Written By Keven McSweeney
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs, Metal Lair’s weekly feature where we bring you the most badly-written news of the best new releases.
This week, we’re highlighting songs from some of the best new albums to be released between April 27th and May 3rd, with a particular emphasis on those artists who don’t yet have the profile they deserve.
But first, let us turn to the big names. Former Queensrÿche vocalist Geoff Tate delivers Operation: Mindcrime III on, aptly enough, the 3rd of May – the first two parts of this trilogy having been delivered with the aid of his illustrious erstwhile bandmates.
There’s exciting news of nü metal stalwarts, as Sevendust give us One on May 1st via Napalm Records. This is the 15th studio album of their storied career, whereas Godsmack hit us with a live album, Live at Mohegan Sun, independently on the same date.
There’s another live album in the form of High Voltage – Live at Spotsylvania ‘78 by doom metal doyens Pentagram.
And if that isn’t legendary enough for you, there’s the resurrection of British black metal pioneers Venom on May 1st. Into Oblivion will be their 16th studio album, but with all other formats taken into consideration, it might actually be their 666th release.
There are other bands and artists, however, who don’t have that level of name recognition but are just as worthy of your time. Let’s run through seven of them now.
Seven Deadly Songs: Antirope – Zero
Why on Earth would you be anti rope? I live in Devon! I’m not going to be able to keep my trousers up without the aid of baling twine!
Anyway, we commence proceedings this week with what I almost certainly shouldn’t be calling German Grunge, but I’m going to anyway.
Despite citing Soundgarden as an influence, and having the harmonies and chugging guitars that one would associate with Alice in Chains, they probably sound more like Bush than anyone else. Don’t let that put you off, though. They’re a lot better than Rossdale and Co.
Zero is effectively the title track from their second full-length album Bring Me to Zero, which will be available from May 1st via Eclipse Records.
Please be a hero and check out Zero. I don’t mean you should check out nothing. Enjoy all the songs on this list, please!
Seven Deadly Songs: Brüle – Enter The Cult
Not to be confused with Bruul, the British doom metal band (whose self-titled EP is due to be released independently on May 1st and is also worth checking out!)
This is French doom metal with a distinct stoner vibe. The Perpignan trio are due to release their second full-length album Beltane independently on May 1st – named presumably in honour of the Gaelic festival of fire that takes place on the day of the album’s release.
(“Bealtaine” is the name for the month of May in my mother tongue, I’ll have you know!) Enter The Cult is slow and atmospheric, with melodies that hang in the air like thick plumes of illicit smoke.
Also, drummer Carla Boccand has the shallowest rack toms I have ever seen. I’m not sure why that’s relevant, but I’m mentioning it anyway.
Seven Deadly Songs: Dysemblem – Excavation Nightmares
I know all about excavation nightmares, living in the British city of Plymouth, which was heavily bombed in World War II. The amount of unexploded munitions they dig up here is truly shocking, but I digress.
London death metal duo Dysemblem kicked off the week – kicking it squarely in the nuts in all likelihood – with the release of Buried by The Weight of Light.
It’s their third full-length album, and it dropped on April 27th, courtesy of Memento Mori. It was a busy beginning to the week for that label, with them also releasing the album Brána Chladu by Slovakian doomsters Hrob on the same day. What better way to begin a week than with a bit of British brutality and Slovakian savagery?
Seven Deadly Songs: In Malice’s Wake – Beyond Death
Melbourne thrashers In Malice’s Wake have been making music with more venom than the bite of a Sydney Funnel Web for the best part of a quarter of a century now, and the Australians are as abrasive as ever on their fifth full-length album, The Profound Darkness, which is due to be released independently on May 1st.
Though billed as thrash metal, it kinda sounds like death metal to me at times, given that the vocals are more akin to Florida in the 1990s than California in the 1980s.
Also, there’s riffs in this track that could have come from Cannibal Corpse or Morbid Angel. What is beyond doubt, however, is that this is extreme metal of the highest quality.
