This edition includes a lot of different sides of the metal genre, which are my favorite weeks. To the metals…
Animals As Leaders – The Madness Of Many 
Genre: Progressive instrumental
Origin: Washington, DC
Label: Sumerian
Buy now on Amazon.com
These thumb-thumping djent masters have been expanding their sound with each record. The Madness of Many has them traversing new ground while also bringing some heavy back that may have lacked for some fans on The Joy of Motion. Tosin and Javier once again prove that they are the best guitar duo in modern metal on this album.
Deathspell Omega – The Synarchy Of Molten Bones 
Genre: Avant-garde Black Metal
Origin: Poitiers, France
Label: Norma Evangelium Diaboli
Buy now on Amazon.com
Deathspell Omega are up there with bands like Anaal Nathrakh and Strapping Young Lad as some of the heaviest and most intense bands that I've ever come across. Fans looking for their black metal roots will still certainly sense them, but this record is them going the avant-garde extreme metal route again. These guys are still just as fascinating as they are evil.
Downfall Of Gaia – Atrophy 
Genre: Post-black metal/sludge
Origin: Germany
Label: Metal Blade
Buy now on Amazon.com
There is a lot of great post metal out there, and I came across Downfall of Gaia at a time when I was over the scene. The band sort of revived my love for that side of metal, and with each release since the band has dabbled in new directions continuing to hold my attention. Atrophy is their most grim with more blast beats and darkness than ever. A really great record.
In Flames – Battles 
Genre: Melodic alt metal
Origin: Gothenburg, Sweden
Label: Eleven Seven
Buy now on Amazon.com
In Flames continue to chase that pop metal radio crossover hit. Longtime fans continue to hope the death metal band of their youth will magically reappear. I feel bad for both groups. Neither thing seems destined to happen. Anyway, here's more of the In Flames stuff people shit on, which is technically fine melodic metal.
Sirenia – Dim Days Of Dolor 
Genre: Symphonic metal
Origin: Stavanger, Norway
Label: Napalm
Buy now on Amazon.com
I figured why not toss in some epicness this week. The band's eighth album is the first to feature female vocals from Emmanuelle Zoldan as the frontwoman. She's been involved with the band for a while now, but as a backing vocalist, and now she's the star. She has a really good voice, but I could see fans not jumping on board right away. It is a metal band making a change of some sort after all.
Superjoint – Caught Up In The Gears Of Application 
Genre: Sludge
Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana
Label: Housecore
Buy now on Amazon.com
After over a decade of other projects, Phil's sludgy hardcore monster has returned. The album is noisy and chaotic so if that's your jam, cool. If it's not and/or this year's Phil news put a damper on your fandom, pass on this. It's not going to change your thoughts on the man or the music.
Also dropping today…
Asteroid – III (Fuzzorama) – Stoner/doom
Bastard Noise/Sickness – Death’s Door (Relapse) – Noise
Quicksand Dream – Beheading Tyrants (Cruz Del Sur) – Heavy metal
Ravencult – Force Of Profanation (Metal Blade) – Black metal
Rik Emmett & Resolution – Res 9 (Provogue/Mascot) – Heavy metal
Seasons After – Manifesto (Self) – Heavy metal
Wakrat – Wakrat (Earache) – Alt rock
