✦✦✧✧ I will give this much to Code Orange: they’re certainly not resting on their laurels. Unfortunately, their experimentation here feels like it never fully pays off (with results ranging from “almost” to “oh no thank you”). Also, with this album the band have gone so far post hardcore that they somehow created a wormhole and punched right back through to nu metal. See the rest here
✦✦✦✧ Gorgeous, shreddy, and downright proggy instrumental post-metal. Think of a more exciting and interesting Intronaut (or a less obnoxious Polyphia) and you won’t be far from the mark. Stick around for the cameo from Tool’s Justin Chancellor in the closing track! See the rest here
✦✦✦✧ Surprisingly accessible, as far as avant-garde black metal goes. The album’s experimentation comes at you as curveballs without warning; while not every bet pays off, there are definite rewards here if you’re patient enough to receive them. Vicotnik’s vocals are a conspicuous letdown when compared to the lush production, instrumentation, and expansive songwriting. See the rest here
✦✦✦✧ This is fucking ridiculously blistering post-grindcore that feels more like speed metal than anything else. Note that this is technically a double album, with the second half dedicated to “karaoke” versions of the 11 songs. Also note that, even doubled up, the album is less than 40 minutes long. Also also note that, even listening solely to the trve 19-minute core album will leave you exhausted. See the rest here
✦✦✧✧ OSDM pioneers are back with another slab of gory filth. This time, they’re sounding more experimental and expansive than on their previous albums, and that’s for the good. You’ll hear plenty of nods to virtually all over kinds of metal… so long as those influences are from 1987. There’s lots of tasty shredding all over the place, too. See the rest here
✦✦✦✧ This is Tomb Mold’s most confusing work to date: a wild and uneven album, full of masterful shredding and conspicuous mistunings, jazzy interludes and unpredicted pummelings. It’s still solidly old school death metal, but proggier than ever. Imagine if Cynic went through puberty. See the rest here
✦✦✧✧ At their best, Baroness approximates an unstable equipoise between Helmet, Intronaut, and The Decemberists. I don’t smoke nearly enough reefer to really enjoy them, but with this album, I can sorta see how you might. See the rest here
✦✦✧✧ If you’ve never heard Skindred before, this is as good an example as any: Welsh nu metal with a decided Jamaican flair (thanks largely to vocalist and keyboardist Benjy Webbe). See the rest here
✦✦✦✧ A two-man side project offshoot of Scottish noise rock band Biffy Clyro, with guest drummer Dave Lombardo? Brace yourself for something in the neighborhood of Cave In, Fantômas, Glassjaw, and Old Man Gloom. Ferocious and unique! See the rest here
✦✦✧✧ Holy crap, new Sadus! Not that I was asking, but this album finally settles the question, What would this band sound like without bass legend Steve DiGiorgio? Answer: not-as-interesting Bay Area thrash. That’s not to say it’s bad by any means, so if that’s your mood and you want something new-ish and shreddy, give this a listen! See the rest here
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