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COMPLEXANT – APEX

Release Date: 31 July 2026 via Bleeding Art Collective / Blood Blast Distribution - Complexant is a fairly new group hailing from our local shores of Australia, keen to make a name for themselves in the blackened death scene. After several successful single releases, Apex is the first full-length album release from the band. Does Apex make a solid first impression? Absolutely it does, full of plenty of drive and energy.

COFFIN HUNTERS – COSMIC DAWN

Available now via Bitter End Records - There is a very fine line between paying homage to heavy metal’s past & becoming trapped within it. On their third full length, Cosmic Dawn, Cali’s Coffin Hunters arrive comfortably on the right side of said divide. Rather than recreating sounds of the late ’70s/early ’80s, the band filters classic heavy metal, hard rock & stoner grooves into something adventurous & completely fresh.

FAUSTIAN – PARABLE OF THE SEWER

Release Date: 24 July 2026 via Apocalyptic Witchcraft - Comprised of members from acclaimed Australian acts such as WEREWOLVES, THE BERZERKER, PSYCROPTIC, THE AMENTA, and ABRAMELIN, FAUSTIAN have quickly established themselves as one of the country's most formidable extreme metal projects. While sharing personnel with the relentless death metal force of WEREWOLVES, FAUSTIAN explores a darker, more sinister path, blending blackened atmospheres with crushing intensity. Following the impressive Ep 'We Come As Angels' (2023), the Australian band returned with their debut full-length album, "Parable of the Sewer". Let's descend into the darkness.

MOUNTAINSCAPE - TRAVERSING REALMS

Release Date: 24 July 2026 via ROAD TO MASOCHIST - Since emerging in 2019, Reading, England-based post-metal outfit MOUNTAINSCAPE have steadily established themselves through their expansive, cinematic approach to the genre. Following the critical success of Iridescent (2024), the band returned with their fourth full-length, "Traversing Realms". Drawing inspiration from the music, stories, and imagined worlds that have shaped their creative vision, the album marks another step forward in the band's artistic evolution. Let's see where this latest journey leads.

SALLOW MOTH – HYDROPHILOUS BROOD

Hydrophilous Brood by Sallow Moth, Release July 24th via Willowtip Records - Hydrophilous Brood is the newest album from progressive death metal duo, Sallow Moth. Focused on the themes of transformation, Hydrophilous Brood continues the story of Mossbane Lantern, having thematic connections to their previous work. The narrative setting is an inter-dimensional nest named Pamugara, with its heart being a mysterious artefact that acts as a portal, the Mossbane Lantern. Hydrophilous Brood is an evolutionary aftereffect of the event and what has become of the organisms that once interacted with it, now a hybrid species.

MANGLED CARPENTER – BETWEEN BLOOD AND SILENCE

Available now via ROTTWEILER RECORDS & BROKEN CURFEW RECORDS - Mangled Carpenter’s Between Blood And Silence proves there is more to the band than just relentless speed & violence. Through six tracks, the trio expands on its deathgrind foundations with dark textures, slow grooves & a mechanical edge that gives the EP a distinct identity.

LITOSTH - DREAMING

Release Date: 24 July 2026 via Personal Records - Few bands capture emotional desolation with the same conviction as LITOSTH. On their fourth full-length, the duo of multi-instrumentalist Maicon Ristow and lyricist Wendel Siota once again delve into themes of grief, loss, and inner collapse. Spanning eight immersive compositions, the album offers an unflinching journey through darkness, where atmosphere and emotion become inseparable. If "Cesariana" (2024) questions the pursuit of happiness, "Dreaming" takes an even darker turn. Stripping away faith, purpose, and certainty, LITOSTH confronts the listener with an uncompromising exploration of loss, isolation, and emotional collapse. The result is an immersive work that lingers long after its final moments.

I CHOOSE VIOLENCE – AN ENEMY TO LIFE ITSELF

Release Date: 17 July 2026 - Emerging from Adelaide's thriving metal scene, I CHOOSE VIOLENCE have steadily built a reputation through crushing live performances and an uncompromising blend of groove and aggression. Since releasing their debut EP Trial By Combat in 2023, the band have shared the stage with the likes of GATECREEPER, BLEEDING THROUGH, KRUELTY, and DISENTOMB while steadily expanding their audience across Australia. Backed by musicians with more than a decade of experience in the local scene, I CHOOSE VIOLENCE now arrive with the confidence of a band ready to take the next step. That next step comes in the form of the EP "An Enemy to Life Itself", a hard-hitting hardcore release spread across five uncompromising tracks. Let's dive in.

PSYCROPTIC - THE PULSE OF ANNIHILATION

It's a cliché, but what the fuck is in the water in Tasmania? - Nine albums into a career that's been remarkably consistent, Psycroptic have finally landed somewhere their catalogue's deserved for a while. The Pulse of Annihilation is out via Metal Blade Records, the band's first release there after a long stretch with Prosthetic, and the recognition is overdue. Consistency reads as unremarkable right up until the record that finally demands you shut up and listen. Critics are independently reaching for "career best" on this one. The Pulse of Annihilation deserves it.

MORK - MONOLIT

Few bands have embodied the spirit of Norwegian black metal as consistently as MORK. Over the past two decades, the band has built a reputation for uncompromising albums deeply rooted in the genre's cold, atmospheric traditions. Their previous full-length, Syv (2024), proved to be one of their most acclaimed releases, combining frostbitten riffs with an immersive atmosphere. Expectations are naturally high as MORK return with their eighth studio album, Monolitt, featuring nine new compositions.

EATEN BY SHARKS – THE UNDERTOW OF HATE

From the Niagaran depths of the Canadian metal collectives is the Ontario based death metal five-piece EATEN BY SHARKS and their sophomore assault, The Undertow of Hate, soon to be released by CDN Records. Founded by guitarists Chris Chaperon and Dan Okowinsky, they’re joined by vocalist Matt Sherriff, bassist Tyler Abrams, and drummer Justin Whitehead completing this formidable and well-established outfit.

FRANKENBOK – THE ARRIBA WAR HONKLE

There's an entry price to this record, and it's steep. Alt metal collides with Mike Patton-style vocal absurdism, which collides with the Seattle grunge sound, which collides with early System of a Down phrasing, which collides with groove metal's chunky low-end and thrash's sharper guitar shapes, all of it periodically detonated by death metal growls. Thirty seconds into the record, you'll understand why some listeners bounce off it entirely. On paper it reads like a band that couldn't decide what it wanted to be and decided to be all of it at once.

UMBERSOUND - TRACKS FROM THE SLITHER

Atmosphere has always been the defining force behind UMBERSOUND's music. Led by Joe D'Angelo (Grey Skies Fallen), the American atmospheric doom/death project has steadily refined a sound built on slow-burning emotion, weight, and introspective storytelling. With their third full-length album, Tracks From The Slither, released on 6 July via Red Book Records, Umbersound continue to explore the darker corners of the human psyche. Across ten interconnected tracks, the album examines themes of avoidance, inner decay, and emotional isolation, pairing mournful doom/death metal with immersive songwriting that prioritises feeling and atmosphere over technical excess. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at what Tracks From The Slither has in store.

