This week's new heavy metal releases include some black metal opuses, capes, intensity, and more! To the metals…
Dälek – Precipice
Genre: Experimental hip hop Origin: Newark, New Jersey Label: Ipecac Recordings
Dälek are not a metal act (go ahead an skip your comment there), but they're an act that has lots of crossover appeal. Precipice features their blending of hip hop beats, noisy experimentation, and poignant lyrics. This one does feature a track with Adam from Tool as well, so there's your connection should you need one.
Devil Master – Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night
Genre: Black metal/punk Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Label: Relapse
From their aesthetic, to their sound, and even down to their 4:3 aspect ratio on their VHS-inspired music video Devil Master set out to evoke an old school vibe. I'd say they succeed. This album frankly doesn't invent anything new, but they blend not-so dispirit sounds into something that feels fresh somehow. It's also sure to increase cape sales the world over. A full review by Kevin is right here.
The Gathering – Beautiful Distortion / Interference
Genre: Atmospheric rock Origin: Oss/Nijmegen, Netherlands Label: Psychonaut Records
It's been almost a decade since The Gathering has released new material and their first post-reunion output is both a full album AND an EP. What a time to be a fan. The full length (Beautiful Distortion) is the atmospheric rock that the band has been up to since How To Measure A Planet? or so and the EP (Interference) serves as a companion piece with a pair of additional songs and a live version of the titular track of the aforementioned How To Measure A Planet?.
Helms Alee – Keep This Be The Way
Genre: Sludge/experimental Origin: Seattle, Washington Label: Sargent House
One of sludge's finest kept secrets has returned with their trademark heavy, emotional, and atypical engulfing metal. Their triple vocal attack remains a highlight on this record with trading leads, eerie harmonies, and aggressive screams. This is an unconventionally beautiful record.
This is one of the most powerful and interesting albums I've heard in some time. There is a bit of Author & Punisher vibes here combined with Uniform's intensity mixed with an early 00's cinematic score. It's like if Anaal Nathrakh was an industrial band. This features collaborations (guest spots? whatever) From Venetian Veil/ex-(waning) Jim Willig and Susan Hunt, and others.
Rammstein – Zeit
Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte/industrial Origin: Berlin, Germany Label: Universal
New Rammstein y'all. I feel like I don't need to say much here. Driving industrial that will get you moving on your very own keyboard treadmill.
The Spirit – Of Clarity and Galactic Structures
Genre: Black/death metal Origin: Saarbrücken, Germany Label: AOP Records
Now lets take a black metal trip to space! Album number three from The Spirit is like if Thulcandra kept things mostly frosty but incorporated a bit more of Steffen Kummerer's Obscura guitar runs. It's a triumph of a record that I could see on some of your more hip end of the year lists. We've got a full stream here and Jeff's review here.
Watain – The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain
Genre: Black metal Origin: Stockholm, Stockholm Label: Nuclear Blast
Watain are a band with A Sound. This album retains Watain's Sound, and yet it somehow is also their most diverse offering yet. Jeff has a deep dive on this album here, where he basically says this album is the shit, but with a higher quantity and quality of words.
Also dropping this week…
Abhomine – Demonize Destroy Delete (Osmose Productions) – Black/death metal
Al-Namrood – Worship the Degenerate (Shaytan Productions) – Black metal
Beyond The Structure – Scrutiny (Vicious Instinct Records) – Technical death metal – Full stream
Candelabrum – Nocturnal Trance (Hells Headbangers) – Black metal
