New & Noteworthy is a weekly column in which we highlight some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. This week is we have releases from . If you would like to check out last week’s New & Noteworthy, you can do so here. If you want to see last week’s sales numbers, check out Metal by Numbers. Hollywood Undead led up the sales for heavy releases, it was a pretty poor showing for metal as a whole. I guess everyone needed a second copy of Harwired… Follow us on Spotify for weekly new music playlists.
Studio Releases
Evanescence, Synthesis (BMG)
Six years ago the American symphonic rock group Evanescence released their self-titled album, and now they have returned with new and new old music. Synthesis was produced by Amy Lee & Will B. Hunt, not to be confused with the group’s drummer Will M. Hunt, with arrangements by David Campbell. The album consists of reworked versions of the bands material, with two new songs, “Imperfection” and “Hi-Lo.” The band released a music video for “Imperfection,” while “Hi-Lo” features violinist Lindsey Stirling. Evanescence has been touring North American in support of the album since mid-October, and along with the band they also brought along an orchestra to accompany. If you want, you can see some fan shot footage from their show in Baltimore. The album will also be available on vinyl next month.
Toothgrinder, Phantom Amour (Spinefarm)
It seems a little odd that Asbury Park, NJ’s Toothgrinder only released their debut full length, Nocturnal Masquerade, last year. Their sophomore album shows the band have taken leaps forward songwriting-wise. And while some might be bummed that it’s a little less heavy, songs like “Let It Ride” should be all over active rock radio, and “The Shadow” is one of the heaviest and catchiest songs they’ve written. Find out the band’s own favorite sophomore albums here.
Elvenking, Secrets of the Magick Grimoire (AFM)
Secrets of the Magick Grimoire is the 9th studio album from the Italian folk metal band Elvenking. Music video for “Invoking the Woodland Spirit” and a lyric video for “Draugen’s Maelstrom.” This marks the first album to feature Lancs on drums, who replaced Symohn just earlier this year. The album is also available in a clear green colored vinyl, which is very fitting given the color scheme of the album art itself.
Amberian Dawn, Darkness of Eternity (Napalm)
AUÐN, Farvegir Fyrndar (Season Of Mist)
Axis, Shift (Good Fight Music)
Bodysnatcher, Death Of Me (Stay Sick)
Cloak, To Venomous Depths (Season Of Mist)
Desolate Shrine, Deliverance From The Godless Void (Dark Descent)
Destruction, Thrash Anthems II (Nuclear Blast)
Downswing, Dark Side Of The Mind (Rise)
Entheos, Dark Future (Spinefarm)
Forgotten Tomb, We Owe You Nothing (Agonia)
Impureza, La Caída de Tonatiuh (Season Of Mist)
Jeff Scott Soto, Retribution
Lionheart, Welcome To The West Coast II (Fast Break!)
Metallica, Master Of Puppets (Deluxe Reissue) (Blackened Recordings)
Nekrasov, The Mirror Void (Prosthetic)
Quicksand, Interiors (Epitaph)
Santa Cruz, Bad Blood Rising (M-Theory Audio)
Serpentrance, The Besieged Sanctum (Blood Harvest)
Sinsaenum, Ashes (earMUSIC)
Sparzanza, Announcing The End (Despotz)
Speak The Truth… Even If Your Voice Shakes, Everyone You Love Will Slip Away From You (N/A)
Threat Signal, Disconnect(Agonia)
Your Memorial, Your Memorial(Facedown)
Vinyl Releases
Blood, Heinous Noise (Nuclear War Now)
Blood, No Regret (Nuclear War Now)
Blood, Spasmo Paralytic Dreams (Nuclear War Now)
Unholy, From The Shadows (Peaceville)
