Tuesday's Metal Releases

AC/DC - Backtracks (Columbia)
Amon Amarth - Versus The World Re-Release (Metal Blade)
Anthrax - Among The Living CD/DVD Re-Release (Island)
Bon Jovi - The Circle (Island)
Coalesce - Ox EP (Relapse)
The Company Band - The Company Band (Red)
Dark Funeral - Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus (Regain)
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - Licht (The End)
Gaza - He Is Never Coming Back (Metal Blade)
Gorgoroth - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt (Regain)
Gwar - America Must Be Destroyed Re-Release (Metal Blade)
Jacobs Dream - Beneath The Shadows (Retroactive)
Katatonia - Night Is The New Day (Peaceville)
King Diamond - House Of God Re-Release (Metal Blade)
King Diamond - Voodoo (Metal Blade)
Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough (Profound Lore)
Outbreak - Outbreak (Trustkill)
These Are They - Who Linger (The End)
Throwdown - Deathless (E1)
Vampire Mooose - The Reel (Rotten)
Witchmaster - Trücizna (Ibex Moon)

THOUGHTS: Alright, Bon Jovi  is clearly the big deal of this weeks releases when it comes to actually selling albums.  I have to say that so far The Circle sounds a lot more rock then its predecessor Lost Highway, but it's still not the working class gritty Bon Jovi that most rock fans want. It's more of a happy medium between what Bon Jovi was and has became.  Housewives will still like to play the record while  prepping for spin class, but now their husbands won't want to hang themselves while it's on. How delightful!
Now, on to metal.... Krallice has got to be the pick of the week.  Experimental black metal.  Somewhat progressive, but this album seems to be more of a throw back to the mid 90s sound.  Sometimes all this black metal shit can sound the same (even to a fan like myself), but Krallice manages to hold their own.  They are playing this Friday with Malkuth and Liturgy, who both sound strongly influenced by Krallice. (side note - I actually think Malkuth  has taken influence from Krallice and made it sound even better).

Then of course there is the black metal tabloid angels, Gorgoroth.  Only it's not the Gorgoroth that we have finally got used to knowing (with King & Gaahl).... now it's only original member is Infernus and pest is on vocals.  it's not a bad record, but Gaahl & King are better song writers and players than Infernus, and this album doesn't really stand out.

Also, a quick mention to The Company Band, who are actually a super group made up by vocalist Neil Fallon (Clutch), drummer Jess Margera (CKY), guitarists Jim Rota (Fireball Ministry) and Dave Bone and bassist Brad Davis (Fu Manchu).  It definitely sounds the most like Clutch, but will do well with fans of Turbonegro and Queens of The Stone Age.