Upcoming Metal: Week of May 4th
We here at Frozen Moon Promotions get so many (and we me SOOOO many) album reviews that it’s hard for us to cover every single release we receive in full, in-depth detail like we’d like to each week. To fix this, we are starting a weekly review section called Upcoming Metal. With this, we can cover many up and coming or independent artists, letting you know our thoughts on the release in a short review, our score, and where you can pick the album up if you wanna check it out.
Lacabra
Lacabra
May 6th on M-Theory Audio
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
On the band’s self-titled debut, Seattle’s Lacabra deliver an awesome combination of progressive and melodic death metal, intertwined with metalcore and groove metal. Think Kataklysm meets Trivium, with a dash of DevilDriver. Though some of the riffs can be a bit formulaic at times, and some songs just being “ok” or nothing making them standout, the album may grow over time and repeat listens. But I see a lot of potential on where this band could go on their second album.
SCORE: 3.5 / 5
Victim Path
Lost in Stellar Dust
May 6th on Fetzner Death Records
Genre: Black Metal
Belarus’ Victim Path release their second album to a barrage of classic sounding black metal and moments of melodic black that any Dissection fan would be a fan of. Though the music can be good at times, the band seems lost in itself with the direction musically. Not sure if Lost in Stellar Dust wants to be blackened folk or doom, progressive metal, melodic black metal, or heavy metal, which messes with the pacing of the album. Though a decent record overall, a better scope would have helped the record rise to its full potential.
SCORE: 2.5 / 5
Lloth
Archees Legeones (Ancient Legions)
May 9th on Theogonia Records
Genre: Melodic Black/Death Metal
Greece’s Lloth captures a strong and promising melodic death metal sound from the opening moments of “Angel Wings”. Almost a symphonic/folky version of Amon Amarth. Strong Viking Metal vibes throughout the whole album and a good, deep guttural performance, with some nice clean vocals by Nicolas Sic Maiis. Solid record that hits all the check marks of really good melodic death metal. Worth a listen if you are a fan of bands like Rotting Christ and Nightfall.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Bangover
Hibernation Devastation
May 9th independently
Genre: Thrash Metal
Straightforward thrash act Bangover deliver a nice, chugging, crossover thrash album Hibernation Devastation. Delivering a barrage of hi-octane, fist-pumping and d-beat drumming that could come off any modern day thrash act like Midnight or Municipal Waste. Giving off nostalgic vibes on the riff “Scum of The Earth” & “The Banshee” that sounds straight out of the Bay-Area thrash scene. Specifically Exodus and Testament. I’m keeping an eye on this band for future releases, cause this was a true banger of an album.
SCORE: 4.5 / 5
Cocaine Culture
Cocaine Culture
May 9th on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Genre: Blackened Doom/Death/Sludge Metal
The debut album from Illinois’ Cocaine Culture, the album is a mutated amalgamation of multiple genres just in the opening of the song “Ritual Abuse”. From gurgly vocals, a beatdown hardcore guitar beat, and sludgy complex drum patterns. Throughout the album, the band’s hybrid sound has its hits (“Home Surgery” & “Flesh Vice”) and an occasional whiff (“Prelude”), but overall a good record and a heavy and unique debut.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Ominous Ruin
Requiem
May 9th on Willowtip Records
Genre: Technical Brutal Death Metal
The second album from tech-deathers Ominous Ruin, shows off the new vocalist Crystal Rose on the album. A sonic bombardment of blasts, chugs and intricate riffs, this was a damn pleasure to listen to. Especially for fans of Cryptopsy, Origin and Archspire. With truly complex and dynamic riffs by Alex Bacey and Joel Guernsey, this record slaps so hard and could rival Cytotoxin’s new album as the potential tech-death album of the year for me. Highly recommend if you want to enjoy this band firing on all cylinders and going for the throat and not ending until you are dead and wanna spin the record all over again.
SCORE: 5 / 5
