And so we enter the second half of the year. Maybe this ghastly summer will finally end, partly so I don’t sweat myself to death, but mostly because we all know the best releases come out in the autumn! Until then, we’ve got the best releases of July to tide you over! A leaner package this time, we’ve got four of the best for you: the return of some prog metal legends, some rather unique progressive black metal, an intense and bass-forward jazz fusion extravaganza, an unexpected prog death drop, and some weird brutal death metal. Check ’em out!

---

Protest the Hero – Within
Recommended for fans of: Between the Buried and Me, The Human Abstract, Fair to Midland
Picked by: Claire

I was too young to listen to Kezia when it came out in 2005 (well, maybe if my parents had been cooler, but I digress). Though the teenagers who created that bombshell of a debut album have aged into dads in their forties, Protest the Hero has never lost sight of what makes an album tick. On the short and sweet (and also sometimes sour and salty) new release Within, Protest the Hero’s coherence of punk irreverence and progressive grandeur is as tight as ever. There’s an impudence to the record that makes it clear that the band is doing exactly what they want to do. That attitude manifests in both the insouciant storytelling of “Fishhook” and “Grandfather’s Axe” and the surging crests and contemplative lulls of “The Orchard” and “Liberty Spike”. The record’s short runtime leaves the listener wanting more; another hit of those spine-tinglingly intricate riffs or another verse of Rody Walker’s perfectly dialled-in yowls. Within is immediate, familiar without being predictable, and fresh without ever feeling like a midlife makeover.

Recommended tracks: Mouthpiece, The Orchard, Liberty Spike
Related links: Bandcamp | original review

---

Ænigmatum – Infinitude’s Passage
Recommended for fans of: Death, Blood Incantation, Obscura, Ulcerate, The Chasm, Blut Aus Nord
Picked by: Andy

Dropped out of the blue, Infinitude’s Passage pushes Ænigmatum to the forefront of the death metal world. The Oregonians deftly mix influences from several types of tech death: the melodic proginess of Obscura, gnarly blackened tremolos of Hath, disconcerting dissonance of Ulcerate, and ridiculous tech bass of late-era Death. Colin Marston’s production ties it all together. And despite ridiculous instrumental performances, especially Pierce Williams’ fluid yet insanely fast drumming, the churning songs are less a display of pure virtuosity and more a display of great progressive songwriting. Effortlessly switching between shreddy solos and groovy riffs, Ænigmatum have anything a tech death fan could want and then some.

Recommended tracks: Pitless Mechanism, Inseverable, A Tarnished Nexus
Related links: Bandcamp | original review

---

Sallow Moth – Hydrophilous Brood
Recommended for fans of: Gorguts, Edge of Sanity, Blood Incantation, Cynic
Picked by: Cooper

Since the band’s inception, Sallow Moth seem to have prided themselves on their constantly metamorphosizing sound. Continuing where the melting pot of jazz fusion, prog rock, and brutal death metal where Mossbane Lantern left off, Sallow Moth’s newest, Hydrophilous Brood, sees mastermind multi-instrumentalist Garry Brents incorporating influences from across death metal’s history  in order to convey its labyrinthine sci-fantasy concept. While the proghead may catch bits of Cynic or Edge of Sanity scattered about, a true brutal death aficionado will also recognize the DNA of bands like Gorguts, Cephalic Carnage, and Deeds of Flesh. The end result never feels disjointed though, instead held together by Brents’ stellar sense of groove and the ever-flowing blasts of new drummer Allen Gingerich. Mossbane Lantern found itself on my best of ‘25 list, and with Hydrophilous Brood it seems Sallow Moth may be a repeat champion.

Recommended tracks: Arcane Benthic Umbilicus, Hydrophilous Brood, Serene Aqueous Leech
Related links: Bandcamp | original review

---

Namu – Wretched Spawn of Iniquitous Orders
Recommended for fans of: Mare Cognitum, Oranssi Pazuzu, Borknagar
Picked by: Clay

One-man British black metal act Namu leaves quite the impression on debut, Wretched Spawn of Iniquitous Orders. Thematically, the album covers dark tales of abduction from otherworldly beings and Namu backs this with eerie, hypnotic melodies and synths that wax and wane throughout each track. Wretched Spawn oscillates between peaks of roaring black and melodic death metal and serene, echo-laden gentle passages with smooth, natural transitions resulting in a diverse though coherent listening experience. The addition of clean vocals during the softer sections, beautifully complements the acoustic sections without feeling forced. With the layers of melodies drifting around the metal and acoustic passages, Wretched Spawn has a rich, mesmerizing depth. The album culminates with closing track “Triptych” as layers of chanting, distorted harmonies, and steadily built tension erupt with soaring vocals atop a mid-tempo’d metallic stomping. A can’t miss album for fans of progressive black metal and alien imagery alike.

Recommended tracks: Catharsis in Stasis, A Fold’s Gather, Triptych
Related links: Bandcamp | original review

---

Mohini Dey – The Dey Way
For fans of: Thank You Scientist, Nuclear Power Trio, Snarky Puppy
Picked by: Attila

If, like me, you feel that the bass is the most unduly neglected instrument in contemporary music, then boy, do I have an album for you! Mohini Dey, the bass response to all the guitar virtuosos that pop up at every corner, gives you everything you wanted and more. Her five-string takes the driving seat, riding from chill jam sessions to frantic slap solos, as The Dey Way traverses over a landscape of prog rock-influenced jazz fusion. Dey’s traditional sound demonstrates impressive ability as she attacks the fretboard with manic energy and impeccable technique. But The Dey Way is not a one-woman show, as Dey invited an impressive assortment of world-class musicians, all having their moments to shine. The most notable name on the guest list might be Bumblefoot, yet I also have to give a shout-out to my countrymen Dániel Szebenyi for his tasteful keyboard solos, and Gergő Borlai for answering the question ‘what would Brann Dailor sound like if he was a jazz drummer?’ And as the record unfolds, The Dey Way proves to be more than just fun and games with Dey showing her contemplative side in songs like the soothing “Joy” or the bittersweet “DAD”. In a summer rich with noteworthy jazz fusion releases, The Dey Way is a clear standout, so give it a spin!

Recommended tracks: The Dey Way, Slappa Dey Bass, Joy
Related links: Bandcamp | full review coming soon!

---

Non-Subway Picks

DevilDriver – Strike and Kill (groove metal, melodic metalcore, melodic death metal)
High school heroes DevilDriver return with a rip-roaring, breakdown-infused, absolute heater of a record. Dez Fafara’s teeth-gnashing vocals have lost none of their bite over the years, while guitarists Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold pepper the album with tasty, detailed riffage primed to snap necks as much as they are to perk ears.
Picked by: Vince