Gorguts — Pleiades’ Dust
✦✦✦✧ This is Gorgut’s “Catch Thirty-Three,” an experimental, progressive, masterwork. This is not an easy listen, but it is dense and brutal and staggering. See the rest here
First Listens With Three-Star Ratings
Black Tusk — Pillars Of Ash
✦✦✦✧ High-octane lo-fi sludgepunk that’s reminiscent at times of High On Fire, The Melvins, and Turnstile. I’d say more, but that goes against the grain of this slamfest. Just know that it’s a delightful windmillfest up in here. See the rest here
Primitive Weapons — The Future of Death
✦✦✦✧ This album, one of the first released on Ben Weinman’s Party Smasher Inc. label, is a hard one to describe. I can hear elements of Pallbearer, Dillinger, QOTSA, ETID, Mastodon… and while these are all good bands to emulate, this Brooklyn quarter weave them all together in a way that feels fresh and energetic. See the rest here
Aborted — Retrogore
✦✦✦✧ This album is as subtle as a root canal. But that’s what you want from these Belgian death metal masters. So what if nothing here really stands out as an instant classic? Your knuckles may wind up bloody nevertheless. There are notable cameos on “Retrogore” (from the likes of Revocation and Origin), but that’s like putting a parsley garnish on a flambé. See the rest here
Painted Wives — Obsessed With The End
✦✦✦✧ Apparently, Layne Staley faked his own death, moved to Southern California, and fronted this doomrock band. So they’ve got that going for them. But in addition, this is some interesting and catchy swagger, reminiscent of QOTSA and 36CF. Come for the crooning, stay for the dooming! See the rest here
Aluk Todolo — Voix
✦✦✦✧ This instrumental power trio’s latest album weaves a nasty web of psychedelic trance mayhem, best described as an intersection between Boris, Don Caballero, Pallbearer, and Gojira. It’s purely of-the-moment, which makes for a compelling and effective forced meditation, albeit difficult to remember. And it’s really meant to be listened to all in one go, which makes it a workout for the listener (not to mention for the band themselves). See the rest here
American Head Charge — Tango Umbrella
✦✦✦✧ Well, this is certainly a surprise from AHC: the nu-metal also-rans make a retro-industrial inspired departure from formula, wielding a sound that’s more Stabbing Westward than Mushroomhead. If anything, this is more Deftones than Deftones anymore, but with a strong Mike Pattonesque vocal performance from Cameron Heacock. And the rest of the band is pleasingly snarly, for the most part. See the rest here
Cobalt — Slow Forever
✦✦✦✧ This is sludge that I can get behind! This is a highly regarded black metal band who haven’t released anything in about seven years; unfortunately, that’s how long the album feels. This album has been universally praised, and I get why (I really dig the early-Tool-meets-Aaron-Turner aesthetic here)… but it’s a bit of work to get through. See the rest here
BABYMETAL — METAL RESISTANCE
✦✦✦✧ While I won’t go so far as to call BABYMETAL victims of the sophomore slump, there is definitely a new aimless quality to the music on this album. The shredding is as ridiculous as ever, and there’s some catchy shit on here, but you’re also lacking any classic memorable moments. See the rest here
Anthrax — For All Kings
✦✦✦✧ Mighty Anthrax serve up an excellent sampling of modern thrash, which manages to come across as fresh and invigorated while still sounding very much like Anthrax. New lead guitarist and ex-Shads founder Jon Donais ably fills Rob Caggiano’s shoes (and then some), while Scott and Charlie and Frank are peerless in their performances. See the rest here