CYCLOPIC - FLESH OF CHAOS

Out now via Awakening Records - Recorded across Germany, Kazakhstan & Russia, Cyclopic’s Flesh of Chaos lands cohesively, driven by a shared obsession with old school death & thrash, leaving any kind of technical perfection or unnecessary excess at the door mat.

TOMB SLAB – SELF-TITLED

Drawing inspiration from the uncompromising sludge of IRON MONKEY and EYEHATEGOD, TOMB SLAB were formed in 2024 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England by guitarist James Caygill (Atrocity Exhibit) and vocalist Dean Lettice (The Infernal Sea). Joined by bassist John Hunter (Oneiros) and drummer Kez Whelan (Shrykull), the project quickly evolved from a collection of rough demos into a fully realised band. Set for release on 17 July, "Tomb Slab" is the band's self-titled debut, blending crushing doom and blackened sludge into a dense, oppressive listening experience.

CUTTHROAT - INVOKING TERROR

Out now via Dying Victims Productions - There is no shortage of bands claiming their allegiance to old school death metal right now, but few understand that authenticity comes from determination and pure conviction. Insert Dublin trio Cutthroat’s Invoking Terror, a five track, 24 minute statement that captures the spirit of late 80s extreme metal - minus the feeling of wandering around a museum exhibit. It’s primitive, violent & unapologetically direct.

RODTGOD - TALES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVES

Release Date: 10 July via Independent - Originally formed in 2016 as an outlet for material that did not fit the founders' main band, PISSBUCKET, RODTGOD quickly evolved beyond its initial purpose into a project with a distinct identity. Drawing from death, doom, sludge, and stoner metal, the band has developed what it describes as "health metal",a blend of crushing heaviness, dark humour, and surprisingly thoughtful themes that explore the complexities of the human experience. Following the release of "New Doom Rising" and "Know Your Pain", "Pick Your Poison", RODTGOD took a more serious and introspective turn with the 2023 EP "Graveside Service". That shift now reaches its culmination on "Tales From Beyond The Tomb", a release that brings together the band's contrasting musical personalities while continuing to expand its unconventional approach.

SCORDATURA - LED INTO OBLIVION

Out now via Everlasting Spew Records - Scotland has never lacked in good quality death metal, & Scordatura have spent the best part of two decades proving they belong beyond the limits of their local scene. Six years after Mass Failure, the Glasgow quartet return with Led Into Oblivion, an album that lands without sacrificing so much as an ounce of violence. Rather than chasing the bandwagon of increasingly convoluted technicality, Scordatura knuckle down with sharp riffs, tight transitions & bursts of speed that make this collection of songs hit hard.

SINSID - ALL THAT REMAINS

Release Date: 10 July via Pitch Black Records - Over the past fourteen years, Norwegian heavy metal outfit SINSID have quietly established themselves as a dependable force within the traditional metal scene. Led by vocalist Terje Singh Sidhu, the band has steadily evolved through a series of increasingly accomplished releases while maintaining a strong commitment to classic heavy metal values. Their 2022 full-length "In Victory" was met with a positive reception and helped further cement their standing. After bridging the gap with two singles in 2024, SINSID now return with their fourth studio album, "All That Remains", aiming to continue that upward trajectory.

DEHUMANIZING ITATRAIN WORSHIP - 二次元コンプレックス 2D COMPLEX

Release Date: 29 June 2026 via Stillbirth Records, the subsidiary label from Gore House Productions. - In an era where genre boundaries continue to dissolve, DIW remains one of extreme metal's most unconventional acts. The Chinese outfit has built its identity around an unlikely fusion of brutal death metal, anime-inspired melodies, blackgaze, J-pop, and traditional Japanese influences, crafting a sound that is both chaotic and remarkably distinctive. Following years of international touring, the band now arrives with what could prove to be its most ambitious and cohesive work to date. With their new full-length album 二次元コンプレックス (2D Complex), released via Stillbirth Records and Gore House Productions, DIW push their already unconventional formula even further, exploring a more personal side without sacrificing the unrelenting intensity that defines their sound.

LONESHORE - NOTHING LEFT TO DECONSTRUCT

Out now via Willowtip Records - Brazil’s Loneshore returns with Nothing Left to Deconstruct, a sophomore effort that expands on the foundations laid by 2018’s From Presence to Silence. Released via Willowtip Records, the album perfectly occupies a space between progressive metal, post-metal & doom, balancing emotional weight & meticulous songwriting, avoiding many of the genre's clichés.

IN VESPRO - WHERE SILENCE USED TO SLEEP

Out now via Meuse Music Records - The current death doom revival has produced no shortage of bands determined to recreate the tearing weight of the genre’s early years. Most succeed in capturing the sound - far fewer capture the feeling. On their debut full length, Where Silence Used to Sleep, Italy’s In Vespro nail both.

DEVILDRIVER - STRIKE AND KILL

Release 10th July via Napalm Records - Amid their success, DevilDriver returned in 2026 with their latest album Strike and Kill, their eleventh full release. The California groove metal group served up thirteen wicked tracks with this release, a throwback to the sound that put them on the map in the metal scene. From the very first track, Strike and Kill hooks and reels in listeners with precision.

SHADOWBORNE - HEAVEN'S FALLING

Out now via Scarlet Records - Shadowborne arrive with an album heavily focussed on towering choruses, fantasy driven storytelling, and a vocalist that’s capable of carrying an entire world on her shoulders. Heaven’s Falling doesn’t reinvent the genre, instead, committing fully to its vision in which it delivers with utter conviction.

W.M.D. - AGAINST ALL WARNINGS

Available now via Independent - Originally from Calgary, and now and now based in Vancouver, Canadian thrash trio W.M.D. (WHEN MINDS DEVELOP) have self-released their latest album Against All Warnings available in various formats and on digital platforms. Moving from their previous four-piece incarnations, the band have locked in Skyler Mills on vocals and guitars, Jon Power on the bass duties, and Ryan Idris keeping time on the drums.

DEMETRA'S SCARS - BORN UNBROKEN

Available to stream now - Demetra’s Scars arrive with an unquestionable mission on Born Unbroken - dismantle identities and reclaim individuality via force, reflection, and confrontation. Across the 33 minute runtime, the Italian outfit blends groove, alt metal, and electronic textures into a record that lands feeling concerned with liberation and social critique.

MOONSPELL - FAR FROM GOD

Release Date 3rd July via Napalm Records - It’s been five years since gothic metallers Moonspell’s last full-length album, the band spending their time searching on a creative journey, re-emerging with a rebirth of sorts with their newest album, Far From God. It is a classic gothic tale with yearning flair, an easy-to-digest bite in a figurative sense.

COPROLITH - PUTRESCENCE

Release Date: 3 July 2026 via Me Saco Un Ojo / Rotted Life - Toronto's Coprolith arrive with total conviction: Lovecraftian death-doom played as though no other approach was ever possible. Debut album Putrescence drops the listener deep into a foreign world of cosmic drift, floating through distorted whale-song and jangled alien textures that leave you feeling unmoored. This world is enormous and indifferent to your arrival.

CYHRA – REQUIEM FOR A PIPE DREAM

Available now via Reigning Phoenix Music - Ten years into their existence, CYHRA arrive at an ultra defining moment. What began as a collab between former Amaranthe vocalist Jake E and In Flames architect Jesper Strömblad, has evolved into a band standing on its own merits instead of the pedigree of its members.

