Rammstein, Saint Vitus + More

Here is a sample of the albums that come out today:

Rammstein – Rammstein

This is the band’s first album in ten years, and as usual, people are going apeshit over the band and the album. They put on a great show, don’t consistently tour the States, although they do tour Europe quite frequently, and have garnered massive attention in the US even though lead singer Till Lindemann sings in German, something that 99.9% of non-English singing bands can not do.

Not only are the fans going ape shit over the album, but critics are as well, so they seem to have delivered on every level. Another thing you have to heap praise on them for is the ability to be away for the number of years they haven’t released new material, or done shows, and still have fans wanting more. Tool, you’re next!

Saint Vitus – Saint Vitus

The Doom Metal titans have returned, their first new album since 2012’s Lillie F-65, and only their second album since 1995’s Die Healing. The reviews of the album have not been great, most of the time when a major component of a band is missing, you end up splitting the fan base split, in this case, Wino.

You usually have things said like “I can’t get into them without Wino” or “not as good without him”, but it seems like the vast majority of both fan comments, and reviews I’ve read are the same, folks are generally trying to get into the album.  But I’m reading things like, “I’m trying to like this, but it seems like they’ve run out of ideas”.

So people are making an effort, but it’s just falling flat for them. The one overall consensus is that Die Healing was great, and at least people can go back to that.

Savage Messiah – Demons

I had the pleasure of meeting the band years ago when they were part of Killfest in Europe, playing a bill that featured Kripper, Suicidal Angels, and Overkill. While they were originally grouped into the whole “retro-thrash” label, the band has evolved little by little, going for a more classic heavy metal approach on certain things, and as can be heard in the video below for “The Bitter Truth” they add elements of modern metal and offer up music that I think people have been missing from some of their counterparts that have decided to go in a much more commercial direction.

I do want to note that lead singer/guitarist Dave Silver is the first person I ever spoke to about streaming, we chatted a bit at their merch booth after the show. He foresaw teens gravitating towards YouTube instead of downloading from Torrent sites, or even subscribing to services like Spotify. At the time he said something to the effect of “if I was a kid, why would I subscribe to a service, when I can make a playlist on YouTube, and add all of the songs I want to hear without having to pay, or download them?”. He wasn’t wrong.

Amulet – The Inevitable War

Here is a band I just discovered recently, they fall under the “new to me” category, most people classify them as disciples of bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath. What I like is that their single “Burning Hammer”, it not only makes references to professional wrestling, but it also starts out atypically, with some 80s influenced synths ala Stranger Things, that ok, you could see someone like Rick Wakeman adding to a Sabbath album, but to Maiden?

The album mixes old school Martin Birch-type production, with new school elements. The music is great and checks off all of the boxes if you’re into any of the bands listed above, with harmonies, and singable choruses that will do well live.

Paladin – Ascension

This is another band that I listened to for the first time while putting this new releases post together. They remind me of Holy Grail, but with more of an old-school feel. Where Holy Grail has always been influenced by the Maidens and Priests of the world, they’ve also added thrash to what they offer, and have always used modern production techniques to make their music sound current.

Regardless of what their playing is influenced by various forms of classic metal that were popular three decades ago.  Paladin is influenced by those same bands, but Ascension unabashedly sounds as if it came out sometime between 83 and 86.  Much like Amulet, if you’re into Maiden, Priest, Megadeth, early Metallica, this album might be for you.

Here are some other new releases you might enjoy, a mix of new material, re-releases, re-records, and live albums.

Paul Gilbert – Behold Electric Guitar

Mastodon – Stairway To Nick John Digital

Black Label Society – Sonic Brew: 20th Anniversary Blend 5.99 – 5.19

Entombed – Clandestine – Live

Loudness – Live In Tokyo CD + DVD

Lo-Pan – Subtle

Crazy Lixx – Forever Wild

Restless Spirits – Restless Spirits

The Brink – Nowhere To Run

First Signal – Line Of Fire

The Heavy – Sons

Interpol – A Fine Mess

The National – I Am Easy To Find

1349 – Massive Cauldron Of Chaos Vinyl Re-Release

Avatar – The King Live In Paris

Katatonia – Night Is The New Day Re-Release

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