Just be mindful that, if they ever mention cracking open a cold one, they’re talking about having a beer, not dismembering a corpse.
Seven Deadly Songs: Oldowan Gash – 1,000 Dreams of War
There are many reasons for me to include the title track of the second full-length album from the LA-based black metal solo project by “The Forlorn Spirit”, which is due to be released on April 30th via Amor Fati Productions.
Not least is the fact that I grunt like Beavis and Butthead at the very mention of the word gash.
Also, “Oldowan” sounds like the name of a Scottish soccer club and, despite harrowing recent global events, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a fucking cool title!
The main reason is that it’s an outstanding bit of black metal from a seriously talented artist, but the fact that the album artwork has something of the Bayeux Tapestry about it doesn’t exactly hurt either.
Another reason is that I love a good black metal solo project, and this one won’t be the last on this week’s list. You may count on that.
Seven Deadly Songs: Vansind – Alvild
Danish folk metal ensemble Vansind have only been around since 2019, but theirs is a sound that seems to echo through the aeons.
It’s also a sound that stirred my Celtic blood, primarily through the deployment of bagpipes, fiddle and even tin whistle via the immeasurably talented hands of multi-instrumentalist Rikke Klint Johanson.
They also pursue a “Beauty and the Beast” vocal approach, courtesy of J. Asgaard and Line Burglin, with Burglin’s melismatic style bearing a striking similarity to Irish “Sean Nós” singing.
Their second full-length album Hævnen launches like a longboat on May 1st, courtesy of Mighty Music.
Carlsberg don’t do folk metal, which is just as well, because they’re bad enough at making beer. Leave it to Vansind! Or French folk metallers Sorcières, whose album La Nuit des Temps is out on April 30th via L’Ordalie Noir.
Seven Deadly Songs: Ysbrydnos – Fullmoon Over Mynyddcerrig
The Welsh do love the letter Y, and also their double letters. I’m fairly keen on Double D’s myself, if I’m honest, and I love a good black metal solo project as I mentioned earlier, so I’m pleased to draw your attention to the handiwork of Welsh wizard Ysbryd.
He is due to release his second full-length album, Welsh Mythical Darkness, via Repose Records on May 1st, and it does exactly what it says on the tin, as myths and music as black as Welsh slate can be found in abundance throughout the recording, as evidenced by this particular track.
Mynyddcerrig is a village in Carmarthenshire, though the immense length of the track might make you think more of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
For more outstanding British black metal solo work, see The Free Man by Tim Shaw’s Fyrdsman, also released on May 1st, and I’ll see you in seven for another seven.
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SEVEN DEADLY SONGS Q&A
Q: What is Seven Deadly Songs?
A: Seven Deadly Songs is Metal Lair’s weekly roundup of the heaviest new releases across the full metal spectrum. Each week we spotlight seven standout tracks you shouldn’t miss.
Q: When does Seven Deadly Songs update?
A: We post a new edition every Friday, typically highlighting weekly new releases.
Q: Where can I find the best new metal songs?
A: Right here. Seven Deadly Songs is your go-to source for discovering the latest metal tracks including fresh black, death, thrash, doom, and speed metal releases, all curated in one place.
Q: How can I listen to the songs featured?
A: Every featured track links out to the artist’s official release, streaming platform, or label page so you can dive deeper and support the bands directly.
Q: Does Metal Lair have other weekly series?
A: Absolutely, Try:
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About The Author
Kevin McSweeney is Metal Lair’s resident scribe of the underground, eternally rummaging through the global metal scene for riffs worth your time.
As the guiding hand behind Seven Deadly Songs every Friday, he has an uncanny knack for finding the track you didn’t know you needed, usually before finishing his pint.
Equal parts loyal, kind, and quietly razor-witted, Kevin brings deep knowledge, impeccable taste, and a steady, reliable presence to Metal Lair.
Read More From This Author:
EP Review: Knowing It Shall Wake by Olympus
Album Review: Wildcard by Death Warmed Up
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