Hello Metal Wani readers! Today I am bringing you the new addition for my 15 Anticipated Albums You Should Keep In Mind segment. This new edition will go over some of the albums I am most excited about that will be released in the winter (November and December). 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. Enjoy!
We start off with the upcoming album from the band Panphage, ‘Drengskapr‘ at number 15. Panphage is a Swedish one-man Black Metal project featuring Fjällbrandt. I first heard about this project with their 2015 debut full-length album ‘Storm’. The music has a nice atmosphere, a chilling coldness to it, along with good riffs and vocals to bring out the power of the music. If you are a fan of Swedish Black Metal or good straightforward Black Metal, this is something to check out. ‘Drengskapr‘ will be released on November 18th through Nordvis Produktion. Check out the single “Landrensningen”.
At number 14 we have the debut album from the Norwegian Black Metal band Black Hole Generator. Composed of Bjørnar Nilsen of Avant-Prog Metal band Vulture Industries and Dag Terje Anderson of Mexican Death Metal band Necroccultus, this duo released an EP way back in 2006. Now 10 years later, the duo returns from their hiatus with their debut full length album ‘A Requiem for Terra’. The band plays ice cold Black Metal as the foundation of their sound while sprinkling in some experimental elements that are similar to Tribulation, Dödheimsgard, Thorns, Emperor, and Anaal Nathrakh. ‘A Requiem for Terra’ will be released on November 18th through Dark Essence Records. Check out the album title single.
At number 13, we travel to Jakarta, Indonesia. Unlike the plethora of Brutal Death Metal bands the country produces, Fromhell goes for a very different sound as the band plays Progressive/Pagan Black Metal. I first got wind of this band with their 2014 debut album ‘巫峽王朝 Dynasty’ which was a great first step for the band. Now the band is returning with their sophomore effort ‘March on Gravitation’ which features 8 tracks of epic sounding Black Metal. If you enjoy your Black Metal with Folk influence and/or Progressive Metal influences, this is a band you should check out. ‘March on Gravitation’ will be released through Naturmacht Productions on November 26th. Check out the teaser below.
Swiss Black/Death Metal horde Bölzer returns at number 12 with their long awaited debut full length album entitled ‘Hero’. The band first made waves with their debut EP ‘Aura’ back in 2013 which was an impressive debut offering from the band. With their follow up EP ‘Soma’, the band has showed potential and possibility for a full length. Now with ‘Hero’, Bölzer seems to have went ahead and built on their sound by adding some Sludge Metal undertones. Will the full length live up the hype the band has generated in the past three years? Who knows. We’ll have to wait and see. ‘Hero’ is set to be released on November 25th through Iron Bonehead Productions. Check out the single “I AM III”.
Number 11 goes to to the upcoming album from Greek Black Metal horde Ravencult. This album, titled ‘Force of Profanation’, will be their third album and their newest album in five years. For a band that has been around in the scene for 15 years, you would think that they have released more albums but the band seems to like to take time with their releases. The band plays a classic Hellenic Black Metal sound that’s evil, ritualistic, and aggressive. If you like menacing Black Metal be sure to check this one out. ‘Force of Profanation’ will be released through Metal Blade Records on November 11th. Check out the single “Beneath the Relics of Old”.
With number 10 comes the sophomore album by Swedish supergroup Heavydeath, ‘In Circles We Die’. Heavydeath is composed of members of Runemagicki, Kataonia, and Necrocurse. The band plays Death/Doom that is stripped down, bare bone, and soul crushing. The music is slow and heavy filled with lead and fills you up like meat and potatoes. No special spices or sauces, just straight crushing Death/Doom. If you enjoy Death/Doom metal that feels like weighted boulders, this is a band for you. ‘In Circles We Die’ is set to be released on November 25th through Iron Bonehead Productions. Check out the single “As We Foretold”.
