Newsletter 18 October 2025

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Week Ending:
18 October 2025

Album Of The Week

How Do We Rate Album Of The Week?

TheBigBlack

Para Bellum

Testament - Para Bellum (2025)

[Thrash Metal]

In metal circles Testament need no introduction. They are thrash royalty, and since the 90s have even dabbed in more extreme genres on more than one occasion. Para Bellum, album number 14, has a mixture of different styles but never sounds too much like a rehash of old ideas. The album opens with 'For The Love Of Pain' and is an all-out borderline death metal assault very much in the style of the bands late 90s albums. Chuck Billy growls and belches and even screams with a focus and brutality that sounds genuine, and the song saves no space for any quieter moments. The chorus absolutely pummels with blast-beats like no Testament track ever has before, and this is potentially their heaviest song ever. A great album opener, but one that takes time to absorb. 'Infanticide A.I.', the album's lead single, also features some break-neck drummer and riffing - but once it gets moving it is unmistakeably a modern Testament track, following their usual style and sound template. This doesn't make it bad by any stretch, as it is easily one of the catchiest tracks on the album, incorporating aspects of many styles into its three and half minute run time. 'Shadow People' slows things down to a more manageable rhythm, and the songs subtler vocals allow the riffs to really breathe - but only until tempo changes take you by surprise. As always the twin leads of Alex Skolnick and mainstay Eric Peterson pepper the songs with amazing solos and flourishes that show virtuoso agility, but always in perfect harmony with the song being played. Whereas a thrash guitarist like Kerry King could cover these songs in chaotic solos that exhibit nothing but brute force and power (a hallmark of Slayer), these two men instead still produce solos of beauty in the environment the songs prove for them. 'Meant To Be' is the obligatory ballad, and is a fairly paint-by-numbers affair, but it is possibly one of the band's best ballads. It is great to hear that well into his 60's Billy can still sing with a soft voice to great effect. Orchestrated, it ends with some great twin guitar harmonies and a beat reminiscent of Metallica's 'Halo On Fire'. 'High Noon' and 'Witch Hunt' use a few more brutal metal influences again, but still have a thrash groove in places that allow the songs to find an identity of their own, and as always the vocal variations that Billy has become known for are evident throughout. 'Nature Of The Beast' has an old school 80's vibe to it, and is probably the closest to 'classic' Testament here. Even the production is a little more restrained as to not suffocate the listener. 'Room 117' follows suit, and the two songs actually sound a little out of place on first listen - but followed by the amazingly catchy 'Havana Syndrome', this trio start to become the champions of the album for long time listeners. The album may have benefitted from breaking these three tracks up and peppering them in amongst the earlier, heavier songs. The title track ends the album and contains a good range of styles seen on all the other tracks. It is a worthy song that doesn't stand out as anything particularly special to be a closer, but it does fade into a nice solo guitar line that closes the album with a wonderful gentle moment. When a band has as many albums as Testament does, some of which are regarded as classics of the genre, it is easy to dismiss new ones as just more to pour in an over-flowing bucket. It is also easy for the band to fire up 'auto-pilot' and produce what they know best with very little effort. This album proves it doesn't have to be that way, as Testament have added something worthy to their discography that won't just be an album with songs that pop up on random and are forgotten the moment they end. Some of these tracks are top tier, and the album as a whole stands up as one heir better in recent years. Listening to your favourite band, you want every moment to remind why it feels so good to be a fan, and various moments here do this with little to no effort.

mindkiller8

The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw

Pelican - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw (2005)

[Metal]

You will see from my past two reviews I am channeling a music genre that I'm not quite sure I understand completely. However, the two bands I have reviewed up to now and these next two very much have similarities in their sound. Considered to be Post-Metal, they don't adopt a typical verse-chorus-verse approach to a song, nor involve vocals as the focal point for any track. It is very much a sound-scape of music with a lack of structure and what can be seen as experimental in some places. For Pelican, they are another band that does well putting this music together. First off the album name is one of the best. Love it. Before you take a listen you are going to need an appetite for long songs (close or over 10 minutes), which take you on a journey of various tempos, soundscapes and moods. The opening track is a prime example of this. Oh, and you also must be wary of the lack of lyrics. Not completely, but as they guys say they are better at making music, not so on the singling stuff, so if it works for them, I'm OK with it. 'Autumn Into Summer' commences with a very polite, mild-mannered tempo, until you get approx. halfway through the 10 minute track where it explodes into this ravaged guitar sound and upped tempo. 'March To The Sea' is an 11 minute epic taking the listener on a journey of the harder edge of the band, with blistering guitars that keep the listener gripped. 'Red Ran Amber' is very much similar. You can quickly pick up the patterns in the song structure and having a listen to earlier tracks by now, you know what to expect again, from an 11minute track. The album finishes off with some much shorter tracks which you can expect deliver what the longer tracks do but in a sped up time. My adjective vocabulary is spent. Overall, for me, it's more of a thinking man's music. With no distractions there is a lot to take out of this. Interesting, Aaron Turner, founder of ISIS put the artwork together for the album and owns Hyrda Head records who released this album. For an album with no vocals, I'm very surprised to hardly notice and love it.

