Archive | New Music
Ozzfest is on its final day rolling through the country for its six tour dates, while the Uproar Festival has churned its gears into motion this past week, aiming to cover much more territory over a longer period of time. These two festivals are the last major summer tours of 2010, giving metalheads a few precious last chances to spend a whole day rocking out to their favorite bands on outdoor stages. Hopefully you’ve made it out to at least one of the numerous summer festivals that took place during the last few months. If not, definitely get out to the Uproar Festival for one last sweet taste of summer. Unlike the festival calendar, the new release calendar is still scorching hot. There are an estimated 70 new releases scheduled to debut in the next six weeks, with plenty of time for more to be added to the list. I have a feeling I’ll be re-living the insanity of early June all over again. So without further ado, let’s get the ball rolling.
The Sword, Warp Riders (Kemado)
The Texas quartet has made quite a name for themselves in the two years since Gods of the Earth was released. Multiple stints opening for Metallica on the World Magnetic Tour, a slot on the Texas Stage at the 2008 Ozzfest, and other tours with the likes of Machine Head, Lamb of God, Clutch, and more have transformed The Sword from underground fascination into mainstream success story. Warp Riders will surely extend the group’s fanbase, with its spacey cover artwork and equally spacey lyrical themes. But am I the only that is reminded by this artwork of the Protoss Carrier from Starcraft?
Blind Guardian, At the Edge of Time (Nuclear Blast)
In the four years since the release of A Twist in the Myth, it would seem that Blind Guardian has been doing a lot of reading. According to an interview with vocalist/bassist Hansi Kürsch, most of the songs on the album are based on various writings, ranging from fantasy novels and Norse mythology to poems and political works by John Milton. Fans around the world have been waiting anxiously for this album, and it will definitely be worth the wait. Diehards will be springing for the two-disc deluxe edition, which offers exclusive access to a VIP fan site.
Malevolent Creation, Invidious Dominion (Nuclear Blast)
After over two decades together, Malevolent Creation is still just as intense and brutal as they were on The Ten Commandments. Invidious Dominion marks the return of original bassist Jason Blachowicz to the fold, which will likely only serve to make the album even more crushing. Add to it the amazing cover art done by Pär Olofsson, who has also worked with The Faceless and Immortal among others, and you’ve got one titanic package of death metal in this album. Read more »
Two weeks ago it was Mayhem, last week it was Summer Slaughter, and this week it’s… Over the Limit? Yes, yet another summer tour kicks off this weekend, this one headlined by Oceano and As Blood Runs Black. This tour is probably the most aptly named tour of the past five years, and it’s also not really necessary, with a lineup that feels like the cast-offs of both Summer Slaughter and Thrash & Burn. More excitement will be generated by two other tours kicking off this week – the first leg of the American Carnage/Canadian Carnage Tour featuring Megadeth, Slayer, and Testament; and Cynic’s “Re-Traced / Re-Focused Live” tour, which will also feature Intronaut and Dysrhythmia. Obviously, seeing three of the biggest thrash acts in history is a huge deal, but progressive/experimental metal fans will be salivating to see Cynic play their entire discography live. Where does that leave the Over the Limit tour? Well, it’s basically the third wheel now – or, in the case of the whole summer lineup, the ninth wheel.
There are some new releases that are also acting as spoilers this week, looking to steal the spotlight from a major debut this week. Considering the debut comes from one of the most commercial names in metal, though, that is unlikely. Read on to see what’s coming at you this week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.)
After Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan’s tragic passing at the end of 2009, nobody was sure whether Avenged Sevenfold would continue on. But with the help of Mike Portnoy, every metal purist’s Nightmare has become a reality. Nobody can be sure how the Dream Theater skinsman will mesh with the metalcore darlings of commercial America, but fans will get a chance to see it live as well as hear it on the album, as Portnoy will also take part in A7X’s run on the upcoming Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival.
36 Crazyfists, Collisions and Castaways (Ferret)
The Alaskan group is supporting this album in a big way already, acting as main support for Fear Factory during their current tour. The promotion doesn’t stop there, as a headlining tour with Straight Line Stitch and Dirge Within starts up as soon as the Fear Factory tour ends. These guys aren’t the heaviest metalcore group out there, but singer Brock Lindow is one of the best in the business. That makes 36CF always worth checking out. Read more »
Trent Reznor has been one of the Renaissance Men of rock music for the past two decades, dictating the direction of the genre’s progression since the beginning of Nine Inch Nails. The only other musicians that can come close are the members of Tool and Dream Theater, showing the maximum capabilities of the genre when stretched to its limits. The thing that makes Reznor special is that he did it all on his own for almost two decades, writing everything himself while seeming to have a bottomless reserve of new ideas. Whether you like Nine Inch Nails or not, you can’t deny that Trent Reznor is a musical genius.
