This Toilet Tuesday (10/28/14)
As usual, October has been very kind to us metalheads, spewing forth new releases simultaneously from both ends like that time you ate undercooked bacon-wrapped duck appetizers at your buddy’s Christmas party. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and October’s violent excretions end only with its death. The good news is that it saved its biggest gush for last; there is a ton of new music out this week. So as you watch October pass on- fatally dehydrated, violently twitching in an acrid puddle of its own vomit and liquid feculence- raise a pint in its honor and blast your favorite autumn album. Flush on, brothers and sisters. -Spear
Haken – Restoration (Inside Out/Century Media) [Progressive Metal/Rock]
Haken’s new EP, Restoration, revisits and completely revamps select tunes from their 2008 demo, Enter the 5th Dimension. It’s fantastically clear how much they have progressed as a band, with new arrangements that spin out over longer periods of time without feeling obligatory or repetitive. I’ve always liked the touch of cheese that Haken adds, because it’s a very self-aware cheese. Those moments weave in and out of a landscape of brilliant prog, giving the listener a lot to digest for an EP. Word on the street is that they’re already planning a new album, so dig in to this release and get ready for more. (Stockhausen)
[Joe Note: Look for a full review this afternoon!]
Gnaw Their Tongues – Wir Essen Seelen In Der Nacht (Independent) [Experimental Black Metal]
Mories, the unholy master of evil, one-man metal, has reared his ghastly head around here more than once, and this surely won’t be the last time. This short collection beckons the listener into horrifying territory, through halls of plaintive moans and ghastly shrieks, through pits of haunted orchestras and possessed machines. His work as Gnaw Their Tongues continues the tortured, buried textures of 2012’s All the Dread Magnificence of Perversity, and offers a bit more dark and demonic wanderings, as the last track “Droom van de Rattenvreter” is the closest we get to a “band” sound. Get in here and gaze into the abyss of the ages. (Stockhausen)
Giant Squid – Minoans (Translation Loss) [Art Doom]
Many moons ago, I was drifting around bargain electronics warehouse Entertainmart and found a used copy of Giant Squid’s then latest album Metridium Fields for only $1.00. I had read about the album in Metal Maniacs (RIP) and decided I should pick it up. I’m certainly glad I did, as the repetitive, mantra-esque funereal riffs within utterly enchanted me. Ever since that album, I’ve kept tabs on Giant Squid. So it was with eager anticipation that I pressed play on their most recent effort, Minoans. Thankfully, this album does not disappoint. The wave-like riffs still crash over you. The warmth and depth of the songs are still evident, and the melodic beauty in the vocals and arrangements still allure you into the watery depths like the seductive song of the siren. If you like Giant Squid, you will love this album. If you like pelagic shanties and colossal riffs, you owe it to yourself to jam this record. (W.)
Abysmal Dawn – Obsolescence (Relapse) [Tech Death]
Abysmal Dawn are a meat-and-potatoes death metal outfit. You can always count on them to release a consistently heavy album. There isn’t really much on Obsolescence that you could label progression; the sonic signature is pretty consistent with their previous output. But that output is always good for a dose of the straightforward heavy. Sometimes you just need something to make your head bang. Abysmal Dawn deliver that in spades. (W.)
Bloodshot Dawn – Demons (Independent) [Tech Death]
Bloodshot Dawn released an amazing album with their self-titled and now they are back once again with Demons. Demons is everything a Bloodshot Dawn fan could have hoped for and more. FFO Allegaeon, Revocation. This is one of the best albums I have heard this year. A Bloodshot Dawn, Revocation, Sylosis, Allegaeon, Vektor tour needs to happen. Trust me when I say you can’t go wrong grabbing this one. Keep an eye out for my review of Demons. (Jack Bauer)
Beyond Creation – Earthborn Evolution (Season of Mist) [Progressive Tech Death]
Beyond Creation have returned with their second album Earthborn Evolution. Their last album, The Aura, solidified them as gods of tech death. This album only serves to enhance that description. If you liked The Aura you will like Earthborn Evolution. It’s everything about The Aura done even better, as if that was somehow physically possible. DAT BASS. (Jack Bauer)
Anaal Nathrakh – Desideratum (Metal Blade) [Extreme Metal]
