This week's new heavy metal releases include some raging live power metal, ,e;odic prog, and more! To the metals…
ALSO! Today, Bandcamp is doing one of their days of giving 100% of what you pay directly to the labels and artists. So if you can get stuff from Bandcamp, please do.
Black Birch – Black Birch
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Origin: Malmö, Sweden
Label: Vita Destatabilis Records
Buy now on Bandcamp
Starting this week off with a little old and a little new from Black Birch. This is the physical release of a couple previously released songs, but it also includes a pair of new ditties for a total of four mighty and grim songs. They're a very new band, but this is a hell of an introduction.
Empire State Bastard – Rivers Of Heresy
Genre: Grindcore/experimental
Origin: Irvine, Scotland/Manchester, England
Label: Roadrunner
Buy now on Amazon
Long-time readers know I'm a big Biffy Cyro fan and will sneak them on to this list every time they drop an album (Mon The Biff and all that). Well this new Simon Neil project doesn't need any sneaking as he joins forces with live BC and ex-Oceansize guitarist Mike Vennart for a chaotic heavy affair. The band is technically just the duo, but it's worth noting that percussion is done by Dave Lombardo (Dead Cross, Fantomas, etc).
Firewind – Still Raging: Live At The Principal Club
Genre: Power/heavy metal
Origin: Thessaloniki, Greece
Label: AFM
Buy now on Amazon
While I doubt there were any naysayers, Gus G and his gang what to remind you that after twenty years, they are Still Raging. This is a live set recorded last year and spans just about every album they've put out (no love for Foraged By Fire) and is unsurprisingly a showcase for the guitar ability of Gus. This includes a performance of their cover of "Maniac" which is pretty rad.
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons – Kings Of The Asylum
Genre: Rock/heavy metal
Origin: Pontypridd, Wales
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon
In my head this band is still new, but today I learned that this is their sixth overall release, and third studio album. I guess that times out since they formed in 2016. Good for them. It's another hard rocking good time as you'd expect. The Phil Campbell family band is joined by new vocalist Joel Peters this time. Dude has pipes.
Primal Fear – Code Red
Genre: Power metal/hard rock
Origin: Esslingen, Germany
Label: Atomic Fire
Pairing nicely with Phil Campbell is the latest from Primal Fear. Their fourteenth album is a massive sounding rock record with shredding guitars and soaring vocals. I was surprised that despite being called "Code Red," it has little, if anything, to do with the best Mountain Dew flavor. Rude.
Soen – Memorial
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Sweden
Label: Silver Liging
Buy now on Amazon
Now for some moody prog. The band that could once be written off as a Tool copy has come a long way. Their fifth record is still proggy and rhythmic, but the melodies are massive and they're more dynamic than ever. They have an almost radio-friendly Enslaved vibe to them now.
Stitched Up Heart – To The Wolves
Genre: Alternative metal/hard rock
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Amazon
Wrapping this week with some melodic grooves. This sounds like early 00's action movie music mixed with djent and old In This Moment. There is a cameo from Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate and he fits right into this ride.
Also dropping this week…
- Bergfried – Romantik II (Fiadh Pro) – Heavy metal/hard rock
- Blessed Black – Seasons: Vol. 1 (Self-released) – Doom
- Craver – Torch Of Wisdom (Metalworld) – Heavy metal
- Crucible of Hate – The Unknown Path (Self-released) – Groove/death metal
- Eaten By Snakes – Peace & Love (Shield) – Hardcore/punk
- Eclipse – Megalomanium (Frontiers) – Rock
- Gendo Ikari – Rokubingi (Self-released) – Grindcore/noise
- Grave Pilgrim – The Bigotry of Purpose (Death Prayer Records) – Melodic black metal
- Heads For The Dead – In The Absence of Faith (Pulverised Records) – Death metal
- Imperial Crystalline Entombment – Ancient Glacial Resurgence (Debemur Morti Productions) – Black metal
- Intent – Sins of the Past (Self-released) – Thrash
- Marduk – Memento Mori (Century Media) – Black metal
- Mind Swell – Hands of Fire ( ) – Metalcore/hardcore
- Outergods – A Kingdom Built Upon The Wreckage Of Heaven (Prosthetic) – Black metal/grindcore
- Phanton Druid – The Inner Landscapes of Death (Self-released) – Doom
- Polaris – Fatalism (SharpTone) – Metalcore
- Raven Banner – Rise Up Clan (Self-released) – Death metal
- Road Pig – Still The Future Is Bleak (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Thrash/punk
- Royal Blood – Back To The Water Below (Warner) – Hard rock
- Silent Skies – Dormant (Napalm) – Progressive/cinematic rock
- Spider Kitten – A Pound for the Peacebringer (APF Records) – Doom/stoner
- Symphony of Heaven – In Anger's Midst (Self-released) – Melodic black/death metal
- Taake – Et Hav av Avstand (Dark Essence) – Black metal
- Taking Meds – Dial M For Meds (Smartpunk) – Math rock/punk
- Timechild – Blossom & Plague (Mighty Music) – Rock/heavy metal
- Undergang – De syv stadier af fordærv (Me Saco un Ojo) – Death metal
- Vak – The Islands (Indie Recordings) – Progressive metal/sludge
- Weald and Woe – For the Good of the Realm (Fiadh Prod) – Black metal
- Worn – Condensing Flesh (From Within Records) – Hardcore/d-beat
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