Hello, Metal Wani readers! Today I am bringing you another new feature from my new series, 15 Anticipated Albums You Should Keep In Mind. This new feature is a seasonal preview of my most anticipated albums of the particular time of year. This feature will only focus on full length albums and will not include Demos, EPs, Compilations, or Splits. These features are designed to promote new music for the readers and help bands to build their fan bases.
For this segment, I will be bringing you 15 albums that will be released this coming spring (March and April). Let’s begin!
The first album on our list, at number 15, is ‘The Enslavement Conquest’ by Begrime Exemious. Begrime Exemious is a Black/Death Metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, the Canadian Midwest. With members from bands like A.M.S.G and Weapon, the band’s music can be described as frigid and evil as the band blends the bleak and cold qualities of black metal with the intensity and energy of death metal. I personally own and enjoyed their 2012 album ‘Visions of the Scourge’, so I will be looking forward to their new one. ‘The Enslavement Conquest’ will be released on March 4th, through Dark Descent Records, one of the most exciting labels for underground extreme metal. You can check out their new song “Noose for a Monarch” here.
The next album brings us to Australia. At number 14, we have Coffin Lust’s ‘Manifestation of Inner Darkness’. Coffin Lust is a relatively new death metal duo that features Pete Walker and Jarro Raphael (Denouncement Pyre, Impious Baptism, Nocturnal Graves, etc). The band plays a style of death metal that people would identify as Old School Death Metal (OSDM). Instead of a more aggressive and lean sound, the band opted for a murkier sound that still maintains the intensity Death Metal is known for. With only a demo in 2012, the duo will surely bring an album Death Metal fans would enjoy. Manifestation of Inner Darkness’ will be released on April 23rd, through Hells Handbanger Records, another fantastic label to watch out for. You can check out their new song “Swarming Black Inferno” here.
Heading to Europe, we stop by Sweden for the next album. At number 13, we have Miasmal’s ‘Tides of Omniscience’. Miasmal is a Swedish Death Metal band hailing from Gothenburg who play the classic Swedish Death Metal sound similar to bands like Grave, Dismember, Unleashed, and early Entombed. Returning with a third album, the band works with Mattias Frisk (Vanhelgd), who did the artwork for the band’s previous album ‘Cursed Redeemer’. for their album artwork. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the classic Swedish sound of the 90s. ‘Tides of Omniscience’ is expected to be released on March 4th, through Century Media Records. You can listen to the new song “Fear the New Flesh” below.
Mantar’s ‘Ode to the Flame’ sits at number 12. Mantar is a German Sludge Metal band that recently made a name for themselves with their 2014 album, ‘Death By Burning’. Now on a larger label, the band is set to return with their sophomore album. Crisp drums, fuzzy guitar riffs, and great vocals, are what you can expect to hear from this band. The band goes beyond the heavy sound Sludge Metal is known for and manages to add in more melodic lines. If you like Sludge Metal and have not heard of this band, I highly recommend checking out their debut album in preparation for the new release. ‘Ode to the Flame’ is set to be released on April 15th through Nuclear Blast Records. Check out their new song “Era Borealis” below.
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean we arrive in Colorado, USA. For number 11, we have Cobalt’s long awaited album ‘Slow Forever’. Cobalt is an American Black Metal band that plays a progressive style of black metal that is equally interesting and aggressive. It has been 7 years since the release of ‘Gin’, the duo is set to return with a double album. With the main man Phil McSorley leaving the band, Erik Wunder brings on Charlie Fell (ex-Lord Mantis/Abigail Williams) for vocal duties. Owning all three of their current full lengths, I am definitely interested to see how Cobalt will change on their new release. ‘Slow Forever’ will be released on March 25th, on Profound Lore Records. Check out their new song “Beast Whip” here.
Now crossing the Pacific Ocean, we arrive in Tokyo, Japan. For number 10, we have ‘And Then There Were None’ from a newly reformed Church of Misery. Church of Misery is a Japanese Stoner/Doom Metal band that gained fame for their serial murderer related lyrical content (songs are usually dedicated to a serial murderer). The band has went through many line up changes with bassist Tatsu Mikami being the sole original member. For the upcoming album Church of Misery has a completely new line up with Eric Little (Earthride) on drums, Dave Szulkin (Blood Farmers) on guitars, and Scott Carlson (Repulsion, Cathedral) on vocals. I would highly recommend going back in their discography if you are unfamiliar with this band. ‘And Then There Were None’ will be released on March 4th, through Rise Above Records. Check out their new song “Confessions of an Embittered Soul” (Leonarda Cianciulli) below.
