Upcoming Metal Releases: 1/5/2014 – 1/11/2014

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Why, hello, old friend. (Note: A Bob Ross ASMR whisper is mandatory while reading the remainder of intro.) Here we are, the first full dusting of releases in the new year and, would you look at that, the Anticipated Releases have flown back in just like we confidently bet they would. (Can someone get this wastebasket of brow-soaked hankies out of the office, now?) Better still, these birdies are carrying true delights to regurgitate. If you’ve been chirping for wormy death and mashed thrash, this is the week for your beak. Tankcrimes lands in this pretty nest of tangled twine with grime, slime, and bags measured by the dime. And, for grinders with gullets grumbling for more simplistic, earthy entrees, Willowtip brightens up darker days ahead with an Oscar Garcia-led project of finer majesty than a certain terrorizing reboot.

Don’t forget: the Of Notes will float your boat, too. Skull Fist, in particular, punches up retro reenactments with Thrasher-type tricks. Hexis and Kataplexis suplex fans of filthy ‘core in diametrically different ways. Plus, the sun rises on another Iced Earth entry, which again looks to be a DMV-esque eye test for beholders. Sure, we’re starting off with slim waistlines, but things are looking pretty great from the get-go. Here’s hoping your ’14 has kicked off similarly.

Bonus: We don’t normally handle singles, comps, or demos here. (Sanity, protecting remaining hair follicles; there are reasons.) So, hush-hush about this one: Here’s some wattage from Lamp of Thoth. If you’ve got a doom switch, consdier it flicked on, chum.

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 1/5/2014 – 1/11/2014. 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:

Exhumed / Iron Reagan – Exhumed / Iron Reagan | Tankcrimes Records | Death metal, crossover thrash
Looks as though joining forces with the Municipal Waste (and millions more)-related Iron Reagan has given Exhumed the green light to add congruous ‘core to their gore. Includes carnivorous covers of Minor Threat’s “Seeing Red” and Negative Approach’s “Ready to Fight.”

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Ghoul / Cannabis Corpse – Splatterhash | Tankcrimes Records | Death metal, death/thrash
Underlying theme alert: These two groups used to be gags, but have grown to equal each members’ day job. Ghoul grind through death/thrash with touches of surf and more untethered deviations. In the other chamber, Cannabis Corpse get their fingers sticky with a verdant strain of Floridian death.

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Nausea – Condemned to the System | Willowtip | Death/grind
Nausea finally follow-up their ’91 full-length debut with slightly modernized, muscled-up thunder from two O.G. members and an assist courtesy of Impaled’s Leon del Müerte.

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Of Note:

Hexis – Abalam | Halo of Flies | Blackened hardcore
Mid-pace progressions get possessed by damned dissonances, tumble-down-the-stairs double-bass rolls, and threatening trems.

Iced Earth – Plagues of Babylon | Century Media Records | Power metal
The divisive Tampa-based power dealers‘ second since sole decades-old member Jon Schaffer shuffled the deck yet again, tapping singer Stu Block to solidify thrash timbres. If you need to melt a path to your snowed-in car, a lot of hot air will accompany this one.

Kataplexis – Downpour | Galy Records | Death/grind
Dextrous tech-downs befitting the Galy name, though Kataplexis’s blade is coated in a more aggressively-acting venom.

Nigromante – Black Magic Night | Shadow Kingdom Records | Heavy Metal
These Madrilenians pay no mind to modern flavors, getting down with gruff metal fortified by, no doubt, many bar stages.

Perversity – Infamy Divine | Lavadome Productions | Death metal
Perversity rattles through ’90s-styled brutality. Fired in the Immolation mold.

Skull Fist – Chasing the Dream | NoiseArt Records | Heavy metal
These Canadians deal with worldly concerns, such as skateboarding, with catchy, straight-up heavy metal that doesn’t fall victim to speed wobbles.

Suicidal Angels – Divide and Conquer | NoiseArt Records | Thrash
Now entering their 13th year of existence, Greece’s cherubic cutters ask that you don’t call it a rethrash while they pour more death into the punch.

Waldgeflüster – Meine Fesseln | Black Blood Records | Black metal
A rough translation of the band name is “forest whispers,” an appropriate descriptor for these folk-inflected blarghers.

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