This week's new heavy metal releases include lots of rad EPs, cello doom, violin death metal, and more!
First, just as a quick personal thing since this column is all I do these days…
Like many of you, the music of Ozzy Osbourne meant so much to me.
"Crazy Train" was the first song I learned on bass and that planted the seed for an music obsession that grew into a life's purpose which eventually branched out into radio, podcasting, and music writing. In other words: if you don't like the Weekly Injection, blame Ozzy.
So, I thank him for all his contributions to the genre we all love so much, its effect on my life, and everything around me, really.
Now, to the metals…
Agropelter – The Book Of Hours
Genre: Progressive rock
Origin: Norway
Label: Self-released
Buy now on Bandcamp
Starting this week off with a trip to space. This project is the work of Kay Olsen and it is very much inspired by classic prog like Camel, King Crimson, and the likes. What a grand and expansive trip this is.
Alice Cooper – The Revenge Of Alice Cooper
Genre: Shock rock
Origin: Phoenix, Arizona
Label: earMusic
Buy now on Amazon
So you know how "Alice Cooper" is both a band and a dude? This is the reunion of the band. They all popped up on Cooper (the dude's) 2021 record, but this is their first full record together in a long time. It sounds like the earliest days of the band as it's a little psychedelic, a little creepy, and generally rockin'. Also, despite passing in 1997, this record includes some contributions from guitarist Glen Buxton.
Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura
Genre: Avant-garde Death Metal
Origin: New York, New York
Label: Testimony Records
Buy now on Bandcamp
I first became acquainted with these guys in 2020 when their record The Third Perspective melted my brain. After five long years, they have returned with more chaotic, evil, adventurous, and impressive death metal that includes a lot of violin. Some cool cameos on this like James Murphy (ex-Death, etc), Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) and more. If you're into Oranssi Pazuzu, Thy Catafalque, or Blood Incantation, get on this.
Cryptodira – Genesis Of Error
Genre: Progressive/experimental metal
Origin: Long Island, New York
Label: Silent Pendulum Records
Buy now on Bandcamp
Next up is an all too brief EP from Cryptodira. These three songs remind me of East of the Wall, Car Bomb, and early Contortionist. It's heavy, technical, and occasionally melodic. The tonal shifts are frequent, so keep up!
Grayceon – Then The Darkness
Genre: Progressive metal/sludge
Origin: Oakland, California
Label: Translation Loss Records
Buy now on Bandcamp
Like Azure Emote, the release of this record ends another five year wait between records. My beloved Grayceon have returned with cello-forward doom that sweeps you away while crushing you. This is easily their most dynamic yet with some faster than normal (for them) bangers, a twenty-minute epic, and lots more. So stoked their back.
Gwar – The Return Of Gor Gor
Genre: Heavy metal/thrash
Origin: Richmond, Virgina
Label: The Pit
Buy now from Gwar
I know there's a lot of Gwar lore, and frankly I haven't picked up on all of it. This EP brings back some of the early lore with the titular Return of Gor-gor. I don't know what that means. What I do know is that this EP includes three new tracks (one of which is the bananas surf song below) and four live tracks. It's super fun whether you know what's happening or not.
Seawater – Filth
Genre: Experimental/progressive death metal
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: Self-released
Buy now on Bandcamp
One of Sacramento's weirdest and most wonderful outfits has returned with a hell of a ride. These guys present influences from Mr. Bungle, Primus, and other 90's oddities, and give it a nasty death metal spin. There's shredding, slap bass, and funk to be had here. Technically this drops Saturday, so you should just bookmark their Bandcamp and thank me tomorrow.
Vinnie Guidera & the Dead Birds – Afterimage
Genre: Sacramento, California
Origin: Alternative rock/indie
Label: Self-released
Buy and sample on Bandcamp
These guys are a sort of left field one, but trust me. They were clearly influenced by horror punk, thrash, and Dinosaur Jr. However, this trio then cranks out introspective punk that'll make you slam dance and/or cry.
The Violent Hour – The Violent Hour
Genre: Hard rock/heavy metal
Origin: Detroit, Michigan/The Bronx, New York
Label: Megaforce
Buy now on Amazon
Wrapping this week with the new project from Carla Harvey (ex-Butcher Babies). This EP is a modern hard rock affair that's super catchy. Harvey shows more range than she has ever before here. It also features a lot of familiar names like Charlie Benante (Anthrax/her husband) throughout, and guest spots from John 5, Zakk Wylde, and Brandon Yeagley (Crobot).
Also dropping this week…
- 16Volt – More Of Less (Metropolis Records) – Industrial
- Assertion – Basking In The Gaslight (Spartan Records) – Alternative rock
- Atomic Witch – Death Etiquette (Redefining Darkness Records) – Death metal/thrash
- Beheaded – Għadam (Agonia Records) – Death metal
- Black Magnet – Megamantra (Federal Prisoner) – Industrial metal
- Bloodletter – Leave The Light Behind (Wise Blood) – Thrash
- Bloodride – Deafening (Wormholedeath) – Thrash
- Boneflower – Reveries (Deathwish Inc.) – Post-hardcore
- Cold Slither – Cold Slither (Reigning Phoenix) – Heavy metal
- Cordyceps – Hell Inside (Unique Leader Records) – Brutal death metal
- The Dirty Nil – The Lash (Dine Alone Records) – Rock/punk
- Enuff Z'Nuff – Xtra Cherries (Cleopatra) – Glam rock
- False Gods – Lost In Darkness And Distance (BRC-30 Productions) – Doom/sludge
- Feuerschwanz – Knightclub (Napalm) – Folk metal
- Frusen Sorg – Jag Springer Med Avbrutna (Fiadh Productions/Void Sound) – Crust/hardcore
- Goblinsmoker – The King's Eternal Throne (APF) – Sludge/doom
- Heavy Halo – Damaged Dream (Silent Pendulum Records) – Gothic metal/grunge
- Hebi Katana – Imperfection (Ripple) – Heavy metal/doom
- Hemelbestormer – The Radiant Veil (Pelagic) – Post-metal
- Honeymoon Suite – Wake Me Up When The Sun Goes Down (Frontiers) – Rock
- Jordfäst – Blodsdåd och hor (Sound Pollution/Black Lion Records) – Black metal
- Kontusion – Insatiable Lust For Death (Profound Lore) – Death metal
- Malformed – Confinement Of Flesh (Dark Descent Records / Extremely Rotten Productions) – Death metal
- Mass Deception – Resurrections (Gruesome Records) – Heavy metal
- No Shelter – Remission/Resolve (This Charming Man Records) – Death metal/hardcore
- Phobetor – A Solitary Vigil (Black Jasper Records) – Death/groove metal
- Psycho-Frame – Salvation Laughs In The Face Of A Grieving Mother (SharpTone) – Deathcore
- Red Brick – Thrown (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Sludge
- Roulette – Go! (Sound Pollution) – Rock
- Scalp – Not Worthy Of Human Compassion (Closed Casket Activities) – Death metal/grindcore
