The start of a new month brings us a veritable deluge of new music from recognizable talent, which is a very good thing for the metal community. Having this many well-known bands actively releasing new music on a given week shows that metal is a force to be reckoned with, and we metal fans will not be ignored. As always, here is the list for your viewing pleasure.
Godsmack, 1000hp (Universal Republic)
Just to clear up any confusion, the “hp” in the title most likely stands for “horsepower” and not “hit points”, which is a bit disappointing for me. Nonetheless, this is Godsmack’s sixth full-length album, which surprises me when I remember that the band has been around since 1995. It’s the first album since 2010’s The Oracle, which debuted at #1 and stayed on the charts for the better part of a year. 1000hp is likely to follow the same trend, as most Godsmack albums have done during the course of their career. You can find the album streaming here if you want to check it out for yourself.
Wovenwar, Wovenwar (Metal Blade)
The buzz surrounding Wovenwar has been very high leading up to the release of this album, and with good reason. Thus far, all of the tracks released from the band’s debut have been high-quality songs with no immediate comparability to As I Lay Dying. The band members that were formerly in AILD seem to want to distance themselves from their old work for the time being, and this album will greatly help in that process. Metal Blade has posted the entire album to their SoundCloud account, and you can stream the entire record on Wovenwar’s website.
Nachtmystium, The World We Left Behind (Century Media)
Last week, we happily spread the word that Blake Judd has decided not to end Nachtmystium, which means that this record will not be the last we ever hear from them. That is a good thing, because if the first single is any indication, Nachtmystium is in great form, and their music is still potent. However, Judd has stated that the band will change after the release of this album, stylistically as well as operationally. So it remains to be seen if Nachtmystium’s music will continue in its current style or shift to something different altogether.
Darkest Hour, Darkest Hour (Sumerian)
After releasing just one album on eOne, Darkest Hour moved over to Sumerian and has been thriving ever since. Always staying fresh and original with each album, the band’s eighth full-length sees the introduction of a melodic element that sounds organic and fitting to the band’s sound. Some older fans are crying sellout, but Darkest Hour has never been dictated by any of their critics, and I doubt they would start now. You can stream the entire album here and see how you like it for yourself.
Eluveitie, Origins (Nuclear Blast)
Eluveitie has become the leading folk metal band in the world over the past few years, thanks to some fantastic tour packages and a string of excellent albums that no one else could touch. Their newest album Origins covers a lot of Gaulish mythology in its lyrics, and it features cover artwork by lead vocalist Chrigel Glanzmann. You can stream the entire album here before picking it up, and you can also watch the video for “The Call of the Mountains” at the same location. Now if only someone had a definitive guide on how to pronounce the band’s name…
Alestorm, Sunset on the Golden Age (Napalm)
Alestorm is capable of doing something better than almost any other metal band today – making listeners transition from laughter to headbanging within the same song. These Scottish pirates have been cracking us up since 2008, and they don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Don’t be fooled, though, because there’s plenty of solid, high-quality metal on this album, in addition to the humorous bits. The true Alestorm experience is found in the songs that encompass both – check out lead single “Drink” for a sample of exactly that.
Belphegor, Conjuring the Dead (Nuclear Blast)
Conjuring the Dead is the tenth album from the Austrian blackened death metal squad, and their first since 2011’s Blood Magick Necromance. The touring cycle for that album was not kind to the band – vocalist Helmuth contracted typhoid fever after the band’s South American tour in 2011, and had to undergo a serious operation that put the band on hold until May of 2012. Thankfully, Helmuth is back in full form, and the band has a number of festival appearances scheduled before they come to the US to tour with Rotting Christ, Beheaded, and Svart Crown. The full list of US dates can be found here.
Capture the Crown, Reign of Terror (Artery)
Capture the Crown had a strong debut, in the form of 2012’s ‘Til Death. However, after being dropped by Sumerian, they had to fight to get their spot back. A new deal with Artery and a new album are the latest steps in that fight for the Australian band. Their style of electronic metalcore is similar to that of other young metalcore bands, and will appeal to fans of Woe Is Me and I See Stars.
Vandenberg’s Moonkings, Moonkings (Mascot)
Adrian Vandenberg joined Whitesnake in 1986, just in time for their greatest period of success. An unfortunate wrist injury prevented him from actually recording on the successful Slip of the Tongue album. However, Vandenberg was already an accomplished guitarist before Whitesnake, as shown by the success of his band Vandenberg in the early ’80s. Vandenberg’s Moonkings is the latest venture for the accomplished Dutch guitarist, and their debut album marks the first record that Vandenberg has contributed to since 1998.
I Am Giant, Science & Survival (Self-released)
I Am Giant is a New Zealand-based rock group that actually formed in England. The group’s debut album The Horrifying Truth came out in 2011, and the band has toured a great deal to promote it, in addition to appearing on numerous film soundtracks and playing at multiple high-profile festivals. Fans of Karnivool, Jolly, and other progressive-minded modern rock groups will want to pay attention to this album, because it has a lot to offer those listeners.
Next Week: A short list of new music is led off by a group on the rise that has recently earned an infamous reputation. Come back in a week for the full scoop.
