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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of November 3, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Converge: The Dusk In Us

The Dusk In Us

Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore/Punk // Label: Epitaph

Background:

It’s been five years since we’ve had new Converge, and the kings of hardcore are back to follow up their acclaimed eighth LP All We Love We Leave Behind.  A band like this requires no introduction; they’ve long dominated their particular scene and The Dusk In Us will only continue to grow their legacy.  For a hint of things to come later this week when the album officially drops, stream the lyric video for ‘Under Duress’ below:

“Under Duress”:


– Full List of Releases: November 3, 2017 –

Et Liber Eris

Adimiron: Et Liber Eris
Genre: Death/Progressive Metal // Label: Indie Recordings

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 For The Demented [Explicit]

Annihilator: For The Demented
Genre: Thrash/Progressive Metal // Label: Neverland Music

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American Fall [Explicit]

Anti-Flag: American Fall
Genre: Punk/Hardcore // Label: Spinefarm

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The Moral Crossing

AUTOBAHN: The Moral Crossing
Genre: Alternative Rock/Post-Punk // Label: felte

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Berserker [Explicit]

Beast In Black: Berserker
Genre: Power Metal // Label: Nuclear…

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 27, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Ne Obliviscaris: Urn

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Genre: Progressive/Black Metal/Death Metal // Label: Season of Mist

Background:

I’m not going to lie, I’m probably not the person to actually be writing on this. I liked the first two tracks from their debut and barely even bothered with their sophomore release because I kind of felt that it was a step backwards and didn’t really build on any of the debut’s potential. But Urn… this finally builds on the debut’s potential. Yes, the vocals are still kind of nasally and off-key, but when it comes to the music and songwriting, they’re finally getting it. The songs are more memorable and their blend of black, death, and prog is finally gelling into a cohesive unit. Also, the songs themselves don’t seem to meander all over the place like they used to on previous albums. Definitely something fans should check out, but Urn is even something people that blew off their previous two releases might actually enjoy.

Check out the entire release of Urn here:


– Full List of Releases: October

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 20, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


– Full List of Releases: October 20, 2017 –

Mass VI

Amenra: Mass VI
Genre: Post/Sludge Metal // Label: Neurot Recordings

Stream Mass VI here.

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 Endless Shimmering

And So I Watch You from Afar: The Endless Shimmering
Genre: Math/Post-Rock // Label: Sargent House

Stream The Endless Shimmering here.

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Mirror Reaper

Bell Witch: Mirror Reaper
Genre: Doom/Death Metal // Label: Profound Lore

Stream Mirror Reaper here.

Read the staff review by Xenophanes.

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Losing

Bully: Losing
Genre: Alternative-Rock/Grunge // Label: Sub Pop Records

Stream Losing here.

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The Fallen Ones

Collapse Under The Empire: The Fallen Ones
Genre: Post-Rock // Label: Finaltune

Stream The Fallen Ones here.

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Letters To Myself

CyHra: Letters To Myself 
Genre: Metal // Label: Spinefarm

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When Was The Last Time

Darius Rucker: When Was The Last Time
Genre: Country // Label: Liberty Records

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Ken

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 13, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


St. Vincent: MASSEDUCATION

Masseduction [Explicit]
Genre: Indie-Pop/Indie-Rock// Label: Loma Vista Recordings

Background:

St. Vincent’s fifth full-length LP MASSEDUCATION (pronounced “mass seduction”) marks Annie Clark’s follow-up to her celebrated self-titled 2014 venture into art-pop.    Jack Antonoff (of Bleachers) is credited as a co-producer with Clark and there is a range of special guests featured on the album including Kamasi Washington, Jenny Lewis, and Thomas Bartlett.

