NEW MUSIC OUT TODAY: 6/10/2008

Executive Editor Brandon Geist’s quick takes on the shitload of new albums hitting record stores on this day of our lord, June 10, 2008:

B’S PICK: Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Pt.1 (Century Media)
Hopefully you’ve read the rave lead review of this killer psychedelic-black-metal record in Revolver’s July issue already. It don’t lie.







Agenda of Swine - Waves of Human Suffering (Relapse) 

Members of Benumb + members of Vulgar Pigeons = eh.

The Banner - Frailty (Ferret) 

When I interviewed editorial assistant Val for the job back in early May or whenever the fuck it was, I asked her who were some of her favorite bands, and the first band she named was Jersey horror-sludgecore mutants the Banner. Needless to say, she got the gig.

Bleed the Sky - Murder the Dance (Nuclear Blast) 

I see the word “bleed” in the band name. Could this be…oh, let’s say, metalcore?

Bonded By Blood - Feed the Beast (Earache)

Thrash revival continues. But as per usual, the originals were better, which is why I suggest listening to the Exodus record these guys are named after, instead.

Carcass - Heartwork (Earache)

You have this album already, right?

Decapitated - Human's Dust DVD (Metal Mind)

Vitek, R.I.P.

Dope - No Regrets (Koch)
Dope? Nope.

Elysia - Lion of Judas (Ferret)

Very pissed-off-sounding deathcore from a bunch of Cali kids not even old enough to drink yet. I guess I was pissed off then, too.

Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry (Metal Blade) 

I know a lot of folks (see, nerds) love this shit, but I just really can’t get into most “progressive metal” or “progressive rock.” That said, Fates Warning are some of the forefathers.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Drift and When the Storm Comes Down (Metal Mind)

Doomsday for the Deceiver is really the only Flotsam and Jetsam record you need.

God Forbid - Beneath the Scars of Glory and Progression DVD (Century Media)

It’s so very hard to write about this without making a “black metal” joke…oh, so hard…

Gorgoroth - Black Mass Krakow 2004 DVD (Metal Mind)

Crucified naked models in black hoods and drenched in blood (one of whom allegedly fainted mid-show), about 500 sheep heads on stakes and scattered around onstage, pyro, spikes, buckets of corpse paint, all the footage caught up in legal wrangling for years…really, what’s not to love about this shit?

Grave - Dominion VIII (Regain) 

These guys are still making records?

Scott Hull - Requiem (Relapse)

Pig Destroyer/Agoraphobic Nosebleed’s guitarrorist goes ambient. The result? Sounds like me, snoring.

Hypocrisy - Catch 22 V2.0.08 (Nuclear Blast) and Penetralia (Metal Mind)

Two reissues from the long-running Swedish death-metal tyrants. Penetralia’s the good one.

Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus (Nuclear Blast) 

Sweet melodic black metal from Norway.

Moonspell - Night Eternal (SPV)

Promotions director Mario, who moonlights as DJ Mario Ember on Sirius Hard Attack, recently told me that he once accidentally referred to Moonspell on air as Poonsmell. That really says it all.

Rev Theory - Light It Up (Interscope)
Hell no.

Romans - All Those Wrists (Blackmarket Activities)

Solid jackhammer noisecore with the speed and brevity of grindcore.

Terror - The Damned, the Shamed (Century Media)

Like it says on my sweatpants, MOSH!!!!!!

Tyr - Land (Napalm)

Vikings making epic Pagan metal.

Unleashed - Hammer Battalion (SPV) 

More Vikings, making crushing death metal. Whatever happened to good ol’ raping and pillaging?