any amount of new Soilwork is good with me.
Two Minutes To Late Night – Covers Vol. VI
Genre: All-star heavy metal covers Origin: Various Label: Self-released
Two Minutes To Late Night pivoted their whole thing during this quarantine and have been putting out fun star-studded covers. Today (December fourth) and today only, they are putting out their sixth Bandcamp exclusive EP to help out the artists that have contributed to these covers. Get it before it's gone.
Undergang – Aldrig i livet
Genre: Death metal Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark Label: Dark Descent Records
I have to admit that I felt kinda bad that I didn't highlight a lot of genuinely heavy stuff this week. Sorry? Decembers are already weird even before bands pivot what their up to to accommodate the additional weirdness of 2020. Anyway, this one is for you whiny types that don't want nothing but grimy, heavy metal. This is low, evil sounding death metal that appears to be entirely in Danish (which makes it extra evil sounding?). This is a blend of old school and modern death metal that will beat your eardrums for a relentless thirty-one minutes.
Also dropping today…
Alpha Male Tea Party – Infinity Stare (Big Scary Monsters) – Progressive
Becoming the Lion – Unearthly Creature (Self-released) – Instrumental post-metal
Can't Swim – Someone Who Isn't Me (Pure Noise Records) – Hardcore
Cazador – Acceptance/Isolation (Suspended Soul Tapes and Records) – Doom
City of Industry – False Flowers (Amerikan Aesthetics) – Hardcore
Cryptodira – Angel Of History (Good Fight) – Post-metal/experimental
Depravity – Grand Malevolence (Transcending Obscurity) – Technical death metal
Genus Ordinis Dei – Glare of Deliverance (Eclipse Records) – Symphonic death metal
Green Druid – At the Maw of Ruin (Earache Records) – Stoner/doom
Hadal – December (Planet K Records) – Melodic Doom/death metal
Hollywood Undead – New Empire, Vol. 2 (BMG) – Hard rock/rap
