Upcoming Metal Releases 6/11/2017 - 6/17/2017

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Here are the new metal releases for the week of June 11, 2017 – June 17, 2017. 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 Friday unless otherwise noted or if labels and artists get impatient. Blurbs and designations are based on whether or not I have a lot to say about it.

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

As a little bit of a challenge, include your own opinion about anything you want to add. Make me want to listen to it!

Please note: this is a review column and is not speculative. Any announced albums without preview material will not be covered. Additionally, any surprise releases which are uploaded or released after this column is published will be excluded.

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ANTICIPATED RELEASES

Cavernlight – As We Cup Our Hands and Drink From The Stream of Our Ache | Gilead Media | Drone/Doom Metal | United States
Feel the misery. Cavernlight’s droning sadness envelops you with cold, black wings. Touting guest spots from Michael Paparo (Inter Arma, Bastard Sapling), Rachel (False), and Sarah Green, the blackness of Cavernlight’s debut is a passionate, soul-rending, difficult listen.

Impetuous Ritual – Blight Upon Martyred Sentience | Profound Lore Records | Blackened Death Metal | Australia
More “dense death metal” madness from Australia. Shedding the “modern” abstraction of their 2014 sophomore effort, Blight Upon Martyred Sentience is a return to their debut’s relatively straightforward, rhythmic assault. Granted, much like sister band Portal, Impetuous Ritual mires themselves in pushing death metal to the brink, putting just as much thought into atmosphere as they do composition. My one complaint with this style is it’s almost too imposing to fully take in with one listening session – I actually had to listen to this one spread across three.

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OF NOTE

Dephosphorus – Impossible Orbits | Selfmadegod | Experimental Grindcore | Greece
When’s the last time we heard Dephosphorus’s “astrogrind”? Five years ago? Truly hard to believe, especially given the recent proliferation of “space death metal.” Remember: unless you’re Timeghoul or Nocturnus, Dephosphorus’s maddening, spastic nebulae came first.

Carach Angren – Dance and Laugh Amongst the Rotten | Season of Mist | Symphonic Black Metal | Netherlands
There was a period of time in my early teenage years in which I would truly find solace in Carach Angren’s symphonic pomp and anti-religious anger (fun fact: one of the lyrics in “Charlie” is literally “fuck your god!”), but adult me wonders when metal is going to be self-aware enough to move away from this sort of symphonic black metal.

Fellwarden – Oathbearer | Eisenwald Tonschmiede | Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal | England
This is one of those strange moments where a musician’s solo project eclipses their main band. Case in point: I dislike Fen, but The Watcher’s solo project Fellwarden’s calm, keyboard-laden nostalgia hits me right where it hurts. Oathbearer speaks to my love of the old “Slavonic” scene (read as: Nokturnal Mortum’s Goat Horns et al) sans the sketchy baggage.

Wastes – Into the Void of Human Vacuity | code666 | Funeral Doom Metal | France
From my premiere of the album:

“One lengthy song spread out across seven parts, Into the Void of Human Vacuity expresses Chalet’s sadness and disdain with subtle melodies hidden within large, hollow textures. Save this one for a horrific summer storm.”

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FOR THE ADVENTUROUS

Brandon Seabrook – Die Trommel Fatale | New Atlantis Records | Avant-Garde | United States
Weirdo avant-shred rock which would make Frank Zappa blush. Check back later today for a truly grotesque (but vegan) video premiere.

Vampillia + the body – xoroAHbin | Gilead Media | Experimental Drone/Post-Rock/Electronica | Japan/United States
So this one technically came out on CD a few years ago, but somehow completely went under the radar. Two of music’s most “reluctantly metal” bands, both the body and Vampillia’s output spans across many genres, so it’s no wonder the strangely-titled xoroAHbin is as impenetrably bizarre as it is. Lost somewhere between no-wave’s harsh pulse, chamber music’s sustain, and harsh noise’s, well, noise, the body and Vampillia crafted a truly unique, strange album.

Human Future – Flat Earth Blues | Truthseeker Music/Holy Roar Records | Screamo/Post-Hardcore | England
It’s Summer, which means it’s time for spacey, shimmery post-hardcore. They somehow managed to top Spectrum, which is pretty neat, too.

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FROM THE GRAVE

Ustalost – The Spoor of Vipers | Gilead Media | Atmospheric Black Metal | United States
Will Skarstad (Yellow Eyes, Imperial Trumpet, Sanguine Eagle) goes solo, crafting some truly brilliant, triumphant black metal.

Death Squad – Split You At The Seams | WYLN | Thrash Metal | United States
Now this is some quintessential “brutal thrash metal” – a term used to describe bands like Possessed and their ilk before the “death metal” tag came around. “Brutal” certainly meant something different in the early ’80s (though this originally came out in 1991), but the razor sharp musicianship and bludgeoning rhythmic feel, especially when paired with Tom Kisor’s harsh bark, is certainly overwhelming and animalistic. Now available on vinyl with bonus demo material.

Leather Nunn – Take the Night | WYLN | Heavy Metal | United States
Put on your sunglasses and take to the streets, Leather Nunn’s sole full-length is the high-octane gasoline you’ve been looking for.

Cyanide – World Peace Six Feet Under | WYLN | Thrash Metal | United States
Did the Cro-Mags make a metal record? This is so unbelievably snide.

Valhalla – Valhalla | WYLN | Heavy Metal | United States
Bouncing, epic heavy metal, reminiscent of Dark Quarterer’s early material (which was released around the same time in 1985).

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OTHER RELEASES

Chaos – All Against All | Transcending Obscurity India | Thrash Metal | India
So I’m no thrash guy, but vocalist JK is a dead ringer for Hazardous Mutation-era Tony Foresta.

Eoront – Another Realm | code666 | Atmospheric Black Metal | Russia
Part of me says “Yeah, this is atmospheric black metal, alright,” but another part says, “LISTEN TO THOSE DRUMS.”

Iced Earth – Incorruptible | Century Media Records | Power/Thrash Metal | United States
Don’t listen to Iced Earth if you’re part of the Illuminati.

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