Upcoming Metal Releases: 5/12/19 -- 5/18/19
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Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of May 12th to May 18th, 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.
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Rammstein — ??? | Universal Music | Neue Deutsche Härte | Germany
Soon. So soon.
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Saint Vitus — Saint Vitus | Season of Mist | Doom Metal | United States (California)
A band which needs no introduction. Classically heavy, unreliant on modern tropes, and effortlessly badass, Saint Vitus’s new self-titled takes steps beyond the now-seven-year old comeback album Lillie: F-65. The fundamentals of doom metal, and classic heavy metal as a grander whole, are on full display here, making Saint Vitus a joy to listen to, especially for oversatured ears.
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Valborg — Zentrum | Prophecy Productions | “Sophisticated Primitivism” | Germany
Stay tuned tomorrow for a special Valborg treat. In the meantime, enjoy the mechanical, dark, monstrous nature of the two tracks streaming now. On Zentrum, Valborg is ever-unpredictable, nimble in their musicianship, and effortlessly evil. These tunes are especially fitting for late-night drives through dark forests, or late-night solo excursions toward the back of your mind. There’s something special about the sinister, unyielding groove on Zentrum, which gives way at opportune moments to sweet melody and grand climaxes.
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Full of Hell — Weeping Choir | Relapse | Death Metal + Grindcore | United States (Maryland)
The recent announcement of Full of Hell’s upcoming fourth full-length Weeping Choir generated a flurry of excitement among fans and genre connoisseurs alike, the band coyly teasing its release with a meticulously curated countdown conducted via their social media. One of the group’s greatest strengths lies in their ability to present a reliable yet constantly evolving sound that changes markedly between each release; thus, the prospect of this brand new full-length came as welcome news to those craving strange new experiments into dissonance and distortion.
— Thomas Hinds
Bonus: Check out our full interview with guitarist Spencer Hazard.
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Father Befouled — Holy Rotten Blood EP | Dark Descent Records | Death Metal | United States (Georgia)
Here’s the latest from Atlanta-based rippers Father Befouled, who already have four full-lengths over the past decade under their belts. The Holy Rotten Blood EP sees the group thicker and meaner than ever, sparing no chances to pummel and smash their way through detuned riffage. Guitar solos fitting for your funeral are a nice treat, too, and overall, the package coheres nicely with methodical pacing and clear song structures.
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Lo-Pan — Subtle | Aqualamb Records | Doom + Rock | United States (Ohio)
Lo-Pan is awesome, no doubt, and they’ve always done a swell job at bridging their mathematical, edgy hard rock with doom metal sensibilities. On Subtle, that is certainly the case, with its endless grooves and darkly moody spirit. Vocalist Jeff Martin sounds better than ever, too, nailing the high and low notes with the silky smoothness that mirrors the guitar distortion’s super-soft clip. Subtle, actually, is a fitting name indeed.
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Mother Iron Horse — The Lesser Key | Hellmouth Records | Stoner Doom + Rock | United States (Massachusetts)
Boasting a sonic texture that lies squarely at the intersection of stoner rock and sludge metal, the crushing, freshly-baked grooves of Mother Iron Horse have come to life in full force on their debut full-length record The Lesser Key. Flavored with the occult themes of their hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, the group’s latest album hugely expands on the satanic debauchery of 2018’s The Curse EP by venturing into forms much more sprawling and nuanced than its predecessor. Endowed with an undying DIY spirit, Mother Iron Horse have built themselves from the ground up, even constructing their own personal recording studio and founding an independent label, Hellmouth Records — their commitment to this craft shines through fantastically on the The Lesser Key.
— Thomas Hinds
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Glassing — Spotted Horse | Brutal Panda Records | Post-Hardcore + Blackgaze | United States (Texas)
From my premiere of “Follow Through”:
Austin-based post-hardcore rockers Glassing have found a way to break the mold without destroying its contents: as an alternative to post-metal (or even an antidote to blackgaze), their upcoming sophomore full-length Spotted Horse blends blackened dynamics and emotional poignancy under a devilishly addictive framework. Chock full of what I call “down grooves,” strategic blasting, and a vocal performance to tear your heart out, Glassing have crafted a fully featured album perfect for both solo nighttime listening and long highway trips in the rain. Whatever mood strikes you, as long as it’s fervently introspective and on the cusp of some kind of grander realization, Spotted Horse will reflect it right back even more amplified.
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Encoffination — We Proclaim Your Death O’ Lord | Selfmadegod Records | Funeral Doom | United States (Georgia + California)
We Proclaim Your Death O’ Lord is album number four for Encoffination, the funeral doom outfit which lives true-to-name on each release. We Proclaim Your Death O’ Lord feels like an endless final stumble before falling to your death; or, it feels like the casket closing for the last time, and then being nailed shut. This brand of funeral doom relishes in its lack of polish and its primitive brutality. Such is the way of life.
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Aseethe — Throes | Thrill Jockey | Sludge + Doom | United States (Iowa)
From Brian O’Neill’s interview with Brian Barr:
Brian Barr makes sure that Aseethe, the band he formed 12 years ago, is a platform for his political views. Using droning, doomy post-metal as a vehicle for such activism is not as common as in other genres, something which is not lost upon the guitarist/vocalist.
“Vile Creature, one of our tour mates, they’d be another [similar] band that’s political as well,” he said on the phone from his Iowa City home. “There are a couple of us out there. But you’d be right, doom and stuff like this tends to be like ‘we’re all about weed,’” he laughed.
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Haunt — If Icarus Could Fly | Shadow Kingdom Records | Metal | United States (California)
If melodic old-school righteousness is what you’ve been craving, look no further than the electrifying NWOBHM-tinged classic heavy metal of Haunt. Hailing from Fresno, Haunt have crafted a thoroughly nostalgia-infused sound that juxtaposes timeless and familiar riffs with a surprising sense of novelty and innovation. Benefitted by hyper-clean production and a tasteful wickedly creative interpretation of metal’s most foundational roots, their latest album If Icarus Could Fly is jam-packed with soaring vocal harmonies, blistering guitar solos, and fantastically catchy hooks, standing as a well-measured presentation of ceaselessly compelling and extravagant musical showmanship.
— Thomas Hinds
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Óreiða — Óreiða | Harvest of Death Records | Black Metal | Iceland
Heady, super-atmospheric black metal from Iceland, Óreiða’s self-titled (released today, actually) promises to transport you elsewhere immediately. And actually, unlike so many other atmo-black releases, Óreiða gets you pretty close. Instead of relying on post-rock for its atmospheric inspiration, the album looks toward noise and rawer, more abstract forms of sonic expression. This results in a trance-like album which doesn’t overdo complexity or production to redirect your conscious stream of thought.
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Hyperdontia — A Vessel Forlorn | Dark Descent Records | Death Metal | Denmark + Turkey
Maintaining an incredibly prolific track record with their third release in three years, Copenhagen’s underground OSDM warriors Hyperdontia are now set to release A Vessel Forlorn, a compilation of tracks recorded by the band in various locations over the past two years. Named for the medical condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth that appear in addition to the regular number of teeth, Hyperdontia’s brand of grinding, razor-sharp death metal is as unsettling as it is potent, with riffs that pulverize and tear flesh from bone. Pulling no punches in terms of speed or brutality, A Vessel Forlorn effortlessly continues the exceptionally grimy persona the group has established.
— Thomas Hinds
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