Release Round Up - March 26th, 2021
Every Friday there is a tidal wave of new music released unto the world. Whilst we try to cover as much as possible here at The Razor's Edge, it's not always possible to review everything. So each week on a Friday we'll round up some of the best new music available, some we've reviewed, some we haven't, but all worth checking out!
Theres a lot of new heavy music hitting the airwaves this week, everything from black metal, death metal, gothic metal, Stoner rock, doom, thrash metal and even some of your traditional heavy fuckin' metal!
Here's what we think you should check out today!
Adrian Smith, of Iron Maiden fame, and Richie Kotzen release their debut album together today. Iron Maiden fans... it may not entirely be what you expect.
"Nine tracks of quality crafted melodic hard rock songs, that blends the duo’s musical influences with their love of 70s classic rock alongside blues, R&B and more."
Read our review here.
Just as we are all yearning for live music to return Lamb of God release a live album, 'Live in Richmond, VA', to wet the fans appetite.
"It’s live music perfection and a sight/sound to behold."
Read our full review here.
Birmingham's finest death metal outfit, Memoriam, release their fourth album 'To The End' today, marking the start of the next phase of the band.
"The artillery chug begins, the percussion rattles and the riffs get bigger. It's huge, powerful and is both reassuringly familiar and yet exhilaratingly fresh."
We checked in with Karl last week, you can listen to the interview here, and read our full album review here.
Evanescence made a splash back in 2003 when the groups landmark debut album spent 43 weeks in the US Billboard top 10 album charts. Today they release 'The Bitter Truth' via Sony Records. The latest installment in the bands glittering career. Check out the video for single 'Better Without You' below.
Having undergone a transformation, Cryptosis emerge as a driving force in the modern metal scene and 'Bionic Swarm' cements their place at the forefront of todays new music.
"It’s heavy, intricate, and blisteringly fast. Whatever the label, there is no doubt that Cryptosis have continued with their desire for speed but have combined that with ferocious guitar work and thunderous rhythms that rage like a boiling sea."
Read our full review here and check out our interview with the band here.
Death metal comes in many forms, but none as unique as Ohio outfit Sanguisugabogg, who release their debut full length album via Century Media Records today.
"The death metal equivalent of a full season of Rick and Morty brought to life in B-movie glory!
You can totally imagine partying with this album on full blast, whether you’re off your tits or not."
We interviewed guitarist and songwriter Cameron last week, check it out here. And you can read our full review here.
The gloriously named Witchfuck have a new album out today in 'Black Blood Baptism'.
"Witchfuck is the real deal. That’s definitely evident considering the music guitarist “BeerTerror” et al. produces"
CJ reviewed this one for us earlier this week. Check it out here.
The beautifully names Blindfolded and Led To The Woods release a progressive death metal masterpiece in 'Nightmare Withdrawls' today.
"Muffled drums blast briefly start off then the real deal begins; and it is frantic and it is fast. Dark gruff vocals carry this tune to a faster breakdown and even deeper darker vocal tone."
We reviewed this one last week and you can check it out here.
Staying with death metal for a moment and it's a busy week for the genre. Abjection, Burn Down Eden, Cambion, Celestial Sanctuary and Marasmus all have new albums out today. And Wythersake who meld elements of black metal into their death metal foundations release 'Antiquity'. Bound In Fear have a deathcore tinged E.P. in 'Eternal' and Nanga Parabat get all progressive in ther death with album 'Downfall and Torment'.
London's heaviest post-punk outfit Shrines (feat. Sam Loynes of Akercocke/Voices/Antichrist Imperium on vocals) have returned from their hiatus and are armed with a new E.P. 'Ghost Notes'.
"Such are the absorbing lows you may find, you get sucked into their tightening grip yet the highs littering this sumptuous and darkly brilliant E.P. whilst so fleeting do have a greater impact and indeed a profound emotional effect."
Here's our full review.
Aussie punk/hardcore five piece Stepson release the heartfelt 'Help Me, Help You' today on Sharptone Records.
"Stepson have delivered an album full of surprises, that feels like getting battered and bruised in a pit before high fiving people on the way out with a smile on your face."
We reviewed this last week, check it out here.
If you like a bit of prog melded in with your metal, then Wheel's latest album 'Resident Human' is a must check out release today!
"Driven by a pulsing bass line, the guitars are given free range to soar and dive, the cutting, jagged riffing reminding you that underneath the progressive veneer lurks a band who like to kick out the jams occasionally."
