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 Zeal & Ardor’s first live album, and some new Battle Beast. You can check out the last New & Noteworthy here, and the latest sales numbers in Metal By Numbers. Be sure to follow us on Spotify to get this month’s New & Noteworthy Playlist, updated every Friday with the newest metal releases.
Experience Hendrix was awesome. If I had to say, Eric Johnson and Dweezil Zappa seemed the most faithful stylistically to Jimi’s recordings, but bassist Billie Cox definitely had the vocals. That said, Dave Mustaine clearly studied for the part even though he was only out for two songs. Overall everyone sounded great though, we were in the 5th row, right in front of the stage left speakers and everything sounded clear and well mixed. It was a fun show, and there was even a surprise appearance by Zakk Wylde, who who I think a lot of the older crowd did not appreciate as he shredded his way around the audience for the better part of a half hour. Yeah, from the audience, no, he didn’t have a wireless setup. That stage crew was kept on their toes every second Zakk was on stage (or off). Other than that I’m enjoying the new Tyr and Children of Bodom albums, some songs more than others: “Fire and Flame” and “Platitudes and Barren Words” are both awesome.
On an unrelated note, I will be out of town for the next two weeks for work. I’m going to have my computer on me, so the column will be happening, but at what level of detail I’m not sure.
New Releases
Zeal & Ardor, Live In London (MVKA/Radicallis)
Switzerland/US. Recorded live at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London in December 2018. Includes 22 songs, a bold move for a band that only has two albums out, and it even has four other previously unreleased songs on it.
Mixerer: Kurt Ballou (Converge, High on Fire, Code Orange)
Masterer: Alan Douches
Upcoming dates: North America, March – April with Baroness & Deafheaven, Sonic Temple Festival in May.
Also available on vinyl.
Battle Beast, No More Hollywood Endings (Nuclear Blast)
Finland. 5th studio album. Hear the band discuss the album track to track on YouTube: Part 1 & Part 2 & Part 3.
Recorded by: Janne Björkroth (keyboard), Viktor Gullichsen and Joona Björkroth (guitar) at JKB Studio
Music videos: “Eden” “No More Hollywood Endings”
Upcoming dates: North America, September – October, opening for Kamelot and Sonata Arctica.
Accursed Spawn, The Virulent Host (PRC Music)
Blacklist 9, Mentally Ill, Legally Sane (Eclipse Records)
Bloodbound, Rise Of The Dragon Empire (AFM Records)
Good Tiger, Redux (Blacklight Media/Metal Blade)
Gore, Revanche (Exile On Mainstream)
La Dispute, Panorama (Epitaph)
Megadeth, Warheads On Foreheads (N/A)
Sermon, Birth Of The Marvellous (Prosthetic)
Vinyl Releases
Meshuggah, Catch Thirty-Three (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah, I (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah, Koloss (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah, Nothing (Nuclear Blast)
Meshuggah, obZen (Nuclear Blast)
