A (belated) double-barrelled Roundup featuring new(ish) cuts from Entombed, Anathema, Every Time I Die, Armageddon, and a little-known band called Judas Priest.
Some of you more observant of the observed out there might have noticed that the singles roundup was missing in action last week (and has been delayed this week – due to technical difficulties). That’s because (a) there really weren’t that many notable singles released last week, except for a bunch of doom/sludge stuff, which really isn’t my sort of thing, and (b) nothing that was released inspired any response from the other Observers (a trend that continues this week). To make up for this – as you same observant few will notice some of last week’s songs are covered in this week’s roundup. Happy reading.
Every Time I Die – “Thirst”
“Thirst,” the first song to be released from Every Time I Die’s upcoming album From Parts Unknown, is a huge throwback to the band’s early days. Personally, I’m not feeling this reinvigorated punk vibe as much as I have Every Time I Die’s recent output, but then again I felt their last album, 2012’s Ex Lives, was a bit of a step backward for the band.
Either way, any new Every Time I Die is something to get excited about. From Parts Unknown comes out July 1st on Epitaph.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wAqPzgfR1s]
Judas Priest – “March Of The Damned”
Judas Priest’s Redeemer Of Souls will be their first album without founding guitarist/main co-songwriter K.K. Downing and if the material they’ve released from the album this far is anything to go by he’ll be sorely missed.
“March Of The Damned” isn’t a bad tune but it falls pretty flat. The track tries desperately to be an anthem of metal unity but, besides the track’s weak production, Judas Priest already did this sort of thing a whole lot better, over thirty years ago, with “Metal Gods,” and “March Of The Damned” lacks the immediacy of “Nostradamus” and “Angel of Retribution,” even if their respective albums turned out to be pretty average.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJhm2vZFj2k]
Redeemer Of Souls, in all its Pinheaded artwork, K.K. Downing-less glory, will be out July 15th on something called Epic.
Anathema – “The Lost Song Part 3”
I seem to be the only person on the face of the planet that didn’t dig Anathema’s last album, Weather Systems (2012). While I consider We’re Here Because We’re Here, that records predecessor, to be an absolute masterpiece, something about Weather Systems’ wallowing melancholy that really put me off.
“The Lost Song Part 3,” the first track released from Anathema’s imminent ninth album distant satellites (sic.), I find a lot more satisfying, but still pretty bland, and it certainly doesn’t have the emotional impact of the Weather Systems or We’re Here Because We’re Here material. However, Anathema aren’t and have never been a singles band, and I’ll reserve final judgment until I’ve heard distant satellites in its entirety.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2bwKAPgsyA]
(*Update: I have now heard the record, and I dig.The song works much better in context.)
Entombed (A.D.) – “Bedlam Attack”
For those of you unaware, Swedish death metal legends Entombed totally pulled a Doc Neeson late last year, splitting into two factions1 – one consisting of Alex Hellid, Ulf “Uffe” Cederlund, and (the big name) Nicke Andersson; and the other lead by original member Lars Göran Petrov, now called “Entombed A.D.”2 which is the iteration of the band that have been releasing albums under the “Entombed” monikier since 1998’s Same Difference.
Well, after many delays due to the naming debacle, the “A.D.” version will be finally releasing the album Back To The Front on Century Media, August 15th, and, to celebrate the announcement, have released a new track from the upcoming record.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdVPY4kPzU]
…Then, when everyone hates it, we’ll bring back Entombed classic and make millions!
“Bedlam Attack,” certainly sounds like Entombed, but then again so do most bands these days, and I’ve got to say that most of what their progeny have been putting out (especially recently) puts this new track to shame. None of Entombed’s records since 1997’s DCLXVI or To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth – their last as a united front – have been particularly impressive, but the last outing by Petrov and co., Serpent Saints (1997), was pretty solid, and of all the post-DCLXVI records, seemed to best capture the classic entombed vibe. “Bedlam Attack” isn’t by any means a terrible track hardly enough enough to go writing the A.D. guys off (and it’s much better than the first single they released from the album, “Vulture And The Traitor”) but it joins most of this roundup’s offerings in being rather underwhelming.
The “classic” line-up recently performed Entombed’s second (and best) album, Clandestine, live in Sweden with original a 65-piece orchestra and 40-piece choir (things that definitely weren’t present on the actual album), the possible release of a live recording of which I find to be far more exciting.
Armageddon
Armageddon’s debut, Crossing The Rubicon, released back in 1997, is a favorite of mine, for the paradoxically unique reason that it’s the only album that really sounds similar to Death’s Sound Of Perseverance, one of my all-time favorites, which was actually released the year after.
For those not in the know, the newly resurrected Armageddon is (and always has been) headed by Christopher Amott, brother and ex-bandmate of Arch Enemy’s Michael. Matt has already said everything there is to say about Arch Enemy’s new, blinder of a record, but Armageddon’s Captivity & Devourment – to be released later in the year – might just give it a run for it’s money, going by the title-track.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c02R3FsREE]
Captivity And Devourment: Areyougeddonit?
“Captivity & Devourment” portends a throw-back to the Crossing The Rubicon sound, following two less successful, power metal-leaning albums, and you can consider my appetite firmly wetted.
