A week spearheaded by young blood, bringing you tenacity, creativity and raw talent in spades.
After All – Eos
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
This is one of those where the melding of thrash and traditional doesn’t go as smoothly as you might hope. Operatic vocals and bombastic melody clashes with straightforward, cutthroat riffing, and you keep wishing they’d just stuck to the latter of the two.
Alter Bridge – Pawns & Kings
Genre: Hard rock/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A bit too heavy to be hard rock, a bit too straightforward to be metal, Alter Bridge chooses to exist somewhere in between, bringing some of the best of both worlds to a joined audience. As always, Myles’ voice soars high above roguishly adventurous guitar work, and mostly hopeful melodies. No big surprises, but fans should be stoked.
Avoid – Cult Mentality
Genre: Metalcore/pop punk
Subjective rating: 1.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Playful and energetic with top-of-the-lungs vocals and the enthusiasm of a pappy, this is a lot of fun, if nothing particularly original, for everyone who don’t mind the poppy melody sections.
Birds In Row – Gris Klein
Genre: Progressive hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 4/5
It’s plainly evident that this is a band with a lot on their mind, and not just considering the lyrics. So much is being communicated here – of lives past and present, and the world that surrounds them. The tone is thoroughly morose, but there is also far too much energy being expended to lead you into sullenness. The drum work is simply phenomenal, with the guitar slightly pulled back but still contributing moving melodies and progressive gallops.
Boundaries – Brightness
Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Explosive, insistent, striking – this albums goes on a triumphant rampage, striking out with as much precision as reckless abandon. This is djent- and groove-infused metalcore that sets out to achieve a lot in the span of its runtime, and succeeds in most every respect. With inventive rhythms that keep pushing the momentum no matter their intensity, powerful vocals that could exist equally within hardcore and blackened death metal, and non-stop variation, this is a fantastic blend of the familiar and unexpected. Check out “Your Own Murder” and “Heaven’s Broken Heart”.
Catalyst – A Different Painting For A New World
Genre: Technical death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A tech death band that likes it over on the chaotic side of the fence. There’s a good mix of utter drum madness and speedy melodic guitar work, and while ther transitions between the two could be more refined, the overall balance is pleasing. There isn’t quite enough substance on here to reach the big leagues, but still plenty to enjoy.
Cavernous Gate – Voices From A Fathomless Realm
Genre: Atmospheric doom//black metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
A fairly mellow blackened doom album that sounds like it’s being played out over a bottomless chasm. There’s a big emphasis on atmosphere, with a few, limited aggressive sections. Both are great, but the overall impression is unfortunately one of lots of empty space.
Daeva – Through Sheer Will And Black Magic
Genre: Black/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5
Apparently there’s a lot of echoing going on in hell. And hot sand underfoot, cause this stuff is in a damn hurry to get places. The drums and shreds are utterly relentless, driving this hurricane of slightly low fi black thrash onwards at breakneck speed. While it does get to the point of being overwhelming every now and then, the band knows when to shift gears and treat you to some slightly more laid back, doom-tinged melodic riffing. The control these guys possess over the arrangements are nothing short of baffling. Give it a go with “Passion Under the Hammer” and “Luciferian Return”.
Dragonland – The Power Of The Nightstar
Genre: Power/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
How about some light-hearted, space-bound, symphonic power metal? Sure, it sounds more or less exactly as you expect you too, but somehow they’ve made the cheese very palatable. Instruments, vocals and effects are in perfect harmony, delivering an immersive and uplifting experience.
Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath The Winter Way
Genre: Atmospheric/progressive doom metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Airy, atmospheric, electronic stuff that sort of just floats around without aim and then flex every muscle to convulsively deliver some pent up rage.
Exist Immortal – Exist Immortal
Genre: Progressive metal/metalcore
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Modern progressive metal with a metalcore flair, that might be leaning a bit too far into pop in its harmonies to some people’s taste, making substantial parts of the songs rather predictable in the midst of an otherwise good variation in rhythm and intensity.
Firtan – Marter
Genre: Black/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
An imposing and at the same time rather solemn heavyweight of a gothic black metal album. It offers up a wealth of moderately different approaches within the same, coherent soundscape. There is pure, thunderous black metal aggression, little moments of instrumental showmanship, atmospheric shifts and reverent contemplation. And yet it still manages to keep up a steadfast momentum, as it’s clear the band has poured all their effort into their performances. Not all the melodic sections are equally rewarding, but the whole is still impressive. Dive into “Fadir” and “Menetekel”.
