Upcoming Metal Releases

New Metal Releases: 8/7/2022-8/13/2022


Here are the new (and recent) metal releases for the week of August 7th, 2022 to August 13th, 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.

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New Releases

Arch EnemyDeceivers | Century Media Records | Melodic Death Metal | Sweden

From Kelley Simms’s interview:

Sweden’s Arch Enemy has been a massive force in the melodic death metal universe for more than a quarter of a century. Collectively, Arch Enemy’s history has had three distinctive eras leading up to the band’s latest and 11th full-length album Deceivers. […] Deceivers contains all of the band’s musical trademarks.

The Halo EffectDays of the Lost | Nuclear Blast | Melodic Death Metal | Sweden

In the shadowy recesses of Invisible Oranges’ inner chambers, this is a much-talked-about album — and for good reason, because The Halo Effect, with a full host of ex-In Flames members behind it (including Jesper), has captured the magic of mid-1990s melodeath so perfectly it’s a little baffling.

–Ted Nubel

BorisHeavy Rocks | Relapse Records | ??? | Japan (Tokyo)

So, to recap: Boris have released a new album with the same name as their 2002 release, slapped leopard print on it as album art — and it kicks ass. An unquiet, unpredictable slice of rock, punk, sludge, and noise, Heavy Rocks (2022, not 2002, and also not 2011’s Heavy Rocks II) profiles a band 30 years into their career unafraid to completely fuck with what works and try new stuff every time. Well… except album titles, I guess, but the recurring usage is kind of a neat tribute to their career.

–Ted Nubel

LocrianNew Catastrophism | Profound Lore Records | Ambient + Drone + Experimental Metal | United States (Chicago, IL)

From Luke Jackson’s review:

Seven year hiatuses don’t happen for no reason, and there is a sense Locrian has awoken to deliver a message they believe is important. Received in that context, New Catastrophism is a deeply difficult listen: if we’re accustomed to using drone and ambient as an escape from the world, then Locrian are asking us to engage with music of the same category that instead deeply immerses us in it. Do the scenes Locrian have hewn here in ice and stone feel like places you’d want to live in? You already do.

AroniousIrkalla | The Artisan Era | Technical Death Metal + Progressive Metal | United States (Green Bay, Wisconsin)

Irkalla marks the line between progressive and technical, two words of similar meaning yet different connotations. Aronious finds this middle ground by delving head first into both their progressive and technical interests for an album that never feels like it’s overwhelming you despite its obvious showmanship.

–Colin Dempsey

Blasted HeathVela | Wise Blood Records | Thrash Metal + Black Metal | United States (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Blasted Heath’s debut LP is a muddy and stuffy affair punctuated by occasional cosmic meanderings like the extra-terrestrial bridge on “Ape.”

–Colin Dempsey

Acid BladePower Dive | Jawbreaker Records | Heavy Metal | Germany

After a name change from Angel Blade to Acid Blade, this German heavy metal band comes blasting out of the gates (again) with high-energy and adventurous metal. Catchy vocals and tight song structures are part of it, but there’s also some of the off-the-rails showy instrumentals that make classic 1980s heavy metal so captivating.

–Ted Nubel

MüürGrief Ascension | Independent | Atmospheric Black Metal | Unknown

Atmospheric black metal best suited for a rain day-the foggy, misty ambience practically billows through your speakers.

–Ted Nubel

Carrion VaelAbhorrent Obsessions | Unique Leader Records | Technical + Melodic Death Metal | United States (Richmond, IN)

Carrion Vael is a band focused on extremity in all aspects — Abhorrent Obsessions (which is misspelled on Bandcamp, almost fittingly?) absolutely rips along at an insane pace, carving out nasty riffs and absurd drum fills along the way as rapid-fire vocals barrage listeners. With symphonic elements and samples present as well, the ear is definitely not left wanting here.

–Ted Nubel

Grey WolfBeast Master | Independent | Heavy Metal | Brazil

Give Grey Wolf’s exceptionally gruff vocals a little while to marinate, and it all starts to click – the bellicose, mostly Conan-themed traditional metal benefits from that rusty edge to give it an extra layer of fantasy grit.

–Ted Nubel

Hell FireReckoning | RidingEasy Records | Heavy + Speed Metal | United States (San Francisco, CA)

Anthemic and blazing, Hell Fire’s fourth full-length continuously ups the ante as fiery leads and crafty riffs battle for control of the energetic rampage.

–Ted Nubel

Stellar TombAntimatter of Creation | Independent | Black Metal | Spain

Stellar Tomb saturates their black metal with synth and electronica elements to the point where it seems to crystallize into something else entirely — hearing cosmically punishing black metal pulsing with this much glittering cyberware is unusual indeed.

–Ted Nubel