Noveria – Aequilibrium
Rising above the ocean of Italian progressive power metal are Noveria in their third full-length, Aequilibrium. Where other bands shy away with uninspired riffs and lazy songwriting, Noveria unleash hell with their strongest, heaviest foot forward. The grooves? Vigourous. The riffs? Insane. The solos? Ho. Ly. Fuck. These guys don’t screw around.
Magoria – JtR1888
How about a 90+ minute long epic symphonic progressive metal monster? Featuring members of Knight Area, Ex Libris and 9 exceptional singers, Magoria has set out to bring you an updated symphonic, bombastic and theatrical version of Ayreon. Get ready to enter 19th century London and witness an exquisite musical rendition of the “conspiracy theory” about none other than the infamous Jack the Ripper, portrayed through a spectacular blend of heavy progressive metal, rich, cinematic, orchestral arrangements, and extraordinary guitar and keyboard solos. Having all of this balanced in a superb mix handled by the one and only Joost vand den Broek, the JTR 1888 album is a delight for both the senses and the intellect. It is a masterpiece in every sense of the word and a complete theater play of massive proportions!
Mortiferum – Disgorged From Psychotic Depths
What’s this? A young death/doom from the Pacific Northwest that isn’t signed to 20 Buck Spin? Strange it may be, that’s the case of Olympia’s Mortiferum, who just dropped their debut Disgorged from Psychotic Depths. And what a crushing debut it is, consisting of 36 minutes of foul, lurching more-death-than-doom. It seamlessly blends some Finndeath influence with the raw depravity the Pacific Northwest has been spewing forth of late. File this one for fans of Rippikoulu, Cianide, and Spectral Voice.
Alcest – Spiritual Instinct
More grounded and well defined than ever, but still succesfully maintaining their dream state, Alcest are back with Spiritual Instinct, their 6th full length studio record. Accurately named, this album is a seamless combination of shoegaze and black metal in a way that only Alcest are capable of creating, keeping the band’s well known sound while also adding some new elements such as a bit more of a riff oriented approach and some electronic hints.
Turbokill – Vice World
An incredible display of vocal power, instrumental virtuosity, and brilliant composition, this is the heavy/speed metal release I have been waiting for. The fast and furious riffing counters the melodic vocals perfectly, to say nothing of the ferocious lead guitar work. Germany’s Turbokill have started their career off with their best foot forward and have put out one of the best releases I’ve heard this year.
Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea Of Tragic Beasts
Crafting the successor of what is considered your best album is no easy task, but Fit for an Autopsy wonderfully succeed with The Sea of Tragic Beasts, a record that equals (and maybe even surpasses) its predecessor. Combining technical riffing with great atmosphere, The Sea of Tragic Beasts is the album that any deathcore fan was waiting to listen to, and one of the top extreme metal releases of the year.
Nameless King – Sovereignless Souls
Dark Souls inspired dungeon synth. Sovereignless Souls sees Georgia’s Nameless King develop further into the realms of medieval mystification. Soothing yet triumphant; ethereal yet hard as steel. Whimsical at times, almost sounding like the soundtrack to an RPG (this is Dark Souls inspired…), yet with enough emotion and movement to stand alone as a monolithic offering of medieval dungeon synth.
Toxic Holocaust – Primal Future: 2019
After a 6-year gap, Joel Grind’s brainchild returns in the most triumphant of fashions. Primal Futre: 2019 isn’t just a phenomenal blackened thrash album, it’s a bold new direction for Toxic Holocaust and thrash in general. Utterly nailing the eerie, dystopian atmosphere and containing the longest songs in T.H’s catalogue, this album is way up there with the best thrash has to offer this year – and that artwork is fuckin’ sweet! Just don’t make us wait 6 years for the next one.