Now heading off to the UK, we have the new Horrified album ‘Of Despair’ at number 9. Horrified is an English Death Metal band that brings back the old glory days of a more melodic style playing of OSDM. With their 2014 debut album ‘Descent into Putridity’, the band displayed a great amount of potential and seeing them return with a sophomore album definitely has me interested in what they can do and how much they improved. With members from other notable bands like Winds of Genocide, Starborn, Plague Rider and Live Burial (who will also be releasing a new album this year), Horrified is definitely a band that many Death Metal fans would enjoy as they have all the qualities of good Death Metal have with an additional flair of melody that will remind you of the 90s. ‘Of Despair’ will be released on March 25th, through Stormspell Records. Check out their new song “Infernal Lands” below.
Heading east into Asia, we travel to Shandong, China. At number 8 is the new acoustic album ‘醉花音 (Enchanted by the Blooming Echo)’ by the band 深山 (Deep Mountains). Deep Mountains is a Chinese Atmospheric Black Metal band who plays a variant of Black Metal that’s similar to the Cascadian style but with additional Chinese folk influences. Like their labelmates 葬尸湖 (Zuriaake), the band joins the rank of the small but surely growing Chinese Black Metal scene. Acoustic albums have always been an interesting listening experience for me and I feel like this release would not be an exception. ‘Enchanted by the Blooming Echo’ is set to be released on March 18th, through Pest Productions. Check out the track “Wind and Stellar” below.
We then return back to Canada with number 7. Blood Ceremony is a Canadian Psychedelic Doom Metal band from Toronto and they are set to return with their fourth album, ‘Lord of Misrule’. Fronted by Alia O’Brien, Blood Ceremony incorporates flutes and organ along with the beautifully haunting vocals and the almost playful guitars to create an excellent blend of Doom Metal and Psychedelic Rock that will remind you of bands like Jess and the Ancient Ones. With the new album being produced by Liam Watson (Electric Wizard, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats), I would definitely be expecting an energetic fuzzball of an album. ‘Lord of Misrule’ is expected to be released on March 25th, through Rise Above Records. Check out their newest single, “Let It Come Down”, below.
Returning to Sweden, we stop by the capital, Stockholm. October Tide‘s ‘Winged Waltz’ comes in at number 6. October Tide is a Melodic Death/Doom band that has seen musicians from a variety of Swedish bands (Katatonia, In Mourning, Uncanny, and Centinex to name a few). Their style of beautiful melancholy can be compared to bands like Saturnus, Katatonia, and Mourning Beloveth. The band’s fifth album will be their second album featuring vocalist Alexander Högbom (Centinex). Since I own their first four albums and enjoyed the material presented on their previous effort ‘Tunnel of No Light’, I am curious to see what they can do with the new release. ‘Winged Waltz’ is set to be released on April 22nd, through Agonia Records. Check out “Of Wounds to Come” from their 2013 album, ‘Tunnel of No Light’, below.
Staying in Sweden, we have our number 5, Interment’s ‘Scent of the Buried‘. This Swedish Death Metal band has been around for more than 25 years but only released their debut full length album in 2010 with ‘Into the Crypts of Blasphemy’. Six years later, they return with their sophomore album. As expected, Interment plays a Swedish style OSDM that carries and rekindles the torch of 90s death metal. You can clearly hear influences from Dismember, Uncanny, and Carnage. Nothing but amazing is expected of this album. Bring me those catchy buzzsaw riffs! The album is being produced and mixed by Tomas Skogsberg (Entombed, Dismember, Grave, etc) and Sverker Widgren (Demonical, Centinex, etc) which definitely shows the potential this new release will have. ‘Scent of the Buried‘ is expected to be released on April 1st, though Pulverised and Dark Descent Records. Check out their new song “Chalice of Death” here.
At number 4, we head to New York City with Geryon’s ‘The Wound and the Bow’. Geryon is a Death Metal band that plays an interesting style of Death Metal. The band doesn’t have a single guitarist. Formed by Krallice members Nicholas McMaster and Lev Weinstein, the duo released their self-titled debut album back in 2013. Geryon’s sound is thick and viscous but if you like your Death Metal to sound loose or if you just love bass lines, this would be for you. The band also tackles some stylistic ideas that you’ll find in a band like Ulcerate. With their new album, I am really curious in what they can come up with next. ‘The Wound and the Bow’ is expected to be released on April 8th, through Profound Lore Records. Check out their new song “Silent Command” here.
