This week's new heavy metal releases include thrash legends, sexy synthwave, and more! To the metals…
Frayle – Heretics & Lullabies
Genre: Atmospheric doom/post-metal
Origin: Cleveland, Ohio
Label: Napalm
Buy now on Bandcamp
With Halloween just right over there, something like Frayle is hits particularly well. The band's third record of lurching heaviness is sure to conjure other worldly horrors and you and your undead pals will have some cool jams. In an odd but cool turn there's a cover of Lana Del Ray's "Summertime Sadness," and their version is pretty sick.
God Alone – The Beep Test
Genre: Post-hardcore/experimental metal
Origin: Cork, Ireland
Label: Prosthetic Records
Buy now on Bandcamp
God Alone are a band that has only recently arrived on my radar and what a band. Each record is a tonal shift. At one point or another they've dabbled with blackened metal, post-whatever rock, mathcore. This record has elements of all that, but it mostly sounds like Adebisi Shank going through an emotional crisis.
John 5 – Ghost
Genre: Shred
Origin: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Label: Self-released
Buy now from John 5
Motley Crue's (still not used to that) virtuoso axeman is back with another record of shredding madness. At this point it should be no surprise that John is an incredbile guitarist, but each solo album still manages to impress.This one has a gaggle of guest collaborators like Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), Marco Minnemann (Bryan Beller's drummer), Bryan Beller (Marco Minnemann's bassist), Tommy Lee (Method of Mayhem) on "hand claps and foot stomps" and more.
Egor Lappo – Skyline
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Label: Self-released
Buy now on Bandcamp
This one is for the proggy folks out there. Skyline is a bright and energetic record with theatrical moments that will pick you up and keep you going. If you were a fan of the last couple Devin Townsend records, I think you'll dig this.
Perturbator – Age of Aquarius
Genre: Darkwave/synthwave
Origin: Paris, France
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now on Bandcamp
Now it is time to slink into a digital alley and groove. James Kent will make you dance, make you headbang, and maybe even make you randy. This one has cameos from Ulver, Author & Punisher, Alcest, and Greta Link. What a wild guest list.
Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath
Genre: Extreme metal
Origin: Columbus, Ohio
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Bandcamp
If you are looking for something with unrelenting heaviness, I should recommend this one. You pay want to prep your home with some Patrick Bateman-esque drop cloths though. Things will get messy and bloody with this one.
Testament – Para Bellum
Genre: Thrash
Origin: Berkeley, California
Label: Nuclear Blast
Buy now from Nuclear Blast
Wrapping this week with thrash legends. Their first record in five years is an absolute beast while running the gamut of thrash. Chuck Billy seems extra pissed this time. Also, this their first record with new drummer Chris Dovas who was born about a year before The Gathering was released.
Also dropping this week…
- 40 Below Summer – Untethered (Follow The Sun Records) – Hard rock/alternative metal
- All Hell – Sunsetter (Terminus Hate City) – Black metal/thrash
- All Time Low – Everyone's Talking! (Basement Noise/Virgin) – Pop punk
- Blindfolded And Led To The Woods – The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes Me (Prosthetic) – Technical/avant-garde death metal
- Boltcutter – Still Broke (Self-released) – Slam/brutal death metal
- Cemican – U k'u'uk'ankil Mayakaaj (M-Theory Audio) – Progressive/power metal
- Coastlands – Coastlands (Translation Loss) – Post-metal/post-rock
- Dead Eyes – Black Hole Heart (Thriller Records) – Metalcore/alternative
- Dead Heat – Process Of Elimination (Metal Blade) – Crossover/hardcore
- Earshot – Humaning (Earshot Entertainment) – Alternative metal
- Extortionist – Stare Into The Seething Wounds (Unique Leader) – Deathcore
- Friendship Commanders – Bear (Magnetic Eye Records) – Stoner rock/heavy metal
- Greyhaven – Keep It Quiet (Solid State) – Metalcore
- Heartlay – The Alteration (An Exile) – Industrial/metalcore
- Heavy//Hitter – Coming To Terms (Blue Grape) – Deathcore
- Incubus – Something In The Water (Self-released) – Alternative rock
- Nils Patrik Johansson – War And Peace (Metalville) – Power/heavy metal
- Junkbreed – Sick Of The Scene (Raging Planet Records) – Punk/post-hardcore
- Katakomba – The Second Death (Majestic Mountain Records) – Death metal
- Linx – Annihilation (Metalville) – Industrial
- Living Dead Girl – Con$piracy (Self-released) – Modern metal/pop
- Morke – To Carry On (True Cult Records) – Black metal
- Omnivide – Arise (Seek And Strike) – Progressive.melodic death metal
- Purpendicular – Banned (Metalville) – Rock
- Skold – Caught In The Throes (Metropolis Records) – Post-rock/industrial
- Souillé – L'odeur du mépris (Wormholedeath) – Black metal
- Soul Blind – Red Sky Mourning (Closed Casket Activities) – Shoegaze/alternative
- Terjiz de Horde – Our Breath Is Not Ours Alone (Church Road Records) – Post-black metal
- Ültra Raptör – Fossilized (Fighter Records) – Speed/heavy metal
- Vulnificus – Inclination (Comatose Music) – Brutal death metal
- Warrant – The Speed Of Metal (Massacre Records) – Speed/heavy metal
