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
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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
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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