X-Box Music Mop Up: Hard Rock and Metal Releases for January 27, 2015

January 27, 2015

Available through X-Box Music Marketplace:

Agony Lords / Unions - Split
All the Dead Pilots - Sinister
Angelus Apatrida - Hidden Evolution
Arroganz - Tod & Teufel
Ascension - The Dead Of The World
Battle Beast - Unholy Savior
Beardfish – 4626-Comfortzone
Before Eden - A Realm Reborn
Black Sheep Wall - I'm Going To Kill Myself
By The Patient – Gehenna
Crack House – The Hits Just Keep On Coming
Crematory - Infinity (reissue)
The Cyon Project - Tales of Pain
Dead Kelly - Bushfire
Deathbreed - New World Order
Delta Enigma - Gone by the Dusk
Discourse - Sanity Decays
Dragonhammer – Time for Expiation (reissue)
Engel – Raven Kings
Falloch - This Island, Our Funeral
Falls of Silence - Necromancia
Forced In - Let the Wardance Begin
Funeral For A Friend - Chapter and Verse
Ghoulgotha – The Deathmass Cloak
Grog - L'esercito del male
If These Trees Could Talk - Above The Earth, Below The Sky (reissue)
If These Trees Could Talk - Red Forest (reissue)
Implode – Terra Pericolosa – I of Everything, Chapter II
In Light of us - On Trial EP
Iron Lamb - Fool's Gold
Jorn Lande and Trond Holter - Dracula: Swing of Death
Legion - Animal Within
Level 10 - Chapter 1
Lord Dying - Poison Altars
Lost In Pain - Plague Inc.
Napalm Death - Apex Predator: Easy Meat
Nervecell - Psychogenocide (reissue)
Night Demon - Curse of the Damned
Obscurity - Vintar
On The Ropes - Suppression EP
One-Way Mirror - Capture
Orghanon - Figures in Slow Motion
Pat Travers Band - Live At The Iridium NYC
RVNT - Vulnerable
Sodom - Sacred Warpath EP
Solanum & Epi-Demic - Passages To Lunacy
Venom - From The Very Depths
Virtue Concept - Blaze
Visigoth - The Revenant King
Vivus Humare- Einkehr
Xi-balba - Tierra Y Libertad
Youth Funeral - See You When I See You

other new releases:

Archgoat -The Apocalyptic Triumphator
Avoral - War Is Not Over
The Body and Thou - You, Whom I Have Always Hated / Released From Love
Dragonhammer – Blood of the Dragon (reissue)
Sweet & Lynch - Only To Rise
Voices - London

Release dates are based on physical CD US or Import release information and subject to change. All titles listed as being on X-Box Music  Marketplace were available on the X-Box Music Marketplace at the time of this post. These releases can be added or removed from the X-Box Music service at any time.

2014 Albums of the Year: 60 - 51

60.
Artist: Skindred
Album: Kill the Power
Suggested Tracks: 1. Kill the Power, 7. We Live, and 10. Saturday
Comments: Finally Skindred won me over. Was a big fan of Dub War back in the day and for whatever reason found the offshoot lacking until this record.

59.
Artist: Devin Townsend Project
Album: Z2
Suggested Tracks:  1. Rejoice, 5. Universal Flame, and 8. Silent Militia
Comments: Unfortunately the clearly Ziltoid material dragged the album for me and being a double album hurt it in the end. Props though for giving us loads of material between this and the Casualties of Cool.

58.
Artist: Eyehategod
Album: Eyehategid
Suggested Tracks: 1. Agitation! Propaganda!, 4. Quitter's Offensive, and 9. Flags and Cities Bound
Comments: If you told me these guys would still be kicking it 20 years after I first heard them I would have thought you were nuts.

57.
Artist: Battleme
Album: Future Runs Magnetic
Suggested Tracks: 1. Just Weight, 6. We Get Out, and 10. I am an Lightning Bolt
Comments: Reminded me of the alternative rock I first started getting into my senior year of high school when glam rock wasn't enough.

56.
Artist: Avatar
Album: Hail the Apocalypse
Suggested Tracks: 3. Death of Sound, 6. Murderer, and 10. Something in the Way
Comments: Such a crossover of sounds it can appeal to many if given a chance.

55.
Artist: In This Moment
Album: Black Widow
Suggested Tracks: 3. Big Bad Wolf, 5. Black Widow, and 11. Natural Born Sinner
Comments: Glad a move to the majors hasn't seemed to hurt was expecting more of a melodic record but for now we see they are allowed to do what do and that is a good thing.

