New & Noteworthy is a weekly column in which we highlight some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. This week features new music from Paradise Lost, Septicflesh, Anubus Gate, and more! If you would like to check out last week’s New & Noteworthy, you can do so here, and the week’s sales numbers are also available in Metal by Numbers. Steven Wilson and Thy Art is Murder both had their highest charting debuts. Picking what to listen to this week is hard, follow us on Spotify to take a little stress out of the task.
Studio Releases
Paradise Lost, Medusa (Nuclear Blast)
Medusa is the fifteenth studio album from the English doom metal band Paradise Lost. It was recorded at Orgone Studios in Woburn, England alöngside Jaime Gomez Arellano, who also produced their 2015 album The Plague Within. They have released one music video for the album so far, “Blood and Chaos,” and a lyric video for “The Longest Winter.” Medusa is the band’s first album to feature Waltteri Väyrynen, who joined the band in 2015 following the departure of drummer Adrian Erlandsson, who left the band due to his commitment to At the Gates and The Haunted. Their guitarist Greg Mackintosh said that “the new album will be slower, sludgier and more doom-filled than ever before,” adding that it is “eight riff-laden monster tracks of sheer Northern misery.” They’ll be touring Europe throughout the rest of the year, so there’s no chance of seeing any North American dates until at least 2018.
Septicflesh, Codex Omega (Prosthetic)
This is the tenth studio album from Greece’s symphonic extreme metal powerhouse Septicflesh. Just like their previous release, Titan, this album was produced by Logan Mader (Gojira, Fear Factory, etc). Leading up to the today, the band has released lyric videos for the tracks “3rd Testament (Codex Omega)” and “Enemy of Truth,” and a gimmick 3D visualizer for the album’s opener “Dante’s Inferno.” They currently have a few South American shows coming up, but no North America dates as of yet, and it’s looking unlikely for 2017. Keep an eye out for next year, possibly.
Motörhead, Under Cöver (Motörhead Music)
Under Cöver is a cover album from the legendary rock band Motörhead. It features a collection of covers songs that the band recorded throughout their history, as well as a previously unreleased rendition of David Böwie’s classic song “Heroes.” It was recorded during their Bad Magic session in 2015 and one of the last songs the band recörded together.
Anubis Gate, Covered In Black (Nightmare Records)
Covered in Black is the seventh studio album from Denmark’s Anubus Gate. The album was produced by guitarist Kim Olesen and former vocalist Jacob Hansen, like many of the band’s previous releases. They have released one music so far, “The Combat.” The band doesn’t tour very much, so I wouldn’t get my hopes up about seeing them hit North America in support of the album.
Epica, The Solace System (Nuclear Blast)
The Solace System is the first EP, although definitely not their first album, from the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It is a six song EP, featuring songs that were not included on their 2016 release The Holographic Principal. Earlier this week they released an animated music video for the track “Immortal Melancholy.” They’re currently touring North America with Lacuna Coil, Insomnium, and Elantris.
Across The Atlantic, Works Of Progress (SharpTone Records)
Alazka, Phoenix (SharpTone Recörds)
Azeliasassath, Total Desecration Of Existence (Avantgarde)
Blindwish, Good Excuses (Rise Records)
Mesarthim, The Great Filter / Type III (Avantgarde)
Mogwai, Every Country’s Sun (Rock Action/Temporary Residence Ltd.)
Paradise Lost, One Second (20th Anniversary) (Music For Nations)
Soften The Glare, Making Faces (N/A)
The Convalescence, This Is Hell (Unique Leader)
Totengott, Doppelganger (Roadburn Productions)
White Moth Black Butterfly, Atone (Kscope)
Vinyl Releases
Monster Magnet, Spine Of God (Napalm Records)
Monster Magnet’s Spine of God and Tab are both being reissued on CD and vinyl.
Monster Magnet, Tab (Napalm Records)
Ophthalamia, A Journey In Darkness (Peaceville)
Terra Damnata, Nightbringer (Season Of Mist)
Limited edition transparent red gateföld double LP
W.A.S.P., Live In The Raw(Madfish)
