Upcoming Metal Releases: 5/25/2014 – 5/31/2014

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Metal puts its best face forward this week, offering one of the greatest hauls in a long while. Every stop on the career path is represented, from the now ripening, to those in a groove, to the comeback collectives, and the ‘still-have-it’s.

Anticipated Releases are exactly that, counting a few we’ve been aching to spin for some time. Eyehategod had the longest hiatus – not to mention the greatest loss, RIP Joey – so it’s particularly pleasing seeing their final product. Of course, that general feeling can be extended to all of the familiar faces: Black Anvil, Crowbar, Dead Congregation, Misery Index, Serpentine Path, and on and on. If you’ve been on the sidelines waiting for known names to reappear, this your list.

On the other hand, Of Note’s new stuff elicits intrigue by giving older forms an updated read. Two LP debuts, one from Sweden’s Gluttony and the other from the Bay Area’s Rude, dust OSDM and bring out highlights. Elsewhere, Obsessör restore thrash’s bite and Harassor‘s combination of primitive strains creates a unique take.

Yeah, it’s a lot to take in, but if you have the day off you’ll enjoy the dig.

Corrections: The Zoldier Noiz progressive thrasher we jumped the gun on will now be available in the United States through Unspeakable Axe Records.

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 5/25/2014 – 5/31/2014. 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:

Black Anvil – Hail Death | Relapse Records | Blackened Thrash
A NYC quartet emphasizing the black metal portion of the equation. Blank Anvil have NYHC links (Kill Your Idols). That said, this is a different beast entirely.

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Crowbar – Symmetry In Black | E1 Entertainment | Sludge
Kirk Windstein and company sound recharged on their 10th full-length. Symmetry in Black mines the same territory as previous material but with the highest fidelity of their career.

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Dead Congregation – Promulgation Of The Fall | Profound Lore Records | Death metal
This Greek quartet balances speed and slowdowns similar to Incantation. Related to Burial Hordes.

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Emptiness – Nothing But The Whole | Dark Descent Records | Blackened death metal
The Dark Descent/Unspeakable Axe run on outstanding metal continues. Beligum’s Emptiness compose like a black metal band but use the pace/timbre of death metal. Includes two members of Enthroned.

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Enabler – La Fin Absolue Du Monde | Creator-Destructor / Earsplit Compound | Metallic hardcore
Enabler sit between a myriad of styles such as punk, crust, and grind, all lightly touched by black metal. It’s ably all of the above, yet beholden to none.

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Eyehategod – Eyehategod | Housecore Records | Sludge
14 years after their last album, Eyehategod display no rust. Defining traits remain intact (punky riffs, Southern metal bends, bluesy tones), played with fresh drive and focus.

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Misery Index – The Killing Gods | Season of Mist | Death metal
Lyrics dissecting politics/social/econ issues are backed by sharp, grinding death metal.

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Serpentine Path – Emanations | Relapse Records | Death/doom
Death metal slowed to a crawl and carrying the same weight as a Coffins or Ramesses. Formed from the remains of Unearthly Trance. Members have also played in Electric Wizard, Winter, and the Howling Wind.

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Vanhelgd – Relics Of Sulphur Salvation | 20 Buck Spin | Death metal
Vanhelgd play Swedish death with a twist: the scales and chord progressions feel much older than typical material. Stream the album here.

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Various Artists – One and All, Together, for Home | Season of Mist | Folk metal
Roman Sayenko of Drudkh curates a collection of likeminded artists. The theme centers on how each group interprets the folk of their homeland. Contributors include Primordial, Winterfylleth, and Kampfar.

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Of Note:

Blood Red Fog – On Death’s Wings | Saturnal Records | Black metal
In the second-wave vein with more eccentric vocals. Another unsettling Finnish export.

Daemonheim – Tidian | Naturmacht Productions | Black metal
This German duo exhibit a greater instrumental prowess than most of their peers. A not-so-prog-oriented Enslaved is an okay comparison.

Gluttony – Beyond The Veil of Flesh | Vic Records | Death metal
Gluttony do tried and true Swedish death metal with a younger energy. Their tone is notably grimy.

Harassor – Into Unknown Depths | Dais Records | Black metal
A punk variation on croaking black metal a la Immortal.

Killgasm – A Stab In The Heart Of Christ | Moribund Records | Black metal
USBM nodding to Marduk and Dark Funeral. Ex-Larry David.

Nemesis Sopor – Glas | Self-released | Black metal
German atmospheric black metal big on the nature theme.

Nivlhel – Nivlhel | Einheit Produktionen | Black metal
These Swedes use folk progressions for their melodic palette. Similar to a less death-y Sacramentum.

Obsessör – Assassins of the Pentagram | Evil Spell Records | Blackened thrash
A mix of well-balanced speed metal, thrash, and black metal. The German quartet give classics a close read without resorting to imitation.

Opium Warlords – Taste My Sword of Understanding | Svart Records | Doom, drone, experimental
Sami Albert Hynninen of Reverend Bizarre/Spiritus Mortis goes solo on this dense set of infinite possibilities.

Rude – Soul Recall | F.D.A. Rekotz | Death metal
An accurate sketch of ’80s death metal rendered by talented hands.

Sabbatory – Endless Asphyxiating Gloom | Unspeakable Axe Records | Death metal
Sabbatory aim for Autopsy. Dan Earle Ryckman of Electro Quaterstaff plays drums.

Scourge – Hate Metal | Greyhaze Records | Blackened death metal
Unrelenting blasts from Brazil. Imagine a chunkier Sarcofago.

Selbstentleibung – Null | Negativ | Nihilistic Empire Records | Black metal
Austrian depressive black metal sulking like Silencer.

Skuggan – Slottet i ändlöst mörker | Ewiges Eis Records | Black metal
Rabid and raw satanism from Sweden.

Stoic Dissention – Autochthon | Rain Without End Records | Black metal
Epic, longform black metal toying with dirges of a death/doom pace.

Teeph – Solid Jobs | Self-released | Sludge, noise rock, metalcore
Heavy riffs tangling with dissonance. Think of an alternate universe where Will Haven ended up on Hydra Head.

Witching Hour – Where Pale Winds Take Them High | Evil Spell Records | Blackened thrash
Endearingly simplistic (read: drunk) thrash with a bit of Bathory. Recommended to fans of newer Darkthrone.

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Things We Missed:

We usually skip singles. However, Boris Records issued two worth your time: Hellgoat and Morbid Slaughter.

Black Metal

Ceremonial – Ars Magicka (SWE, blackened thrash)

Chasma – Codex Constellatia (USA, progressive black metal)

Griefloss – Ruiner (USA, ambient black metal)

Hoth – Oathbreaker (USA, blackened death metal)

Ill Omen – Enthroning the Bonds of Abhorrence (AUS, progressive black metal)

ION – ION (USA, black metal)

Lurking Evil – The Almighty Hordes of the Undead (ESP, blackened death/thrash)

Oksennus – ЖЖЖ (FIN, blackened death/doom)

Doom/Sludge/Stoner

Monolith – Dystopia (GER, stoner metal, doom)

Mothersloth – Moribund Star (ESP, stoner doom)

Recitation – Recitation (DNK, stoner doom, death metal)

Core/Punk

Beroth – Burning Sermons (GBR, blackened metallic hardcore)

People Problem – People Problem (AUS, powerviolence)

Teethgrinder – Hellbound (NLD, metallic hardcore, grind)

Thrash/Speed Metal

Unscarred – Fake Democracy (FRA, thrash)

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