So December is slow hell when it comes to new releases, but I didn't want to deprive these of a little coverage. So enjoy this albums throughout the month of December, and I'll see y'all in 2020.
To the metals…
December 6th
Fen – The Dead Light 
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Origin:London, England
Label: Prophecy Productions
Pick it up on Bandcamp
In a impacted field of atmospheric black metal bands, a band really has to do something different to stand out. Fen mixes in some progressive elements like quirky rhythmic jumps and manages breaks away from the pack. This is not your typical record to space out to, instead this forces you to pay attention.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrwPqs-Bw40][/youtube]
Leaves' Eyes – Black Butterfly EP
Genre: Symphonic metal
Origin: Ludwigsburg, Germany / Stavanger, Norway
Label: AFM
Leaves' Eyes have been on tour for a couple weeks, and until now their merch table was the only place to pick up this EP. The wait is over and you can now get this four track sampling of this band in your grubby little hands (or, like, e-fingers if you just stream stuff). I'm honestly not sure what you're getting into with this ep since the teaser is just Elina standing on a mountain, but I'd imagine it's epic and nature-y.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dte26uQcraU][/youtube]
Nightwish – Decades: Live In Buenos Aires DVD/CD 
Genre: Symphonic power metal
Origin: Kitee, Finland
Label: Nuclear Blast
Last year Nightwish releases a compilation called Decades. Then they went out to tour promoting that and recorded this twenty-one song career spanning set. You're getting everything from "The Greatest Show on Earth" to "Nemo," and more. If you're not sure where to start with this band and/or are just a big fan of Floor Jansen, this is a great way to appreciate them both.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t26r_vAYQ0Q][/youtube]
December 13th
Cro-Mags – From The Grave EP 
Genre: Hardcore
Origin: New York City, New York
Label: Victory
Now as we enter a new week, we are getting into some more straight-forward aggression. This is their second release of their second coming and it's also their second EP of the year. These guys are taking their time with their bite-sized hardcore anthems. And why not, they've been in the game for almost forty years. They earned it.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMJjWOQ6x4w][/youtube]
Jasta – The Lost Chapters, Volume 2 
Genre: Hardcore/metalcore
Origin: New Haven, Connecticut
Label: Self release
Pick it up on Bandcamp
Hatebreed's front man Jamey Jasta has taken a break from being pissed about how a festival is billed to make a new solo album. He has one again called up a bunch of pals to record an album of melodic metal tracks. Friends include Trivium's Matt Heafy, Light The Torch's Howard Jones, Cannibal Corpse's Corpsegrinder, and more.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je879EJe1ls][/youtube]
Oni – Alone
Genre:Progressive metal
Origin: Windsor, Ontario
Label: Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records
One of Canada's more strange bands has finally returned with some new tracks. You're getting five songs of Martin Andres' unmistakable guitar work (that should please his Pomegranate Tiger fans) paired with their trademark xylosynth shredding. This is a proggy one with lots to offer, but it's just all too brief.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7d8rjRvAU8][/youtube]
Stone Sour – Hello, You Bastards: Live In Reno 
Genre: Hard rock/alternative metal
Origin: Des Moines, Iowa
Label: Roadrunner Records
I'm ending this edition, and year I guess, with a pair of not Slipknot releases from a couple Slipknot guys. The first is Corey's sidepiece live from Reno. The band covers their career pretty nicely with newer songs like "Fabuless" and old ones like "Bother" and "Get Inside." I sort of forgot about "Get Inside" and it was cool to revisit their older, more aggressive side this way.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH5oexR4zR0][/youtube]
Sid Wilson – ∫∑x©∆p∆D∑∫ øƒ †h3 høP∑£3∫∫ ®øbø†¡¢ Vol. 2 
Genre: Hip hop/electronic
Origin: Des Moines, Iowa
Label: sidthe3rd productions
Pick it up here…Maybe?
So yeah, not metal. Or even close, but another Slipknot guy, so whatever. This is the second of his Sexcapades of the Hopeless Robotic trilogy and it sees Sid aka DJ Starscream aka #0 in a trip-hop realm. Frankly I don't know too much about this album other than a brief clip on Instagram. At the time of this writing, I don't know where to pick this up. You can work a computer though, you find it.
Also dropping this month…
December 6th
Astaroth Incarnate – ASCENDANCE (Self-Released) – Melodic death/black metal
CRS – The Collector Of Truths (Concreto Records) – Groove/death metal
Edge Of Forever – Native Soul (Frontiers) – Hard rock
Deep Purple – Live In Rome 2013 (earMusic) – Heavy metal
Hellsodomy – Morbid Cult (Saturnal Records) – Death metal
Human Fortress – Reign Of Gold (AFM) – Power metal
Hvile I Kaos – Black Morning, Winter Green (Red Nebula) – Black metal
The Murder Of My Sweet – Brave Tin World (Frontiers) – Gothic metal
Murder Van – Murder Van (Self release) – Thrash/death metal
The Old Dead Tree – The End (Season Of Mist) – Gothic metal
Praying Mantis – Keep It Alive DVD/CD (Frontiers) – Rock
Running Wild – Crossing The Blades (SPV/Steamhammer) – Heavy metal
December 13th
Arkona – Age Of Capricorn (Debemur Morti) – Black metal
Night Goat – Milk (Self release) – Sludge/noise rock
Nothing Left – Disconnected (Facedown Records) – Hardcore
September Mourning – Volume III EP (Mortem) – "Hard Rock Graphic Novel Art Project"
December 20th
Depressed – Beyond The Putrid Fiction (Black Lion Records) – Death metal
Pyramids On Mars – Edge of The Black (Self-Release) – Melodic rock
December 27th
Cianide – Unhumanized (Hells Headbangers) – Doom/death metal
Downpresser – The Long Goodbye (Closed Casket Activities) – Hardcore