Anaal Nathrakh’s newest offering is at once both awesome and a little bit disappointing. When taken on a song-by-song basis, Desideratum is extremely solid; the music is as vicious as ever (even with the occasional groovy break), and the short bursts of clean vocals come in at exactly the perfect moments. The problem here is the lack of variety; just about any riff could be easily lifted from one song and transplanted in another. It’s unfortunate given how well each song stands on its own, but as a whole, it starts to wear a little thin by the end. I guess the takeaway here is that Anaal is fun, but only for a few minutes. (Spear)
Aequus Nox/Pulsar Colony – Aequus Nox/Pulsar Colony (split- Manicidic Records) [Black Metal]
All Hell – The Devil’s Work (Horror Pain Gore Death) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Suffer For Me”
Ancient Dome – Cosmic Gateway to Infinity (Punishment 18) [Thrash]
Preview
Annihilated – XIII Steps to Ruin (Unique Leader) [Death Metal]
Listen to “XIII Steps to Ruin”
Aphonic Threnody – When Death Comes (Doomentia) [Funeral Doom]
Listen to “Death Obsession”
Apostle of Solitude – Of Woe and Wounds (Cruz Del Sur) [Doom]
Listen to “Whore’s Wings”
Arx – The Speed of Dark (Feral Fortress) [Death Thrash]
Preview
Atriarch – An Undending Pathway (Prosthetic) [Black Metal/Doom]
Stream
As Blood Runs Black – Ground Zero (Standby Records) [Melodeath(core)]
Listen to “Insomniac”
At the Gates – At War With Reality (Century Media) [Gothenbuttz]
Listen to “At War With Reality,” “Death and the Labyrinth”
Barbelith – Mirror Unveiled (Grimoire Records) [DSBM]
Listen to “Reverse Fall”
Behemoth – Xiądz (New Aeon Musick) [Blackened Death]
Preview
Benighted Soul – Kenotic (Savage Prod/Season of Mist) [Prog Metal]
Preview
Black Awakening – Intra Nos Satanas (Domestic Genocide) [Black Metal]
Stream
Black Capricorn – Cult of Black Friars (Stone Stallion Rex) [Doom]
Listen to “Cult of Black Friars”
Blindeath – Into the Slaughter (Punishment 18 Records) [Thrash]
Listen to “Toxic War”
Blood Freak – Squalor (Willowtip) [Grindcore]
Listen to “The Urge to Regurge”
Cavorts – Got Your Brass (In At The Deep End) [Hardcore]
Listen to “Got Your Brass”
Dark Flood – Inverno (Minortone Music) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Hearts Into Museums”
Dawnbringer – Night of the Hammer (Profound Lore) [Doom] Review
Listen
Devin Townsend Project – Z2 (HevyDevy) [God Only Knows]
Listen to “Rejoice,” “Deathray”
Divine:Zero – The Cold Asylum (Quality Steel) [Death Metal]
Listen to “The Final Virus”
Doombringer – The Grand Sabbath (Nuclear War Now) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Ominous Alliance”
Duirvir – Idho (Independent) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Winter Solstice”
Dysphorian Breed – The Rain of Ash (Independent) [Doom]
Preview
Ealdath – Ancient Oath (Parasitic Records) [Doom]
Listen to “Ancient Oath”
Einherjer – Av Oss, For Oss (Indie Recordings) [Viking Metal]
Stream
Engraved Disillusion – The Eternal Rest (Independent) [Melodeath]
Stream
Epitaph – Crawling Out of the Crypt (High Roller Records) [Doom]
Listen to “Ancient Rite”
Eric Pellegrini – War of Kings (Independent) [Death Metal]
Listen to “War of Kings”
Exorcist – Utterances of Going Forth by Day (Independent) [Thrash]
Fangtooth – …As We Dive Into the Dark (Jolly Roger Records) [Doom]
Listen to “No Tomorrow,” “Of Flesh and Bolts”
Fides Inversa – Mysterium Tremendum & Fascinans (WTC Productions) [Black Metal]
Listen to “VI”
Fleshcraft – Human Error (CDN Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Keys to the Crypt”
Gangrened – We Are Nothing (Bad Road Records) [Sludge]
Stream
Generation of Vipers – Coffin Wisdom (Translation Loss) [Sludge]
Listen to “Damaged Awake”
Graveyard Ghoul/Cryptic Brood – The Graveyard Brood (Final Gate) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Castle Freak” (Graveyard Ghoul)
Graveyard Shifters – Brainwashed by Moonshine (Inverse Records) [Punk]
Listen to “Chicken Cage of Terror”
Guerra Total – Cthulhu Zombies & Anti-Cosmic Black Goats (Iron Shield) [Black Thrash]
Listen to “Anti-Cosmic Chaos”
Flittering – Disappearance (Speed Spiritual Records) [Sludge/Noise]
Stream
Hideous Divinity – Cobra Verde (Unique Leader) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Alonest of the Alone”
Ilsa – The Felon’s Claw (A389 Records) [Sludge/Doom]
Listen to “Ilsa 25 Cromwell”
I Miti Eterni – Historia Cumae (Jolly Roger Records) [Heavy Metal]
Listen to “Legend of Apollo”
Infestum – Monuments of Exalted (CD release- Lacerated Enemy) [Blackened Death/Electronic]
Stream
Isolated – Absolute Obscurity (Diabolus Productions) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Absolute Obscurity”
Just Before Dawn – The Aftermath (Chaos Records) [Death Metal]
Preview
Kall – Kall (Independent) [DSBM]
Stream