AGARWAEN – THE MURDER TREND

Release Date: 3 July 2026 via Over The Border Records - Finnish outfit AGARWAEN have carved out a unique niche with what they describe as "Asylum Metal", a chaotic and unpredictable blend of extreme metal styles wrapped in a theatrical, horror-inspired presentation. Following the success of their debut "Dottore I" and its acclaimed successor Channel: "Lunacy", the band built momentum through extensive touring across Finland and Europe, including an appearance at the renowned Tuska Festival in 2024. Now, with The Murder Trend and the EP Arena of Retribution, produced by Teemu Aalto and mastered by Svante Forsbäck, AGARWAEN continue to push their distinctive vision of frantic riffs, unsettling atmospheres, and controlled musical madness.

TODOMAL – GRAVEYARDS OF JOY

Release Date: 3 July 2026 via Season of Mist - Some collaborations seem destined from the very beginning, and TODOMAL is one such example. Formed in 2020 by Anglo-Spanish musician Christopher B. Wildman and producer/composer Javier Fernández Milla, the project brings together two seasoned figures from Spain’s underground music scene. Their shared vision merges the crushing weight of traditional doom metal with the expansive character of space rock, while incorporating elements of ecclesiastical music, classic hard rock, and cinematic soundscapes. The result is a sound that feels both deeply personal and strikingly atmospheric. Serving as the final chapter in a trilogy that began with "Ultracrepidarian" (2021) and continued with "A Greater Good" (2023), "Graveyards of Joy" finds TodoMal bringing their overarching vision to its conclusion. Born from a period of personal loss and introspection, the album channels grief, anger, and resilience into nine sprawling compositions, balancing crushing doom-laden weight with expansive, cinematic atmosphere.

SOOTHSAYER - THE UNBINDING

Release Date: 3 July 2026 via Apocalyptic Witchcraft - Blackened doom metal has always been a personal weakness, so seeing SOOTHSAYER on my review list was an easy choice. Since emerging from County Cork in 2013, the Irish band have taken a patient approach to songwriting, releasing only a handful of records, each carrying a distinct sense of purpose. Five years after "Echoes of the Earth", they returned with "The Unbinding", their second full-length and first release for Apocalyptic Witchcraft. Rooted in grief, tradition, and raw emotion, the album promises another immersive journey through towering doom soundscapes and haunting atmosphere.

MARTYRS SAINT – FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Release Date: 3 July 2026 - Some bands introduce themselves with infectious grooves, others with technical precision or memorable melodies. Bristol crossover thrash newcomers MARTYR'S SAINT choose a far more direct approach. On their debut EP, the quartet launch an uncompromising assault that fuses the raw aggression of hardcore with the speed and razor-sharp precision of thrash metal. Whether that explosive formula holds up across all four tracks is exactly what we're about to find out.

REXORIA – FALLEN DIMENSION

Available Now via Black Lodge Records - I'll be honest with you. I came into Fallen Dimension with my guard up. My listening diet runs… heavier. Power metal, by contrast, has always felt like the genre equivalent of a fireworks display. Fun for thirty seconds. Exhausting by the finale.

DUIR – CATARSI

Release Date: 26 June 2026 via AOP Records - Since emerging in 2013, DUIR have carved out a distinctive blend of atmospheric black metal and folk-driven melancholy under the vision of founder MK. Named after the Celtic word for "oak", the project reflects themes of endurance, nature, and ancient wisdom, shaping a sound where windswept folk passages and shadow-drenched black metal coexist in haunting balance. With "Catarsi", DUIR unveil their most ambitious and emotionally charged work so far. Set during the First World War, the album traces a soldier’s descent through pride, despair, and oblivion, merging atmospheric black metal with haunting folk textures to create a darkly cinematic experience. A guest appearance from L.G. of ELLENDE and mixing/mastering by P.G. of GROZA at Ad Nauseam Sounds further strengthen the album’s powerful blend of melody and intensity. Since emerging in 2013, DUIR have steadily risen through the European underground, sharing stages with bands like GAEREA, WIND ROSE, and TSJUDER. Their debut full-length, "T.S.N.R.I.",and the follow-up "Impermanenza", hinted at a more atmospheric and melodic direction, one that reaches a far deeper and more immersive form on Catarsi.

ORGA MECHA – HUMANITY.EXE

Orga Mecha’s debut album, Humanity.exe, pays homage to the golden age of traditional heavy metal while fusing electronic textures and sci-fi themes. Blending intricate guitar solos, commanding female vocals and an unmistakable 80s aesthetic with synthesizers, the result is an album that feels simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic.

FLESHCRAWL – EPITOME OF CARNAGE

Release Date: 12 June via Distortion Music Group - With "Epitome of Carnage", FLESHCRAWL return seven years after "Into the Catacombs of Flesh" with a tenth full-length that underscores both their endurance and their continued creative drive. Despite decades in the underground and the changes that have shaped their path, the German death metal veterans remain firmly committed to their sound, channeling experience into renewed intensity and focus. Due for release on June 12th, 2026 via Distortion Music Group (in cooperation with Reigning Phoenix Music), the album positions itself as a reaffirmation of purpose rather than a reinvention. "Epitome of Carnage" presents FLESHCRAWL as a band still capable of delivering direct, forceful, and unrelenting death metal rooted in tradition yet sharpened by time. So the real question remains: does "Epitome of Carnage" actually live up to the expectations set by its press release? Let’s find out.

LIVA – ECCE MUNDUS

Available now via Wormholedeath Records - Ecce mundus feels less like a collection of songs and more like a gradual descent into a mythical, otherworldly landscape. Liva, Canada’s first symphonic power metal opera band, singing in Latin, immediately establishes an atmosphere that is cinematic, orchestral, and consistently epic in scope. The album moves with an unusual balance of slowness and urgency, often shifting between gentle, reflective passages and sudden bursts of intensity driven by galloping drums, meticulous guitars, and harsh male death vocals.

TOMBAL – GRAVE OF THE DAMNED

Release Date: 12 June 2026 via Blood Harvest - There is no subtlety to TOMBAL, only chainsaw distortion, rotting atmosphere, and pure Swedish death metal worship delivered with unapologetic force. Emerging in late 2025, the trio dive headfirst into the HM-2 soaked traditions of the early ’90s, combining savage riff work, ferocious growls, and relentless drumming into a sound that feels both violent and authentically old-school. Their debut EP "Grave of the Damned" serves as a compact but devastating statement of intent. In barely sixteen minutes, TOMBAL ripped through blasting aggression, d-beat driven momentum, and thick, corpse-rotten riffing laced with dark melodic touches. The release’s raw conviction quickly caught the attention of Blood Harvest Records, who had already signed the band for their debut full-length. For fans of classic Swedish death, this is less revivalism and more exhumation.

MY OWN WILL – MISERY

Release June 4th via Bleeding Art Collective / Blood Blast Distribution - From Southeastern Michigan comes My Own Will, a hardcore metal act steeped in death metal roots. Their newest EP Misery is a short one, but rest assured it is packed with enough sound and exploding with energy to feel like a full-length, not lacking in merciless beats, gritty vocals and distortion.