At number 9 we have the new album from Singaporean metal band Rudra. The band has become one of the most active bands from the country as their upcoming album ‘Enemy of Duality’ is the 8th album in their 24 year career. Rudra plays a particular style of Blackened Death Metal that incorporates Folk influences. If you enjoy Death Metal with a Blackened edge along some Folk sensibility, this is a great band to take on. The Asian Metal scene has been thriving and this is a band that is definitely worthy to check or be introduced to. ‘Enemy of Duality’ will be released on November 10th through Transcending Obscurity Asia. Check out the single “Slay the Demons of Reality”.
At number 8 we have the sophomore album, ‘Archaic Visions of the Underworld’, from the band Master of Cruelty, hailing from Paraguay. This band plays a lethal blend of Black Metal, Death Metal, and Thrash Metal that is powerful as a tank. The sharpness of Black Metal, the pummeling force of Death Metal, and the aggression of Thrash Metal are fused together in a fashion that compliments the band’s sound very well. If you are looking for energetic evil sounding thrashy Death Metal, this will be an album to check out for sure. ‘Archaic Visions of the Underworld’ will be released on November 25th through Blood Harvest. Check out the album title single.
With number 7 comes the third album from the American band Ash Borer. Ash Borer is an Atmospheric Black Metal band that creates great soundscapes for your listening pleasure. Recently, the members have branched out and focused on great side projects most notably Triumvir Foul and Predatory Light but also smaller projects like Dagger Lust and Urzeit. It’s been 5 years since their previous album and now the band is back with ‘The Irrepassable Gate’. The new album can potentially be their best album yet as the single shows great promise and improvement. Has their work in the side projects benefited? Possibly so. ‘The Irrepassable Gate’ will be released on December 2nd through Profound Lore Records. Check out the album title single.
At number 6, we have the upcoming sophomore album of German band Quintessenz, ‘To the Gallows’. Quintessenz is a Black/Thrash band that deliver a dose of evil aggression like their country mates Desaster, Cruel Force, and Nocturnal. Great vocals, pummeling drums, and blazing riffs really bring out the harmony between the two styles. If you like Black/Thrash, this is definitely an album to check out. ‘To the Gallows’ will be released on December 19th through Evil Spell Records. Check out the single “Zeitgeist”.
Number 5 is the newest album from Finnish Doom Metal band Spiritus Mortis. Being the 4th album in their discography, the upcoming ‘The Year Is One’ album will be their newest album in 7 years. Spiritus Mortis plays a well established Finnish traditional Doom Metal sound paved by bands like Reverend Bizarre. If you are a fan of the classic Finnish Doom Metal sound, this is a band that should be on your listen list! ‘The Year Is One’ will be released on November 11th through Svart Records. Check out the single “Babalon Working”.
At number 4 is the return of the Scottish one-man project Saor with the new album ‘Guardians’. Saor is an Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal band that blends Scottish folk music with the Atmospheric Black Metal framework. ‘Guardians’ is the follow up to the project’s highly successful sophomore album ‘Aura’. Andy Marshall, the mastermind behind the project, has a knack for implementing the Scottish folk elements well into his music. If you enjoy Atmospheric Black Metal or folk influenced Black Metal, this is definitely a project to check out. ‘Guardians’ will be released on November 11th through Northern Silence Productions. Check out the single “Hearth”.
With number 3 comes the debut album from American Death Metal band Scorched. The band first made waves in 2015 with their demo. The demo was packed with riffs and was easily one of the best Death Metal demos of that year. The band also participated in two Death Metal splits which further increased the hype surrounding their debut album. Now the band is set to release their debut album ‘Echoes of Dismemberment’. Ripping guitars will tear you a new one with the riffs that they play. If you want Death Metal that packs a punch in the Old School way, this is definitely a must check out. ‘Echoes of Dismemberment’ will be released on November 25th through Unspeakable Axe Records. Check out the single “Rot In Confinement”.
