Angelus Apatrida
Here are some of the new releases that will be out today.
Dimmu Borgir – Eonian
The Norwegian black metal giants, arguably the biggest black metal band of all time, have released their first album in eight years. People can argue the band’s impact all they want, but the bottom line is they’re the biggest selling act of this metal sub-genre.
The album has received mixed reviews, but you also need to take into consideration that black metal perhaps has the most amount of elitists, rules, and guidelines than any other sub-genre of metal. Take those reviews with a grain of salt, and check the album out with an open mind.
Ihsahn – ‘Amr
I have been a huge fan of Ihsahn since his album After, his mix of progressive metal, black metal, jazz, and even aspects of 80s metal is just great. He has always seemed to write whatever he wants, without caring about labels, genres, or anything else.
His music is heavy, but beyond that, each one of his previous albums takes you on some interesting twists and turns, to the point where it makes you wonder why his solo work isn’t held in the same time as Steven Wilson or Mikael Åkerfeldt. ‘Amr is one of my most anticipated releases, and will no doubt make my end-of-year list.
Parkway Drive – Reverence
A band that has for a long time been seen as one of the forerunners of the new wave of Metalcore, but like others that have helped lead this charge, Parkway Drive is trying to shed the Metalcore label, and try doing whatever they want, so long as it remains heavy. If their single “Prey” is any indication, the album follows the more modern radio metal sound which was present on the band’s previous release Ire.
Shinedown – Attention Attention
The sixth studio album by the Jacksonville, Florida band. Attention Attention is a concept album, which contains an underlying motivational message to persevere.
Angelus Apatrida – Cabaret De La Guillotine
So let me give you a little information about the band, they’re from Albacete, Spain. They have been signed to Century Media for close to a decade. They have opened up for bands like Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, as well as been on festival bills with the likes of Iron Maiden.
They have toured almost everywhere in the world, except for the US, hey CM let’s make this happen! When bands like Warbringer, Bonded By Blood, Evile, Lazarus A.D., and others that were gaining notoriety doing the “retro-thrash” thing back at the beginning of this decade, I kept asking “why not Angelus Apatrida”?
Mind you, the band hasn’t switched a member in close to 20 years, while some of those bands have disappeared, or become a revolving door of members. But I get it, they aren’t from the UK or US, they’re from Spain, which unfortunately does not carry the same weight on the international scene.
The country as a whole is not a rock or metal country, so it has been a constant battle to not only conquer the national metal scene but to become a band that routinely tours Europe, Asia, and South America. The band has always pushed the boundaries of what they do, they could have just stayed within the thrash box, but they have always evolved, album to album.
Cabaret De La Guillotine is no different, it is the band’s first self-produced album, and it sees them taking plenty of chances with lyrics, vocal melodies, and infectious riffs that in some instances come completely out of left field. If you check out any of the three videos they’ve released ahead of the album, you’ll see that each track is completely different.
Other releases of interest:
Belly – Dove
Brian Eno – Music for Installations
Lik – Carnage
Liz Phair – Girly-Sound to Guyville: The 25th Anniversary Box Set
The Word Alive – Violent Noie
Article by Victor M. Ruiz of Mars Attacks Radio & Podcast, and Galaxy Of Geeks Podcast. Connect with him on Twitter: @vmr907