It is with that in mind that we look into this week’s new releases. There are quite a few Christian metal albums and another batch of reissues hitting the stores this week, but the biggest focus is on Reznor’s triumphant return to music. He has a new project with a new name, and this time, it’s all on his own terms. Read on to see what creative masterpiece will rear its head today.
How to Destroy Angels, How to Destroy Angels (The Null Corporation)
Trent Reznor has always been about doing things on his own terms. Now he gets to do that. How to Destroy Angels is Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Maandig, and Nine Inch Nails collaborator Atticus Ross. The music is on par with the brilliance of Nine Inch Nails, if not more so because Reznor is going even further outside the box this time around. Hi-def enthusiasts can get the upgrade package for better audio and a music video thrown in.
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Danza III: The Series of Unfortunate Events (Black Market Activities/Metal Blade)
The grindcore comedians are up to their usual brand of insanity on their third release. The album features easily one of the band’s most humorous song titles to date, a small homage to the Die Hard series. The album closer also references the questionable apocalypse theory of 2012, leading to questions of whether the band believes that the world (or maybe their career) is coming to end. Fans of the band, myself included, hope that neither of those is the case.
Filter, “The Inevitable Relapse” (Rocket Science)
This limited edition 7-inch single is the precursor to the planned August release of The Trouble With Angels, Filter’s second album following their return from hiatus in late 2007. While fans will be enthusiastic for this album, it likely won’t repeat the immediate success of 2008′s Anthems for the Damned, which debuted at #60 on the Billboard 200. But miracles have been known to happen where Filter is concerned. Watch this upcoming album closely.
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In a week where the Big Four not only played shows together, but even joined together for a one-off live cover song, this week is surprisingly devoid of thrash news. Maybe the awesomeness of the Big Four being in the same place at the same time was just too much for the rest of the thrash world to handle. However, I tend to think it’s more of a reaction to the amazing thrash releases of 2010 thus far (Overkill, Exodus, and Annihilator leading the way) and anticipation for the thrash albums on the horizon (Death Angel, Flotsam & Jetsam, and Accept are the biggest names). Either way, thrash fans have slim pickings this week, but everyone else has plenty to get excited about!
This week sees a ton of albums getting re-released, either as limited vinyl pressings or special edition CD’s. Fans looking for collector’s items will be salivating over the names listed. But there’s no shortage of good new releases this week either. Read on to see what’s coming your way!
Parkway Drive, Deep Blue (Epitaph)
The young Aussies have returned with the long-awaited follow-up to 2007′s breakout smash Horizons. The irony of Parkway Drive is that their success seems to be built on their ability to walk the line between two of metal’s most overdone subgenres – metalcore and deathcore. They’ve blurred the line between the two and created a totally unique sound from it. This album will be defining for them because it’s their first one not handled by super-producer Adam Dutkiewicz. If Deep Blue can hold up to the excellent quality of Horizons, then Parkway Drive may be the new leading band in both metalcore and deathcore very soon. Read more »
Each Tuesday, Metal Insider will be posting a look at the new releases coming out that day courtesy of contributer Chris Colgan. We chose one hell of a week to start doing it!
Did someone put out a memo saying that June 8th was the date when every record label in the rock and metal world had to put out an album? There are 25 new releases coming out today, and they’re from all over the genre spectrum. Unless the only thing you listen to is basement black metal (and if that’s all you listen to, then you need help), you’ll enjoy at least one release appearing today. So plan on spending some money on at least one of these albums this week:
Nachtmystium, Addicts: Black Meddle, Part 2 by (Century Media)
Nachtmystium came out of nowhere with 2008′s Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1, which easily ranked among the best albums of that year. Addicts will likely do the same, if Blake Judd and Co. continue the psychedelic, progressive, and generally weird elements of Assassins. This album’s success will propel Nachtmystium into the worldwide spotlight and earn them a lot of new recognition, which they rightly deserve.
Nevermore, The Obsidian Conspiracy (Century Media)
It’s been five years since This Godless Endeavor hit stores, and in that time, both Jeff Loomis and Warrel Dane have released solo albums, and Nevermore has also put out their first DVD. I have the highest expectations for The Obsidian Conspiracy. Nevermore has not released a mediocre album yet, and I don’t think they’ll start doing that here.
Heaven Shall Burn, Invictus (Century Media)
I’ve already listened to Invictus once, and I was floored. This album is positively destructive in its musical and lyrical approaches, containing even more profound content and nuance from an already-intelligent band. This album blows away almost every other album released in the past decade by bands in the German metalcore/melodic death metal scene. This album is for you if you are a fan of either genre or the German scene in general.
