This week's WEEKLY INJECTION includes the nail in the coffin of a black metal supergroup, everyone's favorite Greek git-fiddler, a great band named after socks, and more. To the metals…
Coffinworm – IV.I.VIII 
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Origin: Indianapolis, Indianna
Label: Profound Lore
Buy now on Amazon.com
Coffinworm are a band that does not beat around the bush. They are a relentless blackened death metal force that has elements of sludge that causes them to crush even more. Their Facebook lists their influences as "Death, Doom and Destruction," and it shows in their music. The same can be said for their interest of "Contemplating the futility of existence on the tree of woe." Deep heavy shit here. J. Andrew has a full review here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6x1VMOb6TE[/youtube]
Demon Hunter – Extremist 
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Seattle, Washington
Label: Solid State
Buy now on Amazon.com
This album is everything you'd expect from Seattle's biggest fans of Jesus and the Swedish Melodic Death Metal scene. It is catchy, upbeat, and melodic all while retaining the appropriate amount of harmonized guitar-work and double bass. They've been working towards it for a long while, but with Extremist they nailed their best impression of Soilwork's Stabbing The Drama.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnHn_nY0rr0[/youtube]
Gus G. – I Am The Fire 
Genre: Heavy Metal
Origin: Athens, Greece
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Amazon.com
I'm always happy to hear a solo album by a virtuoso guitarist that has actual songs. So often, a master shredder will simply wank over a generic instrumental just so show off the size of their guitar dick. Ozzy and Firewind's guitarist Gus G allows others to take the spotlight while still being the main attraction. The album includes quite a few notable spotlit folks such as Billy Sheehan, Michael Starr (Steel Panther) and Tom Englund (Evergrey) to name a few. Not bad overall.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPqtMMGJAO4[/youtube]
Hark – Crystalline 
Genre: Stoner
Origin: Swansea, Wales
Label: Season Of Mist
Buy now on Amazon.com
This band is about as all over the place as a band can be while remaining in one subgenre of metal. They are some mighty riffs akin to The Sword, some weird time-signature galloping like Tera Melos and some introspective epic portions that reflect a Mastodon influence. An incredibly solid debut album, but don't take my word for it, this record is Neil Fallon (Clutch) approved as he appears on the closing track.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5co0kqF5Lkg[/youtube]
Menace – Impact Velocity 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: USA/United Kingdom/Italy
Label: Season Of Mist
Buy now on Amazon.com
Well, isn't this just the weirdest thing I've heard in a while. The members that make up this band should, in theory, not create this album. Really, this says more about my metal prejudice than the ability of these talented musicians. Silly me for not thinking Shane Embury (Napalm Death), Frederic Leclerq (DragonForce), Derek Roddy (ex-Hate Eternal), and Mitch Harris (Napalm Death) would collaborate at all, let alone on a pretty sweet prog album. I recommend this for fans of Ayreon.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLT1R1HD9Ug[/youtube]
The Socks – The Socks 
Genre: Stoner/Heavy Metal
Origin: Lyon, France
Label: Small Stone
Buy now on Amazon.com
When I read "The Socks," I expected this to be a band that would open for the Wiggles. Their name just screams "cute, fun band." Instead the band reveals itself to be a splendid musical blend of Graveyard and Clutch. This makes their odd name that much better.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYySxtECe3w[/youtube]
Twilight – III: Beneath Trident's Tomb 
Genre: Experimental Black Metal
Origin: San Francisco, California
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Amazon.com
The band comprised of Atlas Moth, Minsk, Krieg, and ex-Sonic Youth members is going out with a bang as they seem to have nailed their sound just as they reached the end. This collection of six unique, lo-fi, and, for lack of a better word, weird black metal songs is an acquired taste that's not for everyone, but fans any of the members' other projects will get it and love it.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxmM5H8iXEk[/youtube]
Ageless Oblivion – Penthos (Century Media)
Alterbeast – Immortal (Unique Leader)
Apparitions – Part 2: The Inferno EP (Infamous Empire)
Assassins – War Of Aggression (Good Fight)
Azoria – Seasons Change (Doolittle)
Bl'ast – The Expression Of Power Re-Release (Southern Lord)
The Bunny The Bear – Food Chain (Victory)
Buried In Verona – Faceless (Razor & Tie)
The Crimson ProjeCKt – Live In Tokyo (Inside Out)
D-A-D – 30 Years 30 Hits: Best of D-A-D (AFM)
Dodsferd – The Parasitic Survival of the Human Race (Moribund)
Don Jamieson – Hell Bent For Laughter (Metal Blade)
Earth Crisis – Salvation Of Innocents (Candlelight)
Hiidenhauta – Noitia on Minun Sukuni (Inverse)
I Exist – From Darkness (Prosthetic)
Iron Savior – Rise of the Hero (AFM)
Lorna Shore – Maleficium (Density)
Merkabah – Ubiquity (Maple Metal)
Mother – A New Life EP (Rock Your Mother)
Nocturnal Breed – Napalm Nights (Agonia)
Offenders – We Must Rebel/I Hate Myself/Endless Struggle Re-Release (Southern Lord)
Order Of Isaz – Seven Years Of Famine (Season Of Mist)
The Prestige – Ecotone (Mediaskare)
The Pretty Reckless – Going To Hell (Razor & Tie)
Ringworm – Hammer Of The Witch (Relapse)
Riotgod – Driven Rise (Metalville)
Savage Messiah – The Fateful Dark (Century Media/Earache)
Storm Warrior – Thunder & Steele (Massacre)
Suffer Yourself – Inner Sanctum (Cimmerian Shade)
Twisted Sister – You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll/Come Out And Play/Love Is For Suckers (Armoury)
Vampire – Vampire (Century Media)
Volume IV – Long In The Tooth (Ripple)
March 25, 2014
