Draugnim–Vulturine
Genre: Black Metal, Symphonic
FFO: Moonsorrow, Dark Forest
Finnish Pagan Metal trio Draugnim strike again releasing their first LP in six years.
Vulturine is a passionate pilgrimage traveling through darkened forests of pagan folklore, channeling vast atmospheric soundscapes, balanced production, and topped with slight, subtle sprinkles of symphonic elements.
Brian Fallon–Painkillers
Genre: Alternative Rock
FFO: The Gaslight Anthem, Bruce Springsteen, Lucero
2014’s Get Hurt is regarded by many fans as The Gaslight Anthem‘s weakest offering despite showing Brian Fallon at his most emotional, blunty lamenting the pains of his recent divorce to paper.
Gaslight went on hiatus soon after and now we see Mr. Fallon therapeutically writing the album he was meant to.
Painkillers channels the Petty, Dylan, and Springsteen vibes we all know and love from Gaslight but applies it to a more intimate stripped down formula keeping fans in check with the artist’s emotional journey.
Flatbush Zombies–3001: A Laced Odyssey
Genre: Hip Hop, Rap
FFO: Joey Bada$$, Vince Staples, Action Bronson
Flatbush Zombies is an unconventional NYC hip hop trio consisting if Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice, and producer Erick “The Architect” Elliot.
The group’s debut LP 3001: A Laced Odyssey takes a leap forward from their prior mixtapes in terms of production, atmosphere, sharp flow, and lyricism. The colossal, drug-induced debut channels the previous absurdities anchored in nonsensical immaturity, and steers it towards clever, subtle wordplay.
Gadget–The Great Destroyer
Genre: Powerviolence, Grindcore
FFO: Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer
Swedish Grindcore quartet Gadget have been around the block more times than you would think releasing numerous LPs, EPs, Splits, and Demos since their inception in 1997.
Prepate yourself for the high-speed, dirty, sonic onslaught of their comeback LP The Great Destroyer out now on Relapse Records.
Heck–Instructions
Genre: Noise Rock, Post Hardcore
FFO: Everytime I Die, The Dillinger Escape Plan, At the Drive In
Known for their humble beginnings as Baby Godzilla, the Nottingham noise quartet were recently forced to change their band name due to an imperative demand from Japanese cinema.
They now return as Heck armed with a fresh full length. Instructions is an intense, noisey, mathy rock n’ roll ride that rocks hard all the way through.
Holy Wave-Freaks of Nurture
Genre: Psychadelic Rock
FFO: Deerhunter, MGMT, The Beatles
Austin, Texas’ psych rock outfit Holy Wave returns for round three with their latest LP.
Freaks of Nurture is a reverb-drowned lullaby with soft, whispery vocal work gliding peacefully throughout plains of clean, lush, riffs that will lead your mind to drift into uncharted dimensions of time and space.
Into It. Over it–Standards
Genre: Indie Rock, Emo
FFO: American Football, Death Cab for Cutie, Owen
Evan Weiss invites us back into his serenading world of emo/indie rock goodness with his third full length Standards.
Weiss continues upon his successfully executed formula of balancing technical, upbeat, mathy indie rock while kissing the feet of Ben Gibbard with his soulful ballads.
Into It. Over It has never been an act associated with wheel reinvention, but Weiss‘ superb instrumental talent and sincerity shape him into an artist you dont want to overlook.
The tracks found on Standards are delicately alluring and showcase a hard-working young man proudly wearing his heart on his sleeve and seeking more mature artistic routes for his work.
Killswitch Engage–Incarnate
Genre: Metalcore
FFO: Overcast, All That Remains, Slipknot
Any Killswitch fan could argue for hours over the age-old Jesse vs. Howard debate, but I’ll cut to the chase: I’m a Jesse guy. That being said, you probably imagined my delight when Disarm the Discent was announced.
Hard to believe it’s already been three years since Jesse’s triumphant return, and luckily the latest offering from the Massachusetts Metalcore pioneers does not disapoint.
Killswitch Engage has never been a band to experiment much with their sound and if anything, Adam D and the boys have always simply yet sucessfully created an intense backdrop for either Howard or Jesse to shine.
Why fix what isn’t broken? Incarnate shows the group at their most heavy, choatic, and abrasive and show little signs of slowing after an almost two decade career.
Obsidian Kingdom–A Year With No Summer
Genre: Experimental Rock, Progressive Metal, Black Metal, Noise Rock
FFO: The Ocean, Sunn O)))
Spanish quintet Obsidian Kingdom steals the prize for the most unique release of the week.
The group’s sophomore offering strangely combines piano-driven, progressive, industrial rock ballads with groovy death riffs and blackened drone. Listen for yourself.
Panopticon/Waldgeflüster-“Split”
Genre: Black Metal, Folk
FFO: Wolves in the Throne Room, Ash Borer
The latest split between Austin Lunn‘s baby Panopticon and Germany’s Waldgeflüster shows both acts channeling their similar strengths in perfect harmony.
Both sides of the split beautifully exemplify that black metal and folk go together like peanut butter and jelly.