Happy Barbenheimer to all who celebrate! This week's new heavy metal releases include a 90's alt/nu metal cocktail of a band, Canadian legends covering themselves, my beloved hurdy-gurdy, and more! To the metals…
Cadaver – The Age Of The Offended
Genre: Death metal
Origin: Råde/Fredrikstad, Norway
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Bandcamp
Starting this week off with some death metal from a mighty duo. I was tempted to say this was some straight ahead death metal for purists until I started hearing some slide guitar. Turns out this album, like onions or a Shrek, has layers. Dirk Verbeuren is on drums again because Cadaver is a band and Dirk plays in every band.
Feuerschwanz- Fegefeuer
Genre: Folk metal
Origin: Erlangen, Germany
Label: Napalm
Buy now from Bandcamp
It's time to dry-clean your favorite animal pelt and get back in the folk metal party pit. This is all the epicness you'd want, all the cheese you need, and a start-to-finish good time. And as long time readers know, I'm excited for this one because I'm getting some of my sweet, sweet hurdy-gurdy.
Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher
Genre: Hard rock
Origin: Frankenmuth, Michigan
Label: Lava/Republic
Buy now on Amazon
Next up we have one of rock's more decisive bands. Album number three sees the group once again hitting you with the throwback, folksy, proggy, stomp-rock they're known for. Feels like there is a little more bite on this album than the last one.
Mizmor – Prosaic
Genre: Black metal/sludge
Origin: Portland, Oregon
Label: Profound Lore
Buy now on Bandcamp
A.L.N. has been busy over the last few years with some collaborations and an EP, but Prosaic is the first full album from Mizmor in four years. It features four long tracks that are devoid of fun. This is dark as hell and hits you with a fair balance of black metal galloping and lurching sledgehammer chords. Max has a full review here.
Oxbow – Love's Holiday
Genre: Experimental/noise rock
Origin: San Francisco, California
Label: Ipecac
Buy now on Bandcamp
On Love's Holiday Oxbow are bringing the blues, psychedelic atmosphere, and dynamic angst. It's a wildly eclectic album that sounds like Pearl Jam going through a breakdown. Kristin Hayter aka Lingua Ignota and Roger Joseph Manning Jr. of Beck's live band both pop up as well. Full review by Jeff is right here.
Saint Agnes – Bloodsuckers
Genre: Hard rock/nu metal
Origin: London, England
Label: Spinefarm
Buy now on Amazon
If you passed Nine Nails Nails' Broken EP through a nu metal filter, you'd have a hell of a sound and it would be pretty close to what you're getting on Bloodsuckers. This record has one foot in 90's dark alternative and early 00's groovy heaviness. I could see this band killing it on Aftershock, Sonic Temple, and the likes very soon.
Voivod – Morgöth Tales
Genre: Progressive metal/thrash
Origin: Jonquière, Quebec
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Amazon
This releases is pretty neat. It's one new track and nine re-recordings spanning Voivod's wild discography. It's great hearing some of the earliest tracks with modern shine. The most recent song that's being revisted is from the 2003 self-titled album that had Jason Newsted on bass, and he's back for the re-recording too. This is a pretty solid entry point to a band with forty plus years of band that keeps busy. Kevin's full review is here.
The Zenith Passage – Datalysium
Genre: Technical death metal
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Metal Blade
Buy now on Bandcamp
Good golly, It already been seven years since Justin McKinney and his gang of techy lads have dropped an album? Album number two has McKinney with a new crew playing, what feels like every note possible in nonstop guitar flurries. You're getting rapid tempo shifts, melodic and memorable solos, and a pummeling rhythm section that refuses consistent time-signatures. This is a technical masterclass of an album
Also dropping this week…
- Ageless Summoning – Corrupting The Entempled Plane (Dark Descent Records) – Death metal
- Akercocke – Decades Of Devil Worship (Peaceville) – Live progressive/Blackened death metal
- Ancestral Blood – Forgotten Myths and Legends – Chapter 1 (Wormholedeath) – Symphonic black metal
- Brix’n Mortar – Something Ain’t Right (WTF Records) – Melodic hardcore
- Johnny Booth – Moments Elsewhere (Booth Records) – Hardcore
- Cultist – Slow Suicide (Facedown Records) – Hardcore – Full review
- Inhuman Condition – Panic Prayer (Listenable Insanity Records) – Death metal
- MF Ruckus – The Front Lines of Good Times Vol I (Glory or Death Records) – Hard rock
- Monolord – It's All The Same (Relapse) – Doom/stoner
- Nuclear Winter – Seagrave (MMD Records) – Industrial/melodic death metal
- Outer Heaven – Infinite Psychic Depths (Relapse) – Death metal/hardcore
- Rannoch – Conflagrations (Willowtip Records) – Progressive death metal
- Restraining Order – Locked In Time (Triple B Records) – Hardcore
- Soil – Restoration (Cleopatra) – Hard rock/nu metal
- Somnuri – Desiderium (MNRK Heavy) – Sludge
- Thunder Horse – After The Fall (Ripple) – Doom
- Velvet Viper – Nothing Compares To Metal (Massacre) – Power metal
When you're done with these new releases, check out these metal documentaries and live videos streaming from our sponsor Thunderflix.
Enslaved – Heimvegen (12-episode series)
Unleash the power of Enslaved with "Heimvegen"! Brace yourself for a captivating 12-part series that delves into the extraordinary history of the band. Join us on an epic metal odyssey as we uncover the secrets, triumphs, and evolution of Enslaved. Stream it now on Thunderflix!
Alice Cooper – Live From The Astroturf (Documentary & Concert)
Experience the incredible reunion of Alice Cooper's original lineup in "Live From The Astroturf"! This epic concert film and documentary tells the unbelievable story of a record store owner who brought the band back together after 41 years. Witness their historic performance, captured with eight cameras. It's a rock and roll event like no other, featuring Alice Cooper and his original bandmates. Stream it now on Thunderflix!
Myrath – Live In Carthage
Experience the explosive energy of Myrath's "Live In Carthage" concert! Filmed in the historic city, this captivating performance showcases their unique fusion of progressive metal and Middle Eastern influences. Immerse yourself in their mesmerizing melodies and virtuosic musicianship. Stream it now on Thunderflix!
Stratovarius – Under Flaming Winter Skies
Get ready to have your face melted by the fiery metal madness of Stratovarius. Join the epic journey through soaring melodies, blistering solos, and epic riffs that will leave you headbanging in a winter storm of metal mayhem. Stream it now on Thunderflix.
Tarja – Act II
Experience the enchanting talent of Tarja in 'Act II'! This captivating release captures the influential heavy rock singer's symphonic metal journey. Filmed during her world tour 'The Shadow Shows', 'Act II' showcases an intimate 75-minute set at London's iconic Metropolis Studio and a breathtaking performance in Milan. Join Tarja on an unforgettable musical adventure filled with her unparalleled vocals and theatrical rock style. Dive into the magic of 'Act II' with unreleased interviews and photo galleries. Don't miss this extraordinary release on Thunderflix!
