New Release Highlights: 4th August 2017

Band: Accept
Album: The Rise of Chaos
Genre: Trad Metal

German veterans, Accept have actually managed to pull of the (almost) impossible by reforming in 2009 without vocalist Udo Dirkschneider who had been in the band since 1976 and doing so successfully. Actually, the band are more successful now than they have ever been, with the three albums released since the reformation actually being their best selling albums to date. That brings us neatly to new album, The Rise of Chaos. Don't expect any new tricks from these old dogs, however. This is still very much the balls to the wall Metal that Accept are so damn good at. That a band can still be releasing albums this good after over 40 years is astonishing. Another solid Accept release.

Track: The Rise of Chaos

Band: Shade Empire
Album: Poetry of the Ill-minded
Genre: Symphonic Melodic Death / Black

Inevitable comparisons have been made to Greek Symphonic Death Metal masters, Septic Flesh, but although there are definitely similarities, Shade Empire bring a little Finnish flair to the party, along with a horn section (a la Sear Bliss), which lends the album a lot of atmosphere. There is some blinding musicianship to be found here, with the band really utilising some beautiful keyboards, subtle soft guitars and spoken word samples to offset the thundering brutality of the rhythm section and the harsh vocals. If you're a fan of the genre then chances are that you are already familiar with Shade Empire, but if not, Poetry of the Ill-minded isn't a bad place to start.

Track: Anti Life Saviour

Band: Thor
Album: Beyond the Pain Barrier
Genre: Heavy Metal

Ok, so this isn't exactly a highlight, but it deserves a place on this list for being so ludicrous! Beyond the Pain Barrier is, unbelievably, the 18th album from Canadian buffoon, (Jon) Thor, a former body builder who has been recording terrible Heavy Metal since 1977, which is actually an achievement in itself. If you want an idea of the how the band sounds, imagine an even more ridiculous Manowar, just without the musical or vocal talent. To be fair, there are some half decent song ideas on here, but unfortunately that's all they are as the pedestrian playing, sub-par singing and dated production scupper any chance of them being fully realised. Despite it being on this blog post, this is actually probably best avoided.

Track: The Calling