People: New Additions

These are new people added this week.

Click on any images below to see person details.

Alex Vincent

Grunge Rock

Alex Shumway (born December 14, 1965), known professionally as Alex Vincent, is an American musician, songwriter, and actor who is best known as the drummer for the rock band Green River. Along with Mark Arm, Steve Turner, and Jeff Ament, he is one of its founding members. He is also the founder, drummer, and songwriter for the band Ex's With Benefits, as well as a founder and guitar player for the band Thee Deception.

Mark Arm

Grunge Rock

Mark Arm (born Mark Thomas McLaughlin; February 21, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the vocalist for the grunge band Mudhoney. His former group, Green River, was one of the first grunge bands, along with Malfunkshun, Soundgarden, Skin Yard, The U-Men, and others. He is also the manager of the Sub Pop warehouse.

Labels: New Additions

These are new labels added this week.

Click on any images below to see labels details.

Alchemy Recordings

Alchemy Recordings is a Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. based record company founded in 2019.

Back On Black

Back On Black is a U.K. based record label, specialising in heavy music and vinyl records.

BMG Records

Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) was a division of a German media company Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Sony Corporation of America on 1 October 2008. Although it was established in 1987, the music company was formed as RCA/Ariola International in 1985 as a joint venture to combine the music label activities of RCA's RCA Records division and Bertelsmann's Ariola Records and its associated labels which include Arista Records. It consisted of the BMG Music Publishing company, the world's third largest music publisher and the world's largest independent music publisher and (since August 2004) the 50% share of the joint venture with Sony Music, which established the German American Sony BMG from 2004 to 2008.

Es Paranza Records

Es Paranza Records is a boutique label maintained solely for the solo recordings of Robert Plant. His 1984 all-star supergroup project The Honeydrippers also released its only recording on this label.

Nonesuch Records

Nonesuch Records is a U.S. record company.

Prophecy Productions

Prophecy Productions is German music label formed in 1996.

W.T.C. Productions

W.T.C. Productions is a Germany record label specialising in extremem metal.

Core Discographies: New Additions

These are new releases available in the Core Discographies this week.

Remember, Core Discographies accepts Requests. Click HERE to request your favourite album to be included.

Click on any links below to see release details.

MP3

FLAC

Testament
Para Bellum

[Album]
10 October 2025
Thrash Metal

'Para Bellum' is the fourteenth studio album by Testament. It is the band's first studio album with drummer Chris Dovas.

Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983 under the name Legacy. Labeled as one of the "big six" of the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene (along with Exodus, Death Angel, L??z Rockit, Forbidden and Vio-lence), Testament is often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene, as well as one of the leaders of the second wave of the genre of the late 1980s. The band has sold over 1.5 million albums in the United States and over 14 million copies worldwide.

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Steve DiGiorgio - Bass Guitar [Member]

Label(s):

Nuclear Blast Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Robert Plant with Suzi Dian
Saving Grace

[Album]
26 September 2025
Rock

'Saving Grace' is the twelfth studio album by Robert Plant, credited to Robert Plant with Suzi Dian. It features the band Plant has been touring with since 2019 and contains ten cover versions of songs by a variety of artists.

Robert Anthony Plant [CBE] (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin from its founding in 1968 until their breakup in 1980; since then he has had a successful solo career, sometimes collaborating with other artists such as Alison Krauss. Regarded by many as one of the greatest singers in rock music, he is known for his flamboyant persona and raw stage performances. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Plant as one of the 100 best singers of all time (2008); and was the top pick for the greatest lead singer in a 2011 readers poll. Hit Parader named Plant the "Greatest Metal Vocalist of All Time" (2006). Billboard ranked him number 4 on their list of The 50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers Of All Time (2023).

Performer(s):

Robert Plant - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

Nonesuch Records (Region: International)

Es Paranza Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Novembers Doom
Major Arcana

[Album]
19 September 2025
Gothic Metal

'Major Arcana' is the twelth studio album by Novembers Doom.

Label(s):

Prophecy Productions (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Werewolves
The Ugliest Of All

[Album]
19 September 2025
Death Metal

'The Ugliest Of All' is the sixth album by Werewolves.

Werewolves is a brutal blackened death-grind band formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 2019. It features members of Abramelin and The Berserker.

