A fun, heavy week for New Music Mondays this week as the majority is metal. However, there is still plenty of variety throughout! Join us in running through the albums released this week!
Nita Strauss: The Call of the Void
We’ve already checked out this album! Take a look at what we thought here.
The Raven Age: Blood Omen
The English heavy metal band finally return with their third album. While the word nepotism was thrown around a fair bit when the band were first starting out (guitarist George Harris is the son of Iron Maiden bassist and main man), I think it’s fair to say the band have strived to step out of that humungous shadow and stand on their own two feet. And, to the bands credit, they have done that. While the same faint Maiden-esque fingerprints that are on every post-1980 metal band are present, this is a lot closer to metalcore or modern radio-metal than anything is dad has done.
That being said, it’s just a tad generic. Don’t get me wrong, tracks like ‘Parasite’, ‘Serpents Tongue’ and ‘War in Heaven’ are great. Heck, I’d go as far as to say that there isn’t a bad track on the album, they’re all great. I think I’m just finally starting to get a little burnt out by this post Three Days Grace/early Alter Bridge sound. There’s a lot of similar music out there over the last few years. However, not many do it quite as good as the Raven Age are here. I listened to it from front to back in one sitting, which is rare, and it’ll be in my rotation for at least the next couple of months for sure. A phenomenal, if unoriginal album, that is bound to push The Raven Age to the next level in heavy music. 9/10 Great stuff!
Will Haven: VII
The Californian noise metallers are back with their, you guessed it, seventh album. The combination of hardcore vocals and big death metal riffs and breakdowns is always a fun one, and Will Haven do it better than most. And the fact that the band have packed and concentrated so much heaviness and aggression into just 33 minutes is insane. From the opener through single ‘5 on Fire’ to the likes of ‘Wings of Mariposa’. While it’s not 100% my thing, I was vibing to it and would love to be in the pit for it live. A lot of fun and good if you’re into the genre! 7.5/10
All for Metal: Legends
The second coming of Manowar released their much anticipated debut album on Friday. Considering they came out of nowhere last year, they have quickly rose up to be a prominent player in the European power metal scene. And for good reason too, this is an awesome album!
From opening on the band’s debut track and namesake, you know exactly what you are in for. It’s catchy, powerful and over the top in the best way. It’s hard to pick standout or highlight tracks as all are pretty similar. However, all are of high quality, measuring up to any other power metal album released recently. The duel vocals was an interesting touch and edge too, the lower spoken-word stuff and the higher power-screaming contrasting perfectly. It reminds me a lot of Nanowar of Steel’s setup, especially with one being Italian!
In a year that has been incredibly strong for power metal, this definitely holds its own against the heavy hitters. If you like the genre at all, you’ll love this! 8.5/10
Miles Miller: Solid Gold
Owen: Anyone familiar with modern country probably already knows the work of this man, whether they are aware of it or not. For the best part of the past decade Miller has featured as a session drummer and supporting vocalist for the likes of Town Mountain, Tyler Childers, and the great Sturgill Simpson. It seems now Miller is ready to strike out on his own and the result is a debut album that’s an instant classic.
The tracks meander through all corners of the genre from Appalachian style ballads, to more southern country rock to big band tracks that would sound at home on a street-corner in New Orleans. ‘In a Daze’ was a standout track for me as it pulls inspiration from not only neighbouring genres but those you would not expect, even pulling in funky bass lines and some disco drum fills. Thematically the lyrics run throughout describing feelings of not being good enough for the position he finds himself in. Which is understandable when you learn Miller was plucked from his Kentucky roots, after being discovered on YouTube by producer Dave Cobb in 2009.
Miller is another artist that took advantage of the pandemic period to re-visit old work and song ideas he had captured over his years of touring. All of this experience on the road with the best and brightest of the genre has allowed Miller to put together a tight debut album of his own offerings, and bring him into the spotlight for audiences new and old. 8/10
Blackbraid: Blackbraid II
Blackbraid is unsurprisingly black metal. However don’t let that deter you, there are plenty of chunky riffs and interesting parts to keep you hooked. The solo project of Native American Jon Krieger is damn interesting and a great listen. You can hear the difference between this and traditional Scandinavian black metal, and it’s truly fascinating.
And, honestly, I think I prefer this to the original style. I’ve been trying for years to find my groove with the genre, yet this did just that in its opening track. Even the proggy tracks like ‘Moss Covered Bones on the Alter of the Moon’ (METAL) had me loving it throughout. If anyone here is a black metal fan I cannot recommend this album enough. While still fitting into the genre, it is definitely different, and I’m curious to know how bigger fans of bblack metal feel about it. Honestly though, if you’re into metal at all you will find something to love here! 9/10
A Life Divided: Down the Spiral of a Soul
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Check out our review here!
Widow’s Peak: Claustrophobe
Holy shit, this is a ride and a half. It’s crushingly heavy, lightening quick, and a hell of a lot of fun. Don’t get me wrong, not every reader here is going to enjoy this. I imagine the vendiagram of Widow’s Peak and Miles Miller fans has a very small crossover. However, if you’re into your death metal or heavy stuff in any way, you’ll find a lot to like here.
Honestly, the album just kept getting better, too. The opening track blew me away, and then ‘Impliments of Hell’ somehow upped the bar even more. Then there was the guitar and bass masterclass of ‘The Worming Hour’. And heck, those screams at 2:30 almost give Will Ramos a run for his money. Tracks like ‘Pillars of Failure’ and ‘Thrombosis’ are also fantastic. However, the real highlight is the two-part ‘Heartworms’. If you check out anything on the album, make sure it’s this 13 minutes!
I love tech death. And damn do I now love this band. 9/10
Bloodbound: Tales from the North
Hell yeah, time for more power metal! Told y’all it was the year of it, didn’t I? And oh look, another excellent addition to the genre! Oh, and of course, winner of the coolest album artwork of the week too, without question!
The Swedish band’s 10th album gets off to a roaring start with ‘Tales From the North’. A slow, Iron Maiden-esque build leads into some truly epic, stadium-filling power metal. It’s a fantastic opener that sets the tone that tracks like ‘Drink with the Gods’, ‘The Raven’s Cry’ and ‘Land of Heroes’. It’s a solid power metal album and, much like with All for Metal, if you like the genre you’ll love this. My only slight issue with it is that it’s 100mph throughout. Any long time readers know how much I love a ballad and how tiny my attention span is, so 11 very similar tracks does weigh on me about halfway through. However, every track is great, and I’ll be listening to them individually for a long time! 7.5/10