A roundup of new releases this week, presented in no particular order.
Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars (Album)
"Sky Void of Stars", Katatonia's 12th full length is out today, and it's beautiful, brilliant and miserable.
This is the "almost-title-track" and has been on permanent rotation in my head since I first heard it in December.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRLXpFSmsPE
FFO: Melanchoy, Progressive Metal, Clean Vocals
The Ocean - Preboreal
The Ocean are on a hot streak at the moment after their two part Phanerozoic albums, which feel like how Isis would sound if they were still making music today. German weird progressive hardcore at it's best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAEo3VTgNWc
FFO: Isis, Cult of Luna, Melanchoy
As Everything Unfolds - Ultraviolet
Destined to be a breakout band in 2023, As Everything Unfolds are a progressive metalcore band from the UK. Huge pop hooks, big riffs, big clean choruses. A little bit Spiritbox, a little bit Paramore. 2021's "Within Each Lies The Other" was a super promising debut (check out "On the Inside" - a total banger), excited to see where this band goes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E8yl8GXEPM
FFO: Nu Metal, Pop Metal, Progressive Metalcore
Ihsahn - Contorted Monuments
The grandfather of progressive black metal. You never quite know where he's going - and this time it's blackened wailing 80s virtuoso galloping guitar. If you've always been curious about black metal, but never "got" it - this is a good place to start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeRx0ndgg80
FFO: Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Wailing guitars
Softcult - Dress
Softcult continue their current run of relatively harrowing, but somehow achingly beautiful sounding singles. Their videos are often a tough watch - frequently dealing with trauma and sexual assault. Musically, they're a touch pop, and a little throwback grunge. Thematically, they're as heavy as it comes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr_vtDU94PY
FFO: The Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Shoegaze
Hypno5e - Lava from the Sky
Another beautiful turn from French progressive metal band Hypno5e. They're on a roll of putting out "three track run" concept albums and EPs of sprawling, beautiful, crushing singles. Big fans of drama, always takes a little time to get going, but when it hits it really, really, hits. On tour around Europe with Devin Townsend in February - don't miss the support. A little like of The Ocean and Gojira had a baby.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiOSJdQ-0ws
FFO: The Ocean, Isis, Gojira
In Flames - Meet Your Maker
It feels like every album is billed as In Flames' "return to form" - which probably telegraphs the obvious - they're always on form, just stylistically diverse. What todays EP release does show though, is that they still have that old school Gothemburg melodic death metal sound in them. I think there's something to celebrate about a band who have multiple albums that people lament "they will never sound like again".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_MSqS1-Ubs
FFO: In Flames! Soilwork, Melodic Death Metal
Insomnium - The Witch Hunter
Insomnium have been doing crossover melodic death / doom metal for over 20 years now. They have that unmistakable "2000s Swedish underground metal" Jens Bogren mix sound. From their forthcoming album "Anno 1696" out Feb 24th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyXHvjS_8d8
FFO: Doom/Death crossover, Soaring guitars
Atena - Subway Anthem
A weird indie-metalcore crossover. Legitimately interesting sounding. Tonnes of atmosphere and big hooks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3vUaY1JmUA
FFO: Modern metalcore
Those Once Loyal - Second Hand Smoke
A tiny hardcore band from Nottingham, UK - Those Once Loyal feel like they're on the edge of breaking out with very slickly produced hardcore with the melodic edge of bands like Counterparts and Killswitch Engage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Zv9Ep15MM
FFO: Knocked Loose, KSE
Sermon - Golden
Electronic infused progressive metal, from "another band wearing masks". Reminiscent of bands mid-era Paradise Lost with slick synths. From their forthcoming album "Of Golden Verse" out March 31st.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm8xPOiHJ-U
FFO: Drama, Progressive Rock, Synths
Metallica - Screaming Suicide
I probably do not need to explain who Metallica are - production polished to an absolute sheen, another old-school-trash meets bluesy track. Hetfield sounds a touch different than usual. You know what you're getting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDyDpdFZHBo
FFO: Metal? Throwback thrash
Sleep Token - Granite
Sleep Token are doing the same thing they did with their last couple of albums and dropping them track by track week by week - so another two tracks this week in their distinctive "tech metal meets r&b" style. Unashamedly pop music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om4dEGKnEmw
FFO: R&B, Breakdowns, Tech Metal