#newmusic

Imha Tarikat - Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World (Lupus Lounge)

The Metal Mayan

Nov 25, 2022

Imha Tarikat - Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World (Lupus Lounge)

Since its inception, black metal has long been a style meant to take the listener to a different plain of existence. Sometimes it's to the fires of the underworld, other times it's to a deep forest or a snowcapped mountain. And sometimes, the journey is to an internal battlefield - one where both sides are in a perpetual stalemate despite much destruction over time. It is here where Germany's Imha Tarikat brings audiences with their third length album, Hearts Unchained - At W

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Candlemass - Sweet Evil Sun (Napalm Records)

The Metal Mayan

Nov 20, 2022

Candlemass - Sweet Evil Sun (Napalm Records)

With temperatures dropping below freezing in the northeastern United States but the full force of Mother North still to come, the season is prime for slow, heavy, and epic music. To that point, there could be no better time for legendary masters of doom, Candlemass, to release their latest offering to the masses. The thirteenth album from one of Sweden's finest, Sweet Evil Sun serves as a soundtrack to the last leaves of the year that gracefully fall from the withering forest

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The Metal Mayan

Aug 25, 2022

Fallujah - Empyrean (Nuclear Blast)

Founded 15 years ago, influenced by the likes of Death and Decrepit Birth, and coming to prominence along side bands such as The Faceless and Abiotic, it might be a surprise to think that Fallujah is still a relatively young band. With two of the longest running members barely in their 30's, the San Francisco based progressive tech-death unit still has a long career ahead of them. As a perfect example of the shape of things to come, Empyrean, the band's fifth full length albu

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The Metal Mayan

Aug 25, 2022

Sigh - Shiki (Peaceville)

Whether it is fashion, technology, or, in this case, music, Japan has always been a leader of thinking beyond established rules; experts in shattering the status quo. When it comes to black metal, Tokyo's own Sigh has bent and reshaped the boundaries of the genre for over thirty years. Returning after a four year silence, Shiki pushes the envelope even further with its blend of avant-garde elements and traditional black metal grimness. Around every corner is some element that

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God Is An Astronaut - The Beginning Of The End (Napalm Records)

The Metal Mayan

Jul 23, 2022

God Is An Astronaut - The Beginning Of The End (Napalm Records)

2002 was a curious year in the world of music. The sun was setting on the era of the boy/girl bands, with their place on the charts being replaced by solo artists like Vanessa Carlton and Kelly Clarkson. The rock world was finding a new place between the college friendly music of Jimmy Eat World and the nu-metal grit of Linkin Park. Above all else, the world was given both The Eminem Show and the soundtrack to 8 Mile. Yet, somewhere among all of this, a young post-rock band c

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Besvärjelsen - Atlas (Magnetic Eye Records)

The Metal Mayan

May 22, 2022

Besvärjelsen - Atlas (Magnetic Eye Records)

The uniqueness of any heavy metal band can be argued as one part nature, one part nurture. To be specific, the nature is in reference to the sub-genre (black, doom, death, etc.), while the nurture is how the sub-genre is influenced by the world around the band. With this in mind, while the nature of stoner doom metal dates back to metal's infancy, Swedish quintet Besvärjelsen are an outstanding band in the sub-genre thanks in large part to their surroundings. Hailing from Dal

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Undeath - It's Time...To Rise from the Grave (Prosthetic Records)

The Metal Mayan

Apr 22, 2022

Undeath - It's Time...To Rise from the Grave (Prosthetic Records)

At a time when many bands are moving toward minimalism as far as packaging and presentation, it is easy to long for the days of the past. When one would browse the record store racks and find hidden gems based on the incredible cover art that said 'listen to me, I dare you'. Many a metalhead surely discovered classic records like Don't Break the Oath by Merciful Fate or Matando Gueros by Brujeria in this manner. Recognizing this pillar of metal, Rochester quintet Undeath have

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Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain (Nuclear Blast)

The Metal Mayan

Apr 8, 2022

Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain (Nuclear Blast)

It could be argued that black metal is the absinthe of the metal world. It's not for everyone, some try it once and a while to experience it, and then there are those who swear by it. To that point, if black metal is the musical equivalent of a bottle of 'the Green Fairy', then Watain is easily among its finest brands Returning after four years with The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain, the Swedish trio (who actually recorded this album as a six piece) have conjured a majestic blend

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Meshuggah - Immutable (Atomic Fire Records)

The Metal Mayan

Apr 2, 2022

Meshuggah - Immutable (Atomic Fire Records)

Reflecting on the infinite number of sub-genres in heavy metal music, only a select few can be directly attributed to one particular band. Venom defined "black metal" in 1982 with an album of the same name, and Possessed coined the term "death metal" in the title of the closing track to 1985's Seven Churches. However, metal historians argue that these bands gave a name to the genre, but were not alone in shaping it in the early years. In contrast, over the past 35 years, Mesh

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The Metal Mayan

Feb 1, 2022

Amorphis - Halo (Atomic Fire Records)

There is something about the sound of Finnish metal bands that so perfectly captures their homeland's spirit of nature and wonder. Nightwish shows us the beauty of the northern lights in winter, Korpiklanni brings small, old world villages to life, and Children of Bodom took us for a run with the wolves in the night before their untimely disbandment. Like their countryfolk, Amorphis has done these things and more for over 30 years and have returned once again to bring the voi

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