The summer months are when the music industry kicks into high gear, capitalizing on fans driving with their windows down and cranking radios at the beach. It’s also the time for huge summer concert series and festivals, and this summer will not disappoint. Mayhem, Uproar, Ozzfest, Warped Tour, and Summer Slaughter are just a few of the huge shows that will be rampaging around the country during the next three months. And most of the bands on these tours have one thing in common: new music to promote; either recently released or scheduled for release in the near future. After last week’s deluge of new releases, this week offers a small reprieve, with only four new releases on the schedule.

Porcupine Tree, Anesthetize (Kscope)
The progressive rock superpower known as Porcupine Tree is gifting the world with only their second DVD release of their career. Anesthetize covers the highlights of two live shows played at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. Those who have been fortunate enough to see Porcupine Tree in concert know what an amazing experience it is, and those who have not need only to watch this DVD to see what they’re missing out on. The hi-def lovers can also purchase this release on Blu-ray, which is a rare treat for a music-related production.

Halford, Live in Anaheim – Original Soundtrack (Phantasm)
The Metal God has three big releases planned for this summer in conjunction with his Ozzfest appearance, and this live album is the first. Consider it a companion piece to the forthcoming Live in Anaheim DVD that will recount the same live show in video format. If you’re a fan of Rob Halford, then this album and the DVD are both must-buys, because not only will they contain live tracks from his solo career, but they will also feature live tracks from Judas Priest and Fight (Halford’s other side project). Also keep an eye out for Halford Crucible – Remixed & Remastered, which is also scheduled to appear very soon.

Heartsounds, Until We Surrender (Epitaph)
Who remembers Light This City? The female-fronted death-thrash quintet called it quits in 2008, posthumously releasing Stormchaser, which was arguably their best album. Now lead vocalist Laura Nichol and lead guitarist Ben Murray have returned with their new melodic punk project Heartsounds, which is very much the opposite of Light This City’s musical output. Murray states that his and Nichol’s first love was punk rock since they were both in their teens, and that’s what you’ll get here. There’s plenty of influence from Bad Religion, A Wilhelm Scream, and Hot Water Music. If you’re into that, then you should enjoy Until We Surrender.

In Fear and Faith, Imperial (Rise)
The post-hardcore group’s debut Your World on Fire didn’t initially attract much notice, but the band made waves during recent tours with A Day to Remember, Parkway Drive, and In This Moment. Now the band is preparing to make a huge splash during the summer, when they will be playing the entirety of the Vans Warped Tour. This is the perfect kind of exposure for a young band looking to gain a following quickly, as the Warped Tour crowd is always eager to support new and upcoming bands. If Imperial is a summer hit, then count on hearing more about In Fear and Faith in the near future.

Wormrot, Abuse (Earache)
This album actually came out last week, but I missed it amidst my coverage of all the other albums to come out, so my apologies. Wormrot hails from Singapore, a country not known for metal, which makes their debut even more exciting. The three-piece grindcore outfit proudly displays their worship for old-school Napalm Death and Terrorizer, making this album a must for grind connoisseurs longing for the genre’s early days. And any grindcore band with the balls to cover The Yeah Yeah Yeahs automatically gets some props in my book!

Next Week: Another big list of new releases, highlighted by the much-anticipated ninth album from Danzig! Get ready!