Check out the music video for “New York” below:

 


– Full List of Releases: October 13, 2017 –

Endinghent

Altarage: Endinghent
Genre: Death Metal // Label: Season of Mist

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 33

Ancient VVisdom: 33
Genre: Rock // Label: Magic Bullet

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The Rising of the Lights

Antisect: The Rising Of The Lights
Genre: Punk // Label: Rise Above

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Colors [Explicit]

Beck: Colors
Genre: Folk/Experimental/Alt-Rock // Label: Capitol Records

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Bigfoot

Bigfoot: Bigfoot
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: Frontiers Music

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Lotta Sea Lice

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 6, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


– Full List of Releases: October 6, 2017 –

I Love You Like a Brother

Alex Lahey: I Love You Like A Brother
Genre: Indie-Rock // Label: Dead Oceans

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Realisationship [Explicit]

Andrew Hung: Realisationship
Genre: Drone/Electronic/Psychedelic // Label: Lex

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Antarktis: Ildlaante
Genre: Post Metal // Label: Agonia Record

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Phantom Anthem

August Burns Red: Phantom Anthem
Genre: Metalcore/Progressive Metal // Label: Fearless

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Nightbringers

The Black Dahlia Murder: Nightbringers
Genre: Melodic Death Metal // Label: Metal Blade

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Tenderness

Blue Hawaii: Tenderness
Genre: Indie/Dream-Pop // Label: Arbutus

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Derelicts

Carbon Based Lifeforms: Derelicts
Genre: Ambient/Downtempo/Electronic // Label: Blood Music

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As You Please

Citizen: As You Please 
Genre: Emo/Grunge/Post-Hardcore // Label: Run For Cover

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Nothing Like It

Courtney Farren: Nothing Like It
Genre: Indie-Pop/Folk // Label: Courtney Farren

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Offering

Cults: Offering
Genre: Indie-Pop/Psychedelic/Lo-fi // Label: Sinderlyn

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Pinewood Smile (Deluxe) [Explicit]

The Darkness: Pinewood Smile
Genre: Rock // Label: Cooking Vinyl…

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 29, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die: Always Foreign

Always Foreign
Genre: Post-Rock/Emo/Indie // Label: Epitaph

Background:

With a warm blend of post-rock, emo, and indie stylings, The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die return with their third full-length LP, and their follow-up to 2015’s Harmlessness.  Early singles seem to indicate that their genre trajectory will continue down the indie-laden path of its predecessor, but with the lush moments of beauty and the intricate guitar work displayed on that effort, few will likely find fault with that decision.

Check out the 7-minute single “Marine Tigers” below:


– Full List of Releases: September 29, 2017 –

Lanterns

36 Crazyfists: Lanterns
Genre: Metalcore/Post-Hardcore // Label: Spinefarm

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 Angels Hear

Action Skulls: Angels Hear
Genre: Rock // Label: CMP Records

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Old Scars, New Wounds

Act of Defiance: Old Scars, New Wounds
Genre: Metalcore/Thrash // Label: Metal Blade

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The Centre Cannot Hold

Ben Frost: The Centre Cannot

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 22, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: Godspeed You! Black Emperor: “Luciferian Towers

Luciferian Towers

Genre: Post-Rock/Ambient/Drone // Label: Constellation

Background:

The fathers of post-rock are back at it.  Two years removed from ‘Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress’, an album that for all intents and purposes reinvented Godspeed’s core philosophy (drone/ambient, shorter overall length), the band finds itself trudging further down that path while adding precious few wrinkles in the process.  It’s once again shorter than some of their gargantuan efforts of the past, and it opts for emotive string sections and concise, calculated progressions over the sprawling, free-form drone passages of this album’s predecessor.  Interjecting their fair share of political imagery, GY!BE ultimately prove that amid the minor tweaks this is still the same embittered, eccentric band that conceptualized the end of the world in 1997’s F♯ A♯ ∞.  As our very own contributing reviewer LandDiving surmised in his review, “although previous Godspeed releases have spun sprawling post-apocalyptic narratives imbued with pathos, this new record engenders a last-ditch effort to prevent the end of the world from occurring, as if it plays out before both F#A# and…

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 15, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: Foo Fighters: “Concrete And Gold”

Concrete and Gold [Explicit]

Genre: Rock/Grunge // Label: RCA Records

Background:

Foo Fighters are one of the few traditional 90’s rock/grunge bands whose relevance and longevity has extended all the way into 2017.  That alone speaks volumes about the quality of their product, as they’ve remained the best and most consistent mainstream rock band around for well over two decades.  Never groundbreaking yet almost always impressive, Dave Grohl and company return with their ninth LP – and for those who have taken a long vacation from Foo Fighters, this may mark a good point to start listening again.  Easily their most enthralling and adventurous record in years, it is more Wasting Light than it is Sonic Highways, and there’s an exquisite balance between their trademark rock roots and a more sonically explorative curiosity.  There’s a long list of reasons why these guys sit atop the throne of contemporary rock n’ roll, but Concrete and Gold is more than just another bullet-point; it’s a highlight.