NUCLEAR TOMB – EPOCH INHUMANE

With "Epoch Inhumane", NUCLEAR TOMB once again prove why they remain one of the more unpredictable names in the modern thrash underground. The Baltimore outfit sharpened their bizarre and aggressive formula into a volatile collision of technical thrash, punk-fueled chaos, progressive twists, and towering heavy metal atmosphere. Set for release on June 12 through Rotted Life Records, the album channels the adventurous spirit of VOIVOD, CORONER, and PESTILENCE without sounding trapped in retro worship. NUCLEAR TOMB clearly had no interest in playing it safe after their previous output. Over the past two years, the band road-tested and reshaped this material through live performances across North America, tightening every chaotic edge along the way. On "Epoch Inhumane", that evolution becomes impossible to miss: the riffs hit harder, the pacing grows more frantic, and the songwriting dives deeper into unpredictable territory. Beneath the technical aggression and razor-sharp hooks lies a bleak thematic core, with the album tearing through visions of societal decay and impending collapse. Does "Epoch Inhumane" live up to the chaos and ambition promised in the press release? Let’s dive in and find out.

DITHEIST – COSMIC LIAR

Release Date: 6 June 2026 via Independent - After a 10-year hiatus, Chicago's death merchants DITHEIST have returned to the sacrificial altar with their new album Cosmic Liar soon to be available in digital format. Being their fourth release, this album is composed of eight bruising tracks diabolically tempered in just over 29 minutes. Featuring Matt Wright on vocals, Konrad Lysak on guitars, Brian Frost with guitar and bass, and Narcyz Fortuna on drums; the band are joined by guests Briant Daniel, Thomas Moore, and Chad Chanfieled who contributed with their various instrumentations.

VÉHÉMENCE – ASSIÉGÉ POUR L'ÉTERNITÉ

Release Date: 10 June 2026 via Antiq - Originally released in 2014, Assiégé saw VÉHÉMENCE laying the foundations for what would later become known as medieval black metal. Blending melodic black metal rooted in both the French and Swedish traditions with ancient-sounding folk influences, the duo created a sound overflowing with triumph, melancholy, and an unmistakably medieval aura. Even in its rough early form, the album carried a timeless and deeply immersive spirit that later records like Par le sang versé and Ordalies would elevate even further. Now, with "Assiégé pour l’Eternité", VÉHÉMENCE revisit that landmark release not through a simple rerecording, but a full recomposition. Expanded by KK of Passéisme on bass alongside Tulzcha, Thomas Leitner, and Hyvermor, the band reshaped their debut with renewed depth and vision while preserving the epic heart that made it so influential in the first place. But enough about the history behind the record,the real question is: how does "Assiégé pour l’Eternité" actually sound?

DEAD VOID – CRANIAL DEVASTATION

Release Date: 5 June 2026 via Dark Descent & Me Saco Un Ojo Records - On their sophomore album "Cranial Devastation", Copenhagen death/doom outfit DEAD VOID doubled down on the oppressive foundations laid by their debut "Volatile Forms", tightening their approach without losing any of its suffocating weight. Rather than expanding outward, the band sharpens their focus, pushing their sound into more deliberate, violent territory where atmosphere and brutality feel increasingly inseparable. Rather than relying on sheer speed or technical excess, DEAD VOID builds tension through sheer weight and suffocating atmosphere across "Cranial Devastation"’s five heavy tracks. Massive doom passages drag against violent bursts of death metal chaos, creating a constant feeling of collapse and instability. Above it all, the vocals emerge like something buried deep beneath the earth, tortured, distant, and barely human. It’s an album that doesn’t simply overwhelm the listener; it slowly pulls them under. Let’s descend into the suffocating depths of "Cranial Devastation".

DAUÞUZ – TODESWERK

Release Date: 29 May 2026 via Amor Fati Productions - With "Todeswerk: Uranium II", DAUÞUZ continue to deepen their distinctive brand of "Mining Black Metal", merging ’90s-inspired melodic black metal with suffocating atmosphere and historical weight. More brutal in execution yet still rich in acoustic melancholy, the album benefits greatly from the addition of session drummer Werwolf, whose performance gives the songs extra force and depth. Lyrically, the record turns toward the horrors of uranium mining in post-war Joachimsthal and Bohemia, focusing on forced labor, industrial decay, and the human suffering buried beneath the Soviet atomic program. Dark, mournful, and fiercely immersive, Todeswerk: Uranium II transforms forgotten history into bleak and emotionally charged black metal.

EVERGREY - ARCHITECTS OF A NEW WEAVE

Few bands in modern metal have cultivated emotional heaviness as powerfully as EVERGREY. Across three decades of thunderous riffs, haunting melodies, and deeply human songwriting, the Gothenburg outfit has carved out a legacy defined as much by atmosphere as sheer weight. With their fifteenth studio album, "Architects Of A New Weave", arriving June 5, 2026 via Napalm Records, the band once again steps into the shadows and emerges carrying something massive, a dark, cathartic statement charged with melancholy, defiance, and cinematic intensity. Its release comes at a landmark moment for the band, who will soon share stadium stages with IRON MAIDEN on the "Run For Your Lives" World Tour, further cementing EVERGREY’s status as one of metal’s most enduring emotional forces. With that, it's time for the music.

LAGO – VIGIL

Out now via Everlasting Spew Records - Eight years away could have easily buried Lago beneath the endless churn of modern death metal, but Vigil arrives completely controlled and ready for demolition. The Phoenix quartet return sharper, and far more confident in the space they occupy. Where Sea of Duress leaned into atmosphere and weight, Vigil tightens things up with a colder, more technical approach that never sacrifices impact.

BEWITCHED – DIABOLICAL DEATH MASS

Out now via Osmose Productions - Three decades after crawling out of the Swedish underground, Bewitched returned with a record that understands what made the band relevant in the first place. Diabolical Death Mass resurrects the blackened speed metal spirit that defined the group’s earliest years, and succeeds through brutal conviction.

MOONLIGHT HAZE – INTERSTELLAR MADNESS

Available now via Scarlet Records - Italian symphonic power metallers Moonlight Haze have arrived with their fifth studio release, Interstellar Madness. A six track epic, this EP stuns with its strength and emotion, standing out with powerful presence and production work.

MOLOSSER – MOLOSSER

Available now via Gutter Prince Cabal - There’s not much known about Molosser. The New Zealand Black / War / Death five-piece arrive with no real history attached, no scene mythology to lean on, and no origin story doing work for them. Their self-titled debut EP, released through Gutter Prince Cabal, is a stark 18 minutes across four songs.

MALEBESTE – MONESTHEROU

Release Date: 25 May 2026 via Antiq - From the windswept lands of western France rises MALEBESTE, a young black metal force deeply entwined with the legends and forgotten history of Charente and Vendée. Though formed only in 2024, the band already sound steeped in ancient memory and regional mysticism. Melody and aggression move hand in hand throughout MALEBESTE’s sound. Razor-edged riffs and galloping drums carve through the songs with restless momentum, while fierce French-language vocals rise from the mix like distant cries carried through the fog. Inspired by both the French and Swedish black metal scenes, the band shape an atmosphere that feels windswept, cold, and deeply rooted in forgotten legends, where every melody seems to echo from ancient forests and abandoned stone paths. With that said, we now descend into "Monestherou", the debut album from MALEBESTE, and let its cold world unfold on its own terms.

