Upcoming Metal Releases: 3/6/2022-3/12/2022
Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of March 6th 2022 to March 12th, 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.
Things We Missed
Eric Wagner — In the Lonely Light of Mourning | Cruz del Sur Music | Doom Metal | United States (Chicago, IL)
What was already a funereal affair in subject matter and tone is shrouded further by the fact that it’s a posthumous release—Eric Wagner, ex-vocalist of Trouble, The Skull, and more, passed away last year before this album saw shelves. It’s hard not to reflect on what could have been while listening to this, as Wagner’s voice is as flawless as ever and his heartfelt lyrics intone a true feeling of doom—his ability to achieve that feeling will never be replicated.
If there’s any comfort to be taken here at all, it’s that In the Lonely Light of Mourning is a fantastic capstone to Wagner’s career, capturing an intensely personal side of his musical expression.
–Ted Nubel
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Upcoming Releases
Ghost — Impera | Loma Vista Recordings | Heavy Metal + Rock | Sweden
It’s time for a new Ghost album, which means the Internet gets to reignite classic battles like “are Ghost still metal” and argue about which prior album marked the beginning of the end, etc. The band’s increasing taste in criss-crossing pop, rock, and metal sensibilities yields… inconsistent, but entertaining results, and likely requires a few full listens to really evaluate. Or, hey, you can just go start shit on Twitter right now based on the singles—I’m not going to judge.
–Ted Nubel
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Messa — Close | Svart Records | Doom Metal + Ambient + Drone | Italy
Messa rallies a number of diverse sounds under an overall banner of psychedelic fixation—on Close, they pen doomy requiems that brim with vibrant life due to expressive vocals and soulful guitar work, but toy with blackened textures, ambient, and drone as well.
–Ted Nubel
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Trhä —Tálcunnana dëhajma tun dejl bënatsë abcul’han dlhenisë ëlh inagat, jahadlhë adrhasha dauzglën nu dlhevusao ibajngra nava líeshtamhan ëf novejhan conetsë danëctsë kin, ëf tu dlhicadëtrhënna bë ablhundrhaba judjenan alhëtangrasë shidandlhamësë inkom | Independent | Black Metal | Unknown
Trhä released one of Invisible Oranges’ favorite records last year, Endlhëtonëg, and is off to a strong start in 2022 with this release, a single 44-minute track with an absurdly long name that also, er, is in a language I’m fairly certain they made up. After an appropriately surreal synth introduction, the track launches into Trhä’s signature otherworldly black metal where eerie synths and raw guitar tones conjure up visions of realms unknown.
–Ted Nubel
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Mamorlis — Sturdy as an Oak | Cursed Ritual | Traditional Heavy Metal | United States (Portland, OR)
From Colin Dempsey’s track premiere of “Salamandastron”:
The group, who feature members of Ænigmatum, play traditional heavy metal as by-the-books as you can without plagiarizing the scriptures. Luckily, it’s a good book, timeless even, and Mamorlis prove that heavy metal’s spirit will likely outlive us all. They draw upon qualities that have remained since the genre’s infant years. The vocals could fill an arena, the twin guitars plunder, and the bass needs to be put on a leash before it bites someone.
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Véhémence — Ordalies | Antiq Records | Epic Black Metal | France
Véhémence’s medieval-oriented black metal remains both triumphant and mysterious on their third full-length, combining soaring melodies with an impressively tight and audible rhythm section (you’ve got to love that punchy kick drum) to steel their charge.
–Ted Nubel
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Jesus Wept — Psychedelic Degeneracy | Redefining Darkness Records | Melodic Death Metal | United States (Detroit, MI)
From Ted Nubel’s track premiere of “Dispossession”:
Though the origins of [melodic death metal] start with bands like Carcass, who took their surgical gore obsession beyond its death-grind roots to more melodic destinations, bands like Detroit’s Jesus Wept improve on its traditions, crafting devastating death metal that incorporates swaggering, unclean malice as well as blistering technical chops. Well-versed in slipping into slower, stomping grooves, the band’s death-‘n’-roll sections show off not only their bluesy streak, but their love of classic heavy metal as well, giving their most righteous riffs the breathing room they deserve.
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Teratoma — Purulent Manifestations | Transilvanian Tapes | Death Metal | Germany
Purulent, indeed—Teratoma’s debut release is a vat of absolutely addictive riffs fermented in rotten production, and it’s glorious in its repulsiveness. The band’s multi-national origins (though they all reside in Germany now) and diverse prior band experience help add unpredictable twists and turns throughout, so don’t bother trying to pin down what makes it tick and just submerge yourself in the filth.
We’ve got an interview with the band coming later this week, so make sure to check that out.
–Ted Nubel
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Konvent — Call Down the Sun | Napalm Records | Death + Doom Metal | Denmark
Konvent distills death-doom into a streamlined dispersal of misery, shrouding it in blackened atmosphere and dabbling in darkly melodic motifs as the pace picks up.
–Ted Nubel
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Nequient — Darker than Death or Night | Nefarious Industries | Death Metal + Crust + Hardcore | United States (Chicago, IL)
What’s darker than death or night? Well, I’ll avoid a poor Spinal Tap joke here and just say that Nequient’s abrasive, whirling mix of hardcore and death metal is pretty damn dark, compressing surly riffs and skronky madness into a seething mass of momentum.
–Ted Nubel
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Iron Mountain — Of Flesh and Bone | Independent | Stoner + Doom Metal | United States (Detroit, MI)
A sludgy doom assault that far exceeds the vitriol one might expect from an album with at least a few songs devoted to Morrowind lore (though, the true Battle of Red Mountain for me was killing a million goddamn Cliff Racers as I navigated it, and there was much rage involved)—each riff drips with barely-contained fury and oozes groovy discontent.
–Ted Nubel
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Bastard — Rotten Blood | Distortion Music Group | Black + Thrash Metal | United States (St Louis, MO)
Bloody and belligerent black/thrash with no interest in elevating the genre, simply delivering the most riotous incarnation of the genre fusion possible.
–Ted Nubel
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Amaltheia — Amaltheia | Godz of War Productions | Black Metal | United Kingdom
Sometimes black metal is frosty, or windswept—but Amaltheia practice a rusted, creaking discipline that clatters along with no shortage of terror accompanying each tortured, sinister movement.
–Ted Nubel
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In Aphelion — Moribund | Edged Circle Productions | Black Metal | Sweden + Netherlands
Moribund breaches the veil into the mortal world this week, spreading its terror among the waking. Beguiling lead melodies add mystery to riff-packed black metal as the band manages to bridge the gap between majestic and malevolent.
–Ted Nubel
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