That's Not Metal

Perran and Mark consider the news of a four day Download next year, the loss of The Pit/Lock Up stage at Reading & Leeds, the pros and cons of growling kids on talent shows, and a bunch of new tracks including a return to form In Flames and Steve Aoki putting his fingers in some rock music pies again.Releases:D.R.U.G.S. - Destroy RebuildLit - Tastes Like GoldNova Twins - SupernovaCivil War - InvadersEsoctrilihum - Consecration of the Spiritus FleshWhite Ward - False LightWeezer - SZNS: Summer

Returning from Slam Dunk weekend, Alexisonfire's comeback album and another stormer from Kreator head up reviews with Bleed From Within, Coheed and Cambria, Joyce Manor, Final Light, Astronoid, & Nervus.Alexisonfire 22:31Kreator 41:38Bleed From Within 56:31Coheed and Cambria 1:09:07Joyce Manor 1:19:48Final Light 1:30:01Astronoid 1:41:17Nervus 1:52:15

Perran's joined by guest Mark Sandison to talk about the feral action going down at Maryland Deathfest, Bring Me the Horizon's throwback Malta set, new tunes from Amon Amarth and Panic! At the Disco, but mainly the feral action going down at Maryland Deathfest. Good grief.Releases:The Chasm - The Scars of a Lost Reflective ShadowKreator - Hate Uber AllesBleed From Within - ShrineAstronoid - Radiant BloomGwar - The New Dark AgesThe Algorithm - Data RenaissanceArtificial Brain - Artificial BrainOrigin - ChaosmosCrobot - Feel ThisMemphis May Fire - Remade In MiseryNo Pressure - No PressureTemple of Void - Summoning the SlayerKillswitch Engage - Live at the Palladium

Milton Keynes' transport network is sent into meltdown by a bunch of emos as My Chemical Romance, Mayhem, and Elton John (not on the same bill) saw a crazy Saturday night. With this episode though we salute Alec Chillingworth, who takes his leave from TNM. Cheers for your love everybody, one and all.Releases:Decapitated - Cancer CultureDef Leppard - Diamond Star HalosTremonti - Tremonti Sings SinatraLiam Gallagher - C’mon You KnowbigLOVE - Crusaders of JoyBesvärjelsen - AtlasLord Belial - RaptureSacrifizer - Le diamant de LuciferBlack Void - AntithesisSpiter - Bathe the Babe in Bat’s BloodMournful Congregation - The Exuviae of Gods Part IBaest - Justitia

As My Chemical Romance surprise us with their first new song, there's more talk of deathcore bands sneaking in Euro-metal with Lorna Shore's new track, charlatans selling the wrong rock artists at the Eurovision Song Contest, attempts to dodge flying setlist spoilers, and a general weird gig trip to Oranssi Pazuzu.Releases:Pkew Pkew Pkew - Open BarState Champs - Kings of the New AgeMoon Tooth - PhototrophVisions of Atlantis - PiratesMisery Index - Complete ControlJungle Rot - A Call to ArmsPrimitive Man - InsurmountableFamyne - II: The Ground BelowMalevolence - Malicious IntentStatic Dress - Rouge Carpet DisasterCave In - Heavy PendulumSepticflesh - Modern PrimitiveCasket Feeder - Servants of ViolenceAnvil - Impact is ImminentJames LaBrie - Beautiful Shade of GreyEvergrey - A Heartless Portrait: The Orphean TestamentBlut Aus Nord - Disharmonium: Undreamable AbyssesPredatory Light - Death and the Twilight HoursLuminous Vault - Animate the EmptinessCome to Grief - When the World DiesUnbowed - Colour the SoulBe Well - Hello Sun

Some potential break-out records and long-awaited works populate May reviews with Ibaraki, Malevolence, Static Dress, Cave In, Puppy, Septicflesh, and Casket Feeder, but first, after the heartbreaking news we remember the wonderful Trevor Strnad.Ibaraki 26:53Malevolence 58:15Static Dress 1:13:28Cave In 1:25:46Puppy 1:42:36Septicflesh 1:55:56Casket Feeder 2:08:51

The mystery of Rammstein's possible fake tour dates has us scratching our heads, Suicide Silence make a blast return to their roots, and we talk about versatile vocalists, our personal most important hardcore bands, and question what it could take to knock some of the big league bands off the top, as well as live reports from Tool's Fear Inoculum tour and Helloween's returning run.Releases:Halestorm - Back from the DeadFozzy - BoomboxThree Days Grace - ExplosionsSilverstein - Misery Made MeSimple Plan - Harder Than It LooksStand Atlantic - F.E.A.R.Upon a Burning Body - FuryIbaraki - RashomonTerror - Pain Into PowerPuppy - Pure EvilGod Mother - ObevekligChamber - Carved In StoneUfomammut - FeniceWo Fat - The SingularityCosmic Putrefaction - Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed OnesTómarúm - Ash In Realms of Stone IconsHaunter - Discarnate AlisMalthusian / Suffering Hour - Time's Withering ShadowNegative Plane - The Pact

This week's Hyperblasts sees our review of Rammstein's dramatic and diverse new album Zeit swiftly coming through the pandemic with more actual music, along with all the usual news antics. Releases:Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of WatainDevil Master - Ecstasies of Never Ending NightMizmor & Thou - MyopiaThe Gathering - Beautiful DistortionDälek - PrecipiceHelms Alee - Keep This Be the WayThe Lord - Forest NocturneDischordia - TriptychAl-Namrood - Worship the DegenerateNo/Más - Consume/Deny/RepentThrowe - ForfaldSkull Fist - Paid In FullUdo Dirkschneider - My WayBeachdog - BeachdogJames and the Cold Gun - False StartHeriot - Profound MoralityRammstein - Zeit

Architects, While She Sleeps, The Wonder Years and Tribulation lead a barrage of tracks, and we cast our minds over ill-fitting collaborations.Releases:Darkher - The Buried StormPrince Daddy & the Hyena - Prince Daddy & the HyenaSpanish Love Songs - Brave Faces Etc.Rope Sect - Metanoia SessionsThe Troops of Doom - Antichrist RebornThese Arms are Snakes - Duct Tapes & Shivering CrowsGreyhaven - This Bright and Beautiful WorldMonuments - In StasisAnalepsy - QuiescenceEgregore - The Word of His LawIncandescence - Le Couer De L'HommeMånegarm - Ynglingaättens ödeUndeath - It's Time... To Rise from the GraveBob Vylan - Bob Vylan Presents the Price of LifeNorthlane - ObsidianOcean Grove - Up in the Air ForeverBodysnatcher - Bleed-AbidePrimus - ConspiranoidAudrey Horne - Devil's BellAmenra / Cave In / Marissa Nadler - Songs of Townes van Zandt Vol. IIIVanum - LegendCorpsessed - Succumb to RotArchgoat - All Christianity EndsStatic Abyss - Labyrinth of VeinsMirror - The Day Bastard Leaders DieCaliban - DystopiaKing Gizzard & the Lizard Wizzard - Omnium GatherumTribulation - The Dhampir

Divisive picks and party tricks lead April's reviews on TNM of new Meshuggah, PUP, Watain, Carpenter Brut, Undeath, Devil Master, Cancer Bats, and The Good, The Bad and the Zugly, as well as a first trip to Ghost's Imperatour.Meshuggah 24:27PUP 57:13Watain 1:15:40Carpenter Brut 1:43:26Undeath 1:58:31Devil Master 2:10:36Cancer Bats 2:22:40The Good, The Bad and the Zugly 2:34:43