This may well fall into the category of things that precisely no one reading this blog cares about, but I’m very excited about the upcoming release of the new Shadows Fall album early next month.

SF is part of the newer breed of American heavy metal that combines hardcore and death metal influences with a more melodic sound influenced by my beloved ’80s thrash (other examples of the genre are Killswitch Engage and Trivium, both of whom put out excellent albums in 2006). This is emphatically not to be confused with the late and unlamented “nu-metal” of the late ’90s and early ’00s.

Album review here. Listen to samples at the band’s MySpace page. BONUS: Peta interview with singer Brian Fair.