Some days come along that you think will never arrive. This is one of those days. Eighteen years in the making, an album that we thought we’d never see has hit the scene. It just goes to show that sometimes, all you need is a little faith.
Faith No More, Sol Invictus (Reclamation/Ipecac)
Faith No More’s previous studio album was Album of the Year, and it was released in 1997. For those people that are fans of the legendary group, it has been FAR too long of a wait for this record. Even more amazing, though, is the fact that some people listening to Sol Invictus might be listening to Faith No More for the first time in their life, simply because they weren’t even born when the last studio album was released. That’s how important this album is to the landscape of heavy music.
Coal Chamber, Rivals (Napalm)
Another record that has been a long time in the making, it has been 13 years since Coal Chamber released a new album. Frontman Dez Fafara actually put his other band, DevilDriver, on hold so that he could properly devote his time to the nu-metal group’s reunion (with less than stellar results). The results speak for themselves – Coal Chamber has matured and expanded, but maintained their core sound in the way that fans wanted.
Haste the Day, Coward (Solid State)
Coming back from a breakup that occurred in 2011, Haste the Day launched a crowdfunding campaign last year for their new album. That campaign exceeded its goal remarkably quickly, and the first new material since 2010’s Attack of the Wolf King is set to be unleashed. The lineup responsible for this album features a mix of the band’s original lineup and its final, pre-split lineup.
Earth Crisis, The Discipline (Bullet Tooth)
After spending last year with their first new album in three years, Earth Crisis is going back to the beginning of the story in 2015. This new EP features re-recorded versions of two songs from their 1995 debut Destroy the Machines, as well as two unreleased demo tracks from the ’90s. It’s a cool retrospective of the band’s sound from the beginning of their career placed alongside their current style.
Weedeater, Goliathan (Season of Mist)
Sludge metal may not be as prevalent as it once was, but Weedeater is still releasing amazing albums, and that alone is enough reason to pay attention to the genre. Mixing things up a bit on Goliathan, Weedeater adds some odd time signatures and technical elements to certin songs. Fans need not fret, though, as much of the rest of the album stays true to Weedeater’s roots.
Entrails, Obliteration (Metal Blade)
Entrails has a very interesting story. The Swedish band got their start in 1990 and lasted for eight years, but they never liked anything that was put to demo and decided to break up. Ten years after that breakup, guitarist Jimmy Lundqvist resurrected the band with the intent of progressing the band beyond the stage of just recording demos. Entrails has been on a roll ever since – Obliteration is the fourth album they’ve released since 2010.
King Parrot, Dead Set (Housecore)
Australia’s grindcore kings have returned with album number two. After being signed by Housecore and releasing their debut Bite Your Head Off in 2012, the band spent a long time touring and making appearances on compilation albums. They got back in the studio recently to record Dead Set, and it is just as punishing and outside-the-box as its predecessor.
Tau Cross, Tau Cross (Relapse)
Tau Cross’ main claim to fame is that they feature drummer Michel Langevin, better known as Away from Voivod. The experimental group crosses borders both in genre (bringing together heavy metal, crust punk, and alternative rock) and geography (members hail from both Minnesota and Montreal). Their sonic onslaught has to be heard to be believed.
