New Metal Releases Out Today: 10/22

Andreas Lawen, Fotandi, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 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 metal releases, from singalong hard rock to pus-drenched underground death metal. Keep those ears bleeding!

Cradle of Filth, Existence Is Futile (Nuclear Blast)

For fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Powerwolf, Carach Angren

Standout track: “Us, Dark, Invincible”

At this point, Cradle of Filth are the Cannibal Corpse of symphonic metal: every album sort of sounds the same, but right now the band seem to be feeling themselves really hard, and it’s pretty great. Existence Is Futile shows just how hard Cradle are still willing to go in the facepaint, overflowing as it is with sweeping curtains, moss-covered cemeteries, and vampire supervillains. The record’s orchestral side is as strong as that of any of the band’s releases, while the tracks themselves are consistently tight and catchy. Sorry, grim haters, but these dudes are here to stay.

Every Time I Die, Radical (Epitaph)

For fans of: Dillinger Escape Plan, All Pigs Must Die, Mutoid Man

Standout track: “Hostile Architecture”

Hardcore fury with a firm footing in punk rock and its tongue firmly planted in its cheek — Every Time I Die are back, baby. Despite its mega-exxxtreme-gnar cover art, Radical doesn’t see the band getting caught up in some synthy ‘80s bullshit. No, this album is as fun and destructive as anything the band have done before, perhaps with a little more maturity and self-awareness than on previous releases. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, though hey, maybe break it some more!

Shadowland, The Necromancer’s Castle (No Remorse Records)

For fans of: Lucifer’s Hammer, Megaton Sword, Cross Vault

Standout track: “Walking In Shadows”

The Necromancer’s Castle makes us wonder why we’re not wearing six studded belts right now. The latest from Brooklyn trad-metallers Shadowland is an excellent collection of chugging, mid-paced, old-school bangers that’ll have you wearing mirrored shades indoors in no time. Frontwoman Tanya Finder’s vocals add a druidic vibe to the whole thing that we fucking live for, though it’s the dual guitar attack of Jeff Filmer and Al Bulmer that really sinks this disc’s hooks in you. Put it on, crack that domestic tall boy you’ve been hoarding in your vest pocket for the past two years, and stretch your neck. And for God’s sake, put on a couple more belts.

Unto Others, I Believe In Halloween EP (self-released)

For fans of: ​​The Cult, Killing Joke, Sisters of Mercy

Standout track: “Out In The Graveyard”

Good on Unto Others for having some Halloween fun! It’d be easy for this goth metal powerhouse to act all stone-faced about their spooky vibes; instead, they’re treating fans to a seasonal two-song EP, with each track telling its own scary story. The first song is a haunting tale of death and mortality, while the second is about a satanic dog, which is always cool in an ‘80s horror way. A wonderful accompaniment to your upcoming masquerade of darkness.

Other crushers:

  • Dream Theater, A View from the Top (InsideOut)
  • Massacre, Resurgence (Nuclear Blast)
  • 1914, Where Fear and Weapons Meet (Napalm)

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