Upcoming Metal Releases: 12/19/2021-12/25/2021
Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of December 19th, 2021 to December 25th, 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
Pagan Altar — The Story of Pagan Altar | Temple of Mystery | Heavy Metal + Doom Metal | England
Unearthed recordings like this collection of Pagan Altar demos are the coolest part about scenes like NWOBHM. The previously unreleased recordings are like missing puzzle pieces; it’s electrifying to hear Pagan Altar’s rough doom metal that actually predates most NWOBHM albums and, potentially, inspired the genre.
–Colin Dempsey
Make sure to read Brandon Corsair’s interview with Alan Jones about this release.
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In Aphelion — Moribund | Edged Circle Productions | Black Metal | Sweden + Netherlands
Just a mere month after releasing their Luciferian Age EP, the black metal outfit is back for more, deadlier than ever. Beguiling lead melodies add mystery to their riff-packed black metal as the band manages to bridge the gap between majestic and malevolent.
–Ted Nubel
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Witches Hammer — Devourer of the Dead | Nuclear War Now! Productions | Thrash Metal | Canada
What could be a better Christmas gift than exceedingly aggressive Canadian thrash/speed metal? Nothing. These insane riffs and out-of-control drums are the ideal soundtrack to any holiday occasion.
–Ted Nubel
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Woorms + The Grasshopper Lies Heavy — Various Plants and Animals Under Domestication | Forbidden Place Records | Sludge + Post-Hardcore | United States
Taking its name from a work of Charles Darwin, this sludgy split is a little bit of a study of evolution in itself: Woorms representing a feral, vicious, and unsubtle approach to sludge while The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is more of a post-hardcore, sludge-infused venture.
–Ted Nubel
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Evadne — The Pale Light of Fireflies | Solitude Productions | Melodic Death+Doom Metal | Spain
Extremely roomy and delicate melodic death-doom, with vast quantities of subtle atmosphere-building and gentle harmonies laid out to couch the sharp riffs lying in wait within.
–Ted Nubel
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Vanagandr — Howling Curses at Divinity’s Throne | Independent | Black Metal | United States
There’s not many better days on which to release pagan black metal records than the Winter Solstice, I imagine, which comes this Tuesday. Vanagandr’s atavistic black metal is carefully crafted to avoid any traces of “benevolence and futility,” as they put it in a recent Facebook post, and summons thoughts of howling winds and ancient rituals with its swirling, frostbitten riffs.
–Ted Nubel
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Asthenia — 梦寐 Somnium | Pest Productions | Post-Black Metal | China
Lusher than a fresh blanket of snow and more open-minded than standard post-black metal fare, Asthenia stand out by philandering with electronics and pillowy shoegaze.
–Colin Dempsey
No public stream, but releases Tuesday here.
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CMPT — Krv i pepeo | Osmose Productions | Black Metal | Serbia
Crippling one-man black metal about Balkan witches, devilish conjurings, and blood rituals. If that sounds up your alley then, chances are, you’ll drink up what CMPT has on tap.
–Colin Dempsey
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Evangelion — Revelations or the Spawn of Greed and War | Auric Records | Melodic Death Metal + Doom Metal | Switzerland
It’s a wonder more bands don’t combine marching melodic death metal pacing with doom metal’s operatics. That’s a good thing for Evangelion, because that narrow playing field makes their brew all the more potent.
–Colin Dempsey
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Medenera — Bronzo | GS Productions | Atmospheric Black Metal | Spain
The Christmas holidays are a pristine opportunity to delve back into Middle-Earth with the Baggins boys. Though Medenera is (surprisingly) not a Tolkien-based atmospheric black metal band, their large scale and folk arrangements evoke the author’s sense of wonder better than any lip-service could.
–Colin Dempsey
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Compilations
Cannibal Corpse — Eaten Back to Life / Butchered at Birth / Tomb of the Mutilated Box Set | Metal Blade | Death Metal | United States (Florida)
This is an official 3-disc cardboard box set of Cannibal Corpse’s trailblazing first trilogy. Ded Moroz may not be dropping this off under your Christmas tree if you live anywhere outside of Eastern Europe (for whom this is an official release via Symbol of Domination Prod. and Kattran Records) but it’s a good excuse to soundtrack your family feast with holiday classics like “Meat Hook Sodomy.”
–Colin Dempsey
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