This edition includes Iran's only doom metal band, grim ass black metal, lots of rock, a dash of prog and more! To the metals…
Candlemass – Death Thy Lover EP 
Genre: Epic doom
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden
Label: Napalm
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This is simply Candlemass doing what they do(om) with four new epic, doomy heavy metal songs. The band is due for a full-length since Psalms for the Dead dropped in 2012, but this EP should serve as a twenty-five minute snack until the next record.
Combichrist – This Is Where Death Begins 
Genre: "Aggrotech"
Origin: Atlanta, Georgia
Label: Out Of Line
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This band has been around for a while doing this "Aggrotech" stuff, but it's not a term I've heard before. It's a familiar sound though. Basically, if you're a fan of driving, industrial infused rock music in the vein of Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, you'd dig this.
Cough – Still They Pray 
Genre: Doom/Sludge
Origin: Richmond, Virginia
Label: Relapse
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It's been over five years since the release of the Virgina collective's Ritual Abuse and their return is just as sludgy and dark as ever. There are some great melodies buried in the morose meat of this beast of a record. I can see this being a favorite of those that dig things slow and heavy as fuck.
Dark Funeral – Where Shadows Forever Reign 
Genre: Black Metal
Origin: Stockholm, Sweden
Label: Century Media
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Seven years have passed since these black metal legends have descended on the world, and while the wait felt like and eternity, it was worth it. This is everything you'd want from a record like this. The mood is grim, the guitars are playing minor chords, and the beats are blasting. By record's end, you'll be wearing corpse paint, and feel damn good doing it.
Dark Suns – Everchild 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: Leipzig, Germany
Label: Prophecy
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This is apparently a band that has gone through some changes over the years, but Everchild is my first exposure to this band, and I dig this a lot. I'm a huge fan of all things Steven Wilson and this sounds like it could be a pseudonym of his. If not him, then a proggier Katatonia. Regardless, this album is great progressive sad rock.
Hellyeah – Unden!able 
Genre: Groove metal
Origin: Dallas, Texas
Label: Eleven Seven
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! wrote a piece a few years ago about collaborat!ons that d!dn't work, and I l!sted Hellyeah as one of these. ! stand by that, however ! have to adm!t that th!s record !s probably the best the band has been. The few songs !'ve heard seem to drop the faux-Southern rock th!ng that made them a huge turn off for me, and turn the heavy groove s!de of them way up. St!ll not my cup of tea, but closer to someth!ng !'d dr!nk.
Melvins – Basses Loaded 
Genre: The Melvins
Origin: Montesano, Washington
Label: Ipecac
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The ever prolific Melvins must be bored. On their millionth record they have employed six different bassists that play throughout. These guys are Dale Crover (Melvins' drummer), Steve McDonald (OFF!), Krist Novoselic (ex-Nirvana), Trevor Dunn (Fantomas/Mr Bungle/ex-Melvins), Jeff Pinkus (Butthole Surfers), and Jared Warren (Big Business/Melvins). It is interesting to hear how different bassists approach each song, but if you're not a bassist, or at least a musician, this may just seem like a weird, Melvins-being-Melvins sort of gimmick. Anyway, solid record overall from Buzz and the boys.
The Unknown – In Search of The Unknown
Genre: Atmospheric Dark/Doom Metal
Origin: Iran
Label: Self
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Everyone once in a while I'm able to cover a band that stands for something more than music. In Iran heavy metal is a crime and this band, seemingly the only doom band of the country, continues to produce their art despite the risk. This is a really cool doom/experimental/dark record, but it is also a statement. This release is worth your time for a few reasons.
Volbeat – Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie
Genre: Heavy metal/Hard rock
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
Label: Spinefarm
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Ending this week on more of a rockin' note. This band blew the fuck up a few years ago when I wasn't looking and continue to reign over festivals with their unique blend of near-Wild Wild West visuals and grounded rock. Seems up to par with the material of their I am familiar with. I do enjoy hearing Rob Caggiano shredding the guitar with these guys a lot.
Also dropping today…
Advermix – Pandeathmic (Born Of Chaos) – Thrash
Candelabrum – Necrotelepathy (Altare) – Black metal
Cardinals Folly – Holocaust of Ecstasy and Freedom (Shadow Kingdom) – Doom
Die Krupps – Live Im Schatten der Ringe CD/DVD (AFM) – Industrial
Draugur – By The Rays Of His Golden Light (Naturmacht) – Black metal
The Drowning – Senescent (Casket) – Doom/death metal
Enlighten – Illvmantithesis EP (Signal Rex) – Black/death metal
Four By Fate – Relentless (The End) – Rock
Grey Aura – Waerachtighe… (Blood) – Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal
Gevurah – Hallelujah! (Profound Lore) – Black metal
Heaven's Cry – Outcast (Prosthetic) – Progressive
If These Trees Could Talk – The Bones Of A Dying World (Metal Blade) – Instrumental post-rock
Invehertex – Hacia el Vortice (Signal Rex) – Black metal
Jorn – Heavy Rock Radio (Frontiers) – Heavy metal/prog
Lucifer's Hammer – Beyond The Omens (Shadow Kingdom) – Heavy metal
Nervosa – Agony (Napalm) – Thrash
Perdition – Lost Rites (Imminence) – Symphonic death metal
Poison Headache – Poison Headache (Metal Blade) – hardcore/metal
Pro-Pain – Foul Taste Of Freedom (SPV) – Hardcore/groove
Poverty's No Crime – Spiral Of Fear (Metalville) – Progressive
The Schoenberg Automaton – Apus (Lifeblood / eOne) – Technical death metal
Sleep Of Monsters – Sleep Of Monsters II: Poison Garden (Svart) – Gothic rock/metal
Sol Sistere – Unfading Incorporeal Vacuum (Hammerheart) – Atmospheric black metal
Stormvold – IV Kataklismo (Xtreem) – Black/death metal
Sunn O))) – Nolife: Alive In Moscow 11 August 2015 (Southern Lord) – Drone
Tombstalker – Black Crusades (Shadow Kingdom) – Thrash
Virus – Memento Collider (Karisma) – Avant-garde
Vuolla – Blood. Stone. Sun. Down. (Schwarzdorn) – Melodic doom/progressive
Weird Light – Doomicvs Vobiscvm (Shadow Kingdom) – Doom
White Zombie – White Zombie: It Came From N.Y.C. Box Set (Numero Group) – Groove metal
Whitford / St. Holmes – Reunion (Mailboat) – Rock/blues
Withem – The Unforgiving Road (Frontiers) – Progressive
Wóddréa Mylenstede – Créda Beaducwealm (Altare) – Black metal
Yuth Forever – Skeleton Youth Forever (Prosthetic) – "Noisy Street Metal"
Zombie Ritual / Termination Force – Zombie Termination Split (HPGD) – Grindcore
