Genre: Folk/symphonic metal Origin: Finland Label: Nuclear Blast
Getting this week started with some sweeping folk metal. The band consists of folk singer Johanna Kurkela, Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen, and frequent Nightwish collaborator Troy Donockley, and it sounds like a sum if its parts. While not the heaviest thing out this week, this is some massive, emotive, beautiful music for fans of The Gentle Storm.
Carnifex – Graveside Confessions
Genre: Blackened deathcore Origin: San Diego, California Label: Nuclear Blast
On their eighth album these blackened deathcore masters are bringing the evil heaviness. This is truly some of the darkest and heaviest stuff I've heard in a while. They are also celebrating their fifteenth year as a band by including a few re-recordings of older songs like "Slit Wrist Savior" as well. Scott Lewis sat down with Frank to talk all about this album here, then Riley has a deep dive on the record here.
Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
Genre: Heavy metal Origin: London, England Label: BMG
If you've been a fan of Iron Maiden since Brave new World, you're going to have a good time with this album. Steve Harris gallops? Check. Soaring Bruce vocals? Check. Triple guitar harmonies? Check. It's everything you'd want from Maiden these days. Just settle in and grab some snacks because, this is a long one with long songs.
The Necrosexual – Seeds of Seduction
Genre: Black/speed metal Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Label: Folkvangr Records
Well if it isn't our very own friendly neighborhood Necrosexual. On this EP Necro sets out to get a circle pit going with five tracks of throwback speed metal, but also wants to get you hungry and maybe even a lil horny. If you're into Venom, Show No Mercy-era Slayer, and the likes you'd dig this.
The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic II
Genre: Hard rock/album oriented rock Origin: Helsingborg, Sweden Label: Nuclear Blast
Now it's time to hop on a yacht and set sail with The Night Flight Orchestra. Just a year and some change after Aeromantic, they are back with more AOR with Aeromantic II. I must once again praise the versatility of Bjorn Strid (Soilwork), Sharlee D'Angelo (Arch Enemy), and the rest as I still can't get over how well these melodic death metal dudes pull this off. This is perfect cruising in GTA Vice City music.
Portrait – At One With None
Genre: Heavy metal Origin: Kristianstad, Sweden Label: Metal Blade
Looking for some battle metal? Look no further than Portrait. At One With None reminds me of Judas Priest with shreddier guitar work, and a darker aura. This is a fun one.
Sermon of Flames – I Have Seen the Light, and It Was Repulsive
Genre: Death/black metal Origin: Ireland Label: I, Voidhanger Records
Now how about some easy listening? Actually, this is as about as far as one could go from easy listening. This has all the chaos of Anaal Nathrakh with the experimental nature of Imperial Triumphant. This is a journey, and one that is clearly unpleasant by design.
Two Minutes To Late Night – Covers Volume Nine
Genre: All-star heavy metal covers Origin: Various Label: Self-released
Two Minutes To Late Night pivoted their whole thing during this quarantine and have been putting out fun star-studded covers. Today (September third) and today only, they are putting out their latest Bandcamp exclusive EP. This one includes their takes on Toto's “Hold the Line”, Bruce Springsteen's “Dancing in the Dark,” the incredible 90's Club Medley, and more. Get it before it's gone.
Also dropping today…
Apallic – Edge of Desolation (Kernkraftritter Records) – Progressive Death Metal
Aran – Pimeyttä Vasten (Naturmacht Productions) – Atmospheric black metal
Beyond Grace – Our Kingdom Undone (Prosthetic) – Death metal
Bokassa – Molotov Rocktail (Napalm) – Hard rock
Claymorean – Eulogy for the Gods (Self-released) -Power metal
Defacement – Defacement (I, Voidhanger Records) – Death/black metal
Deformatory – Inversion of The Unseen Horizon (Self-released) – Technical death metal
Doctor Smoke – Dreamers and the Dead (Ripple Music) – Doom/heavy metal
Down Again – Bury The Bones (Self-released) – Post-hardcore
Dragon Breath – The Awakening (Self-released) – Heavy metal
Earth Groans – The Body EP (Solid State) – Metalcore
Foreign Pain – Death Of Divinity (Good Fight Music) -Metalcore
Forever Autumn – Hail the Forest Dark (Self-released) – Black metal
Genophobic Perversion – Gore Reprisal (Self-released) – Noise/grindcore
Illum Adora – Ophidian Kult (Self-released) Black metal
Malison – Death's Embrace (Metal Assault Records) – Heavy metal/thrash
Matsunaga Was Right – Kings Of The Deathmatch (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions) – Grindcore
Meadows – In Those Days & Also After (Facedown Records) – Post-hardcore
Mysterizer – The Holy War 1095 (Rockshots Records) – Heavy metal
Pestilential – Shadows Revenant (Seance Records) – Black metal
The Picturebooks – The Major Minor Collective (Century Media) – Blues rock
Rise to the Sky – Per Aspera Ad Astra (GS Productions) – Atmospheric death metal/doom
Sol Kia – Zos Ethos (I, Voidhanger Records) – Black metal/drone`
