I wanted to share a few of the albums set to be released in 2015 that have piqued my interest. Some of my favourite artists will be releasing new material, and material that can likely be counted on to be solid. While I have probably missed a few albums/artists that I am interested in, the following list gives a brief commentary on the ones I know about, and am excited for.
Eye of Horus
Eye of Horus are a local death metal band who can be likened to several prominent names in the genre such as Bloodbath and At The Gates. Their ‘Suffer Eternity’ EP is fantastic, and they are just as solid live. I’m looking forward to a full-length from this band in 2015, as well as attending (hopefully) several shows.
BLËED
Another local band, playing ‘death n’ roll’ (as described by one of the band members in an interview). BLËED is a hard band to put into a genre, drawing influences from many different genres. I think they have a bit of a death metal vibe, but others have differing opinions on the subject. Either way, another great band with absolutely insane live shows. Their EP was impressive, and they seem to have several other songs (that have been played live) in their repertoire. While I have yet to see anything official, BLËED did hint they would be recording a full-length album this year. I sure hope so!
Entrails
Earlier this month, Entrails finished the recording process of their upcoming album. Dan Swanö has been put in charge of the mixing, which bodes well for a death metal album. I am incredibly excited for this one as Entrails instantly shot into place as being one of my favourite bands from the moment I first heard them. If you don’t like death metal with an old-school Swedish feel, I doubt this one will change your mind. But if you enjoy that sound, it will definitely be an album worth checking out.
Månegarm
Another Swedish band, and another one of my personal favourites, will also be releasing a new album this year. While the details are scarce at this time, it will be a “late” 2015 release. Månegarm has been in the studio the last several weeks working on the upcoming album. While I am not typically a fan of a band that changes their style, it worked incredibly well for Månegarm on their last release, ‘Legions of the North’. That being said, it wasn’t so much a departure from their style as it was having a lot of the lyrics in english, instead of Swedish. It will be interesting to see what the band chooses for this next album.
Unleashed
While the title has yet to be announced, we can expect an ‘early spring’ release from Unleashed. This will be the 12th full length album from this particular band, and a release that I am quite excited about. Apparently picking up where ‘Odalheim’ left off, it should be a solid album for anyone who is a fan of Unleashed, or the style of music that they play. My fingers are crossed for a pre-order bundle with a really nice hoodie included...
Kataklysm
“Of Ghosts & Gods”
I do not believe there is a set release date for the new Kataklysm album yet. According to some of their webpages, we should expect a summer release. With Kataklysm on the 70 000 Tons of Metal cruise currently taking place, I wonder if they will preview a new track or two? This could be interesting as it seems as though they are just wrapping up the recording process. One thing is for certain: this will be a decent album as you can always count on Kataklysm to sound like Kataklysm.
Heidevolk
“Velua”
Heidevolk’s newest effort, ‘Velua’, is set to be released in March. The track listings are already available, as well as some really good pre-order packages. I couldn’t help myself and ordered the limited edition deluxe box set. I decided that besides getting what I’m sure will be a great album, I needed that wicked flag to add to the collection. The necklace is a very nice touch as well.
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| LTD edition Heidevolk pre-order bundle from Napalm Records. |
