New & Noteworthy is a weekly column in which we highlight some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. The year is winding down, and so are releases, but this week we got a new album from Diablo Swing Orchestra and War of Ages. 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. Be sure to follow us on Spotify for weekly new music playlists.
Studio Releases
Diablo Swing Orchestra, Pascifisticuffs (Spinefarm)
Pascifisticuffs is the fourth studio album by the Swedish avante-garde metal group Diablo Swing Orchestra. The album was recorded at Top Floor Studios in Gothenberg, Sweden with producer Roberto Laghi. DSO has worked with Laghi for their last couple releases now, and it seems to be working for them so far. After the release of their last album, Pandora’s Piñata, longtime vocalist Annlouice Lögdlund left the band and was replaced by Kristin Evegård. The singer isn’t the only thing different with this release though, it is also the band’s first since signing to Spinefarm records, although they aren’t known for sticking with a single label for too long.
Iron Savior, Reforged: Riding on Fire (AFM)
Reforged: Riding on Fire is a bit of a special release for Iron Savior. The German power metal group sought to reissue some of their older music, but because of legal issues they could not. Vocalist/guitarist/sole-founding member Piet Sielck said that “although we can not re-publish our works from the Noise Records time in the original form, we can re-import them very well. We made use of this possibility and approached the old numbers with much enthusiasm.” The album was recorded at Powerhouse Studio, in Hamburg, Germany This is also the first release to not feature long time drummer Thomas Nack since their 1999 album Unification. He departed the band earlier this year and was replaced by Patrick Klose. The band currently only has a few upcoming shows announced for next year, but all in Spain or Germany.
War Of Ages, Alpha (Facedown)
Alpha is the seventh studio album from the American metalcore band War of Ages. The album was recorded at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida alongside producer Jason Suecof (Trivium, August Burns Red, All That Remains). Back in October the band released a music video for the track “Cut Throat.” The only upcoming show that War of Ages is announced to play is tonight, they hosting a CD release show at Elevate Church in their hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. Each ticket also comes with a physical copy of the album at the door.
Arcturus, Sideshow Symphonies (CD/DVD) (Season Of Mist)
Feared, Svart (N/A)
Nocturnal Graves, Satan’s Cross (Season Of Mist)
Withered Bones, In Search Of Self-Evidence (Blood & Ink)
YOB, The Great Cessation (Reissue) (Relapse)
Vinyl Releases
Amon Amarth, Surtur Rising (Metal Blade)
Amon Amarth, Twilight Of The Thunder God (Metal Blade)
Cult Of Luna, Eternal Kingdom (Vinyl) (Earache)
Sevendust, Sevendust (N/A)
