I'm always going on about how much the diversity in this genre amazes me. Well, diversity is at an all-time high this week. This week's edition features ex-doomers, a new head on a melodic death metal monster, talking shit while getting shot, and more! To the metals…
Anathema – Distant Satellites 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: Liverpool, England
Label: Kscope
Buy now on Amazon.com
This band has long since abandoned their doom roots, and are embracing atmosphere still. This means that fans hoping for something crushing should move along. However, these tracks are gorgeous and easy to get lost in. The Cavanagh brothers and Lee Douglas really know how to construct interesting vocal layers, harmonies, etc that just immerse the listener.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2bwKAPgsyA[/youtube]
Arch Enemy – War Eternal 
Genre: Melodic death metal/Montreal, Canada
Origin: Halmstad, Sweden
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Amazon.com
There is a whole hell of a lot of pressure on this record, and specifically on Alissa White-Gluz (ex-The Agonist). She has huge shoes to fill in Angela Gossow. I personally think, she does a great job, but I wish they had utilized her actual singing voice. She has a lovely voice that paired well with the heaviness of The Agonist. While I realize it wouldn't be in the tradition of Arch Enemy, this is a new chapter. Why not branch out a bit more?
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y-J7sBT_no[/youtube]
The Atlas Moth – The Old Believer 
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Label: Profound Lore
Buy now on Amazon.com
In 2011, The Atlas Moth successfully triumphed the sophomore slump with their triumphant record An Ache for the Distance. Now, three years later the band has returned with another great record of what worked last time. It's not more of the same, but it's more of what you love.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fQ66KEdxyw[/youtube]
Body Count – Manslaughter 
Genre: Rap metal
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Sumerian
Buy now on Amazon.com
Ice-T (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) has lived a life of Alanis Morissette-esque irony. He plays a cop on TV while being notorious for a song that is about killing cops, now this time he has a song saying if you "act hard" you'll get shot. The entire video is him acting hard. Anywhoozle, groove metal and rap-ish vocals. Sidenote: I highly recommend his podcast Final Level.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sokdL-0iV9s[/youtube]
Equilibrium – Erdentempel 
Genre: Epic Folk
Origin: Starnberg, Germany
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
This is the kind of folk I can get behind. This record is epic and crushing. No soaring vocals, but it retains the over-the-top video folk metal needs. Great release.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0IS3WZC2Cs[/youtube]
Hellyeah – Blood For Blood 
Genre: Southern groove metal
Origin: Dallas, Texas/Peoria, Illinois/Washington DC
Label: Eleven Seven
Buy now on Amazon.com
I'm on record as not being a fan of this band, and it's been a while since I've listened to them. I'm surprised to catch up with them and hear how much of a hybrid of Mudvayne and Damage Plan this band has become. I really miss Ryan Martinie.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuOq_gjGMQg[/youtube]
Tombs – Savage Gold 
Genre: Post metal
Origin: Brooklyn, New York
Label: Relapse
Buy now on Amazon.com
This band is known for post metal, but this taste of the new record they released has a really interesting sludge 'n' roll vibe I can get behind. I approve of this direction. The band is really distinguishing themselves from their pack on this record. We have a full review here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFZYWKgK2bk[/youtube]
Trap Them – Blissfucker 
Genre: Grindcore/crust
Origin: Seattle, Washington
Label: Prosthetic
Buy now on Amazon.com
This album is punk as fuck, while sounding evil. It is also chaotic and quite diverse. This band is certainly worth all the praise. Hear it all here, and peep the full review here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZ2Q8vlI6E[/youtube]
Wretched – Cannibal 
Genre: Deathcore
Origin: Charlotte, North Carolina
Label: Victory
Buy now on Amazon.com
Wretched used to be my favorite deathcore band (perhaps the only one I liked, really), but on Cannibal the band has further journeying into a "technical death metal" realm.I like this slightly different version of the band over previous releases, but I kinda miss that title they had of the only deathcore band I liked. Oh well, I still approve.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmJHRSHi250[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
The Amity Affliction – Let the Ocean Take Me (Roadrunner)
Beastwars – Beastwars Re-Release (Granite House)
Beastwars – Blood Becomes Fire Re-Release (Granite House)
Bloody Hammers – Under Satan's Sun (Napalm)
Clutch – Earth Rocker Deluxe Edition (Weathermaker)
Cross Vault – Spectres of Revocable Loss (Northern Silence)
Day of Doom – The Gates of Hell (Lavadome)
Den Saakaldte – Kapittel II: Faen i Helvete (Agonia)
Deus Otiosus – Rise (Deepsend)
Dust Bolt – Awake The Riot (Napalm)
Ecocide – Eye of Wicked Sight (Disharmonic)
Eleanora – Eleanora EP (Consouling Sounds)
Falconer – Black Moon Rising (Metal Blade)
Gloryful – Ocean Blade (Massacre)
God Macabre – The Winterlong Re-Release (Relapse)
Hashed Out – Hashed Out EP (L'Œil du tigre)
Incarnated – Try Before Die (Selfmadegod)
In Hearts Wake – Earthwalker (UNFD)
Loudblast – Burial Ground (Listenable)
Mars Red Sky – Stranded In Arcadia (Listenable)
Mayhem – Esoteric Warfare (Season Of Mist)
Miasmic Theory – Miasmic Theory (Inverse)
Motherkissers – Cage the Water (Memorial)
Nightmare – The Aftermath (AFM)
Night Ranger – High Road (Frontiers)
October File – The Application of Loneliness, Ignorance, Misery, Love and Despair – An Introspective of the Human Condition (Candlelight)
Orange Goblin – Healing Through Fire Re-Release (Candlelight)
Pillory – Evolutionary Miscarriage (Unique Leader)
Question – Doomed Passages (Chaos)
Saor – Aura (Northern Silence)
Tarja Turunen & Mike Terrana – Beauty & The Beat (Armoury)
Tesla – Simplicity (eOne)
U.D.O.- Steelhammer: Live In Moscow CD/ DVD (AFM)
Valley of the Sun – Electric Talons of the Thunderhawk (Fuzzorama)
Wolves At The Gate – VxV (Solid State)
The Word Alive – Real (Fearless)