Girih – Ikigai
Genre: Atmospheric/cinematic metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
An instrumental release that wants to take you on a journey of marvels, with an undertone of slight melancholy. You get a well blended mix of sweeping atmospheric melody and surges of intensity.
Lorna Shore – Pain Remains
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5
Cue the vocal acrobatics! Ever since “To the Hellfire”, vocalist Will Ramos has been in the deathcore spotlight, and for good reason. On this album he proves that he can not only be the centerpiece, but also thoroughly support the instrumental performances and mesh beautifully with the flow. Cause he is certainly not the only one who delivers on here. Set to epic, sometimes chorus -topped harmonies, the music struts with triumphant energy. It’s still brutally heavy, and will properly melt your face off with its technicality, but the fact that they still manage such a melodic and radiant whole just takes it to a different league. Fire up “Into the Earth” and “Pain Remains II: After All I’ve Done, I’ll Disappear”.
Nothing More – Spirits
Genre: Alternative metal/hard rock
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3/5
As far as melodic, surface-edgy, emotional and pop-oriented heavy releases go, this is quality. It sounds great, shows great talent for vibrant rhythm, and is led by an outstanding vocal performance. It loses both steam and creative verve towards the end, and as straight up metal it hardly qualifies, but that won’t matter one bit to the fans, who will flock to the big hits.
Outline In Color – Coast Is Clear
Genre: Progressive metalcore/alternative metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
The duality of raspy, rhythmic harshness and soft, melodic serenading is prevalent all throughout this one. It moves well, and the variation is rewarding, but for people leaning to the heavy side will most likely be left a bit disappointed.
Rhythm Of Fear – Fatal Horizons
Genre: Thrash metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Dystopian-themed, with a hardcore harshness and stark quality to it, this is rhythm-driven, slightly thin-sounding thrash. It’s direct, and fairly melodic considering its slightly bleak sensibilities.
Ripped To Shreds – 劇變 (Jubian)
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4.5/5
This is sinister, flesh-rending, old-school death metal that can do both frantic blasts and scorched grooves. The level of crunch in the riffs is nothing short of delicious, and the vocals are just the right level of hoarse. Thematically it’s a deep dive into history with its and all its delightful atrocities, but the band hasn’t fallen for the temptation of going on any extended ambient tangents or put in any theatrical interludes. Instead it’s a non stop crusher from start to finish. Get into it with “Split Apart by Five Chariots” and “Peregrination to the Unborn Eternal Mother”.
Stormruler – Sacred Rites & Black Magick
Genre: Melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Sweeping, epic black metal with melodic arrangements that definitely sound inspired by Scandinavian death metal. And they don’t skimp on the embellishments. The instruments are loud and proud, and with a fairly thin, cold production it all sounds as crisp as a winter’s morning. But with every other song being an interlude, it can also feel as dragged out as having to wait in line in the cold.
Turbocharged – Alpha Beast, Omega God
Genre: Death metal/punk
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Rough as rusted barbed wire around the edges, that in itself is perhaps this album’s biggest selling point. Trampling any notions of melody or finesse underfoot, this is up close and personal, street brawl death metal. With a bit of refinement (or maybe less), this could be a serious head-turner.
Varials – Scars For You To Remember
Genre: Metalcore/hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Trying on a few different hats as they go along, Varials mostly play a form of jagged, rhythm-driven metalcore on here, but with added flavors of hardcore, deathcore and alternative. It can make the whole thing feel disjointed or simply experimental, depending on your point of view.
V.E.I.N. – Blood Oaths
Genre: Death/black metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Properly low-fi, this is strictly for those who wants their record to sound like a cassette found in the apocalyptic aftermath of a nuclear disaster.
Victoria K – Kore
Genre: Symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Marred by a slightly iffy production, this is flavorful symphonic music teetering on the edge between metal and hardcore, and you can’t help the feeling that this really isn’t intentional.
Virgin Mother – Mourning Ritual
Genre: Experimental/ambient metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
This album can feel a bit like being stuck inside a beehive, with various states of the world playing as a backdrop outside, affecting the mood inside the hive accordingly. It’s a bit too disjointed to be fully immersive though.
We Came As Romans – Darkbloom
Genre: Metalcore/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Massive-sounding, emotionally driven, electronica-infused metalcore with a definite sing-along quality that simply will or won’t work for you, It sounds very much up to date, utilizing pretty much every trope in modern melodic metal and electronic music today, and yet they have undeniably succeeded in making it their own.
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 