Mortopsy--Putrefactive States Of The Human Form cd{Black Plague Rec./Pagan Fury Rec.}

 

Mortopsy is a solo band coming out of the Canadian brutal death,grind scene and this is a review of his debut EP.Putrefactive States Of The Human Form is  five tracks of early to mid 90's style of death grinding madness.The guitars are a mix of heavy mid paced guitar patterns and some faster more intense passages.Both guitar styles are played with intensity and well delievered.Their are even a few well performed guitar solos in a few of the songs for a nice touch to add to the bands style and sound.The vocals are extreme and brutal with some heavy death metal growls that are delievered with power.If you are a fan of well executed death grind Then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the debut EP. today.                                                                                                                                          Mortopsy                                                                                                                                                    https://mortopsy.bandcamp.com/album/putrefactive-states-of-the-human-form-ep                                    https://www.facebook.com/MortopsyBand                                                                                                  Black Plague Rec.                                                                                                                                          https://blackplaguestore.com/                                                                                                                      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063690631520#                                                                Pagan Fury Rec.                                                                                                                                            https://www.barbaricfury.shop/                                                                                                                    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569458082691

Iron Firmament--In the Land of Pre-Human Kings (LP) {2026 Wergild Records}

Here we have some suitably epic sounding black metal from the state of Washington that focuses on fantasy in the lyrics. They remind me a bit of Moonblood and Satanic Warmaster, but with their own twist on the style. They're not a clone like so many other bands, and there are clones aplenty in the scene. They have wondrous synths that occasionally appear in the music that helps the fantasy landscape to materialize in the imagination, really emphasizing the epic feel of the music. They rely heavily on tremolo-picked riffs, but they'll throw a curveball at the listener occasionally and vary their approach with an aggressive or epic riff, or even a quiet interlude. The repetition combined with all the tremolo-picking gives some of their songs an almost hypnotic quality. The production is suitably raw, but all the instruments are clearly audible and cleanly played. There is no slop here, the band is tight. If this interests you, you will have to settle for digital, since the LP is now sold out in pre-orders, but I highly recommend checking it out anyway. 

wergild.bandcamp.com

Nuctemeron--Demonic Sceptre (CD/LP) {2026 I Hate Records}

This is the first full length from Nuctemeron from Germany, but the band has existed and been releasing smaller records since 2016. Horror-inspired synths begin the record, setting the mood for this piece of black speed metal. They play in style similar to Nifelheim but without as much thrash in their sound, and more classic speed metal influence. The vocalist sounds like Schmier if he had huffed a balloon full of helium before recording each song - in other words, he's quite high-pitched and his line delivery is unhinged. He sounds quite unique. The production does quite a bit to mimic '80s metal albums, and it succeeds nicely. This could exist alongside bands from that era and fit right in. Musically, the band is competent, but they're a little loose. I think this is intentional, again to mimic those '80s albums where digital fixes of mistakes did not exist. I like it, and it makes them sound imperfectly human. This one's a must-hear for black thrash fans, and there's nothing here that disappoints.

www.ihate.se

Protruding Growth--Growing Mass demo{digital}{Independent2025}

 

Protruding Growth is a new  one man band that plays brutal death metal with influences from the early 2000's and also the current brutal death metal scene.Growing Mass is a short intro and then the music kicks off with a mix of heavy mid paced guitars that are heavy.The guitars do speed to a much faster tempo throughout the songs.The vocals are deep death metal growls that are powerful.Protruding Growth is not breaking any new ground or styles but i don't think he really wants to either.Fans of brutal,sick death metal should check this out today. 

Protruding Growth

https://protrudinggrowth.bandcamp.com/album/growing-mass-demo

Surturian--II - Hessian Spears (LP/CS) {2026 Crawling Chaos Records}

Hailing from Germany, this is Surturian's first full length. They play Kreator-style thrash metal with a classic heavy metal sense of melody and songwriting. Guitar harmonies and solos aren't a rarity here as with some thrash acts, and the playing is rather good. The riffs tend toward the anthemic, big and bold, with melodies flowing over top them a lot of the time. Really, this is a hybrid style, half thrash and half traditional metal, the more I listen to it. The music is a step above a lot of bands trying to play thrash these days. The vocals are delivered in a Mille-like snarl, at times with a bit of perhaps ill-conceived attempts at melody. The singer's vocals are stronger when he's not trying to sing and sticks with snarling out harsher sounds. I think a bit more work could be done on the vocal patterns as well, as they're a bit typical and sing-songy, and it really does drag the music down a bit when the rest of it is so promising. 

