SH*T THAT COMES OUT TODAY – THE DECEMBER 6TH, 2011 EDITION
Only two Christmas-themed releases this week as we continue to close the book on 2011’s new releases. Next week will be my last article of the year, as we close down for the year on the 16th.
Austrian Death Machine – Jingle All The Way (Metal Blade)
Tim Lambesis’s Arnold-spoof side project returns with their second take on a metal Christmas EP (2008’s A Very Brutal Christmas contained a cover of the classic “Jingle Bells” tune, a Priest cover and a track from Total Brutal). Of course it’s silly and ridiculous; it’s Austrian Death Machine we’re talking about. The EP’s three tracks, “I’m Not A Pervert”, “It’s Turbo Time” and “Who Told You You Could Eat My Cookies?” continue the basic thrash/speed metal tone of the band’s previous two albums, which is to say this isn’t much different than ADM’s other material… but this isn’t music to be taken seriously. Austrian Death Machine is about fun and laughing at a record while it still impresses you with some sweet musical chops.
Cormorant – Dwellings (Arthur Von Nagel’s Bedroom Records)
We’ve talked about this album lots on the site, so apologies for leaving it off an earlier edition of this column. On his band’s second effort, von Nagel expands his palette ever-wider to create what NPR is calling the best metal release of 2011. Listen to it in full here.
Czar – Vertical Mass Grave (Cracknation)
The version of this post published earlier today also left out Czar’s crushing new one Vertical Mass Grave. Considering we premiered the track “Family Crest” on MetalSucks and Kip W. named the album as one of his favorites of 2011, you’d’ve thunk we’d remember to include it… d’oh! Really good album full of chunky, visceral face-fuckage.
Holy Grail – Season’s Bleedings (Prosthetic)
Holy Grail’s ode to the holidays includes a cover of the King Diamond classic “No Presents For Christmas” and a cover of Rainbow’s “Kill The King”. The album also features the first recording of the band with new guitarist Alex Lee (formerly of Bonded By Blood). The EP is available today digitally, and the record (for the price of $6.66) will ship soon.
-VV
