Visions: Flayed Disciple - The Shrine of Dahmer (NSFW)

The serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer isn't exactly new ground for metal artists to cover - Japanese stoner boogie overlords Church of Misery didn't miss the opportunity to add him to the list of killers they've based songs on, and grind legends Macabre had a whole album on him ('Everybody do the Dahmer!'). Even so, it hasn't stopped Flayed Disciple from tackling the subject of Dahmer head on. More so, they've only gone and created a downright nasty video to accompany it - plenty of shaky camera movement and grisly imagery make this an assault of depravity, occasionally cutting away to shots of the band, who pummel away at their instruments while their vocalists emits agonized brutal howls doing his best Chris Barnes impression (visually).

In all seriousness, we recommend you check out said video, after the jump, obviously. Flayed Disciple have been one of the leading lights of the UK extreme metal underground for a while now and their debut album 'Death Hammer' is released on May 28. On this evidence, they're going to tear the scene a new one.

Peter Clegg

XII Boar - Split Tongue, Cloven Hoof

XII Boar

Split Tongue, Cloven Hoof

Self-released

Last year we reviewed Hampshire sludge rockers XII Boar and identified a band with work to do, but with plenty of potential. Now they're back with 'Split Tongue, Cloven Hoof', another four tracks of raw power that signify a huge step up from the band.

Visions: Municipal Waste - The Fatal Feast (NSFW)

I'm by and large a big fan of Municipal Waste, having been a big part of satiating my wish for thrash to be the in thing in my lifetime - I missed the original wave as I was blissfully unaware, due to young age, of the effect this style of music was to have on my neck one day. I've been quick to obtain their albums upon release and have enjoyed them all right up to 'Massive Aggressive', which was still a great album even if not quite on a par with the two albums that preceded it.

The 'Waste are back with 'The Fatal Feast' and the title track is the inspiration for a brilliantly and typically over the top video from the Richmond crew, as they engorge their way through a space vessel's crew and its rescue team. The track itself surprised me at first with its more melodic vocals - but its no less thrashy and old school and it certainly picks up a gear at the right time. Their bloodlust is seemingly insatiable and hence, its every bit the reason you should probably not let your boss catch you watching this. As comical as it is, there's always plenty of blood to be spilled in Municipal Waste's world, and they're not holding back here. After the jump.

Peter Clegg 

Feist/Mastodon - Black Tongue/A Commotion 7"

Feist/Mastodon
'Feistodon': Black Tongue/A Commotion

Warner Bros.

I just thought I'd add my two pennies on this given that despite not attending Record Store Day (due to personal responsibilities, not lack of support for the cause), I have managed to listen to this limited release 7" that caused quite a commotion (pun very much intended) building up to its release, not least because of the unlikely connection between Canadian songstress Feist and Atlanta, Georgia metal titans Mastodon, which developed following their respective appearances at the same recording of the Jools Holland Show last year.

Pelican - Ataraxia/Taraxis

Pelican

Ataraxia/Taraxis

Southern Lord

Returning with their first new material since 2009, Chicago's Pelican deliver unto us yet another EP – they do love 'em – with 'Ataraxia/Taraxis', their third release for Southern Lord. It's free of the distractions that were brought with 'What We All Come to Need', namely the numerous guest appearances and the presence of a vocalist (The Life and Times/Shiner's Allen Epley) on 'Final Breath' that became such a talking point for a band which, musically, has become more introspective of late. The new EP is a return to basics for the band, focusing squarely on the efforts of its four members, although there's absolutely no surprises from Pelican on this release, and truth be told, there rarely is, although their influences have seemingly shifted over the years.

Melvins - The Bulls and the Bees

Melvins

The Bulls & The Bees

Scion A/V

The Melvins feel to have been around an eternity, yet show no signs of letting up their prolificacy. Indeed, 2012 is setting up to be an even busier year for them, with the forthcoming release of the 'Melvins Lite' album 'Freak Puke' almost upon us, following hot off the heels of the Scion A/V-backed EP 'The Bulls and The Bees', once again comprising the quartet of Buzz Osborne, Dale Crover and the Big Business rhythm section of Jared Warren and Coady Willis. Now in the 29^th year as a band in one shape or another, the Melvins are still bang on form and firing on all cylinders, even if 'The Bulls and The Bees' isn't quite classic material, although still far better than anything you can do.

Black Breath - Sentenced to Life

Black Breath

Sentenced to Life

Southern Lord

Seattle's hardcore thrashers Black Breath have whipped up such a frenzy in the last two or three years after unleashing 'Razor to Oblivion' and debut album 'Heavy Breathing', while touring the blue hell out of both of them. Such is the fervour generated in this short space of time has inevitably led to 'Sentenced to Life' becoming one of 2012's most anticipated albums, but at the same time it's anticipation that should be tempered with caution. No doubt there are still a few people sniping with the 'Entombed-lite' tag, not just at Black Breath, but at the entire hardcore/d-beat movement that has recently been forged with huge backing, particularly from Southern Lord. And the surprise that Black Breath caught people with on 'Heavy Breathing' is no longer that. I hate to refer to that 'difficult second album' cliché, but it's true.

High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis

High on Fire
De Vermis Mysteriis
E1 Music

Despite seemingly continuous revelry, it feels as though in some quarters, High on Fire have yet to please all the purists, despite increasing acclaim for their work. Some would argue 'Snakes for the Divine' was lacking High on Fire's true raw power, beckoning for another 'Blessed Black Wings'. Others, myself included, would argue High on Fire don't need another one of those albums, or indeed another 'Surrounded by Thieves'. They seem to gamely go about their task with the requisite menace and intensity without any need to shift their approach for an audience which widens a little more with each release. Nevertheless, there will always be a few who can never be fully satisfied.

Overkill - The Electric Age

Overkill

The Electric Age

Nuclear Blast

Within many walks of life, age is seen as a potential barrier to any further progress or indeed success. Within music and indeed heavy metal, it couldn't be any more the opposite. Showing absolutely no signs of letting up even as they get well into their fifties, New Jersey thrashers Overkill have unleashed sixteenth album 'The Electric Age' to the masses, off the back of the incredibly well-received and thoroughly awesome 'Ironbound', which no question was a huge shot in the arm for the band which arrived just as the thrash revival began to run out of steam. 

Gripe/Diseksa - Indefinite Detention

Gripe/Diseksa

Indefinite Detention
Tombs In The Valley/Opaques

Regular readers to this site ought to be aware of Gripe by now, the Athens, Georgia, US grind/hardcore punk crew whose first two releases were reviewed by the site. Having originally been a three-piece, it now appears they've added a bassist to their ranks as their sound certainly has a slightly groovier dimension, and they continue their good form shown on 'Pig Servant' with six new tracks of slamming punctuating politically-charged ferocity, and five from their split partners for this release, Malaysian grinders Diseksa.