Label(s):

Back On Black (Region: Europe)

MP3

FLAC

Chevelle
Bright As Blasphemy

[Album]
15 August 2025
Alternative Rock

'Bright As Blasphemy' is the tenth studio album by Chevelle. It marks the band's first album since 2021's NIRATIAS and their first release following their departure from Epic Records. It is the band's shortest album in length and tracks and the only Chevelle record solely produced by Pete Loeffler.

Chevelle is an American rock band formed in Grayslake, Illinois, in 1995. The band was originally composed of two brothers, Pete Loeffler (lead vocals and guitar) and Sam Loeffler (drums and percussion), along with Matt Scott (bass and backing vocals). As of 2022, the band has sold over 6 million records.

Label(s):

Alchemy Recordings (Region: U.S.A. / Europe)

BMG Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Cryptopsy
An Insatiable Violence

[Album]
20 June 2025
Death Metal (Technical)

'An Insatiable Violence' is the ninth studio album by Cryptopsy.

Label(s):

Season Of Mist (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Sargeist
Flame Within Flame

[Album]
28 May 2025
Black Metal

'Flame Within Flame' is the sixth studio album by Sargeist.

Label(s):

W.T.C. Productions (Region: Europe)

Core Discographies: This Year's Releases Coming Soon

These are new releases coming to Core Discographies soon.

All new releases are available.

Digital Library: Tagged Releases

These are new releases completed in the Digital Library this week.

Digital Library Links: Digital Library

Click on any links below to see release details.

MP3

FLAC

Chevelle
Bright As Blasphemy

[Album]
15 August 2025
Alternative Rock

Label(s):

Alchemy Recordings (Region: U.S.A. / Europe)

BMG Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Cryptopsy
An Insatiable Violence

[Album]
20 June 2025
Death Metal (Technical)

'An Insatiable Violence' is the ninth studio album by Cryptopsy.

Label(s):

Season Of Mist (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Novembers Doom
Major Arcana

[Album]
19 September 2025
Gothic Metal

'Major Arcana' is the twelth studio album by Novembers Doom.

Label(s):

Prophecy Productions (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Robert Plant with Suzi Dian
Saving Grace

[Album]
26 September 2025
Rock

Performer(s):

Robert Plant - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

Nonesuch Records (Region: International)

Es Paranza Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Sargeist
Flame Within Flame

[Album]
28 May 2025
Black Metal

'Flame Within Flame' is the sixth studio album by Sargeist.

Label(s):

W.T.C. Productions (Region: Europe)

MP3

FLAC

Testament
Para Bellum [HD Version]

[Album]
10 October 2025
Thrash Metal

'Para Bellum' is the fourteenth studio album by Testament. It is the band's first studio album with drummer Chris Dovas.

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Steve DiGiorgio - Bass Guitar [Member]

Label(s):

Nuclear Blast Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Testament
Para Bellum

[Album]
10 October 2025
Thrash Metal

'Para Bellum' is the fourteenth studio album by Testament. It is the band's first studio album with drummer Chris Dovas.

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Steve DiGiorgio - Bass Guitar [Member]

Label(s):

Nuclear Blast Records (Region: International)

MP3

FLAC

Werewolves
The Ugliest Of All

[Album]
19 September 2025
Death Metal

'The Ugliest Of All' is the sixth album by Werewolves.

Label(s):

Back On Black (Region: Europe)

Digital Library: New Additions

These are new releases added in the Digital Library this week. These will be tagged at a future date.

Digital Library Links: Digital Library

Click on any links below to see release details.

Chevelle
Bright As Blasphemy

[Album]
15 August 2025
Alternative Rock

Label(s):

Alchemy Recordings (Region: U.S.A. / Europe)

BMG Records (Region: International)

Motley Crue
From The Beginning

[Album; Compilation]
12 September 2025
Hard Rock

'From The Beginning' is a compilation album by Motley Crue. It features a selection of the band's hit songs from their discography, plus a new version of their 1985 single 'Home Sweet Home' featuring Dolly Parton.

Performer(s):

Vince Neil - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

BMG Records (Region: International)

Novembers Doom
Major Arcana

[Album]
19 September 2025
Gothic Metal

'Major Arcana' is the twelth studio album by Novembers Doom.

Label(s):

Prophecy Productions (Region: International)

Robert Plant with Suzi Dian
Saving Grace

[Album]
26 September 2025
Rock

Performer(s):

Robert Plant - Vocals [Member]

Label(s):

Nonesuch Records (Region: International)

Es Paranza Records (Region: International)

Testament
Para Bellum [HD Version]

[Album]
10 October 2025
Thrash Metal

'Para Bellum' is the fourteenth studio album by Testament. It is the band's first studio album with drummer Chris Dovas.

