We’ve had six weeks of incredible new release Fridays, and that trend isn’t stopping today. Headlined by a mainstay of ’90s and 2000s hard rock, the 20th anniversary of a landmark album, and a live release from a seminal Florida death metal group, there is an overabundance of quality music to be had today. Check it out and enjoy!
Korn, The Serenity of Suffering (Roadrunner)
If Korn’s career can be highlighted by one characteristic in particular, it’s their diversity of styles over the course of over two decades. Traversing the gap from nu metal pioneers and brooding goths to experimental funk composers and dubstep dabblers, there is little that Korn hasn’t tried at least once. Get ready for a return to form, though, because Korn are bringing the heat on album number twelve. Featuring some of their heaviest material since 2002’s Untouchables, The Serenity of Suffering is already receiving widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike.
Pantera, The Great Southern Trendkill 20th Anniversary Edition (Rhino)
1996 saw the release of Pantera’s most aggressive album, highlighted by demonic screams and some of Dimebag Darrell’s most impressive guitar work ever. Two decades later, we celebrate the release of The Great Southern Trendkill with a two-disc reissue. The second disc offers alternate or live versions of every song on the album. The live tracks come from the band’s performance at the Dynamo Festival in 1998, while the alternate mixes mostly come from an early version of the mixed album before changes were made. This is a great celebration of a landmark in Pantera’s legendary career.
Obituary, Ten Thousand Ways to Die (Relapse)
Obituary is one of the pillars of the Florida death metal community, and they’re still going strong after more than three decades. In advance of a new album that is expected in 2017, Obituary is releasing Ten Thousand Ways to Die, an album that chronicles their last US tour via ten live tracks, each recorded at a different stop on the tour. Also included on the album are two new songs, the album’s title track and “Loathe”. Both are samples of the brutality that is sure to come from Obituary next year.
Amaranthe, Maximalism (Spinefarm)
Amaranthe employed a style shift of sorts for 2014’s Massive Addictive, incorporating more melodies and pop-influenced songwriting throughout the album. The shift was rejected by some, but overwhelmingly approved by many more, pushing Massive Addictive to the top of the Heatseekers chart. Maximalism sees Amaranthe moving even further in that direction, and the results are amazingly catchy. There is still plenty of metal to be found here, but don’t be surprised when you’re randomly humming the chorus to “Maximize”, “That Song”, or “Faster” during the day.
Wovenwar, Honor is Dead (Metal Blade)
When Wovenwar was formed from the remains of As I Lay Dying, the band members wanted to focus on the positive aspects of life, and that decision showed through on their self-titled debut. However, the band is now taking the chance to process their negative emotions, relating not just to the former band’s demise, but also to the members’ personal issues and to the current state of the world. The anger and sadness being processed are quite evident on Honor is Dead, making this album a much more intense and hard-hitting piece.
I Prevail, Lifelines (Fearless)
Nonstop touring and a DIY ethic have been the hallmarks of I Prevail’s career, leading up to their deal with Fearless Records. Their 2014 EP Heart Vs. Mind sold massively on the strength of their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space”, and music videos were produced for four of the EP’s eight tracks. I Prevail is now releasing their debut full-length album, which was previewed on the band’s summer headlining tour. Lifelines is expected to be a huge hit that will catapult I Prevail to the forefront of their scene.
Destrage, A Means to No End (Metal Blade)
Far removed from the Fear Factory-influenced melodic death metal of their 2007 debut Urban Being, Destrage is now beyond classification and identification, crafting music that is experimental, chaotic, and inimitable in every way. Striving to push boundaries and blur lines with each song they create, Destrage’s fourth album is a complicated experience, but it is packed with enough intrigue that one listen will not be enough. It is also nigh impossible to describe in a written format – you have to hear it to fully understand.
The Last Ten Seconds of Life, The Violent Sound (Siege)
Deathcore’s evolution has been a somewhat painful process, and the genre continues to receive plenty of vitriol from its detractors. That has not deterred its myriad purveyors from soldiering on, though. The Last Ten Seconds of Life are releasing their fourth album today, and they offer a prime example of the genre’s growth via the melodic elements brought in by new vocalist John Robert Centorrino. We’re streaming the album in its entirety for you, so check it out and see just how much this album will defy your expectations.
