This edition includes lots of epicness, death metal, things that seem to upset my cat, and more! To the metals…
Auri – Auri 
Genre: Power metal/folk
Origin: Kitee, Finland
Label: Nuclear Blast
Singer Johanna Kurkela has joined forces with Tuomas Holopainen and Troy Donockley from Nightwish to form Auri. While retaining some rock elements, one would be more likely to dance to much of this rather than mosh or headbang. I should've known this wouldn't be terribly heavy when I saw one of the members was most famous for his skills on the Uilleann pipes. Still a cool listen if one is into the folk metal scene.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMGykxseAlc][/youtube]
Memoriam – The Silent Vigil 
Genre: Death metal
Origin: Birmingham, England
Label: Nuclear Blast
Those looking for some straight up death metal need look no further than The Silent Vigil. Memoriam is fronted by Karl Willetts of Bolt Thrower, so they are unsurprisingly heavy as fuck. This is a pretty solid follow-up to last year's For The Fallen.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puOhySwpa-w][/youtube]
Melted Space – Darkening Light
Genre: Symphonic metal opera
Origin: Troyes, France
Label: Laser's Edge/Sensory Records
I love metal. I don't say that enough. I really do though, and bands like Metled Space are examples of why. Melted Space, like Ayreon, are a metal opera. They are more "extreme" than Ayreon, but the idea is similar. I don't mean that as a jab either. There are a bunch of different operas by different people. Anyway, there are character guest appearances by members of Visions of Atlantis, Rotting Christ, Arcturus, Dark Tranquility and more. There's even the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Needless to say epic as fuck.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzQ_1PmFi44][/youtube]
Monster Magnet – Mindfucker 
Genre: Rock/stoner
Origin: Red Bank, New Jersey
Label: Napalm
For almost thirty years, Monster Magnet has been bringing riffs in a way that few do. Their recent pair of albums, Lost Patrol and Mastermind (and the redux/remix albums of those) began a second coming for sorts for them. Mindfucker keeps their streak going strong.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsvvS142wWg][/youtube]
Nightmarer – Cacophony Of Terror 
Genre: Technical death metal
Origin: Tampa, Florida
Label: Season Of Mist
I find this band really interesting, but their name so frustrating. They are heavy and techy, which is what I'm all about. Toss in a general evil as fuck vibe, and you have a good time of a record. However, when someone asks what I'm listening to, I'm gonna take a breath and say "Nightmarer" as quickly as I can and hope there is no further conversation.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PQFmBCzDXE][/youtube]
The Sword – Used Future 
Genre: Stoner
Origin: Austin, Texas
Label: Razor & Tie
The Sword have yet to release a bad album, and their sixth album Used Future continues that trend. I think I might prefer it over High Country, despite it rolling in that same direction. I'm sure these new tracks are going to pretty great live though. The Sword on the record is good, but they're a killer live band. Lauryn has a full review here.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTGxrhDc84k][/youtube]
Will Haven – Muerte 
Genre: Noise rock
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: Minus Head
Sacramento's other other favorite band has returned with a triumph of an album. Muerte is an unrelenting and surprisingly epic ride. Fans of Junius or Sacramento's favorite band (and friend of Will Haven) Deftones will probably dig this.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnAF4Yu1tKw][/youtube]
Also dropping today…
The Absence – A Gift For The Obsessed (M-Theory Audio) – Melodic death metal
Axel Rudi Pell – Knights Call (SPV/Steamhammer) – Heavy metal
Blessthefall – Hard Feelings (Rise) – Metalcore
Borealis – Temple Of Lies (AFM) – Power metal
Bruce Lamont – Broken Limbs Excite No Pity (War Crimes) – Avant-garde
Bulletboys – From Out Of The Skies (Frontiers) – Heavy metal
Chaostar – The Undivided Light (Season Of Mist) – Ambient/darkwave
Dark Buddha Rising – II EP (Neurot) – Psychedelic/drone
Death Alley – Superbia (Century Media) – Punk
L.A. Guns – Made In Milan DVD/CD (Frontiers) – Glam
Mournful Congregation – The Incubus Of Karma (20 Buck Spin) – Funeral doom
No Hot Ashes – No Hot Ashes (Frontiers) – Rock
Of Feather and Bone – Hymns of Perversion (Profound Lore) – Death metal
Throneless – Cycles (Black Bow) – Sludge/Doom
Thunder – Stage (earMusic) – Rock
W.E.T. – Earthrage (Frontiers) – Melodic rock