54.
Artist: The Muffs
Album: Whoop Dee Doo
Suggested Tracks: 1. Weird Boy Next Door, 9. I Get It, and 11. Lay Down
Comments: It was a really big whoop dee doo to see this band back and in fine form. I know they had done stuff here and there the last 10 years but foolish me took that long to find out what they were doing and 20 years since they were one of the first live shows I saw when I moved to Atlanta.

53.
Artist: These Are They
Album: At the Feast of Seven Funerals
Suggested Tracks: 1. Hell Rides at Dawn, 4. Gospel of a Bullet, and 6. Steeple of Blood
Comments: Far from the first record from this supergroup of sorts with guys who play/ed with November's Doom, Hurtlocker, and others glad to find this slab of death metal goodness.

52.
Artist: Cavalera Conspiracy
Album: Pandemonium
Suggested Tracks: 4. I, Barbarian, 8. Not Losing the Edge, and 11. Deus Ex Machina
Comments: Like I said before it was a good year for the members of the Cavalera family and more to come later.

51.
Artist: Rival Sons
Album: Great Western Valkyrie
Suggested Tracks: 1. Electric Man, 2. Good Luck, and 4. Play the Fool
Comments: Just because they are on a label strongly associated with death metal they should be just as big as the bands doing stuff in a similar vein. If you like Jack White and company raising the banner for rock give these guys a try.

X-Box Music Mop Up: Hard Rock and Metal Releases for January 20, 2015

January 20, 2015

Available through X-Box Music Marketplace:

Banisher - Scarcity
Battleaxe - Power From the Universe
Crucify the Flesh - Bear Fruit
Dead City Ruins – Dead City Ruins
Deserted Fear - Kingdom of Worms
Festation - Perceptions
Georgie Boy - Endless EP
Knuckle Junction - For the Wrong Reason

Kruger – Adam and Steve

Lonewolf – Cult of Steel
Marilyn Manson - The Pale Emperor

Messiah's Kiss – Get Your Bulls Out!

Midnight Bullet – Lose my Face
My Darkest Fury - Hectic Existence
Once We Killed - If Nature Could Speak

Satan's Host – Pre-dating God: Part 1

Satan's Host – Pre-dating God: Part 2
Santera - Emosi Jiwa
Scargod - Schmerz

Serious Black – As Daylight Breaks

Simus – Vox Vult

Vardan – Verses From Ancient Times

Voices of Destiny – Crisis Cult

other new releases:

Angra – Secret Garden

Arcane – Known / Learned

Biotoxic Warfare – Lobotomized

Breathless – Return to Pangea

Caina – Setter of Unseen Snares

Garroting Deep / For – Void Asceticism

Gnosis – The Third-Eye Gate

Nachtreich / Spectral Lore – The Quivering Lights

Raunchy – Vises Virtues Visions

Release dates are based on physical CD US or Import release information and subject to change. All titles listed as being on X-Box Music  Marketplace were available on the X-Box Music Marketplace at the time of this post. These releases can be added or removed from the X-Box Music service at any time.

2014 Albums of the Year: 70 - 61

70.

Artist: Cripper

Album: Hyena

Suggested Tracks: 3. Bloodshot Monkey Eye, 7. The Origin, and 11. Pure

Comments: This lady led band is no laughing matter. Definitely check out if you like Arch Enemy.

69.

Artist: Machine Head

Album: Bloodstone & Diamonds

Suggested Tracks: 4. Night of Long Knives, 6. Eyes of the Dead, and 12, Take Me Through Fire

Comments: 20 years, plus, later here is my public apology to Mr. Flynn. You guys don't suck but at the time you guys seemed to be opening any metal show I was going to. Still upset you replaced Entombed on the tour with Napalm Death and Obituary. Have enjoyed you guys immensely over the years. Keep the bay area in the lime light.

68.

Artist: Novembers Doom

Album: Bled White

Suggested Tracks: 5. Unrest, 6. The Memory Room, and 11. Silent Dark

Comments: Continue to carry the flag for that Type O Negative and old school Paradise Lost sound.

67.

Artist: Sick of it All

Album: Last Act of Defiance

Suggested Tracks: 4. Get Bronx, 7. Never Back Down, and 10. Disconnect Your Flesh

Comments: Prove it isn't the last act by getting another album out in less than four years; please?

66.

