A roundup of new releases this week, presented in no particular order.
Black Orchid Empire - Deny the Sun
Groove driven prog from Londons Black Orchid Empire. A little bit of a 90s alt-rock vibe, with tech metal riffs. The missed the boat with their debut album launching as Covid hit, but were a lot of fun live when I caught them in Camden last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1uukX9KALY
FFO: Grunge, Tech metal, Tool
Dream State - Chain Reactions
Hook filled pop-metalcore from Dream State. A bit of a 90s alt rock vibe mashed into the obligatory tech metal riffs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7diiJbdpgFY
FFO: 90s alternative, metalcore, PVRIS
Leprous - Aphelion (Tour Edition) (Album)
A re-issue of Leprous' 2021 album Aphelion, with a bonus live album recorded across their subsequent tour. Leprous are the tightest prog-metal band touring small venues today, so the bonus live recordings make this essential this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by7vOjaM_lI
FFO: Melanchoy, Progressive Metal, Clean Vocals
Slipknot - Bone Church
A creepy etherial standalone single from Slipknot. Gestating since the grey chapter, with suitably eerie accompanying visuals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu3-3Yr5PPE
FFO: trip-hop, horror
We Are PIGS - PIGS
Trip-hop infused alt-industrial-rock from Web Are PIGS, in this case, co-written by The Smashing Pumpkins front-man Billy Corgan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCYbDtYJFpc
FFO: trip-hop, 90s alternative
Currents - Remember Me
Latest single from Currents, from their forthcoming album "The Death We Seek" (May 5th). Architects-core-metalcore with some good groove.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0E5kGyoRI0
FFO: Modern metalcore
Hanging Garden - The Fireside
New doom/death crossover from Hanging Garden. A little Woods of Ypres, a little Paradise Lost, a little My Dying Bride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyatSIo9yRY
FFO: Doom metal, folk metal
Osiah - Seeds of Despair
Downtuned deathcore from Osiah - all low end, all the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSuukJSPqCQ
FFO: Deathcore, 000000s, cookie monster death metal
Employed To Serve - Sun Up To Sun Down (Remix) ft. Alien Weaponry
Modern death / hardcore metal crossover from Employed to Serve and Alien Weaponry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXn9PQJQXOI
FFO: Industrial, modern metalcore
Atarka - Barbarian
A mashup of straight up death metal and those big beautiful Soilwork hooks courtesy of Bjorn "Speed" Strid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7dQNMbMSI8
FFO: Death metal, Soilwork
There's also a new Smashing Pumpkins record out, but it's terrible, sorry.