This edition includes bands that piss you off for some reason, a supergroup, bands meandering from their established sounds, and more! The the metals…
Belphegor – Totenritual 
Genre: Death metal
Origin: Salzburg, Austria
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
These Austrian juggernauts have returned with another album of diabolic death metal. This marks the first album with new drummer BloodHammer aka Simon Schilling, and the first since vocalist Hulmoth was attacked by an orthodox activist in an airport. I'm sure that instant is at least alluded to on this album.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugX0T2yi20s[/youtube]
Biblical – The City That Always Sleeps 
Genre: Experimental
Origin: Toronto, Canada
Label: Tee Pee/New Damage
Buy now on Amazon.com
This band is really interesting. They have elements of a stoner band, but so much other insanity is going on that they easily differentiate themselves from the fuzzy scene. They are self-described as "The sonic equivalent of a Ken Russell film." So if you enjoy Altered States, The Devils, or Tommy (but not The Who, I guess), put this band in your ears.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxtB1H_d9Yk[/youtube]
Caligula’s Horse – In Contact 
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Brisbane, Austrailia
Label: Inside Out
Buy now on Amazon.com
This band's last album, In Bloom, was one of my favorite albums of 2015, and In Contact will likely be one of my faves of 2017. They're unique blend of metal, alternative rock, progressive rhythms, and guitar shredding puts this band in a league of their own. There is something in the water that makes Australian prog extra amazing.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QJlFdFquiY[/youtube]
The Contortionist – Clairvoyant 
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Indianapolis, Indiana
Label: eOne/Good Fight
Buy now on Amazon.com
Like Leprous and Opeth before them, The Contortionist have become the latest progressive metal band to wander from the full-on heaviness in favor of sonic exploration. Clairvoyant presents the band in a more atmospheric almost post rock realm. There are still heavy moments, and in fact they feel heavier juxtaposed with the lush atmosphere. Great record. Jordan reviews the album here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAfAxmhWmcQ[/youtube]
Ensiferum – Two Paths 
Genre: Folk metal
Origin: Helsinki, Finland
Label: Metal Blade
Buy now on Amazon.com
Now for your (seemingly) weekly folk metal fix. On their seventh album, Ensiferum will have you wishing you knew how to shred on an accordion or nyckelharpa. The album features two versions of both "God Is Dead" and "Don't You Say," one with with typical harsh vocals and one with a choir. This seems like it could be an interesting gimmick for a full record.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doqAPsRp0cU[/youtube]
Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold 
Genre: Rock
Origin: Seattle, Washington
Label: Roswell/RCA
Buy now on Amazon.com
Dave Grohl and friends are dropping their first full album since their (super brief) hiatus in Concrete and Gold. The little I've heard actually sounds really interesting and fresh, which is cool. Sure, it's not heavy, but Grohl knows hows to write a good rock song. (Let's play a fun game here. Take a drink for everyone that comments on Facebook or below about me talking about Foo Fighters)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRqiFPpw2fY[/youtube]
Gigan – Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence
Genre: Technical death metal
Origin: Tampa, Florida
Label: Willowtip
Buy now on Amazon.com
Try to say that album title five times fast. Do it! I'll wait. Now that that fun is over, Gigan's fourth full-length record is a dissonant death metal assault. All their records are, but there's something extra crazy about this one. Perhaps it's the new vocalist Jerry Kavouriaris?
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMz_8BFpgSw[/youtube]
Myrkur – Mareridt
Genre: Blackened folk metal
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
Label: Relapse
Buy now on Amazon.com
I've really enjoyed the evolution of Myrkur since her first EP in 2014. Whether you like it or not, she turned the black metal genre on its head without even really trying and without really being black metal. She pissed a lot of stupid people off. Mareridt is another collection of tracks that are equal parts homage to grim black metal, epic choral music, and haunted house themes. Amalie Brunn is incredibly talented, and Mareridt is further proof of this fact. The full review from Tyler is here.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9cNZQIzShc[/youtube]
Prophets Of Rage – Prophets Of Rage 
Genre: Rap Rock
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Fantasy
Buy now on Amazon.com
The full-length of this supergroup has finally arrived. Those waiting for the return of Rage Against The Machine will just have to settle for not one, but two superior rappers fronting the band in Chuck D (Public Enemy) and B-Real (Cypress Hill). I really enjoy hearing all these guys in this context. Tom Morello shreds in a very special way in the rap rock realm.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzAvPcM7Vw0[/youtube]
Vattnet – Vattnet 
Genre: Progressive
Origin: Plaistow, New Hampshire
Label: New Damage
Buy now on Amazon.com
I was initially going to write a blurb comparing Vattnet to the Alcest record Shelter, and there are similarities in that an atmospheric black metal band has shed the black metal. However, Vattnet (formerly Vattnet Viskar) have changed in a completely different way. They dropped metal screams for a post-hardcore shriek. They are also leaning on post rock musicianship more than ever. There is still heavy rock music abound, but it isn't black metal. They sound like a different band, and the new band also is quite good, but the vocals alone will likely alienate some people.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHJIlkNrbb4[/youtube]
Also dropping today…
Blackfinger – When Colors Fade Away (M-Theory) – Doom
Bob Kulick – Skeletons In The Closet (Vanity) – Hard rock
Cripper – Follow Me: Kill! (Metal Blade) – Death metal
Dyscarnate – With All Their Might (Unique Leader) – Death metal
Hell In The Club – See You On The Dark Side (Frontiers) – Hard rock
Hexx – Wrath Of The Reaper (High Roller) – Death metal
Hot Water Music – Light It Up (Rise) – Post-hardcore
I, The Dreamer – Shadow Hearts (Standby) – Post-hardcore
Josh Todd & The Conflict – Year Of The Tiger (Century Media) – Hard rock
Kee Of Hearts – Kee Of Hearts (Frontiers) – Hard rock
Neck Of The Woods – The Passenger (Basick) – Melodic death/Progressive metal
Nothing More – The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Better Noise) – Alt metal
Steelheart – Through Worlds Of Stardust (Frontiers) – Glam
Thousand Foot Krutch – Untraveled Roads (TFK) – Christian rock
Wayward Sons – Ghosts Of Yet To Come (Frontiers) – Rock