Listen to “The Sky Is A Neighborhood” below:

 


Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 8, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: The National – “Sleep Well Beast”

Sleep Well Beast

Genre: Indie-Rock/Post-Punk/Alternative // Label: 4AD

Background:

At this stage in their career, The National are established leaders in their scene.  They have yet to produce an album that was not critically well-received, and they boast an array of masterpieces to their name: particularly Alligator, Boxer, and High Violet.  With Sleep Well Beast, we see them on the verge of continuing their trend of excellence, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.  Introducing a few new wrinkles to their sound, like the vibrant electric guitars in “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”, only serves to whet the appetite of an already hungry fanbase.  So at this point the only thing to really say about this is that it’s The National; they are in and of themselves their most boastful asset.  Here’s to another incredible outing by one of indie-rock’s most consistently flooring artists.

Listen to “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” below:


– Full List of Releases: September 8, 2017 –

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 1, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: LCD Soundsystem – “American Dream”

American Dream

Genre: Post-Punk/Electronic // Label: DFA Records/Columbia

Background:

American Dream is LCD Soundsystem’s first album in seven years, following 2010’s This Is Happening.  Featuring the band’s most vibrant and colorful album artwork to date, American Dream also feels warmer and more expansive than past records.  A lot of the tracks, especially the lead single ‘Call The Police’, seem to be heavily channeling James Murphy’s inner David Bowie/U2.  In a year filled with high-profile comebacks, LCD Soundsystem stands proudly near the top of the totem pole,  boasting a must-hear record for fans of electronic-influenced rock and post-punk.

Listen to “Call The Police”, below:

 


 

– Full List of Releases: September 1, 2017 –

Covered in Black

Anubis Gate: Covered in Black
Genre: Progressive/Power Rock & Metal // Label: Nightmare Records

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 Zone

Cloud Control: Zone
Genre: Indie-Pop/Psychedelic, Dream-Pop // Label: Votiv Music

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The Solace System

Epica: The Solace System
Genre: Power Metal/Classical/Goth // Label: Nuclear Blast

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Omnion

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of August 25, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: Leprous – Malina

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Genre: Progressive Rock/Experimental/Electronic // Label: Inside Out Music

Background:

Leprous is a Norwegian progressive metal band formed in 2001 in Notodden, Norway. They originally made their mark as Ihsahn’s (Emperor vocalist/guitarist) backing band in live situations. Don’t let that mislead you, though, because Leprous don’t play progressive black metal. Their first four albums could broadly be categorized as the kind of quirky progressive metal that only seems to come from Norway, but even that doesn’t describe Malina. On Malina, Leprous has dropped any pretense of simply being a progressive metal band and opened their sound to elements only hinted at before –mainly electronic music. It shouldn’t surprise fans of the band that this has finally happened considering the band count Radiohead, Massive Attack, and The Prodigy among more standard influences such as Porcupine Tree and The Dillinger Escape Plan.

Listen to “Illuminate”, below:


 

– Full List of Releases: August 25, 2017 –

61vAVYBtLfL._SS500

Akercocke: Renaissance in Extremis
Genre: Progressive Death Metal // Label: Peaceville Records

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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of August 18, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: Steven Wilson – “To The Bone”

To The Bone

Genre: Progressive Rock/Experimental/Psychedelic // Label: Caroline International

Background:

