This week's new heavy metal releases include supergroups, guitar shredders, controversy, and more!
To the metals…
Batushka – Hospodi 
Genre: Black metal
Origin: Białystok, Poland
Label: Metal Blade
I don't know a lot about this band other than the fact that there are two of them. There is controversy about the members owning the name, and this one seems to have made out better as they're on the bigger label. This is dark, weird black metal though and it's quite interesting. I realized I forgot to mention the other one when they dropped an album in May, so fuck it, here's a link to that one too.
Gyze – Asian Chaos 
Genre: Melodic death metal
Origin: Tokyo, Japan
Label: Out Of Line Music
Despite this being Gyze's fourth album, it is my introduction to the band, and I'm all about it. This is a hyper-melodic death metal, that borders on power metal-level bombast. They're like if Children of Bodom were less concerned about lakes and focused on Japanese history.
Hyvmine – Retaliation
Genre: Prog/hard rock
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Seek and Strike
Speaking of hyper-melodic, Hyvmine are already back a mere eighteen months after their debut album. In a year and a half one wouldn't expect a lot of growth from a band, but they have already matured their sound a lot. Al Joseph is an underrated guitar shredder, and more of you need him in your ears, so get on that.
Suicide Silence – Live & Mental 
Genre: Deathcore
Origin: Riverside, California
Label: Nuclear Blast
It's been a couple years since the divisive 2017 self-titled album from Suicide Silence, and the Allegations against Eddie, so I really don't know where people stand on this band anymore. Haters of the recent album will probably be ok with this though. This was recorded in 2015 at a mental health benefit, hence the name. It also features a Korn cover.
Torche – Admission 
Genre: Sludge/Thunder pop
Origin: Miami, Florida
Label: Relapse
The ever-morphing Torche have morphed once again. This time they are embracing more of a new wave, echo-laden sound, and I'm digging it. I blame it on long-time bassist Jonathan Nuñez hopping on guitars this time.
WAIT – We Are In Transit 
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Baltimore, Maryland
Label: The Artisan Era
Buy on Bandcamp
We Are In Transit, or WAIT, are not a public transportation themed band like I had initially hopped (there are multiple Simpsons themed bands, so anything is possible, right?). Instead you are getting a supergroup of sorts with Max Phelps (ex-Death To All, Exist), Alex Weber (live-Defeated Sanity, Exist), Anup Sastry (ex-Skyharbor, ex-Intervals), and mastermind Charlie Eron. Together this batch of dudes create a dissonant, proggy, death metal monster that fans of Gorguts will probably appreciate.
Wear Your Wounds – Rust On The Gates Of Heaven 
Genre: Experimental
Origin: Essex, Massachusetts
Label: Deathwish
I'm wrapping this week with another supergroup. This one once comprised solely of Jacob Bannon from Converge, has grown into a full band with Mike McKenzie (The Red Chord), Chris Maggio (ex-Trap Them), Sean Martin (Twitching Tongues), and Adam McGrath (Cave In) now in tow. Despite having so many chaotic, noisy members, the band is more reserved and atmospheric than folks might expect. I very much enjoy this album.
Also dropping today…
Aeon Winds – Stormveiled (Avantgarde Music) – Black metal
Arrowhead – Coven of the Snake (Ripple Music) – Stoner rock
Auras – Binary Garden (eOne) – Groove metal/djent
Burial Party – Please, Electric Move Slow (self-released) – Noise/hardcore
Cazador – Failure to Thrive (Self-released) – Sludge
Concrete Winds – Primitive Force (Sepulchral Voice) – Black/death metal
Disentomb – The Decaying Light (Unique Leader) – Brutal death metal
Disowning – Human Cattle (Xenokorp) – Death metal
Drab Majesty – Modern Mirror (Dais Records) – Post-Punk
False – Portent (Gilead Media) – Black metal
Freighter – The Den (self-released) – Progressive metal
Oh, Sleeper – Bloodied/Unbowed (Solid State Records) – Metalcore
Pathetic – Rat King (Self-released) – Death metal
Pinto Graham – Dos (Bohobilly Records) – Southern hard rock
Seraph In Travail – Lest They Feed Upon Your Soul (Self-released) – Symphonic Death/Black Metal
Visionatica – Enigma Fire (Frontiers) – Symphonic metal
