Today is a day to celebrate longevity, and I anticipate that such celebrations will be occurring quite often during this decade. As we begin the celebrations of bands that have been around for 30 years or more, it is vital for all of us to band together as a community and recognize the groups that have contributed so much to our scene for their entire careers. Today we honor one such group that has been around for a very long time, and spent much of it in the background. Honor the metal veterans today and always!
Destruction, Spiritual Genocide (Nuclear Blast)
Spiritual Genocide is being released as a celebration of the group’s 30th anniversary. Admittedly, the band’s original beginning was in 1982, under the name Knight of Demon, but Spiritual Genocide had to be pushed back from its original planned release date in 2012 to today. Regardless, though, Destruction has had a landmark career. From the earliest days of Infernal Overkill all the way through to recent classics like Inventor of Evil and D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N., Destruction has been known as one of the three pillars in Teutonic thrash (alongside fellow Germans Kreator and Sodom). Spiritual Genocide recognizes the band’s history through a one-song reunion of the Release from Agony line-up, and it also gives a nod to the group’s contemporaries, via guest vocal spots by Tom Angelripper of Sodom and Andreas “Gerre” Geremia of Tankard. Evile guitarist Ol Drake also returns to perform a few solos on the album, similar to his role on 2011’s Day of Reckoning. This is a day to proclaim the greatness of a band with much experience under its belt, and with plenty more quality material still yet to be created.
Hammerfall, Gates of Dalhalla (Nuclear Blast)
Hammrfall is still on hiatus, as announced at the end of 2012, and will continue to be until at least next year. However, that doesn’t mean that the group can’t celebrate one of their greatest achievements to date. Last summer, the group celebrated 15 years since the release of their first album, Glory to the Brave, and they did so in stunning fashion via an open-air concert at the legendary Dalhalla stage in Sweden. For over two hours, the band performed classics from all across their discography, giving fans an unforgettable experience. Adding to it were guest appearances by many past members of the band, including founding members Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity) and Jesper Strömblad (ex-In Flames). This box set commemorating that event contains two CD’s and one DVD documenting the concert, and is a must-own for all fans of Hammerfall.
Also being released this week:
Red, Release the Panic (Provident)
Hate, Solarflesh (Napalm)
Funeral for a Friend, Conduit (The End)
Combichrist, No Redemption (Out of Line)
Pink Cream 69, Ceremonial (Frontiers)
Rings of Saturn, Dingir (Unique Leader)
Ancient VVisdom, Deathlike (Prosthetic)
Riverside, Shrine of New Generation Slaves (Inside Out)
Snakecharmer, Snakecharmer (Frontiers)
Those Who Fear, Unholy Anger (Facedown)
Zombified, Carnage, Slaughter, and Death (Metal Blade)
Defeated Sanity, Passages Into Deformity (Willowtip)
Gloria Morti, Lateral Constraint (Metal Blade)
Necrowretch, Putrid Death Sorcery (Century Media)
Hanging Garden, At Every Door (Lifeforce)
Quadrivium, Methocha (Soulseller)
Maveth, Coils of the Black Earth (Dark Descent)
Bloody Hammers, Bloody Hammers (Soulseller)
Desolate Shrine, Sanctum of Human Darkness (Dark Descent)
Next Week: One of the biggest modern metal imports from Europe releases their fourth album, with lots riding on the album’s success. How will it turn out? My predictions for your review in seven days!