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Steve DiGiorgio - Bass Guitar [Member]

Label(s):

Nuclear Blast Records (Region: International)

Testament
Para Bellum

[Album]
10 October 2025
Thrash Metal

'Para Bellum' is the fourteenth studio album by Testament. It is the band's first studio album with drummer Chris Dovas.

Performer(s):

Chuck Billy - Vocals [Member]

Alex Skolnick - Guitar [Member]

Eric Peterson - Guitar [Member]

Steve DiGiorgio - Bass Guitar [Member]

Label(s):

Nuclear Blast Records (Region: International)

The Cure
Paramount Theater 1984

[Album]
2025
Alternative Rock

The Cure
Mixes Of A Lost World

[Album]
2025
Alternative Rock

Unleashed
Fire Upon Your Lands

[E.P.; Promotional]
2 July 2025
Death Metal

The Cure
Songs Of A Live World, Troxy London MMXXIV

[Album]
2024
Alternative Rock

The Cure
Alone

[Single]
2024
Alternative Rock

The Cure
A Fragile Thing

[Single]
2024
Alternative Rock

Children Of Bodom
Hexed

[Album]
2019
Death Metal (Melodic)

Cult Of Luna
The Silent Man

[Single]
2019
Post-Metal

Dale Crover
The Fickle Finger Of Fate

[Album]
4 August 2017
Grunge Rock

'The Fickle Finger Of Fate' is the first solo album by Dale Crover.

Performer(s):

Dale Crover - Vocals / Guitar / Bass Guitar / Drums [Member]

Label(s):

Joyful Noise Recordings (Region: U.S.A.)

The Who
Sell Out [Reissue]

[Album]
2014
Classic Rock

The Who
Sell Out [Reissue / HD Version]

[Album]
2014
Classic Rock

Children Of Bodom
Relentless Reckless Forever

[Album]
2011
Death Metal (Melodic)

Cheap Trick
Sgt. Pepper Live

[Album]
2009
Rock

The Who
Sell Out [Deluxe Edition]

[Album; Reissue; Deluxe Edition]
2009
Classic Rock

Children Of Bodom
Blooddrunk

[Single]
2008
Death Metal (Melodic)

Children Of Bodom
Hellhunds On My Trail

[E.P.]
2008
Death Metal (Melodic)

Children Of Bodom
In Your Face

[Single]
2005
Death Metal (Melodic)

Cheap Trick
Special One

[Album]
2003
Rock

Children Of Bodom
You're Better Off Dead!

[Single]
2002
Death Metal (Melodic)

Cheap Trick
Authorized Greatest Hits

[Album; Compilation]
2000
Rock

Children Of Bodom
Hate Me!

[Single]
1999
Death Metal (Melodic)

Children Of Bodom
Hatebreeder [Limited Edition]

[Album]
1999
Death Metal (Melodic)

Children Of Bodom
Downfall

[Single]
1999
Death Metal (Melodic)

Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick

[Album]
1997
Rock

Muddy Waters
The Complete Plantation Recordings (1941-42)

[Album; Compilation]
1997
Blues

Cheap Trick
Sex, America, Cheap Trick

[Album; Compilation]
1996
Rock

Corrosion Of Conformity
Drowning In A Daydream

[Single]
1996
Metal (Sludge)

Tankwart
Himbeergeist Zum Fruhstuck

[Album]
1996
Thrash Metal

Tankwart
Aufgetankt

[Album]
1994
Thrash Metal

Cheap Trick
Budokan II

[Album; Live]
1993
Rock

Corrosion Of Conformity
Vote With A Bullet

[Single]
1992
Metal (Sludge)

Muddy Waters
The Complete Muddy Waters (1947-1967)

[Album; Compilation; Boxed Set]
1992
Blues

Corrosion Of Conformity
Blind [Limited Edition]

[Album]
1991
Metal (Sludge)

Muddy Waters
The Chess Years

[Albums; Boxed Set; Reissue]
1989
Blues

The Cure
Lullaby

[Single]
1989
Alternative Rock

Muddy Waters
They Call Me Muddy Waters

[Album; Compilation]
1971
Blues

The Who
Sell Out [Mono]

[Album]
1967
Classic Rock

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Week Ending: 18 October 2025

Album Of The Week

Testament - Para Bellum (2025)

Pelican - The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw (2005)

People: New Additions

Alex Vincent

Mark Arm

Labels: New Additions

Alchemy Recordings

Back On Black

BMG Records

Es Paranza Records

Nonesuch Records

Prophecy Productions

W.T.C. Productions

Core Discographies: New Additions

Core Discographies: This Year's Releases Coming Soon

Digital Library: Tagged Releases

Digital Library: New Additions

TheBigBlack's Last.FM Listening History

⚠️ Known Page Issues

Week Ending:
18 October 2025