More new music, faster! Here's a list of the new music out this week, and there might be some cool stuff you didn't know was coming out that you'll want to pick up!

This week there's some new stuff from Scott Weiland, Tom Waits, Surfer Blood, Skinny Puppy and more!

Since last week's list I've picked up the new Cradle of Filth EP and the Iced Earth CD Dystopia. I've been driving around with Dystopia in the car today, and I think I can talk a little bit about it.

Iced Earth - Dystopia (Century Media)

I've been a big fan of IE since I first heard Burnt Offerings...their first CD of new music with Matt Barlow. He quickly became one of my favorite singers, and the songs on that CD (even though Jon Shaffer isn't a big fan of the disc) are some of my favorite IE songs. That CD had "Burnt Offerings", "Dante's Inferno", "Last December"...lots of killer tunes. If you don't have it, this is a great one to get.

Matt Barlow announced his (2nd) retirement from music so he could dedicate himself to his family and law enforcement, and IE did a series of festival shows this summer to give him a big farewell. Matt's last show was at Wacken in front of like 50,000 people, so that's a nice way to leave.

Anyway, Iced Earth picked up Into Eternity singer Stu Block to record the new album Dystopia, and I have to say...his singing is very Matt Barlow-like. At least here. The songs were probably written with Matt in mind, so it makes sense, and maybe we'll see a bit more identity on the next album. The vocals go from VERY Matt-esque singing to some Tim Owens like highs, and there was an "only dogs can hear this pitch" section on one song. On the heavy beginning part of "Dark City", Stu does some vocals that sound exactly like the late David Wayne of Metal Church!

All in all, this is an Iced Earth CD, with galloping triplets galore, lots of cool riffage and tons of singing. The melodies are a bit less catchy than some of the past stuff, and the lines seem longer, which probably cuts down on their retention on a first listen. The production is killer, as usual, and the songs have some decent variety with some mellower parts and even some acoustic bits.

If you like metal, this is definitely a metal CD, and Iced Earth doesn't seem to have any intention of slowing down and going retro rock or anything (ala the new Opeth).

New Releases Week of October 24, 2011

  • 1

    1. Aiden -

    Some Kind Of Hate
  • 2

    2. The Beets -

    Let The Poison Out
  • 3

    3. Boys II Men -

    Twenty
  • 4

    4. Cameras -

    In Your Room
  • 5

    5. Kelly Clarkson -

    Stronger
  • 6

    6. Coldplay -

    Mylo Xyloto
  • 7

    7. Comet Gain -

    Howl of the Lonely Crowd
  • 8

    8. Deer Tick -

    Divine Providence
  • 9

    9. Dirty Projectors and Bjork -

    Mount Wittenberg Orca
  • 10

    10. DJ Cam -

    Seven
  • 11

    11. Dntel -

    Life is Full of Possibilities
  • 12

    12. Thomas Dolby -

    A Map of the Floating City
  • 13

    13. El Rego -

    El Rego
  • 14

    14. Michael Feinstein -

    The Sinatra Project, Vol. II: The Good Life
  • 15

    15. Peter Gabriel -

    New Blood - Live in London [DVD/Blu-ray]
  • 16

    16. Vince Gill -

    Guitar Slinger
  • 17

    17. Goapele -

    Break of Dawn
  • 18

    18. Gringo Star -

    Count Yer Lucky Stars
  • 19

    19. honeyhoney -

    Billy Jack
  • 20

    20. Hurricane Bells -

    Tides and Tales
  • 21

    21. James -

    The Gathering Sound
  • 22

    22. Jedi Mind Tricks -

    Violence Begets Violence
  • 23

    23. Justice -

    Audio, Video, Disco
  • 24

    24. Kid Koala -

    Space Cadet
  • 25

    25. Cyndi Lauper -

    To Memphis with Love
  • 26

    26. Metric -

    Fantasies Flashbacks
  • 27

    27. MF Doom -

    Operation: Doomsday
  • 28

    28. Raleigh Moncrief -

    Watered Lawn
  • 29

    29. Of Montreal -

    Cassette Box Set
  • 30

    30. Ozric Tentacles -

    Paper Monkeys
  • 31

    31. Peggy Sue -

    Acrobats
  • 32

    32. John Prine -

    The Singing Mailman Delivers
  • 33

    33. Roots Manuva -

    4everevolution
  • 34

    34. Russian Circles -

    Empros
  • 35

    35. She & Him -

    A Very She & Him Christmas
  • 36

    36. Skinny Puppy -

    handOver
  • 37

    37. Spectrals -

    Bad Penny
  • 38

    38. Surfer Blood -

    Tarot Classics EP
  • 39

    39. Christina Vantzou -

    No. 1
  • 40

    40. Various -

    The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition
  • 41

    41. Various -

    The Essential Phil Spector
  • 42

    42. Tom Waits -

    Bad As Me
  • 43

    43. Chris Watson -

    El Tren Fantasma
  • 44

    44. Scott Weiland -

    The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  • 45

    45. Brian Wilson -

    In the Key of Disney

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