Shit That Comes Out Today: July 20, 2018

To say that this week rocks for new shit would be an understatement. I didn’t even have room to feature all the good stuff from Jungle Rot, The Agony Scene and Depths of Hatred. Other than that, I’ll be heading down to the river for a float trip where, you guessed it, lots of fucking alcohol. But it’s not just me! Everyone gets to be a problem drinker on a float trip and that’s why they’re fun. As for the music, make sure you check out Existem if nothing else though. I’ve been jamming this album for a few months now and it’s already one of the best releases of the year. And finally, a friendly PSA from your favorite drunken blogger: Don’t do heroin and fuck your friend’s exes. You’re going to get your ass kicked! Mental illness and drugs aren’t excuse to fuck over the people that try to help you. In case you couldn’t tell, it’s been an interesting week in the Boozeman wing of the MS mansion. Now on to the music!

Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway
Dictator (Scarred For Life)
On a playlist with System of a Down, Stone Sour and Deftones
Listen: “Lives”

Better just embrace it now folks, because this is probably going to be the closest thing we get to a new System of a Down record. Why, you ask? Not only because you Daron Malakian was SOAD’s main songwriter, but also because he originally wrote a lot of the songs on Dictator  for a new SOAD album. For all intents and purposes, this is SOAD without Serj Tankian. and it’s not difficult to hear in “Lives” or in “Dictator”. That being said, I really enjoy the new stuff from Daron and I liked his earlier Scars on Broadway work as well. Honestly, the only thing to complain about on this album is Daron’s mustache in the music video for “Lives”. Take a look for yourself. I won’t spoil the surprise. But like I said, this is probably the closest thing we’re going to see to a new SOAD album so enjoy it.

Skeletonwitch
Devouring Radiant Light (Prosthetic Records)
On a playlist with The Black Dahlia Murder, Vektor and Goatwhore
Listen: Full album stream

I am aware that I blew my load a little early by announcing this last week. SORRY EVERYONE. Anyway, Devouring drops today for real this time and it might very well be Skeletonwitch’s best album, which is quite the accomplishment considering how absurdly good the rest of their catalog is. If you’ve somehow never listened to these dudes before and you like The Black Dahlia Murder and/or Goatwhore, check Skeletonwitch out and you’re sure to like what you hear. There honestly isn’t a whole lot I can say creatively that will be very original because this band is/has been/always will be incredible. You’re welcome to disagree with me but you’re also welcome to go spoon a lathe! If you choose the latter, let me know if it worked out for you and what your hospital bill is. For a more detailed opinion, check out Excretakano’s review here.

Existem
Mantle (self-released)
On a playlist with The Ocean, Textures and Periphery
Listen: “Descent”

At long motherfucking last I can talk about this album in full. Mantle is an unbelievably good record about a man who has a dream about Gaia and returns to consciousness to usher in a new age of harmonious life. If you’re amazed that you haven’t heard of these guys, that’s because they’re still a local Kansas City act and you’re not alone. But rest assured, there is some incredible songwriting on display here and plenty of artistic decisions the add a lot of depth to Mantle that put it far beyond the level of your basic prog act. One of these decisions is the use of female vocals to represent Gaia, rather than throwing them in there randomly for no other purpose than that the vocalist can’t scream anymore coughwindsofplaguesough. Regardless, check this album out and you’ll be glad you did. Mantle is easily one of the best albums of the year so let the strength of Gaia give you purpose and blast this beast of an album until our planet isn’t screwed anymore.

Epica
Epica vs. Attack On Titan (Nuclear Blast)
On a playlist with Nightwish, Kamelot and Therion
Listen: “Crimson Bow and Arrow”

Attack On Titan metal? Alright, you’ve got my attention. If you haven’t ever seen Attack On Titan, it’s an incredibly violent anime that tells the story of humanity fighting back against predatory giants, called titans, who eat humans for fun rather than for survival. As I said, it’s beautifully gory, showing people being eaten alive in gruesome fashion and is absolutely not shy on blood and severed limbs. As for the music itself? I gotta say I dig it, especially since I’ve always been down with symphonic metal, which is Epica’s style. The album itself is epic metal covers and songs inspired by the music of the show, “Crimson Bow and Arrow” taking after the theme song, which was already awesome before being made metal. This is a killerconcept for an album and I’ll be listening to this while I go re-watch the show and maybe finally finish season 2, you know, now that I sacked up and paid for commercial-free Hulu.

Powerwolf
The Sacrament Of Sin (Napalm)
On a playlist with Ghost, HammerFall and Korpiklaani
Listen: “Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend”

OH MY GOD how in the hell have I not listened to Powerwolf more. This band is wonderful for all the same reasons that Ghost and other theatrical bands are. They’re epic, they’re catchy, and most of all they’re corny. There’s a certain amount of cheese you have to embrace with bands like Powerwolf but that’s what makes them fun. Imagine how awesome it’s going to be for everyone to belt out the chorus to “Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend” while they’re hammered. Lot’s of fucking fun. It’s definitely beer drinking music from the heave-ho feel of the track so I’ll likely be cheesing out to these dudes while I drive down to the river for the weekend.

OTHER SHIT THAT COMES OUT TODAY
Apocalypse Blues Revue The Shape Of Blues To Come (Provogue/Mascot) listen
Cemetery Lust Rotting In Piss (Hells Headbangers) listen
Depths Of Hatred Bloodguilt (Prosthetic Records) listen
Extremity Coffin Birth (20 Buck Spin) listen
God Alone Bent Shoulders (Rise Records) listen
If Not For Me Capture the Current (Standby Records) listen
Jungle Rot Jungle Rot (Victory Records) listen
Khorada Salt (Prophecy) listen
Mothersound The Distance Between (Stay Sick Recordings) listen
Mutilation Rites Chasm (Gilead Media/Argento Records) listen
The Agony Scene Tormentor (Outerloop Records) listen
The Lion’s Daughter Future Cult listen
Vokonis Olde One Ascending (Ripple) listen
Wisdom In Chains Nothing In Nature Respects Weakness (Fast Break! Records) listen

SHIT THAT COMES OUT AGAIN TODAY
Amorphis Tales From The Thousand Lakes (Vinyl) (Relapse) listen
Amorphis The Karelian Isthmus (Vinyl) (Relapse) listen
Death Individual Thought Patterns (20th Anniversary Edition) (Vinyl) (Relapse) listen
Death Leprosy (30th Anniversary Edition) (Vinyl) (Relapse) listen
Death The Sound Of Perseverance (Remastered) (Vinyl) (Relapse) listen
Mark Deutrom Brief Sensuality & Western Violence (Reissue) listen
While She Sleeps You Are We (Special Edition) (SharpTone Records) listen