Sh*t That Comes Out Today – September 1 ,2023
This new release calendar is slower than Mitch McConnell’s brain, so let’s get this over with.
Empire State Bastard
Rivers of Heresy (Roadrunner)
Members of Biffy Clyro team up with former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo for an album billed as grindcore that… isn’t really grindcore? Sure, Rivers of Heresy has moments that go grind but it’s more of a weirdo extreme-metal release, more in line with Mr. Bungle or Fantômas. When Empire State Bastard get going, they really get going, like on “Blusher.”
Firewind
Still Raging: 20th Anniversary Show (AFM)
Recorded in the band’s birthplace of Thessaloniki, Still Raging is a celebration of 20 years of existence (more or less) for power metal stalwarts Firewind, perhaps best known as the main band for ex-Ozzy guitarist Gus G. Still Raging is a 20-track, two-disc endeavor that covers the band’s catalogue and shows that, 20 years later, these songs still have some oomph. The Firewind lineup has changed over the years, so Still Raging also captures recordings of older songs with the new band, including singer Herbie Langhans, who joined in 2020.
Primal Fear
Code Red (Atomic Fire)
Long-running speed metallers Primal Fear return with their 14th full-length, Code Red. Musically, the band don’t sound past their expiration date but singles like “Cancel Culture” make you wonder if the Germans have anything left to say.
Soen
Memorial (Silver Lining)
Swedish progressive metal outfit Soen, featuring former Opeth drummer Martin Lopez, strike back with their third album since 2019. Memorial traverses familiar territory for the band, but not in a bad way. Soen’s sound is still clearly influenced by bands like Tool and Opeth, but, after six albums, they also have a sonic identity of their own. Prog fans and pre-existing fans of the bands should tap in. In particular, singer Joel Ekelöf sounds excellent.
Undergang
De Syv stadier af fordærv (Dark Descent)
Copenhagen’s filthiest return with another slab of death metal that proves that Undergang are still running circles around most of the death metal scene. Words like “festering” and “decay” are used far too often when discussing death metal that just isn’t but the snarl coming out of vocalist/guitarist D. Torturdød can’t be described in any other way. While bands like Outer Heaven and Horrendous showed us this year that death metal can reach soaring new highs, Undergang counterbalance it by reminding us that some death metal should remain underground and rotted. This is not one to be missed.
Other Shit That Comes Out Today:
Converge, The Dusk in Us (Deluxe) (Epitaph/Deathwish) Listen
Eclipse, Megalomanium (Frontiers) Listen
GWAR, Battle Maximus (10 Year Anniversary) (Pit) Listen
Outergods, A Kingdom Built Upon The Wreckage Of Heaven (Prosthetic) Listen
Polaris, Fatalist (Resist/SharpTone) Listen
Road Pig, Still the Future is Bleak (HPGD) Listen
Stitched Up Heart, To the Wolves (Century Media) Listen
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