Weekly Binge 2/20/2015

No major releases this week, unless you are vying for the new Imagine Dragons, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything good. This week's pick comes from Death metal group Sarpanitum, and their instant-classic, sophomore album "Blessed Be My Brothers". Following this, we have runner-ups, Dephosphorous and Haapoja with a fantastic collaborative effort, and symphonic power metal group, Whyzdom, with "Symphony for a Hopeless God". Other notable releases this week include albums by 36 Crazyfists, Barshasketh/Void Ritual, Black Pussy , Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, Death Karma, Deivos, Ecnephias, Furor Gallico, King Woman, Primitive Man, Sandrider/Kinski, Scanner, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Stormwitch, Sumac, Syn Ze Sase Tri, Unhold, Wende and Wind Rose. Enjoy!

Pick of the Week

Sarpanitum - Blessed Be My BrothersRecommended Track: Thy Sermon Lies Forever Tarnished

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Willowtip
Listen Here

Epic doesn't even begin to describe Sarpanitum's sophomore album, "Bless Be My Brothers", following up their phenomenal debut with yet another indelible delve into the bowels of death. This time around the group applies slight choral and orchestral elements, which further develops the atmosphere of their already massive sound. Few groups in death metal are willing to stick to the roots of the genre, while still experimenting with new and unique sounds. Sarpanitum have created yet another album that will live on as a classic of the genre.

Runner-Ups

Dephosphorous/Haapoja - Collaboration LP (Split)Recommended Track: Abstraction Maze/Pakon Sanelema

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Handshake
Listen Here

Dephosphorous and Haapoja's split feels definitely more like a compilation as each band takes turns. Dephosphorus' songs are catchy with pummeling percussion that moves with swiftness, while passionate screeches are layered on top. Haapoja takes it a little colder and more traditional weaving blackened riffs with a more even-tempered approach. Both complement one another immensely and yield an intense outcome.

Whyzdom - Symphony for a Hopeless GodRecommended Track: Let's Play With Fire

Genre: Symphonic Power Metal
Label: Scarlet
Listen Here

Whyzdom have had a hectic career with each album having one singer depart and another take her place. "Symphony for a Hopeless God" finds the band with Marie Rouyer, who joined the group after the departure of "Blind?" singer, Elvyne Lorient. Rouyer is more than willing to prove herself as she belts poetic verse. The rest of the group remains the same with Régis Morin (Guitars), Vynce Leff (Guitars, Orchestration), Marc Ruhlmann (Keyboards), Xavier Corrientes (Bass), and Nico Chaumeaux (Drums) all returning for another hail of symphonic riffage. Each song is a fantastic blend of orchestral moments and pounding power metal. The album is a bit long at over an hour, but not a minute is wasted.

Notables

Other notable releases this week include:

• 36 Crazyfists - Time and TraumaGenre: Metalcore | Label: Spinefarm | Listen Here
• Barshasketh/Void Ritual - SplitGenre: Black Metal | Label: Broken Limbs | Listen Here
• Black Pussy - Magic MustacheGenre: Stoner Rock | Label: Made In China | Listen Here
• Brothers of the Sonic Cloth - S/TGenre: Stoner Doom Metal | Label: Neurot | Listen Here
• Death Karma - The History of Death & Burial Rituals Part IGenre: Black Metal | Label: Iron Bonehead | Listen Here
• Deivos - TheodicyGenre: Technical Death Metal | Label: Selfmadegod | Listen Here
• Ecnephias - EcnephiasGenre: Gothic Metal | Label: My Kingdom | Listen Here
• Furor Gallico - Songs from the EarthGenre: Folk Metal | Label: Scarlet | Listen Here
• King Woman - Doubt - EPGenre: Doom Metal/Post Metal | Label: The Flenser | Listen Here
• Primitive Man - Home Is Where The Hatred Is - EPGenre: Doom/Sludge Metal | Label: Relapse | Listen Here
• Sandrider/Kinski - SplitGenre: Stoner Metal | Label: Good to Die | Listen Here
• Scanner - The JudgementGenre: Heavy Metal/Power Metal | Label: Massacre | Listen Here
• Steve Earle & The Dukes - TerraplaneGenre: Blues Rock | Label: New West | Listen Here
• Stormwitch - Season of the WitchGenre: Heavy Metal | Label: Massacre | Listen Here
• Sumac - The DealGenre: Doom Metal | Label: Profound Lore | Listen Here
• Syn Ze Sase Tri - Stapin Peste StapiniGenre: Melodic Black Metal | Label: Code 666 | Listen Here
• Unhold - ToweringGenre: Progressive Sludge Metal/Post Metal | Label: Czar of Bullets | Listen Here
• Wende - Sorrowful Journey of AgesGenre: Atmospheric Black Metal | Label: Moribund | Listen Here
• Wind Rose - Wardens of the West WindGenre: Symphonic Power Metal | Label: Scarlet | Listen Here

Thanks for reading and hope you found something new to listen to. See you next Friday for the next Weekly Binge where I will break down more notable goodies. Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know how I'm doing/what you would like to see!

