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 metal releases, from singalong hard rock to pus-drenched underground death metal. Keep those ears bleeding!
Carcass, Torn Arteries (Nuclear Blast)
For fans of: Arch Enemy, Kreator, Lock Up
Standout track: “Eleanor Rigor Mortis”
Always bet on Carcass to kick your ass all over the room. Torn Arteries learned much from its predecessor Surgical Steel — the lush death metal guitar tone, the moments of pure thrash, the gang howls. But it also approaches those tools with a renewed vigor, adding plenty of foam-mouthed fury to the mix. While not the intestinal grindcore some crusty fans will forever crave, this is still one of the more entertaining death metal albums of the year. Eat your fucking vegetables.
Spiritbox, Eternal Blue (Rise Records)
For fans of: Deafheaven, ERRA, Bad Wolves
Standout track: “The Summit”
Months after the Internet had a crying fit over “Constance,” Spiritbox have finally released a full-length album. And if you were expecting that track to be an aberration, you’re out of luck — the whole record is a shimmery, soaring, emotional deep-dive. The addition of shoegaze and ambient music to their hard rock sound have made this band one to beat, and herald a new wave of pretty metal acts. In other words: get on this now before there are a million other bands ripping this sound off.
Employed to Serve, Conquering (Spinefarm)
For fans of: Code Orange, Slipknot, portrayal of guilt
Standout track: “We Don’t Need You”
We love it when a band sounds tangibly angry, and on Conquering, Employed to Serve definitely come off like someone filled their new boots with oatmeal. The UK act’s churning riffs and harsh vocal delivery have a real searing quality which makes them feel more genuine than some of their nu-metal-revivalist peers. That, plus their moments of experimentation, make them a band worth watching across the board. The kids are all right.
Alien Weaponry, Tangaroa (Napalm Records)
For fans of: Sepultura, Gojira, Strapping Young Lad
Standout track: “Kai Whatu”
Obviously, Alien Weaponry’s big thing is singing songs in te reo Māori, but even without that novelty, these guys are onto something. There’s a lot of Roots-era Sepultura here, not just in the old-world themes but also in the crunchy, grinding production. Certain fans might want something more polished, but this record’s charm sort of lies in what a clunker it is. Hey, these guys are teenagers, they have plenty of time to refine their sound. Enjoy the raw shit.
Insomnium, Argent Moon EP (Century Media)
For fans of: Woods of Desolation, Avatar, My Dying Bride
Standout track: “The Wanderer”
Aw, yeah, let’s make this melodeath super fucking sad! Insomnium will always add a level of beauty and grandeur to melodic death metal that other bands haven’t quite landed, and Argent Moon is definitely a continuation of that. In that respect, this isn’t an EP for casual beer-sipping, but more of a misty-morning-on-the-moors kind of record. You can lose yourself in it, but not in the way you can with, say, a Motorhead record. Call down the moon — it’ll do you good.
Want to check out other great new metal releases we’ve spotlighted recently? Good. Here you go.
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Words by Chris Krovatin
