Anticipated Albums

Anticipated Albums: Trivium- In The Court Of The Dragon

From their inception till the current present, Trivium has been one of the hardest working bands in music. Their relentless work ethic has seen them become an absolute force in the heavy music world. Today, Trivium have announced that they will release their tenth album, titled In The Court Of The Dragon, on October 8 via longtime label Roadrunner Records (Pre-Orders available HERE). The record was produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur and recorded in the Fall of 2020 at Full Sail University in Orlando. The band already released their new track “In The Court Of The Dragon” a couple weeks back and now they have released another single, “Feast Of Fire.” The accompanying video was shot at the bands HQ in Florida which they recently converted an airplane hanger to be their base of operations. The past couple Trivium albums, The Sin And The Sentence and What The Dead Men Say have been quite exceptional and show real mature growth not just as players but as songwriters and this album seems to continue along that path. Trivium is part of the Metal Tour Of The Year featuring Megadeth, Lamb Of God and Hatebreed (who replaced In Flames on the tour). I would bet money that Trivium will be stealing or close to stealing the show each night.

Trivium- Feast Of Fire:

Trivium- In The Court Of The Dragon:

New Release: Thrice- Robot Soft Exorcism
Thrice - Horizons/East | Epitaph Records

Thrice has released another new song from their upcoming album, Horizons/East (out September 17). This song “Robot Soft Exorcism” is a really interesting song. It sort of has a feel similar to the more experimental tracks from The Alchemy Index. This is also one of those songs that if you listen with headphones (good headphones, not those shitty earbuds) you can hear so many other little hidden gems within the song. Speaking on the song “‘The track’s title may sound familiar to those who are aware of David Dark. The American author and teacher coined the term in a twitter thread, exploring a metaphor in an attempt to help us distinguish between harmful and destructive systems and those that inhabit and benefit from them. Thrice’s singer and lyricist Dustin Kensrue picks up the image and breathes life into it throughout the newly released track. Months back Kensrue and Dark spoke at length on the subject, as well as other topics, on Kensrue’s podcast.’ Between the song “Scavengers” and now “Robot Soft Exorcism,” this new Thrice album is shaping up to be one hell of a good one.

Thrice- Robot Soft Exorcism:

Thrice- Scavengers:

New Release: Jerry Cantrell- Atone
JERRY CANTRELL Releases "Atone" - First Single / Video From Brighten Solo Album - BraveWords

The legendary Jerry Cantrell returns with the release of his first single “Atone” out today, from Cantrell’s new solo album, Brighten. It’s been 19 years since Jerry has released a solo album. This first single “Atone” features Duff McKagan on bass, Greg Puciato on backing vocals and guitar and Gil Sharone on drums. This album was produced by Tyler Bates and longtime engineer Paul Fig. The album was mixed by Joe Barresi. Other notable guests on the record include, Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Paul McCartney), pedal steel master Michael Rozon, Vincent Jones on piano, Wurlitzer, and organ. The record is a 9 song journey and concludes with a cover of Elton John’s “Goodbye.” Speaking on the song Jerry has said “Madman Across The Water is one of my favorite records of all time,” he exclaims.  Out of respect to Elton, I wouldn’t include it unless he said it was okay. He’d played piano on ‘Black Gives Way To Blue,’ which I wrote for Layne, so I reached out to Elton, he listened to it, and told me “You should absolutely use it.” I got the signoff by the man himself. I couldn’t think of a better way to close the record!” I personally can’t wait for this album. I love Alice In Chains and Jerry’s solo albums are stellar, so you know the heart and soul is strong with this one!


Jerry Cantrell- Atone:

New Release: Thrice- Scavengers
Thrice announce new album 'Horizons / East,' share new song “Scavengers”

On September 17th, Thrice will release their new album, Horizons/East via Epitaph Records. The new album was written and recorded by the band over the past couple years. The self produced album was mixed by Kowloon Walled City’s Scott Evans at his studio, Antisleep Audio and he did a killer job! The first single “Scavengers” has a vibe that fits in with their whole catalog. The song is deep and dark with a sense of hope, just as any Thrice song should. Live, this song is going to be huge, and I can’t wait to hear it! Pre-Orders are available HERE.

