This week's new heavy metal releases includes album covers with similar color schemes and that really appealed to me. And more, I guess!
To the metals…
Cloud Rat – Pollinator 
Genre: Grindcore/punk
Origin: Mount Pleasant/Detroit/Grand Rapids, Michigan
Label: Artoffact Records
Pollinator is fourteen pieces of bite-sized aggression. Over the fourteen tracks the band expands their sound and they end with some post-rock elements infused. Lots of grind here, but also so much more. They're also releasing a companion EP called Do Not Let Me Off the Cliff. So more bang for your buck, or stream, or whatever.
Alice Cooper – Breadcrumbs EP 
Genre: Hard rock
Origin: Detroit, Michigan
Label: earMusic
For an EP, this has a lot going on. There are covers of MC5, Suzi Quatro, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and more. Then you have a guest spot by Wayne Kramer of the aforementioned MC5, as well as, folks formerly of Grand Funk Railroad, The Detroit Wheels and others. All of this in this six song tribute to Detroit.
Korn – The Nothing 
Genre: Nu/alternative metal
Origin: Bakersfield, California
Label: Roadrunner/Elektra
These guys are doubling up on the thirteen thing. This is their thirteenth album and it's being released on the thirteenth of September. Real talk: the reigning kings or the Nu Metal are kind of killing it here. I'm not sure why I'm surprised. Korn are good at what they do, and this is them doing what they do quite well.
Mike Patton and Jean-Claude Vannier – Corpse Flower 
Genre: Jazz-ish/experimental/lounge/?
Origin: Eureka, California/Courbevoie, France
Label: Ipecac
When Mike Patton performs out of the rock world it's hell of a thing to label. This collaboration is kinda jazzy with a bit of a lounge vibe, but that doesn't quite fit it either. Patton's continues to prove he is one of the most versatile voices of all time as he meshes with Jean-Claude's compositions. This is high-art weirdness.
War Of Ages – Void 
Genre: Metalcore/hardcore
Origin: Erie, Pennsylvania
Label: Facedown Records
Who's ready from some melodic breakdowns? You? Ok good. This would've been embarrassing if no one said yes. This is some groovy metalcore with oodles of melody. A pretty solid ninth album.
Chelsea Wolfe – Birth Of Violence 
Genre: Doom/experimental/Acoustic
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: Sargent House
Chelsea Wolfe is leaning towards more of a traditional folk sound this time. Don't fret though. You'll still be devastated with the emotional weight she always brings to the table. Birth Of Violence just has more acoustic guitar than the last album. Wolfe never disappoints.
Also dropping today…
The 69 Eyes – West End (Nuclear Blast) – Gothic rock
Absence of Despair – Desolate (Self-released?) – Metalcore
Asagraum – Dawn Of Infinite Fire (Edged Circle Productions) – Black metal
Beartooth – The Blackbird Session EP (Red Bull Records) – Hardcore
Betraying The Martyrs – Rapture (Sumerian) – Deathcore/metalcore
Blackrain – Dying Breed (SPV/Steamhammer) – Glam rock/thrash
Cold – The Things We Can't Stop (Napalm) – Nu metal
Crypt Sermon – The Ruins Of Fading Light (Dark Descent) – Epic doom
Dawn of Destiny – The Beast Inside (Non Serviam Records) – Symphonic black metal
Devilish Impressions – Postmortem Whispering Crows (Non Serviam Records)
Endseeker – The Harvest (Metal Blade Records) – Death metal
Eschaton – Death Obsession (Unique Leader Records) – Technical death metal
Grande Royale – Take It Easy (The Sign Records) – Rock
The Hu – The Gereg (Eleven Seven) – Hunnu rock
KXM – Circle Of Dolls (Rat Pak Records) – Hard rock
Masters Of Ceremony – Signs Of Wings (Frontiers) – Heavy metal
Mithridatic – Tetanos Mystique (Xenokorp) – Death/black metal
Mob Rules – Beast Over Europe (SPV/Steamhammer) – Power metal
Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio – Let's Play (Two Girls & A Goat) (Out Of Line Music) – Experimental
Puddle Of Mudd – Welcome To Galvania (Pavement) – Hard rock
Ram – The Throne Within (Metal Blade) – Heavy metal
Sinner – Santa Muerte (AFM) – Heavy metal
Smash Potater – Suburban Legends (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Thrash/crossover
Starset – Divisions (Fearless) – Cinematic rock
Tom Keifer – Rise (Cleopatra) – Rock
Visceral Disgorge – Slithering Evisceration (Agonia Records) – Brutal death metal
Void Of Vision – Hyperdaze (UNFD) – Metalcore
Wallowing – Planet Loss (Sludgelord Records & Black Voodoo Records) – Blackened noise
Warish – Down In Flames (RidingEasy Records) – Horror rock
Winterfylleth – The Siege Of Mercia DVD/CD (Candlelight) – Black metal
Workshed – Workshed (Rise Above) – Experimental metal
Year Of The Goat – Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis (Napalm) – Hard rock
