This edition includes the second-coming of a modern favorite, some Nu Metal revival shenanigans, general spookiness, and more! To the metals…
Daniel Lioneye – Vol III 
Genre: Black/gothic metal
Origin: Helsinki, Finland
Label: The End
Buy now on Amazon.com
Some may remember this band as the weird HIM off-shoot, or perhaps as ones that did the theme song for that awful Bam Margera show where he and his awful friends did awful things. Their sound took a sharp turn following that song and album opting for a blackened influence on Vol II. Vol III shows the band once again changing as they split the difference of the their two previous records. Blast beats AND Sabbath-y riffs show up on this one.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ev78eBo5yA[/youtube]
Flaw – Divided We Fall 
Genre: Nu metal
Origin: Louisville, Kentucky
Label: Pavement
Buy now on Amazon.com
Ugh, I'm really over this whole Nu Metal revival thing. I actually saw Flaw in the height of the initial Nu Metal reign opening for Drowning Pool (version 2) and they were pretty alright. However, their guitarist played with his dreads rather than a pick at one point, and that moment perfectly encapsulates the era and this band.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2xe0RJujX0[/youtube]
Knives Out! – Left In The Lurch
Genre: Alt metal
Origin: Baltimore, Maryland
Label: Razor To Wrist
Buy now on Amazon.com
Fans of Dog Fashion Disco or Polkadot Cadaver should get stoked. Todd Smith and company are back with their (more) straight-forward metal project. The next logical step following Black Mass Hysteria. So, if you dig the last one, this one will be enjoyable, but don't expect too many surprises.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdttOyHdFRc[/youtube]
Myrkur – Mausoleum EP 
Genre: Ambient
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
Label: Relapse
Buy now on Amazon.com
Speaking of logical steps. What would the next logical step after releasing one of the most talked about and divisive black metal records in decades be? To release variations of the songs with a group of chamber singers, of course. That's exactly the step that Amalie Brunn (aka Myrkur) takes on Mausoleum and the result is haunting and beautiful. So far from the M album, but it is a testament to her diversity as an artist.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR4NJpa3OeI[/youtube]
Sabaton – The Last Stand 
Genre: Power metal
Origin: Falun, Sweden
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
Ready for your next history lesson through epic war-obsessed power metal? No? Well too damn bad, because Sabaton are back! With their vest covered in plates of metal muscles, I hope. Still epic, still really into singing about guns, still Sabaton.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jTgkTEDDog[/youtube]
Skeletonwitch – Aphotic Gloom EP 
Genre: Melodic thrash/death metal
Origin: Athens, Ohio
Label: Prosthetic
Buy now on Amazon.com
With new singer Adam Clemans in tow, Skeletonwitch are finally ripping through your eardrums once again. The new voice may take some getting used to, but the same blackened thrashy death metal stylings of Skeletonwitch are backing him so the transition shouldn't be too difficult.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ZhDfcR3VY[/youtube]
Soilwork – Death Resonance 
Genre: Melodic death metal
Origin: Helsingborg, Sweden
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
Traditionally, I would skip a release like this. This is an album of b-sides from the last few records. So why would I? My rationale for breaking this tradition is simply that the last two records, The Ride Majestic and The Living Infinite, have been my favorite releases from the band, and it almost feels like I'm just getting another record of that era (with some Panic Broadcast and other stuff tossed in). I am getting the Beyond The Infinite EP in this easily digestible package too. So, I'm all around not upset.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5VGQueLuqM[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Asenblut – Berserker (AFM) – Black metal/thrash
Bad Omens – Bad Omens (Sumerian) – Metalcore
Bayside – Vacancy (Hopeless) – Punk
Beelzefuzz – The Righteous Bloom(Restricted Release) – Stoner/doom
The Color Morale – Desolate Divine (Fearless) – Post-hardcore
Darkher – Realms (Prophecy) – Ambient/doom
A Day To Remember – Bad Vibrations (ADTR / Epitaph) – Metalcore
Gemini Syndrome – Memento Mori (Another Century) – Nu/alt metal
Letzte Instanz – Liebe im Krieg (AFM) alt metal with strings
Meshiaak – Alliance Of Thieves (Mascot) – Thrash
On Broken Wings – Disintegrator (Artery) – Metalcore
One Less Reason – The Memories Uninvited (Tattooed Millionaire) – Rock/alternative
Powerwolf – The Metal Mass: Live (Napalm) – Power metal
Tanzwut – Schreib Es Mit Blut (AFM) – Folk metal
Trapt – DNA (Crash Collide) – Alt metal
