Upcoming Metal Releases 11/30/2014 – 12/6/2014

December 1, 2014

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Here are the new metal releases for the week of 11/30/2014 – 12/6/2014. Release dates are formatted according to proposed North American scheduling, if available. Expect to see the bulk of these records on shelves or distros on Tuesday unless otherwise noted. Blurbs and designations are based on available promotional material and perceived buzz.

See something we missed? Goofs? Let us know in the comments. Plus, as always, feel free to post your own shopping lists. Happy digging.

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Anticipated Releases:

Nihill – Verderf | Burning World Records | Black metal | Netherlands
Chaotic noise menacingly moving with an insistent industrial lurch. Out on Saturday (December 6).
Related to: Dodecahedron, Anaphylactic Shock

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Of Note:

Alltheniko – Fast and Glorious | Pure Steel Records | Speed metal, power metal | Italy
It’s a slow week, so we’ll be checking in with a heap of power metal to fight off the December doldrums. Alltheniko speed up and power up the old Exciter formula. Wins the Accurate Title of the List award.

Axenstar – Where Dreams Are Forgotten | Inner Wound Recordings | Power metal | Sweden
Nimble riffs underline big catchy choruses.
Related to: Skyfire, Throneaeon

Bhleg – Draumr Ast | Nordvis | Black metal | Sweden
Ancient black metal timbres slither under an ultra tinny production.

Black Fate – Between Visions & Lies | Ulterium Records | Power/prog | Greece
A balance of instrumental dexterity and infectious hooks.

Bones – Awaiting Rebirth | Blood Harvest | Death metal | Belgium
Filthy OSDM fueled by anger. Owner of one of the more memorable pieces of album art this year.

Conquer – A Worms Demise | Self-released | Death metal | Canada
Smudges mid-period Morbid Angel with a bit of blackness.

Cruachan – Blood For The Blood God | Trollzorn Records | Black metal, folk metal | Ireland
Embraces a more extreme metal sound than their folkier 2000s.
Related to: Alternative 4

Deconversion – Incertitude of Existence | Amputated Vein Records | Death metal | Mexico
Diversifies typical BDM by sprinkling in the melodic.

Eye of Solitude – Dear Insanity | Kaotoxin Records | Death/doom | United Kingdom
One 49-minute track of slow-moving misery.
Related to: Sidious, Clouds, Vaer, Unfathomable Ruination

Famishgod – Devourers of Light | Xtreem Music | Death/doom | Spain
A murky mess of gutturals, trudging riffs, and mournful leads.

Fortress – Unto The Nothing | Unholy Anarchy Records | Sludge, doom | United States
Dried-out slow and low that boarders on death metal.

Grafvitnir – Semen Serpentis | Carnal Records | Black metal | Sweden
A well-played, second-wave flurry of trems. Lyrical themes: “Chaosophy.”

Harmony – Theatre of Redemption | Ulterium Records | Power/prog | Sweden
Daniel Heiman guests on this guiltily catchy slice of power.
Related to: Lost Horizon, Darkwater

Hæthen – Shaped by Aeolian Winds | Self-released | Black metal | United States
Negativity wonderfully swirling inside the confines of a forest.

Horncrowned – Defanatus (Diabolus Adventus) | Ketzer Records | Black metal | Colombia
A zero-B.S. hateful blast fest.
Related to: Satanizer

Mors Principium Est – Dawn of the 5th Era | AFM Records | Melodeath | Finland
Intertwining widdles provide a spine for melodeath without most of the modern nü-isms.
Related to: Depressed Mode

My Shameful – Hollow | MFL Records | Death/doom | Finland
Does death/doom with a melodic sense that’s slightly askew.
Related to: Cardinals Folly

Neonfly – Strangers In Paradise | Inner Wound Recordings | Power metal | United Kingdom
AOR-y elements peppered by orchestral bombast.

Renegade – Thunder Knows No Mercy | Pure Steel Records | Heavy metal | Italy
Stout and steady metal of the meat and potatoes variety. Out on Friday (December 5).

Revel In Flesh – Death Kult Legions | Cyclone Empire | Death metal | Germany
These bringers of buzz finish up a busy year of splits with a full-length.
Related to: Graven, Chaosreign, Necrotted, Apophis, Dawn of Dreams, Immortal Rites

Triosphere – The Heart of the Matter | AFM Records | Power/prog | Norway
Think of a knottier take on the soaring metal of Masterplan. Fans of newer Blind Guardian should also have this on their radar.
Related to: Griffin

Vrain – White Storm | Stay Gold | Heavy metal, power metal | Japan
An over-the-top shredathon. Makes old Sonata Arctica feel heavy in comparison, though.

Wretch – Warriors | Pure Steel Records | Heavy metal | United States
Widdles through the traditional tried and true.

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