A week that has death metal and metalcore fighting it out in the shadows while prime releases from a flurry of other parts of the metal spectrum steal the spotlight.
156/Silence – Narrative
Genre: Progressive metalcore/mathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
If you’re looking for a slightly off-kilter, insistent and harsh metalcore experience then this is definitely for you. These guys have found their sonic language and become quite proficient at utilizing it. It’s a stark experience, going between all out aggression and bleakness with little in between.
Aeternam – Heir Of The Rising Sun
Genre: Symphonic death/folk metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A vivid and fairly epic journey into an ancient realm. Different vocal styles, playful guitar and soaring orchestral elements are all on the menu. Even though the overall flow could be a little better, the aggression mixes well with the more folk-y elements. But 3 intro/interlude songs on a 9 song album? Come on guys…
Blind Guardian – The God Machine
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Why can’t all power metal be like this? All you need is…massive talent. Hansi’s vocals deliver, as always, the barely contained force of a star, constantly on the verge of going supernova and melting your face off. The instrumentation and composition is exceptionally tight and vibrant. While undeniably epic, it’s a refreshingly straightforward release from a band where you’d expect prolonged orchestral sections and numerous story tangents. Certain parts on here are straight up thrash metal. They don’t exactly break new ground, but what’s on offer is as solid as you could possibly hope for. Check out “Architects of Doom” and “Blood of the Elves”.
The Callous Daoboys – Celebrity Therapist
Genre: Mathcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5
A carefully composed tug-of-war between poetic social commentary and frantic madness put into system. The musical performances are stellar and quite creative even for this subgenre, with the bass and guitar seemingly speaking their own schizophrenic and highly expressive language and the drums punctuating their arguments. It’s a bit of an earful, but highly recommended if you’re into that sort of thing.
Defacing God – The Resurrection Of Lilith
Genre: Melodic black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
An unholy symphony of darkly melodic guitar extravagance, snarly vocals, blastbeat-happy drums and the orchestra of the damned. It’s very well produced, and while they stick to well travelled territory, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t please any fan of the more symphonic side of extreme metal.
Ensanguinate – Eldritch Anatomy
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This one seems like a product of strictly adhering to the recipe for a solid, old-school death metal album. All the correct ingredients are there – riffs that make you do that “hell yeah” face as you appreciatively nod your head, that classic evil guitar tone, snarly vocals and more than a few drops of unholy water in the thematic well. You could call it predictable, but that still doesn’t mean you won’t appreciate what’s coming. Get on it with “Hunted” and “Vile Grace”.
Fear Disease – Floodgates
Genre: Melodic death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
This is pure adrenaline in the form of highly headbang-able, wicked riffs, powerful harmonies in the vein of Amon Amarth and infectious energy that lasts throughout the whole thing. It is pretty straightforward, and lacks the character to be considered particularly memorable, but it’s a excellent workout album.
Heads For The Dead – The Great Conjuration
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
If you’re into horror-themed death metal that’s not a complete gorefest, this ought to be for you. It’s sinister and quite brutal, but not completely devoid of theatrics or melody. There are both sections that feel a little too familiar and parts that showcase these guys’ talents for creating and coherently sticking to a cool concept.
The Hu – Rumble Of Thunder
Genre: Folk rock/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
You simply can’t deny the distinctiveness of The HU’s music. Already on their second full-length they sound like they’re operating with the confidence of legends like AC/DC. Although it’s doomed not to be as inventive as the first time around, it’s not without attempts at variation, as they explore heavy metal, country, punk rock and straight up traditional folk. As a metal fan I’m left desiring a lot more umph, but I won’t underestimate its potential as part of a live performance.
Imperium – Ex Mortis Gloria
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Imagine a V8-powered meat grinder that also shoots fireworks at regular intervals, and you’ve got something resembling this. It’s utterly ferocious most of the time, even when it lets up on the riffing to allow for a bit of shred, and much of what might be unique to their approach unfortunately gets lost in the grind.
Mad Max – Wings of Time
Genre: Hard rock/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Your typical high flying, glam-themed, fairly formulaic hard rock with a bit of pleasing heavy metal shred.
Mantic Ritual – Mantic Ritual EP
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Some enthusiastic, occult-leaning thrash with that classic brand of jank that harkens back to the birth of the subgenre. With musical chops of full display, this is a choice cut for fans of this particular brand of speedy, up-yours-metal.
Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
I was curious if the guys would be able to match the in-your face energy and brilliantly controlled technicality of “Dystopia” on its successor, and the short answer is absolutely yes. It’s not as much of a pleasant surprise this time around , but should be appreciated all the same from veterans like these. Everything’s remarkably tight, and there are treats in the form of delicious licks and drum fills sprinkled all throughout. Some of the lyrical material might feel a little stale at times, and not every single song feels essential, but if you’re looking for what most people are in a new Megadeth album, then you’ve got loads of it on here. Jump into “We’ll Be Back” and “Night Stalkers”.
Miss May I – Curse Of Existence
Genre: Metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A big, well-produced metalcore album where the subgenre’s melodeath roots are on full display. While the band’s sound is absolutely contemporary, there’s a strong presence of that original melodic metalcore from the early 2000s, which will be quite nostalgic for some. That being said, it’s not quite clear which direction the band wants to go in, and lyrics wise they seem content to stick to well tried and tested territory.
Novelists – Déjà Vu
Genre: Metalcore/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Slick production, lots of electronic elements, pop oriented and with 5 out of 12 songs being instrumental interludes. If that doesn’t dissuade you, then you might actually highly enjoy this. It’s melodic and high energy, made by very competent players.
Oceans Ate Alaska – Disparity
Genre: Progressive metalcore/deathcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
An onslaught of odd rhythms, snarling vocals and djent-y riffs, with the occasional melodic chorus. It’s actually fairly predictable in all its genre-typical unpredictability. Although a bit uneven in the tonal experience throughout the album, there are plenty of strong moments and performances, with the drum work and harsh vocals being highlights.
Trial – Feed The Fire
Genre: Heavy/progressive metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This is definitely the level to aspire to for melodic heavy metal bands who actually want to take their music a bit seriously, and don’t mind dipping into prog waters in order to fully show off the full breadth of their talents. For Trial, all theirs are on point here – instrumental, vocal and songwriting. The whole experience feels like being at the telling of a mythical saga – one of wonder and mystery but still grounded in reality and with a melancholy tone throughout. While quite energetic much of the time, it’s definitely one you can let your mind drift away with. Start with “In the Highest” and “Sulphery”.
Under The Oak – Rattus Norvegicus
Genre: Thrash/heavy metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A melodic but otherwise gritty thrash offering leaning towards the style of early British heavy metal like Judas Priest and Saxon. There’s nothing to be said against the effort put in, but a few shortcomings in performance cohesion stop them from soaring higher.
Xenobiotic – Hate Monolith (EP)
Genre: Technical deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Five tracks of absolutely unrelenting aggression delivered like high explosive shells out of a rotary cannon, plus five live tracks. While it’s brutally heavy, it hardly ever turns chaotic thanks to extreme rhythmic control and precision. They also manage to sneak in enough melody and atmosphere to please those outside of the strictly tech death sphere. I count ”Sever the Ties” and ”Pathos” among the highlights.
As always, if you think I’m completely off on an observation, unfairly dissed your favorite band or need to give an album another shot, do feel free to express yourself in the comments section below.
The Metal Dispatch 