This week’s new heavy metal releases include a prog sequel, goin' shoegaze, a band covered in nails, and more! To the metals…
Arcane Existence – Colossus
Genre: Melodic black/death metal
Origin: San Jose, California
Label: Self-released
Buy now on Bandcamp
Starting this week with a pretty wild one. Colossus is a combination of melodic black metal, technical death metal, gothic metal, and symphonic metal. The latter subgenre's can lose some of your snobbier metal heads, but I can assure you Arcane Existence utilize these elements in ways that are not cheesy (or maybe just cheesy enough). Fans of early Abigail Williams should give this a shot.
Between The Buried And Me –Â Colors II
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Raleigh, North Carolina
Label: Sumerian
Now for what might be the most Between the Buried and Me album that BtBaM has ever BtBaM-ed. The sequel to the 2007 masterpiece Colors has callbacks to the original record, guest spots from extraordinary drummers, and even drummer Blake doing his best Corpsegrinder impression. Check out Jordan's review here.
Blasphemous Creation – Forsaken Dynasty
Genre: Death/black metal
Origin: Reno, Nevada
Label: Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Buy now on Bandcamp
Decided to highlight this one for old school metal crowd. This sounds like early 90's death metal, mixed with 80's trash, and the aura of an early 90's black metal band. They band are even covered in spikes like like the OGs. The guitar work has a lot of modern flairs, so it's not entirely throwback. This would be a cool band to check out live.
The Dead Deads – Tell Your Girls It's Alright
Genre: Grunge/hard rock
Origin: Raleigh, North Carolina
Label: Rumble Records
Buy now from Rumble Records
This one is a bit more rocking than the rest of this week, but it's a fun one. This trio blend a bunch of influences into a hard to nail down sound that spans many genres. You're getting some glam, punk, grunge, hard rock, folk, etc. Then, to play into the overplayed meme, Corey Taylor thinks they're pretty sweet since he appears on a song.
Deafheaven –Â Infinite Granite
Genre: Shoegaze
Origin: San Francisco, California
Label: Sargent House
Remember when Deafheaven was a atmospheric/post-black metal band with shoegaze influences? Well, they flipped that for they're new album. Now they're a shoegaze band with atmospheric/post-black metal influences. All clean vocals, soaring guitars, and waves upon waves of ethereal feels. The sound is familiar enough that most fans will probably dig it. The band have been divisive in metal circles, and I imagine this will piss of naysayers more than they already do. Kevin has a full review here.
Sodom –Â Bombenhagel EP
Genre: Thrash/speed metal
Origin: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Label: SPV/Steamhammer
Sodom had planned to be out on the road promoting their latest album Genesis XIX, but with tours not happening the whole thing has been delayed. In the meantime, they're dropping this trio of songs to remind everyone that they still exist. You're getting a couple new ones in "Pestiferous Posse" and "Coup De Grace" then the 1987 track "Bombenhagel" re-recorded. Necro has a deep dive here.
Ulver –Â Hexahedron (Live At Henie Onstad Kunstsenter)
Genre: Avant-garde/experimental
Origin: Oslo, Norway
Label: House Of Mythology
Back in 2018 Ulver played a sold out show at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter at Høvikodden. This is that evening documented in all it's synthy glory with wild visuals (on the dvd/blueray version of course) and undeniable grooves. The five hypnotic tracks will entrance you and take you to space.
Warkings – Revolution
Genre: Power metal
Origin: International
Label: Napalm
As you can guess with a name like Warkings and a cover with a Spartan Knight looking dude on the cover, this band is epic. They're also rather prolific as this is their third album of power metal since their formation in 2018. It's a fun record that will inspire you to battle something.
Wolves In The Throne Room –Â Primordial Arcana
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Origin: Olympia, Washington
Label: Relapse
With Deafheaven going full indie this week it's almost fitting for Wolves In The Throne Room to be bringing the evil on Primordial Arcana. Unlike the band's previous grim records, songs are rarely over six minutes here. Instead they cover the same ground in more accessible tracks. It's like they're taking an all killer, no filler on here. Max is at it again with a full review here.
Also dropping today…
- All Good Things – A Hope In Hell (Better Noise) – Hard/pop rock
- Altars Of The Moon – Brahmastra (Disorder Recordings) – Experimental post-black metal
- Arkenfire –Â Trials Through Time (Self-released) -Heavy/power metal
- Black Swamp Water – Awakening (Mighty) – Hard rock
- Bonehunter – Dark Blood Reincarnation System (Hells Headbangers) – Thrash/black metal
- Dare – Against All Odds (Revelation Records) – Hardcore
- Gloop – Crayon Sun (Grimoire Records) – Noise rock/post-punk
- Ingrown – Gun (Alternatives) – hardcore
- George Lynch – Seamless (Rat Pak) – Heavy metal
- Lesotho – Summer Wars (Self-released) – Post-rock/post-metal
- Meadows – In Those Days & Also After Part III (Facedown Records) – Post-hardcore
- Megadeth –Â Unplugged In Boston (Cleopatra) – Acoustic thrash/hard rock
- Necronautical –Â Slain In The Spirit (Candlelight) – Black metal
- Ominous Conclusions – The Outsider (Self-released) – Progressive/orchestral metal
- Ramihrdus – The Sorrow of the Evergreens (Anthrazit Records) – Black metal
- Alberto Rigoni –Â Metal Addicted EP (Self-released) – Heavy metal
- Sacrifixion – Shower Me in Death EP (Hells Headbangers) – Thrash/black metal
- Sarcoughagus – Delusions of the Sick (Maggot Stomp) – Stoner/death metal
- Steel Rhino –Â Steel Rhino (GMR) – Hard rock
- Sun Of The Suns –Â TIIT (Scarlet) – Progressive death metal
- Tacoma Bridge Narrows Disaster – The World Inside (POST. Recordings) – Post-metal
- Witchcryer –Â When Their Gods Come For You (Ripple) – Doom/heavy metal
- Woman is the Earth – Dust of Forever (Init Records) – Black metal
