06) Assemblage 23, Null (Metropolis Records)
What do you get when you mix pure raw emotions with a strong melody and a train of industrial, electronic beats that won’t quit? Assemblage 23’s new album Null, for one. This is Tom Shear’s tenth album, the first since 2020, and it is just as powerfully heartfelt as Assemblage 23 has ever been. ‘Null’ holds ten tracks worthy of any electronic dance party DJ’s spin cycle. Noteworthy track is “Gone.”
Key Track(s): “Gone”
05) Gruesome, Silent Echoes (Relapse)
These Florida death metal masters are still rising out of the ashes of ‘Death’, and this latest album is as melodic as ever, while still maintaining a hard edge. This hard edge seems to be shooting off into a more progressive atmosphere, but that classic death metal sound is still part of its heavy set backbone. The track “A Darkened Window” is a solid favorite.
Key Track(s): “A Darkened Window”
04) King Parrot, A Young Person’s Guide To (Housecore Records)
This Australian grindcore band is as comedic as they are brutal. The title speaks for itself, specifically from a fan’s perspective. Just when Generation Z is starting to understand life, King Parrot swoops in and sorts everything out for every generation, by kicking ass and taking names. Not for the faint of heart, track “Fuck You And The Horse You Rode In On” is a fantastic example of what King Parrot is all about. Love it or leave it. King Parrot is here to stay metal as fuck.
Key Track(s): “Fuck You And The Horse You Rode In On”
03) Behemoth, The Shit Ov God (Nuclear Blast)
Nergal has definitely delivered the purest depths of Hell in this latest album release The Shit Ov God. Blackend death metal hasn’t looked this good since their 2014 album The Satanist, which in most die hard fan’s opinions can’t be topped on the Behemoth scale. The title track speaks volumes about just how much evil darkness can be unleashed onto the listener’s ears.
Key Track(s): “The Shit Ov God”
02) Lacuna Coil, Sleepless Empire (Century Media)
Since 2019, these Italian Gothic metal titans have geared up and wrote their latest and heaviest new album, Sleepless Empire. Given this, it isn’t a total surprise that Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God would want a guest appearance on this one. As usual, Lacuna Coil has a powerfully noble theme and concept in mind here, with many notable favorite tracks including “I Wish You Were Dead.” As negative as that title may sound, this band exudes nothing but healthy, positive energy, and Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro as a duel vocal team has kept this band as fierce as a lion, and as enchanting as a siren since the latter half of the 90’s.
Key Track(s): “I Wish You Were Dead”
