If there's one thing that makes me happy, it's when a melodeath band has balls, just like Ignominious Incarceration. It almost sounds like Amon Amarth meets Suffocation.
1) Avarice 2) Deeds of Days Long Gone 3) Elegance in Aggression 4) Saviour 5) Of Winter Born 6) Solitude 7) Dynasty Damnation 8) Tide of Pestilence 9) In the Face of Absolution 10) Elusion of Mortality
Every year a bunch of old-school bands who haven't been active in ages release their "comeback" album, which usually ends up not being so great *coughmetallicacough*. This time, we have Brutal Truth's first full-length album in 12 years. Fortunately, this album is far from being called a piece of crap. Evolution Through Revolution features the same fast, aggressive, politically-driven grindcore that made Brutal Truth famous in the 90s.
1) Sugardaddy 2) Turmoil 3) Daydreamer 4) On the Hunt 5) Fist in Mouth 6) Get a Therapist, Spare the World 7) War is Good 8) Evolution Through Revolution 9) Powder Burn 10) Attack Dog 11) Branded 12) Detached 13) Global Good Guy 14) Humpty Finance 15) Semi-Automatic Carnation 16) Itch 17) Afterworld 18) Lifer 19) Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs 20) Grind Fidelity
Centaurus-A is a new death metal band on Listenable Records. Their debut Side Effects Expected is one of my favorite albums released this year. Centaurus-A, just like every other tech death band, shows extreme influence from Necrophagist, especially in the solos. However, these guys bring something else to the table: their brand of tech death is infused with a healthy dosage of thrash.
1) The Praying Mantis 2) Narcotic 3) Drop Off 4) Morning Tremble 5) The Ease 6) Incident/Accident 7) Arson 8) Dripping Red Canvas 9) Selfmade Cage 10) Resistance Ain't Futile
If I had to describe Russian Circles with one word, it would be groovy. Yea, I said groovy...what the hell? Anyway, Russian Circles is an instrumental band, playing post-rock with a little bit of a sludgy edge to it. Here's there latest album, Station.
1) Campaign 2) Harper Lewis 3) Station 4) Verses 5) Youngblood 6) Xavii
Once again, the Italians prove their extraordinary skill when it comes to death metal. Fleshgod Apocalypse is a relatively new band, with Oracles as their debut album. These guys aren't exactly your normal brutal death metal band. There's classical interludes scattered throughout the album and the guitar work is undoubtedly influenced a great deal by classical music. It almost seems as if Fleshgod Apocalypse could be classified neoclassical death metal.
1) In Honour of Reason 2) Post-Enlightenment Executor 3) As Tyrants Fall 4) Sophistic Demise 5) Requiem in SI Minore 6) At The Guillotine 7) Embodied Deception 8) Infection Of The White Throne 9) Retrieving My Carcass 10) Oracles
So Paco de Lucia is basically a living god. His album Zyryab combines a traditional style of flamenco with jazz fusion, creating a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. Jazz pianist Chick Corea plays on the title track and "Almonte" and flamenco guitarist Manolo Sanlucar plays on "Compadres."
1) Soniquete 2) Tío Sabas 3) Chick 4) Compadres 5) Zyryab 6) Canción de Amor 7) Playa del Carmen 8) Almonte