This Arizona quintet does much to invoke the hybridized death metal/grindcore that spawned from England in the early 1980s. We’re talking bands like Napalm Death, Carcass, Bolt Thrower… not easy acts to follow. On their third album, Landmine Marathon walks a step ahead of the pack

White Wizzard has lived for three tumultuous years, on a quest to restore truth to the world of Metal. The band harks back some thirty years to the inception of the NWOBHM movement, channeling major players like Iron Maiden and Motörhead, in an effort to forge a sound of their own. While they certainly have the passion and the chops, only half of this debut full-length is strong enough to stand on its own. However, if White Wizzard can keep it together, I suspect monumental growth in the future.

Maybe it was just coincidence that Unique Leader released two similarly-named bands at the same time (Arkaik and Devolved), or perhaps it was like this album’s name: calculated. Devolved certainly lives up to their title in various definitions.

When searching for adjectives to describe this band, ‘archaic’ certainly does not come to mind. The furthest this band reaches is to previous-generation heavyweights like Suffocation, but their execution and ethos seem similar to West Coast neighbors, The Faceless. Both bands even commissioned Par Oloffson for their artwork!

Many of you may know of Acrassicauda, even if their name is challenging. They are the subject of the acclaimed 2007 documentary “Heavy Metal In Baghdad”, and the first Iraqi metal band to gain a worldwide audience.

Matt Pike is a metal god amongst mortals (all bias aside, as a fellow Matt that consumes the same substances). As important as Sleep ever was, the staggering intensity of High On Fire is now at its most potent.

The best German power metal band named after ‘a spontaneous group discussion to produce ideas and ways of solving problems’ (so says my computer’s dictionary) are back! Twenty years and eight albums later, they have solidified as premier leaders of the genre.

The best classic Bay Area thrash band you never heard is back, with their first album of original material in nineteen years. And not that they necessarily need it, but there are a slew of guest musicians with them to herald their return.

CWOTD is a perfect example of a supergroup unable to deliver on its promise. With one of the least memorable band names in Metal history, this album is destined for obscurity. The problem is that it feels rushed and unfinished, from the songwriting to the artwork. The band would have been wiser to construct a vicious, intriguing EP rather than reel in this nine-pound flounderer.

Rating: 4/5

Basically, the best thing ever happened to Fear Factory: Burton and Dino reconciled, and half of Strapping Young Lad was incorporated into the band’s strongest lineup to date. “Mechanize” easily rubs elbows with any of their definitive 90s output.