Artist: Opeth

Album: Pale Communion

Suggested Tracks:1. Eternal Rains Will Come, 3. Moon Above, Sun Below, and 5. Goblin

Comments: Okay finally understand you are not really a metal band anymore. Good to see a band doing what it does want to do and not sticking to a specific formula.

65.

Artist: Philm

Album: Fire From the Evening Sun

Suggested Tracks: 3. Lady of the Lake, 4. Lion's Pit, and 6. We Sail at Dawn

Comments: They are more then the band Dave Lombardo happens to be drumming. Progressive and jazzy they are more then a simple in your face metal band.

64.

Artist: The Birthday Massacre

Album: Superstition

Suggested Tracks: 1. Divide, 6. Oceania, and 9. The Other Side

Comments: Sometimes you need a reminder of those mid 90's, a time capsule, and these guys do it for me with their gothed-up goodness.

63.

Artist: Bloodbath

Album: Grand Morbid Funeral

Suggested Tracks: 2. Total Death Exhumed, 6. Mental Abortion, and 7. Beyond Cremation

Comments: The death metal super group finally returns with more of that jovial retor Swedish death sound.

62.

Artist: Beartooth

Album: Disgusting

Suggested Tracks: 3. Body Bag, 6. Ignorance is Bliss, and 10. Keep Your American Dream

Comments: Is this Caleb Shomo' (ex Attack Attack!) Foo Fighters since he recording everything himself and then put a band around him?

61.

Artist: Overkill

Album: White Devil Armory

Suggested Tracks: 4. Pig, 6. Where There's Smoke, and 9. King of the Rat Bastards

Comments: Still over rated for my tastes, Nuclear Assault would be my choice for the next 4 of thrash for the north east contigent, but maybe I am coming around. Enjoyed this album and got to respect when bands stick to their guns for so long.

X-Box Music Mop Up: Hard Rock and Metal Releases for January 13, 2015

January 13, 2015

Available through X-Box Music Marketplace:

6:33 - Deadly Scenes
BDFuse - Light it up EP
Benediction - Grind Bastard (reissue)
Benediction - Killing Music (reissue)
Benediction - Organised Chaos (reissue)
Benediction - Subconscious Terror / The Grand Leveller (reissue)
Benediction - Transcend The Rubicon / The Dreams You Dread (reissue)
Candlemass - Candlemass (reissue)
Candlemass - Lucifer Rising (reissue)
Clawfinger - Life Will Kill You (reissue)
Convent Guilt - Guns For Hire
The Crown - Death Is Not Dead
Desolate Shrine - The Heart of the Netherworld
Einherjer - Av Oss, For Oss
Fathoms - Lives Lived
The German Panzer - Send Them All To Hell
Hardclash – No Mercy EP
Hardclash - Recycling of Mind EP
Hateful Abandon - Liars/Bastards
Kaipa – Sattyg
The Last Ten Seconds of Life - Soulless Hymns
Lords of Mercy – Lords of Mercy (reissue)
Motorized Tarantula - Motorized Tarantula
Pain of Salvation - Falling Home
Palisades - Mind Games
Sextrash – Sexual Carnage (reissue)
Shadowbane - Facing the Fallout
Shark Island - Law of the Order (reissue)
Sylosis - Dormant Heart
Synodik - A Matter Of Perception
Urgehal – Atomkinder (reissue)
Wildpath - Disclosure
Witchrider - Unmountable Stairs

other new releases:

1349 – The Candlelight Years
Calabrese – Lust For Sacrilege
Exlibris - Aftereal
Parasitic Ejaculation – Echoes of Depravity

Release dates are based on physical CD US or Import release information and subject to change. All titles listed as being on X-Box Music  Marketplace were available on the X-Box Music Marketplace at the time of this post. These releases can be added or removed from the X-Box Music service at any time.

2014 Albums of the Year: 80 - 71

80.

Artist: KMFDM

Album: Our Time Will Come

Suggested Tracks: 1. Genau, 5. Salvation, and 7. Get the Tongue Wet

Comments: Still an excessive force of industrial rock

79.

Artist: Mastodon

Album: Once More 'Round the Sun

Suggested Tracks: 3. High Road, 4. Once More 'Round the Sun, and 8. Aunt Lisa

Comments: Get over it, those who think they need a concept to pull their albums together. They've always been a groovy band that some albums happened to tell a encompassing lyrical story. They will always be a good strong band.

78.

