Upcoming Metal Releases: 8/13/2023-8/19/2023
Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for August 13th through August 19th. 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.
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Upcoming Releases
Horrendous — Ontological Mysterium | Season of Mist | Death Metal | United States (Pennsylvania)
The heavy hitting death metal band are absolutely crushing on this recent record, out through Season of Mist. If you like your death metal to hold nothing back, you’ll want to hear this record whether you’re new to the band or not.
–Addison Herron-Wheeler
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Ringworm — Seeing Through Fire | Nuclear Blast | Thrash Metal + Hardcore | United States (Ohio)
Come catch a faceful of metallic hardcore shrapnel courtesy of Ringworm’s latest album, Seeing Through Fire. As its title suggests, the record is a scorching salvo of eleven thrashy and supremely pissed off tracks that will either have you banging your head or headbutting the next person who looks at you sideways.
–Alex Chan
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Invultation — Feral Legion | Sentient Ruin | Black Metal + Death Metal | United States (Ohio)
The lupine horde fast approaches for another bestial black metal assault, and our meagre forces cannot withstand the barbaric butchery that awaits. Soon, the peace will be broken by the din of war drums skinned with human vellum, the grinding advance of their terrible siege engines, the bloodthirsty roars of ravenous berserkers, and the sickening scrape of claws raking through plate mail.
–Alex Chan
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Spirit Adrift — Ghost at the Gallows | Century Media Records | Heavy Metal | United States (Texas)
The latest from Spirit Adrift, Ghost At The Gallows, perfectly synthesizes their mix of indie rock and proggy metal and infuses it with their signature Western style. While it’s a predictable direction for the band, it’s executed incredibly well, and each song is catchier than the last.
–Addison Herron-Wheeler
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Godthrymm — Distortions | Profound Lore Records | Doom Metal | United Kingdom
Epic doom has never been as dark and eerie as it is on Distortions, the latest record from Godthyrmm. While all of their records have been dark, heavy, and brooding, this album layers in even more heaviness and despair to the already-grim formula. A great jumping off point for new fans of the band, and an album that progresses their sound strongly as well.
–Addison Herron-Wheeler
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Bees Made Honey in the Vein Tree — Aion | Magnetic Eye Records | Psychedelic Doom Metal | Germany
Without getting too abstract, Bees Made Honey in the Vein Tree push doom metal from the rigid confines that thrive off of distortion and into the liminal space between states of matter. The reverb-soaked vocals and loose song structures are only tethered to the physical realm by gruff – not punishing – riffs. Resultingly, the entire affair returns to those riffs as a payoff for trekking through its ethereal passages.
–Colin Dempsey
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Movements — Ruckus! | Fearless Records | Post-hardcore + Alternative Rock | United States (California)
It’s never been completely clear whether Movements are post hardcore, emo, or something in between. They brazenly flirt with heavier post hardcore and radio rock on the same album, and it works for them. This record focuses on what they do best, their sad and dynamic moments that pack a punch. Definitely worth a listen.
–Addison Herron-Wheeler
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Sanguine Glacialis — Maladaptive Daydreaming | Independent | Melodic Death Metal | Canada (Quebec)
Sanguine Glacialis oscillate between high-concept, female-fronted gothic metal and melodic death metal in a manner that I was expecting to rub me the wrong way but, fortunately, justifies its lofty vision. It’s over-the-top but not undeservedly so.
–Colin Dempsey
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Nocte Obducta — Karwoche (Die Sonne der Toten pulsiert) | Supreme Chaos Records | Black Metal | Germany
30 years in their existence and Nocte Obducta are still paving new ground for themselves. Karwoche (Die Sonne der Toten pulsiert) isn’t as challenging as their previous records, instead retooling how the group approaches atmosphere (“Balder”) and basement-dwelling black metal (“Drei gemeuchelte Sommer”). It’s rougher and more raw though still directed by the band’s studied hand.
–Colin Dempsey
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Ysbrydnos — Altar Of Moss Vol.1 – Amidst A Forgotten Glade | Repose Records | Raw Black Metal + Ambient | Wales
Pairing ambient and black metal is well-trodden ground, but Ysbrydnos’ interpretation is rooted in Welsh forests, a distinction that explains the project’s murky overtones. It’s less about frozen plains or sprawling national parks as it is dingy and moist foliage, which is a welcome switch-up.
–Colin Dempsey
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Blight House — Blight the Way | Nefarious Industries | Death Metal + Grindcore | United States
While Blight House’s over-the-top grossness and demented approach to death/grind certainly make Blight the Way stand out, it would just be a gimmick were it not for the extremely solid metal underpinning it. Filthy grooves and filthier riffs frame Blight House’s depraved venture into the edge cases of humanity and cryptozoology fever dreams.
–Ted Nubel
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Something is Waiting — Absolutely | Learning Curve Records | Noise Rock + Sludge | United States (Chicago, IL)
Slimmed down to a three-piece configuration, Something Is Waiting has refined their sarcastic, glam-infused noise rock (termed by the band as ‘nu roll’, which certainly fits) into a larger-than-life vehicle of sardonic riff delivery. Absolutely feels like a concept album focusing on a near-dystopian future of strip malls and reality TV, a concrete hyper-commercialized hellscape that can only be captured in the language of sleazy, sludgy glam rock. It’s one part caustic groove and one part biting satire.
–Ted Nubel
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Borracho — Blurring the Lines of Reality | Kozmik Artifactz | Stoner Rock + Metal | United States (Washington, D.C.)
Incensed, yet inebriated stoner rock – honed by years of practice, Borracho turn their focus toward some of today’s current turmoil on their newest record, although also keeping the fuzzy grooves locked down. We’ve got a track-by-track from the band coming later this week.
–Ted Nubel
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Occult Blood — The Room in the Ground | Independent | Black Metal | United States (Eugene, OR)
Murky black metal that evokes thoughts of disturbed graves and incomplete rituals.
–Ted Nubel
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