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Photo by Dan Warrington |
Holy cow are there a lot of metal releases — and labels to put them out. The list of September’s metal releases took forever to compile. Just when I think I’m done, up pops some Italian power metal label or German black metal label with new additions to the list. Many smaller labels don’t have publicists to announce their releases. Thus, I often stumble across release dates in random corners of the Internet. So the list is a perpetual work-in-progress. August’s list practically doubled in size over the course of the month.
Personally, I’m excited about new records from 3 Inches of Blood, Insomnium, Doomriders, and The Ordher. The Gates of Slumber, Chthonic, and Black Cobra should at least be interesting. I am morbidly curious about Megadeth, Vader, and Alice in Chains. Relapse makes a strong showing with Black Anvil, Weekend Nachos, Dying Fetus, and Revocation. Crucial Blast does likewise with Gnaw Their Tongues, an Overmars reissue, and Subarachnoid Space (who kick off a big US tour on the 6th — see dates here). The non-black Anvil finally get their latest record out in wide circulation. Last but definitely not least, Austrian Death Machine return with more hilarious Schwarzenegger impersonations and surprisingly decent metalcore. Unsurprisingly, it is good workout music.
What are you excited to hear in September? What would you like to see reviewed? And, of course, if you have any additions or corrections to the list, please suggest them in the comments box.
Is anybody really pumped for Black Anvil? It seems to me that they're being talked about a lot, and I enjoy their music that I've heard, but I'm not entirely convinced that it's the sort of album I need to drop ten or fifteen bucks on, given that I'm of limited means. I'd like to be convinced though. Does it go the extra mile when you listen to the songs as a unit? Are the lyrics good? As I worry increasingly about money, I find myself focusing more and more on the likelihood of me spinning an album years from now, and I'm interested in hearing if this has clicked with anybody in a big way.
If I could only buy one new metal album this month, I'd hold out for Gates of Slumber. Their last album was everything that I want, basically: thrashy riffs, doomy riffs, strong melodies, and lyrics that felt weirdly escapist AND soulful at the same time. I'm excited about this new one.
I wanted to like the last Gates of Slumber so much, but I felt after a lot of listens that there was a lack of riffs. I can't recall anything in there right now for example.
First time I hear of Black Anvil is from this post, then again I don't read many metal blogs besides this one to keep updated.
I'm not tracking the release dates for any albums. Well, I'm wondering when Wrathblade will put out an LP but that's not the same. Also I'm very interested to see where Orphaned Land will go after Mabool (I won't jinx it by saying the only way is down). Warning split up, which actually I felt was understandable after "Watching from a Distance", a masterpiece. Negura Bunget have… reconfigured, which doesn't make me hopeful for something as strong as OM the next time around.
The way I 'track new releases' I guess is by listening to an album by a band that I enjoy a lot and having the thought strike 'oh, I wonder, have they put out anything new since this?' I check if they're still active (most of the time they're not), and if they are, if they've put out more material. I suspect a lot of metalheads are like this. I've visited Blabbermouth a grand total of 2 times in my life.
The Chasm – Farseeing The Paranormal Abysm
holy shit, this interests me, though!!
That Black Anvil record is excellent. Got a hold of it through Monumentum Records a few months ago and managed to interview the band in my zine. Excellent, shouldn't go overlooked. So yeah, a review of the New Yorkers would be nice… The record deserves it.
Hey Cosmo, the Chickenhawk EP "A. Or Not?" is coming out on Brew on September 9. Dig it way more than I was expecting.
Melvins – Chicken Switch looks interesting. I usually don't give a hoot about remixes. But, I read a bit about this one and it looks like it might be really cool for a Melvins fan. The remixist will be making songs out of entire albums. Might be cool to have some inventive medleys of albums. Might suck too.
Nothing else looks that interesting. Thanks for compiling it though! It's good to know I really have nothing to look forward to…
none of the september releases hold any sort of anticipatory hold on me. october has a few curiosities. i'm curious to hear a non-king written gorgoroth record and to see what immortal have done (but i'm not geeking out over it). does anyone else think of overmars the band and only have a visual of marc overmars the former ajax product?
I am waiting for the_Network album as well as the newest Porcupine Tree album. Oh yeah new Doomriders; forgot to pre-order!
SLIPKNOT!!!…Not. Hate to be a snob, but 98% of those releases will be forgotten in 6 months. I agree with Anthony—it's hard to justify buying something I won't be playing in 2,5, or 10 years. I just don't have the disposable income anymore. At this point, I'm quite happy wearing out my record needle to the stuff from the mid 80's early 90's. However, I do feel that Black Cobra is poised for a breakout—they're the tightest band around right now.
I've already heard a bunch of records that are due out in the next few months. I'd rank 'em as follows:
Good…Vader, 3 Inches of Blood
Really Good…Gates of Slumber, Baroness, Evile
Holy Shit…Converge
I didn't like the Melvins remix disc at all.
i'm excited about the Between the Buried and Me album, even though their last album was the first i could get into.
Baroness is gonna be great.
i've heard good things about the Alice in Chains.
Rodrigo y Gabriela are amazing, but it's strange thinking of them as metal even if it's their roots.
Dying Fetus, Revocation, Evile will all be worth checking out. well, what i've heard of the DF sounds pretty good.
etc, etc.
is Trouble trying to make another comeback? didn't they already re-release their old catalogue?
Marduk – Wormwood
Oh yeah, and Gorgoroth and Immortal!
Gonna have my own personal little black metal renaissance.
Dissection and maybe Mardookie. The rest of this stuff is for the ILM "crue."
Added to the list: Chickenhawk, A Storm of Light, Skeletonwitch (though I haven't started working on October releases in earnest yet).
Yeah A Storm Of Light ,how about WRNLRD – Myridon, Hjarnidaudi – Psyko Stare Void, did this come out officially,The Pain:Noise:March release was great.
I've heard the melvins remix CD and it's great. You have to wonder about the small-mindedness of someone complaining that the Melvins aren't fitting in your prescribed heavy metal pigeonhole (I'm talking about the review in WIRE magazine). If you like crazy weirdness, check out the melvins CD. If your brain can't handle anything more than chugging metal riffs, stick with that.