This week's new heavy metal releases include some keyboard wizardry, some guitar wizardry, probably some wizard wizardry, and more!
To the metals…
Buckcherry – Warpaint
Genre: Rock
Origin: Anaheim, California,
Label: Red
Disneyland's noisy neighbors are back with another album of radio rock jams. Their eighth album is also their first in four years, so fans have been waiting a minute for this. This also is their first with drummer Francis Ruiz, a former drum tech to the stars. Seriously, google him. The guy has worked.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJebmwRdApU][/youtube]
Children of Bodom – Hexed
Genre: Melodic thrash metal
Origin: Espoo, Finland
Label: Nuclear Blast
One of our other writers described this album to me as an album that features every era of Children of Bodom at once. This has tracks that have the mid-tempo rhythms of recent years, high-speed shredding like the early days, and bombastic keyboard from all the eras. This winds up sounding like a best of, but all the songs are new.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F_ws83QcSQ][/youtube]
Poh Hock – Ātma
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Boston, Massachusetts
Label: Self-released
Buy now on Bandcamp
Native Construct were a band of ultra-talented dudes. Poh Hock began as their live guitarist and eventually joined officially, and this EP is proof of why he was worthy of the gig. His tenure with Replacire was probably helpful as well. This is guitar wankery at its finest. A couple songs have light vocals if you're not into the whole instru-metal thing, and that includes some throat singing.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eqD6W8w3hA][/youtube]
Kings Destroy – Fantasma Nera
Genre: Doom
Origin: New York City, New York
Label: Svart
If you're looking for some doom riffs with a lil bit o' twang, then the new Kings Destroy should be your pick for the week. They're as catchy as Ghost with the swagger of Clutch. An odd mix, but one I'm not mad about.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vv98YFKZSg][/youtube]
Misery Index – Rituals of Power
Genre: Death metal/grindcore
Origin: Baltimore, Maryland
Label: Season Of Mist
Here's you heavy for the week! So, dry your tears and put away your fingers that were no doubt about to type "I thought this was 'Metal' Injection." It's been a whopping five years since these guys tore into listeners, and their bite is just as fierce as ever. Chugs, low-tuned git-fiddles, and all the fixins you'd want from Misery Index.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3eh7uDhg2A][/youtube]
Týr – Hel 
Genre: Progressive/Folk Metal
Origin: Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Label: Metal Blade Records
This might be the most dynamic offering from the world's favorite Faroe Islands band. It still sounds like something out of a Tolkien fit of rage, but there's definitely more going on this time. And don't worry, this is still hella epic.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oAt3mBEKRk][/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Ataraxie – Résignés (Xenokorp) – Funeral doom
Bergraven – Det Framlidna Minnet (Nordvis) – Experimental black metal
Bewitcher – Too Fast For The Flames (Shadow Kingdom) – Speed metal
Black Lung – Ancients (Ripple) – Doom/Psychedelic
Crypt Trip – Haze County (Heavy Psych Sounds) – Rock
Equipoise – Demiurgus (The Artisan Era) – Progressive death metal
Fen – Stone & Sea (Eisenwald) – Atmospheric black metal
Holding Absence – Holding Absence (SharpTone) – Rock
Indestructible Noise Command – Terrible Things (Self) – Thrash
Iron Fire – Beyond The Void (Crime) – Power metal
Iron Savior – Kill Or Get Killed (AFM) – Power metal
Malakhim – II (Iron Bonehead Productions) – Black metal
Meadows End – The Grand Antiquation (Black Lion Records) – Symphonic melodic death metal
Mystifier – Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia (Season Of Mist) – Death/black metal
Omicida – Defrauded Reign (Self released) – Thrash
Pterodactyl Problems – Esoteric Hobbies (Self released) – Hard rock
The Raven Age – Conspiracy (Corvid Records) – Melodic rock
The Royal – Deathwatch (Long Branch Records) – Metalcore
Savage After Midnight – 11:59 EP (Red) – Alternative rock
Tesla – Shock (Universal) – Rock
