The metal world has been getting really heavy lately (pun intended, but I'm not proud of it). There has been death, a murder plot, and drugs (the scary AMC kind). It's almost like metal is the new hip hop (burn?). So, It was such a relief to have so many great albums dropping today (almost too many). Now, onward to the metals (this sentence also has parenthesis in it)…
Black Cowgirl – Black Cowgirl
Genre: Stoner Rock
Origin: Lancaster, PA
Label: Restricted Release
There is something oddly charming about this band. They are a stoner rock band from a place that makes you go, "Really? They're from Pennsylvania? I guess I can hear it." The band sounds like if The Sword channeled early Queens of the Stone Age. Plus, with the lovely image their name conjures certainly had me curious.
The Dillinger Escape Plan – One Of Us Is The Killer
Genre: Math Metal
Origin: Morris Plains, NJ
Label: Sumerian
I don't know why it took five albums for me to GET Greg Puciato and friends, but this album has finally opened my eyes to their greatness. And after going backwards and visiting their older albums, I can assure fans that while still chaotic and wonderfully awkward, the band is not recycling old tricks. I mean, they could easily and totally get away with it. There are some straight up soulful moments, some atmospheric breaks, and, of course, some goofy time signatures. Everything you'd expect while constantly surprising you. Stream it here.
Immolation – Kingdom of Conspiracy
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Origin: Yonkers, NY
Label: Nuclear Blast
It never ceases to amaze me that long running death metal bands can still kick the shit out of me with their musically. Immolation manages to retain a groove to their sound without sacrificing constantly pummeling the listener, and this is impressive. I can only imagine how much of a force this band must be live.
Kadavar – Abra Kadavar!
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Origin: Berlin, Germany
Label: Nuclear Blast
Kadavar are in the wrong decade. They sound, dress, and look like a band from the early 70's, when metal was just a bluesy baby. They manage to lift from bands like Hawkwind and Black Sabbath, but do so without sounding like one of the thousand Sabbath clones. I really hope that Abra Kadavar! Is the album that makes these guys this year's Ghost (BC?). This is a band worthy of the beards that adorn them.
My Dying Bride – The Manuscript EP 
Genre: Doom
Origin: Halifax, England
Label: Peacevill
I find it fascinating how Death/Doom originators like Paradise Lost, Anathema and My Dying Bride all backed away from the death metal aspect and universally embraced a moodier, goth sound. This EP is a solid collection of songs that presents this sound by My Dying Bride with the e exception of "Var Gud Over Er," which sounds more like the band that once was. The songs are simple, but not in that way that is off putting. It is more an example of how less can be more.
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Mind Control
Genre: Psychadelic/Doom
Origin: Cambridge, England
Label: Metal Blade
When Blood Lust dropped in 2011, I thought the album was badass, but somehow lost it in the metal shuffle. Now that Mind Control is here, it's like discovering a band for the first time, again. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats are like if Ghost (BC, I suppose) and Bigelf turned up the rock and enjoyed some different drugs. Actually, If these three bands toured together, I'd be one happy bearded man. Peep our full review here and stream it here.
Also out today:
Adoran – Adoron (Consouling)
Arckanum – Fenris Kindir (Season Of Mist)
Artizan – Ancestral Energy (Pure Steel)
Beyond Creation – The Aura (Season Of Mist)
Cultura Tres – Rezando Al Miedo (Devouter)
Death Ray Vision – Get Lost Or Get Dead (Bullet Tooth)
Devil – Gather The Sinners (Soulseller)
Enshine – Origin (Rain Without End)
Entrails – Raging Death (Metal Blade)
Escape The Fate – Ungrateful (Eleven Seven)
Extinction Protocol – Aeonic Obliteration (P2)
Fatal Smile – 21st Century Freaks (FS)
Gravewurm – Infernal Minions (Hells Headbangers)
Heart In Hand – Almost There (Siege Of Amida)
Intoxicated – Rock N Roll Hellpatrol (Hells Headbangers)
Killing Joke – The Singles Collection (Spinefarm)
Lifeforms – Multidimensional (Lifeforce)
The Monolith Deathcult – Tetragrammaton (Season Of Mist)
Negator – Gates To The Pantheon (Prosthetic)
Ocellus – Departure (Pavement)
Pop Evil – Onyx (eOne)
The Resistance – Scars (Armoury)
Steve Von Till – As The Crow Flies Re-Release (Neurot)
Thinning The Herd – Freedom From The Known (Saint Marks)
Tribulation – The Formulas Of Death (Invictus)
Utopium –Vicious Consolation / Virtuous Totality (Bleak)
Vindictiv – Cage Of Infinity (Escape)
Zolle – Zolle (Supernatural Cat)
Zombiefication – At The Caves Of Eternal (Pulverised)
