The New Music Thread : The Infinite Edition
The new album, Epigone, from New Englanders Wilderun is finally here!
Meshuggah has just announced that they're gonna be releasing their long-awaited 9th album Immutable on April 1. In the History of Heavy Metal book I've reviewed, one of Andrew O'Neill's future predictions was "Meshuggah record an album with such complex time signatures they get trapped inside the music. The album is never released for fear of opening a black hole." Well it seems like their record label has the guts to release such an album, so we'll see in April whether or not the band are trapped within their music or if it would really cause the end of the galaxy as we know it. Either way, that would be the most epic and heaviest April Fools non-prank joke ever!
Persefone - Metanoia
The newest album from Andorran prog metal outfit Persefone dropped today. I'll be checking it out this weekend and see if they can maintain the momentum they gained from Aathma a few years ago.
Stream/download the album here:
https://persefone.bandcamp.com/album/metanoia
Rolo Tomassi - Where Myth Becomes Memory
The British metalcore band Rolo Tomassi seem to have gone the way of Converge and made a full blown Post-Metal album in 2022.
Stream/download/buy the album here:
https://rolotomassi.bandcamp.com/album/where-myth-becomes-memory
Got a bunch of new releases for 11 February so let's get to them quickly
Cult of Luna - The Long Road North
We start off with the hotly anticipated new album from Swedish Post-metal giants Cult of Luna's newest album of atmospheric bliss:
https://cultofluna.bandcamp.com/album/the-long-road-north
Amorphis - Halo
Consistent Progressive Folk Metal band from Finland.
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/3EATOOixZ8TxrSqvbtF46A?si=pS-sU1HQQ5m4T5d_0WlO8A
Zeal & Ardor - S/T
Avant-Garde with elements of industrial, black metal, spirituals and blues. No description can do this band the right amount of service.
https://zealandardor.bandcamp.com/album/zeal-ardor-3
Tersivel - To The Orphic Void
Finally it's sludge metal in the vein of The Ocean/Mastodon. I've never heard of this group before. Let's see if anyone else finds use for it.
Massive month for The Infinite, Cult of Luna didn't disappoint one bit in my opinion and despite my best efforts to not enjoy yet another by-the-numbers Amorphis album, they won me over again. Solid album. That Rolo Tomassi album is a standout as well; it's a mixture of styles that I personally haven't heard before and it works really well. The Persefone album was a mixed bag for me, I think it's good, but it's far from stellar and I haven't really rushed to go back to it.
That Tersivel album seems interesting, will have to check it out next week.
Allegaeon - DAMNUM
One of my favourite bands blending melodic and technical death metal together are back with album number six. I've been impressed so far by what I've heard. If you are a fan of Opeth and you have not heard "Called Home" yet, either get on that right now, or wait until next months Infinite playlist. You'll thank me later.
Buy/stream the album here:
https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/album/damnum
I've been a big fan of Allegaeon for a few years now as well, although most of my listening has been on Apoptosis instead of their earlier, more generic material. Thankfully as Saxy alluded to they've really come into their own and have left the tiresome Tech Death hammering behind for a much more varied performance with more varied influences. It might be less brutal and up-front than their earlier albums but I've really enjoyed it on the first two listens as well. Could be a grower as I revisit it more, feels pretty cohesive album through and through.
Astronoid - Radiant Bloom
I have always respected this band with their attempts to popularize the blackgaze sound, but have always had far too many structural problems to appreciate them more. Let's see if this new record can make a new impression.
Disillusion - Ayam
After checking out Back To Times Of Splendor in a MA Feature Release a while ago and their comeback album The Liberation in 2019, Disillusion left me wondering whey they're such an acclaimed, lesser known Prog Metal band. After spending some time with Ayam this week, though, I think I'm finally starting to warm up to their approach. Disillusion definitely bring their own style to the table, with some of the most unique and polarizing vocals I've heard and a stellar songwriting style that feels like it's using some remnants of Ne Obliviscaris but in their entirely own way. It's been a slow burn and I don't think this album is for everyone, but it'll be interesting to see what I think of Back To Times Of Splendor after enjoying this one as much as I have been, considering that's one of the Infinite Clan Challenge albums I need to go through. Unsure how high this will rate as of right now, but I'll be coming back to this one for the rest of the year to see where it stacks up; and so far it's pretty high considering the drought of Progressive Metal we seem to be in.
Emperor front man & progressive metal icon Ihsahn's self-titled eighth solo album is due for release on 16th February. I'm well across his 2008-2012 period but haven't checked out his last few records, potentially because I didn't get on all that well with 2012's "Eremita" at the time. Perhaps it's time to get back in the saddle with this one.
Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace
The sixth (6th) studio album from Australian progressive metal band Caligula's Horse releases today!
https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/charcoal-grace-24-bit-hd
Madder Mortem - Old Eyes, New Heart
The eighth (8th) studio album from Norwegian Progressive/Gothic metal band Madder Mortem released today!
Vipassi - Lightless
One more new album to report today and we return back to Australia for the debut from Progressive/Technical Death Metal band Vipassi. Benjamin Baret plays guitar on this record and may be best known for his contributions to Ne Obliviscaris.
https://vipassi.bandcamp.com/album/lightless
Caligula's Horse - Charcoal Grace
The sixth (6th) studio album from Australian progressive metal band Caligula's Horse releases today!
https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/charcoal-grace-24-bit-hd
Got through 2 full listens today and so far I gotta say I'm impressed. I don't know if it's as good as Bloom or In Contact but I'm glad they worked out some of the kinks that Rise Radiant had. Feels like a true new Caligula's Horse album, not as phoned in even though there are still some mediocre sections here and there.
Syncatto - Fiction (2024)
Syncatto's newest album dropped out of nowhere and I was honestly expecting a little bit more? The EP he released last year, more specifically the song "King", showed some serious promise, but I don't think that level of writing was realized on this short outing. It's a pleasant listen and I've enjoyed having it on in the background while I'm working, but it never really gets past that. Charlie Robbins must've been in a chill mood for this batch of recordings as the mood is very laid back and casual despite Fiction being full of his normal, intricate playing. Especially since "Dethrone" is quite literally a stripped down version of the aforementioned "King". There are a few interesting highlights, like the brooding strings in "Black Velvet", the soloing in "Just Breathe", or getting Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) to hang out for a bit on "Midnight Marss". Despite that the album still just comes and goes without making too much of an impression, even though I still love Syncatto's nods to Classical / Flamenco guitar playing and the bass work is sufficiently poppy and interesting. Maybe it's the destiny of all instrumental Progressive Metal guitarists to just run out of steam faster that it seems like they should but this one is a far cry from 2021's A Place To Breathe for me.
Borknagar - Fall
Nordic progressive folk/black metal band Borknagar are back with their new (12th) studio album Fall, the first in almost five years. I've always viewed Borknagar as one of metal's most consistent projects and early returns from Fall suggest much the same as well. That can be either a good or a bad thing depending on how you feel about this band not reinventing the wheel.
https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/fall-24-bit-hd-audio
Emperor front man & progressive metal icon Ihsahn's self-titled eighth solo album is due for release on 16th February. I'm well across his 2008-2012 period but haven't checked out his last few records, potentially because I didn't get on all that well with 2012's "Eremita" at the time. Perhaps it's time to get back in the saddle with this one.
It seems that Ihsahn has released an "orchestral" version of this album too which is interesting. Anyone know what that's all about?
It seems that, like Swallow the Sun's "Moonflowers", Ihsahn has used a full orchestra as backing on his latest album and, like StS did on the "special edition" of "Moonflowers", included an orchestra-only version along with the full version.
I haven't given much thought to Ihsahn for a while now, but Saxy's review has piqued my interest and I will have to check it out sometime.
Weston Super Maim - See You Tomorrow Baby
If you like Meshuggah and ever wondered to yourself "I sure wish I could hear what Meshuggah would sound like if they couldn't count!" then you're in luck! The newest album from Weston Super Maim attempts to destroy your expectations on what djent should sound like. Mathcore may the more appropriate term given its intensity and the band immediately referencing Car Bomb, Frontierer and Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza on their BandCamp page. Proceed with caution.
https://westonsupermaim.bandcamp.com/album/see-you-tomorrow-baby
Night Verses - Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night, Part II
The second half of one of my most surprising albums of 2023 has its direct sequel from Night Verses and is out now. Progressive instrumental metal that knows how to create atmosphere.
Voivod are releasing some old demo recordings from the sessions for 1993's classic "The Outer Limits" album on Monday.
The new E.P. from Brooklyn-based avant-garde black metal outfit Liturgy was released this week. It's called "Immortal Life II" & I'll probably check it out at some point given that I've always gained some enjoyment from Liturgy's albums. Their E.P.'s have been a little more inconsistent though with 2008's "Immortal Life" E.P. being pretty ordinary so (given that this would seem to be the sequel to that ill-fated release) I'd suggest that this record could go either way. What in the actual fuck is going on with that cover artwork though, eh?
I really dug 2021's "Escape of the Phoenix" album but haven't gotten around to investigating any of Everygrey's other thirteen full-lengths as yet. The Swedes brand new album "Theories of Emptiness" hits the shelves on 7th June so I might need to check it out at some point.
