Not the biggest week for all-out metal releases, instead we see a lot of bands teetering on the edge, and a few extreme metal hard-hitters punching through the veil.
Abduction – Black Blood
Genre: Black/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
A form-finding, slightly exploratory black metal experience that packs a bit of death metal muscle for added brute force. The mood is insidious, like the heralding of the denizens of some best-forgotten catacombs. It carries the consistency of being a one-man project, but te flip side of the coin is a certain lack in variation.
Architects – the classic symptoms of a broken spirit
Genre: Metalcore/pop metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Not giving up on the progressive elements that are so ingrained in their style, Architects still go on to further embrace a pop-oriented approach on this release. Putting catchiness first might seem like a huge compromise, but they still manage to prioritize quality in every step of the production. With a clearer divide between memorable songs and not-so’s this time around, this will still massively appeal to the fresher partition of their fanbase.
Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society
Genre: Power/symphonic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
An uplifting invitation into the fantastical realm of Avantasia, to experience… much of what you’ve come to expect really. It’s packed with guest performances and semi-progressive instrumental feats, but the rhythms and arrangements are as predictable as they come. If you’re here for the nerdy immersion though, you probably won’t be disappointed.
Battalions – King Of A Dead World
Genre: Sludge/stoner metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Some rowdy, sludgy stoner metal with the groove turned way up. This is all about badass crunchy riffs and simple, mid-paced rhythms. As a simple entertainer this has great value, but don’t expect a ton of substance beyond that.
Blakk Ledd – Heavy Metal Fans
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2/5
A classic metal appreciation-style album that sounds straight out of the eighties, it’s a non-stop trope train to a mild dip in the nostalgia pond.
Black Royal – Earthbound
Genre: Stoner/death metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
These guys have injected their death metal with a sizable dose of stoner mellowness, which makes for one of the most chill brutal musical experiences you’ll come across. With a huge, cushioning bass at the bottom and tickling groove at the top, this is simply put easy to appreciate. Unfortunately it gets a bit too chill past the midpoint and kind of just cruises to a natural halt, seemingly having leaked empty of creative juice.
Black Widows – Among The Brave Ones
Genre: Gothic/symphonic metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
A spirited, hard rock-y gothic with a medium spiky attitude and mild symphonic ambitions. It’s a bit all over the place, proving this all-female gang might just need a bit of time to mature into something more cohesive.
Cabal – Magno Interitus
Genre: Deathcore
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Cabal’s brand of deathcore is certainly a sinister one, but in a very pumped-up, unsubtle way, and none of that is missing from this album. You get the impression that this is all about the beats, backed by electronic horror tones, and then adding the wild beast vocals and chugging riffs on top as a bit of a necessity. It definitely sounds angry enough, but the aggressive energy doesn’t come through as thoroughly as it could.
Cassius King – Dread The Dawn
Genre: Stoner/doom metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3/5
With vocals reminiscent of Dio and riffs in the vein of Sabbath, it’s easy to get exited. Well, we’re not quite there yet, but then this is also much more in the realm of stoner metal. It’s mellow-groovy, with a few instrumental twists and turns, but they do tend to get a bit bogged down with the same, repetitive riff.
Crooked Royals – Quarter Life Daydream
Genre: Progressive metalcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Buoyant and fleet-of-foot metalcore that, while certainly residing on the more accessible side of the spectrum, has some really well thought out melodies crafted from a standpoint of wanting to express oneself through adventurous instrumental feats.
Diamond Chazer – Starriders
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Retro metal with a strong nod to NWOBHM, unfortunately their skillset hasn’t quite caught up with their aspirations.
Exhumed – To The Dead
Genre: Death metal
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Old school gory death metal just like the mad doctor ordered. Exhumed has hit just the right level of chaotic on this one, as you flail your head and itch with anticipation for that next ridiculously awesome riff section. How they manage to build such individually strong tracks in a subgenre as populated as this is a small wonder, but they certainly pull it off. This is metal that makes getting slapped around with intestines sound like great fun. Get in with the nasty with “Carbonized” and “Disgusted”.
Ggu:ll – Ex Est
Genre: Doom/black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Slow, pitch black doom emanating from some vast, forbidden underground vault. To call it sinister would be a huge understatement. With a tone of hopelessness, topped by dry, hoarse screams and powered by crispy black metal riffs, this is highly promising stuff. The last third of the album lacks a bit of substance to get them all the way there, but it’s not far off.
Gospelheim – Ritual & Repetition
Genre: Gothic metal/rock
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
With the mood set confidently to the lower end of the demeanor scale, this gothic heavy rock outfit strikes a good balance between classic catchiness and that mild nihilism that the subgenre is all about. The melodies are on a constant tipping point between hopeful and hopeless, and they flow from atmospheric rock to near-black metal intensity, which all contributes to keeping it interesting all the way through. The vocal harmonization might be a little hit or miss for some, but it certainly adds character. Give it a try with “The Hall of the Unconsumed” and “Satan Blues”.
Gothminister – Pandemonium
Genre: Industrial/gothic/electronic metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
An equal mix of Marilyn Manson edginess, Rammstein catchiness and techno sensibilities, this would certainly get a goth themed rave going, and probably works pretty great live. For your living room, the cheese factor might be a tad too much.