Artist: The Dead Milkmen

Album: Pretty Music for Pretty People

Suggested Tracks: 1. Pretty Music for Pretty People, 3. Welcome to Undertown, and 13. The Great Boston Molasses Flood

Comments: You are not an ugly person if you think this band is only 'Punk Rock Girl'.

77.

Artist: Incite

Album: Up In Hell

Suggested Tracks: 2. WTF, 4. Fallen, and 5. Rightful Spot

Comments: It was a good year for the Cavalera family and the many bands they associate with.

76.

Artist: '68

Album: In Humor and Sadness

Suggested Tracks: 1. R, 2. e, and 6. t

Comments: The Chariot never really did much for me but this noisy post hardcore platter of music left me with much respect.

75.

Artist: Demon Hunter

Album: Extremist

Suggested Tracks: 3. What I'm Not, 6. One Last Song, and 8. Hell Don't Need Me

Comments: Two albums in a row that supposedly should appeal only to the jesus freak rock fans unfortunately such close mindedness deprive people of good experiences.

74.

Artist: Holy Moses

Album: Redefined Mayhem

Suggested Tracks: 1. Hellhound, 4. Into the Dark, and 12. One Step Ahead of Death

Comments: Germany does more then power metal with this thrash-tastic band that has been around since the 80's and have a frontwoman too.

73.

Artist: Off!

Album: Wasted Years

Suggested Tracks: 2. Red White and Black, 7. It Didn't Matter to Me, and 14. Mr. Useless

Comments: Does Keith Morris have a wasted year in his decades of punk goodness?

72.

Artist: Black Map

Album: ...And We Explode

Suggested Tracks: 1. Code, 7. Melee, and 11. Ropes

Comments: A San Francisco bay area supergroup of sorts with guys from Dredg, Far, and Trophy Fire they produce the kind of modern rock that should be on the radio rather then most of the crop of bands that make up modern rock radio playlists.

71.

Artist: Cannibal Corpse

Album: A Skeletal Domain

Suggested Tracks: 3. Kill or Become, 6. The Murderer's Pact, and 8. Icepick Lobotomy

Comments: For years now when it comes across my desk it has been kind of a 'ho hum' another album from these guys but this has probably been the best post Chris Barnes era record, i.m.o..

2014 Albums of the Year: 90-81

90.
Artist: Unisonic
Album: Light of Dawn
Suggested Tracks:  4. For the Kingdom, 5. Not Gonna Take Anymore, and 8. Blood
Comments: Its not a good countdown without lots of German power metal.

89.
Artist: Emigrate
Album: Silent So Long
Suggested Tracks: 2. Get Down, 4. Hypothetical, and 9. Happy Times
Comments: If you wished Rammstein sounded more like Nine Inch Nails; then check out this side project.

88.
Artist: (hed) p.e.
Album: Evolution
Suggested Tracks: 1. No Turning Back, 6. Let it Rain, and 7. One More Body
Comments: Not sure if their sound has been much of an evolution since their debut, but this is the first album I have enjoyed since their debut.

87.
Artist: Van Canto
Album: Dawn of the Brave
Suggested Tracks: 5. The Final Countdown, 10. Unholy, and 13. Paranoid
Comments: More German power metal though drums is the only standard instrument everything else is done by voice. The acapella element may seem like a gimmick; but to much talent in the various members pipes to be one.

86.
Artist: Sister
Album: Disguised Vultures
Suggested Tracks: 6. Slay Yourself, 7. Naked, and 10. Please Kill Me
Comments: Sleazy punk-ed up metal that you should try if you like stuff like The Murderdolls.

85.
Artist: The Scintalla Project
Album: The Hybrid
Suggested Tracks: 1. Scintalla (One Black Heart), 8. A Life in Vain, and 9. No Rest for the Wicked
Comments: A super group of sorts with folks from Saxon and Balance of Power bring us a sci-fi infused concept album based on a movie, Scintalla.

84.
Artist: Indestructible Noise Command
Album: Black Hearse Serenade
Suggested Tracks: 1. Stirring the Flock, 3. Cyanide and Whiskey, and 5. Black Hearse Serenade
Comments: Concept thrash album from this late 80's band. Not a bandwagon jumper they just disappeared for awhile before jumping back on the musical journey.

83.
Artist: Prong
Album: Ruining Lives
Suggested Tracks: 8. Self Will Run Riot, 10. Chamber of Thought, and 11.Limitations and Validations
Comments: They keep kicking with an industrial metal vibe.

