Upcoming Metal Releases: 2/27/2022-3/5/2022

Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of February 27th 2022 to March 5th, 2022. 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

Sabaton — The War to End All Wars | Nuclear Blast | Power Metal | Sweden

It’s time for a new Sabaton album, which means there’s a new crop of lyrics people are going to post in every Reddit thread that touches on World War One. This might come as a surprise, but it sounds like every Sabaton album ever—Sabaton, like war, never changes.

You can purchase a Pacific Blue variant in the BV shop here.

–Ted Nubel

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Crowbar — Zero and Below | MNRK Heavy | Sludge Metal | United States (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Kirk Windstein’s stranglehold on angry vocals and, perhaps, even angrier riffs remains unchallenged here; and Zero and Below has some of the punchiest and most confrontational production on a Crowbar album yet. There’s not really any new ideas here on the songwriting front, but then again Crowbar has never had an interest in taking sludge beyond its vicious, surly roots.

You can purchase a clear w/ blue/black splatter vinyl variant here.

–Ted Nubel

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Vio-Lence — Let the World Burn | Metal Blade Records | Thrash Metal | United States (San Francisco, CA)

Vio-lence returned in 2020 with a Dead Kennedys cover, their first newly-recorded material in just about thirty years—now, we’ve got a slightly beefier release to sink our teeth into. With Bobby Gustafson (ex-Overkill) joining classic members Phil Demmel, Sean Killian, and Perry Strickland, there’s no shortage of thrash royalty on board to make this offering a lethal threat. To be short: this rips, though the music video might be a little on the goofy side.

–Ted Nubel

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Midnight — Let There Be Witchery | Metal Blade | Black + Speed Metal | United States (Cleveland, OH)

Let There Be Witchery doesn’t reinvent the Midnight formula , but it’s sleazier and filthier than ever: ripping, exuberant metal made to fire up the masses.

We’ve got an interview with Athenar out today as well, so keep an eye out for that.

–Ted Nubel

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Hath — All That Was Promised | Willowtip Records | Blackened Death Metal | United States (New Jersey)

The second album from one of the funniest bands on Twitter strangles your senses. If you read Ivan Belcic’s phenomenal interview with drummer AJ Viana then you probably already know that All That Was Promised is a step-up over their previous work. This time around, the group tightens their sound until their blood vessels pop.

–Colin Dempsey

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Twisted Tower Dire — Crest of the Martyrs Demos | Nameless Grave | Heavy + Power Metal | United States

From ‘s track premiere of “Fight to Be Free”:

Now, Twisted Tower Dire sets the record straight via Crest of the Martyrs Demos, an alternate set of recordings [of Crypt of the Martyrs] from 2002 that’s been produced with the band at the helm. […] While it’s ostensibly a demo, the recordings are still a lot better sounding than most other USPM was in 2003—and hell, even now. On this demo recording, “Fight to Be Free” comes with significantly more grit and grime, and that appropriately gives its message a far more combative bent.

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Beleriand — In The Book Of Life One Leaf Turned | >Independent | Black Metal | Norway

High drama meets high fantasy on In The Book Of Life One Leaf Turned. The black metal takes a back seat to piano melodies that play into the project’s Tolkien vision, sounding both as lighthearted as a celebration in Hobbiton and as ominous as said celebration getting interrupted by a wizard.

–Colin Dempsey

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Rotten Tomb — Visions of Dismal Fate | Crypts of Eternity | Death Metal | Chile

Full of spidery riffs and demented, doomy melodies, Rotten Tomb’s death metal with a mixture of full-speed insanity and delightfully slow segments.

–Ted Nubel

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Sanhedrin — Lights On | Metal Blade Records | Heavy Metal | United States (NYC)

While The Poisoner was a killer release for Sanhedrin, offering their dark heavy metal in a polished and mysterious package, Lights On might push their sound further and propel them in front of even wider audiences. The metal remains gripping and razor-sharp, but the band’s more varied vocal delivery and incensed lyrics seem like a much bigger focus here.

