This week's new heavy metal releases include glam, prog, comedy, rockin' good times, and more on this Valentine's Day!
To the metals…
Diabulus In Musica – Euphoric Entropy
Genre: Symphonic power metal
Origin: Pamplona, Spain
Label: Napalm
On their fifth album Diabulus In Musica are dabbling more than ever. The band is still very much grounded in symphonic metal, but this album has elements of swing, some synth beeps and boops, and more. It's a solid album for those looking to get lost in an epic journey, yet want something a little extra. Jordan's full review is right here.
Ihsahn – Telemark EP
Genre: Progressive/experimental
Origin: Notodden, Norway
Label: Candlelight
In a world where digital media is the norm, it's surprising you don't see more EPs from artists just so they can have a steadier output. I'm not sure if this idea is why Ihsahn is dropping two EPs rather than a full album this year, but regardless here is the first of the pair. It features his trademark avant-garde-ish blackened prog, help from Jørgen Munkeby from Shining, and of course covers of both Iron Maiden and Lenny Kravitz. I would love to know what Lenny thought of this cover.
Kvelertak – Splid 
Genre: Rock n roll/black metal
Origin: Stavanger, Norway
Label: Rise
On their fourth album, Norway's blackened rock n roll monster is back with a new vocalist. New vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen fits right in too. Musically, this is very much what you'd want and expect from the band, with melodic triple guitar assaults, punk-esque gang vocal barks, and an all around good time. What is surprising is that Troy from Mastodon pops up on a song, and that song is in English, as is the track "Discord." Pretty sure this is the first time they've put out songs in English. Aaron has a full review here.
Posehn – Grandpa Metal 
Genre: Comedy metal
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: Megaforce
Brian Posehn first teased this album in 2013. I know because I wrote about it. I'd imagine it took a long time to wrangle all the guests with folks like Scott Ian from Anthrax, Brendon Small from Metalocalypse, Chuck Billy from Testament, Weird Al, Gary Holt from Exodus, Patrick Stump and Joe Trohman from Fall Out Boy, Kim Thayil from Soundgarden, Corey Taylor from Slipknot, Jill Janus from Huntress before her passing, and even more. It's both a funny and earnest take on metal and I'm glad it's finally here.
Psychotic Waltz – The God-Shaped Void
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: San Diego, California
Label: InsideOut
On their first new album since 1996, Psychotic Waltz are back to show a new generation of prog dorks how it's done. The God-Shaped Void was my introduction to the band, and it certainly got me curious about what their deal is. What I've heard so far reminds me of the slower parts of Dream Theater songs, and toes the line of doom.
Starbenders – Love Potions
Genre: Alt glam
Origin: Atlanta, Georgia
Label: Sumerian
Order from Sumerian
I'm very intrigued by this band. They remind me of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts to a degree, but with bit of an indie lean to them. They're a band that could play both Coachella and Aftershock. As of this writing I can't find much on Love Potions other than it's coming out today, and for something called "Love Potions" to drop on Valentine's Day is pretty fitting.
Suicide Silence – Become the Hunter 
Genre: Deathcore
Origin: Riverside, California
Label: Nuclear Blast
2017's self-titled album saw a lot of flack as the Suicide Silence went towards a more nu metal sounds. There was even a Change.org petition to stop the album (because metal fans are such a delight sometimes). Well, the band seems to be back on their usual sound here. It's chunky, deathcore-y, and all that. Fans that fell off last album, should give them another chance with this one. Riley says it best with his full review here.
Also dropping today
- Anvil – Legal at Last (AFM) – Heavy metal
- Archon Angel – Fallen (Frontiers)
- Black Swan – Shake the World (Frontiers) – Hard rock
- Blaze of Perdition – The Harrowing of Hearts (Metal Blade) – Black metal
- Black Royal – Firebride (Suicide Records) – Death metal
- Brkn Love – Brkn Love (Spinefarm) – Alternative rock
- Ensnared – Inimicus Generis Humani (Invictus Productions/Dark Descent) – Death/black metal
- Faustian Pact – Outojen Tornien Varjoissa (Werewolf) -Black metal
- Frayle – 1692 (Aqualamb Records/Laybare Recordings) – Doom/atmospheric
- From Under Concrete Kings – Modus Exodus (Self-released) – Deathcore
- Godthrymm – Reflections (Profound Lore) – Doom
- Great American Ghost – Power Through Terror (eOne) – Hardcore
- Hallucinator – Another Cruel Dimension (Carbonized) – Death metal/Thrash
- Hardline – Life Live DVD/CD (Frontiers) – Heavy metal
- Hollywood Undead – New Empire, Vol. 1 (BMG) – Rap rock
- Izthmi – The Arrows of Our Ways (Within the Mind) – Atmospheric
- Kreator – London Apocalypticon: Live at the Roundhouse (Nuclear Blast) – Thrash
- Jason Kui – Naka (Prosthetic Records) – Shred
- Necrowretch – The Ones From Hell (Season Of Mist) – Death/black metal
- Pyogenesis – A Silent Soul Screams Loud (AFM) – Gothic metal/rock
- Serious Black – Suite 226 (AFM) – Power metal
- Seven Spires – Emerald Seas (Frontiers) – Symphonic metal
- Shark Island – Bloodline (Self) – Hard rock
- The Silenced – Orator (Out Of Line Music) – Groove metal/deathcore
- Skumstrike – Execution Void (Caligari) – Blackened Thrash
- Turia – Degen Van Licht (Eisenwald) – Black metal
- Various Artists – Dead Bodies Everywhere: A Slam And Death Tribute To Nu-Metal (Imploding Sounds) – Slam/death metal
