Sh*t That Comes Out Today: July 31, 2020
Oh cool, July’s almost over. Here are some more new metal releases. It’s a slow week.
Dee Snider
For the Love of Metal Live! (Napalm)
You gotta give Dee Snider credit for actually being a metal fan — he’s always paid attention to where the sound was going, even if it didn’t bode well for his commercial interests. Now that the Twisted Sister retirement fund reunion tour is over, he’s still doing his thing, and here’s living proof that he can still bring it. He and his new band rip through turbocharged versions of TS classics and stuff from his new album, showing that Twisted Sister’s glam metal was closer to metal than glam. Mostly unnecessary but still fun.
High Spirits
Hard To Stop (High Roller)
With a cover reminiscent of the British art for Judas Priest’s Point of Entry, Hard to Stop offers high-energy, positive throwback metal courtesy of Dawnbringer’s Chris Black. Like Haunt, High Spirits combine upbeat melodies with deeply introspective lyrics, and they show how to update a classic sound for today without just feeling like a cover band. Their first full-length in four years was worth the wait. As the title implies, you won’t be able to turn it off.
Imperial Triumphant
Alphaville (Century Media)
Art deco is certainly an underused aesthetic in metal; you’d think that its severe angles and metallic sheen would fit right in. Kudos to Imperial Triumphant for arriving at that one first. And the look fits the sound — their New York-based and -focused black metal certainly takes an angular, ornate approach. The Voivod and Residents covers they offer as bonus tracks tell you where their hearts lie pretty clearly. Alphaville presents a challenging edifice, but one worth studying carefully.
King Gorm
King Gorm (Self-released)
Yeah I know, more prog-psych from guys wearing open shirts, but have I steered you wrong yet? Don’t answer that. At any rate, King Gorm hail from the mystical land of San Diego and come bearing Rainbow-colored chalices filled with Uriah Heep-ing amounts of Deep Purple mead. Yes, they rule. It’s unabashedly 70s but in that timeless way — these guys clearly love the sound and do their best to put their own spin on it while honoring the ghosts of those that came before.
OTHER SHIT THAT COMES OUT TODAY
Black Veil Brides – Re-Stitch These Wounds (Sumerian) Listen
Katalepsy – Terra Mortuus Est (Unique Leader) Listen
Lionheart – The Reality Of Miracles (Metalville) Listen
Mora Prokaza – By Chance (Season Of Mist) Listen
Septicflesh – Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX DVD (Season Of Mist) Listen
Thundermother – Heat Wave (AFM) Listen
Warkings – Revenge (Napalm) Listen
SHIT THAT COMES OUT AGAIN TODAY
Between The Buried And Me – The Silent Circus Vinyl Reissue (Craft) Listen