82.
Artist: Columns
Album: Please Explode
Suggested Tracks: 5. Vicarious Living, 8. Bottom Feeders, and 14. A Guilty Bunch
Comments: Grind with groove, punk, and sludge elements from guys who were in Hemdale and Glass Casket.

81.
Artist: King of Asgard
Album: Karg
Suggested Tracks: 2. The Trickster, 8. Rising, and 9. Total Destruction
Comments: The title may mean barren but the viking metal sound is far from barren.

2014 Albums of the Year: 100 - 91

100.

Artist: Dragonforce

Album: Maximum Overload

Suggested Tracks: 7. Defenders, 10. Ring of Fire, and 14. Fight to be Free

Comments: A wheel that keeps rolling with their brand of hyper speed power metal.

99.

Artist: At the Gates

Album: At War With Reality

Suggested Tracks: 4. The Circular Ruins, 5. Heroes and Tombs, and 6. The Conspiracy of the Blind

Comments: I think a certain bit of nostalgia made this way higher on others lists. I am guilty of that too as will be seen as things go along but so many bands were influenced over the last 20 years it unfortunately hurt the album for me.

98.

Artist: Anaal Nathrakh

Album: Desideratum

Suggested Tracks: 1. Acheronta Movebimus, 2. Unleash, and 8. Sub Specie Aeterni (Of Maggots, and Humanity)

Comments: It is incredible sometimes what only a duo can accomplish.

97.

Artist: The Raveonettes

Album: Pe'ahi

Suggested Tracks: 5. Z-Boys, 6. A Hell Below, and 10. Summer Ends

Comments: After years of being told should check them out; I am glad I did.

96.

Artist: AC/DC

Album: Rock or Bust

Suggested Tracks: 4. Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder, 9. Rock the Blues Away, and 11. Sweet Candy

Comments: Thank goodness that exclusive digital deal is done and you can get the AC/DC catalog easily digitally.

95.

Artist: Primal Fear

Album: Delivering the Black

Suggested Tracks: 4. Alive & On Fire, 8. Never Pray for Justice, and 12. Man Without Shadow

Comments: Their best album in years got to love the German power metal.

94.

Artist: Haunted

Album: Exit Wounds

Suggested Tracks: 6. Trend Killer, 9. Temptation, and 12. This War

Comments: Hope they learned their lesson from the last album, Unseen, like Entombed did after Same Difference.

93.

Artist: Within the Ruins

Album: Phenomena

Suggested Tracks: 1. Gods Amongst Men, 6. Enigma, and 9. Dark Monarch

Comments: Electronics that sounded like something from a video game and a comic book like lyrical theme. I like it. Give me more of it; like Life cereal.

92.

Artist: Vesania

Album: Deus Ex Machina

Suggested Tracks: 4. Vortex, 5. Dismay, and 6. Glare

Comments: First of quite a few super groups on my list for the year features ex/members of such bands as Behemoth, Vader, and Decapitated.

91.

Artist: Nashville Pussy

Album: Up the Dosage

Suggested Tracks: 9. Takin It Easy, 10. White and Loud, and 11. Hooray for Cocaine, Hooray for Tennessee

Comments: So much serious music out there it is always refreshing for some simple, funny, kick ass rock n roll ruckus.

X-Box Music Mop Up: Hard Rock and Metal Releases for January 6, 2015

January 6, 2015

Available through X-Box Music Marketplace:

6 Prong Paw - Mapping the Void
Agents of Entropy - Independent Recording Sessions
Call of the Sirens - Scary Tales
Chaos - Violent Redemption (reissue)
Chingaso - 2nd
Divine Tragedy - Viscera Reaction
Endanger - Burn Down This House From the Inside
Forevers' Fallen Grace - Ascending the Monolith
Hard Resistance - Retrospective 1994 - 2014
Infernal Cry - ....kpobbho ha cepe6pe
Inquiring Blood - Born in a Grave
Lectern - Fratricidal Concelebration
Lost In Pain - Greed
Nicholas Matz Sociopathy Machine - If That Mockingbird...
Sata Kaskelottia - Sata Kaskelottia 
Seize the Empire - Seize the Empire
Silenced by Shadows - Sticks & Stones
A Skylit Drive - Rise: Ascension

Tetema – Geocidal (new Mike Patton of Faith no More project)

Timmy's - Dude, Girl

other new releases:

none for this week

Release dates are based on physical CD US or Import release information and subject to change. All titles listed as being on X-Box Music  Marketplace were available on the X-Box Music Marketplace at the time of this post. These releases can be added or removed from the X-Box Music service at any time.