Upcoming metal releases: May 2011

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A lot of good records come out this month. I feel fortunate to live in a world that bursts so with creativity. Of course, this world also practically drowns in conformity. And, honestly, all the bands below are refining, not innovating. “Unoriginal vs. good” is a theme I read daily: “This album breaks no new ground, but it’s enjoyable!” It’s good to enjoy art. But it’s also good to question why one enjoys art. Recently I emailed a friend and said, “Metal now is 2000 bands re-iterating the same steps for every 1 taking a step forward. I don’t have the time or desire to keep weeding through all that”. But I’ll try my best until I leave here.

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For the “full” (i.e., compiled to the best of our limited ability) calendar of releases, see here.
Use the Agenda view on the top right, and click on entries to expand and collapse them.

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SHOULD RULE HARD

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Metal Blade dominates this month, with four strong releases in The Gates of Slumber, Hate Eternal, In Solitude, and Portrait. Oddly, three releases remind me of Mercyful Fate to varying degrees: In Solitude, Portrait, and Satan’s Host. The latter are back in a big way with the return of original vocalist Harry Conklin (Jag Panzer). Argus and The Gates of Slumber heft traditional doom with class and skill. Autopsy, Gravehill, and Vastum (and associated act Acephalix) scratch the old-school death metal itch. Hate Eternal return to the ripping form of I, Monarch. If the only metal I heard for the rest of the year were these 10 records, I’d be plenty happy.

Argus – Boldly Stride the Doomed (5/3)
Autopsy – Macabre Eternal (5/31)
Dark Castle – Surrender to All Life Beyond Form (5/31)
The Gates of Slumber – The Wretch (5/10)
Gravehill – When All Roads Lead to Hell (5/24)
Hate Eternal – Phoenix Amongst the Ashes (5/10)
In Solitude – The World. The Flesh. The Devil (5/24)
Portrait – Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae (5/10)
Satan’s Host – By the Hands of the Devil (5/3)
Vastum – Carnal Law (5/31)

Satan’s Host – “Demontia”
[audio: SATANSHOST_DEMONTIA.mp3]

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MIGHT RULE HARD

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Along with Satan’s Host, Aosoth share the “most improved” award this month by daring to explore dynamics. Profound Lore drops three four records this month with the above-mentioned Dark Castle, Altar of Plagues, and Loss (also A Storm of Light). The new Altar of Plagues record is as if Isis went black metal after Panopticon – a sound that goes down easily, but which could use a dissonant note or two. I feel bad for Novembers Doom, one of the few remaining metal bands on The End. Book of Black Earth feature striking artwork by Derek Noble and thankfully have ditched keyboards. While Heaven Wept have thankfully not ditched keyboards. Their sound is like ecstasy and beer (perhaps a lethal combination – do not try in real life). Nader Sadek’s record, featuring ex-Morbid Angel vocalist Steve Tucker, may very well beat Morbid Angel at their own game. Shining (Swe) have been a wonderfully strange mix of depression and rocking shredding over their past few records, so I look forward to VII. Weekend Nachos is for the Decibel forum.

Altar of Plagues – Mammal (5/17)
Aosoth – III (5/10)
Book of Black Earth – The Cold Testament (5/24)
Loss – Despond (5/31)
Nader Sadek – In the Flesh (5/17)
Novembers Doom – Aphotic (5/10)
Seidr – For Winter Fire (5/24)
Shining (Swe) – VII / Född Förlorare (5/24)
Weekend Nachos – Worthless (5/17)
While Heaven Wept – Fear of Infinity (5/3)

Aosoth – “I”
[audio: AOSOTH_I.mp3]

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NOT METAL, SHOULD BE INTERESTING

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Given this heading, it’s no surprise that the labels involved are Neurot, Hydra Head, and Relapse. It amuses me how angry people get about these labels when the world has bigger things to get angry about. I think people go to the Internet to get angry. They go to the Internet to get angry because their lives aren’t stimulating. If all the angry people left the Internet, it would be an empty hall. Its spelling and grammar would also greatly improve. Skynet needs to happen sooner than later. When the nuclear apocalypse comes, I’ll sunbathe in Zombi’s percolating synths.

Across Tundras – Sage (5/17)
Cave In – White Silence (5/24)
Horseback – The Gorgon Tongue (5/10)
USX – The Valley Path (5/31)
Zombi – Escape Velocity (5/10)

Zombi – “Slow Oscillations”
[audio: ZOMBI_SLOW.mp3]

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