Upcoming Metal Releases

Upcoming Metal Releases: 11/10/19 -- 11/16/19

Upcoming Metal Releases

Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of November 10th to November 16th, 2019. Release reflect proposed North American scheduling, if available. Expect to see most of these albums on shelves or distros on Fridays.

See something we missed or have any thoughts? Let us know in the comments. Plus, as always, feel free to post your own shopping lists. Happy digging.

Send us your promos (streaming links preferred) to: [email protected]. Do not send us promo material via social media.

LiturgyH.A.Q.Q. | YLYLCYN | Black Metal | United States (New York)

The ever-polarizing Liturgy returns as a surprise with H.A.Q.Q., arguably their best work since Aesthethica. The Ark Work‘s sometimes-good-sometimes-bad chanting vocal thing is nearly entirely gone, now, and instead we have the good ol’ screams of project mastermind Hunter Hunt-Hendrix back in our ears. Expect far less of the “burst beat” structure and much more layering/cinema than usual, which is a great development for this band as they surge forward into a postmodern realm of “transcendental” music which, depending on your spiritual/existential beliefs, may very well just be posturing. Nonetheless, this is a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

— Andrew Rothmund

NecropantherThe Doomed City | Death Metal + Thrash Metal | United States (Colorado)

From Thomas Hinds’ premiere of “Argos”:

Eschewing all fads and patterns, even the aforementioned newly invented styles so widespread amongst their hometown contemporaries, their fun-loving, thrash-soaked brand of melodic death metal precision is DIY in every sense of the word. Since the group’s inception, they have self-produced all of their records and released each of these independently. Though not without a tinge of influence from the mid-1990s Swedish scene (their sophomore album was in fact mixed and mastered by Swedish producer Fredrik Nordström), their sound is distinctly American and timelessly compelling, with a commitment to pure professional musicianship uncommon even in today’s celebrated death metal revival. While the vast majority of the genre currently favors hideous, dungeon-crawling themes of gore and horror, Necropanther focus alternatively on more cerebral, expansive concepts drawn from science fiction and fantasy, as seen on their vivid, sprawling 2017 record Eyes of Blue Light, which was based on the gargantuan realm of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Continuing with this literary theme, their upcoming third album The Doomed City will follow the narrative of Logan’s Run, a 1960s sci-fi novel that was adapted in a cult classic 1976 film.

Despised IconPurgatory | Nuclear Blast | Deathcore | Canada

I remember listening to The Ills of Modern Man back in the mid-2000s (those were my deathcore days for sure) and enjoying the dual-vocalist approach, groovy breakdowns, and general pissed-off attitude. Either I’ve changed, or the world’s changed, or both, because this new album (Despised Icon’s sixth since 2002) sorta falls flat on my ears. I know there’s good deathcore out there (really), but I don’t think this is it.

— Andrew Rothmund

AteiggärUs d’r Höll chunnt nume Zyt | Eisenwald | Black Metal | Switzerland

From Jon Rosenthal’s premiere of the Us d’r Höll chunnt nume Zyt EP:

Ateiggär’s influences are obvious (I won’t list them — that’s boring), but what makes them special is the individual personality and vigor they’ve injected into this EP’s second-wave black metal mysticism. Translating to “Initiator of Ideas,” Ateiggär’s music is rich with them, fueled by old ways but finding ways to translate them into a refreshing, youthful modernity. Although they wear their influences on their sleeves, this duo’s music has just enough personality to make it unique and step beyond the realm of pure worship. This is the old ways made new.

VerdunAstral Sabbath | Throatruiner Records | Sludge + Crust | France

Slow/mid-paced destruction from France on one of the country’s best labels for anything both postmodern and absolutely devastating. Verdun captures both the heady nature of dense atmospherics while retaining the ability to doom-‘n’-gloom things to complete defeat. I especially enjoyed the occasional clean vocals, but it’s the plodding crush-me riffs which take the cake.

— Andrew Rothmund

AdrasteiaDemo MMXIX | Not Kvlt Records | Black Metal | United States

A new enigmatic solo artist enters the realm of raw black metal with a refreshing, blown-out mixture of black metal and dungeon synth’s (remember when it was called “dark ambient side project”?) wintry chill.

— Jon Rosenthal

KraterVenenare | Eisenwald | Black Metal | Germany

Rip-roaring black metal with heavily varied vocals and unrelenting blasts (my kind of thing). Krater’s Venenare banks on dynamics and mood instead of just purposeless noise, which is a welcome treat in a realm of hyper-atmospheric black metal releases. Expect the classic throwback second-wave feel without the trend; expect something which feels meaningful from the darkest, dimmest heart.

— Andrew Rothmund

Witch TrailThe Sun Has Left the Hill | Consouling Sounds + Babylon Doom Cult Records | ??? | Belgium

From Jon Rosenthal’s premiere of The Sun Has Left the Hill:

The Sun Has Left the Hill bears the true mark of creativity, taking different pieces of music and creating something vaster than the sum of its parts. Making something ostensibly new is difficult — we hear variants on the same five records every day (be honest), yet I can’t pinpoint one record which sounds just like Witch Trail’s unique approach.

So, what is Witch Trail? I… I don’t know. For once, I give up. Witch Trail is Witch Trail. Enjoy this dark horse and let it completely ruin your impending year-end lists.

Stream the album here.

Tan KozhLignages Oubliés | Antiq Records | Black Metal | France

Big, bombastic black metal from France. Tan Kozh’s Lignages Oubliés goes for the slow burn (despite its moments of acceleration), championing songwriting over everything else. The vocal performance stands out above the mix, too, offering a harsher and more grounded sound than a lot of other black metal. The key to this is distinctiveness (again, a difficult thing in a saturated genre), but Tan Kozh manages it with aplomb.

— Andrew Rothmund

The DeathtripDemon Solar Totem | Profound Lore + Svart Records | Black Metal | United Kingdom

From Jon Rosenthal’s video premiere of “Enter the Spectral Realms”:

The group’s second full-length album, Demon Solar Totem‘s harsh, inflexible music surrounds the listener with an impenetrable darkness. A spiritually engulfing experience, The Deathtrip’s blackened embrace surrounds the listener with occult sigils and horrifying magick. Entwining itself in the present and the past, Demon Solar Totem‘s creativity is an anachronism, recalling those who took black metal into the new millennium, but also looks to a new, darker future.

(DOLCH)Feuer | Van Records + Totenmusik | Blackened Noise + Rock | Germany

Ethereal, powerful doomed rock music which puts the listener in a dazed, dreamlike state.

— Jon Rosenthal

Abigail WilliamsWalk Beyond the Dark | Blood Music | Black Metal | United States

Far removed from their days as a symphonic black metal band, Abigail Williams have been making straight-up black metal for years now and they continue to be exceedingly good at it. Their latest (which features artwork by the in-demand Mariusz Lewandowski) finds main member Ken Sorceron backed by Bryan O’Sullivan on bass and Mike Heller on drums, and it also features contributions from cellist Chris “Kakophonix” Brown and guitarists Andrew Markuszewski (who’s in Lord Mantis with Ken) and Justin McKinney (who used to be in The Faceless with Ken). It covers a lot of ground across its seven tracks, from the harsher black metal stuff to the prettier cello-fueled parts, and it all culminates in the epic 11-minute closer “The Final Failure,” which Ken says was originally written with Ian Jekelis for 2015’s The Accuser, but it didn’t fit the vibe of that album and has since evolved into a different beast.

— Andrew Sacher

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