With our number 2 is the surprise album from French Avant-garde Black Metal legends Deathspell Omega. Out of nowhere, the band updated their Bandcamp with the details of their new album, the artwork, and even the tracklist. No one saw this coming and it has caused huge waves in the underground Black Metal scene. It’s been 6 years since their last full length album. Deathspell Omega is known for their chaotic song structures, dense sound, and dissonance galore and on their upcoming album ‘The Synarchy of Molten Bones’ once could expect the same from this influential band. If you have not heard of this band, perhaps it might be time to check why the Avant-Garde Black Metal scene has developed into what it is now. ‘The Synarchy of Molten Bones’ will be released on November 8th through Norma Evangelium Diaboli. Check out the single “Famished for Breath”.
At number 1 we have the upcoming album from Polish Black Metal masters Cultes Des Ghoules. With the success of their sophomore album ‘Henbane’ in 2013, there were rumors going around earlier this year that the band is releasing a follow up. Now, the band is releasing their third album ‘Coven, or Evil Ways Instead of Love’. The band is known for their eerie ritualistic atmosphere and great usage of ambient elements to create evil sounding Black Metal. The band also implements more unconventional songwriting approaches too which adds more flavor to their music. With the new album, I predict that the band will continue to produce quality Black Metal that continues to show why they are one of the best in the scene, if not, the Polish scene. ‘Coven, or Evil Ways Instead of Love’ will be readily released on November 25th through Hells Headbangers Records. Check out their 23 minute behemoth off the upcoming album.
Along with the above 15 albums, I wanted to include these 5 Honorable Mentions.
Astral Winter – ‘Forest of Silence’
Australian Melodic Black Metallers Astral Winter are returning with their third album ‘Forest of Silence’. Cold yet melodic sensibilities bleed from the band’s music with the guitars and vocals. If you are a fan of Melodic Black Metal be sure to give this album a go. ‘Forest of Silence’ will be released on November 28th through Immortal Frost Productions.
Downfall of Gaia – ‘Atrophy’
Post-Metal band Downfall of Gaia are set to release their third album ‘Atrophy’. The atmosphere this band creates fits very well with the influences the band draws which includes Black Metal, Sludge Metal and Crust Punk. The music can be hard hitting at times while having more tranquil sides. ‘Atrophy’ will be released through Metal Blade Records on November 11th.
Revel in Flesh – ‘Emissary of All Plagues’
German Death Metal band Revel in Flesh are back with their upcoming fourth album ‘Emissary of All Plagues’. The band plays Old School Death Metal that blend the old school Swedish sound with a little bit of modern sensibility. If you like old school sounding Death Metal with a little more melody like their fellow countrymen Obscure Infinity, be sure to check this one out. ‘Emissary of All Plagues’ will be released on December 2nd through Cyclone Empire.
Witchery – ‘In His Infernal Majesty’s Service’
Blackened Thrash/Speed veterans, the Swedish Witchery is back with their sixth album ‘In His Infernal Majesty’s Service’. After their lackluster 4th album ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’, the band has been on an upward trajectory in their sound. Now with this new album, hopefully the band can continue this trajectory and deliver a stronger album. ‘In His Infernal Majesty’s Service’ will be released on November 25th through Century Media Records.
兀突骨 (Gotsu Totsu Kotsu) – ‘兵ドモガ夢ノ跡 (Where Warriors Once Dreamed a Dream)’
Japanese Death Metal band 兀突骨 (Gotsu Totsu Kotsu) return with 4th album ‘兵ドモガ夢ノ跡 (Where Warriors Once Dreamed a Dream)’ after just releasing their 3rd album in 2015. Great sounding death metal about samurais, what’s not to like? Check them out if you enjoy some crushing Death Metal and/or you want to check out more Asian metal. ‘兵ドモガ夢ノ跡 (Where Warriors Once Dreamed a Dream)’ will be released on November 23rd through Bang the Head Records.