This week's new heavy metal releases include the last new recordings of a great band, some splendid newer acts, bird puns, and more!
To the metals!
All Hell – The Witch's Grail
Genre: Black metal/punk
Origin: Asheville, North Carolina
Label: Prosthetic
Looking to slam dance? Looking to burn shit down? Why not allow All Hell to be your soundtrack as you do both? This album is both grim and catchy in the way that only a blackened punk record can be.
Cave In – Final Transmission 
Genre: Metalcore/progressive
Origin: Methuen, Massachusetts
Label: Hydra Head
This album is a wonderful, spacey epic ride. It's been a long time since White Silence, and it's great to hear this band again. It's an understatement to say that we just wish the circumstances were different. This album includes the final recordings of Caleb Scofield, and it serves as a fitting tribute to him.
Chon – Chon
Genre: Progressive/math rock
Origin: Oceanside, California
Label: Sumerian
So many instrumental bands set out to show of shredding prowess or create music that tells some epic tale without words, but not these guys. At some point in the recent-ish past Chon became the kings of chill instrumental technical music. They've got their own thing going, and it works really well on them.
Combichrist – One Fire 
Genre: Industrial
Origin: Atlanta, Georgia
Label: Out Of Line
This is a weird jump from Chon. Combichrist are full of aggression and urgency. Yet, you can dance to it. My favorite part of a lot of industrial or industrial-influenced bands is that they're secretly disco bands. New idea, all Combichrist shows in the future are metal roller-discos. Make it happen Combichrist!
Flub – Flub 
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: The Artisan Era
So stoked to finally have new music form these guys. I've been jumping up and down screaming about how great Flub are for a minute now, and I'm excited to see their faces around metal internet so much. So proud of the biggest fishes in Sacramento's small techy pond.
Mofsed – Rattenkrieg!
Genre: Death metal
Origin: Davis, California
Label: Self-release
Buy now on Bandcamp
If you're on the quest for some old school style death metal, get on Mofsed. They get weird with guitar theatrics too, so the sound winds up having a modern spin on a classic sound. Then, the album wraps with a King Diamond cover. So few bands take on the King, and fewer do it this well.
Motionless In White – Disguise
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Label: Roadrunner
I have to give it to Motionless In White. This album is quite diverse. "Brand New Numb" sounds like a mid-career Marilyn Manson track, while "Disguise" has some It Dies Today (with some synths added) vibes. I feel like it's not "cool" to like this band, but fuck it, this was a fun listen.
Pelican – Nighttime Stories 
Genre: Instrumental post-metal
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Label: Southern Lord
Where Chon chilled their listeners, I feel like Pelican envelop their fans in a crashing wave of sound. So, not terribly chill. It's been six years since Pelican laid a new album. However, with Nighttime Stores, the band flew in and proved why they were and are an essential part of the post-metal scene. I apologize to them for the bird puns.
Also dropping today…
Ancient Hostility – Ancient Hostility (Akashic Envoy) – Black metal
As Cities Burn – Scream Through The Walls (Equal Vision) – Post-hardcore
Ian Blurton – Signals Through The Flame (Pajama Party) – Rock
Despyre – Rise Up (Pavement Entertainment) – Alt metal
Dinosaur Pile-Up – Celebrity Mansions (Parlophone/Roadrunner) – Hard rock
Diviner – Realms Of Time (Ulterium) – Heavy metal
Driving Slow Motion – Arda (Fail Safe Audio Recordings) – Experimental/Post-Rock
Drowse – Light Mirror (The Flenser) – Slowcore
Enthroned – Cold Black Suns (Season Of Mist) – Black metal
Faerie Ring – The Clearing (King Volume) – Fuzz Rock
Perry Farrell – Kind Heaven (BMG) – Rock
Fetid – Sleeping Corporeal Mess (20 Buck Spin) – Death metal
Firespawn – Abominate (Century Media) – Death metal
Fuming Mouth – The Grand Descent (Triple-B Records) – Death metal/crust
Heart Of A Coward – The Disconnect (Arising Empire) – Progressive metal
Jesse Hughes – Eagles Of Death Metal Presents: Boots Electric Performing The Best Songs We Never Wrote (UMe) – Covers
The Hÿss – Hound (Self-Release) – Stoner/doom
Majestica – Above The Sky (Nuclear Blast) – Power metal
Motanka – Motanka (Napalm) – Folk metal
Motor!k – Motor!k (Out Of Line Music) – Instrumetnal
Nebula – Holy Shit (Heavy Psych Sounds) – Space rock/stoner
Nevalra – Conjure The Storm (M-Theory) – Melodic black metal
Axel Rudi Pell – XXX Anniversary Live (SPV/Steamhammer) – Heavy metal/power metal
Roadsaw – Tinnitus the Night (Ripple Music) – Stoner
The Rods – Brotherhood Of Metal (SPV/Steamhammer) – Heavy metal
Silver Devil – Paralyzed (Ozium Records) – Stoner
Upon A Burning Body – Southern Hostility (Seek & Strike) – Metalcore/deathcore
Vault Dweller – Existence At A Distance (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Death metal/grindcore
Violent Life – Violent Death Sadness Rains (Innerstrength Records) – Hardcore
Vulture – Ghastly Waves & Battered Graves (Metal Blade Records) – Speed metal/thrash
Wykan – Brigid: Of The Night (Self-Release) – Black metal/doom