Kingdom of Sorrow, Behind the Blackest Tears (Relapse)
Jamey Jasta’s other band needs to avoid the sophomore slump as much as possible, because the veteran hardcore singer has too much on the line to risk releasing an unimpressive album. Luckily, Kingdom of Sorrow’s self-titled debut had an overabundance of high-quality, hardcore-infused sludge metal. I think it’s safe to expect the same on Behind the Blackest Tears. Read more »
Australian post-hardcore outfit The Amity Affliction have gutted it out in their native land ever since forming in 2002. After a few EPs and a studio album it appears the band will be stepping things up for their next release, Youngbloods which is scheduled to hit stateside later this year.
The band holed up in the bowels of Weehawken, NJ the home of MI headquarters as well as The Machine Shop where they recorded Youngbloods with producer Machine (Lamb Of God, Every Time I Die). We dropped a line to keyboardist Trad Nathan and asked what it was like working with Machine and he told us, “Machine is one crazy motherfucker. We went into the studio with a plan and timeline. Machine pissed on that, tore us a new asshole and had us jamming out our songs 1000x times harder than ever before!” Read more »
A new and unlikely supergroup took the stage in Brooklyn last night, as The Damned Things – a band consisting of members of Anthrax, Fall Out Boy, and Every Time I Die – played their first-ever live show at the Knitting Factory. Consisting of Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley, Anthrax guitarists Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano, and Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley (along with ETID bassist Josh Newton), the band’s inaugural show was a combination of the strong points of all three bands’ styles, and a look forward to what their debut album, due out later this year, will sound like.
Essentially a side project for Anthrax and Every Time I Die while Fall Out Boy are on an indefinite hiatus, all three bands stand to benefit from The Damned Things if the new project takes off. As the least commercially successful of the three bands, ETID can increase their profile beyond just the Warped Tour crowd. Written of by many as emo, the Fall Out Boy members stand to get some of their pre-FOB hardcore and metal cred back by aligning themselves with the two other bands. And Anthrax simply get to show anyone under 25 that they’re actually a band and not just some guy with a crazy beard on VH1 talking about metal. Fortunately, it seemed like everyone involved, both the band and the audience, had fun, and their nine song, 40-minute set seemed half as long.
Opening with ”Ironiclast,” one of two rough mixes just posted on their MySpace page, The Damned Things quickly showed itself to be a hybrid of the three bands. To be sure, it’s later-era Anthrax that the band had the most in common with, as songs like “Bad Blood” had the riffs and tempo of songs like “Fueled” from 1995′s Stomp 442. Combined with catchy choruses that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Fall Out Boy album, and the distinctive voice of Buckley, the band definitely has a distinct sound of their own.
The eight songs from the band’s upcoming album, along with a cover of Quicksand’s “Fazer” that Buckley said the band had just learned, had the crowd enthusiastically nodding their heads throughout the set. Whether The Damned Things turns into a full-on band or ultimately winds up being a side project, they got off to a promising start yesterday, with instant onstage chemistry that will not only satisfy fans of all three of its’ original bands, but also make new ones in the process.
The new Ozzy song rips! See for yourself with the stream of “Let Me Hear You Scream” from his forthcoming album Scream below. The song was recently used in a prison riot scene in CSI: NY.
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It’s been a while since As I Lay Dying released an album. 2007, to be exact, since An Ocean Between Us came out. In between then and now, singer Tim Lambesis has put out 2 1/2 albums with his jokey side project Austrian Death Machine, and everyone pretty much wondered when a new AILD album would come out. Three years is a millennium for a metal band, especially with the sped-up, on-demand, instant accessibility everyone needs.
Well today, the band posted 70% of a new song called “Beyond Our Suffering” on their Myspace page, and it turns out that it might have been worth the wait. It’s faster and heavier than anything the band’s put out in a long time. The band’s new album, The Powerless Rise, was – like their last album – produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam D. The album will be out on May 11 on Metal Blade. If the rest of the album rips as much as the 70% of the song we heard, it could be on a lot of year-end best-of lists.
Far was one of the 90s’ most hard-to-pigeonhole bands. The band’s two albums for Epic Records, 1996′s Tin Cans With Strings To You and 1998′s Water and Solutions, were pretty much unheralded classics. Heavy, not not metal, emotional, but not emo, the band found fans and friends in bands like the Deftones, who they collaborated with on a stellar cover of Jawbox’s “Savory.” While touring with bands ranging from Incubus and Life of Agony, ultimately they were more critical favorites than commercial ones, and disbanded in 1999.
Fortunately, after a 10-year hiatus, Far has reformed, signed to Vagrant, and recorded a new album, the forthcoming At Night We Live (due out on 5/25). The band is streaming a new song, “Deafening,” online for anyone that goes to their Web site and signs up. We like the new song a lot. It’s heavy, riffy, and for a band that’s been dormant for over a decade, sounds very current. Maybe it took a decade for the rest of the world to catch up, but we’re looking forward to the rest of the album.
Posted by Chris Colgan on Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 10:08 am
New Music, Releases