Kattah – Lapis Lazuli (Baker Team Records/Scarlet Records) [Power Metal]
Listen to “Apocalypse”
Lacerhate – Mass Distraction (Revalve Records) [Moshcore]
Listen to “Wake Up”
Laster – De Verste Verte is Hier (Dunkelheit) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Tot de tocht uns verlicht”
Latitude Egress – To Take Up the Cross (Art of Propaganda) [Black Metal]
Listen to “To Take Up the Cross”
Lordi – Scare Force One (AFM) [Heavy Metal]
Listen to “Nailed by the Hammer of Frankenstein”
Lord of Pagathorn – Nekros Phila (Woodcut Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Chapter VI”
Mindmaze – Back from the Edge (Inner Wound Recordings) [Power Metal]
Listen to “Dreamwalker”
Mosh-Pit Justice – Justice is Served (Burgas Thrashers United) [Power Thrash]
Listen to “Find a Reason”
Moss – Carmilla (Marcilla)/Spectral Visions (Independent) [Doom]
Listen to “Carmilla (Marcilla)”
Mysticum – Planet Satan (Peaceville Records) [Industrial Black Metal]
Listen to “LSD”
Nasty Disaster – Filthy Drunken Metal Bastards (Independent) [lolbuttz]
Listen to “Filthy Drunken Metal Bastards”
Necronomichrist – Apparitions of the Obscene (Independent) [Death Metal]
Listen to “The Swarm”
Necrophagia – WhiteWorm Cathedral (Season of Mist) [Death Metal]
Stream
Nero di Marte – Derivae (Prosthetic) [Progressive Metal]
Stream
Neurotech – Intra Versus Ultra (Independent) [Industrial]
Listen to “Unleashing the Dead”
Obituary – Inked in Blood (Relapse) [Death Metal]
Stream
Øde Vinter/Svederna – Øde Vinter/Svederna (split- Manicidic Records) [Black Metal]
Oraculum – Sorcery of the Damned (Invictus Productions) [Blackened Death]
Listen to “The Vessel of Orichalcum”
O.S.S./Cross – O.S.S./Cross (Trench Art Records) [Black Metal]
Stream
Oyabun – The Hiss (Discos Macarras) [Doom]
Listen to “Self Made Slave”
Pestilential Shadows – Ephemeral (Séance Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Mill of Discord”
Primordium – Aeonian Obsolescence (Lacerated Enemy) [Tech Death]
Listen to “The Incursion”
Putrid Evocation – Echoes of Death (Xtreem Music) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Revelation of Hell’s Apocalypse”
Rapheumet’s Well – Dimensions (Independent) [Progressive Death Metal]
Listen
Rancid – Honor is All We Know (Hellcat Records) [Punk]
Listen
Revel in Flesh/The Dead Goats – Revel in Flesh/The Dead Goats (split- Selfmadegod) [Death Metal]
Preview
Right to the Void – Light of the Fallen Gods (Wormholedeath) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Swallow’s Flight”
Rocka Rollas – The Road to Destruction (Stormspell Records) [Power Metal]
Listen to “Curse of Blood”
Sahhr – Sahhr (Domestic Genocide) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Altar of Maggots”
Selva – Life Habitual (Argonauta Records) [Post-Black]
Stream
Sex Machineguns – Love Games (Kanameishi Records) [Power Metal]
Sister Sin – Black Lotus (Victory Records) [Heavy Metal]
Stream
Solefald – Norrønasongen Kosmopolis Nord (Indie Recordings) [Black/Folk Metal]
Spectral Manifest – Spectral Manifest (Ossuary Industries) [Death Metal]
Listen
Stéphan Forté – Enigma Opera Black (Zeta Nemesis) [Instrumental Shred]
Listen to “Zeta Nemesis”
Sudden Death – Monolith of Sorrow (Deadbang Records) [Slamming Brutal Death]
Listen to “Dressed by Flesh to Cover Darkness”
Talv/To Storm the Fortress – Talv/To Storm the Fortress (split- Manicidic Records) [Black Metal]
Tantal – Expectancy (Bakerteam Records) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Through the Years”
Terra Deep/Nyarlethotep – Terra Deep/Nyarlethotep (split- Manicidic Records) [Black Metal]
Thy Darkened Shade – Liber Lvcifer I: Khem Sedjet (WTC Productions) [Black Metal]
Preview
Unearth – Watchers of Rule (eOne Music/Century Media) [Metalcore]
Listen to “The Swarm”
Vesania – Deus Ex Machina (Metal Blade) [Symphonic Black Metal]
Listen to “Dismay”
Voices of Destiny – Crisis Cult (Massacre Records) [Symphonic Metal]
Listen to “Wolfpack”
Vulvodynia – Cognizant Castigation (Morbid Generation) [Slam]
Listen to “Enslaved and Subservient”
Walking Dead on Broadway – Aeshma (Impericon Records) [Flushcore]
Listen to “Illusions”
Warmblood – God of Zombies (The Spew) [Death Metal]
Preview
Warrant – Metal Bridge (Pure Steel) [Thrash]
Listen to “Asylum”
Windhand/Salem’s Pot – Windhand/Salem’s Pot (Riding Easy) [Doom/Stoner]
Stream
Witchclan – The Dark Binding (Darkness Shade Records) [Black Metal]
Stream
Witchmaster – Antichristus Ex Utero (Osmose Productions) [Black Metal]
Preview
Zephyra – Mental Absolution (Wormholedeath) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Undone”
Did we forget a new release? Is there a way we could improve this list? Let us know in the comments below!
(Photos VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, and VIA)
