This week's new heavy metal releases include some death metal, some nasty death metal, perhaps the dumbest blurb I've ever written, and more!
To the metals…
Crown The Empire – Sudden Sky 
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Dallas, Texas
Label: Rise
Let's start this week with some kinda sorta djent, metalcore. This has the glitches and boops of a modern post-hardcore band, a vocalist that sounds like Spencer from Periphery, and perhaps the shiniest duster I've ever seen on their frontman. This is a catchy one for those that like catchy ones.
Lingua Ignota – Caligula 
Genre: Experimental
Origin: Del Mar, California
Label: Profound Lore/Sargent House
Now on her third album under the Lingua Ignota name, Kristin Hayter is bringing all kinds of ominous darkness. This record is as noisy as it is beautiful, and carries so much weight lyrically. It's truly the soundtrack to the most epic nightmare. Highly recommended, but it's very intense.
Sabaton – The Great War
Genre: Power metal
Origin: Falun, Sweden
Label: Nuclear Blast
I guess it's a good thing that there have been a lot of wars, otherwise what the hell would Sabaton sing about? Fans of Sabaton, next time you hear the Edwin Starr song "War," and it asks, "War! What is it good for?" Respond, "SABATON!" Then say it again per Starr's instructions. Good god.
Tomb Mold – Planetary Clairvoyance 
Genre: Death metal
Origin: Toronto, Ontario
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Now that we all powered through my convoluted reference to a soul song from 1970, here's some death metal for you. Like, some straight up death metal with zero bullshit. And you're getting some low-tuned nasty death metal too. This is one you'll probably see on end of year lists from your death metal fans.
Wormed – Metaportal EP 
Genre: Brutal/Technical Death Metal
Origin: Madrid, Spain
Label: Season Of Mist
This less of a straight-forward approach as the one Tomb Mold takes, but it's still no nonsense and heavy as fuck. Metaportal will make you run around your house and do invisible orange at your cats. I should know, that's exactly what I just did while playing the song below. Austin did a piece on them for Tech-Death Tuesday.
Wreck and Reference – Absolute Still Life 
Genre: Noise/Post-Punk
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: The Flenser
I will wrap this week with some more experimental stuff. Wreck and Reference are a hard one to label, and that is an appealing aspect of the outfit. This is less abrasive than Lingua Ignota, but I feel like they pair well together. I am clearly also having a hard time describing them, so just play the track below and thank them for the journey you went on.
Also dropping today…
Cult of Extinction – Ritual In The Absolute Absence Of Light (Iron Bonehead Productions) – Black/death metal
Cwn Annwn – Patron Saint (Self-released) – Heavy metal
Jeromes Dream – LP (Micro Spy/Deathwish) – Screamo/math rock
Elektric Mistress – Elektric Mistress EP (Self-Release) – Stoner
Falls of Rauros – Patterns in Mythology (Gilead Media) – Black metal
Flaw – Vol IV: Because Of The Brave (Pavement Entertainment) – Nu metal
Gates To The Morning – Return To Earth (Self-Release) – Progressive metal
Halshug – Droøm (Southern Lord) – Punk
Hocico – Artificial Extinction (Out Of Line Music) – "Neuropunk"
Rogga Johansson – Entrance To The Otherwhere (Transcending Obscurity) – Death metal
Plague of Carcosa – Ocean is More Ancient Than The Mountains (Sludgelord Records) – Doom
Scott Stapp – The Space Between The Shadows (Napalm) – Rock
Sekkusu – Satyrömania (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Thrash/hardcore
Sum 41 – Order In Decline (Hopeless) – Rock
Through Fire – All Animal (Sumerian) – Hard rock
Valis Ablaze – Render (Long Branch Records) – Progressive metal/groove
