Every Friday is new music release day. I dig through new release lists from sources like All Music, Metal Injection, Pitchfork, and Bandcamp to put together a queue of releases from bands and labels that might interest me. As I listen through the list, I add the stand out albums to a playlist for revisiting. This list is what I refer to as the First Pass. Some of the albums make it to my best of the month playlists. Others get tossed upon further review. Below is a list of albums from this week that made the first pass.
Vi Som Älskade Varandra Så Mycket
Det Onda. Det Goda. Det Vackra. Det Fula.
Post-Hardcore, Screamo
Pretty much anything released on Zegema Beach Records is going to be worth checking out.
Upset
Upset
Indie Rock, Punk
Lauren Records is another label that keeps releasing excellent content.
Diploid
Glorify
Hardcore, Grindcore
This album comes at you from all sides, an excellent assault on the ears.
Downhaul
Tornado Season
Indie Rock, Emo
This band released an awesome album earlier this year. This four song EP is a nice follow up.
The Sound That Ends Creation
Music Designed to Give You Ideas… In Case You Should Run Out of Ideas
Mathcore, Grindcore
This album is a noisy mess of awesomeness.
Buildings
Negative Sound
Noise Rock
I am wearing a Gilead Media hoodie as I type this up. I love everything the label puts out. This album is not as heavy as some of its label mates, but it is solid nonetheless.
Lord Mantis
Universal Death Church
Sludge, Black Metal
This album has a layer of that scuzzy feel that sludge brings to metal, but still retains a lot of what makes black metal so appealing.
YNW Melly
Melly vs. Melvin
Hip-Hop
I think this guy was charged with multiple counts of murder recently.
KING
Coldest of Cold
Black Metal
Cold and black as advertised.
Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band
Nevermind
Indie Rock
An album of Nirvana covers from Kevin Devine. Enough said!
Third Chamber
Harvesting Our Decay
Death Metal
This album may not defy any expectations for the genre, but it is short enough to not wear out its welcome.
Unfathomable Ruination
Enraged and Unbound
Brutal Death Metal
Another solid release for the genre with great album art.
Moonreich
Wormgod
Black Metal
This is the kind of band that will fall under most people’s radar, but is worth giving a chance.
Blood Incantation
Hidden History of the Human Race
Death Metal
If you follow metal music at all, this album is getting praised on year end lists. I am not sure I feel the same about it, but there is something here worth spending more time with.