- The Catalyst

Weekly Binge 2/13/2015

With the heart of Black Metal month upon us, it's no coincidence that this week showcases a genre staple. This week, black metal group, Marduk, released the Pick of the Week in, "Frontschwein". Runner-ups include industrial rocker, En Esch, and his first solo album in 20 years, "SPÄNK!" along with folk metal group, Finsterforst, and their epic, "Mach Dich Frei". Other notable releases this week include Abstracter, Adrenaline Mob, Ahamkara, Call of the Void, Cowards, Demoncy, Dwell, Exhumed, Father John Misty, Generichrist, Hate, Hawk Eyes, Mourning Mist, and Rwake. Enjoy!

Also don't forget to check out the Top Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2014!

Pick of the Week

Marduk - FrontschweinRecommended Track: Wartheland

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Century Media
Listen Here

Marduk have had a varied career over the past 25 years with a quality ranging from ho hum to incredible. Their latest release, "Frontschwein", falls under the latter category. Founded by guitarist Morgan Håkansson, the band is now as much the property of vocalist Mortuus, who has now been with them for over a decade. "Frontschwein" showcases the best of both worlds, combining the classic Marduk style of seemingly-endless onslaught of blast-beats and furious riffs with the more somber, moody black metal Mortuus has used only sparingly on albums. This marriage of sounds allows for an ecclectic mix of fast-paced blitzkriegs and slowed dirges. It's another solid album from a band who continues to release music unabated by time. For fans of more brutal black metal groups like Anaal Nathrakh, 1349, and Mayhem.

Runner-Ups

En Esch - SPÄNK!Recommended Track: Soul To Steal

Genre: Industrial Metal
Label: Distortion
Listen Here

En Esch has been a member of several German industrial groups including KMFDM, Pigface, and Slick Idiot. En Esch's first solo album in over 20 years, "SPÄNK!" focuses on rhythmic compilations of guitar riffs and dark synthesizer beats mixed with his Gothic vocals. Various other vocalists join Esch on several tracks, most notably Trixie Reiss who bounces verse off of Esch with perfect synchronization on the songs "Soul to Steal" and "Freedom of Mind". The result is an intense and rather unique ride that will have you humming along long after it's over. For fans of artists like KMFDM, Rammstein, and She Wants Revenge.

Finsterforst - Mach Dich FreiRecommended Track: Zeit für Hass

Genre: Folk Metal
Label: Napalm
Listen Here

Finsterforst is made up of seven musicians playing everything from guitars to bagpipes to french horns. Their new album, "Mach Dich Frei", has incredible variation moving from straightforward melodic death metal to more orchestral movements. Several instrumentals on the album showcase the band's prowess, and the epic, eponymous final track clocks in at a staggering 24-minutes. For fans of folk metal groups like Ensiferum, Turisas, and Finntroll.

Notables

Other notable releases this week include:

• Abstracter - Wound EmpireGenre: Doom/Sludge Metal | Label: Sentient Ruin | Listen Here
• Adrenaline Mob - Dearly DepartedGenre: Heavy Metal | Label: Century Media | Listen Here
• Ahamkara - The Embers of the StarsGenre: Atmospheric Black Metal | Label: Bindrune | Listen Here
• Call of the Void - AgelessGenre: Sludge/Crust Metal | Label: Relapse | Listen Here
• Cowards - Rise to InfamyGenre: Hardcore/Sludge Metal | Label: Deadlight | Listen Here
• Demoncy - Joined in Darkness Re-releaseGenre: Black Metal | Label: Forever Plagued | Listen Here
• Dwell - Vermin and AshesGenre: Doom/Death Metal | Label: Hell's Headbangers | Listen Here
• Exhumed - Gore Metal: A Necrospective 1998-2015Genre: Death Metal/Grindcore | Label: Relapse | Listen Here
• Father John Misty - I Love You, HoneybearGenre: Indie/Folk Rock | Label: Sub Pop | Listen Here
• Generichrist - Taste of DeathGenre: Thrash Metal | Label: Horror Pain Gore Death | Listen Here
• Hate - Crusade:ZeroGenre: Death Metal | Label: Napalm | Listen Here
• Hawk Eyes - Everything is AlrightGenre: Post-Rock | Label: Red Vole | Listen Here
• Mourning Mist - Mourning MistGenre: Black/Doom/Avant Garde Metal | Label: Forever Plagued | Listen Here
• Rwake - Xenoglossalgia: The Last Stage of Awareness Genre: Experimental Doom Metal | Label: Relapse | Listen Here

Thanks for reading and hope you found something new to listen to. See you next Friday for the next Weekly Binge where I will break down more notable goodies. Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know how I'm doing/what you would like to see!

