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 studio releases from Anathema and Suffocation. If you would like to check out last week’s releases you can do so here. Seriously, last week was a huge week for great album releases! You can also check out last week’s sales numbers in Metal by Numbers. Danzig had the highest debut of the week at #20, and Alestorm had their highest debut at #39. You should consider following us on Spotify, we curate new playlists weekly!
Studio Releases
Anathema, The Optimist (Kscope)
The Optimist is the eleventh studio album from the British ambient prog rock band Anathema. The release is a concept album, picking up where their 2001 concept album A Fine Day to Exit left off. They have released one video for it so far, which is a very minimalist music video of the band, for the track “Springfield.” The Optimist was recorded at Attica Audio in Donegal, Ireland, and finished at Castle Of Doom Studios in Glasgow, Scotland alongside producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals) at the end of 2016. It was then mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. The band is scheduled to be touring throughout the rest of the year, with a few dates in the U.S. this August. The Optimist is also available on vinyl.
Suffocation, …Of The Dark Light (Nuclear Blast)
… Of the Dark Light is the eighth studio album from New York death metal band Suffocation. It was recorded at Full Force Studios, Long Island, New York, and produced by the band and Joe Cincotta (Obituary, Internal Bleeding), who has worked with Suffocation on every studio album they have released since their 2004’s Souls to Deny. So far the band has only released a lyric video for the track “Return to the Abyss.” This is also the first Suffocation release to feature Charlie Errigo and Eric Morotti, on guitar and drums respectively. You can check out Morotti in action, Nuclear Blast put up a video of him playing through the track “Your Last Breaths.” Also available on vinyl and cassette.
Volumes, Different Animals (Fearless)
Different Animals is the third full length album from the Los Angeles based metalcore group Volumes. It is the first album to feature vocalist Myke Terry, who replaced longtime clean and unclean singer Michael Barr after he left in 2015. It is also the first release from the band since their signing to Fearless Records. Leading up to the release, they released music videos for the songs “On Her Mind,” “Feels Good,” and “Left for Dead.” Volumes will be touring North America later this month in support of the album, going until late July. Hopefully they’re encounter less hazards than their last leg, which was full of band member injuries and hospital trips. Different Animals will also be available on vinyl later this month, in transparent green with black smoke vinyl.
Akercocke, Rape Of The Bastard Nazarene (Peaceville)
Also available on vinyl.
Azarath, In Extremis (Agonia Records)
Cemetery Urn, Cemetery Urn (Hell’s Headbangers)
Will be available on vinyl next month.
Dawn Of Ashes, Daemonolatry Gnosis (Metropolis Records)
Exist, So True, So Bound (Prosthetic Records)
Will be available on vinyl later this month.
Foscor, Les Irreals Visions (Season Of Mist)
Also available on vinyl.
Logic Of Denial, Aftermath (Comatose Music)
Merrimack, Omegaphilia (Season Of Mist)
Will be available on vinyl next month.
Necrot, Blood Offerings (Tankcrimes)
Also available on vinyl.
PETYR, PETYR (Outer Battery Records)
Schammasch, The Maldoror Chants: Hermaphrodite (Prosthetic)
Will be available on vinyl later this month.
Twelve Noon, Saints and Sinners (Eclipse)
Venenum, Trance Of Death (Ajna Offensive)
Also available on vinyl.
Vinyl Release
Ghoul, Wall Of Death (Tankcrimes)
California thrash band Ghouls’s 2016 single “Wall of Death,” which was not released on their Dungeon Bastards in the same year, gets a vinyl release.
