Welcome
to the Metalheads Forever Heavy Rotation Playlist. This is where we sit down and attempt to cram everything we’ve been digesting at our HQ into a monthly playlist for your audio pleasure. Here you’ll find upcoming releases from both new and established bands, as well juicy reissues and celebrated classics. There is a guarantee you’ll find something new to crank up in your daily routine. So sit back, turn it up to 11 and enjoy world metal domination.
01 – The Descending
EvilDead
Has it really been nearly 30 years since EvilDead released their last album? ‘The Underworld’ line-up reunites with this track to give us a glimpse at their upcoming album ‘United $tate$ of Anarchy’ and we can’t wait!
02 – Lions of the Sea
Grave Digger
The German metal masters have ditched the experimental sound of their last few albums and returned with what they’re good at; historical heavy metal and this concept album about the history of Scotland may be one their best albums to date.
03 – Don’t Chase the Dead
Marilyn Manson
He scared your parents, now he scares your kids. The God of Fuck returns with a mature album and this song reminds us how Manson would sound had he teamed up with the late, great David Bowie.
04 – Harvest
Nightwish
The band may have released an album which runs like the score to a movie that will leave some Nightwish fans feeling alienated. But, this track takes in African world music back to its most simple format and the Finns come up with their most hummable and memorable song in years.
05 – Species
Pain of Salvation
The first reappearance of an album from last month and who can blame us? Pain of Salvation have delivered one of the best albums of the year so far and ‘Species’ is just a snapshot of the many highlights within ‘Panther’.
06 – Edge of the World
Silvera
These Danes launch their brand of accessible and commercial hard rock to the world with this track from their debut album. Expect to these guys painted everywhere in the coming years.
07 – Sea Savage
Gama Bomb
Ireland’s homegrown thrashers continue to show that they are not only enjoyable and fun, but also have the thrash metal integrity to keep up with the big leagues with this excellent track.
08 – The Curse
Puteraeon
Old school death metal? Check. Cthulu? Check. HP Lovecraft? Check. Puteraeon continue to show us how Swedish death metal is properly done with their latest upcoming studio album.
09 – L.E.D.
Tallah
It’s been 20 years since nu-metal strode across the heavy metal, owning everything it touched and with their debut album soon to be released, Tallah take us down memory lane and show us why the metal world fell in love with this rule bending genre albeit a huge contemporary edge… go on… try it… you know you want to.
10 – You Don’t Walk Alone
The Unity
Power metal may not be every metalhead’s cup of tea; but it’s hard to deny its allure when done correctly and The Unity deliver that with this track from their latest studio album.
11 – Pestilence
Toxaemia
Entombed, Grave and Dismember all hit the death metal big time in the early 90’s, but Toxaemia should have been up there with them. Instead, the Swedes enjoyed huge cult status and now 30 years on, the band are finally releasing their debut album.
12 – Russian Doll
Ulver
The band may be a far cry from their early work, but Ulver’s latest album is a mature masterpiece that continues the bands work in a post-black metal world. In fact, this track is just a glimpse at how high the band will be riding at the end of the year.
13 – The Long and Winding Bier Road
Carcass
Back in 2013, Carcass dropped not only one of their best albums to date, but also one of the best albums of the 21st Century with ‘Surgical Steel’. Finally, the British death metallers are back with their second excellent song of the year. Welcome back!
14 – Phantom Days
Dark Tranquillity
Unlike many of their peers who began massively experimenting with different sounds, Dark Tranquillity have always stuck their guns and whilst sometimes they haven’t hit the mark, this latest track has us all excited for their latest album ‘Moment’.
15 – Cool Place to Park (30th Anniversary Remix)
Gwar
For it’s 30th birthday, ‘Scumdogs of the Universe’ is getting the remaster and remix treatment and not before time. This is Gwar at their best and should be played loud. Let there be Gwar!
16 – Celebration Decay
Vicious Rumors
Another visit to an album that has been in constant rotation all month. The title track from the latest Vicious Rumors album shows the band in top form.
17 – Sun in My Hand
Heathen
Once again, Heathen makes a return to our list with their superb track from their ‘Empire of the Blind’ album which has just been released. Not heard it yet? Like thrash? Get on it. Now. Go. Why are you still reading?
18 – Sudenmorsian
Korpiklaani
Just in time for Oktoberfest, Korpiklaani appear in their Beer TARDIS to deliver a foot tapping folk metal version of ‘Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone’ by Powerwolf that is difficult to not play over and over again. Raise your glasses high and let’s get merry! Kippis!
19 – Die for It
Layne’s Calling
It may only be a debut EP, but this alternative sound has all the hallmarks of Godsmack, Drowning Pool and Creed all mixed up into one big blender. Tracks like this show that Layne’s Calling have what it takes to hit the big American metal/rock market.
20 – Abyss
Unleash the Archers
UTA hit a pinnacle with their last album, how were they ever going to follow it? Easy, with this title track from their latest slow-burning masterpiece.
21 – Black Sabbath
Zakk Sabbath
A stroke of genius or a pointless exercise in self-indulgence at its finest? Either way, this is where it all began and Zakk Wylde and co do the debut Sabbath album justice.
22 – It’s Electric (2020 Re-Recording)
Diamond Head
To celebrate 40 years since the release of their seminal album ‘Lightning to the Nations’, Diamond Head get the festivities underway with a contemporary rerecording of their classic ‘It’s Electric’. Get those white air Flying V guitars out!
23 – The Octagonal Stairway
Pig Destroyer
Virginia’s finest Grindcore stalwarts continue to further explore the human condition laid down on their revered ‘Head Cage’ album with the title track from their upcoming EP.
24 – Revelation (Mother Earth) (Live)
Ozzy Osbourne
There are two reasons why this makes it into our playlist this month, firstly we love the 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition of ‘Blizzard of Ozz’; secondly, how can we not honour the memory of Lee Kerslake and this live bonus track show’s the Bear behind the drums in all his glory.
25 – Sodom & Gomorrah
Sodom
After messing around with various EP’s, the Teutonic thrashers are finally back with a powerful line-up and a powerful track that gives us high hopes for their upcoming studio album ‘Genesis XIX’ released in November.
