Upcoming Metal Releases: 12/08/2013 – 12/14/2013
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The true lesson of this list is that no matter how many tumbleweeds you see blowing around above-ground, the soil below is always teaming with life. Kowloon Walled City and Batillus provide the fireworks this week, acting as a nice reminder to investigate two of the States’ finer seismic shakers if you haven’t done so already. That said, those who clicked with shovels in hand might end up the happiest. Move some dirt and you’ll find Fyrdsman‘s British blarghs, Axeslasher‘s gut-spilling thrash slashes, and other rich veins of rare metal just waiting to be struck. But, if you’re in a hurry because of the holidays and can only spare a peek, bookmark the page and scroll to the Sun Worship/Unru split before running out the door. While others may say the majors sleep through December, that towering twofer proves the little guys can be just as big.
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 12/08/2013 – 12/14/2013. 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:
Kowloon Walled City / Batillus – Anthem / Lava | Brutal Panda Records | Sludge
These sludgesters shrink the 3,000 miles between their home bases while (hopefully) causing an audience crossover via their clever vocalist-swapping key party. Kowloon Walled City cover Godflesh while Batillus redo Ministry.
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Of Note:
Alghazanth – The Three-Faced Pilgrim | Woodcut Records | Black metal
Long-running Finnish wearers of grimaces dramatically trem through symphonic sweeps. Available on 12/13.
Axeslasher / Call of the Void – Axeslasher / Call of the Void | Denver Black Sky / Granite House Records | Death/thrash, grind
To ring in Denver Black Sky, Axeslasher (gory thrash framed with death à la Frightmare) and Call of the Void (who crustily grind a His Hero is Gone song here) join forces for a celebratory 7”.
Fyrdsman – Omen in the Sky | Mordgrimm | Black metal
Fyrdsman do to black metal what Tolkien did for mythological tales. Rousing blasts with a distinctly English sensibility.
Insane Vesper / Triumfall – Demise of Being | Art of Propaganda | Black metal
Insane Vesper (France) and Triumfall (Serbia) do battle in this 10” arena supplied by a German label. Both sport a second-wave style accented by their respective regionality.
Kimi Kärki – The Bone Of My Bones | Svart Records | Folk
No, not folk metal. Folk. Kimi Kärki’s metal cred is steel-solid (Reverend Bizarre, Lord Vicar, Orne) so we’ll list his folk foray with little guilt.
Power of Mirantic – Buried the Tragedy | I.A. Studio | Power metal
Much as we did with Tears of Tragedy, here’s your introduction to Indonesian symphonic power metal.
Shellshock – 肆 ~shi~ | Revontulet | Thrash
Sharp-eyed metallers will recognize Shellshock from the Skull Thrash Zone Volume I compilation. After nearly thirty years, this Japanese outfit is still thrashing, now with a coating of skronk and buffed to a modern sheen.
Sun Worship / Unru – Sun Worship / Unru | Sick Man Getting Sick Records | Black metal
Two German bands who value their privacy (details on membership are slight) trade ten-minute cuts. Sun Worship favor Weakling-esque riff-stacking, while Unru punk up their frosty tumult with spates of midpaced chunky bruisers.
Villainy – Villainy I | Helldprod | Blackened heavy metal
These Dutch doomers flirt with a myriad of styles (thrash, sludge), though they hew closest to dominant ’80s templates. Be that as it may, they often color outside the lines.
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