The Damned Things, Danko Jones, Enforcer + More

Here are some of the new albums that come out today:

The Damned Things – High Crimes

The band is made of members of the bands Anthrax, Every Time I Die, Alkaline Trio, and Fall Out Boy. The first album sounded more radio-friendly modern rock to me, instead of the sum of their parts, which is what I had hoped for.

But hey, there are plenty of people out there that loved their first album, and this new album seems to be getting great reviews as well, so what do I know? Maybe the masses aren’t wrong, and I’m not saying this album sucks by any means, it’s just that it follows a somewhat safe approach, and whenever a project like this comes together, more times than not it leaves me wanting for something else.

Danko Jones – A Rock Supreme

This is the band’s ninth studio album, and let’s be honest here, if you pick up a Danko album, you know exactly what to expect. Sure he’s dueted with Volbeat, and former Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow in the past, but this is straight-ahead rock n roll, they aren’t swerving anyone. If you’re a fan of the band and have everything they’ve released, this will be right up your alley.

Enforcer – Zenith

The Swedish band is about to release their fifth album Zenith.  They’re releasing the album in Spanish and in English, something I haven’t seen done since David Lee Roth’s Eat Em And Smile and Sonrisa Salvaje, which translates into Savage Smile.  They have always been lumped into the group of retro-NWOBHM, 80s retro-core, or however you want to call it, you know, bands that have sprung up these the last fifteen years or so that follow the blueprint that bands like Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, and Witchfinder General originally designed in the late 70s/early 80s.

I have been reading mixed reviews about the album, everything from it being exactly what they expected from the band, to there not being enough of riffage and harmonies the band has offered in the past. I have enjoyed what I’ve heard leading up to the release of the album, but I can’t say that I’ve been into them as I have been other bands have been grouped in with them, and offer similar types of metal. So perhaps I’m not as critical with them as I would be of others.

Here are some other albums that may peak your interest:

Sunn O))) – Life Metal

New Years Day – Unbreakable

Steel Prophet – The God Machine

Fortune – II

Hardline – Life

Leverage – Determinus

Alan Parsons – The Secret

All Hail The Yeti – Highway Crosses

Astral Doors – Worship Or Die

Jim Peterik & World Stage – Winds Of Change

Lonely Robot – Under Stars

Lord Dying – Mysterium Tremendum

Marianas Rest – Ruins

Mass – Still Chained

Michael Thompson Band – Love & Beyond

Tank – Re-Ignition

Prince – Ultimate Rave

Generation X – Generation X

The Cranberries – In The End

Dead Kennedys – DK40

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Fishing For Fishies

Nils Lofgren – Blue With Lou

Nazareth – Expect No Mercy

Nazareth – Hair Of The Dog

Nazareth – Loud ‘N’ Proud

Nazareth – No Mean City

Nazareth – Rampant

Nazareth – Razamanaz

Edguy – Vain Glory Opera (Anniversary Edition)

Ten – Opera Omnia

Article by Victor M. Ruiz of Mars Attacks Radio & Podcast, and Galaxy Of Geeks Podcast.  Connect with him on Twitter:  @vmr907