Upcoming Metal Releases: 1/19/2014 – 1/25/2014

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Now this is more like it. Right when we were running out of nails to bite, the new releases finally came a-flowing like the notes from a Ferrari-sponsored guitar battle featuring a buzzing Yngwie. We’re not joking: Look below and you will see actual anticipated releases that might’ve made your actual wish list. And, it’s a heck of a haul. All of your bases are covered, from friend-in-the-car guest stars (Alcest), abrasive black metal nettles (“Don’t EVER tell me to wake up,” Avichi), and nasty death with raspy breaths (Lvcifyre) to innovative mind imploders (Murmur) and doomy melon exploders (Indian). Plus, joining the rising sun is a Sunn set. This is the genuine start of the year, friends; Dilbert desk calendar be damned.

Provided you’re not drained from the buy-button workout, the Of Note slate is also appropriately stacked. Headbanging bankers will receive big deposits from Ethereal Riffian and Major Kong, the former a sure-smash if you’re betting on the next big thing. Elsewhere, black metal gets moving in avant directions thanks to two neat Greek outfits. Indeed, Code666 are having an anything-goes party and you’re invited if a challenge is your key-bowl dream scenario. Lastly, degenerate speed/thrash is always the right kind of rot in these parts. Töxik Death and Chainbreaker fill up a freshly dug grave with the glass husks of malt liquor. And, yep, that’s just toeing the shallow end this week. Your choices are near-infinite. Bet you’re glad the metal engine is finally warm and ready to burn rubber.

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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New metal releases for the week of 1/19/2014 – 1/25/2014. 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.

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Anticipated Releases:

Alcest – Shelter | Prophecy Productions | Post-rock, shoegaze
French sound impressionists construct cascades of tremolo and grand crescendos with echo and delay.

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Astrophobos – Remnants of Forgotten Horrors | Triumvirate | Black metal
A Swedish three-piece with a splash of melody (RIYL: Sacramentum). The group adheres to the traditional tendinitis-inducing strum pattern of their country’s second-wave. Stream in full here.

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Avichi – Catharsis Absolute | Profound Lore Records | Black metal
Third LP from this solo venture of Aamonael (Lord Mantis). Catharsis Absolute concentrates on ever-lasting, fat-free form over prognosticating the style’s future pursuits.

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Culted – Oblique to All Paths | Relapse Records | Doom, sludge
A worldly affair linking the CPUs of Canada and Sweden, Culted’s second full-length is a Times of Grace-esque thumping without the lysergic reflection.

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Drudkh / Winterfylleth – Thousands of Moons Ago / The Gates | Season of Mist | Black metal
An all-covers convention from two blackened backwoods dwellers. Drudkh (Ukraine) take on Hefeystos, Unclean, and Sacrilegium. Winterfylleth (UK) try their hands at the Drudkh-related Hate Forest.

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Indian – From All Purity | Relapse Records | Doom, sludge
Chicago sloomers roar through their fifth disc. A twin vocal/guitar attack of bloodthirsty, booming doom.

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Lvcifyre – Svn Eater | Dark Descent Records | Blackened death metal
A filthy UK-based bludgeoning, unifying Incantation timbres with fast blasts from frostier environs. Includes a member of Enthroned.

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Murmur – Murmur | Season of Mist | Black metal
Once black metal, now an amalgamation of post-hardcore, mathy signatures, and Dysrhythmian textures. Cites zeuhl as a component, which is borne out in the Vander-ish drumming.

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Sunn O))) – LA Reh 012 | Ideologic Organ/Southern Lord Recordings | Drone
Tagged as a demo, this could be documenting a tune-up for their upcoming Ulver collabo. Or, it’s just the duo dusting their studio with wums. Stream their last rehearsal below as a refresher to remind yourself if this is your thing.

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Of Note:

Abserdo – Back to the Stoop | Horror Pain Gore Death Productions | Thrash, crossover
Philly thrash that mixes in subtle nods to other forms, such as Scott Hull’s oeuvre.

