Upcoming Metal Releases

Upcoming Metal Releases: 11/21/2021-11/27/2021


Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of November 21st, 2021 to November 27th, 2021. Releases 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.


Upcoming Releases

Eternity’s EndEmbers of War | Prosthetic Records | Progressive Power + Speed Metal | Germany

I’m never not going to appreciate weird Lovecraftian references, even if boisterous power metal is an unusual vector to approach topics like the extended-universe concept of the Hounds of Tindalos. Here, Hannes Grossmann of ex-Necrophagist fame lends his tremendous drum talents to what is, by comparison to his other work, pretty straightforward fare: his pounding double-bass scaffolds twin-guitar leads and driving riffs with stratosphere-piercing vocals on top. The imaginative guitar work, varied subject matter, and all-around excellence from the band does a lot to separate this from the probably hundred-plus other power metal albums that might fit the broader description.

–Ted Nubel

CynicAscension Codes | Season of Mist | Progressive Rock | United States (Miami, FL)

Cynic’s path from brilliantly unrefined death metal, in their demo days, to progressive rock has been a strange and winding one. With only Paul Masvidal remaining from the acclaimed core mid-career lineup of the band (RIP Sean Reifert and Sean Malone), this Cynic’s tether to the past incarnations is tenuous—but if you like progressive rock, it’s worth checking out (even if the song names look like an especially annoying ARG).

–Ted Nubel

ArchgoatWorship the Eternal Darkness | Debemur Morti Productions | Death Metal + Black Metal | Finland

The sonic equivalent of a long-sleeved death metal shirt, and that’s a compliment. The swirling atmosphere and gurgling vocals are only part of Archgoat’s no-bullshit, all-business, bruiser brigade attitude.

–Colin Dempsey

Imperial TriumphantAn Evening with Imperial Triumphant | Century Media Records | Avant-Garde Black Metal | United States (New York)

Imperial Triumphant’s live shows consist of gold-encrusted sets, overflowing wine chalices, and pristine art decor interior design. It’s classy stuff for classy dudes. That being the case, you deserve to kick your feet up, pour yourself a glass of scotch, and relax to the live renditions of one of 2020’s best albums.

–Colin Dempsey

Concrete WindsNerve Butcherer | Sepulchral Voice Productions | Death Metal | Finland

From Brandon Corsair’s track premiere of “Noise Trepanation”:

Concrete Winds is the most vicious band in death metal right now. I don’t say that lightly; even on their parent label, Sepulchral Voice Records, there are some astonishingly violent bands such as Sijjin (whose upcoming debut album Sumerian Promises is a real doozy) and the mighty Degial. The brutal intensity and nerve-wracking cacophony that Concrete Winds create with their hyper-speed take on the genre is unmatched, with their music forming a whirlwind of unhinged hatred and promises of destruction.

Lock UpThe Dregs of Hades | Listenable Records | Death Metal + Grindcore | United Kingdom

Lock Up is one of those supergroup-seeming bands that sounds like somebody just picking their favorite musicians and jamming them together (Shane Embury and Tomas Lindberg are the most notable, but scope the full lineup)—but no, it’s real, and decades into existence they continue to offer the utmost pinnacle of vicious, riff-stuffed death/grind.

–Ted Nubel

Eternal EvilThe Warriors Awakening Brings the Unholy Slaughter | Redefining Darkness Records | Black + Thrash Metal | Sweden (Stockholm)

From Ted Nubel’s track premiere of “Bestial Fornication”:

This bite-sized slice of madcap thrash metal shows off the Swedish band’s penchant for being both blazing fast and sadistically intriguing, never expecting high tempos alone to capture the audience’s attention and doling out rhythmic, catchy riffs and solos. Heavily attuned to thrash metal’s past and violent potential, Eternal Evil’s riff-packed assault brings the heat in a way that not much other modern thrash can.

FortressDon’t Spare the Wicked | High Roller Records | Heavy Metal | United States

Fortress maintains an iron-fisted grip on the synth-packed, rock-tinged, not-quite-power-metal strain of heavy metal that bands like Rainbow originally put into play. Breakneck percussion accompanies sharp, double-time riffs that speed towards realms of darkness and danger.

–Ted Nubel

HittenTriumph & Tragedy | High Roller Records | Heavy Metal | Spain

It’s a great week to be a retro heavy metal fan. I mean, actually, it always is, but this week we’ve got a good crop of releases sure to scratch the itch. Hitten specializes in hair-metal-inspired choruses and anthemic riffs, nailing the reckless abandon and, going by the music video, the fashion of heavy metal’s past.

–Ted Nubel

LynxWatcher of Skies | No Remorse Records | Heavy Metal + Hard Rock | Germany

Smooth and confident heavy metal with an unsurpassable sense for groove and a warm, retro aesthetic.

–Ted Nubel

In MourningThe Bleeding Veil | Dalapop | Progressive Melodic Death Metal | Sweden

Progressive extreme metal combined with gothic-tinged melodicism: it’s a diverse sound, but if modern progressive metal is your thing this is worth exploring.

–Ted Nubel

Morgul BladeFell Sorcery Abounds | No Remorse Records | Heavy Metal | United States (Philadelphia, PA)

Militaristic, galloping riffing meets a startling amount of vocal styles and powerful leads in this Tolkien-themed release–I’d label it almost as a sort of ‘blackened epic’ heavy metal, with relentless pacing and occasional excursions into more extreme territory.

–Ted Nubel

Swamp CoffinNoose Almighty | APF Records | Sludge + Doom + Stoner Metal | United Kingdom

From Ted Nubel’s track premiere of “Welcome to Rot”:

Swamp Coffin is not a band that aims to make a secret of its nastiness: the crushing main riff of “Welcome to Rot” is a clarion call to those who prefer gnarled riffs made for scouring pots and pans over smooth, dulcet tones.

BlodtårBlodtår | Independent | Black Metal | Sweden

Nostalgic black metal that acts as such out of necessity instead of fetishization. Some groups look to the past for inspiration without building upon it, but Blodtår’s past invocations are as effortless as they are biting.

–Colin Dempsey

Opera DiabolicusDeath on a Pale Horse | Season of Mist | Heavy Metal | Sweden

Opera Diabolicus is one of the rare exceptions to the rule “appearances can be deceiving.” Their Metal Archives picture ranks among the site’s best as it features two plague doctors arm wrestling. You take one look at it and hope, “God I hope they sound exactly how that picture looks.” Thankfully, their music is even better. It’s one massive circus with the necessary amount of King Diamond and Iron Maiden affectations to match the lofty concept.

–Colin Dempsey

VoicesBreaking the Trauma Bond | Church Road Records | Progressive Metal | England

Here’s a grounded and jaunty take on progressive metal. It’s nearly pop music with how much Voices bounce about the mix, but distortion swiftly reveals that to only be one of the band’s masks.

–Colin Dempsey

All Are To ReturnAll Are To Return II | Tartarus Records | Experimental + Noise | Unknown

Stare at a blank white screen long enough and your mind will force itself to see something. It’s the organ’s efforts to combat isolation, a weapon against tedium. All Are to Return is that optical illusion driven into the musical realm with a perverted stake.

–Colin Dempsey

Ergholae SomptatorMille vertiges fondent sur les âmes vides | Code666 | Black Metal | France

Bleak, rage-stricken black metal with aggravated riffing and piercing screams.

–Ted Nubel