Upcoming Metal: Week of June 15th
Wrath of Belial
Embers of Dead Empires
Releases June 15th on CDN Records
Genre: Melodic Death/Thrash Metal
From the opening moment’s of “Dismantling Logos”, Wrath of Belial deliver a punishingly heavy onslaught of pure chaotic drumming and guitars on their second album. Matching a technical proficiency of acts like Origin or Cryptopsy. Songs like “Mask of Commiseration” and “Embers” add more of the melodic death metal tinge to their sound (especially the clean acoustic guitar section on “Embers”). Good record that has a little bit of every kind of death metal in it that would make any fan of the genre happy and a strong follow-up to the band’s debut.
SCORE: 4 / 5
The Medea Project
Kharon
Releases June 20th independently
Genre: Doom/Gothic/Sludge Metal
On the band’s second album, The Medea Project bring that hopeless, tragic and bleak energy. Brett Minnie’s growls do remind me of David Vincent’s barking guttural vocals, but i’ll be blunt, I’m not a big fan of his clean singing. His growling has more presence in the mix and tone of the song, while the cleans just don’t have the same power and impact on the song. Album opener “Absence, in Loss” is a great example of this. Musically, it gives me that gritty, fuzzy, stoner-heavy doom sound I love you’d get from early Sabbath or stoner legends Electric Wizard (especially on songs like “Purgatory Trapped” and “Dance of The Void”).
SCORE: 2 / 5
Patristic
Catechesis
Releases June 20th on Willowtip Records
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
The debut album from Enrico Schettino of Hideous Divinity’s new project Patristic, Catechesis definitely will give off Behemoth vibes to new fans on the album’s opener “A Vinculis Soluta I”, but better at some parts. Giving off the good parts of blackened death metal with the unrelenting and commanding drums, with moments of perfectly executed choir vocals and death metal intensity and speed. “Catechesis I” even brings some symphonic elements and unique instrumentation to the mix and incorporating it into the death metal ferocity. Good debut record and am curious to see where the band goes from here with their follow-up.
SCORE: 3 / 5
Reflection
The Battles I Have Won
Releases June 20th on Pitch Black Records
Genre: Epic Heavy Metal
On “Only The Swords Survive”, Greece’s Reflection hit that nostalgic new wave of British heavy metal sound, mixed with the production and scale of power metal acts like Blind Guardian. Stathis Pavlantis’ guitars ring high in the mix, with the production style of classic 80’s records. Interspersed with George Pavlantis’ fist-pumping drumming. The album’s title track, “Sirens’ Song” and “Celestial War” let lead singer Kostas Tokas really shine with his vocals. If you want straightforward heavy metal, with tinges of orchestra and choir, than The Battles I Have Won will give you what you want.
SCORE: 3.5 / 5
