New Metal Out Today: 2/5

Kyle Cassidy, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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It’s Friday, which means two things: giving the week the finger and new music! Tune in every Friday for The Pit’s round-up of new releases, from singalong hard rock to pus-drenched underground death metal. Keep those ears bleeding!

Korpiklaani, Jylhä (Nuclear Blast)

For fans of: Alestorm, Ensiferum, Eluveitie

Standout track: “Tuuleton”

If you’re a modern metalhead who drinks to the point of excess, you might think you’re ready for what Korpiklaani have in store on Jylhä. But this time around, the world’s fastest, loudest reggae band actually take things in a surprisingly epic direction. Sure, there’s plenty of dance-along swamp metal here, but some of the tracks are so grand and beautiful they’ll make you put a hand to their heart, making the record less of a long night at the bar and more of a beer or two watching the sunset from a cliff. Don’t worry, they still brought beer.

John Carpenter, Lost Themes III: Alive After Death (Sacred Bones)

For fans of: Slasher Dave, Carpenter Brut, Espectrostatic

Standout track: “Cemetery”

Fan of synthwave? You’ve got John Carpenter to thank for that, and on his latest album Lost Themes III, the director of such classics as Halloween, Escape from New York, and The Fog brings a new level of heavy to his eerie keyboard jams. The record errs more on the side of spooky soundtrack music than full-on synth-rock, but there are plenty of sections that’ll have you smirking along to the full weight of Carpenter’s darkness. You can’t kill the Boogeyman.

Cult of Luna, The Raging River (Red Creek)

For fans of: Cobalt, Rwake, Tombs

Standout track: “I Remember”

If this winter doesn’t feel epic, anguished, and madness-inducing enough, there’s a new Cult of Luna record! And this time around, these Swedes aren’t pulling any punches when it comes to their broad horizons. The Raging River sees CoL going bigger and more emotionally devastating than ever before, exploring huge vistas of sound and heartbreak. If your drive is under 20 minutes or in the daylight, save this one; if it’s over an hour, this is the perfect accompaniment. 

To Kill Achilles, Something to Remember Me By (Arising Empire)

For fans of: LANDMVRKS, Wage War, Bad Omens 

Standout track: “Luna Et Altum”

Look, you might see a picture of To Kill Achilles, or hear their name, and think, ‘Ah, some metalcore band.’ But this Scottish quintet actually have something really interesting and powerful going on, something you don’t hear from every crew of swoop-haired bleeding hearts. There’s a genuine rage and sense of introspection that a lot of bands grasp at, but which this band tangibly captures. All of which is to say you might kick over a table and cry about it jamming this record…but in a good way!

Other crushers:

  • Deiquisitor, Humanoid (Dark Descent)
  • Everdawn, Cleopatra (Sensory Records)
  • Neorhythm, Evils (Self-released)

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Words by Chris Krovatin