Classic Judas Priest line-up, first release together since ’90’s Painkiller, the best-sounding release they ever had, and the one I reach for most often.
Unsigned Baltimore band’s debut. Has new band syndrome, tackling all the styles they like. Good singer, good players, just no real tunes or power melodies.
Abacus comes through again with genre-bending metalcore. The drummer kills. Breakdowns, blastbeats, duelling Swedish melodic leads all over the place, death roar, hardcore bark, screamy howl, huge production.
Wicked strong ’80s rock vibe and big choruses, shitty bar rock guitar rock sound, and a sexy singer who cooes and lets her voice catch every other word.