The New Music Thread : The Infinite Edition

Intervals - Memory Palace

Got a local feature this month from Toronto's progressive djent band, Intervals and their fifth studio album, Memory Palace. Djent might not be everyone's cup of tea here, but I think that Intervals have been able to pull off a decent balancing act between metalcore riffage and progressive songwriting up to this point. And early returns on this new album are solid as well.

https://intervalsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/memory-palace

US progressive metallers Nospūn have released an instrumental version of their excellent 2023 debut album "Opus" that I really enjoyed. This one might be worth checking out at some point given how impressive the vocal edition was.

Reliqa - Secrets of the Future

Although this might not necessarily count as real progressive metal, I think there are more than enough people in this clan who would find this debut album interesting. This is Reliqa, an Australian alternative/progressive metal band who have released a couple of well received EP's up to this point, and this is the bands first full length studio album. I've been anticipating this release for a few weeks and hope that you might check it out as well.

Rejoice Infinite clan, for June has finally arrived! So far as my radar is concerned, June has five (5) significant albums releasing that are in, or adjacent to, the Infinite clan. Hope you all have clean slates for the month because we're coming in hot!

Richard Henshall - Mu Vol. 1

The super talented guitarist/musician of Haken/Nova Collective, Richard Henshall releases their first solo record since 2019's Cocoon titled Mu.

Ulcerate - Cutting the Throat of God 

While calling Ulcerate a progressive band might not be the best descriptor, their take on technical death metal is unlike anything that's out there right now. And for me personally, they are the band that singlehandedly changed my entire perspective on technical death metal music. This has been one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 so far. It most likely won't appeal to everyone in the Infinite, so proceed with care.

https://ulcerate.bandcamp.com/album/cutting-the-throat-of-god

Who likes new releases? You already know I do, so here's a couple of big ones to satiate with:

Alcest - Les chants de l’aurore

Let's start with undoubtledy the big one, since it comes from one of the innovators of a genre. France's Alcest are back with their seventh studio album of post-metal/blackgaze bliss!

https://alcest.bandcamp.com/album/les-chants-de-laurore

Rendezvous Point - Dream Chaser

Next up, we have the third (and newest) release from Nordic progressive symphonic band Rendezvous Point. 

Brooklyn avant-garde/atmospheric black metallers Scarcity have their brand new "The Promise of Rain" sophomore album hitting the shelves on 12th July. Their 2022 debut album "Aveilut" was extremely divisive at the Academy with Ben & I bowing down in worship & the majority of our other members thinking it sucked royal ass. I for one will be absolutely all over this release so NER!!

Belgian post-metallers Amenra have a brand new live album hitting the streets next month entitled "Live at Rock Werchter 2023". These guys are always great so I've added it to my list to check out.

Prolific Aussie genre-hoppers King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have yet another new album hitting the shelves on 9th August. This is called "Flight b741" & fuck knows what musical direction they'll take this time. I did really dig 2019's "Infest the Rats' Nest" & 2023's "PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation" records though so I'll be sure to investigate it if there's any hint at it being a metal release.

The song Gojira performed in the 2024 Paris Olympics is perhaps the most brutal the band has performed in nearly two decades, probably heavier than "The Heaviest Matter of the Universe"! You don't have to watch the ceremony itself to witness all this kick-A beast has to offer:

The new Leprous album "Melodies of Atonement" hits the streets in late August.

Leprous - Melodies of Atonement

Daniel already beat me to the punch on this one, but today is the day where Melodies of Atonement, the newest Leprous album releases.

https://insideoutmusic.bandcamp.com/album/melodies-of-atonement

Anciients - Beyond the Reach of the Sun

Anciients have returned for the first time since 2016 with their third studio album, Beyond the Reach of the Sun. It's been a while since I heard this Vancouver based progressive band, but I remember them being super popular with the djent kids back in the day. I would love to hear how they have changed since the last release.

https://anciientriffs.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-reach-of-the-sun

Oceans of Slumber - Where Gods Fear to Speak

Houston progressive metallers Oceans of Slumber are back with their sixth studio album, Where Gods Fear to Speak. I for one am optimistic that this record will be more ambitious than their last two, so feel free to let us know what you think.

https://oceansofslumber.bandcamp.com/album/where-gods-fear-to-speak

I've sadly never been able to get into Oceans of Slumber despite me keeping up with them whenever I see they have something new out. If my ratings are anything to go off of, it looks like I prefer their very first album which had more Death Metal influence than any of their others, probably because it was a bit more unique. Despite everyone's praises for their lead vocalist I don't think she has been able to carry this band on her own, so I'm hoping to check it out today and see if that's changed. Winter was probably their strongest showing for me, with the self-titled and Starlight and Ash being incredibly forgettable and not worth too many revisits for me. 

Nightwish - Yesterwynde

Today is the release day for one of the symphonic metal giants in Nightwish and their tenth (10) studio album. Double digit albums typically means legacy territory, but let's see if Nightwish still has some gas in the tank.

Opeth - "The Last Will and Testament" [Progressive rock/metal from Sweden]

Devin Townsend - "PowerNerd" (2024) [Progressive metal from Canada]

"Devin Townsend’s career is one of many distinct eras. He’s been the leader of Strapping Young Lad, the lynchpin of the Devin Townsend Project and the co-architect of country duo Casualties of Cool, all while maintaining his prolific and lauded solo project. Now, the polymath’s newest era starts with PowerNerd: a succinct but still progressive record that pulls from its mastermind’s childhood love of vintage rock. From the moment the title track ignites the record with a roar of “PowerNerd!”, Devin’s 28th studio project is a gallop of melody, noise and emotion."

Solstafir - "Hin helga kvöl"

The eighth full-length from these Icelandic post-metallers. I've had mixed experiences with them over the years & haven't heard anything they've done since 2011's "Svartir Sandar" so I might play it by ear with this one.

A sinister new single by Ukrainian modern progressive metallers Jinjer from their upcoming album Duel:

VOLA - Friend of a Phantom

Didn't know which clan to put this in, so I put it in both! Progressive/alternative Danish band VOLA are back with their fourth studio album through Mascot Records. 

Stream or download the album here:
https://volaband.bandcamp.com/album/friend-of-a-phantom