Upcoming Metal Releases: 7/6/2014 – 7/12/2014
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If you were gifted this week’s haul as part of a ‘metal of the month’ club (investors/Silicon Valley, we’re now taking your calls), you’d get a pretty good picture of the state of the genre. Some of it looks forward, some of it looks back, most of it is simply pleased to be doing its own thing. You know, the same path metal had been on since the beginning.
Speaking of the beginning, metal royals Judas Priest are the big name on this list, though they lost a big name of their own: guitarist K. K. Downing. Instead of a reinvention, though, Priest dig down and rediscover their roots. Tech-deathers Origin may have been in a similar state of mind, countering criticisms concerning a too-clinical delivery with a realer sounding production that leaps the Pro Tools uncanny valley. That said, listeners who are always on the prowl for innovation needn’t worry. Plenty of outfits were restlessly experimental, exploring new territory to fuel their creative fires. Perhaps few did so more divisively than Wolves in the Throne Room. The band’s wooshy interpretation of older material has infuriated older fans who don’t possess a medical marijuana card. Yet you can’t blame a band for trying, right? Right? Oh shit, run! We’ve accidentally poked the “well, actually. . .” Twitter hive.
For the littler guys, Of Note carries its usual assortment of oddballs and underground gems. UltraMantis Black, the music project of the Chikara wrestler of the same name, has a backstory fitting the former designation, but tunes placing him in with the latter. His version of mid-’90s metallic hardcore is surprisingly solid and studiously reverent. You’d think Zoogz Rift, you actually end up with Deadguy. Elsewhere, Singapore’s Draconis Infernum are plain evil and Japan’s Veiyadra bring the slams.
All of it adds up to another stellar week of metal. Same as it ever was.
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 7/6/2014 – 7/12/2014. 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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Exordium Mors – The Apotheosis of Death | Iron, Blood & Death Corporation | Blackened death/thrash
A riff-filled assault from New Zealand. Stream a track here.
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Goatwhore – Constricting Rage Of The Merciless | Metal Blade Records | Black metal, death/thrash
Sixth full-length for these NOLA batterers who mix the sounds of their region into their blackened tumult. Related to Soilent Green, Acid Bath, and Crowbar.
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Judas Priest – Redeemer of Souls | Sony Music Entertainment | Heavy metal
The UK icons reboot with a record styled after their ’70s classics.
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Mortals – Cursed To See the Future | Relapse Records | Doom, crust, sludge
Sophomore release for this Brooklyn trio who update and fuse together the influences of Hellhammer. Connected to Belus.
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Origin – Omnipresent | Nuclear Blast | Death metal
Origin’s bonkers tech speedfest gets a new sound courtesy of a more organic production.
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Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestite | Artemisia Records | Ambient, electronic
The black metallers take a break and rework past material with a krautrock/kosmische mindset.
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Wolvhammer – Clawing Into Black Sun | Profound Lore Records | Blackened doom
Third full-length from these misanthropic Minneapolitans. Ultra-heavy and expansive doom.
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Of Note:
Ceremonial Castings – Cthulhu | Dark Forest Productions | Black metal
Washington’s long-running collective goes full Lovercraft. Recommended to fans of Bal-Sagoth.
Chasma – Omega Theorian | Candlelight Records | Black metal
This Portand trio explores space with Cascadian trems.
Connoisseur – Stoner Justice | Tankcrimes | Crossover, hardcore
Self-described as, “If Earth Crisis smoked weed and listened to Spazz.” Bingo.
Draconis Infernum – The Sacrilegious Eradication | Ketzer Records | Black metal
An unholy buzz with a thrashy energy that goes old school.
English Dogs – The Thing With Two Heads | Candlelight Records | Thrash
The Wakey (singer, sole remaining member) iteration of English Dogs returns with a more trad-minded attack.
Hate Division – Order of the Enslaved | Blast Head Records | Death/grind
Blast-happy and discordant death metal tempered by that uniquely Canadian riff style.
Pale Horseman – Mourn the Black Lotus | Self-released | Sludge
Groove-heavy sludge recalling the more industrial-influenced material from the early ’00. Includes a Justin Broadrick remix.
Ptahil – Born Against | Arctic Music Group | Black metal
Quirky evilness hailing from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
UltraMantis Black – UltraMantis Black | Relapse Records | Hardcore, grind
Grindy and noisy, UltraMantis Black would fit in with the quicker/more dissonant hardcore of the mid-’90s.
Veiyadra – Gehenna | Bloodcurdling Enterprise | Death metal
Debut full-length for these Japanese brutal deathers who employ an atypical sense of rhythm.
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Things We Missed:
• Black Metal
Emanation – The Emanation of Begotten Chaos From God (ESP, industrial black metal, avant-garde)
Wayfarer – Children Of The Iron Age (USA, atmospheric black metal, folk metal)
• Core/Punk
Breaking Wheel – Power Struggle (USA, hardcore, crossover)
Haapoja – Haapoja (FIN, hardcore, crust, grind)
• Death Metal
Abyssus / Morbider – From The Abyss Raised The Morbid (GRE/CZE, death metal)
Gravesite – Obsessed by the Macabre (ITA, death metal)
Sectu – Nefarious (SWE, death metal, progressive death metal)
Slugdge – Gastronomicon (GBR, death metal)
• Doom/Sludge/Drone
Liquido Di Morte – Liquido Di Morte (ITA, psych)
The Scimitar – Doomsayer (USA, doom, stoner rock)
Tumbleweed Dealer – Western Horror (CAN, stoner rock, doom)
• Grind
Snuff – Slow Life Quick Death (USA, grind)
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