Hello, Metal Wani readers! Today I am bringing you the new addition for my ‘15 Anticipated Albums You Should Keep In Mind’ segment. This new edition will go over some of the albums I am most excited about that will be released in the summer (June and July). This feature will only focus on full-length albums and will not include Demos, EPs, Compilations, or Splits. These features are designed to promote new music for the readers and help bands to build their fan bases. Enjoy!
Our first album, at number 15, is the upcoming fourth album from Swedish Melodic Death Metal band, In Mourning. The new album entitled ‘Afterglow’ is expected to be a continuation of their sound from ‘The Weight of Oceans’. Unlike their previous albums which are separated by two years, the new album will be released four years after their previous album. With that being said, I expect some exciting new developments from their current sound and from their debut. ‘Afterglow’ will be released on June 10th through their new label, Agonia Records. Check out “Below Rise to Above”.
At number 14 is ‘Metachthonia’, the long awaited follow up album to Canadian Black Metal band Thrawsunblat’s debut album, ‘Wanderer on the Continent of Saplings’. Formed as a side project and from the ashes of Woods of Ypres, Thrawsunblat plays a style of Black Metal that is melodic and folk music influenced. With the success of their debut album, I am very well looking forward to their new album in how they will build on their debut album and the attention they have garnered. ‘Metachthonia’ will be released on June 2nd through Ignifera Records. Check out their teaser.
At number 13 is Australian Melodic Death Metal band Be’lakor’s new album, ‘Vessels’, the follow up to their successful third album, ‘Of Breath and Bone’. Though I must admit, I am not as big as a fan of the band as I used to be, but hearing the new track off this album is promising. Based on the track, it sounds like the band has improved from their previous effort. If you like melodic death metal, this album may be one of the best highlights of this year for you. ‘Vessels’ will be released on June 24th through Napalm Records. Check out “An Ember’s Arc”.
Defeated Sanity’s new album ‘Disposal of the Dead / Dharmata’ sits at number 12. The German Technical Death Metal legends are returning with their fifth studio album and it is sounding to be their most ambitious record yet. The band is incorporating a much more progressive approach to their sound and the album bolsters two different sections. If you enjoy metal that is very technical then this album should definitely be on your radar. ‘Disposal of the Dead / Dharmata’ will be released on July 22nd through Willowtip Records. Check out “At One With Wrath”.
At number 11 is ‘Holocaust of Ecstasy & Freedom’ the new album from Finnish Doom Metal band, Cardinals Folly. I first caught wind of this band in 2014 with their second album, ‘Our Cult Continues!’. The band plays a horror themed traditional Doom Metal that can be compared to Reverend Bizarre. If you like this kind of style of Doom Metal, then this is an album for you. ‘Holocaust of Ecstasy & Freedom’ will be released on June 3rd through Shadow Kingdom Records. Check out “Her Twins of Evil”.
The new album from American Black/Death Metal legends Profanatica, ‘The Curling Flame of Blasphemy’ comes in at number 10. With their 2013 album ‘Thy Kingdom Cum’, the band has improved their sound. With their new album, I will be expecting the band to continue their development and would get even better. If you like evil sounding Black Metal that has a nice Death Metal edge to it, this album should be on your mind. ‘The Curling Flame of Blasphemy’ will be released on July 22nd through Hells Headbangers Records. Check out “Ordained in Bile”.
Castle is an Canadian/American Heavy/Doom Metal band and their fourth album ‘Welcome to the Graveyard’ is at number 9. With Elizabeth Blackwell on vocals, the band plays a brand of Doom Metal that’s reminiscent of other female fronted Doom Metal bands (Blood Ceremony, Mount Salem, etc) but instead of the psychedelic or stoner influences, Castle adopts more of a straight edge sound. If you like Doom Metal with female vocals, make sure to check this album out. ‘Welcome to the Graveyard’ will be released on July 15th with Ván Records. Check out “Flash of the Pentagram”.
Australian Black/Death Metal band Denouncement Pyre’s upcoming release ‘Black Sun Unbound’ is number 8. Back in 2014, the band released their second album ‘Almighty Arcanum’ which was one of my favorite Black/Death Metal albums of that year. Now with their new album, the band can potentially provide one of the best albums of the year for that style. If you are a fan of Black/Death Metal, do check this one out. ‘Black Sun Unbound’ will be released on July 22nd through Hells Headbangers Records. Check out “Scars Adorn the Whore in Red”.
At number 7 is the third album from the Russian band Harakiri For The Sky, ‘III:Trauma’. The band plays Post-Black Metal and has released one of my favorite more personal albums of 2014, ‘Aokigahara’. The album was bleak and filled with emotion that was perfect for listening to during the night. With their new album, I am excited to see what the band has in store. Will it be even more bleak and colder? ‘III:Trauma’ will be released on July 22nd through Art of Propaganda. Check out “Calling the Rain”.
At number 6, ‘Temple of Phobos’ is the fourth album from Swedish Death Metal Band, Vanhelgd. The band’s previous album ‘Relics of Sulphur Salvation’ was one of my favorite Death Metal releases of 2014. The band goes beyond the standard tropes of Swedish Death Metal and delivers an album that accurately represents why they are one of the best in the scene. If you like old school Death Metal, then this is an album to look out for. ‘Temple of Phobos’ will be released on June 29th through Pulverized Records. Check out “Rebellion of the Iniquitous”.
