This week is super diverse and really fucking solid with releases some supergroups, some slow-ass doom, some live shit, a triumphant return and more! To the metals…
Bell Witch – Mirror Reaper 
Genre: Sludge/Funeral Doom Metal
Origin: Seattle, Washington
Label: Profound Lore
Buy now on Amazon.com
This is some slow, spooky shit right here. The album is made up of two tracks over two discs clocking in at eighty-three minutes. So you know, typical doom shit. This also the first to include new drummer/organist/vocalist Jesse Shreibman following the death of Adrian Guerra.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrc1ch3O9Fs[/youtube]
CyHra – Letters To Myself
Genre: Melodic hard rock
Origin: Sweden/Italy
Label: Profound Lore Spinefarm
Now on Amazon.com
This band is pretty stacked with melodic metal folks. It includes ex-In Flames chaps Peter Iwers and Jesper Strömblad, ex-Amaranthe singer Jake E, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody's drummer Alex Landenburg and Euge Valovirta of Shining. The riffs sound like straight up Clayman-era shit and their juxtaposed with soaring vocals. It's kinda cheesy, but kinda cool.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8YOOA8eiQQ[/youtube]
Gwar – The Blood Of Gods 
Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Origin: Richmond, Virginia
Label: Metal Blade
Buy now on Amazon.com
On their first album since the death of Oderus, Gwar are coming back swinging. Blothar's voice is very different, and the music seems to be catering to it, and doing so very well. The band still retains all the usual Gwar charm with tracks like "I'll Be Your Monster," "Fuck This Place," and even a cover of AC/DC's "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." This is the great start of a new chapter for this band.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivh4KUwI-aQ[/youtube]
The Kennedy Veil – Imperium 
Genre: Technical death metal
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: Unique Leader
Buy now on Amazon.com
Frantic, evil, fucking tech death is what we've got here. One of Sacramento's finest continue to be oh so fine. New vocals from Monte Barnard (Ex-Alterbeast). There are also guest spots from Trevor Strnad (Black Dahlia Murder), Sven de Caluwé (Aborted), and Dicke Allen (Infant Annihilator). This album is just a big party.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if1bD29vj3E[/youtube]
Slipknot – Days Of The Gusano DVD/CD 
Genre: Alt Metal/Nu Metal
Origin: Des Moines, Iowa
Label: Eagle Rock
Buy now on Amazon.com
It's been three years since their last studio album, and to hold folks over while Corey does Stone Sour the band is dropping this concert film/documentary of their 2015 Knotfest performance. It features live versions of all the stuff maggots want like "People = Shit," "Surfacing," "Eeyore," and lots of more recent jams.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyZrFgE153M[/youtube]
Sons Of Apollo – Psychotic Symphony 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: New York/California
Label: InsideOut
Buy now on Amazon.com
Another year, another prog supergroup with Mike Portnoy on drums. This one has Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), Bumblefoot (Solo, ex-Guns n Roses), Jeff Scott Soto (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ex-Journey, and more) and Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater). While this band absolutely sounds like the sum of it's part, there's so much potential for a truly great prog band here. I'm especially excited to hear Bumblefoot in this project. That dude is a god.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLVWkqnN3Ck[/youtube]
Trivium – The Sin And The Sentence 
Genre: Thrash/metalcore
Origin: Orlando, Florida
Label: Roadrunner
Buy now on Amazon.com
Trivium were quick to re-introduce screams following Silence in the Snow. This album, overall, feels more aggressive and it's welcomed. Even the guitar-work is at a new high. This is the album fans have wanted since In Waves, maybe even Ascendancy.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHp5malMvHE[/youtube]
Veil Of Maya – False Idol 
Genre: Progressive metal/djent
Origin: Barrington, Illinois
Label: Sumerian
Buy now on Amazon.com
This week is already super diverse, but why not include some djent to 0000-000 things up? False Idol may be the band's most melodic album yet. Vocals and melodies are massive. Unsure if fans will dig this one as much. VoM fans, how is this treating you?
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKmgXQFtnig[/youtube]
Vuur – In This Moment We Are Free – Cities
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Netherlands
Label: InsideOut
Buy now on Amazon.com
Long time Dutch musical chameleon Anne van Giersbergen has returned with folks from her Gentle Storm live band for form Vuur. She's been wanting a prog metal band for a while, and she got her wish. I didn't realize this was the band I wanted from Anneke, but I'm glad I got it. Fans of her work with The Devin Townsend Project and Ayreon will love this.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAwDw5zXtLI[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Amenra – Mass VI (Neurot) – Doom/hardcore
Europe – Walk The Earth (Hell & Back) – Heavy metal
In Search Of Sun – Virgin Funk Mother (Spinefarm) – Alt metal
Iron Monkey – 9-13 (Relapse) – Sludge/doom
Madame Mayhem – Ready For Me (Metalville/HeadBall) – Hard rock
Nick Oliveri – N.O. Hits At All Vol.3 Heavy Psych Sounds) – Punk
Sorcerer – The Crowning Of The Fire King (Metal Blade) – Doom
Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes Deluxe Edition (Cleopatra) – Rock
We Came As Romans – Cold Like War (SharpTone) – Metalcore
