#the shania twain callback is everything

[moxyphinx]

ELIZABETH MITCHELL as MRS. CLAUS/CAROL NEWMAN  THE SANTA CLAUSES S1 (2022)

[xmystophalesx]

Best New Heavy Metal Releases Week of August 19th, 2022

Very busy weekend as I went out of town with my sons on a bit of road trip. Still got listening done on some great albums while on the road (much to my kids annoyance, I am sure…lol). There were quite a few that deserve much more attention than I will give them, as I am still trying to keep these posts at least relatively short. This can be difficult when I have a lot of highlight albums that should not be missed. This week there are eight albums that fit that description but I try to only write up 5 a week so it doesn’t feel like a wall of text. Too many very good albums and just so little time. Just know that even if I don’t write about a certain album and I have it as one of the best of the week doesn’t mean it is less than. Lets get to the aforementioned wall of text!

Eruption-Tellurian Rupture (Heavy Power/Thrash)**

Clean Thrash Metal with a heavy emphasis on the riffs with plenty of groove to add that little extra touch. This is your Bay Area sound but mixed with a bit of Heavy Power Metal that lightens up the sound a bit while still firmly reminding you of its aggressive moments. Think of Thrash Metal version of the band Cage and you will be in ballpark. GREAT album for speeding along the highway.

Thundermother-Black And Gold (Heavy/Hard Rock)**

This one had me a bit perplexed. Not because it wasn’t good, it is absolutely fantastic and hands down the best Hard Rock album of the weekend. I have been a fan of this band for a few years now and their heavily AC/DC influenced brand of Hard Rock. Great riffs and leads with an amazing vocalist carrying everything to another level. The issue I have is this album sounds very “slick” for lack of a better term. It has lost a bit of that decided edge that their previous albums had. If it’s a natural progression, then more power to them but if it’s something that someone is “suggesting” they do, then I hope they kick that fucker to the curb. Still a killer album…even if the ballad “Hot Mess” sounds 100% like a Shania Twain song…:)

Parasite inc.-Cyan Night Dreams (Melodic Death)**

I am completely new to this band but Melodic Death Metal that has touches of Power/Industrial Metal and keyboards over the top that remind me of 80s synth pop music? This REALLY shouldn’t work with that description but somehow this actually really does and in a big way. I came back to this album multiple times just for the sheer fun of it. A friend told me their other albums are more straightforward but either way I will look deeper into this band as I was thoroughly impressed.

Ahriman-Kehely (Black)**

I have actually been looking for this album for a couple of weeks now, as it has been on my list of new releases for a while now. Finally came across it this week and I have to say, I am glad I did not give up. This is Black Metal from Hungary and man, is it good. Great variety in the songwriting that sounds epic with atmospheric touches, giving it a much bigger feel. Vocals that sound visceral, angry, and pained all at the same time. Last week didn’t have any highlight worthy Black Metal. Well, this one makes up for that and then some.

Denial of Life-No Reason (Thrash/Crossover)**

I know this is labeled as Thrash/Crossover but honestly the only reason it gets the Crossover addition is the vocals, which are 100% what you find in Crossover. The music itself, however, is all out Thrash Metal with absolutely killer riffs and breakdown sections designed to snap your neck or absolutely destroy a mosh pit. This album has riffs for days and one of the best parts of this band is they let those riffs breathe. Too many bands have 43 riffs in a song and you just feel overwhelmed. This band knows how to stretch out that riff while still adding to it and then drop it back in as a callback just at the right moment.

That will do it for this week. Now to jump into a thorough analysis of Parasite Inc. “Thorough Analysis” sounded awfully fancy for throw some headphones on and listen to music. Until next week and, as always,

BANG THY HEAD!!!

All worthy of a listen if you like the genre

* = Standout in that genre

** = Best of the week regardless of genre

Best of the Week

Eruption-Tellurian Rupture (Heavy Power/Thrash)**

Denial of Life-No Reason (Thrash/Crossover)**

Ahriman-Kehely (Black)**

Splintered Throne-The Greater Good of Man (Heavy)**

Parasite inc.-Cyan Night Dreams (Melodic Death)**

Orthodox-Learning to Dissolve (Hardcore)**

White Rune-The Spell of Eternal Fire (Melodic Black)**

Thundermother-Black And Gold (Heavy/Hard Rock)**

Standout albums in their genre

Born Again-Live Hard, Die Free (Heavy/Speed)*

Myrsky-Tuonelalle (Melodic Black)*

Dawn of Creation-Self-Destructive Matters (Technical/Progressive Death)*

Tyrants of Chaos-Relentless Thirst For a power (Heavy)*

Soilwork-Overgivenheten (Melodic Death/Metalcore)*

To Obey a Tyrant- Omnimalevot (Death/Symphonic)*

Empress-Fateweaver (Symphonic Power)*

Spite-Dedication to Flesh (Deathcore)

Barbarian-Viperface (Black n’ Roll)*

Sun Eater-Vermin (Technical Death)*

Spirit Adrift-20 Centuries Gone (Heavy/Doom)*

Mael-Sentinel of Dark Divinity (Black/Death)*

Osserp-Els Nous Cants De La Sibil-la (Death)*

Doldrey-Celestial Deconstruction (Death/Punk)*

Worthy of a listen if you enjoy the genre

Exaltation-Under Blind Reasoning (Death)

Ether Coven-The Relationship Between the Hammer and the Nail (Sludge/Death)

New Democracy-The Plague (Melodic Death/Groove)

Nurez-Nachtlied (Atmospheric Black)

Deer Creek-Menticide (Doom/Sludge)

Hylda-Juniper Pyre (Black/Death/Doom/Sludge)

Grandpa Jack-Grits (Stoner/Desert)

Return to Darkness-Eternal (Heavy)

Orochen-Anthroposcenic (Post)

Tomb of Finland-Across the Barren Fields (Melodic Death/Doom)

Six by Six-Six by Six (Hard Rock/Progressive)

Elliot’s Keep-Vulnerant Omnes (Doom/Progressive)

Hammer King-Kingdemonium (Power/Heavy)

Jackyl-Jackyl 30 Coming in Hot (Hard Rock/Heavy)

Kalah-Descent into Human Weakness (Heavy Progressive/Metalcore)

Funeral Chic-Roman Candle (Black/Hardcore/Punk)

Final Summon-Paralyzed Reality (Thrash/Death)

Limuria-Lunar Sanctum (Power)

Parasite Inc.’s brand of “fun” Melodic Death Metal takes the Pick of the Week with 4.5 bulldogs chewing themselves to sleep out of 5.