This edition includes some legends, game-changing tech death, Uncle Al's latest non-Ministry thing, and more! To the metals…
Lita Ford – Time Capsule
Genre: Hard rock
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: SPV
Buy now on Amazon.com
On the heels of her autobiography's release, the former Runaway is dropping a nostalgic feeling record. Time Capsule should appeal to fans of her 80's work as she tried to make this a big rock record in same vein. Features plenty of guests also. Guests include Billy Sheehan, Dave Navarro, Jeff Scott Soto, Rick Nielsen, Gene Simmons and more.
Ace Frehley – Origins Vol. 1 
Genre: Hard Rock
Origin: The Bronx, New York
Label: eOne
Buy now on Amazon.com
Much like Lita, Space Ace was feeling rather nostalgic on his latest record. However, rather than dropping a record that sounds like older material, this release is all covers. Frehley covers Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jimi Hendrix and more. Also like Lita, he brought some friends to the studio. John 5, Paul Stanley, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Slash, and Lita Ford all make appearances.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTzHBRQ6v7M[/youtube]
Crematory – Monument 
Genre: Gothic metal/Industrial
Origin: Mannheim, Germany
Label: SPV
Buy now on Amazon.com
Germany's long running Gothic death metal turned industrial have returned with what might be the most German record ever made. The electronics on this sound like they'd echo from a dance hall, while the metal foundation sounds like Rammstein b-sides. All this needs is some soaring David Hasselhoff vocals, and the entire country would have fallen to their knees for their favorite band.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZh1PWyTlKM[/youtube]
Mantar – Ode To The Flame 
Genre: Black metal/Sludge
Origin: Hamburg, Germany
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
Germany's grimmest duo are back with their follow-up to 2014's lauded Dead by Burning. The latest record continues the feel and attitude of the first record with blackened sludge/hardcore tracks that manage be infused with just enough melody to get stuck in your head. A really solid release.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFF9m1iU5HQ[/youtube]
Otep – Generation Doom
Genre: Nu Metal
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Napalm
Buy now on Amazon.com
As much as I don't get this band, I have to respect their longevity. Otep Shamaya and whomever else has been in her band over the last sixteen years play a very specific type of metal that went out of style, yet has kind of had a resurgence. Generation Doom plays right into this resurgence with driving, rap infused tracks (like "Zero" below) and your more melodic almost Linkin Park-esque tracks (See: "In Cold Blood"). Fans will probably love it.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDnNW0_0Wrs[/youtube]
Primitive Weapons – The Future Of Death 
Genre: "New York Post Hardcore"
Origin: Brooklyn, New York
Label: Party Smasher
Buy now from Party Smasher
When I listen to Primitive Weapons, I got a serious Dillinger Escape Plan vibe. Perhaps not entirely in sound, but certainly in the delivery and attitude. Come to find out they're signed to the record label run by Ben Weinman. The bands pair well together and The Future of Death will hopefully put Primitive Weapons up to a Dillinger level.
Stream it all here.
Surgical Meth Machine – Surgical Meth Machine 
Genre: Industrial
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Amazon.com
I guess whenever I see that Al Jourgensen is dropping a new record, I assume that it's just going to sound like the last decade of Ministry with a new name slapped on it. Parts of Surgical Meth Machine does sound like recycled Anti-Bush era Ministry. However, "I'm Invisible" is a really interesting track that sounds like Pinback mixed with hip hop beats. The record may not break the mold overall, but it certainly has me curious for what else Uncle Al has up his sleeve this time.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6XHd06qr-Q[/youtube]
The Zenith Passage – Solipsist 
Genre: Technical death metal
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Unique Leader
Buy now on Amazon.com
Once the books on 2016 close, this year will be remembered as a great year for technical death metal. And when it is, Solipsist should be one of the first albums in mind. This thing is game-changer with it's genre-bending transitions, constant technical musicianship, and melodic through-lines. Easily my favorite release of the week.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhXam8oGTDU[/youtube]
ALSO!
Record store day is Saturday. Here's that list.
Also dropping today…
Aliases – Derangeable (Basick) – Progressive post-hardcore
Alkerdeel – Lede (Consouling Sounds) – Black metal/sludge
Amenra – Alive (Consouling Sounds) – Sludge/doom
Astral Path – An Oath To The Void (Avantgarde) – Atmospheric black metal
Barbarian – Cult Of The Empty Grave (Hells Headbangers) – Black/speed metal
Black Rainbows – Stellar Prophecy (Heavy Psych Sounds) – Stoner/psych
Blizaro – Cornucopia della Morte (I, Voidhanger) – Progressive rock/doom
Crisix – From Blue To Black (Listenable) – Thrash
Dark Oath – When Fire Engulfs The Earth (Wormholedeath) – Symphonic melodic death metal
Death Lullaby – Wormz (Famined) – Progressive metalcore
The Defiants – The Defiants (Frontiers) – Danger Danger core
Drive She Said – Pedal To The Metal (Frontiers) – Rock
Drought – Rudra Bhakti (Avantgarde) – Black metal
Dynazty – Titanic Mass (Spinefarm) – Heavy metal
Emphasis – Revival (Underground Symphony) – Power metal
Exalter – Obituary For The Living (Transcending Obscurity) – Thrash
Fractured Insanity – Man Made Hell (Xtreem) – Technical brutal death metal
Game Over – Crimes Against Reality (Scarlet) – Thrash
Goatess – Purgatory Under New Management (Svart) – Doom/stoner
The Golden Grass – Coming Back Again (Listenable) – Psychedelic
Gypsy Chief Goliath – Citizens Of Nowhere (Pitch Black) – Stoner/blues
Hemotoxin – Biological Enslavement (Unspeakable Axe) – Progressive death metal/thrash
Holy Dragons – Civilizator (Pitch Black) – Heavy metal
Howls Of Ebb – Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows (I, Voidhanger) – Black metal
Inner Blast – Prophecy (Nordavind) – Gothic metal
Izegrim – The Ferryman's End (Listenable) – Thrash/death metal
Kyliga Dalen – Satanizmus (Neverheard) – Punk
Murder Made God – Enslaved (Comatose) – Brutal death metal
Necrosic – Putrid Decimation EP (Nuclear War Now!) – Death metal
Necrot – The Labyrinth (Tankcrimes) – Death metal
Negative Voice – Cold, Redrafted (Hypnotic Dirge) – Melodic doom/black metal
Nucleus – Sentient (Unspeakable Axe) – Death metal
Omophagia – In The Name Of Chaos (Unique Leader) – Death metal
Pathways – Dies Irae EP (Tragic Hero) – Djent/progressive
Rain – Spacepirates (Aural) – Power metal
Shiraz Lane – For Crying Out Loud (Frontiers) – Rock
Sig:Ar:Tyr – Northen (Hammerheart) – Dark ambient
Thunderstone – Apocalypse Again (AFM) – Power metal
Tiles – Pretending 2 Run (Lasers Edge) – Progressive
Treat – Ghost Of Graceland (Frontiers) – Heavy metal
Victims – Sirens (Tankcrimes) – D-beat
Volymian – Maze Of Madness (Maple Metal) – Rock
When Our Time Comes – When Our Time Comes (Lifeforce) – Progressive
White Miles – The Duel (Long Branch) – Stoner
