New Release Highlights: Feb 14th 2020

Ok guys and guyettes, despite there being a lot of Metal / Rock releases this week, there are just a small number which I reckon are worth spending your time (and energy) on, and one of these is a single.

Ihsahn - Telemark EP

Now I'm sure that the vast majority of you are already aware of who Ihsahn is, but for those that aren't, he is most known and respected, for being the frontman / song writer for Norwegian Black Metal legends, Emperor. Now, while I am an admirer of the man's work in the aforementioned band, I will admit that I haven't found the vast majority of his solo output to be to my tastes, so I was naturally cautious when it came to his latest release. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to hear his most consistent and heaviest work since the Emperor days, albeit it with the now prerequisite saxophones / horns.

Hatebreed - When the Blade Drops (Single)

I can only assume that when Hatebreed released their previous album, 2016's The Concrete Confessional, frontman Jamey Jasta was in a bad place, personally, as the overall vibe was dark and negative, which is far removed from the usual Hatebreed attitude of self-belief and positivity. When the Blade Drops obviously isn't an upbeat, radio-friendly pop ditty, but it is a punchy, groove-laden Hardcore track and that is exactly what you want from Hatebreed, right?

Kvelertak - Splid

A decade ago (really??), Norwegian rockers, Kvelertak blew my mind with their exciting and energetic self-titled debut album, which seamlessly blended Metal, Punk, Rock 'n' Roll and more to create an eclectic and completely unique style all of their own. Sadly, the two albums which followed failed to capture the same magic and I lost interest. That has all changed on Splid, the band's fourth album. Here the lads have rediscovered what made them great in the first place. It might not be reinventing the wheel as far as Kvelertak's sound is concerned, but Splid is exactly what I want from the band and it still stands out from the crowd. Great success!

New Release Highlights: 7th Feb 2020

This is the first of what I am hoping will be weekly blog posts, which will do as it says in the title and focus on the best (in my opinion) and most relevant of the week's new Metal / Rock releases. I won't necessarily have had chance to listen to everything in advance, so I apologise for any lack of quality control. This week's crop is, interestingly, a collection of legendary bands who have all been doing to rounds for many, many years. I have listened them all too. Enjoy!

Sepultura - Quadra

The Brazilian legends release their 15th album this week. Most of you will have already seen my review of this album and will be aware of my thoughts on it, so I won't say any more here, other than this is the album of the week for me.

Napalm Death - Logic Ravaged by Brute Force

Enduring Brummies, Napalm Death are back after a few years of relative silence, with new single, Logic Ravaged by Brute Force. I know that enduring is usually used a metaphor for a band which has seen better days, but I'm using it as a positive. These boys have been around the block for the best part of 4 decades and can still deliver the goods. 

Green Day - Father of all Motherfuckers

Over the past 15 - 20 years Green Day have naturally and organically adopted a more mainstream sound. I have never been a big fan, but Green Day have earned the right to be mentioned on this post, by very virtue of their longevity and continuing popularity. Also because I think this album is rather bloody good! Bonus points too for the title.

Sepultura - Quadra review

Band: Sepultura
Album: Quadra
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release date: 7th February 2020
Rating: 10/10

I'm sure some of you remember how highly I rated Sepultura's previous album, Machine Messiah, when it was released 3 years ago. Well, I am pleased to say that Quadra is better. Much better.

Quadra is easily the most complete and well-rounded album ever released under the Sepultura name and it has everything you would expect from these grizzled veterans, from technical lead guitars and "tribal" drums to guttural roars and crushingly heavy riffs, but at the same time it is the sound of an ever-evolving band taking yet another huge evolutionary leap forward in terms of experimentation. On the first three tracks, in-your-face, full-on Thrash is the order of the day, before the tribal drums, strings and choral vocals are thrown into the mix and that's when things get really interesting. Andreas and Paulo are, of course, ever reliable, but it's Derrick's career-best vocal performance and the colossal drumming of "new boy" Eloy, along with the flawless Jens Bogren production work, that really elevate things to another level.

Quadra easily stands up alongside any of the band's "classic" albums and that this is the sound of a band celebrating 36 years of existence is nothing short of incredible. Sepultura have been on a creative roll since Kairos and have produced some of the best material of their career in the last 10 years, but even in the context of such consistently solid output, Quadra stands out. Sepultura have never sounded more vital or more inspired. They may not have the huge fanbase they once had, but when the music is this good, who cares. You can keep your nostalgia, I'll take the 2020 incarnation of the band any day of the week.

I know it sounds trite, but I genuinely can't find anything to fault Quadra on, and it seems to get better with each consecutive play, so it gets the rare, full 10/10 from me.

Standout tracks: Means to an End, Capital Enslavement and Autem.

https://open.spotify.com/track/7IhrZIRIAlSMLJwO35dDQc?si=9Hqc6ygSRLG4vngPMpGOSg