Aenaon – Extance | Code666 Records | Black metal
These Greeks jump genres with glee, folding an Opethian grandeur into their progressive, Arcturusian nuttery. Features a member from Varathron.

Chainbreaker – Constant Graving | Self-released | Speed metal, heavy metal
Fans of Midnight take note: Scuzzy, speedy heavy metal in the Exorcist mold from members of Cauldron.

Demon Eye – Leave the Light | Soulseller Records | Doom, hard rock
A fun throwback boogie from this Raleigh troupe.

Ethereal Riffian – Aeonian | Mulligore Production | Stoner rock, doom
Ukrainian three-piece that manages to unite the heft of Sleep with new-age-y spiritual oneness. Third eyes are pried.

Graveborne – Through the Window of the Night | Séance Records | Black metal
A Dark Funeral-styled tumult from this Finnish quintet. Includes Black Crucifixion members.

Hail Spirit Noir – Oi Magoi | Code666 Records | Black metal, psych rock
Code666’s assault on BM expectations continues with another Greek outfit, this one a trio taking occult rock and balling it together with sore throats.

Hell / מזמור – Hell / Mizmor | Self-released | Funeral doom, sludge, drone
Two solo Oregonian slow n’ lowers pass pen pal notes of multifaceted worm-speed doom with drops into blackened pits of despair. Click the links above for samples.

The Kennedy Veil – Trinity of Falsehood | Unique Leader Records | Death metal
Brutal death metal lives on in the Unique Leader sanctuary. This Sacramento quartet doesn’t fiddle with the tried-and-true blast n’ widdle. Bork- and ‘core-free, if that’s a concern.

Larvae – Grave Descent | Self-released | Death/doom
Pineal gland pokers from Oakland that have more gears than expected.

Lethe – When Dreams Become Nightmares | Debemur Morti | Trip-hop, avant-garde
Anna Murphy (Eluveitie) and Tor-Helge Skei (Manes, kkoagulaa) indulge their sweet-tooth with this poppy swirl reminiscent of later-day Manes/Ulver. Recommended to those wanting a more out-there Gathering.

Lurk – Kaldera | Doomentia Records | Death/doom
Finnish death n’ roll tipping the scales with doom’s density.

Major Kong – Doom Machine | Self-released | Stoner metal, doom
This instrumental side-project of Fifty Foot Woman doesn’t shy away from a Sons of Otis-type cochlea drubbing.

Northern Plague – Manifesto | Folter Records | Black metal
Polish blast-fest with forays into groovy death.

Persuader – The Fiction Maze | Inner Wound Recordings | Power metal
Beefy, post-speed Blind Guardian-esque Swedish power metal shot through with an atheist’s sensibility. No, really.

Primal Fear – Delivering the Black | Frontiers Records | Power metal
Germany’s Primal Fear sells everywhere except the States, so consider this a peek at what the rest of the world is into, “mainstream” metal-wise. The related Silent Force and the chops-heavy Ring of Fire round out the other AFM releases this week if need a gift for your guitar teacher.

Rogash – Supremacy Undone | War Anthem Records | Death metal
Straight-ahead German death metal that rolls like a tank.

Sólstafir / Legend – Fjara / Runaway Train | Artoffact Records | Psych rock, prog, synth-pop
The tough-to-describe, post-black Sólstafir trades covers with the industrial/synth-y Legend.

Thrash Bombz – Mission of Blood | Iron Shield Records | Thrash
Debut LP from members sporting names like Thrash Maniac and Destruktor. Can’t quite pin down the genre.

Töxik Death – Speed Metal Hell | Demonhood Productions | Blackened thrash, speed metal
This Norwegian horde came to destroy strings. Their clever promo pic clearly displays a Razor patch, telling you everything you need to know.

Warfather – Orchestrating The Apocalypse | Greyhaze Records | Death metal
Steve Tucker (ex-Morbid Angel) accents ’90s Floridian death with orchestral pads.

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