Most Anticipated Metal Releases of 2016 – Part 3
Welcome to Part 3 of my most anticipated album releases of 2016. Missed Parts 1 and 2? Click the links below and find out why I’m thinking that 2016 could be one of the strongest years for rock and metal for a long time:
Most Anticipated Metal Releases of 2016 – Part 1
Most Anticipated Metal Releases of 2016 – Part 2
If these weren’t enough, today I bring you another 10 potential releases, in no particular order, all of which are highly exciting for me.
Redemption – The Art Of Loss
This US-based band is one of the very best within the progressive metal subgenre. Adventurous song writing, clinical execution and innate understanding of the role that melody has to play in such music. Add to this the ability to pen beautifully poignant and raw lyrics and you’re on to a real winner. Redemption are one of those bands that can seemingly do no wrong, with each and every album offering high quality progressive metal. Of course it helps that they are blessed with a singer in the form of Fates Warning’s Ray Alder, but it’s the overall song writing and vision of guitarist Nick van Dyk that helps take Redemption to a whole new level of excellence. The new album, entitled ‘The Art Of Loss’, is scheduled for a March 2016 release. I can’t wait!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqwZ5FdxHYk&w=560&h=315]
Vanishing Point – Title ‘TBC’
I make no secret of my love for Vanishing Point. Ever since I heard the superlative ‘Tangled In Dream’ back in 2000, I have been smitten. To me, it was the perfect melodic progressive metal album, full of memorable songs both beautiful and sophisticated. Subsequent albums fell slightly short but in 2014, with ‘Distant Is The Sun’, the Australians well and truly rediscovered their mojo. Melody, intelligence and a satisfying amount of heavy metal crunch, it pressed all my buttons and remains an album that I return to on a frequent basis. Again, as with other picks in this post, there’s no official confirmation of a new album in 2016 but I have a feeling we’ll see new material. Bring it on, I say.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsMdsla0ju8&w=560&h=315]
Voyager – Title ‘TBC’
Australian metallers Voyager have been around for a while but their rise in recent years has been rather meteoric in metal terms. Beginning in 2011 with ‘The Meaning Of I’ and then well and truly cemented with the astonishingly good ‘V’ in 2014, the world had no choice but to sit up and take notice of this rather unique band. Blending progressive metal with melodic rock, pop and an understated dash of modern electronic music, the result is ultra catchy and totally addictive. It of course helps that Voyager are a close-knit group with excellent musicians in every department topped off by the superlative Daniel Estrin behind the microphone. If the recently-released new single ‘Misery Is Only Company’ is anything to go by, a new album in 2016 threatens to very special indeed.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3K4_4Bpn6M&w=560&h=315]
Cynthesis – Title ‘TBC’
Seemingly everything that the Tipton brothers touch turns to gold and Cynthesis is no different. We’ve already seen two albums under the Cynthesis moniker and when I spoke with Jasun Tipton during 2015, he confirmed that the third Cynthesis album was written, thus completing a dystopian trilogy in the process. Cynthesis is the most atmospheric, melodic and sensitive of all of the bands that feature the Tipton brothers and I absolutely adore the atmosphere and the lashings of gorgeous melodies that are a feature of both ‘DeEvolution’ and ‘ReEvolution’ respectively. Given the preposterously brilliant technical prowess of the musicians involved, I expect nothing short of a sonic treat when finally the third Cynthesis instalment sees the light of day.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2c9iTdU-xo&w=420&h=315]
Long Distance Calling – Trips
Beginning life as an instrumental band, German post-rockers Long Distance Calling took the decision with ‘The Flood Inside’ to introduce a vocalist. The results as far as I was concerned were superb, turning a hitherto unloved band into an act that now sits front and centre in my affections. Atmospheric, multi-layered, intelligent and somewhat enigmatic, the compositions are not always easy to grasp to begin with. However, with repeated listens, the music bears its fruit and snares the listener without them even realising what’s going on. With a brand new vocalist, it remains to be seen what a new Long Distance Calling album will sound like. Mind you, if it anything like the last, the late April release ‘Trips’ will be a sure-fire winner with me.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjmoQ0jz8MA&w=560&h=315]