FRUSEN SORG – SMÄRTPUNKTER

Release Date: June 5th, 2026 via Widsith Records - Emanating from the grimier corners of Stockholm’s punk collectives is Swedish blackened crust outfit FRUSEN SORG with their debut long player Smärtpunkter, scheduled for release on Widsith Records. Somewhat of a spontaneous collaboration of long-term friends and bandmates from previous bands and projects, the duo consists of Martin Sandström overseeing the guitar and drum duties, while Kalle Mattsson provides the bass and vocal undertakings.

VOIDTHRONE - DREAMING RAT

Released independently - Out now - Voidthrone’s Dreaming Rat sure wasn’t built for easy listening, instead, the album takes listeners to a purely hostile environment. Forty six minutes of collapsing structures, and neurological overload arrives through dissonant blackened death metal, feeling violently excavated from some infected subconscious. The Seattle quartet have always rocked the boat in extremes, but this record pushes far beyond the density of Metaphysical Degradation into something more uglier in its chaos.

GRABUNHOLD – FROSTHEIM

Release Date: 5 June 2026 via Iron Bonehead - Five years after "Heldentod", GRABUNHOLD returned from the shadows with the same cold conviction that made their debut so compelling. Their sound remains deeply rooted in second-wave black metal, yet shaped by a medieval atmosphere that feels less nostalgic and more like wandering through forgotten keeps beneath a frost covered sky. The band balances grim aggression with epic, windswept melodies and surprisingly clear production, allowing every riff and distant, horn-like melody to breathe. Pagan mysticism, ancient legends, and dark fantasy flow through the album like echoes from another age, giving the music a fierce yet strangely majestic aura. Now, the gates open once more, leading us deep into the cold and shadow-drenched worlds of GRABUNHOLD and "Frostheim".

MÖHRKVLTH - GWENOJENNOÙ AN ANKOUNAC’H

Out now via Antiq Records - Eight years separated Möhrkvlth’s debut from Gwenojennoù An Ankounac’h, but the distance feels far from accidental. Rather than a band rushing to remain relevant, Gwenojennoù An Ankounac’h is the sound of a band returning with a clear identity, and far stronger command of atmosphere than most contemporary black metal bands could ever dream of achieving.

ABUSER - BLOOD MARKS

Out now via Xtreem Music - On their debut full length Blood Marks, Wrocław’s Abuser wholeheartedly avoid every single trap that swallows modern thrash metal whole. Zero nostalgia, zero gimmickry, zero overproduction pretending it’s “old school.” Instead, the Polish quartet delivers a lean, violent, focused record that understands what made late 80s extreme thrash so compelling in the first place.

DESOLUS – DWELLERS OF THE TWILIGHT VOID

Available now via Hells Headbangers - Summoned in Washington D.C. USA are blackened death-thrashers DESOLUS and their album Dwellers Of The Twilight Void, scheduled for release on the Hells Headbangers label.

GRAVERY - PURIFIED IN BLOOD

Release Date: May 15 via Upstate Records - Darkness and violence pulse through every second of GRAVERY’s sound. Emerging from Northern Italy in 2023, the band quickly established themselves through a brutally uncompromising approach, combining oppressive downtempo deathcore with themes centered on psychological destruction and humanity’s darkest impulses. Their latest EP, "Purified in Blood", continues that descent with four tracks built to overwhelm. Following the momentum of "Everything That Is Born Must Die", the release trades subtlety for sheer impact, delivering crushing grooves, suffocating atmosphere, and a level of aggression that feels deliberately relentless from beginning to end. Whether the music truly lives up to the sheer intensity promised in the press release, we’re about to find out.

SPACE PARASITES - MAKE ME EVIL

Release Date: June 6 via Fetzner Death Records - Shaped by personal experience, myth, and echoes of real events, SPACE PARASITES once again step into a dark, mystically charged narrative world. Here, the band channels abyssal forces and vengeance-driven energies, embodying a witch-like presence stripped of conscience, driven by pure retribution. With "Make Me Evil", the Berlin-based trio deliver their third full-length, firmly rooted in old-school thrash metal but thickened with a darker, heavier undertone that defines their evolving identity. Whether it matches the strength of their earlier work is something this album will have to prove in full.

ANGELLORE - NOCTURNES

Available now via Ardua Music - Shrouded in melancholy and carried by nearly two decades of artistic evolution, ANGELLORE have carved out a singular place within gothic doom metal. The Avignon collective weave together sorrowful grandeur, folk textures, and deeply human storytelling, creating albums that feel less like records and more like slowly unfolding tragedies. Works such as "La Litanie des Cendres" and "Rien Ne Devait Mourir" showcased the band’s gift for transforming despair into something hauntingly beautiful. With "Nocturnes", ANGELLORE opens the door to yet another shadow-drenched chapter-a record that has lingered and matured in darkness for almost ten years, emerging now as perhaps their most intimate and emotionally consuming creation yet. With that said, let’s step into the shadowed world of "Nocturnes" and explore the album.

NOCTURNAL DEPARTURE - SPIRITUAL CESSATION

Available now via Hells Headbangers - On their third full-length, Nocturnal Departure advances everything they established on Clandestine Theurgy without diluting hostility. The result, a record tightening control while preserving the volatility central to late ’90s North American black metal.

HEAVENFALL - THORN

Release Date: May 15 via Rockshots Records - With their first full-album release all the way back in 2012, the Italian heavy metal group Heavenfall was quite dormant up until recently in terms of releases. Having formed the band when they were younger, they took their time to find their direction in what they set out to create. What they return with in 2026 is an introspective and gritty creation – their second full-length album, Thorn

CANDARIAN - TREPANACIÓN

Out now vía Memento Mori / Me Saco Un Ojo - Candarian land with Trepanación - a record built on early 90s death metal, that has been reduced to its ugliest essentials & executed with clarity. The result, immediate, and utterly physical.

HROB - BRÁNA CHLADU

Available now via Memento Mori / Night Terrors - Hrob’s Brána Chladu arrives with pure intent. Released through Memento Mori and Night Terrors Records, the Slovakian band’s debut leans hard into death-doom’s most oppressive instincts, rejecting any kind of clarity in favor of density, weight, and absolute atmosphere.

NOOSED - MISERY

Release Date: May 15 via ROAD TO MASOCHIST - There’s a palpable sense that the world is spiraling-truth reduced to a shifting construct, hostility normalized, and reason pushed aside in favor of greed and ignorance. It’s this bleak reality that fuels Ireland’s NOOSED, a band shaped by frustration, defiance, and a refusal to submit. Since 2019, they’ve channeled that anger into a series of EPs and compilations, forging a ferocious blend of crust punk, sludge, and hardcore. Their music captures a raw and unfiltered view of the world around them—grim, destructive, and unrelenting-yet never defeated. With "Misery", the band is set to deliver their most direct and hard-hitting statement to date, the question is whether they can truly live up to that promise-something this review sets out to explore.