Heading to the West Coast to the Bay Area, we arrive in San Francisco for our number 3, Metal Church’s ‘XI’. Metal Church, famed American Heavy Metal band, is set to return with their 11th studio album (appropriately titled no?). After their string of lukewarm releases, these legends appear to have stepped up their game with the current songs that’s coming off of this album. One of the biggest reasons that many Metal Church fans are excited about this album is the return of Mike Howe on vocals after leaving the band for 20 years. The songs “Killing Your Time” and “No Tomorrow” brings the fans back to the early 90s. Many people will be looking forward to this release. ‘XI’ is set to be released on March 25th, on Nuclear Blast Records. Check out the song “No Tomorrow” below.
Now going to the American Midwest, we stop in Chicago for our number 2. Our second last album is ‘Sentient’ by American Death Metal band Nucleus. Nucleus first emerged in 2012 with but did not break into and amass popularity in the underground metal scene until the release of their 2015 EP, ‘Hegemony’. What surprised many people in the Death Metal underground is the Timeghoul cover the band did in that EP. With that being said, Nucleus plays a style of weird, dissonant, atmospheric, Death Metal that will definitely remind you of bands like Timeghoul, Demilich, Blood Incantation and Chth’eilist. If you are fan of the style popularized by those bands, this band is a band you should definitely look out for! ‘Sentient’ will be released on April 15th, through Unspeakable Axe Records. Check out their new song “Cube” below.
Our last stop brings us back to Australia, to the home of Inverloch and their new album ‘Distance | Collapsed’. Inverloch is an Australian Death/Doom Metal Band that formed out of the ashes from Death/Doom Metal legends, Disembowelment. In other words, the band has some pretty big shoes to fill. The band is finally coming out with their highly anticipated album that is bringing five new tracks along with the three from their 2012 EP, ‘Dusk | Subside’. If you are a fan of crushing Death/Doom Metal that will leave you feeling hollow & empty, this is a great record to purchase for yourself. I highly recommend checking their older material out in anticipation of this release. The new released tracks so far definitely does not disappoint either. ‘Distance | Collapsed’ will be released on March 4th, through Relapse Records. Check out their new song “Distance Collapsed (In Rubble)” below.
Along with the above 15 albums, I wanted to include these 5 Honorable Mentions.
Artillery- ‘Penalty by Perception’
Danish Thrash Metal legends Artillery, are back with a new album. Known best for their 1990 album, ‘By Inheritance’ the band is set to return with their 8th studio album ‘Penalty by Perception’. Catchy leads and aggressive thrashing hooks can be expected from their new album which will be released on March 25th, through Metal Blade Records.
Desaster- ‘The Oath of an Iron Ritual’
Four years have passed since the last Desaster album, but now the German Black/Thrash Metallers return with their 8th studio album. If relentless and hyperactive Black/Thrash Metal is something that you enjoy, be sure to pick up the new album from these German legends. ‘The Oath of an Iron Ritual’ will be released on April 15th, through High Roller Records.
Irakallian Oracle- ‘Apollyn’
One of the most exciting debut albums in 2013 for me was Irakallian Oracle’s ‘Grave Ekstasis’. Though not the best album of that year the album did show promising potential. Three years later, the Gothenburg Black/Death band returns with their second album. If relentless Black/Death Metal is something you enjoy, be sure to pick up this one. ‘Apollyn’ will be released on March 31st, through Nuclear War Now! Productions.
Ripper- ‘Experiment of Existence’
Ripper is a relatively old band that did not really garner attention until they released their 2014 debut album, ‘Raising the Corpse’. Ripper plays a style of Death/Thrash Metal that’s aggressive and loud with their “ripping” guitars, pummeling drums, and booming bass. The Chilean Death/Thrash band is set to release their sophomore album ‘Experiment of Existence’ on March 4th, through Unspeakable Axe Records.
Wyrd- ‘Death of the Sun’
Finnish Black/Folk/Doom Metal band Wyrd returns after 7 years of studio silence with their 9th studio album. Formed by members of Azaghal, Wyrd is an often a project overshadowed by the more popular bands the members are in. With no lineup changes, the new album remains a mystery, ‘Death of the Sun’ will be released on March 16th, through Moribound Records.