Louisiana metal powerhouse, BRAT, will release its new LP, ‘Manslayer‘, on September 25 via Prosthetic Records. BRAT’s eagerly awaited sophomore album, ‘Manslayer’, was tracked at Chicago’s Bricktop Recording, produced, engineered, and mixed by Weekend Nachos’ Andy Nelson, and mastered by Brad Boatright (Deadguy, Pig Destroyer, Lathe of Heaven) with maximum weight and minimum mercy. The follow-up to BRAT’s 2024 debut, ‘Social Grace’, ‘Manslayer’ features 17 tracks of primitive death metal, garroting thrash, and swamp-drenched hardcore for devotees of the darkest reaches of the underground.

Ironically for such a violently heavy band as BRAT, a lyrical influence that helped shaped ‘Manslayer’ was country music. More specifically, BRAT vocalist Liz Selfish gleaned inspiration from its songs about women’s revenge, in which they took their power back and left the lifeless bodies of the men who wronged them in their wake. Take “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, or “Gunpowder & Lead” by Miranda Lambert. They were metal as hell without even trying to be. Shock-inducing album artwork by Wes Benscoter (Mortician, Slayer), hammers home Manslayer’s macabre motif.

The first warning shot in BRAT’s counterblow brigade is the new single, “Manslayer (Hell Hath No Fury)” and its accompanying music video, directed by John Colgan.

Boston post-metal band, Junius, today releases its new LP, ‘Sotera‘, via Prosthetic Records. ‘Sotera’ is Junius’ first full-length LP in nearly a decade, following 2017’s Eternal Rituals for the Accretion of Light, a recording that Rolling Stone noted, “takes the band’s alternately soaring and crashing sound to even more diverse places.” Produced by Junius vocalist/guitarist, Joseph E. Martinez and Tom Syrowski (Mastodon, AC/DC), the quasi-conceptual ‘Sotera’, in Martinez’s words, “feels like a rebirth for the band” and “is an act of devotion as much as it is a piece of “music.” Purchase/stream Junius‘ ‘Sotera’ at this location.

“The response to ‘Sotera’, so far has been incredibly encouraging,” shares Martinez. “After nine years, there’s always a little voice in the back of your head wondering if anyone still cares, so it’s been rewarding to see listeners connect with our music again. More than anything, we’re excited to finally get these songs in front of people. ‘Sotera’ feels like a rebirth for Junius, and with a renewed lineup and our first run of shows in support of the album, it genuinely feels like the beginning of a new chapter for us. We’re grateful to everyone who’s taken the time to listen, and we can’t wait to share these songs live.”

Self-proclaimed post-skramz outfit DREAMWELL will unleash their scorching Hymns For The Denial Of God full-length on August 28th via Prosthetic Records.

Everything boils down to intent. In the wrong hands, social constructs like religion will divide us and diminish our potential for unity. DREAMWELL unravels the contradictions, complications, and conflicts inherent within the misuse and weaponization of faith in a higher power on their third full-length offering, Hymns For The Denial Of God. Rather than levy a black-and-white attack against religion, the Rhode Island quartet — vocalist Keziah “KZ” Staska, guitarist/backing vocalist Ryan Couitt, bassist Justin Soares, and drummer Anthony Montalbano — considers the nuances and what happens when an entity meant to unite ends up driving us apart.

Ripping back the curtain and exposing what’s underneath, the group tightly harnesses the turbulence of torrential screams, off-kilter riffing, and pit-splitting rhythms into a provocative, poignant, and poetic 10-track collection.

Watch DREAMWELL’s “Plath Vs. Kafka Vs. Romance” video HERE. Stream the track HERE.