It's a little hard to explain but something that I've noticed a lot lately is how a lot of older bands are making new albums that sound like they might've been transitional points between certain releases if they had come out earlier in their careers. I've noticed it the most with old thrash bands in particular as Death Magnetic sounds like it could've come out between ...And Justice For All and The Black Album, Worship Music sounds like the transitional point between Persistence Of Time and Sound Of White Noise, and The Dark Roots Of Earth could've been between The Ritual and Low. Anyone have any other examples that come to mind?

It feels like you're describing "comeback" albums where the band tries to return to their roots after flirtations with a different style. "Mea culpa" albums, so to speak. The Final Frontier sounds like it could've come out right after Brave New World. Overkill's Ironbound could have come out right after Horrorscope.