ERDVE - EPIGRAMA

There's a point where "crushing" stops being a useful word. It gets thrown around so casually in heavy music that it often just means "loud" or "aggressive." Epigrama, the upcoming release from ERDVE via Season of Mist, available on May 29th, forces a reset. This isn't crushing as force. It's crushed as an end point. You're not being hit. You're experiencing being so defeated there's no more point in trying.

TELOMYRAS - DUSKFALL

With their debut full-length Duskfall, Seattle’s TELOMYRAS step forward with renewed force, three years after their self-titled EP first introduced their sound. The band sharpens their fusion of classic and extreme metal into a riff-driven attack, blending aggressive guitar work with a dual-lead approach rooted in both traditional and progressive metal influences. Since their debut, they’ve clearly refined their identity into something tighter and more focused. At the center is vocalist Sammie Gorham, whose classically trained operatic highs collide with raw, guttural screams, while new drummer Gavynn Peterson adds power and precision behind the kit—together pushing the band into a more dynamic and explosive direction.

IN MALICE'S WAKE - THE PROFOUND DARKNESS

Available Now via Independent - Aussie thrash veterans IN MALICE’S WAKE return with their long-awaited fifth studio album, The Profound Darkness, marking a new chapter in a career spanning more than two decades. With four full-length releases behind them, the band-featuring Leigh Bartley (Harlott), Karl Watterson, Mark Farrugia, and Shaun Farrugia-now push their sound further into their most sinister and punishing territory yet. What once felt like a gradual descent into darkness now becomes a full immersion into something far more immediate and oppressive. This time, the band shifts its thematic focus away from outward aggression and toward a more introspective exploration of mortality and the uncertainty that follows. "The Profound Darkness" unfolds as a conceptual journey beyond the grave, delving into the many possible forms of the great unknown. Across nine meticulously crafted tracks, IN MALICE’S WAKE gives shape to that void, presenting a series of stories that come together as a haunting and cohesive vision.

GRAVEIR - THE FESTERING TRIAD

Out May 29 via Apocalyptic Witchcraft - Brisbane’s Graveir have never operated within the comfort zone of orthodox black metal, and The Festering Triad confirms that refusal down to a tee. This third full length leaves aside any ties to genre purity, favouring something more corrosive! A deliberate, suffocating architecture of sound that feels engineered to destabilise.

CARCEROUS - DOOMSDAY FACTORY

Out now independently - Carcerous’ debut is an arrival that rejects any kind of excess, opting more for complete control. Doomsday Factory is built on restraint and aggression, pushing blackened death metal into neat package and tightly engineered form. This band understands pacing. Riffs storm in with intent, drums drive without collapse, and the production carries huge weight without sanding off any edges whatsoever.

OLDOWAN GASH – 1000 DREAMS OF WAR

Available Now via Amor Fati / Feral Heart - OLDOWAN GASH has existed for roughly a decade, every now and then emerging from the darkness to unleash black metal upon the world. From California arises a mysterious being known as The Forlorn Spirit, a single entity responsible for the harrowing howls and fiery riffs of OLDOWAN GASH, accompanied by Longinus on session drums. 1000 Dreams of War marks a continuation of a concept from 2023 and the project’s second full-length production, stitched together with various session recordings by The Forlorn Spirit.

GOLGOTHA – HUBRIS

Available Now via ABSTRACT EMOTIONS - Hailing from Mallorca in southern Spain is the melodic death-doom five-piece GOLGOTHA and their latest epoch Hubris scheduled for release on the Abstract Emotions label. For over 30 years the band continue their journey into melancholy and emotion with this massive sounding album created by Vicente J. Paya (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Andrew Spinoza (bass, harsh vocals), Rafel Garcies (drums), María J. Lladó (clean vocals), and Dan Garcia (guitars). With an impressive catalogue spanning their career, GOLGOTHA remain true to their archetype of driving heaviness and pained contrasts conflicted by asperous fragments of life and lore.

DIMMU BORGIR - GRAND SERPENT RISING

Release Date: May 22, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records - The easy read on Grand Serpent Rising is that Dimmu Borgir have returned to form. Darker, heavier, guitars back in front. Eight years after Eonian, the corrections have been made. That's not wrong. But it's not the whole story either.

THE GHOULSTARS – THE DARK OVERLORDS OF THE UNIVERSE

Available May 15 via Season of Mist - The debut from The Ghoulstars arrives with some rather unusual restraint, years of image building, zero recorded output, then, the release of a fully formed statement. The Dark Overlords of the Universe reconstructs adolescence with precision, curating metal, punk, and VHS-era horror into a tight 34 minute work of art.

PIG'S BLOOD - DESTROYING THE SPIRIT

Available now via Dark Descent Records - Spawning from Wisconsin is the American bestial blackened death-metal outfit PIG’S BLOOD, and their soon to be released album Destroying the Spirit on Dark Descent Records. For over a decade, the quintet has been raising hell on stages supporting major bands as well their own headliners and earning praise from local peers and international shows abroad. Those responsible for this assault are Chris Ellis (vocals), Bubba Nitz (bass), Brian Serzynski (drums), Mike Gamm (guitars) and Paul Mirenda (guitars), all whom have deservedly carved their own fortress in the modern metal underground.

CHAOS INSIGNIA – CROWN OF THE INFERNAL CODE

Formed in 2024 in Romania, CHAOS INSIGNIA arrived with a clear and uncompromising mission: to deliver a relentless form of black/death metal rooted in extremity and atmosphere. The band merges the feral aggression of black metal with the crushing density of death metal, crafting a sound that feels both suffocating and meticulously controlled. Drawing from the raw violence of classic war metal while incorporating a sharper, more modern edge, Chaos Insignia channel themes of technological occultism, apocalyptic imagery, and infernal devotion into their music. Their debut full-length, "Crown of the Infernal Code", solidifies this vision across ten tracks-an intense and cohesive statement that positions the band firmly within the contemporary extreme metal underground. How this debut ultimately sounds is what we will explore in the following review-so let’s dive in.

SEPULTURA – THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING

Available now via Nuclear Blast Records - Few bands have left a mark on metal as deep and lasting as SEPULTURA, and now, after more than four decades, their journey is approaching its final chapter. What began as a raw, uncompromising force from Brazil grew into a global phenomenon-one that helped shape entire generations of metal. With over 40 years of history, 14 gold records, and performances in more than 80 countries, Sepultura’s legacy is nothing short of monumental. Their sound, attitude, and influence have become inseparable from the evolution of extreme music itself. As the end draws near, there is a strong sense of nostalgia attached to this farewell-and for many, myself included, the chance to witness them live one last time this year feels less like a concert and more like a final tribute to a band that defined an era. With that in mind, there may be no more fitting way to celebrate such a career than through music itself. As a final gesture of gratitude, the band presents their new EP "The Cloud of Unknowing"-a four-track release that promises to resonate deeply with listeners. It feels like a parting gift, one that is bound to stir emotion and reflection. So let’s dive in—and, perhaps, rip the bandage off.

