Have been listening to the new Wetnurse since Thursday morning. Still picking out which superlatives I want to garland it with, but for now let me just put you on alert: this is the best metal album of the year so far. Period. The other metal albums on my running year-end list, if you're curious, are by Origin, Morbosidad, Prostitute Disfigurement, Septic Flesh, and Jucifer. Wetnurse isn't at all like any of those - their sound has its vocal roots in 'core, but the guitar work, and the percussion, remind me a little of all-time-greats Coroner, if I can say that without being struck by lightning.

In my opinion it has not been a banner year for metal - I've heard a lot of stuff I liked, but very little that inspired me. There's plenty of decent headbanging to be had, but not much that's really made me want to bang my head. The "experimental black metal" stuff making the rounds is pleasant but boring; give me Peste Noire or give me death, please. (I think Ares Kingdom is due to start working on a new record soon, though, so all's not lost.) But Invisible City, now: this is a huge bright flash of inspiration and a huge growth spurt from a band that was once pretty decent and is, as of their new album, great.