New & Noteworthy is a weekly column in which we highlight some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. This week brings us new music from The Damned Things, New Years Day, Enforncer and many more! You can check out the last New & Noteworthy here, and the latest sales numbers in Metal By Numbers. Andy Black and SunO))) had the biggest releases of last week for heavy bands. Be sure to follow us on Spotify to get this month’s New & Noteworthy Playlist, updated every Friday with the newest metal releases.
This week didn’t involve much new music listening for me. Working a bunch of OT at the day job, just cycling through shuffle of my favorite releases of the year. Been meaning to listen to the new Jordan Rudess album but have only heard the singles and a song or two that came on shuffle so far.
New Releases
The Damned Things, High Crimes (Nuclear Blast)
Second album. Hard rock. New York City. First release since 2010, and first since signing to Nuclear Blast Records. First album to feature bassist Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio), following departure of Rob Caggiano and Josh Newton.
Upcoming dates: North America, May, with Crobot and He is Legend to support.
Music video: “Cells”
Lyric video: “Something Good”
High Crimes is also available on vinyl.
New Years Day, Unbreakable (Century Media)
Fourth full-length studio album. Hard rock. From Anaheim, California. First LP since 2015’s Malovolence.
Upcoming dates: North America, June – July, with Diamante and Savage After Midnight to open.
Lyric video: “Come For Me“
Single: “Shut Up” “Skeletons“
Our interview: With vocalist Ash Costello
Show Review: 11/14/18 – NYC @ Hammerstein Ballroom, opening for Halestorm and In This Moment.
Unbreakable is also available on vinyl.
Enforcer, Zenith (Nuclear Blast)
Fifth studio album. Speed metal. From Arvika, Sweden.
Upcoming dates: North America, September – October, co-headlining with Warbringer.
Music video: “Die for the Devil”
Lyric video: “Searching for You,” including a Spanish version of the song.
Sunn O))), Life Metal (Digital) (Southern Lord)
Eighth studio album. Drone metal. Seattle, Washington, United States. First album since 2015’s Kannon. Life Metal was written and recorded alongside upcoming 2019 release Pyroclasts. Features guest appearances from Tos Nieuwenhuizen, Tim Midyett, Hildur Guðnadóttir and Anthony Pateras. Life Metal was originally released on the 13th for Record Store Day, but it available worldwide digitally today.
Producers: Greg Anderson, Stephen O’Malley at
Recording, Mixing: Steve Albini at Electric Audio in Chicago, Illinois
Mastering: Matt Colton at at Alchemy Mastering
Decrepit Birth, Polarity (Reissue)(Agonia Records)
Dub Trio, The Shape Of Dub To Come (New Damage Records)
Embalmer, Embalmed Alive (Hells Headbangers)
Euringer, Euringeremix (N/A)
Gridfailure/Walking Bombs, Suicide By Citizenship (Nefarious Industries)
Helms Alee, Noctiluca (Sargent House)
Hypoxia, Abhorrent Disease (Selfmadegod)
Lord Dying, Mysterium Tremendum (eOne Music)
Marissa Nadler & Stephen Brodsky, Droneflower (Sacred Bones Records)
Nighnacht, Christophila (Hells Headbangers)
Spotlights, Love & Decay (Ipecac)
Tank, Re-Ignition (Cleopatra Records)
Trade Wind, Certain Freedoms (Other People Records)
Varaha, A Passage For Lost Years (Prosthetic Records)
