ARCH ENEMY - BLOOD DYNASTY (Century Media Records)
Swedish metal titans Arch Enemy have issued a resounding statement of their continued durability and musical prowess on their 12th full length studio album, Blood Dynasty. The signature sound of one of metal's most definitive bands is at full force with Michael Amott's towering guitars and the unmatched vocal prowess of Alissa White-Gluz comprising a metal masterclass throughout. Showcasing a wide range of influences from power metal to the timeless metallic melody of the Swedish signature, Arch Enemy is undeniable in their modern era.
DEAFHEAVEN - LONELY PEOPLE WITH POWER (Roadrunner Records)
The Bay area aggressors in Deafheaven have expanded the boundaries of their cinematic heft on Lonely People with Power - building on the foundation established with 2021's acclaimed Infinite Granite. For the band's latest installment, contributions from Jae Matthews of Boy Harsher and Paul Banks of Interpol helped vault the latest showing as arguably Deafheaven's most ambitious. Shifting from ethereal to chaotic, Lonely People With Power manages to give a healthy sheen to a caustic, abrasive sound in a way that prioritizes sophistication over the spectacle of extreme music.
JIVEBOMB - ETHEREAL (Flatspot Records)
Baltimore hardcore firebrand Jivebomb have rightfully climbed the ranks quickly since first arriving on the scene in 2021 and earning the subsequent acclaim of their 2022 EP, Primitive Desires. With the hype affirmed by the band's persistent work ethic and the continued groundswell of converts stemming from Jivebomb's electric live set, the emerging collective is poised to have a breakout year and their Flatspot Records' full length debut offers emphatic proof. With Ben Greenberg of Uniform overseeing the project, Jivebomb's incendiary meld of punk antagonism and hardcore delivery offer a healthy representation of the diverse sound and robust health of contemporary heft.
SAVAGE MASTER - DARK & DANGEROUS ( Shadow Kingdom Records)
In the vein of pillars like Angel Witch and Satan, heavy occult is executed with power and precision on album five from Savage Master. In addition to a commanding show from vocalist Stacey Savage, the galloping pace of the riffs on the album are intoxicating. And if that wasn't enough, the soaring solos and electric leads on tracks like "When the Twilight Meets the Dawn" and "The Edge of Evil" are definitive of a modern era heavy metal record. Debaucherous, dominate and dazzling both on record and in real life, Savage Master dares to make metal fun again.
ALIEN WEAPONRY - TE RĀ (Napalm Records)
International groove metal force Alien Weaponry build their multi-cultural metallic assault on their latest, Te Rā. The Maori collective teams with celebrated producer Josh Wilbur to maximize their massive sound. Along with the potent combination of the trio's big instrumentation and hefty composition - bridging important themes with an aggressive soundtrack - the band get significant cosign in the form of a feature from Randy Blythe of the mighty Lamb of God.