Read our full review here.
Mike Patton is back, this time with project Tomahawk! New album 'Tonic immobility' is released today via Ipecac Recordings.
"Easy listening this is not, but with time and investment the listener reaps the rewards. Each song embedding the seeds of an earworm that will come back to get you days, weeks, months later."
We reviewed this earlier in the week. Check it out here.
UK symphonic/progressive metallers Ghosts of Atlantis, featuring current and former members of Devilment and Extreme Noise Terror, release their debut offering today.
"An absolutely majestic recording and for a debut album it is absolutely incredible and at a trim 40 minutes it is an album that leaves you wanting more."
Read our review here.
Staying with all things progressive... Thermohaline release proggy black metal album 'Maelström', Next Door To Heaven get all djent on E.P. 'Inside' and Grorr release 'Ddulden's Last Flight'.
Liquid Tension Experiment, featuring Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Sons of Apollo) John Petrucci (Dream Theater) Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) release the stunning 'LTE3' and we have more prog fueled albums from Odd Dimension, Schysma, Draken, The Hirsch Effekt and Kyros.
And finally in the prog rock arena Italian's La Morte Viene Dallo Spazio release 'Trivial Visions'. The sci-fi inspired cosmic folk prog album is on another level! We had the pleasure of chatting with Melissa and Bazu from the band earlier this week. You can catch up on that interview here and watch the video for 'Ashes' below!
For you power metal fans, two Manilla Road albums get the re-release treatment this week. Celebrating the band that split up after the death of founder member Mark ‘The Shark’ Shelton in 2018. Both 'Spiral Castle' and 'Tghe Courts of Chaos' get re-issued today.
"It may be a strange duo to reissue, but there is ample within both albums to enjoy, and these are both records that can hold their heads high. Hail!"
Read our review here.
With Earache Records now fully on the New Wave of Classic Rock bandwagon, the next release from the label is The Dust Coda's new album 'Mojo Skyline' which comes out today.
"It’s nicely produced, allowing the band’s gritty edge to remain whilst some other aspects are polished neatly. The album follows the standard blueprint that you’d expect. The bluesy swagger that is earning the band new fans daily is evident."
Read our review here.
Bass icon and all round legend Suzi Quatro has a new album out today in 'The Devil In Me'.
"The rasp she delivers on rock and blues tracks is perfect and is classic Suzi. The smoother songs she has on here show she is no one trick pony!"
Read our review here.
Old school rockers with a southern twang Band of Spice release 'By The Corner of Tomorrow' today on Scarlet Records.
"The American band have a knack of writing a catchy riff the belongs in a saloon bar with sawdust on the floor and the stage encased in a chicken wire fence. Think of a heavier Kings of Leon and you’d not be far off where Band of Spice find themselves on the musical climate."
We reviewed it earlier this week. Read the review here.
For some good old fashioned rack and roll, Janina Jade quenches the thrist today. Her new album 'Heart Of Rock N Roll' released via GMR Music.
"The songs are short stories and insights into Janina Jade’s heart and soul. They all have a strong guitar riff, running behind the main riffs are frequent solos from guitar virtuoso Jennifer Batten."
We reviewed this little number yesterday. Read it here.
And staying with good old fashioned rock and/or roll there are new albums from Budderside, Grande Royale, Plastic Tears, The Quill, The Rainbird, Elessar, Ghostbound, Arepo, Johan G. Winther, Kärbholz, Hound and Unknown Refugee.
In the stoner scene there are a couple of new albums out today. Greenleaf release 'Echoes From A Mass', Yawning Sons release 'Sky Island', Stonus drop E.P. 'Séance' and Sky Valley Mistress have an acoustic E.P. out, from which you can listen to 'You Got Nothin' below!
And on top of all that there are also albums from Death of a Dryad, Mephisto, Perennial Isolation, Solbrud, Baalberith, Zeit, Mourning Dawn, Wratheon, 1782, Byron, Planeetta 9, The Sombre, Pando, Kill the Con Man, Distant Past, Evilizers, Images Of Eden, Hallowed Butchery, Aziola Cry, Blind Faith, Genghis Tron, Northmaan, Christian Liljegren, I At Last, Immerse, '68, Dirge, Metalite, Astral Bazaar, Under The Influence, Rapid Strike, Synastry, Grillijono K.O.
And thats just the tip of the iceberg! There is so much new music out today for you to get your groove on to. Enjoy it all!