- The Catalyst

Weekly Binge 2/6/2015

Another great week of releases. The standout this week is Blind Guardian's new epic, "Beyond the Red Mirror". Runner-ups, A Swarm of the Sun, release a post-metal monolith aptly entitled, "The Rifts", while death-thrashers Armageddon release their first album in over a decade, "Captivity & Punishment". Re-releases include Game Over's thrashy, "For Humanity", Saor's blackened-folk treat, "Roots", and Wolfheart's phenomenal, "Winterborn". Other notable releases this week include albums from Bob Dylan, Callisto, Daemon Pyre, Dead in the Manger, Deathbreed, Hellish Outcast, Iron Lamb, Leah, U.D.O, Winterage, Yesterday's Saints, and Zex. I have also added "Listen Here" links to sources like BandCamp, Youtube, SoundCloud, and wherever else I can find the best representation of a release. This will hopefully ease your search and help find what you like faster. Enjoy!

Also don't forget to check out the Top Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2014!

Pick of the Week

Blind Guardian - Beyond the Red MirrorRecommended Track: Ashes of Eternity

Genre: Epic Power Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Listen Here

With "Beyond the Red Mirror", Blind Guardian have released another epic. While the talent in musicianship of the band, and Hansi Kürsch's voice has never been in question, a lot of what the group has released has so much going on that it's hard to find a groove or beat to latch onto. With their new LP the group has definitely smoothed some of the edges and released something equally catchy and breathtaking. Weaving orchestral moments with power metal's driving force, the album meanders between sweeping symphonics and almost thrashy grooves. Somehow it all fits into place and I never once found myself distracted by too much going on, which has hindered me with some of their previous efforts. "Beyond the Red Mirror" showcases a band at the pinnacle of performance, and is definitely something fans of all genres should sink their ears into.

Runner-Ups

A Swarm of the Sun - The RiftsRecommended Track: These Depths Were Always Meant for Both of Us

Genre: Ambient/Post-Metal
Label: Version Studio
Listen Here

At times sullen and tedious, and others entrancing and intense, A Swarm of the Sun's, "The Rifts", drags its listener through the muck, then lays them in the bright, warm sunshine before pulling them back in. For fans of post-metal groups like Deftones, Isis, Neurosis, and Pelican.

Armageddon - Captivity and DevourmentRecommended Track: Equalizer

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Listenable
Listen Here

After a ten year-hiatus due to guitarist Chris Amott's focus on Arch Enemy, the former side project, Armageddon, has found new life in "Captivity and Devourment". Amott's passions can be heard in every solo, and the riffs -played alongside Joey Concepcion- punch equal to, if not better than, most of his Arch Enemy work. The rest of the group is just icing on the cake, and I can't wait to see where they go next. For fans of riff-driven death metal like Arch Enemy, Carcass, and Ill-disposed.

Notables

Other notable releases this week include:

• Bob Dylan - Shadows in the NightGenre: Traditional Pop | Label: Columbia | Listen Here
• Callisto - Secret YouthGenre: Atmospheric Sludge Metal/Post-Hardcore | Label: Svart | Listen Here
• Daemon Pyre - Daemon PyreGenre: Technical Melodic Death Metal | Label: New Justice | Listen Here
• Dead In The Manger - Cessation - EPGenre: Grindcore/Black Metal | Label: 20 Buck Spin | Listen Here
• Deathbreed - New World OrderGenre: Death Metal | Label: Rogue | Listen Here
• Game Over - For Humanity Re-releaseGenre: Thrash Metal | Label: Scarlet | Listen Here
• Hellish Outcast - Stay of ExecutionGenre: Death Metal/Thrash Metal | Label: Listenable | Listen Here
• Iron Lamb - Fool's GoldGenre: Hard Rock 'n Roll | Label: High Roller | Listen Here
• Leah - Kings & QueensGenre: Symphonic Power Metal | Label: Inner Wound | Listen Here
• Saor - Roots Re-releaseGenre: Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal | Label: Northern Silence | Listen Here
• U.D.O. - DecadentGenre: Heavy Metal | Label: AFM | Listen Here
• Winterage - The Harmonic PassageGenre: Symphonic Power Metal | Label: Nadir | Listen Here
• Wolfheart - Winterborn Re-releaseGenre: Melodic Death Metal | Label: Spinefarm | Listen Here
• Yesterday's Saints - Generation of VipersGenre: Melodic Death Metal/Thrash Metal | Label: Draconum | Listen Here
• Zex - Fight For YourselfGenre: Punk Rock | Label: Magic Bullet | Listen Here

Thanks for reading and hope you found something new to listen to. See you next Friday for the next Weekly Binge where I will break down more notable goodies. Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know how I'm doing/what you would like to see!

- The Catalyst