Speedslut--Cimbrian Rites (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Listenable Records)

This band from Denmark has blown me away, just flooring me with their black speed metal attack. From the '80s Metallica- and Slayer-isms to the Germanic speed metal influence to the little Bathory nods, this is entirely entertaining and metal as fuck. This is all gas and no brakes, just full speed ahead the entire time, full of attitude and powerful riffs. One thing they have that not a lot of black speed metal acts do is quality guitar solos, they're fresh and searing every time. These guitarists can play, often adding amazing little runs in their riffs that whip by at light speed. Vocally, the singer is somewhere between Running Wild and Bathory or Venom, and it's a perfect fit for the music. The vocals just bleed metal atmosphere. I thought the shouted gang vocals in a couple of the songs were a really nice touch as well. This is an excellent record that deserves mountains of praise heaped upon it, and I'll be picking this up at the first opportunity.

www.listenable.eu

Gutted Twice--A Malicious Betrayal{digital}{Independent}

 

A Malicious Betrayal is the second EP from Massachusetts Gutted Twice who play brutal death metal with some slam influence added in.The first track  The Eternal Churn is a heavy mid paced with powerful death metal growls and some raw screams are also used for a nice mix.The guitars and drums range from mid paced heavier patterns to some faster tempoed music.A Malicious Betrayal is up next and is faster paced song with some fast guitar passages,The drums are blasting drums that are delievered with intense patterns.The music does slow to a heavier mid paced range.The vocals are raw death metal growls and some raw screams are also used.The final track Parasitic Festering  is another raging fast song with chaotic blast beats and brutal death metal growls that are intense.Their are also some raw screams used throughout the song. A Malicious Betrayal is a good EP with a mix of slam and brutal death metal passages.Personally i prefer the straightforward death metal approach without the slam influence  but this is a really good EP recomended to those who are into brutal death metal. 

Gutted Twice 

https://guttedtwice.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/gutted_twice/

https://www.youtube.com/@guttedtwice

Atrox Avalanche---Demo 2026{digital}{Independent}

 

Atrox Avalanche is a  four man band coming out of Singapore's brutal death metal scene.Demo 2026 is the debut two song demo.The first song  Odious Impunity starts off with mid paced guitars and low growls it doesn't take long for the music to pick up to a faster more brutal tempo.The drums are blast beats that are ferocious in the delievery.The vocals are brutal and sick death metal growls that are powerful.Up next is Profligacy the song is straight forward death metal that is brutal in every sense of the word.The guitars and drums are fast with some solos added half way into the song.The vocals are brutal old school death metal growls.This is a good demo to introduce Atrox Avalanche to the brutal death metal underground so if you are into brutal death metal give this band a listen today.                      Atrox Avalanche                                                                                                                                            https://atroxavalanche.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2026                                                                        https://www.facebook.com/people/Atrox-Avalanche/61576449677990/                                                    https://www.instagram.com/atroxavalanche                                                                                                https://www.youtube.com/@AtroxAvalanche

Primordial Gate--Silence Of The Slumbering Landscape CS&digital{Forest Gloom}

 

Primordial Gate is a solo project coming out of Finland's raw black metal scene.Silence Of The Slumbering Landscape is the debut demo that contains six tracks of raw,traditional black metal.The guitars are performed with some very well performed passages that range from mid paced to a faster pace.Both guitar styles are done really well with some well executed patterns.The vocals are a mix of death metal growls and some raw gruff screams. For a debut demo this is a really good demo of  raw black metal. 

