KING YOSEF - SPIRE OF FEAR (Bleakhouse)

Among the very few willing and dexterous enough to bridge industrial and hardcore with with fluidity and authenticity, King Yosef has again outpaced his contemporaries with Sphere of Fear. Showcasing hardcore DNA with a throbbing, electronic pulse, the album is a potent concoction of pummeling percussion, urgent glitch and assaultive electronic elements that strike like a molotov. Having the audacity to fuse the hostility of hardcore everything from EBM, downtempo and Y2K-era metal, Yosef's ability to merge those worlds seamlessly makes Spire of Fear something extra special. 

CHEVELLE - BRIGHT AS BLASPHEMY (Alchemy Recordings)

Multi-platinum selling rock powerhouse Chevelle delivered their first offering of new music in over four years with the unveiling of Bright As Blasphemy. Anchored by the single "Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)" and "Jim Jones (Cowards, Pt. 2)" Chevelle has repositioned themselves as one of rock music's most proven, consistent contributors. Defined by a rock heavy cadence fueled with aggressive guitars, powerful percussion and a convincing vocals, Chevelle remains the archetype of contemporary rock. 

INCITE - SAVAGE NEW TIMES (Reigning Phoenix Music)

Desert thrash groove amalgam Incite have submitted a proper homage to the heyday heft that inspired the band with Savage New Times. Led by Richie Cavalera, the riffs range from sludgy to proper shred on an album that sources various elements of heft to hit hard. Along with the oversight of producer Steve Evetts and Arthur Rizk, Incite has gone from battle-proven road dogs to studio sharp on an album that works well in your speakers and on the stage. 

BAEST - COLOSSAL (Century Media)

On their fourth full length, Danish metal horde BAEST wield a heavy sword indicative of an album titled, Colossal. While the crush of the tracks is in line with the band's previous catalog, there is a healthy dose of groove on this record that is impossible to ignore. There is a swagger to songs like like "Stormbringer," "Light the Beacons" and "Depraved World" that transcends heavy and and really showcases the full range of the band. Ace musicianship, competent songwriting and style points for days... BAEST nailed it.  

STREET SECTS/ STREET SEX - DRY DRUNK & FULL COLOR ECLIPSE (Compulsion Records)

For their first full length in seven years, industrial noise duo Street Sects have merged the concepts of the double album and the alter ego to work out their creative itch in a very ambitious way. On Dry Drunk, harsh vocals, urgent electronics and a relentless thud comprise the band's more volatile side. Taking on the moniker of Street Sex, the album Full Color Eclipse offers contrast with warmer tones, synth-pop stylings and vocals without distortion asserting the brighter side of the duo. Equally powerful as prolific, Leo Ashline and Shaun Ringsmuth have made the extended layoff worth the wait with a return that asserts their full range.