Darkwater — Human
✦✦✦✧ This is just like Dream Theater, except better in virtually every way. That is to say, the cheese is the same, but the vocals and keyboards are a smidge more restrained. See the rest here
Category: First Listens
Aenimus — Dreamcatcher
✦✦✦✧ This tech death band sound like… a lot of other tech death bands. That’s not to say they sound derivative; rather, you can hear a staggering number of influences in their sound. It’s truly impressive how much this band can cram into songs that don’t spill into 10-plus-minute territory. On the other hand, good luck trying to headbang in time to the music! See the rest here
Overkill — The Wings Of War
✦✦✧✧ It’s an Overkill album. New Jersey’s most steadfast thrash organization gives us pretty much exactly what we want them to, god bless ’em. See the rest here
Soen — Lotus
✦✦✦✧ This is some very good prog metal. The band’s early influences-on-their-sleeves approach is more subdued here (although you can still hear glimmers of Tool, Opeth, and even latter-day Pink Floyd in the mix), and the result is patient yet plaintive, and more surefooted than ever. My main complaint? It’s a hard kind of music to get excited about. See the rest here
Kaleikr — Heart Of Lead
✦✧✧✧ What is this, Deafheaven? See the rest here
Violblast — Theater Of Despair
✦✦✧✧ This is somehow simultaneously vintage thrash and updated rethrash (imagine Exodus fused with hints of both Slayer and Gojira). Sadly, the subpar production distracts from some otherwise stellar moments. See the rest here
King 810 — Suicide King
✦✦✧✧ Weird: my very first thought was, “What the actual fuck is this?! Nu-nu-metal? Mumblecore? Frippertronics?” After a few tracks, I realized that I can’t think of anything else that sounds remotely like this… and that uniqueness absolutely should be celebrated for what it is. Don’t get me wrong: this is about as metal as The Prodigy. See the rest here
Rotting Christ — The Heretics
✦✦✧✧ A surprisingly smooth, energetic, and entertaining collection of folksy, dronelike black metal from these pioneers of the Greek metal scene. Sure, the album is liberally embellished with black metal clichés, but if you’re down for atheistic metal with some cheesy chants and badly-enunciated English vocals, this album is sure to be a hit! See the rest here
Soilwork — Verkligheten
✦✦✦✧ Soilwork continue their explorations beyond their own formulaic confines which started with The Ride Majestic. The result is fresher, more lyrical, and surprisingly subtle for these melodeath champions of consistency. Definitely worth at least one listen. See the rest here
Flotsam and Jetsam — The End Of Chaos
✦✦✧✧ This is destined to be thought of as the opening salvo of the Great Thrash Offensive Of 2019. As such, it’s a very capable tip of the sword: plenty of tasty, high-speed riffs and infectious headbanging in tighter songs than I’m used to from Flots. Plus, A.K. Knutson’s voice sounds better than ever (faint praise, but worth mentioning). See the rest here
