PUSCIFER - NORMAL ISN'T (Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings)
The creative collective of Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell and Carina Round as Puscifer have confirmed the February 6th arrival of their first new full length studio album in five years, Normal Isn't. An exploration of the band's post-punk foundation, the latest collection of music combines fearless experimentation with veteran songwriting expertise to showcase the immense artistic breadth of Puscifer. Living up to Keenan's early assessment of the album's intersection of goth and punk, NORMAL ISN'T offers quality craftsmanship throughout.
NIGHT OF THE VAMPIRE - THE ENCHANTING WINDS OF THE DREAMWEAVING MASQUERADE (Profound Lore)
The alluring amalgam of black metal and darkwave makes for a fascinating finished product on the debut full length from Night of the Vampire. Stylized macabre, the meld of synth, electronic percussion, frosty vocals and metallic distortion create a theatric soundtrack that is as catchy as it can be dark. Audaciously embracing and refining the soundclash, the first full length suggests that Night of the Vampire have only just scratched the surface.
KARNIVOOL - IN VERSES (Cymatic Records/Sony Music)
Perth heavy progressives Karnivool have submitted their fourth full length album, In Verses - an effort more than a decade in the making. The album was completed with the help of longtime collaborator Forrester Savell and marks the band's first full length studio release since their lauded 2013 full length, Asymmetry. Despite that fact, the band show no rust, but rather, emerge with a obvious refocus that results in well-assembled heft that touts serious technicality and a well-honed ear that can only come from experience. Heavy music, elevated. In Verses proves well worth the wait.
MAYHEM - LITURGY OF DEATH (Century Media)
Comprised of core members Necrobutcher, Hellhammer along with conspiring guitarists Ghul and Teloch plus the vocal command of Csihar, there is a consistency to the modern era of Mayhem that becomes apparent in the quality of their work. As the most enduring iteration of one of black metal's most infamous collectives, Mayhem remain evergreen with their ability to craft catharticm visceral black metal, however their level of refinement is such that skill and precision are now more talking points than spectacle and sensation. Purists might hate, but contemporary Mayhem dare to move the culture of black metal forward.
CYCLONE BE - KNOWN UNTO GOD (M-Theory)
Having shelved the project for more than a generation, Cyclone was among Belgium's early thrash exports that roared with underground buzz during the late 80's and early 90's heyday. Going dormant for some three decades, the core members in singer Guido Gevels and guitarist Stefaan Daamen emerged reinvigorated by new blood among the band, rediscovering their affinity to hard, loud and fast thrash executed with impressive precision. Underscoring the timelessness of the genre, Cyclone's brand of thrash is as towering as it is triumphant.
