Shit That Comes Out Today: January 18th, 2019
What’s up, nerds? After my hiatus from writing during the holiday season (which featured an excursion to Cuba and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of accidentally drinking Cuban tap water) it’s my pleasure to be taking over one of the most esteemed columns on the whole entire internet.
I know you folks can be hard to please, but I’ll do my best to touch on all the bases: big name must-listens, underground punishers, and of course, garbage that no one cares about. If there’s ever something awesome coming up that you think deserves a mention, throw it in the comments and I’ll check it out.
While today is a fairly boring release day in the metal world, it would’ve been way too easy for me to start when there’s lots of cool shit to talk about. So, here’s some stuff:
Arch Enemy
Covered In Blood (Century Media)
RIYL Arch Enemy
Listen “Reason To Believe”
I kinda missed the whole Arch Enemy photography scandal thing — is it still cool to talk about them? If not, sry. Admittedly, I don’t often go out of my way to listen to the band, but they’re not bad and people like ‘em so here we are. Covered In Blood is a compilation of all the covers Arch Enemy have recorded over the years, including songs by Carcass, Megadeth, Iron Maiden and more. Old and new fans alike will dig, since both Angela’s and Alissa’s vocals are featured on the record.
Gorgon
Elegy (Dusktone)
RIYL Melechesh, Moonspell
Listen “Of Divinity And Flesh”
I haven’t been able to listen to this full album yet, but the first single has me intrigued, so I’m slapping it up here. As someone whose fancy isn’t often tickled by symphonic metal, I’ve gotta say that “Of Divinity And Flesh” is actually pretty dope. The instrumentation is epic, the production is huge, and I’m a sucker for synths and world-music influences, so I can forgive the occasional cheese. Don’t @ me.
Haunt
Mosaic Vision (Independent)
RIYL Iron Maiden, Judas Priest
Full Album Stream
Are Haunt pioneers of modern metal, bulldozing musical boundaries and redefining what it means to be extreme? Nope. Are they a fun, consistent, and dare I say “nostalgic” listen? You betcha.
I wasn’t even a thought in my mother’s mind when NWOBHM was a thing, but that doesn’t mean I can’t live vicariously through the memories of those who witnessed the spectacle firsthand. Haunt are exactly the heroes we needed to make sure the movement stays fresh in everyone’s hearts forever. Their latest, Mosaic Vision, is pretty much exactly what we’ve come to expect from these guys since their debut last year: a classic-yet-contemporary blast from the past.
Flotsam and Jetsam
The End of Chaos (AFM Records)
RIYL Metallica, Slayer
Listen “Recover”
Another take on old-school metal, The End of Chaos is a rabid speed-demon of a record, and it’s safe to say that it’s the real deal considering Flotsam and Jetsam have been thrashing with the greats since the ’80s. Polished and concise songwriting accompanies deliciously tight playing and powerful vocals, creating what could easily end up as the thrash record of the year (although it’s a bit early to be speculating).
Ceremented / Malefic Levitation
Split (Caligari Records)
RIYL Tomb Mold, Revenge
Full Album Stream
Just when I was starting to worry that this list would be completely devoid of anything kvlt, Phoenix’s Ceremented and California’s Malefic Levitation swooped in and saved the day. Though their new split clocks in at less than half an hour, it forgoes the filler and gets straight to the nasty. Ceremented’s half employs the oozing, cavernous aesthetic favored by all the kewl death metal bands these days and crust-ifies it with hints of hardcore and punk, and Malefic Levitation spend their eight-ish minutes in a deranged blackened-death frenzy. Buckle your seatbelts, kiddos.
OTHER SHIT THAT COMES OUT TODAY
Epitimia Thread (Naturmacht Productions) listen
Woorms slake (The Hospital Records) listen
Astrophobos Malice Of Antiquity (Independent) listen
A Pale Horse Named Death When the World Becomes Undone (Long Branch Records) listen
Dust Bolt Trapped In Chaos (Napalm Records) listen
Hanormale Reborn In Butterfly (Dusktone) listen
Dawn Of Ashes The Crypt Injection II (Non Serivam) (Metropolis Records) listen
Fever 333 Strength In Numb333rs (Roadrunner Records) listen
Malevolent Creation The 13th Beast (Century Media Records) listen
Cane Hill Kill The Sun (Rise Records) listen
Wristmeetrazor Misery Never Forgets (Prosthetic Records) listen
Altitudes & Attitude Get It Out (Megaforce) listen
Trollfest Norwegian Fairytales (Napalm Records) listen
The Three Tremors The Three Tremors (Steel Cartel Records) listen
Raven Screaming Murder Death from Above: Live in Aalborg (Steamhammer) listen
Powergame Masquerade (Fucking Kill Records) listen
