Last week was a beast of a week for new releases and it looks like next week will be an even mightier beast. I'd call this week a breather for new music. Having said that, this weeks edition still features Russians folking around, some lo-fi recordings from goth metal's favorite punching bag and more. To the metals…
Arkona – Yav
Genre: Folk Metal
Origin: Moscow, Russia
Label: Napalm
Buy now on Amazon.com
If the included sample clip is any indication, this record will be an absolutely epic adventure. This one is for fans of Eluveitie and/or Moonsorrow. They are a stand out band in their genre as they include elements of folk and progressive metal in ways very few do.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQduhe36HeM[/youtube]
Black Stone Cherry – Magic Mountain 
Genre: Heavy Metal
Origin: Edmonton, Kentucky
Label: Roadrunner
Buy now on Amazon.com
These guys have a history as a stoner band, but they seemed to have dropped the sound opting instead for that of a straight up Southern fried heavy metal band. However, the stoner subject matter didn't change, unless I'm completely missing the point of "Me and Mary Jane."
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAnJqv9H2qY[/youtube]
Cradle Of Filth – Total Fucking Darkness Re-Release 
Genre: Black Metal
Origin: Ipswich
Label: Mordgrimm
Buy now on Amazon.com
This is a re-released version of the first taste of Dani Filth's demonic vision. The remastered version is cleaned up a bit, but it is certainly still lo-fi and evil sounding. I'd be really interested in hearing a complete re-recording of this release. Say what you want about Cradle of Filth but these are solid tracks.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzw396qf9Os[/youtube]
Epica – The Quantum Enigma 
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Origin: Reuver, Netherlands
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
I often complain that female-fronted epic bands are all just copying each other, but Epica are actually branching out on this album. You'll still get all your operatic bits, but the riffs are fucking great and there seems to be quite a bit of growth. This one will probably be missed, which is a shame.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oePrtEMmX9Y[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Albino Rhino – Albino Rhino (Inverse)
Aposento – Aposento (Xtreem)
Aurvandil – Thrones(Eisenwald)
Battleroar – Blood Of Legends (Cruz del Sur)
Cobalt – War Metal Re-Release (Hammerheart)
Doom:VS – Earthless (Solitude)
Dwellers – Pagan Fruit (Small Stone)
Electrocution – Metaphysincarnation (Goregorecords)
E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr – Spiralo (Svart)
Ifing – Against The Weald (Blood)
Infecting The Swarm – Patheogenesis (Lacerated Enemy)
Limits – Rebirth Re-Release (At Your Command)
Michael Sweet – I'm Not Your Suicide (Big3)
Noneuclid – Metatheosis (Blood)
Party Animals – Light A Fan Cool (Street Symphonies)
Pet The Preacher – The Cave & The Sunlight (Napalm)
SadDolls – Grave Party (Inverse)
Skinner – Sleepwalkers (Dead Inside)
Spectral Lore – III (I, Voidhanger)
Velnias – Sovereign Nocturnal (Eisenwald)
Vestal Claret – The Cult of Vestal Claret (Cruz del Sur)
Voice Of Ruin – Morning Wood (Tenacity)
Woman Is The Earth – This Place That Contains My Spirit (Eisenwald)
Xandria – Sacrificum (Napalm)