Inclination – Unaltered Perspective
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 4.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This is hardcore that takes the origin of old school metalcore (Hatebreed) and builds on it with all the ferocity that can be mustered from a modern sensibility. What you get is stomp-till-your-shin-bone-comes-through-your-knee-joint-level energy, meaty guitars, rockslide bass and beyond animated drums. Taking the attitude of punk and some of the heaviness of groove- and nu metal, this is a near perfect melding of those two worlds. Add a commanding tone and vocals brimming with conviction, and you can’t help but get dragged along. Jump into “Bystander” and “Thoughts and Prayers”.
Iron Allies – Blood In Blood
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
These guys have groove and biker appeal coming out of their ears. And clichés oozing out of their pores. It’s got some heaviness, but the tempo feels sluggish.
Nameless Theory – Into The Void
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2/5
Slightly doomy, slightly thrashy heavy metal that needs a lot of work yet, both performance and production wise.
Nighted – Absence
Genre: Progressive/melodic black metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Clearly following in the footsteps of Emperor/Ihsahn, this takes black metal and loosens it up a bit, to the point where it can almost be described as spritely. Blasphemy! Err, wait… hmm. That melancholic tremolo tone is certainly still there, but the dark synth/backed melodies dare to raise the gaze up from the ground to the distant horizon. There’s a real melodic talent on display here, taking a bit from melodic death metal but staying firmly in the dark, and it feels like it’s done not to be more accessible, but to expand into a wider sonic space. Visit it with “Sigil” and “Acronyc”.
OneLegMan – Event Horizon
Genre: Progressive metal
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Here you’ve got a band taking the electronic funhouse vibes of Devin Townsend and adding a touch of industrial catchiness, plus the love for slightly artificial, epic melody that your mostly get in Finnish metal. I think they could have benefited from a bit more experimentation, but if a medium level of prog oddity and a strong nerd factor does it for you, then have at it.
Sede Vacante – Conium
Genre: Symphonic/gothic metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Symphonic metal lends itself quite well to a bit of a gothic tinge, as long as it’s done with a modicum of taste. That is certainly the case here, and while it does tone down the grandeur a little, it makes for a much wider mood space. Some of the harmonies need a little tightening up, but you do get an excellent production and awesome instrumental surges.
Steel Inferno – Evil Reign
Genre: Heavy/thrash metal
Subjective rating: 2.5/5
Objective rating: 3/5
Garage project-production heavy metal with the speed and dexterity of thrash. It’s raw and enthusiastic, and gives you much of what was to love about those early thrash bands, minus some distinctiveness.
Taking Balfour – Dawn of Polaris
Genre: Progressive metal/rock
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
Sounding a bit like Alter Bridge gone prog, this is a good mix of melodic riffs, impressive vocals and a playful attitude to rhythm and bass work. There is a bombast to the overall mood, but they don’t quite reach the peaks that you might hope for.
Vigilance – Vigilance EP
Genre: Heavy metal
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Now for some Slovenian semi-progressive heavy metal. The players seem on a dead-set quest to impress, as near every single section of every song seems to offer up something slightly, or even drastically, new and fresh. This playfulness gets to define the entire listening experience, which is perfectly condensed to the five songs on here. A stellar addition to the classic metal resurrection. Treat yourself to “Roka Pogube” and “Orbis Mundi”.
A Wake In Providence – Eternity
Genre: Symphonic/blackened deathcore
Subjective rating: 4/5
Objective rating: 4/5
As far as deathcore goes, this has a pretty interesting dynamic going on. It feels like a reptilian predator, constricting, relaxing and snapping at you in turn. Thematically this leans into the occult and unholy, which finds its musical expression in the orchestral qualities that are particularly prevalent in the second half of the album. It goes some way towards the theatricality of bands like Fleshgod Apocalypse, but keeps it reined in to a point where it never feels silly or overboard. But it certainly remains dark and dramatic. Dive into “We are Eternity” and “The Book of the Eldritch (Second Movement)”.
Wesenwille – III: The Great Light Above
Genre: Progressive black metal
Subjective rating: 3.5/5
Objective rating: 4/5
This is shadow-lurking, ghost-city-dwelling black metal that’s constantly flirting with dissonance. The rasp and slight disharmony adds a layer of character, like the very essence of the music has been marred by the harshness of an uncaring world. There is both atmosphere and attack in plenty, and while the sense of direction isn’t always perfectly clear, the music is constantly on the move.
White Skull – Metal Never Rusts
Genre: Power metal
Subjective rating: 2/5
Objective rating: 2.5/5
Battle anthem power metal that sound epic in every way, except in those that really count, unfortunately. The rhythms are very plain, there is a significant lack of depth and punch in the production, and the vocal performances just don’t quite reach the level suggested by the tone.
Witch Blade – Månsken
Genre: Hardcore
Subjective rating: 3/5
Objective rating: 3.5/5
Cult-y heavy metal from Sweden, this is back to basics, classic revival. It sounds focused and enthusiastic, but also quite uniform, like there’s very little wiggle room allowed outside a strictly set trajectory.
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 