This week's new heavy metal releases include disgusting death metal, riffs, proggy dorkery, and more! You can find some of these here on vinyl via Gimme Metal. To the metals…
Architects – the classic symptoms of a broken spirit
Genre: Progressive metalcore/post-hardcore
Origin: Brighton, England
Label: Epitaph
Just a year after For Those That Wish to Exist, these Brits are back with more anthemic pop metal jams. Their tenth record sees the band bringing you massive choruses infused with buzzing synths, big ol' breakdowns, and lots of catchy melodies. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower
Genre: Power/progressive metal
Origin: Mainz, Germany
Label: Nuclear Blast
Speaking of catchy choruses, here's the latest from Tobias Sammet and friends. I can only assume that this is a concept album as Sammet has said that this is "enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters." Those encounters include guest spots from Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Geoff Tate (formerly of two different bands called Queensrÿche), and lots more. It's a nerdy adventure into what Avantasia does well. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
Black Math Horseman – Black Math Horseman
Genre: Psychedelic/post-metal
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Profound Lore
Buy now on Bandcamp
Black Math Horseman's follow-up to their stellar debut Wyllt, is consists of one long track broken into four pieces. Those four pieces are sure to suck the listener into an abyss and wash them in reverb before crushing them into bits with post-metal hammers. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
Brutus – Unison Life
Genre: Post-rock/hard rock
Origin: Leuven, Belgium
Label: Sargent House
Brutus's third album seems poised to take them to the next level as it's the most emotive, most dynamic, and accessible without watering down what makes them great. If you're into fuzzy bass, spacy guitars, and vulnerable vocals, and you're not already on the Brutus train…hop on board. Kevin has a full review here. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
Exhumed – To The Dead
Genre: Death metal/grindcore
Origin: San Jose, California
Label: Relapse
Fine, fine. No catchiness. No spacy atmosphere. No grand vocals. Here's high-speed and high quality death metal. This time they're hitting you with dittys such as "Rank and Defiled," "Defecated," and the apt "Disgusted." Jillian has a full review here. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
OneLegMan – Event Horizon
Genre: Progressive metal
Origin: Reggio Emilia, Italy
Label: Rockshots Records
Buy now from Rockshots
Here's one for my fellow prog dorks. These guys have djenty rhythms coupled with loads soaring vocals. They're like if you combined TesseracT with recent Leprous. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
Rattlesnake Venom Trip – Dead Empire
Genre: Stoner rock
Origin: Dayton, Ohio
Label: Self-released
Buy now on Bandcamp
When you bring together members of Twelve Tribes, Mouth of The Architect, and Neon Warship you may be surprised to find that they become an unstoppable riff machine. Rattlesnake Venom Trip are a stoner rock outfit that will open some pits up and get people singing. A fun combination, and a fun album.
Ruby The Hatchet – Fear Is A Cruel Master
Genre: Doom/hard rock
Origin: New Jersey
Label: Magnetic Eye
More riffs you say? Well, okay! The latest from Ruby The Hatchet is wall to wall spooky heavy metal greatness. The production has that classic metal aesthetic that is sure to appeal to fans of the 70's scene. Really, the only gripe I have with this album is that the band made us wait half a decade to hear it. Get it here on Gimme Metal.
Serj Tankian – Perplex Cities
Genre: Alternative/experimental
Origin: Beirut, Lebanon
Label: Serjical Strike
Wrapping this week with the latest solo outing from Serj. System of a Down's most prolific member continues his recent trend of experimentation with lots of layers and electronics on this EP. Like last year's Elasticity, this won't scratch that itch for more SoaD, but its a logical next step and successful entry in Tankain's solo canon.
Also dropping today…
- Abduction – Black Blood (Candlelight) – Black metal
- Avatarium – Death, Where Is Your Sting (AFM) – Doom/occult rock
- Battalions – King Of A Dead World (APF Records) – Stoner/sludge
- Blakk Ledd – Heavy Metal Fans (Melodic Passion) – Hard rock/heavy metal
- Black Royal – Earthbound (M-Theory) – Stoner/death metal
- Black Space Riders – We Have Been Here Before (Cargo Records) – Psychedelic/progressive rock
- Black Veil Brides – The Mourning EP (Sumerian) – Heavy metal/metalcore
- Black Widows – Among The Brave Ones (Inverse Records) – Gothic metal
- Cabal – Magno Interitus (Nuclear Blast) – Deathcore
- Cassius King – Dread The Dawn (MDD Records) – Doom/stoner
- Crooked Royals – Quarter Life Daydream (3DOT Recordings) – Progressive metalcore
- Diamond Chazer – Starriders (Fighter Records) – Heavy metal
- Flagman – Thank You, Come Again (GRUBIS Records) – Experimental/alternative metal
- Ggu:ll – Ex Est (Consouling Sounds) – Blackened doom
- God Alone – ETC (Prosthetic) – Mathcore/experimental
- Gospelheim – Ritual & Repetition (Prophecy) – Gothic metal/dark rock
- Gothminister – Pandemonium (AFM) – Industrial/gothic metal
- Grand – Grand (Frontiers) – Hard rock
- Inclination – Unaltered Perspective (Pure Noise Records) – Hardcore
- Invictus – Unstoppable (MNRK Heavy) – Groove/melodic death metal
- Iron Allies – Blood In Blood Out (AFM) – Heavy metal
- Chez Kane – Powerzone (Frontiers) – Hard rock
- Nameless Theory – Into The Void (Wormholedeath) – Heavy metal
- The New Roses – Sweet Poison (Napalm) – Rock
- Nighted – Absence (Klang Machine Music) – Melodic black metal
- Orden Ogan – Final Days (AFM) – Power metal
- O.R.k. – Screamnasium (Kscope) – Progressive rock
- Pinkshift – Love Me Forever (Hopeless Records) – Rock/pop punk
- Sarcator – Alkahest (Black Lion) – Blackened thrash
- Sede Vacante – Conium (Scarlet Records) – Gothic/symphonic metal
- Stryper – The Final Battle (Frontiers) – Hard rock/glam
- Steel Inferno – Evil Reign (From The Vaults) – Heavy metal
- Seraina Telli – Simple Talk (Metalville Records) – Heavy metal
- Taking Balfour – Dawn of Polaris (Self-released) – Progressive metal
- Ugly Kid Joe – Rad Wings Of Destiny (Metalville) – Alternative metal/hard rock
- Unzucht – Chaosmagie (Out of Line Music) – Gothic rock
- Vigilance – Vigilance (Dying Victims Productions) – Heavy/black metal
- A Wake In Providence – Eternity (Unique Leader) – Deathcore
- Watch Them Fail – Hybris (Wormholedeath) – Industrial/hard rock
- Wesenwille – III: The Great Light Above (Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions) – Black metal
- White Skull – Metal Never Rusts (Rock of Angels) – Heavy/power metal
- Witch Blade – Månsken (Dying Victims Productions) – Heavy metal
- Witch Fever – Congregation (Music For Nations) – Doom/punk
- The 40 Thieves – The White Album (Wormholedeath) – Hard rock
