Annihilator, legendary Canadian thrashers, will be releasing their fourteenth studio album. I have not been an Annihilator fan for too long, but only because I had never discovered them. Their first two studio releases, Alice In Hell and Never, Neverland are two of my favorite thrash albums. With the promise of more good riffs and 3D cover art (at least on some versions), this might prove to be the release of the year for thrash fans. August 27th is the date for North America.
Turisas, Finnish battle-metallers, have also announced that they will be releasing another album in August. Battle Metal and The Varangian Way are both great albums, full of catchy anthems. I was looking forward to more of the same with their last release, Stand Up and Fight, but was left slightly disappointed. The new album, titled TURISAS2013, (creative, I know) is described by vocalist Mathias Nygård:
"When it comes to the production it's just the opposite of the polished and massive ‘Stand Up And Fight’. It's raw and dry and in your face, but still maintaining that TURISAS-largeness."
I'm crossing my fingers that it's more like the first two Turisas than the last one. Considering all of the line-up changes that the band has gone through recently, I'd like to see a return to Turisas' roots (and possibly get a chance to see them live again).
Speaking of seeing bands live, I'm excited that I now hold tickets to a Wintersun tour, and will soon be acquiring Finntroll tickets as well. The only bad things about all of the awesome-ness surrounding releases and live shows this year? It's difficult to find time to write reviews of new albums and it's a little tough on the wallet as well.
Over and out, for now.
(Images borrowed from the respective band's Facebook pages, as well as Blabbermouth)