www.thecrawlingchaos-records.de

Legendry--Alive Behind the Castle Walls (Digital) {2026 Independent}

This album was recorded live at Keep It True Rising IV in Germany in 2024, and is just now seeing the light of day via Legendry's Bandcamp site. If I was in a band again, and on a label, I would do the same thing and release any quality live recordings I had independently. It's a good strategy. Legendry play epic heavy metal in the vein of Manilla Road, and sometimes have a hard rock aspect to them. I even hear nods to space rock on the first song "The Wizard and the Tower Keep." The singer has an almost folk delivery in some songs, and you can really hear the '70s rock influences along with classic metal influence in his voice. I really like how the synths fill out the band's sound and add some real depth to it. Extensive use of guitar effects is made, and they serve to emphasize the long jams the band goes on. This is absolutely worth the money if you're already a Legendry fan, and if it is your first time encountering them, it's a great place to hear some key songs for the first time.

legendry.bandcamp.com

Vector--Brain Collector (Digital) {2026 Independent}

This is Bay Area style thrash from France with shouted vocals. The riffs are decent and some of this is even fairly technical, all jagged edges and speed. There's even some progressive metal influence at work here, as you can hear in the solo section of the song "Bliss Through Butchery." I didn't find this to be all that exciting unfortunately, and it was the vocals more than anything that turned me off. They're gruff, shouted vocals that just sound a bit too "hardcore" for this material. A good analogy is using death metal vocals in a power metal band - it just doesn't mesh quite right with this classic thrash style. If you're a serious thrasher and don't mind the shouted vocals, this could still be up your alley, but for me it's a hard pass.

vectorofficiel.bandcamp.com

Niohoggr--Summons Ov A Godless Past CD{Plague Demon Rec.}

 

Puerto Rico's solo project  Niohoggr returns with another great release of raw black metal.Summons Ov A Godless Past is thirteen tracks of raw very well performed and played black metal.The guitars are played with a mix of both mid paced guitars and some faster paced passages.The guitars are done with some excellenc guitar passages and arrangements.The vocals are a mix of demonic raw death metal growls  and some raw black metal screams are used throughout the songs.On the new release their are also some well done cover songs covers of Dimmu Borgir,Emperor and Tsjuder all of the covers are played with great musicianship and well delievered vocals.If you are a fan of  Niohoggr then be sure to pick this  release up today you won't be disapointed and if you are a new listener and enjoy raw well executed black metal be sure to pick this release up as well.                                                                    Niohoggr                                                                                                                                                      https://www.facebook.com/niohoggrofficial/                                                                                              https://www.instagram.com/niohoggr.official/?fbclid=IwAR3ZJViIMh9yZCeh68qwdBGqxBhkhUNWNJaQOl17t7VWrwkewtXwBbZxsDo              https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYfZI53f2anNEEtjd3ed4rw                                                              Plague Demon  Rec.                                                                                                                                    https://plaguedemonrecords.bandcamp.com/merch                                                                                    https://www.facebook.com/Plaguedemonrecords.net/                                                                                  https://www.instagram.com/namtar.axarcuth                                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4Jqad8hAHPHisR2aU4Q4A

Anubis--Anthromorphicide (CD/LP) {2026 M-Theory Audio}

Well, this was a nice surprise. I wasn't aware of this band before receiving their promo, and I'm glad I chose this for review. Anubis play highly skilled thrash metal with quite a bit of power metal influence, and they have a unique sound, combining these styles in ways other bands don't with plenty of melody and aggression at the same time. Their songwriting is fairly traditional, utilizing some verse/chorus/verse structures, which makes it even catchier. The playing is fucking impeccable, from drums to bass to guitar, and remarkably technical. Guitar harmonies appear as often as fast thrash riffs. They're also not afraid to dip into more extreme techniques, either - there are some blastbeats on this record, and they make each song they're in that much more intense. Now, the vocals - these stand out. The singer's voice is powerful, melodic, and properly metal. He's strong. Very strong. He's also not afraid of vocal harmonies, as they occur all throughout the record. There are so many other things I could mention, too, like the synths (sparingly and intelligently used), the female vocals in one song, the death metal vocals in another song. There's a lot going on here, and they pull from the entire metal spectrum for ideas. This is just an amazing record, and easily one of my top picks so far this year. Metal as fuck, and highly recommended.

www.m-theoryaudio.com

Triumpher--Piercing the Heart of the World (CD/LP) {2026 No Remorse Records}

Holy shit. That was my reaction after getting through the first song. I was listening to something very, very special. Yes, the people comparing this band to Manowar are right - they definitely take heavy inspiration from them, but they add so much more to it. I hear elements of Bathory's Viking albums, elements of black metal, and over it all a pall of darkness that Manowar never even considered. The singer sounds a lot like Eric Adams sometimes and he possesses the same vocal histrionics, although he's not quite at the level of talent that Eric has. He is formidable, however, in his own right. The musclebound metal is present here in both style and spirit and these guys are taking that sound to places never thought of before, and I thank from from my metalized heart to theirs for keeping this kind of epic metal alive. This band fills a void for me left by Manowar's absence in the scene today, and I'll be tracking down each and every one of their records. Do yourself a huge favor and hear this any way you can. 

