Variety is the spice of life

Over the next few weeks, I shall be looking forward to three new albums by three very different bands. But what makes these albums similar is how very different they are. Not from each other, but within themselves, track by track. In the same vein as Pain Of Salvation's Road Salt One, a mixture of styles is brought together to form a cohesive whole. Not just metal, but hard rock, soft rock, punk and even classical influences.

First up is the venerable Apocalyptica, with their seventh studio album. The cunningly titled 7th Symphony looks set to bring a fresh feel to Apocalyptica's music, with a wide range of styles that marks each song as a unique within the set. I've had a quick listen on Spotify and the results are certainly pleasing. I'm reserving a proper listen and full judgement for the actual release when it plops onto my doormat.

Next is Volbeat with their new album Beyond Hell, Above Heaven. The band are already known for employing a range of styles to their music, with a diverse set of genres including heavy metal, punk and rockabilly under their belts. As well as the genre, tempo and mood of the music changing for each song, there will be several cameos from other artists including Barney from Napalm Death, Miland Petrozza from Kreator and Jakob Oelund from Taggy Tones. Adding these other talents to the mix will certainly spice up the new album.

Finally, a Sheffield band that up until last week I'd never heard of. Bring Me The Horizon have a change of pace in their new, very lengthily titled album, There Is A Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is A Heaven, Let's Keep It A Secret. Having listened to their 2009 album Suicide Season, I'm not all that enamoured with the sound. But it's all set to change. The new album is said to have a huge variety, covering all of the band's influences and personal preferences. It should definitely be worth a listen.