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POWER TRIP – Manifest Decimation (2013)

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You know that feeling you get when you’re waiting for a band to start playing? You know the one…the apprehension felt while idling in the front of a packed show in a small, run down, poorly air-conditioned venue?  Standing sandwiched and wedged in between bodies with a sweat coming off of you so thick that you’re stuck to the stranger in front of you. Your body heat is radiating off in droves, and your adrenaline starts pumping to your heart at maximum speed and velocity.  Aggression and ruthlessness fill the room mere seconds before the band begins to play. The calm before the storm. All those memories flood back to the mind as soon as the needle hits this record. From the first track to the last track and each one in between; Manifest Decimation strikes with an unrelenting vengeance, crossover at its absolute best.

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Spiritual Beggars – Earth Blues (2013)

Many of you know Michael Amott from legendary bands Carcass and Arch Enemy. However, what many of you may not know is that around the time he founded Arch Enemy, he founded a very different project called Spiritual Beggars. Moreover, this project has been active ever since. Earth Blues, their eighth album, displays its influence right on the album title. So how does this fare? Is it a failure and should Amott stick with what we know him by? No. Not at all.

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Orchid – The Mouths of Madness (2013)

Orchid has been making some waves in this whole old school revival movement. After putting out an EP and LP on indie doom label The Church Within Records, Nuclear Blast snapped them up quickly. This album is their first full length for the label, and with the old school revival movement picking up steam (and with older bands finally getting noticed) Orchid now has a real fight on their hands. Do they succeed?

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Blood Ceremony – The Eldritch Dark (2013)

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When a brain is dying, DMT (one of the most powerful psychedelics) is released in the brain. This allows perception of time to be altered. This experience allows you to live inside your own mind for hours, or even days. It allows you to hallucinate, both auditory and visual. The Eldritch Dark almost acts like sound wave version of DMT. Visions of sorcery, witchcraft, folklore, and horror fill the senses as The Eldritch Dark begins to spin.

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Kaledon – Altor: The King’s Blacksmith (2013)

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There has to be something in the Italian waters!  Long time Italian Symphonic Power Metal masters Kaledon return with another slice of Symphonic Power Metal goodness called, “Altor: The Kings Blacksmith”. Though not necessarily a direct continuation of the previous 6 releases, this could conceivably be a follow on to the Kaledon story/concept. It is the story of a character called Altor, who becomes the blacksmith for King Antillius in the kingdom of Kaledon.

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Kobra And The Lotus – Kobra And The Lotus (2013)

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Roaring out of the Great White North. Specifically Alberta, Calgary, Canada. Comes, Kobra And The Lotus with their sophomore release, the self titled “Kobra And The Lotus”. This release, is a huge step up from their first release, “Into The Pit”.  From the songwriting, to the massive production shine. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the band has matured over time due to heavy touring, and more than likely the mere fact of the involvement of one Gene Simmons of Kiss fame discovering them and signing them to his label imprint under the Universal Music Group label.
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Immolation – Kingdom of Conspiracy (2013)

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This year, Immolation releases their newest full-length, Kingdom of Conspiracy. This band is a death metal colossus. They stand as one of the most influential bands, and this album is nothing short of their legacy. This band has been smart about their progression; their composition hasn’t changed much, but they have become more mature with their songwriting. This more dynamic Immolation continues to break barriers in music, with this album as proof.

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Joel Grind – The Yellowgoat Sessions (2013)

The voice behind the Toxic Holocaust is Joel Grind, the frontman and founder of the band has branched out and is releasing “The Yellowgoat Sessions.” This is the first album of his solo project.  Now for fans of Toxic Holocaust know that ”The Yellowgoat Sessions” is not just more Toxic Holocaust songs under a different name but something totally different.  The infusion of punk, black metal and less thrash would be the major influences on this album.  As always rough raw recording gives Joel that gritty sound that we’ve all grown to love.

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Howl – Bloodlines (2013)

You know, Howl is a great band. Full of Hell was actually a pretty good doom record, and I can only imagine how that translated live. However, their search for the almighty riff has taken quite a different turn this time around. There’s definitely less stoner metal here and more headbanging. It’s as if they traded a hash pipe for some good old beer. But the question remains: is the maximum rockage any good?

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Shining – One One One (2013)

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Blackjazzers Shining are back to form once again back with their newest offering One One One. Hailing from Norway Shining (not to be confused with the Depressive Black Metal unit also by the same name from Sweden) originally started out as an acoustic jazz band they have since progressed forward into more experimentation and extreme music. With One One One Shining has fleshed out their sound making it a bit more straight forward while still retaining their raw chaotic nature.

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