Kind of a ho-hum week… a few notable releases but mostly crate digging. Next week is the fucking jam, though, so don't get too deep in hock jocking on Volbeat. Let's get to it, then.
Birth AD – I Blame You
Genre: Hardcore
Origin: Austin, TX
Label: Unspeakable Axe
This is crossover only in the most vintage D.R.I. sense, playfully outraged and antagonistic toward nearly every aspect of society. This is the first release from Unspeakable Axe, a spin-off of Dark Descent Records specializing in old school thrash and punk… NOT a reissue label, however.
Devil to Pay – Fate Is Your Muse
Genre: Southern Rock/Stoner
Origin: Indianapolis, IN
Label: Ripple Music
I lived in Indy from 2005-2008. As a whole the music scene is pretty abysmal – few locals worth their salt + a touring schedule that would be more fitting for a town of 200,000 people isn't exactly a winning combination – but I was always pleasantly surprised by the quality of local heavy acts. Not sure if the Indy Metal Fest is still an ongoing thing but if so I guarantee you Devil to Pay are keeping it real.
Omega Experiment – The Omega Experiment
Genre: Tech/Prog
Origin: Muskegon, MI
Label: Listenable
The shine doesn't seem to be wearing off prog anytime soon, but (thankfully) The Omega Experiment aren't another tech-death outfit. Vocalist Dan Wieten employs clean vocals reminiscent of recent Cynic or some of Devin Townsend's projects. Put it this way: their Facebook profile lists so many influences it will take you longer to read through them than it will to listen to this song:
Terror – Live By the Code 
Genre: Hardcore
Origin: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Victory
Terror don't seem to crossover to the metal crowd with nearly the frequency that bands like Hatebreed and Shai Hulud do, but that may be because they stick to old school hardcore with basically no concessions to metal. There's definitely a place for shit like this.
Volbeat – Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies
Genre: "Alt" Metal (ok, pop)
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark
Label: Republic
I reviewed these guys back in the late 90's when Vol.Beat was the name of the penultimate album by a band called Dominus. Hate to sound unforgiving, but my reception of that record was such that they kind of made my shortlist of groups that I never needed to hear again. Apparently the band have changed style quite a few times in that interim, but I'm not sure this is any better than what I recall from 15 years ago.
Also out today:
Antropofago – Beyond Phobia Re-Release (Kaotoxin)
Apparitions – Kiss Me Sleeping (Indianola)
Arkona – Decade Of Glory Live (Napalm)
Blaak Heat Shujaa – The Edge Of An Era (Tee Pee)
Blowsight – Life & Death (Eclipse)
Code Of Silence – Dark Skies Over Babylon (Mausoleum)
Dawn Of Ashes – Anathema (Metropolis)
Deathchain – Ritual Death Metal (Svart)
Device – Device (Warner Brothers)
Encorion – Our Pagan Hearts Reborn (Sleaszy Rider)
Enabler – Shift Of Redemption EP (Think Fast)
Facedown – The Long Lost Future (Autoproduction)
Gloryhammer – Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife(Napalm)
Greeley Estates – Devil Son EP (Self)
Krzak Experience – Krzak Experience (Metal Mind)
No Omega – Shame (Throatruiner)
Osada Vida – Particle (Metal Mind)
Pasadena Napalm Division – Pasadena Napalm Division (Minus Head)
Russkaja – Energia! (Napalm)
Serenity – War Of Ages (Napalm)
Supuration – Cube 3 (Listenable)
Thy Symphony – A New Beginning (Sleaszy Rider)
Trinakrius – Seven Songs of Seven Sins (End of the Light)
U.D.O. – Best Of Anniversary Edition (AFM)
U.D.O. – Live From Russia Re-Release (AFM)
Visions Of Atlantis – Ethera (Napalm)