–Ted Nubel

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Cardinals Folly + Purification — Possessed In The Ritual Grove | Rafchild Records | Doom Metal | Finland + United States

Cardinals Folly and Purification are united in a common quest to be as doomed as possible: while some doom metal bands prioritize tone-driven heaviness or oppressive atmosphere, both of these bands are above such limited concerns, maintaining a singular sense of doom that runs through their morose melodies and aesthetics. Though neither is opposed to picking up the tempo or short songs—two things that True Doom™ has traditionally avowed—even their hardest rocking material still carries an authentic sense of bizarre, atavistic despondency few other modern bands can achieve.

–Ted Nubel

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Kuolemanlaakso — Kuusumu | Svart Records | Death Metal + Heavy Metal | Finland

This a heavy metal album with death metal window dressing, which isn’t a bad thing by any means. Kuolemanlaakso is for those who have been looking to scratch the Tribulation itch, though this group favors interesting vocal interplay over gothic atmosphere.

–Colin Dempsey

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Non Est Deus — Impious | Avantgarde Music | Black Metal | Germany

Track titles like “Fuck Your God” may infer that Impious is a rough and unconsidered tantrum. Luckily, Non Est Deus are tighter and more meticulous than their intentions hint.

–Colin Dempsey

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Vaina — ✥ Futue Te Ipsum ✥ Angel with Many Faces | Independent | Experimental Metal + Black Metal | Finland

Vaina should come with a spoiler warning. They definitely have a plan but you’d forgiven for believing that they call everything on the fly. It’s best to dive straight into this one like you’re bobbing for apples, except those apples may have worms that teach you about “karma for the dark subconscious.”

–Colin Dempsey

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Izthmi — Leaving This World, Leaving It All Behind | Satanik Royalty Records | Progressive Black Metal | United States (Seattle, Washington)

Progressive metal’s best qualities are its blend of emotive playing and unpredictable songwriting. Black metal’s best quality is when it sounds like it’s trying to escape from this realm. Izthmi combines them both along with stellar mixing by Billy Anderson.

–Colin Dempsey

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Deserted Fear — Doomsday | Century Media | Death Metal | Germany

European death metal that sounds more like a meditation on the horrors of violence rather than a rallying call.

–Colin Dempsey

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Unru — Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten | Babylon Doom Cult Records | Black Metal + Crust | Germany

From Ted Nubel’s track premiere of “Die Wiederkehr Des Verdrängten”:

Layering together intricate guitar work, synth padding, clean/harsh vocals, and an indefatigable rhythm section, the band’s approach to black metal isn’t wholly atmospheric or post-black-leaning, as there’s an immediacy and clear-cut aggression found even in the dreamiest segments. Instead, the work they’ve done on crafting a textured and immersive wall of sound pushes Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten into a sonic niche of its own, exploring the richest depths of black metal’s sound.

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Night Beheaded — Enter Earth | Breath Sun Bone Blood | Black Metal | Germany (Berlin)

From Cheryl Carter’s full album premiere:

Originally from Oakland and now living in Berlin, sole member B.S.s. (Common Eider, King Eider and Curse All Kings) showcases ambient soundscapes heard on their other projects as well as injecting the cold, swirling winds of black metal into Enter Earth and its five immersive tracks. Routing Night Beheaded through jarring guitars and vocals that echo from the otherworld, the band’s debut is a stark and self-reflective journey into the darkness that seeks the glimmers of hope that lie tantalizingly out of reach.

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Grey Moth — Love & Hatred | Killer Tofu Records | Punk + Doom + Black Metal | United States (Los Angeles, CA)

From Ted Nubel’s track premiere of “Youthhood”:

Love & Hatred […] sees a bespoke blend of punk and doom catalyzed by a searing application of black metal to reach a boiling point in short order. Beset by gruff roars and serrated growls, the duo’s abrasive and heartfelt jams seem to force their way out of the speakers with urgent intent. It could be too much, perhaps, but Grey Moth surgically wield their absurdly distorted tones and noisy outbreaks like a scalpel, allowing for quieter moments that still resonate with their oddball charm. There’s never a point on Love & Hatred where cacophony seems commonplace, and supremely compelling chaos waits around each corner.

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Troglodyte — The Hierarchical Ecological Succession: Welcome to the Food Chain | Blood Blast Distribution | Death Metal | United States (Missouri)

Troglodyte capture a different strain of horror than most death metal bands. There’s a primal fear beneath their bestial bashing. It’s the fear of confronting a creature that surpasses all of your physical abilities and could chew through your bones with a single chomp.

–Colin Dempsey

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