WSOU Picks of the Week: Mastodon, Nova Collective, Black Map

Seton Hall University’s WSOU radio is the only all-metal, all-the-time station currently broadcasting in the US, and as been a force in metal for DECADES. It’s also streamable online from anywhere in the world! Each week, the staff of WSOU shares their picks for the heaviest of the heavy, as well as the station’s charts for that week, right here on MetalSucks. Enjoy:

Mastodon – “Roots Remain” (Megan S.)

Mastodon return to the concept album with their seventh studio release, Emperor of Sand. Their progressive style can really be felt on the fifth track, “Roots Remain.” Besides being the second longest track on the album, “Roots Remain” changes pace throughout, building to some excellent guitar riffs from Brent Hinds. Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders alternate vocals, and lyrically “Roots Remain” focuses on decay and the passage of time. Emperor of Sand came out on March 31 through Reprise Records.

Nova Collective – “Ripped Apart and Reassembled” (Rich F.)

Nova Collective are an instrumental supergroup featuring members of Between The Buried and Me, Haken, and Trioscapes. This song is extremely dope — all of the different sounds really go well together. It sounds like something I’d hear from a Sega game back in 1998 while playing the Dreamcast (R.I.P.). The guitar riffs matched up with the synths are bound to put you in a groovy mood.

Black Map – “Ruin” (Kelsey F.)

Black Map’s new single “Ruin” has a heavy, but upbeat sound all while describing “the world falling apart before their eyes” by their bassist, Ben Flanagan. It’s an interesting mix to have a more upbeat sound with such a dystopian song theme. I find myself really getting into it as I’m listening and I’m curious to hear the rest of the new album.