The most notable New Rock and Metal Releases, July 2017

It's funny how things go in phases; there were some real stonkers in the last couple of posts but the last few weeks have been a definite lull (unless I've missed all the great stuff - let me know.)

Here's the cream of July's crop, a couple very nearly making a 5.

Blind Guardian - Live Beyond the Spheres : As a rule I'm not keen on live albums. Sometimes a performance is a gem and makes the album really special but I think this is only true in a few cases. You can have way too much audience participation / singalong / chanting and this has too much for me. Musically it's great, but I think I'd rather turn to the studio albums.
★★★☆☆

Discipline - Captives of the Wine Dark Sea : Apparently Discipline have been together since the 80s. Their music is very much in the progressive rock camp, some of it sounding 70s. This is quite varied, verging on the commercial in places (Here There is No Soul) and verging on the beautifully unhinged in others ('S').
★★★★☆

Limbonic Art - Spectre Abysm : This is more extreme than my usual tastes would allow, but there's something about this. Maybe it's a little more melodic than such deathy stuff would usually be, or maybe there's something in the sound that appeals to me, but it's had a few listens now and so qualifies for...
★★★☆☆

Michael Monroe - The Best : I've been aware of Hanoi Rocks and MM but I can't say I've ever been a fan. That's to say I've not bought the records, I've certainly enjoyed what I've heard. Glam rock is real feelgood music. Some tracks really rock, particularly 'Get On' which stirs my rockabilly teen self.
★★★★☆

Bloodclot - Up in Arms : Shouty and punked up in a way I like. One for when you're in a raucous mood.
★★★★☆

Bloody Hammers - The Horrific Case of Bloody Hammers : I have to give this one some stars simply for the cover,  being a big fan of old horror films.
★★★☆☆

Edguy - Monuments : Again the excellent cover promises more than the album delivers. It's a kind of melodic metal which is excellent musically but just fails to move.
★★★☆☆

Kissin' Dynamite : If you're a fan of KD or the more melodic metal  then this is pretty good as live albums go.
★★★☆☆

Europe - The Final Countdown Live :  Included because they're Europe and responsible for a very memorable chart-topper which we loved as teenagers (if only because something that rocked was in the charts) and have become heartily sick of in the ensuing 30 years. This is all too singalong for me
★★★☆☆

Ritual - In This Moment : Finally something really interesting! I like the theatricality. Some of the more modern elements in the music are a little new for this stick-in-the-mud, but the whole atmosphere is engaging and the angry passion is stirring.
★★★★☆

Mr Big - Defying Gravity : This sounds incredibly familiar. They have had some chart success (including a no 1 in many countries, as referred to rather nostalgically in one of these songs).  But on top of that, it's the kind of music that sounds familiar the first time you hear it. A cross between Aerosmith and Thunder. Really enjoyable stuff - takes you back two or three decades even though they're new songs.
★★★★☆

Nine Inch Nails - Add Violence : Again listed here because of who they are. I will always have room in my collection for NIN but at first listen this isn't outstanding. 'Less Than' is growing on me, maybe the rest will too.
★★★☆☆

Notable Rock / Metal releases end June 2017

Cellar Darling - This is the Sound : Formed by three members of Eluvietie, a larger and more folky metal band, Cellar Darling consists of just three members; Merlin Sutter, drums, Ivo Henzi, all guitars and bass, and Anna Murphy's clean female vocals and hurdy-gurdy. The music is solid metal, the hurdy-gurdy adds a folk element and completes an original and interesting sound. The songwriting's excellent and the result is a top album.
★★★★★

Riot - Inishmore : Riot are a very long-lived band and you can hear the classic metal roots but this album has a celtic / irish theme. An interesting variety of music from good power metal to the atmospheric Danny Boy.
★★★★☆

Stone Sour - Hydrograd : The second purchase this week, SS's sixth album is an enjoyable mix of commercial and kick-ass.
★★★★★

Vintersorg - Till Fjalls Del II : Vintersorg have experimented with a variety of musical styles around themes of Scandinavian fantasy and legend. The death metal is strong in places but it gets pretty melodic too, reminding me of Kvelertak.
★★★★☆

Ye Banished Privateers - First Night Back In Port : This has been released by Napalm Records, so it's getting loads of attention from the metal press, but it's not metal at all, more folk. They're 30 musicians making an acoustic piratey riot of a sound with some rude 18th century style stuff. loads of fun.
★★★★☆