Vanity's Disciple--Blind Belief... Ill Intention (Digital) {2026 Independent}

This is the first and only release from this Grecian heavy metal band. This was quite a surprise, a very competent band with amazing songwriting skills and enough riffs for ten bands. The album is a concept piece about the different sins of mankind and all the different ways humanity can fail. I can hear influences from all over the traditional and thrash metal spectrum, but if I had to compare this to anything it would be a mix of Blind Guardian and Nevermore, with the former's melody and the latter's darkness. The vocals are acrobatic and well-sung, with a very inspired sense of melody that doesn't merely stick to the riffs, instead exploring all the space around them. We even get some vocal harmonies here and there. This is spectacular for a first record, and I look forward to seeing what else this band can do with their progressive yet traditional heavy metal sound.

vanitysdisciple.bandcamp.com

Immaculate--Spreading Of Infernal Gloom{digital}{Independent}

 

Immaculate is a black death metal band coming out of Austria and this is a review of the debut EP.-Spreading Of Infernal Gloom consisting of two instrumentals and two full length songs.The music is a blend of melodic death and black metal.The first song is Putrescent Mind Excarnation is a mid paced song with some whispering style death metal growls and some mid paced guitars.The last song is Comprehending The Incromprenensible starts off a little faster with guitars but soon returns to the mid paced slower paced guitars.The vocals are death metal growls that are really good in this song.If you are looking for a mid paced black and death metal band then you might give Immaculate a listen today.      Immaculate

https://immacvlate.bandcamp.com/album/spreading-of-infernal-gloom-ep                                              https://www.youtube.com/@lmmacuIate

Storm Demon--A Horrifying Conflagration Of Luciferian Supremacy{digital}{Independent}

 

Storm Demon is a solo project  coming out of California's black metal scene and this is a review of the latest full length.A Horrifying Conflagration Of Luciferian Supremacy is  eleven tracks of crazed fast black metal with some death metal elements added in a few of the songs.The music is a frenzied and chaotic mix of raw guitars and programmed drums.Both are played with extreme speed.The guitars do have some some very well performed solo's and patterns mixed into the chaotic music.The vocals are raw black metal screams.Storm Demon  plays a good style of blackend death metal if you are looking for a new band that plays this style then be sure to check out Storm Demon today.                                    Storm Demon                                                                                                                                              https://stormdemon.bandcamp.com/

Bezkres-Naturalna Nietolerancja CD&LP{Signal Rex.}

 

Coming out of Poland's black metal scene is Bezkres who plays traditional old school black metal.Naturalna Nietolerancja is the debut full length featurning nine tracks of  well executed and delievered black metal that adds a nice mix of mid paced and some faster passages into the music.The guitars are played with some primitive and raw guitars that are cold in the delievery.The guitarist  does write some good guitar patterns that showcases his writing ability.The drums are a mix of mid paced drums that are played with power and ability.But like the guitars the drummer does speed to a much faster pace throughout a few of the songs.The vocals are grim and gruff growls and some screams are used as well throughout the record.If you are a  looking for a well delievered black metal band and release then be sure to check out  Naturalna Nietolerancja  when it is released. 

Bezkres

https://www.facebook.com/bezkresblackmetal                                                                                          https://www.instagram.com/bezkres_blackmetal

https://www.youtube.com/@bezkres_blackmetal                                                                                          Signal  Rex

https://www.signalrex.com/                                                                                                                        https://signalrex.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                                https://www.facebook.com/signalrec                                                                                                          https://www.instagram.com/signalrex

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoNXa1wImsM-SvFY2hTnNMA

 

 

Vaulderie--Sanguinoctum (CD) {2026 Witches Brew Records}

This is the first full length from this Tacoma, WA area black thrash horde. They play genuinely aggressive black thrash complete with blastbeats and the occasional epic black metal riff pokes out amid all the chaos. I must applaud the songwriting on the record, it's extremely catchy stuff. It's all over the place influence-wise, and I hear a lot of Venom and Bathory, but I also hear too many other things to list, but here's a few: Celtic Frost, 80's speed metal, Motorhead, second wave black metal, and the fucking kitchen sink. Every track here is a well-crafted monument to metal, real fans making real metal the right way, aggressive and evil. The vocals are most of the time a standard black metal style, but we get little nods to Cronos and Tom Warrior all over the record. I can't recommend this one highly enough.

www.witchesbrew.eu