For number 5, Kayo Dot is one of the largest names in the Avant-Garde Metal music world. With Toby Driver from Maudlin in the Well, the band has consistently put out albums that are incredibly varied and thought provoking. With the 2013 album “Hubardo” the band has reached new levels of acclaim. Now with another album to add to their discography, their upcoming album ‘Plastic House on Base of Sky’, I can not wait to hear what the band has in store. If you like avant-garde music, this album needs to be on your must listen list. ‘Plastic House on Base of Sky’ will be released on June 24th through The Flenser. Check out “Magnetism”.
Number 4 goes to the new album ‘Sky Exile’ by the American band Vex. Vex plays a style of Death Metal that is equal parts melodic and thrashy. With great guitar leads, solowork, and drumming, the band delivered a superb 2013 album with ‘Memorious’. Now with their third album, I am excited to see what they can offer next. If you like Death Metal that has just the right amount of melody but retains its aggression, then this is an album to look forward to. ‘Sky Exile’ will be released on June 2nd through Eihwaz Recordings. Check out “To Anacreon (Strangling the Muse)”.
Quebec Black Metal has been one of my personal favorite Black Metal scenes. At number 3, we have the first full length album ‘Hallelujah!’ from the Canadian Black Metal band Gevurah. I first caught wind of this band with their 2013 EP ‘Necheshirion’. Gevurah plays a style of Black Metal similar to the Orthodox Scene combining the evil sounds, meditative qualities, and dissonant chord progressions. Fans of Black Metal, do keep in mind of this release. ‘Hallelujah!’ will be released on June 3rd through Profound Lore Records. Check out “Temple Without Form”.
https://soundcloud.com/profoundlorerecords/gevurah-temple-without-form
Continuing with Quebec Black Metal metal, number 2 is the upcoming fifth album ‘Thèmes pour la rébellion’ from the scene legends, Forteresse. The band plays a style of Black Metal that can be described as “romantic” with soaring, elongated melodies, dynamic songwriting style, and a more ambient and softer edge. Forteresse is a band that definitely shows the more majestic and beautiful sides of Black Metal. It’s been five years since their previous album, it’s about time. ‘Thèmes pour la rébellion’ will be released on June 24th through Sepulchral Productions. Check out “Là Où Nous Allons”.
https://soundcloud.com/sepulchralproductions/forteresse-la-ou-nous-allons
At number 1 is the highly anticipated second album from American Death/Doom Metal band Ghoulgotha. ‘To Starve the Cross’ is the follow up to 2015’s fantastic album ‘The Deathmass Cloak’, one of my absolute favorites of 2015. Crushing Death/Doom Metal that embodies great amounts of experimentation, dissonance, polyrhythmic and polychordal songwriting, and fantastic understanding of the genre. With their new album, the band seems to take a more conservative approach but is still able to bolster the qualities displayed on their previous album. ‘To Starve the Cross’ will be released on June 10th through Dark Descent Records. Check out “The Sulphur Age”.
Along with the above 15 albums, I wanted to include these 5 Honorable Mentions.
Ashrbinger– ‘Yūgen’
Ashrbinger is an American Atmospheric Black Metal that recently released their debut album ‘Vacant’ in 2015, a beautiful Black Metal record. Returning with their new album ‘Yūgen’, the project returns as a full band and they will deliver some quality Atmospheric Black Metal. ‘Yūgen’ will be released on June 3rd through Avantgarde Music.
Carnal Tomb- ‘Rotten Remains’
Germany has recently been providing some quality death metal and Carnal Tomb joins those ranks. The Berlin-based band’s upcoming album ‘Rotten Remains’ will be an album for fans of filthy old school Death Metal. Keep an eye out for this band if you like the old school sound. ‘Rotten Remains’ will be released on July 25th through Memento Mori.
Cough- ‘Still They Pray’
American Sludge/Doom Metal Band Cough is returning with a brand new album entitled ‘Still They Pray’. After 6 years of silence, the band is ready to give another heavy offering and dose of filthy and fuzzy Sludge/Doom Metal. Definitely recommended to check out for fans of the band and genre. ‘Still They Pray’ will be released on June 3rd through Relapse Records.
Nocte Obducta- ‘Mogontiacum (Nachdem die Nacht herabgesunken)’
Polish Avant-Garde Black Metal legends Nocte Obducta is offering a brand new album titled ‘Mogontiacum (Nachdem die Nacht herabgesunken)’. Even though this is their 10th album, it’s hard to predict what they will do next. If you like you Black Metal weird and twisted, then this is an album to look out for. ‘Mogontiacum’ will be released on July 8th through MDD Records.
Terra Tenebrosa– ‘The Reverses’
‘The Reverses’ is the upcoming third album of Swedish Avant-Garde Metal Masters, Terra Tenebrosa. The band plays a style composed of Sludge Metal, Post-metal, Black Metal, and other stylistic influences. Their new album will be their first batch of new material since 2013. ‘The Reverses’ will be released on June 17th through Debemur Morti Productions.