Forest Gloom

https://forestgloom.bandcamp.com/album/silence-of-the-slumbering-landscape

Houre--Pimea Komento CS&Digital{Forest Gloom}

 

Houre are a duo coming out of Finland's mid paced black metal scene and this is a review of their latest demo.Pimea Komento is four tracks of well composed and performed mid paced black metal.The demo starts off with some wind sounds then the music picks up to a more mid paced range with some well performed passages.The music is rooted in the 90's raw black metal style with some well performed passages.The guitars ar performed with some well executed slow to mid paced gutitar patterns.The guitars do speed up to a faster pace throughout a few of the songs.The band does add some synths throughout the songs to give it another layer to the music.The vocals are gruff growls and some raw gruff screams are also used.Pimea Komento is a really well performed demo this is my first time hearing the band but i might have to go listen to the other demo's soon.                                                      Forest Gloom                                                                                                                                                   https://forestgloom.bandcamp.com/merch                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Croaked--Fucking Croaked {digital}{Independent}

 

Croaked is a solo project coming out of California's death metal scene and this is a review of the debut EP.Fucking Croaked is three songs of well played death metal that mixes in old school brutality with some elements of the current death metal scene for a nice mix and sound.The guitars are performed with some well executed guitar patterns that area mix of mid paced and some aggressive faster paced patterns.The guitars have some meorable well performed  passages even adding in some solo's throughout the songs.The  vocals are old school gruff death metal growls that are powerful in the delievery.This is a good debut if you are looking for a new band to check out.                                            Croaked                                                                                                                                                    https://fuckingcroaked.bandcamp.com/album/fucking-croaked                                                                https://www.instagram.com/fuckingcroaked/

Fogos - Of Wyrm And Men CD(Satanath Rec./Poisoned Furrows}

 

Of Wyrm And Men  is the second full length from Spain's Fogos and this is a review of the new release.The new release contains  nine tracks of well executed and played black metal.The music is a good blend razor sharp guitars and fast pounding drums.But the band does add some slower atmospheric passages for a unique release.The guitars are well performed with some extremly fast paced patterns that are intense.The guitarist does slow to a more mid tempoed pace in a few of the songs to give each song it's own idenity.The drums are done in the same vein with extremely fast,chaotic drums that are performed with skillful writing.The drummer does write some slower mid paced drums throughout the songs for a nice mix.The vocals are a mix of grim black metal screams and some clean well sung vocals are used in a few songs.Of Wyrm And Men is a really well performed and written release that mixes fast paced black metal with some slower atmospheric passages.                                    Fogos                                                                                                                                                            https://fogosofficial.bandcamp.com/merch                                                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/Fogos.official                                                                                                  https://www.instagram.com/fogos_official/                                                                                                Satanath Rec.                                                                                                                                              https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat421-fogos-of-wyrm-and-men-2026                                            https://www.instagram.com/satanathrecords/                                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/user/satanath666                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Nargaroth--Apocalyptic Steel (CD/LP) (2026 Season of Mist Underground Activists)

Nargaroth has changed a lot in the years since their formation in the 1990s, and are now at the speartip of the more popular black metal acts in existence, and they deserve to be, as this album shows. This album is incredibly well-recorded but still has a proper black metal feel to it, especially where the drumming is concerned, with tight, fast blasts and quick-as-lightning fills and rolls. The riffing is powerful and fully black metal in its attack, a bulldozing display of notes and chords. I do wish there was a hint of rawness left in this band, but they've been elevated to a level where that may not be ideal for them anymore. With playing like this a clean recording is probably best anyway, so every little thing can be heard. I'm just pining for the old days again, don't mind me. They do play with other genres a little bit on this release, too, like the folky clean vocals in "Dresden," and the death metal riffing in "Shatter the Faithless." Everything else is proper black metal, however. So, gone are the days of  Black Metal Ist Krieg, but now we have Apocalyptic Steel, and I welcome the change.

www.season-of-mist.com

Finngalkn--Svartrokk AF Upsastrond{digital}{Independent}

 

Finngalkn is a four man  band coming out of Iceland's raw black metal scene and this is a review of their newest EP.Svartrokk AF Upsastrond contains four songs of aggressive and primitive black metal.The guitars are played with a mix of  fast,crazed guitar passages that are intense.Throughout the songs their are some slower,mid paced guitars that are just as good as the more aggressive fast paced patterns.The drumming is done in the same vein with some hyper fast blast beats and some controlled mid paced drums  both drums styles are done with power.The vocals are raw,grim black metal screams and some gruff growls are also used throughout the songs.Svartrokk AF Upsastrond is a really well performed EP of raw,primitive black metal if this is a style of metal you like i highly recomend chcking the band out today.                                                                                                                                        Finngalkn                                                                                                                                                      https://finngalkn.bandcamp.com/album/svartrokk-af-upsastr-nd

