As the weather is warming up, so is the metal. May was a really strong month for new releases. Veterans such as Megadeth proved they still have what it takes, while extreme acts like Cephalic Carnage and Immolation prove they belong in the upper echelon of metal. Here are my choices for the best heavy metal albums released in May, 2007.
1. Megadeth - United Abominations (Roadrunner)
United Abominations is the best Megadeth album in at least a decade. The band's current lineup is a good one, with guitarist Glen Drover, bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Shawn Drover. This CD features some outstanding guitar work from Drover and Mustaine. There are some killer riffs, and it's nice to hear some classic style extended solos.Read the complete Megadeth review.
2. Cephalic Carnage - Xenosapien (Relapse)
Cephalic Carnage is a band whose bread and butter is grindcore and death metal, but they also branch out with some songs that are really unusual and experimental and venture into Mastodon territory. This is an album filled with crushing riffs, searing solos and music that can be relentlessly intense or surprisingly catchy. Xenosapien is a great mix of technicality, brutality, melody, and groove.Read the complete Cephalic Carnage review.
3. Marduk - Rom 5:12 (Regain)
Marduk's ability to play at breakneck speeds is well documented, and they display some of that on this album, but they also have several mid-tempo songs and even a slow song or two. Catchy riffs and crisp production showcase the songs that are dark and dense, extreme yet still very listenable. It has everything you want and expect from a Marduk CD, but there are some interesting and new elements that may surprise you.Read the complete Marduk review.
4. Immolation - Shadows In The Light (Century Media)
Shadows In The Light is a devastating combination of originality and brutality. While not quite as experimental as their last release, the songs on this album have complicated and unusual arrangements. The guitar interplay, dissonant riffs and clever harmonies of Robert Vigna and Bill Taylor are outstanding, and even though the music is complex, they never lose sight of the groove.Read the complete Immolation review.
5. Vintersorg - Solens Rötter (Napalm)
Folk elements are front and center, with a lot of acoustic guitars, flutes and strings. Solens Rötter also has elements of other genres of metal. There are some traditional metal guitar riffs and melodies along with more forbidding black metal touches. It's a nice combination of the warmness of folk metal and the coldness of black metal.Read the complete Vintersorg review.
