The Weekly Injection: New Releases From WYTCH HAZEL, DROPKICK MURPHYS & More Out This Week 7/4

This week's new heavy metal releases include political punk, mysterious metal unlike any I've heard before, and more just in time for *check's calendar* Post Malone's birthday! To the metals…

Dropkick Murphys – For the People

Genre: Celtic punk
Origin: Quincy, Massachusetts
Label: Dummy Luck Music

Buy now from Dropkick

Starting this week with a timely and politically charged record from one of the finest in their scene. While not metal per se, I did see them from inside a mighty pit at Aftershock last year. This one has a lot of pals with them like The Scratch, Billy Bragg, Al Barr, and The Mary Wallopers.

Emberthrone – Cursive

Genre: Deathcore/technical death metal
Origin: Sacramento, California
Label: Seek And Strike

Stream here

This is a four song walloping from one of Sacramento's heaviest. Tech? Check. Melodic moments? Yes. Deathcore devastation? M'yes'm. The only thing missing is more songs, but perhaps it's wise for them to leave you wanting more.

Leonov – Shape Of Ash

Genre: Post-metal/doom
Origin: Oslo, Norway
Label: Pelagic

Buy now on Bandcamp

As I've said before, Pelagic records has a vibe, and Leonov fits that vibe. This is post-metal walls of sound washing you away with reprieves for shoegaze atmosphere. Like Emberthrone, it'll leave you wanting more.

Phantom Heir – Fragile Immortals

Genre: Post-metal/djent
Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Label: Self-released (I think)

Buy now and/or sample on Bandcamp

It's rare that I hear something unlike anything else, and this might be one of those occasions. This EP is a combination of post-metal heft, and the low, chunky guitars of a djent band. There's a duel vocal thing going with Angel Eduardo (Blue Food) and Redouane Aouameur (Lelahell). It's somehow both off putting and accessible? Only four songs, but a lot to digest.

Warkings – Armageddon

Genre: Power/heavy metal
Origin: Pieria, Greece
Label: Napalm

Buy now on Bandcamp

I'm pretty sure if you listen to this one a pelt will magically appear on your person. This is a power metal feast. They've got a few guest spots from folks from Orden Ogan, Dominium, and Subway to Sally. Then if that wasn't enough for you, some editions include a full live set. Like I said, a FEAST!

Wytch Hazel – Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations

Genre: Heavy metal/hardcore
Origin: Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Label: Bad Omen

Buy now on Bandcamp

Man, what a fun record this is. It's got an old school AOR vibe, riffs for days, and killer, dynamic songwriting. Thin Lizzy comes to mind, but there's also what Ghost and Kvelertak are doing in there too.

Also dropping this week…

• Anger Machine – Human Error (Self-released) – Thrash
• Gaupa – Fyr (Magnetic Eye) – Psychedelic rock
• Keddies Resort – American Spirit (Sweatband Records) – Hard rock
• Joe Stump's Tower Of Babel – Days Of Thunder (Silver Lining) – Hard rock
• Meth Leppard – Gate Keepers (Psychocontrol/Here And Now Records) – Grindcore
• Mortual – Altar of Brutality (Nuclear Winter Records) – Death metal
• Phantom Heir – Fragile Immortals (Self-released) – Post-metal/"sad metal"
• Respect For Zero – Overtime (Time To Kill) – Hardcore
• Rimmar – Raises (Rockshots) – Heavy metal/electronic
• Seasons In Black – Anthropocene (Apostasy) – Death/black metal
• Stygian – Dreadlands (Time To Kill) – Groove/death metal