We’ve gotten quite a lot of great new music in the past few weeks, and today just adds to the pile. How does one find the time to listen to all of this? If you’ve figured out a way, please let me know in the comments, because I have yet to figure it out!
Volbeat, Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie (Universal)
Becoming one of the biggest rock bands in the world has been a fairly straightforward process for Volbeat. With an inimitable sound and one of the most infectious live performances in the entire genre, Volbeat has everything designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of music listeners, and the world has consistently shown that they are listening. Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie is expected to at least replicate the top ten debut of 2013’s Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, if not surpass it.
Hellyeah, Unden!able (Eleven Seven)
Another band that has secured an extremely wide range of appeal, Hellyeah has consistently charted in the top 20 with each new release, and album number five should be no different. This album does feature the new look of Hellyeah, as guitarist Christian Brady and bassist Kyle Sanders make their recording debut with the band after joining in 2014. Oh yeah, and there’s a guitar track on the album that was recorded years ago by one Darrell Lance Abbott. No big deal, right?
Beartooth, Aggressive (Red Bull)
Caleb Shomo shocked the metal world with Beartooth’s debut Disgusting, as the former Attack Attack! vocalist displayed a very different side of his musical talent than what was displayed in his previous band. Shomo has stated many times that Aggressive would not feature any changes in sound from its predecessor, which will likely equate to another top 50 debut for the band’s sophomore album.
Tarja, The Brightest Void (Earmusic)
When Tarja Turunen began recording material for her new solo album The Shadow Self, she wound up with a lot more material than she anticipated. Rather than retain some of the material for a later release, Tarja elected to released all of it, with the tracks not selected for The Shadow Self being organized into their own album, The Brightest Void. Tarja has dubbed this album as “a gift to the fans”, preceding the August release of The Shadow Self.
Candlemass, Death Thy Lover (Napalm)
Mats Levén of Therion fame has been performing with Candlemass since 2012, coming onboard after the release of their purported final album Psalms for the Dead. Levén has since joined the band as an official member, and makes his recording debut on this new EP. Celebrating 30 years since the release of the band’s debut full-length, Death Thy Lover features four tracks from the band’s back catalog re-recorded with Levén’s vocals.
Dark Funeral, Where Shadows Forever Reign (Century Media)
It’s been seven years since we last heard from Dark Funeral, and that time was rather chaotic, to say the least. The departures of vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula and bassist B-Force left the band without a complete lineup to write and record music, so putting together Where Shadows Forever Reign took much longer than normal. Nonetheless, Dark Funeral’s sixth album has arrived, and they are still just as malignant and evil as they were on their debut two decades ago.
If These Trees Could Talk, The Bones of a Dying World (Metal Blade)
Close to a decade in a frenetic post-rock world has helped If These Trees Could Talk rise through the ranks rather quickly. Two albums released with independent labels and a lot of self-promoted touring earned the band a strong following and the notice of industry regulars, culminating in the band being signed to Metal Blade in late 2014. The Bones of a Dying World is the first album released as part of this new deal.
Cough, Still They Pray (Relapse)
Cough has been relatively quiet since the release of their sophomore album in 2010. Two split EP’s have been the only source of new material from the sludge-doom group from Richmond, Virginia. However, they are back now with their third album, and if preliminary reviews are to be believed, the band has only gotten better at their craft during their long absence from the radar.
