In this edition I feel sorry for any band that isn't Metallica. To the metals…
Devilment – Devilment II: The Mephisto Waltzes 
Genre: Symphonic gothic metal
Origin: Ipswich, England
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
I'll be honest, I didn't know Dani Filth had this project, and the fact that this is their second record really surprises me. This band, or II: The Mephisto Waltez at least, is more melodic and hard rock-based than Cradle of Filth. It has a HIM vibe, but with Filth's unmistakable shriek ping ponging with the lovely vocal work of Lauren Francis.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oetNQzgscRk[/youtube]
Ion Dissonance – Cast The First Stone 
Genre: Mathcore/deathcore
Origin: Montreal, Canada
Label: Good Fight
Buy now on Amazon.com
On their first record in six years, Ion Dissonance are back in a big way. Their unique blend of metalcore melodies, moments of chaos, and dissonance will once again be welcomed by patient fans and those looking for some new, but familiar, madness in their lives.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG6Or3WOuLs[/youtube]
Lamb Of God – The Duke EP 
Genre: Groove metal
Origin: Richmond, Virginia
Label: Epic
Buy now on Amazon.com
The Duke is a welcomed mini-release to hold folks over until the next full record. It features two new studio tracks with the titual track serving as a tribute to a fallen fan. The rest of the EP is live material recorded from Rock am Ring and Bonnaroo. Lamb of God at Bonnaroo still seems like a weird idea to me though.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzybO09MOmA[/youtube]
Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct 
Genre: Thrash/hard rock
Origin: Los Angeles/San Francisco, California
Label: Blackened
Buy now on Amazon.com
I like this album. More than I expected to, to be honest. It's their first record in eight years. Ok, there are some bits of info, now fight about it in the comments. How is this two-disc beast treating you?
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tdKl-gTpZg[/youtube]
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez – Zapopan
Genre: Experimental
Origin: El Paso, Texas
Label: Ipecac
Buy now on Amazon.com
Zapopan is one of the weirder releases in this series. Not weird in an experimental avant-garde way, but in a way where you wonder why it is in this series. Omar and drummer Deantoni Parks are remixing, reworking, and re-releasing songs from various Omar solo records. This seems like the least generally accessible one of these so far, but the new versions are kinda neat as a long-time fan.
Sample it here.
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons – Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons EP 
Genre: Hard rock
Origin: Pontypridd, Wales
Label: Motorhead
Buy now on Amazon.com
Part of me hoped that when Lemmy died that Phil Campbell and Mikey Dee (aka the other two dudes in Motorhead) would still work together. Instead Mikey got a gig drumming for some upstart band called Scorpions and Phil got this band going. On the stage they're mostly a cover band, with most of those covers being Motorhead jams, but this EP is five original songs that are in-line with Phil's bluesy metal-y style.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKkQKXD5zLE[/youtube]
Protest The Hero – Pacific Myth 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: Whitby, On
Label: Razor & Tie
Buy now on Amazon.com
It some ways, this six song collection has been out for a while now. These songs were all the tracks from their Bandcamp subscription service. In the age of the internet, if you wanted these songs, you've had them for a bit. However, if you're a weirdo that still digs physical media (like me, for whatever reason), here's the version you can hold.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Vpe3QD1zI[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Dark Sarah – The Puzzle (Inner Wound) – Symphonic metal
De La Tierra – II (Sony) – Groove metal
Diabulus In Musica – Dirge For The Archons (Napalm) – Symphonic metal
Disturbed – Live At Red Rocks (Warner Brothers) – Hard rock
Eye – Vison And The Ageless Light (Laser’s Edge) – Psych blues
Freedom Call – Master Of Light (SPV) – Power metal
Geezer – Geezer (Ripple/STB)
Herman Frank – The Devil Rides Out (AFM) – Heavy metal
Highly Suspect – The Boy Who Died Wolf (300 Entertainment) – Hard rock/alternative
Hornss – Telepath (Ripple/STB) – Stoner
Light & Shade – The Essence Of Everything (Scarlet) – Power metal
Maschine – Naturalis (Inside Out) – Progressive
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – Memories In Rock: Live In Germany DVD/CD (Eagle Rock) – Heavy metal
Rush – Time Stand Still DVD (Concord) – Progressive
Sixx:A.M. – Prayers For The Blessed, Vol. 2 (Eleven Seven) – Hard rock
Soulburn – Earthless Pagan Spirit (Century Media) – Death metal/doom
