This edition includes bleakness, epicness, stuff that made my cat bored, and more!
To the metals…
August Burns Red – Phantom Sessions 
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Label: Fearless Records
Just over a year after their Phantom Anthem album, August Burns Red are already back with some more new tunes. This EP includes a cover of some Legend of Zelda themes mashed together (which is pretty rad), a Midi version of "The Frost," and more. The Zelda track alone is worth the EP's price tag.
Beast in Black – From Hell With Love
Genre: Power metal
Origin: Helsinki, Finland
Label: Nuclear Blast
Who knew that when Anton Kabanen left Battle Beast he would wind up out-cheese-ing them? Beast in Black's From Hell With Love is their second album, and might be the most 80's thing I've ever heard despite being decades late. It's the best kind of cheesy metal and just so much fun.
Downfall of Gaia – Ethic of Radical Finitude 
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Origin: Hamburg/Berlin/Hannover, Germany
Label: Metal Blade
Speaking of fun, there's none to be had here. The latest Downfall of Gaia is bleak, and grim, and spooky. The atmosphere winds up being entrancing and oddly welcoming though. This band is an underrated gem in their field and this album is another win for them.
The Ghost Next Door – A Feast For The Sixth Sense 
Genre: Alternative Metal
Origin: Berkeley, California
Label: Ripple Music
I haven't heard this album in full yet, but the little I've heard is all over the place. It sounds a little doom-y, a little Judas Priest-y, and a little proggy. The album is a hell of a ride, and Googling them brings up an old Goosebumps episode, so they are extra spooky for reminding me of that.
Rosy Vista – Unbelievable
Genre: SPV/Steamhammer
Origin: Hannover,, Germany
Label: Heavy metal
This band is an OG in their field as the first all female hard rock band in Germany, yet haven't released anything since 1986. This is actually their first album as they have only dropped singles and an EP prior. Still, they broke ground and left a impact. If you're into 80's rock and wondering if you should check this out, You Better Believe It! (That't the name of their EP, so yay for a reference).
Yerusalem – The Sublime 
Genre: Industrial/Post-Punk/Psych
Origin: France
Label: Debemur Morti
Buy now from Bandcamp
A couple of dudes from Blut Aus Nord are dabbling in creepy crawly industrial on this one. The Sublime is a hypnotic, dark aural assault. This has a lot of Godflesh vibes. Kevin agrees in his full review here.
Also dropping today…
Ad Patres – A Brief Introduction to Human Experiments (Xenokorp) – Death metal
Blue Hummingbird on the Left – Atl Tlachinolli (Iron Bonehead) – Black metal
Cyclone Static – From Scratch (Mint 400) – Melodic punk
Electrocution Psychonolatry (GoreGoreCords) – Death metal
Front Line Assembly – Wake Up The Coma (MEtropolis) – Industrial
Herman Frank – Fight the Fear (AFM) – Heavy metal
HEALTH – Vol 4.: Slaves of Fear (Loma Vista) – Industrial/Pop
InVisions – Between You & Me (Stay Sick Recordings) – Metalcore
Kicker – Pure Drivel (Tankcrimes) – Punk
Laceration Remnants (Unspeakable Axe) – Death metal/Thrash
Los Huaycos – Savage Monstrosities (En Tu Kara) – Thrash/skate punk
Maestus – Deliquesce (code666) – Funeral Doom
John Diva & The Rockets of Love – Mama Said Rock Is Dead (SPV/Steamhammer) – Hair metal
The Scars In Pneuma – The Path Of Seven Sorrows (Promethean Fire/Kolony Records) – Melodic black metal
Seer – Vol. 6 (Artofact) – Doom/Sludge
Toby Knapp – Blizzard Archer (Moribund Rockers) – Shred
Vircolac – Masque (Dark Descent) – Death metal
