New & Noteworthy is a weekly column in which we highlight some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. This week features new releases from Pallbearer, Steel Panther, and Northlane. If you want to check out last week’s releases you can do so here. Next week is going to be a big one, with albums from Mastodon, Arch Enemy, Body Count, and more being release!
Pallbearer, Heartless (Profound Lore/Nuclear Blast)
Heartless is the third album from Arkansas’ Pallbearer. The album was recorded at Fellowship Hall Sound in Little Rock, Arkansas, and produced by the band themself. It was done entirely on analogue tape, and mixed by Joe Barresi (Tool, The Melvins, QOTSA, etc). Earlier in the month they released a music video for “I Saw the End.” The band is currently out on a seven date tour with Marissa Nadler and Kayo Dot supporting, but then they are going off to Europe for another sixteen shows. This is also the first album since the band has signed to Nuclear Blast Records.
Northlane, Mesmer (UNFD)
Surprise, surprise! Australian metalcore band Northlane dropped their fourth studio album today with very little notice that something was coming. They released a music video for the song “Citizen” earlier in the week, but that’s about it. “We kind of felt like we owed it to our fans who have been supporting us,” said guitarist Josh Smith, “to give them the record the moment they knew about it rather than make them wait.” Mesmer was produced by David Bendeth (Of Mice & Men, Beartooth, Paramore).
Steel Panther, Lower the Bar (Kobalt Music)
Coming up on three years since Going on tour next month, kicking off the 16 date North American trek in Philadelphia. Last month they released a music video for the song “Poontang Boomerang,” a video that they actually debuted on PornHub because, well, of course they did, and last year they released a video for “She’s Tight,” which features Robin Zander of Cheap Trick. There is also a set of Steel Panther emojis available on iPhones. “We used to sing about pussy and partying,” says vocalist Michael Starr, “now we’re singing about partying and pussy.”
Blood Divisions, Cardinal One (Metal Blade)
Cardinal One is the very first studio release from the group Blood Divisions, a project formed by David Austin (Nasty Savage), Chris Jericho (Fozzy, WWE), and Ed Aborn (Intersonic Cyber Symphony). The six song EP features covers Scorpions, UFO, Nasty Savage. Wanting to make the album an authentic labor of love, and avoid the troubles that come with money and record labels, the band decided to donate the proceeds from the album to charity. Each sale benefits the Rock and Rescue charity, an organization who’s goal is “to build a future which drastically reduces the number of homeless dogs.”
Creeper, Eternity, in Your Arms (Roadrunner)
After releasing three EPs, the English horror punk group Creeper have finally released their first full-length album with Eternity, in Your Arms. The band has already released three music videos from the album for the songs “Black Rain,” “Hiding with the Boys,” and “Suzanne.” It was just announced that the band will be touring the US this summer on the Vans Warped Tour. Seriously though, as a culture can we just cut out the whole “OMG, so-and-so is missing” as a publicity stunt thing? It just reeks of desperation, and nobody likes the boy that cried Creeper (or Upon A Burning Body).
Me And That Man, Songs of Love and Death (Cooking Vinyl)
Behemoth frontman Adam “Nergal” Darski is a man of many talents. How else to describe a guy that’s acted, been a judge on Poland’s The Voice and written a book, all while leading one of death metal’s most enduring bands. And now, with Me and That Man, he’s got a whole different thing going on. Channeling Nick Cave and Johnny Cash, his bluesy, folky acoustic side project has lyrical matter as dark as Behemoth, but could open him up to an entirely different audience.
