This edition includes plenty of weirdness, technicality, and more! To the metals…
AFI – AFI (The Blood Album)
Genre: Rock
Origin: Ukiah, California
Label: Concord
Buy now on Amazon.com
I can hear you all screaming at me for including this this week. Not really metal, but also not really much going on this week. Anyway, the new AFI is melodic and pretty powerful. Not my thing, but not the awful band I thought they were when I was younger.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC93KhZRxUw[/youtube]
Ashenspire – Speak Not Of The Laudanum Quandary
Genre: Avant-garde black metal
Origin: Glasgow, Scotland
Label: Code 666
Buy now on Amazon.com
Now for something dark, weird, and wonderful. These guys are all over the place in ways that are as effective as they are jarring. I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but I'm excited to do so. They're like if Sigh dropped the kazoos and shit, then embraced piano, strings, and the likes.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YvsSltAQ7A[/youtube]
Bill & Phil – Songs Of Darkness And Despair 
Genre: Sludge/Southern
Origin: Stamford, Connecticutt/New Orleans, Lousiana
Label: Housecore
Buy now on Amazon.com
I mainly know Bill Moseley from his work with Buckethead in Cornbugs, and I mainly know Phil Anselmo from his racist outbursts. I'm told the latter fella was also in Pantera, but how can one really know for sure. When the two come together the result is an unexpected one. Lots of straight up southern rock with meandering talk-singing over the top. It's not what I'd call good, but I find it really fascinating.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf6Th_rtj_E[/youtube]
Firewind – Immortals 
Genre: Power metal
Origin: Thessaloniki, Greece
Label: AFM
Buy now on Amazon.com
Gus G and the gang are back to once again frolic epically through your eardrums! Each of their albums is a masterclass of musicianship, and this one is no different. So, if you like your metal soaring and fun, this is the record for you this week.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Q1o0m2sik[/youtube]
Vipassi – Sunyata
Genre: Progressive (mostly) instrumental
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
Label: Season Of Mist
Buy now on Amazon.com
This technically dropped last year, but it's finally getting a mass release, and one that is deserved. If you're big on Ne Obliviscaris, then you should love this. It features the bassist Brenden, drummer Dan, and lead guitarist Benjamin from your favorite Australian proggers. Rounding out the liineup is Ben Boyle from A Million Dead Birds Laughing (who Dan also plays with). It's an amazing technical record, and if you missed it last year, now is your chance to catch up.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFtCfqAkxs[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
As Lions – Selfish Age (Better Noise) – hard rock
Atila – Body (Dissociated) – Black metal/noise
Aversions Crown – Xenocide (Nuclear Blast) – Deathcore
Balfor – Black Serpent Rising (Drakkar) – Melodic black metal
Brutal Unrest – Trinitas (Hammerheart) – Death metal
Burning Point – Blaze (AFM) – Power metal
Emptiness – Not For Music (Season Of Mist) – Black metal/Death metal
Endalok – Úr Draumheimi Viðurstyggðar EP (Signal Rex) – Black metal
The Flight Of Sleipnir – Skadi (Eisenwald) – Stoner/folk
Magnum – The Valley Of Tears: The Ballads (SPV) – Ballads
Nightmare – Dead Sun (AFM) – Power metal
Riviere – Heal (Basick) – Post-hardcore/progressive
Rude – Remnants… (FDA Rekotz) – Death metal
Starset – Vessels (Razor & Tie) – Rock/electrinic
Sunterra – Reborn (NRT) – Gothic metal
Terrifier – Weapons Of Thrash Destruction (Test Your Metal) – Thrash
Uniform Choice – Screaming For Change Reissue (Southern Lord) – Hardcore
Vesta Collide – New Obsession (Stay Sick) – Metal
Witchmaster/Voidhanger – Razing The Shrines Of Optimism Split (Third Eye Temple) – Black metal/thrash
Wound – Engrained (FDA Rekotz) – Death metal
Words Of Farewell – Quite World (AFM) – Melodic death metal
Wulkanaz – Paralys (Regain) – Black metal
Youth In Revolt – The Broken (Outerloop) – Post-hardcore
