For more than a decade the Tasmanian devils in Psycroptic have been delivering their brand of technical death metal. The Aussies' latest CD is The Inherited Repression. I caught up with the band's drummer Dave Haley, and he gives us the lowdown on the writing and recording of the new CD, where the title came from, his musical inspirations, what genre he thinks is the most difficult for a drummer to play and other subjects.

Read the complete Psycroptic Interview

(photo courtesy Nuclear Blast Records)

Their 2010 demo caused a bit of a buzz deep in the underground, but Pallbearer's full-length debut Sorrow And Extinction is earning rave reviews. The Arkansas doom metal trio brings heaviness and sadness along with flawless songwriting that gives the CD such an impact. Their pain and passion is your pleasure, as this is a top-notch doom metal album.

Read the complete Pallbearer - Sorrow And Extinction Review

Other Recent Heavy Metal CD Reviews:
Lay Down Rotten - Mask Of Malice
Monarch - Omens
Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned
Pilgrim - Misery Wizard

(CD cover courtesy Profound Lore Records)

Here are the new heavy metal CD releases for this week.   For the most detailed and up-to-date schedule, check out our complete Heavy Metal CD Release Date calendar.

February 14, 2012
Amoral - Beneath (The End)
Anguish - Through The Archdemons Head (Dark Descent)
Anvil - Pound For Pound Re-Release (The End)
Anvil - Strength Of Steel Re-Release (The End)
Anvil - Worth The Weight Re-Release (The End)
Avatar - Black Waltz (eOne)
Beneath The Massacre - Incongruous (Prosthetic)
Blood Ceremony - Blood Ceremony (Rise Above)
Breag Naofa - Breag Naofa (Panic)
Carnalation - Deathmask (Spinefarm)
Celestial Season - Forever Scarlet Passion Re-Release (Metalhit)
The Devastated - Devil's Messenger (Century Media)
Dimesland - Creepmoon (Vendlus)
Dunderbeist - Black Art & Crooked Tails (Indie)
Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II (Southern Lord)
Goatwhore - Blood For The Master (Metal Blade)
The Howling Void - Megaliths of the Abyss Re-Release (Metalhit)
Immolith - Stormdragon (Metalhit)
Iron Mask - Black As Death (AFM)
Knives Out - Black Mass Hysteria (Razor To Wrist)
Lillian Axe - XI: The Days before Tomorrow (CME)
Macabra - Blood-Nurtured Nature (Metalhit)
Nocturnal Torment - They Come At Night (Deathgasm)
Ominous Crucifix - The Spell of Damnation (FDA Rekotz)
Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned (Candlelight)
Pilgrim - Mystery Wizard (Metal Blade)
Ribozyme - Presenting The Problem (Indie)
Strikemaster - Vicious Nightmare (Metalhit)
Temple Of Baal/Ritualization - The Visions Of Fading Mankind Split (Agonia)
Witchaven - Terrorstorm (Metalhit)
Wykked Wytch - The Ultimate Deception (Goomba)
Zombie Inc - A Dreadful Decease (Massacre)

Heavy metal isn't the most romantic of genres.  There's a lot of brutality, violence, death and destruction in the music.  However, on this Valentine's Day, we feature the softer side of metal, namely hair bands.  And nearly every hair metal band in the '80s and early '90s had at least one power ballad when fans at concerts would fire up their lighters (that was before cell phones, kids).  So break out the acid-washed jeans and the hairspray and enjoy a guilty Valentine's Day pleasure of  some of the best hair metal ballads.

Best Hair Metal Ballads

(CD cover courtesy Capitol Records)