This editions features several long-awaited returns, gore, politics, and more! To the metals…
Annihilator – For The Demented 
Genre: Thrash
Origin: Ottawa, Canada
Label: Neverland/Silver Lining
Buy now on Amazon.com
Jeff Waters and his gang have returned to thrash through your brain once more. As always, this album is a guitar shredding masterclass. It even features a ballad that (seemingly) is about eating people. It's pretty much everything you'd want from Annihilator. Dillon reviews the record here.
Anti-Flag – American Fall 
Genre: Punk
Origin: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Label: Spinefarm
Buy now on Amazon.com
Not technically a metal act, but I saw them listed on the Aftershock lineup so, the crossover appeal is there, I guess? Anyway, this is poppy punk that's politically charged and catchy as fuck. This is the follow-up to American Spring, and one can only assume that this completes their seasons suite of records.
Cannibal Corpse – Red Before Black 
Genre: Death metal
Origin: Tampa, Florida
Label: Metal Blade
Buy now on Amazon.com
These guys were like a week off from being the perfect Halloween soundtrack. This album is bloody, gross, violent, aggressive, and everything else you'd want form the death metal masters. Features jaunty tunes like "Heads Shoveled Off," "Shedding My Human Skin," and "Scavenger Consuming Death." Michael has a full review here.
Converge – The Dusk In Us 
Genre: Metalcore/hardcore
Origin: Massachusetts
Label: Epitaph/Deathwish
Buy now on Amazon.com
Converge's first album in five years is sure to please. The balance of hardcore chaos, sludgy moments, and melody is right were it needs to be. It's a Converge record, so I feel like you know what you're in for. Just know, Kurt Ballou and the gang have done it again. Kevin agrees, check out his review here.
Moonspell – 1755 
Genre: Gothic metal
Origin: Brandoa, Portugal
Label: Napalm
Buy now on Amazon.com
Have any of the albums this week been epic enough for you? No? Well, then look no further than this Moonspell record. Soaring synths and choirs contrasting with the gruff vocals and driving metal will likely scratch that itch. You'll also get a lesson in Portuguese while you're at it. Nicholas has a full review here.
N.A.M.E. – You Are Mostly Nowhere 
Genre: Experimental grindcore/death metal
Origin: Danville, California
Label: self
Buy now on Amazon.com
After seven years of writing, touring, and debauchery, the New Approach to Matyrs Expressions or NAME, have finally returned. And I've been eagerly awaiting this return. You Are Mostly Nowhere is an expression of experimentation, aggression, angst, and an inability to hold still. They're still somewhere between The Dillinger Escape Plan and The Ocean, but they're become a more defined version of their own animal on this record.
Zao – Pyrrhic Victory
Genre: Metalcore
Origin: Parkersburg, West Virginia
Label: Observer Recordings
Buy now on Amazon.com
Last year Zao dropped The Well-Intentioned Virus, which was their first full-length album in quite some time. The band isn't wasting time and released this EP which, very much, feels like a micro-sequel to that record. Stream the whole thing here, and hope it won't have to hold you over for another seven years.
Also dropping today…
Batushka – Litourgiya Reissue (Metal Blade) – Black metal
Beast In Black – Berserker (Nuclear Blast) – Heavy metal
Blaze of Perdition – Conscious Darkness (Agonia Records) – Black metal
Blues Pills – Lady In Gold Live In Paris DVD (Nuclear Blast) – Rock
Dead Quiet – Grand Rites (Artoffact Records) – Doom/stoner rock
The Hazytones – The Hazytones (Ripple Music) – Doom
Hobosexual – Monolith (Kitchentable) – Hard rock
In Search Of Sun – Virgin Funk Mother (Spinefarm) – Alternative rock
Like Moths To Flames – Dark Divine (Rise) – Metalcore
Lustre – Still Innocence (Nordvis) – Ambient black metal
Madam X – Monstrocity (EMP) – Heavy metal
Polaris – The Mortal Coil (SharpTone) – Metalcore
Primitive Race – Soul Pretender (Metropolis records) – Industrial
Ram – Rod (Metal Blade) – Heavy metal
Scour – Red EP (Housecore) – Black metal
Sleeping Romance – Alba (Napalm) – Symphonic metal
Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown – Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown (Snakefarm/Spinefarm) – Rock
Until The Sky Dies – The Year Zero Blueprint (Cimmerian Shade) – Doom/avant-garde
