Coming off last week’s insane new release list, I’d understand if you were a bit overloaded with new music. Don’t worry, because you’re catching a break this week, with only five new albums debuting today. A lot of today’s new material comes from overseas, so if you’re a fan of metal from Europe, then this will be a banner week for you! Enjoy!
Epica, The Quantum Enigma (Nuclear Blast)
Consider this: Simone Simons, lead singer of Epica, had her first child in October of 2013. That very same month, after giving birth, she and the rest of Epica began recording sessions for The Quantum Enigma. If that does not speak of dedication to a craft, then I don’t know what does. Epica’s last album, Requiem for the Indifferent, debuted at #105 on the Billboard 200 charts. Seeing Epica break the top 100 with The Quantum Enigma would be a great milestone for them in their career.
Xandria, Sacrificium (Napalm)
Xandria has often been in the background of the German metal scene, partly due to lacking consistency in their lineup outside of founding guitarist Marco Heubaum. However, the band has begun to gain some traction, and is on the rise in both their home country and the rest of the world. Sacrificium is the band’s first album with new singer Dianne van Giersbergen, who is also part of Dutch prog metal outfit Ex Libris. We debuted their video for “Nightfall” recently, which will give you a taste of what the album has to offer. You can see Xandria touring the US for the first time this fall with Sonata Arctica and Delain – tour dates can be found here.
Black Stone Cherry, Magic Mountain (Roadrunner)
Since releasing Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea in 2011, Black Stone Cherry has done nothing but tour anywhere they possibly could. Playing with the likes of Alter Bridge, Cavo, Chickenfoot, Rival Sons, Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and more, the Kentucky-based rock group only left the road to write and record Magic Mountain, and they already have plans to get back out to touring later this year. Magic Mountain is the group’s fourth record.
Dwellers, Pagan Fruit (Small Stone)
This Salt Lake City-based trio is a toxic blend of psychedelia, doom, desert rock and good old fashioned rock and roll. We premiered their song “Spirit in the Staircase” last week, so if you liked what you heard, there’s now more where that came from.
WAMI, Kill the King (Metal Mind)
WAMI is actually an acronym of the names involved in this new supergroup, and it stands for White Appice Mendoza Iggy. The lineup consists of vocalist Doogie White (Rainbow, Michael Schenker), drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), bassist Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake), and guitarist Iggy Gwadera (Anti Tank Nun). The project came into being when Anti Tank Nun opened for Thin Lizzy in Poland, and Marco Mendoza suggested to Iggy Gwadera that they record some music together. Fun fact – Iggy Gwadera is only 15 years old.
Arkona, Yav (Napalm)
Arkona is a folk/pagan metal band based in Moscow. The band started seeing international success after signing with Napalm in 2008. Yav is the band’s seventh studio album. The group also experienced the first lineup change of their career this past January, as drummer Vlad “Artist” Sokolov departed the band for personal reasons. His replacement is Andrey Ishchenko, who makes his recording debut on Yav.
Next Week: Things are going to get VERY interesting as a number of high-profile albums have their debuts. Get ready for another exciting release list in just seven days!
