Hey, some stuff happened and things transpired and metal kept us all sane. Or at least it should be. Here’s some new stuff that came out this week that should feel good in your empty ears.

NEW STUFF: (Click them links)

Overkill – The Grinding Wheel
Since Ironbound in 2010, Overkill has been on fucking fire with each release after seeing Overkill doing what they do best, which is snarky, east coast flavored, punk infused thrash, and The Grinding Wheel is just that, but turned up even more, if that’s a possible thing to do for Overkill. They’ve brought back more of the punk attitude and style that was played down a bin on the past too and cranked the thrash. Surprisingly they got a little Candlemass-ish doom-y on the finale, something I’ve never heard from Overkill before, and of course, they crush it.

Most bands who’ve been in the game this long have fizzled out creativity or subside solely on nostalgia. It’s good to see an long running band still burning that fire and schooling everybody in the process. If you’ve ever seen them live, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Nothington – In the End
Ever since Nothington ditched the Social Distortion rip off style they’ve put out nothing but consistently good pop-punk records. I’m addicted to their blue-collar, down to earth punk rock vibe and goddamn if they can’t right some of the catchiest tunes. Simple, fun, good punk rock.

Horn – Turm am Hang
I didn’t have a doubt in my mind that this new album was going to be excellent, such is the weight of Horn’s output that it leaves me with little doubt about the quality of any release. And yeah, it’s fucking amazing. This is a more atmospheric, folk inspired album than the previous, Feldpost, the World War I themed album (which was also amazing) but just as intense and memorable. This album is a fucking mountain of beauty. The whole thing is just covered in melodic atmospheric mastery and it’s wonderful. Excellent band. Just amazing.

Crystal Viper – Queen of the Witches
I stopped following this band an album or two ago but I’ve seen some good things about this new album and I recall really liking one or two of their albums so here we go again. Crystal Viper play pretty forward, dirty power metal with no frills or fuss and that style is seeming to have a bit of a resurgence so it’s nice to see a band back who was doing it when nobody gave a shit. As always Marta Gabriel’s Leather Leon dirty punked up voice is top notch and the band is rocking as usual. This pretty solid effort, better then some of their albums, but decent all around. Also the Grim Reaper cover of “See you in Hell” is pretty fun.

Cnoc An Tursa – The Forty Five 
Their previous album was a bit of a mixed bag. It was full of awesomely folk/pagan inspired black metal but then dude came in with his hardcore style vocals all over the place and it rendered the album, for me, almost unlistenable. But the instrumentation was so killer. This time around the lead singer has ditched the tough guys vocals and has moved into a more black metal style vocal which makes it all the more listenable and really lets the music shine. It does kind of sound like Saor worship, in fact the vocals are similar and that’s probably due to the band being Saor’s live band. Either way, this is a step up for the band and an all around solid second album.

OTHER JAMS:

Onward – The Neverending Sun
Confessor – Condemned
Confessor – Confessor EP
Varaha – Varaha EP
Conqueror – Ware Cult Supremacy
Death Worship – Extermination Mass
Paramaecium – Exhumed of the Earth
Lurker of Chalice – Lurker of Chalice
Chuck Ragan – Till Midnight
Rebel Wizard – Invocation of the Miserable Ones
The Everdawn – Poems – Burn the Past
Cardinal Sin – Spiteful Intents
Fear of God – Within the Veil
Vinterland – Welcome My Last Chapter
The Moaning – Blood From Stone
Westering – Help a Body
Westering – Joy
Ved Buens Ende -Written in Waters

Until next time, make mine metal.