WHIRLWIND-1640

Available now via Dying Victims Productions - Conceived as a studio project by Mark Wild (Körgull The Exterminator, among others), WHIRLWIND emerges from a deeply personal connection to classic heavy metal—a genre that left a lasting imprint on him during his formative years. The project channels the spirit of ’80s German metal, drawing clear inspiration from early RUNNING WILD, early HELLOWEEN, ACCEPT, HEAVEN’S GATE, GRAVESTONE, TYRANT, GRAVE DIGGER, STEELER, and STORMWITCH. At the same time, it embraces the broader legacy of traditional heavy metal, with echoes of MERCYFUL FATE, MANOWAR, IRON MAIDEN, and JUDAS PRIEST shaping its sound and identity. Patience has clearly been part of WHIRLWIND’s journey. Formed in 2012, the Spanish heavy metal outfit took ten years to deliver their debut full-length, 1714. Now, four years on, they return with album number two—once again rooted in history and titled after a significant year: 1640. It’s a concept that injects an extra spark into their music, blending traditional heavy metal with a sense of historical narrative—an approach that adds both character and depth to the listening experience. How this translates sonically is what we will explore in this review.

VAEOVON – SPIRITUAL NULLIFICATION

Available now via Gutter Prince Cabal - This is one of those assignments where I approached the band without any prior familiarity—a perspective that allows for a more unfiltered and unbiased listening experience. In this case, the focus is on black metal group from New Zealand, VAEOVON, who mark their debut with their first full-length release, "Spiritual Nullification". According to the press release, the album is described as a relentless assault of lightning-fast, overwhelming in its sheer intensity. Driven by retching vocals and near-constant blast beats-only briefly pulling back to strike with even greater force-the record unfolds as a vortex of frenzied riffing that feels almost violent in its execution. The result is portrayed as a descent into chaos, a suffocating and uncompromising experience-like being dragged through hell by an unstoppable force, with no chance of escape. Whether "Spiritual Nullification" lives up to the ferocity promised in the press pitch is something this review will explore.

DEMON SPELL – BLESSED BE THE DARK

Available now via Dying Victims Productions - With "Blessed Be the Dark", DEMON SPELL emerge from the aftermath of their 2024 EP Evil Nights with a fully formed vision of occult heavy metal. The Italian coven presents their debut album as a ritualistic descent into shadow, built on themes of dust, bone, and ancient darkness. The record unfolds like a ceremonial invocation, steeped in doom-laden atmosphere where echoes of the grave seem to resurface. It is music firmly rooted in the traditions of dark, esoteric heavy metal, crafted for those drawn to its timeless mysticism. The influence of MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND on DEMON SPELL is unmistakable and runs deeply through their sound, most prominently expressed in the striking falsetto of front man Federico Fano. Yet his performance is far from one-dimensional, as he alternates this style with darker, more grounded vocal passages that evoke Ricardo of THE NIGHT ETERNAL. At the same time, subtle affinities to PORTRAIT emerge, both in vocal expression and thematic intent, further enriching the band’s stylistic framework and reinforcing their dedication to classic, ritualistic heavy metal aesthetics.

KÕDU – KIRJAD SÕGEDATE KÜLAST

Available now via Antiq - KÕDU, is already a notable name within the Baltic scene, specialized in epic, melodic black metal, now with "Kirjad Sõgedate Külast" ("Letters from the Village of the Blind"), the Estonian band unveil their second full-length, building on the foundation laid by their 2021 debut "Unusta kõik". Inspired by a 1955 work from author Juhan Smuul, the album takes shape as a concept-driven narrative. Told through imagined letters from a remote village teetering on the edge of collapse, the record delves into themes of isolation, superstition, and moral decline. It’s an ambitious framework that calls for equally evocative musical execution. Operating within the realm of epic melodic black metal, KÕDU continue to carve out a distinct identity within the Baltic scene, positioning this release as a significant step forward in their artistic development. With this release marking the next step in the band’s evolution, we now turn to the music itself.

VOIDCHASER – INTERSTELLAR I

Self released & available now - Interstellar I showcases Voidchaser as a band reaching further beyond its current limits. The Montreal/Stockholm trio have built an epic 49 minute progressive metal narrative around corporate dystopia and deep space paranoia, fusing tech aggression with melodic ambition. The reference points are obvious (Devin Townsend, Dream Theater), with the intent pulling classic heavy metal instincts into a modern, high density frame.

RELIC – CROWN OF FLIES

Self released and available now - Milwaukee’s underground has always favored full throttle substance, and Relic’s debut EP Crown of Flies follows that lineage suit. Across four tracks and roughly ten minutes, the band strips blackened death metal back to its core elements of tension, velocity, and blunt-force impact.

LYNX - TRINITY OF SUNS

Release 24th April via Dying Victims Productions - A fairly recent band, Lynx started up in Germany in the 2020s to great acclaim after their first album release Watcher of Skies, immediately making their mark with a classic hard rock style. Trinity of Suns is their second full-length album, releasing five years after their first. The moment the album starts a rift in time opens, unleashing experimental and nostalgic waves that wash over you and immediately trigger something for those who grew up around their family’s record collections. Lynx is reminiscent of 70s metal and hard rock, a love letter to the roots that bloomed into the heavy metal genre and inspired countless genres to spring from it.

ÆONIK - THE ROAMER OF HEAVEN AND HELL

Release Date: April 30 via Fetzner Death Records - A lot of bands have taken the Dissection template and diluted it into melodeath with black metal aesthetics. Æonik don't. And on their debut record The Roamer of Heaven and Hell, that level of clarity matters. This is a black metal record that understands its lineage and then gets to work. Tremolo and blasts are the engine and atmosphere, the melodic carrier, pushing the songs forward.

BLOOD COUNTESS – IMPERATRIX SANGUINIS

Release Date: April 24 via Dominance of Darkness - Inspired by the historical figure of Elizabeth Báthory-the so-called "Blood Countess"-the English black metal band BLOOD COUNTESS present their sophomore album "Imperatrix Sanguinis". Musically, the band pays homage to the purist, cold sound of the ’90s, staying firmly rooted in that aesthetic. Both lyrically and musically, the album is fully dedicated to the dark legacy of the Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer-a narrative thread the band has followed since its inception. Grim, unsettling lyrics merge with relentless, fast-paced compositions, resulting in a cohesive and immersive whole. With that in mind, we now delve into the album’s dark narrative.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – GOOD GOD / BAAD MAN

Out now via Nuclear Blast Records - Corrosion of Conformity returns with Good God / Baad Man carrying the weight of absence, history, and stubborn continuity. Far from being framed by nostalgia, the new release is a recalibration after loss, lineup fracture, and time spent reducing the band back to its primal instincts.

ARCHAIC OATH – DETERMINED TO DEATH AND BEYOND

Release Date: April 24 via AOP Records - What began as a fleeting collaboration in 2005 between Lykormas and Arneriach soon evolved into something far more enduring. Drawn back by a shared fascination with decay and origins rooted deep in shadow, the two musicians reunited to forge a sound steeped in ancient influences and forgotten rites. Both seasoned figures within the underground, their creative drive never truly faded-and thus, ARCHAIC OATH was formed. Conceived as a vessel to revive blackened death metal in its most primal form, the project draws heavily from the spirit of the ’90s melodic black metal era, enriched by decades of experience. Their debut offering, "Determined to Death and Beyond", was crafted during the harsh winter of 2024–2025 and is set to emerge via AOP Records.

