A Mid-Week Feast Of New Music For Your Delectation.

De La Tierra

That this sounds something like a cross between latter-day Sepultura, Ill Nino and the slightly obscure "No Coração Dos Deuses" soundtrack, shouldn't come as a big surprise as this group features none other than Mr Andreas Kisser on guitar / vocals. This is essentially Modern / Groove Metal with a Hispanic twist and is a pretty decent album. Saying that though, there isn't much variation here and this record may struggle to hold your attention. Also at back of your mind night be that niggling feeling that you've heard this done before. Better. A decade ago. It is still well worth a listen for fans of Sepultura, Soulfly and Ill Nino. Oh, and it is, rather unsurprisingly, released through Roadrunner Records. If this combination doesn't sound appealing to you, then it's probably best to give this a wide berth.

Edguy

Another week, another Power Metal band. As I have previously mentioned, this sub genre isn't generally my cup of cake, but I listened to what some of you said about the lack of Power Metal on this 'ere blog. So, here you go, a new song from Tobias Sammet and crew. And shock, horror, this isn't too bad. I really find myself drawn to the artwork more than anything else. Not your typical Power Metal fare, it is more reminiscent of bands like Yes, Asia, Magnum and even Praying Mantis. This album is also thematically atypical for the genre, being more based in Sci-Fi than in wizards, goblins and suchlike. But is it any good (I hear you say)? Actually, yes. It is. Edguy have seemingly become bored with following conventions as this is more in Trad / Heavy Metal territory  - high pitched vocals aside - with some crunchy guitars and more than a few Saxon / Maiden-esque moments. That's not to say that it doesn't sail adrift on the seas of cheese on occasion, but that is only to be expected. If you are already a fan of Edguy, this can't fail to please and if you're not, I'd recommend giving it a chance.

Killer Be Killed

Ah, that dreaded compound word, "Supergroup". As we are all very much aware, Supergroups cover the whole spectrum from the good (Down), the bad (Hellyeah) and the not bad (Adrenaline Mob), but more often than not they are less than the sum of their parts and are just vanity projects. So, where do Killer Be Killed come on the scale? Well, the band features key members of such illustrious acts as Soulfly (Max Cavalera), Dillinger Escape Plan (Greg Puciato), Mastodon (Troy Sanders) and The Mars Volta (Dave Elitch), so it can't fail. Can it? Of course not. Musically it's all over the place, ranging from Punk, Thrash and Hardcore through to Doom and Alternative, but they manage to pull it off with style. Personally, I think this is just brilliant! Judge for yourself.

Insomnium

Finnish Melodic Death Metal legends, Insomnium return with their sixth album and it's business as usual. Technically, this is standard Insomnium fare, but in truth, the word "standard" doesn't really apply to this band. Although it is typically cold, precise and Finnish in its sound - and therefore an acquired taste - you can't really go wrong when you write songs as good as this. If the likes of Amorphis, Before The Dawn, Ghost Brigade, Omnuim Gatherum and the likes feature in your record collection, you already know that you are going to enjoy this collection of songs and it  should be as welcome as enjoying a pint in the pub with an old friend.

Menace

Menace is a side-project of Napalm Death's Mitch Harris. That's the factual statement out of the way, as that really is completely irrelevant. This has absolutely nothing in common with his day job and with its string arrangements, vocal harmonies and sugary melodies, this band has delivered an album closer in sound to the ethereal, other-wordly Prog Rock stylings of Crosses, Anathema and Ascension Of The Watchers.