Thrice- Scavengers:

Anticipated Albums: Quicksand- Distant Populations

The mighty Quicksand are back with a new album and first since 2017’s Interiors. Distant Populations is the title of the upcoming album and it’s definitely shaping up to be one of the best of 2021. The album will be out digitally August 13 and on vinyl September 24 via Epitaph Records. Distant Populations was produced and engineered by Will Yip (The Menzingers, Code Orange, Nothing), and mixed by Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Megadeth, Trivium). Speaking on the album, “Everyone is on the one hand so connected with each other, and on the other hand, is so far apart.” says frontman Walter Schreifels.“We’re checking out each other’s social media and we know what everybody’s doing. But when we’re sitting in the same room together, we’re looking at our phones,” he adds point out the sad irony of it all. Throughout the album’s 11 tracks, Quicksand explores the duality of our simultaneous existence in individual relationships and as part of a mass society, while also examining the alienation and loneliness of it all. Pretty fitting for the times we are living in if you ask me. Today, the band shares “Missile Command,” a song that emerged from a Quicksand rehearsal jam, recalls Schreifels, “It really kind of focuses on Sergio’s (Vega) whole motif in a very simple way. He and Alan (Cage) just have this really kind of trademark groove, and I think that really sings on this one to me. I just felt like it’s a kind of song that is very us, but we hadn’t written it yet.”  Based on “Missile Command” and “Inversion” there is without a doubt the classic sound we’ve all loved since Slip all the while, a bit of a modern flair.


Quicksand- Missile Command:

Quicksand- Inversion:

New Release: Wolves In The Throne Room- Mountain Magick

The mighty Wolves In The Throne Room are back with a new album, Primordial Arcana (out August 20 via Relapse Records). These black metal titans have conjured up one hell of a new album. Taking the reigns for the direction and production, it’s the bands first self produced offering. The first single “Mountain Magick” is a banger for sure. There’s a majestic element to the song that feels eerie and sets the tone for the whole album. This new album is one that will be on many top end of the year lists. It’s uncompromising in its delivery and finds the band even more focused than ever before. Wolves In The Throne Room have a real winner on their hands with Primordial Arcana.

Wolves In The Throne Room- Mountain Magick:

Pre-Order the album HERE

New Release: Alexis Marshall- Hounds In The Abyss

Daughters frontman/vocalist Alexis Marshall has released “Hound In The Abyss,” the first single from his upcoming solo album, House of Lull . House of When out July 23 via Sargent House. This is one of those songs that the tension keeps building and building. The unease of the video also helps guide the listener a bit. The album was recorded in Providence with producer Seth Manchester (Daughters, Battles and the Body) and features Marshall’s Daughters bandmate Jon Syverson who made contributions, as did Young Widows’ Evan Patterson and Kristin Hayter, better known as Lingua Ignota. I loved the last Daughters album a ton. It didn’t leave my rotation for quite some time. I’ve been looking forward to this solo album since it was announced. Pre-orders are available HERE!

Alexis Marshall- Hound In The Abyss:

Anticipated Albums: At The Gates- The Nightmare Of Being

On July 2, 2021, The legendary At The Gates will be releasing their new (and 7th) album, The Nightmare Of Being. Since the band’s reunion a few years back, At The Gates have been on one hell of a roll with new music. The Nightmare Of Being is their third album since getting back together and it’s shaping up to be one hell of an album. As one of the pioneers of the Swedish Death Metal sound, this is the 30th anniversary of the bands formation so, it’s only fitting that this new album has tinges of their classic albums. The album is about the realization of your own mortality and focuses on nihilism and pessimistic philosophies and comes almost 3 years to the date after the release of To Drink from the Night Itself. At The Gates are back with a vengeance and it shows!

At The Gates- Spectre Of Extinction:

At The Gates- The Paradox:

Anticipated Albums: Spiritbox- Eternal Blue
Spiritbox Announce Debut Album Eternal Blue, Share “Secret Garden”: Stream - News Break

Over the past year there is a band that has peaked my interest. Instead of releasing an album right away, they instead started dropping a single at a time. With each single released, you couldn’t help but at least check it out and then there is “that moment” in the song when it all clicks. Now, on September 17, 2021, Spiritbox is finally releasing their debut album. This album features songs like “Holy Roller,” “Circle With Me,” “Constance” and new single “Secret Garden.” Also, Architects singer Sam Carter lends his vocals to the song “Yellowjacket.” Spiritbox is one of the newest bands to really start making an impact. They have the appeal to cross over to more straight-forward rock fans as well as curing the craving for the heavier music fan.

Secret Garden:

Circle With Me:

Holy Roller:

New Release: Angels and Airwaves- Euphoria
Angels & Airwaves Deliver Anthemic Banger 'Euphoria' – Wall Of Sound

Angels and Airwaves has always been a band/project that has peaked my interest. At first I was a little eh about it but, over the years and how this band has evolved I’ve taken a closer look and have found a lot to like about it. Tom DeLonge has really crafted something intriguing and on a level that couldn’t have been done during his tenure with Blink 182. The songwriting has grown by leaps and bounds and having multi instrumentalist Ilan Rubin joining him the past few years, has really made Angels and Airwaves stand out on it’s own merit. Recently, AVA released a new song “Euphoria” and it’s simply superb. The mix of spacy synths, precision drums, hard charging guitars, and soaring vocals on “Euphoria” showcases the best of what Tom and company can do!


Angels and Airwaves- Euphoria: