Notable recent rock and metal releases mid-end July 2016

Dust Bolt - Mass Confusion : Good proper old thrash metal. Love it.
★★★★☆

Orbs - Past Life Regression : Described in some places as progressive, it's a nu-progressive rather than traditional prog rock or metal. I love the creativity in the music and the subject matter, albeit a bit twisted and disturbing at times.
★★★★☆

Defecto - Excluded : Good solid heavy metal with a hint of the orchestrals. And proper old-fashioned guitar solos, it's so good to still hear those from time to time. The vocals vary from clean to growl (not too much of the latter). In places I can hear a James Hetfield influence. Maybe a little bit 'nu'. I see that this is their first full-length album. But it sounds very mature in sound and songwriting. This is excellent stuff. But then they're Scandinavian. What is it about that part of the world that produces such great music?
★★★★☆

Hammers of Misfortune - Dead Revoltution: I read somewhere that the band thinks they're too proggy for the metallers and too metal for the proggers. I love this album *because* it's prog and it's metal. And it has cowbell. great sounds and great writing. This is a keeper.

★★★★★