Steven Wilson is among the most consistent artists and producers in the progressive rock scene.  Having worked with Opeth extensively, and not to mention spearheading his own successful outfit in Porcupine Tree, Wilson’s most impressive feats may have actually come on the solo front.  To The Bone marks his fifth full-length solo LP, coming on the heels of 2015’s Hand. Cannot. Erase and 2013’s The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories).  To The Bone is, thematically, a grave look at modern times – however, it is also a nod to the musical influences of his youth.  Regarding To The Bone, Wilson has gone on record stating: “My fifth record is in many ways inspired by the hugely ambitious progressive pop records that I loved in my youth…I grew up listening to a lot of very smart pop records by artists like Kate Bush, Talk Talk, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, The The…It struck me that there aren’t too many albums made like that these…

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of August 11, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


– Full List of Releases: August 11, 2017 –

 5 Billion in Diamonds

5 Billion In Diamonds: 5 Billion In Diamonds
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: 100% Records

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Elastic

Amy O: Elastic
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: Winspear

Stream Elastic here.

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Spirit / Wholes

Big Hush: Spirit / Wholes
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: Robotic Empire

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Diaspora

Cormorant: Diaspora
Genre: Black Metal/Progressive Rock // Label: Cormorant

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Poor David's Almanack

David Rawlings: Poor David’s Almanack
Genre: Country/Folk // Label: Acony Records

Stream Poor David’s Almanack here.

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Cost of Living

Downtown Boys: Cost of Living
Genre: Punk/Post-Punk/Hardcore // Label: Sub Pop Records

Stream Cost of Living here.

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Cage Tropical

Frankie Rose: Cage Tropical
Genre: Indie/Dream Pop// Label: Slumberland Records

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The Reign

Hinder: The Reign
Genre: Pop Rock/Grunge// Label: BMG/The End

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The Prestaliis

Hundred Suns: The Prestaliis
Genre: Alt-Rock/Metalcore// Label: New Damage Records

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of August 4, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


– Full List of Releases: August 4, 2017 –

 The Rise of Chaos

Accept: The Rise Of Chaos
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock // Label: Nuclear Blast

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Brett Eldredge

Brett Eldredge: Brett Eldredge
Genre: Country // Label: Atlantic Nashville

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Call It Love

Briana Marela: Call It Love
Genre: Indie/Dream Pop // Label: Jagjaguwar

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The Fickle Finger of Fate

Dale Crover: The Fickle Finger Of Fate
Genre: Indie-Pop/Alt-Rock // Label: Joyful Noise Recordings

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Re-Covered

Dan Wilson: Re-Covered
Genre: Alt-Rock // Label: Ballroom Music / Big Deal Media

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Dead Cross [Explicit]

Dead Cross: Dead Cross
Genre: Punk/Thrash Metal/Hardcore // Label: Ipecac Recordings

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Hysteria [3 CD][30th Anniversary Edition]

Def Leppard: Hysteria (30th Anniversary Edition, Remastered 2017)
Genre: Hard Rock // Label: Mercury

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Wall of Sound

Marty Friedman: Wall Of Sound
Genre: Metal/New Age // Label:  Prosthetic

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One of Us [Explicit]

Mystery Skulls: One Of Us
Genre: Indie-Pop/Pop-Rock/Electronic // Label:…

Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of July 28, 2017.  Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors.  As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.


Featured Release: Manchester Orchestra – “A Black Mile to the Surface”

The Moth

Genre: Indie-Rock // Label: Loma Vista

Following Cope, a straightforward rock album with few tricks up its sleeve, Manchester Orchestra headed back to the drawing board for their fifth LP A Black Mile to the Surface.  It feels like the logical successor to Simple Math, soaring atop orchestral strings and dramatic song structures.  Purely in terms of rock n’ roll grit, it is easily the farthest the band has ever sounded from Mean Everything To Nothing, but for what it lacks in aggression it more than makes up for in effortless songwriting, immaculate flow, and lyrical aptitude.  It feels like the emotional weight of I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child expressed through the glossy filter of Simple Math‘s production – a prospect that should have a fan of either record salivating in anticipation.  Just when it seemed like Manchester Orchestra’s best days might be behind them, they’ve proven themselves to be one of those rare indie-rock mainstays.  With a record that sounds comfortingly at home for the band, yet totally unlike anything they’ve crafted thus

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