Every week, I check out the new releases. Some weeks, there aren’t any that interest me. Some weeks, there are too many. Here are the notable entries from this past week.

As March 20th approached, there were two big releases I was looking forward to: new albums from Exodus and Gaerea. By the end of the day, both of those were forgotten, overshadowed by one titanic, tectonic release. I’m not exaggerating when I say it shook me, and hard.

At the same time, there were three other releases that deserve mention, even though I haven’t been able to give them the time they deserve. When King Kong walks down the street, you forget about the bonobo hanging in the tree.

Exodus — Goliath

It’s been a few years since we last heard from Exodus. In that time, Zetro was let go from the band, and Rob Dukes returned on vocals. Truth is, I prefer Rob. He’s similar enough to Zetro to still fit the sound of the band (and I think that Exhibit B may be the best Exodus album), but doesn’t have that annoying quality that Zetro does.

So, I was pretty excited for Rob’s return. And the album is, well, fine. It isn’t terrible. But it isn’t really anything special. There aren’t any tracks that jump out at me. The guitars still sound vicious, the production is clean and razor sharp. Dukes sounds sufficiently pissed off.

But it isn’t really hitting for me. The most damning thing I can say is this: I get bored about halfway through.

Gaerea — Loss

Gaerea has been on a tear lately. Getting better and better ever since Unsettling Whispers. I loved Coma, though I recognize it lost some of its black metal edge.

Love it or hate it, Loss continues that trajectory. There are more clean vocals, more moments of melody. The guitars still hit, but it is definitely moving away from black metal to become something a bit more like blackened melodic death metal.

I still like a lot about this album, but someone on Reddit put it perfectly: What if Sleep Token, but actually metal?

That was accurate enough; it made me uncomfortable.

Hanging Garden — Isle of Bliss

Hanging Garden is one of those bands I’ve added to my library, but just haven’t seen myself coming back to all that often. Isle of Bliss has the chance to change that.

This is melancholy, sadboi, melodic death metal. It hints at older Swallow the Sun and Insomnium. That’s pretty good company. I’ve made it through one full playthrough, and I’m excited to give it more time.

Once I’m done obsessing about something else.

The Holeum — Ensis

The Holeum plays in the same sandbox as Hanging Garden. But where I draw comparisons to Swallow the Sun and Insomnium, The Holeum makes me think more of Ghost Brigade.

Again, great company to be in. There are more post-doom elements at play on Ensis, and first track, “The Fermi Paradox”, comes out of the gate swinging. This is heavy, moody, atmospheric doom. I didn’t expect to like Ensis as much as I do, despite really enjoying The Holeum’s two previous albums.

Ensis is something that deserves a lot more attention than it is receiving. It is a powerful album.

Ethereal Darkness — Echoes

There seems to be some theme here. Maybe the spring equinox attracts melancholic, doomy, darkness. Because Echoes is another entrant in that realm.

And the fact it is a damn good record is impressive. It hangs with Hanging Garden and The Holeum, pushing more to the doom side of things, but keeping it plenty moody.

It is also an improvement, in pretty much every way, over Smoke and Shadows, the debut from the band back in 2019.

Neurosis — An Undying Love for a Burning World

Holy shit.

No one stood a chance.

No one knew it was coming.

I got home from work to the email that Neurosis, my all-time favorite band, had released a new album. Nearly a decade since their previous release. After band turmoil that left their future in question.

They surprise dropped a new album, Aaron Turner taking over guitar/vocal duties from the dismissed Scott Kelly.

An Undying Love for a Burning World is a triumph. I will admit to finding it difficult to be objective with this album. Hell, screw objectivity. I admit that part of my love of this album is that I never thought I would get new Neurosis music. Ever.

It is a brilliant album. There is something special about the music Neurosis makes. It is heavy in a way very few bands can accomplish: both sonically and existentially. That continues here, but with even more evolution of their trademark post-metal ability to balance the crushing heaviness and the calm tension.

I don’t know where this ranks in their venerable ouvre, but for now, it is all I can listen to. Welcome back, Neurosis. We missed you.