Putting this list together for July’s metal releases was incredibly frustrating, as there were at least nine albums that I really wanted to highlight. For the sake of brevity I’ve kept this number to just six, but hard choices had to be made!
Ashenspire’s Hostile Architecture is an incredibly impressive work. Filled with atypical sounds and righteous anger, it’s a multifaceted avant-garde post-black metal album that’s striking in its delivery and impact. Essential.
Seraphic Punishment introduced me to Maul like a hammer to the face. Riff-heavy, (and just plain heavy), death metal with good songs and killer growls? Sign me up! There’s more here than simple brutality though, and Maul have impressed.
The award for the most joyous and life-affirming power metal album in recent years must surely go to Fellowship. The Saberlight Chronicles is a glorious collection of singalongable, (it’s a word…), tunes, and Fellowship have produced a stunner.
The grim malevolence of Triumvir Foul’s blackened death metal is infectious and unstoppable. Just yield now, as Onslaught to Seraphim is a monstrous record of foul brutality and menacing mood. I just can’t stop listening to it.
If you’re looking for a modern masterclass in evolved metallic hardcore then look no further than They Fear Us. Ithaca have delivered on their early promise and then some. Well-rounded and packed with great songs, Ithaca’s time has surely come.
We’ll wind up this list with the mighty Ascetic Reflection by Altars. This is a warped, nuanced, and dissonant slab of death metal, one that offers both visceral impact and depth of longevity. For a great balance of atmosphere and aggression, check this out.
Wonderbox Metal 