Big Big Train – Folklore
In recent years, I have become a sucker for the more relaxed sounds of classic progressive rock. One of the biggest and best finds for me has unquestionably been Big Big Train. The music borrows a little from the likes of early Genesis and is English pastoral progressive rock at its finest. As far as I’m concerned, Big Big Train are the undisputed genre leaders thanks to a willingness to experiment within and outside the confines of the progressive rock sphere, all the while creating music that is utterly compelling. From cheeky upbeat numbers right through to sprawling epic affairs via plenty of emotionally-charged compositions full of beautiful melodies and wonderfully imagined sonic vistas. Following on from the highly acclaimed ‘English Electric’ double-header, get ready in 2016 for ‘Folklore’.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EcnUmnbyUQ&w=560&h=315]
Anathema – Title ‘TBC’
Ok, so this is a bit of a long shot. I’ve heard nothing from the Anathema camp to suggest that there is definitely a new album on the horizon for 2016. However, such is my love for this band, I live in hope, especially given the fact that the last studio album saw the light of day in 2014. Anathema are one of those bands that transcends genres to the point that talk about whether they are prog, post-rock, alternative rock or whatever is meaningless. Anathema write music that is emotionally charged, honest, poignant and utterly beautiful. I have lost count of the number of times that the brothers Cavanagh and Co. have brought me to tears via their music such is the elegance and raw honesty that is baked right into every Anathema composition. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: forget the Beatles, Anathema are the best band to emerge from Liverpool, end of story.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrp3FuxdyHE&w=560&h=315]
Treat – Title ‘TBC’
If there’s one melodic hard rock album I’m really looking forward to in 2016, it’s the new studio album from Treat. In 2010, the Swedes released ‘Coup de Grace’ and it blew me away. Melodicrock.com gave it a full 100% review and it isn’t hard to see why. Huge hooks, massive choruses, driving tempos and enough oomph to satisfy those looking for a little bite to their melodic rock, I fell in love with it almost immediately. ‘Coup de Grace’ remains on heavy rotation on my stereo and I never get bored of it. I therefore have high hopes for the new record, due out sometime in 2016.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbIIMjPErK4&w=420&h=315]
Bal Sagoth – Title ‘TBC’
Ah Bal Sagoth. That most intriguing and entertaining of extreme metal bands. I discovered this UK-based band very early on in my exploration of music that pushed the boundaries and they’ve been an important part of my collection ever since. Led by the enigmatic Byron, they fuse the fury and aggression of black metal with fantasy lyrics and more synth-led bombastic symphonics than you’d think possible in music of this kind. One glance at album titles such as ‘Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima thule’ and you get the idea. This is overblown, pompous extreme metal but it works brilliantly. The band have gone very quiet since signing for Nuclear Blast and releasing ‘The Cthonic Chronicles’ banck in 2006. However, I remain ever hopeful that after a wait of the best part of a decade, we get another record. Please Byron, sir, please?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDmNkvE050I&w=420&h=315]
Iced Earth – The Judas Goat
A perennial favourite, Iced Earth are surely due another album in 2016, although nothing has yet been confirmed beyond the usual rumours that are circulating. It was a shame that vocalist Matt Barlow has left the fold but in Stu Block (ex-Into Eternity), Iced Earth have found the perfect replacement. His range and natural ability behind the mic is the idea accompaniment to the classic/thrash/power metal for which guitarist and founder Jon Schaffer is famous. After a couple of hit and miss albums in recent times, Iced Earth returned to form in blistering style with 2014’s ‘Plagues Of Babylon’, meaning that the excitement for its follow-up, tentatively titled ‘The Judas Goat’ is even more feverish than before amongst the legions of loyal Iced Earth fans, myself included.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yLBNRyGvG8&w=560&h=315]
