THE WEEKLY INJECTION: New Releases From GOJIRA, UNLOCKING THE TRUTH, SWANS, and More Out Today – 6/17

This edition includes new Gojira, some other stuff too, but you guys…Gojira, and more! To the metals…

Ayreon – The Theater Equation DVD/CD 

Genre: Progressive
Origin: Waalwijk, Netherlands
Label: Inside Out

Buy now on Amazon.com

For years fans have been pestering Arjen Luccasen about whether he would ever perform a full Ayreon record live. Hell, I even got to ask him once, and he told me no. Looks like hell froze over, and here is a live performance of The Human Equation. Apparently, this was initially a fan project, but some of the album's stars like James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion) and others showed interest. The show's short run even got the interest of frequent contributor to cool shit Anneke van Giersbergen, and other folks. The result is pretty cool and it's hard to be mad that some of the bigger album guests are missing since the performances work really well on this.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zaJlvmpLrw[/youtube]

 

Gojira – Magma 

Genre: Progressive/Groove metal
Origin: Bayonne, France
Label: Roadrunner

Buy now on Amazon.com

One of metal's most consistently great bands has struck gold again on Magma. If you dug L'Enfant Sauvage, you'll enjoy this quite a bit. I'd even offer Magma to new listeners as it may be the band's most "accessible" record.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xKttPGJg5c[/youtube]

 

I See Stars – Treehouse 

Genre: Electronic Hardcore Music
Origin: Warren, Michigan
Label: Sumerian

Buy now on Amazon.com

We've all wondered, "What would Imogene Heap sound like in a metal setting?" right? I See Stars seemingly set out to make a record that answers that question. It's almost as if the recent Algorithm record added post-hardcore vocals. If any of that sounds remotely good to you, give this a go. It's pretty interesting.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgevhi2pCIE[/youtube]

 

Nails – You Will Never Be One Of Us 

Genre: Powerviolence/Death Metal
Origin: Oxnard, California
Label: Nuclear Blast

Buy now on Amazon.com

At the opposite end of the metal spectrum from I See Stars is the new Nails. Little to no melody, zero electronic elements, no clean vocals. Just a straight up sonic beating. Also, this record is ten bite-sized assaults that clock in at just under twenty-two minutes. So if you're on a time crunch, but need something heavy, this is your record.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPVt9yR8t2o[/youtube]

 

Swans – The Glowing Man 

Genre: Experimental/Post-rock
Origin: New York, New York
Label: Young God / Mute

Buy now on Amazon.com

There is so much lore behind Swans that one of my silly little blurbs just won't do them justice, but I'll try. This legendary post-(everything?) band is dropping another record of weird, unsettling-yet-oddly-beautiful rock music that defies genre and labels while transcending themselves. It's an intense record, but not in the way one might expect. How's that for not really saying anything while playing up the mystique? In short, get this if you're a fan already and/or you dig post-metal/rock.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa0a5WYTB9g[/youtube]

 

Unlocking The Truth – Chaos 

Genre: Hard rock/metal
Origin: New York, New York
Label: Tunecore

Buy now on Amazon.com

This is the long-hyped and long-awaited debut of that band made of three kids from New York. After years of getting festival appearances and label battles, the record is seeing the light of day. These kids are pretty good, and not just "pretty good for kids." This is a legitimately solid thrashy, groovy metal record.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYH7BkV1BPQ[/youtube]

 

 

Also dropping today…

Blood Moon Hysteria – Crimson Sky EP (Wormholedeath) – Atmospheric metal/hard rock
Blut Aus Nord / Aevangelist – Codex Obscura Nomina Split (Debemur Morti) – Black metal/Avant garde/etc
Ghoulgotha – To Starve The Cross (Dark Descent) – Death/doom metal
Hammercult – Legends Never Die EP (SPV) – Thrash
Helleborus – The Carnal Sabbath (Black Plague) – Psych black metal
Integrity / Power Trip – Split (Magic Bullet) – Thrash
Ribspreader – Suicide Gate: A Bridge To Death (Xtreem) – Death metal
Ricinn – Lian (Blood) – Groove
Skin Drone – Evocation (Bluntface) – Industrial/ Avant-Garde
Stitched Up Heart – Never Alone (Another Century) – Rock
Vex – Sky Exile (Eihwaz) – Thrash/death metal
Wayfarer – Old Souls (Prosthetic) – Atmospheric folk/black metal