VOMITORY - IN DEATH THROES

In Death Throes is already happening when you arrive. There's no scene-setting, no slow build, just Vomitory doing what they do and doing it at full velocity. "Rapture in Rupture" is mid-swing, somewhere north of 230 BPM, drums snapping tight, guitars locked into a forward push that doesn't ask for permission. You're dropped into the middle of it, and the band sounds completely in control of the violence they're creating.

NORTHERN GRAVES - DERELICT HEART

Release Date: April 17, 2026 via Meuse Music Records - Originally formed in Saskatchewan, Canada and now based in Texas USA, NORTHERN GRAVES present their debut album Derelict Heart, set to be released on Meuse Music Records.

SICARIUS-NEX

Available now via Adirondack Black Mass - Emerging in early 2014, SICARIUS were founded by Argyris and Carnage with a clear mission: to capture the raw aggression and unrelenting spirit of black metal. Influenced by both first-and second-wave pioneers from Scandinavia, Greece, and the United States, the band channels these roots into a sound that feels both reverent and confrontational. Rather than adhering strictly to tradition, SICARIUS expand their sonic palette by incorporating elements of thrash, death metal, goth, and rock, creating a hybrid style that amplifies their intensity while maintaining a sharp, aggressive edge. In the years that followed their formation, SICARIUS began carving out their presence with early releases such as the Scorch the Earth demo (2015) and their debut album Serenade of Slitting Throats, produced by Mick Kenney. These formative works marked the beginning of their ascent, drawing increasing attention within the extreme metal underground. As their momentum grew, so too did their reach, leading them to share stages with influential acts such as 1349, GOATWHORE, VADER, MARDUK, DISGORGE, and INCANTATION—each performance further solidifying their place within the harsh and uncompromising landscape of extreme metal.

DAEMONIUM REGNI - SELF-TITLED

Emerging as the first statement from Swedish solo project DAEMONIUM REGNI, the self-titled album "Daemonium Regni" introduces the dark and epic vision of Micke Broberg, widely known for his work as the vocalist of UNANIMATED. Despite this being the project’s debut, Broberg is a seasoned figure in the extreme metal scene, with decades of experience across various bands and collaborations. Set for release via Darkness Shall Rise Productions on April 17, 2026, the album represents both the project’s first full-length and its very first official release. The involvement of Dan Swanö in the mastering process only adds further weight to the anticipation. Stylistically, the record blends epic and melodic black metal with subtle doom influences, creating a sound that aims for both grandeur and atmosphere. The only question that remains is whether the music itself can fulfill the expectations raised by its presentation.

VANTA – PERPETUAL SELECTION

Available now via Independent - If Gothenburg taught melodic death metal how to move, and modern deathcore taught it how to feel vast, Perpetual Selection finds its voice somewhere in between. Grounded but reaching. Perth trio Vanta work from a European melodeath foundation, but this isn't a record content to stay there. The riffs carry a distinctly Gothenburg sense of lift, and the album is full of classic soaring moments where aggression gives way to something more expansive, but they're rooted under the kind of density and weight that belongs to a different lineage entirely.

Ignobleth-Manor of Primitive Anticreation

Release Date: 7 April via Caligari Records - IGNOBLETH are another discovery found during the review process, emerging here with their upcoming debut full-length, "Manor of Primitive Anticreation". Formed in Modena, Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy in 2023, the band operates within the realms of blackened death metal, blending ferocity with an esoteric conceptual approach. Rooted in occult literary influences and steeped in darkness, the album draws the listener into a world reeking of unimaginable horrors. The trio adapt this concept through a raw form of death metal with a deep blackened undertone, where savage riffs and creative shifts strike with an unpredictable force. IGNOBLETH’s lineup features A.L. on guitar and atmospheric sound design, A.B. handling vocals and bass, and M.O. behind the drums. With the trio’s roles clearly defined, the focus now shifts to the music itself-can this debut truly live up to the promise of its striking press description?

THE MACHINIST – TOWERS

The Machinist is an experimental band from Manchester, England. Though active for quite a few years, they only adopted their new name in 2020. Exploring sci fi themes in their music, the industrial elements weave and pulse through their black, death metal sound. With this combo they have crafted a three-track EP named Towers, offering lengthy and extreme tracks with its release.

NERVOSA - SLAVE MACHINE

Available now via Napalm Records - Originating from São Paulo, Brazil in 2010, NERVOSA has been the subject of many changes as of late, now centred around Greece. While there have been quite a few changes with the band’s roster over the past few years, NERVOSA manage to demonstrate their passion for their work in this latest release. Slave Machine marks their sixth album, an aggressive and loud call to the masses that pierces the night.

SECTARIAN DEFACEMENT - HOSTILE CONSUMING RAPTURE

From the stable of Grave Island Records comes Ukrainian death slammers, SECTARIAN DEFACEMENT and their debut album, Hostile Consuming Rapture. Recorded in difficult times and circumstances due to their nation's struggles. It comes as no surprise the result of their work manifests as extremely heavy and utterly brutal. The trio of Nazar (guitar and vocals), Viktor (drums), and Anton (bass guitar) have created a half hour amplitude across ten arrangements succinctly articulating themes of survival, corruption, grief and loss.

VILE DESOLATION – ANNIHILATING THE CONSCIOUSNESS

The lifeblood of the metal scene has always been fresh talent-and VILE DESOLATION are a prime example of that continuing cycle. Coming from East Java, Indonesia, the brutal death metal outfit now step forward with their debut full-length, "Annihilating the Consciousness", set for release on May 8 via Comatose Music. The band already made a strong impression with their 2024 demo, "Shattered of Sanity", a release marked by intensity and aggression. With that foundation in place, their debut now promises to push things even further-raising the question of just how devastating this first full-length assault will be.

CNOC AN TURSA – A CRY FOR THE SLAIN

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 24th 2026 via APOCALYPTIC WITCHCRAFT - When receiving review assignments—or simply choosing them independently-you don’t always know the bands beforehand. Yet, this often leads to discovering remarkable music that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Scotland’s black/folk outfit CNOC AN TURSA (meaning "Hill of the Standing Stone") proved to be exactly such a case. Naturally, some research was in order. Since their formation in 2006, the band has been crafting the essence of Scotland’s history, landscapes, and mythology into their music. Their debut, "The Giants of Auld" (2013), brought them recognition within the scene, followed by their sophomore record, "The Forty Five" in 2017. After that, eight long years passed without a new release. Now, the silence has finally been broken. CNOC AN TURSA return not only with new material, but potentially with their most powerful and emotionally resonant work to date: "A Cry for the Slain".

SOLNEGRE – ANTHEMS FOR THE GRAND COLLAPSE

Release date: April 3rd via Meuse Music Records - Composed of experts of the craft from previous bands such as Helevorn and Desmodus, SolNegre is a relatively new collective yet a pride of the Spanish doom and death metal scene. Cited as taking 20 months to complete, Anthems For The Grand Collapse is riveting in its intensity, a twisted behemoth spawned from a deep emotional state that almost threatened to consume them. Thankfully instead it became the newest title in SolNegre’s growing discography, marking their second full length album as a collective. A combination of gentle solitude and the oppressive darkness, it is best described as a delicate balance.

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