If you feel like the Griswolds in Christmas Vacation this holiday season, then this playlist is for you. You know what scene I’m talking about, when the doorbell rings and keeps lowering in pitch because hell has basically descended on the house? That. Everyone has that moment during the holidays.
So let’s put on our headphones and escape that moment for a little bit.
Into The Great Divide – “Chapter 4: Tests & Enemies”
Into The Great Divide is Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini and then a bunch of other people who Mangini won’t reveal the identities of. If I had to take a stab at it based on the very Liquid Tension Experiment-sounding instru-metal jam below, I’ll say it’s Dream Theater‘s John Petrucci on guitar and Jordan Rudess on keys, as well as famed bassist Tony Levin on bass. Though Yes‘ keyboardist Rick Wakeman and maybe Joe Satriani on guitar wouldn’t be a long shot either.
Anyway, Into The Great Divide is the first great progressive album we’re getting in 2018 and you’re gonna need it.
Pestilence – “Multi-Dimensional”
Hey, Pestilence is back! Again! Pestilence took five years between Obsideo and Hadeon and replaced everyone in the band who isn’t founding vocalist and guitarist Patrick Mameli, though this seems like it’ll be the band’s best effort in a while. “Multi-Dimensional” goes back to Pestilence‘s old school death metal sound and forgoes some of the technicality, which seems to be the current trend among heavier bands. It also works for Pestilence considering that’s by far the most popular era of the band.
Hadeon is out March 5.
Watain – “Sacred Damnation”
Gone are the days of introspective Watain, and here are the days once more of fucking blistering black metal Watain hellbent on the total incineration of every last human being. Personally, I dug the acoustic and varied stylings of 2013’s The Wild Hunt, but I also welcome with open arms the destructive madmen that come along with Trident Wolf Eclipse.
Trident Wolf Eclipse will undo all the happy Christmas Jesus stuff you did during the holidays come January 5.
The Atlas Moth – “Coma Noir”
I guess when Coma Noir comes out, it’ll have been four years since The Atlas Moth released a new album. Time flies when you’re happily listening to 2014’s The Old Believer. Though now that I’ve heard the red-hot and furiously melodic title track from the coming album, I realize that I very much need it in my life as soon as humanly possible. Plus, who doesn’t want an old-timey black and white music video in their lives?
Coma Noir. February 9. Sweet artwork, even sweeter music.
