March 21st - New release highlights

Band: Cradle of Filth
Album: The Screaming of the Valkyries
Genre: Symphonic Black / Gothic Metal
Similar artists: Dimmu Borgir, Devilment, Abigail Williams

Hailing from deepest, darkest Ipswich, Cradle of Filth have been mainstays on the Extreme Metal scene since the early 1990s even briefly experiencing a brush with mainstream in early 2000s. Now, following a creatively fallow period (the band's last good record was released in 2017), Dani and Co. have really got their act together again and "Screaming...." is the band's best offering in many a year. Dani's voice is wonderfully hammy and the songwriting is on top form, but the icing on the cake is guitar hero, Marek "Ashok" Šmerda, whose virtuoso licks hark back to the glory years of "Cruelty and the Beast". SOTV is my album of the year, so far.

Recommended tracks: The Trinity of Shadows, Demagoguery, White Hellebore.
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Band: Bloodywood
Album: Nu Delhi
Genre: Folk Nu Metal (really!)
Similar artists: Ill Niño, Alien Weaponry, Linkin Park

Musically, Bloodywood are stuck firmly in the "golden age" of Nu-Metal (early 2000s), so there won't be a lot of surprises in the predictable structure of the songs, but what makes them stand out for the crowd, their USP if you will, is the inspired infusion of Indian Folk instruments and melodies. A curiosity, sure, but a lot of fun. Oh, and Nu-Delhi is the best album title I've heard in a while.

Recommended tracks: Hutt, Dhadak, Daggebaaz
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Band: Disharmoni Mundi
Album: The Dormant Stranger
Genre: Melodic Death / Groove Metal
Similar artists: Soilwork, In Flames, Sonic Synicate (older), Killswitch Engage

Unbelievably, it's been 10 years since the last DH album, but the severely underrated Italians haven't missed a beat. In fact, they are better than ever. Frankly, every song on this album is an absolute banger and fans of Soilwork and their ilk will love it! This is top shelf Melodic Death Metal.

Recommended tracks: Adrift Among Insignificant Strangers, Oathbreaker, Outcast