There's big surprise releases from Deafheaven and Power Trip, major Nightwish and Judas Priest line-up shifts, a tremendous festival announcement from Fortress, live shows from Joyce Manor, Blaze Bayley, and Khemmis, but no one wants to talk about any of it because the world's up in arms about James Hetfield.

Releases:
Caspian - Caspian
The Number Twelve Looks Like You - Howls from the Holographic Heart
Throes - The Colorless Light of Emptiness
John Zorn - Flatlands
Eivør - Tungl
Insomnium - Netherworlds
The Keening - Devotion
Master - Among the Seeds of Death
Mother of Graves - The Light That Keeps Us
Algor Mortis - The Art of Suffering
Shores of Null - Homesick
Lugubrious Garment - In the Wide Vale of Uncreated Night