Lo-Pan — In Tensions
✦✦✦✧ Lo-Pan do a convincing imitation of Quicksand at their happiest. A raw and energetic EP of songs, if not entirely groundbreaking or habit-forming. See the rest here
Category: First Listens
Alluvial — The Deep Longing for Annihilation
✦✦✧✧ The debut (instrumental) album from a collaboration between Keith Merrow and Wes Hauch (The Faceless, Conquering Dystopia, Black Crown Initiate) has all the tasty shredding any modern guitarophile could ever want. It’s also got a mean attitude, which I like. It’s not the most memorable thing in the world, though. See the rest here
Sepultura — Machine Messiah
✦✦✦✧ This is one weird album, and unlike anything I’ve heard Sepultura do before (which is a very good thing). You’ve got elements from all possible constituent influences (old Sep! more recent Sep! punk! thrash!), as well as rando sounds I never would have pulled for them (vaguely Persian root music! See the rest here
Dark Tranquility — Atoma
✦✦✦✧ Not content to serve up another satisfying helping of the Gothenburg melodeath sound that they helped pioneer, DT actually push things forward a bit on their latest album. There’s a slightly greater reliance on shredtastic riffage (for the win), while the melodrama remains effective. And their accessibility on tracks like the title track doesn’t rely on hackneyed clichés, instead elevating their gothic leanings into something more. See the rest here
The Agonist — Five
✦✦✧✧ Pretty decent Euro-style melodic metal, and unsurprisingly there’s more than a few nods to Arch Enemy… but I’ve gotta say that I am not a fan of Vicky Psarakis’ vocal stylings here. They’re too loud, too grating. And that Hozier cover at the end of the album is just the pits. See the rest here
Allegaeon — Proponent For Sentience
✦✦✦✧ This album is a metal nerd’s wet dream… at least on paper. The musicianship, technicality, and fetishistic love of science that were hallmarks of the band on their last album are all still here. But Allegaeon’s tongues seem a little less firmly planted in their cheeks, and the slight increase in self-seriousness makes this a harder listen straight-through. See the rest here
Fates Warning — Theories Of Flight
✦✦✦✧ The band’s crazy time signature changes are a little more restrained (relatively speaking; the opening track is largely in 9/4), and their latent power metal side is more nuanced than ever. I’m also detecting stronger undertones of Porcupine Tree and Rush, alongside their signature prog stylings. If you’re already a Fates fan, you’re gonna dig this. See the rest here
Mantar — Ode To The Flame
✦✦✦✧ This is some delightfully noisome aggression. Self-assured and epic in its scope, the album is like a moodier and darker Entombed. There’s a blackened/gothic rock vibe that brings a smile, if not a full-on fist pump. “Ode To The Flame” goes on a little longer than I’d like, though. See the rest here
Nails — You Will Never Be One Of Us
✦✦✧✧ Straight-up convergecore. Raw energy, about as subtle as a money shot. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, it’ll do nicely. See the rest here
Lacuna Coil — Delirium
✦✦✧✧ Djenty emotechnocore. I don’t get what the fuss is all about. Evanescence is more interesting than this, honestly. (The title track is undeniably catchy, but I’m not entirely sure that’s in a good way.) See the rest here
