If you're in the mood for some melodic doom goodness, then Acid Mammoth have you covered. This self-proclaimed "Sabbath Worshipping Cimmerian Doom" outfit claim they're a band, but the truth is that they are a bunch of riffs taped together and molded into human shapes. Riffs on riffs on riffs.
A Day To Remember – You're Welcome
Genre: Metalcore/post-hardcore Origin: Ocala, Florida, Label: Fueled By Ramen
In a completely different realm than Acid Mammoth, we have the latest from A Day To Remember. You're Welcome comes five years after their well received Bad Vibrations, which is the band's longest gap between records. Despite sharing its title with Dwayne Johnson's track from the film Moana, there appears to be no connection to the film or song, so I'm not even sure why I bothered. Instead, you're getting powerful alternative rock-influenced songs with big vocals and bigger melodies.
Baest – Necro Sapiens
Genre: Death metal Origin: Aarhus, Denmark Label: Century Media
Now for some pure heaviness. Baest's third album is solid death metal, plain and simple. You're getting songs with words like "Necro," "Vomit," "Mutilation," and "Suffocation" in their titles, so you know what you're in for. Fans of Bloodbath will probably dig this.
Demon Hunter – Songs Of Death And Resurrection
Genre: Metalcore/alternative metal Origin: Seattle, Washington Label: Solid State
Golly these guys are prolific. Songs Of Death And Resurrection comes a mere two years after Demon Hunter dropped two albums on the same day. Sure, this is a record of acoustic renditions of their tracks, but they are keeping busy with all the down time. Good for them, and good for fans that want some more relaxed stuff right now.
Sullen – Nodus Tollens – Act 1: Oblivion
Genre: Experimental/progressive Origin: Porto, Portugal Label: Nuclear Blast Records
You know you're in for a journey when the band's album title says it's an "Act." And what a journey this is. Nodus Tollens reminds me of a Caligula's Horse record with occasional growls and some Haken moments here and there. This one is moody, rhythmically awkward, nerdy. So, a solid prog record.
Terror – Trapped In A World
Genre: Hardcore Origin: Los Angeles, California Label: Self-released
For their eighth record, Terror are re-recording songs from their earliest releases live in-studio. Fans of One With the Underdogs and Always the Hard Way may have issues with the newer takes on the tracks, but it it's kind of cool to hear the band's current vibe on these older songs.
Witherfall – Curse Of Autumn
Genre: Heavy metal/progressive metal Origin: Los Angeles, California Label: Century Media
Witherfall is a wild band that has somehow missed me over the years of doing this. This is a band with the technical proficiency of Dream Theater but the aggression and bombast of 3 Inches of Blood. I then found out that the band consisted of Jake Dreyer (ex-Iced Earth), Joseph Michael (Sanctuary), Anthony Crawford (ex-Chon), and Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats). The sound winds up making a lot of sense when I found out who was behind it.
Wolf King – The Path of Wrath
Genre: Blackened hardcore Origin: Bay Area, California Label: Prosthetic
Wrapping this week with some evil aggression. The Path of Wrath is a record of black metal atmosphere and darkness coupled with a hardcore energy. It sounds like the soundtrack to a level in hell.
Also dropping today…
Black Knife – Murder Season (Self-released) -Black metal/punk
Bog Wizard/Dust Lord – Four Tales of the Strange (Swamp Records) – Doom/sludge
Brand Of Sacrifice – Lifeblood (Blood Blast) – Deathcore
Chevelle – NIRATIAS (Epic) – Rock
Dayeater – Sweet Earth (Self-released) – Psychedelic rock
Dreamshade – A Pale Blue Dot (Dreamshade/Horang Music) – Metalcore
Endless Funeral – Le Grande Silence (Epictural Production) – Black metal
Flesh of the Stars – Mirror/Vessels EP (Self-released) – Doom
Ken Hensley – My Book of Answers (Cherry Red) – Rock
Heyoka's Mirror – The Uninvited King (Self-released) – Progressive metal
Iron Man – Hail to the Riff (Argonauta Records) – Doom
Invultation – Unconquerable Death (Self-released) Black/death metal
King Bong – Ogopogo (Mandrone Records) – Psychedelic rock
Mork – Katedralen (Peaceville) – Black metal
Nightfall – At Night We Prey (Season Of Mist) – Blackened metal
Open Hand – Weirdo (Blacktop Records) – Shoegaze/stoner rock
Regional Justice Center – Crime And Punishment (Closed Casket Activities) – Hardcore/power violence
Requiem For Oblivion – Hindsight 2020 (Self-released) – Progressive/technical death metal
SOM – Awake (Blood Blast Distribution) – Dream pop/post-metal
Spam Javelin – The Three Chords Of The Apocalypse (Link2Wales Records) – Punk
Thorium – Empires in the Sun (Freya Records) – Heavy metal
Wolfheart – Skull Soldiers EP (Napalm) – Death metal
Wolvennest – Temple (Ván Records) – Experimental black metal