Hegony--Deviations CD&digital{Independent}

 

Hegony is a band that comes out of Poland's brutal death metal scene.Deviations is the bands latest EP that came out at the end of 2025 featuring four songs of well written and performed death metal.The guitars are played with some extremly fast paced guitar patterns that are well performed.The guitarist does write some memorable passages and has some well performed solo's added into the music.The drums are a mix of extremly fast blast beats that are pummeling in their delievery.The drummer does slow to a more controlled paced throughout a few of the songs.The vocals are powerful death metal growls and some gruff screams are also used in a few songs.Deviations is a solid death metal release for those who love there death metal aggressive and powerful check this band out today.                               Hegony                                                                                                                                                          https://hegony.bandcamp.com/album/deviations                                                                                         https://www.facebook.com/hegony/                                                                                                              https://www.instagram.com/hegonyofficial/

Temple Of The Beast---Geminian Arcana CD{Humanity's Plague Prod.}

 

Originally released by Iron Bonehead Prod on vinyl the EP is now getting a cd version through Humanity's Plague Prod.Geminian Arcana is the debut EP from Texas solo project Temple Of The Beast.The five  songs presented here are raw black and death metal that is brutal and relentless in it's delievery.The guitars are performed with heavy fast paced patterns that are well performed with a mix of heavy and fast paced passages.The drums are in the same vein with extremely fast chaotic patterns that are well executed.Their are some heavier and slower mid paced drums that are equally as devestating.The vocals are inhuman death metal vocals that are powerful and brutal.Geminian Arcana is a must have for those who love early 90's raw black death metal that doesn't copy any certain band but instead makes his own vision.                                                                                                                    Temple Of The Beast                                                                                                                                  https://templeofthebeast.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                    https://www.facebook.com/people/Temple-of-the-Beast/100083836998301/                                              Humanity's Plague Prod.                                                                                                                              https://www.discogs.com/seller/humanitysplagueprod/profile                                                                  https://www.facebook.com/HumanitysPlagueProdBlackMetal                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/humanitysplagueprod                  

Eternal Sword--Valorous CD&LP{Humanity's Plague Prod.)

 

Eternal Sword is a solo project that plays a very good style of Atmospheric and Epic black metal that is raw but well performed musicial passages.Starting off with a short intro that is instrumental the music starts off with some memorable melodic passages.The guitars are performed with some memorable mid paced guitars that are performed with intensity and well delievered.The guitars do speed to a faster pace throughout a couple of the songs for a nice mix of the two styles.The vocals are grim raw black metal screams that fit the music perfectly.I have not heard the debut release so i can not compare the two but if you are a fan of raw,epic atmospheric black metal then defintly pick this up today.                    Humanity's Plague Prod.

https://www.discogs.com/seller/humanitysplagueprod/profile

https://www.facebook.com/HumanitysPlagueProdBlackMetal

https://www.instagram.com/humanitysplagueprod

Iron Kobra--Eternal Dagger (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Dying Victims Productions)

The fantastically absurd science fiction cover of this record caught my attention immediately. A woman with a laser gun riding a tiger on a mountain with a spaceship in orbit above her, at night, no less. I just hoped the music was that awesome. And it's not too far off. Germany's Iron Kobra play an excellent hybrid of heavy metal and speed metal that reminds me of Thor and Running Wild. I was surprised to see this is their first full length in eleven years. I'll have to seek out their back catalog and investigate those albums as well. The vocalist isn't especially gifted with range, but he makes up for this by using what he's got smartly, emphasizing his unique tone and ability to craft a decent melody. He turns in an excellent performance overall. The rest of the band is equally talented, and the songs are well-crafted and catchy, which is quite important for traditional metal. More so than other forms of this music, even. Dying Victims is another one of those labels that seems to release killer after killer, and I applaud their efforts in finding all these great bands. It's remarkable to me how some labels just seem to have my musical tastes in mind when it comes to their releases.

www.dying-victims.de

Cemetery Echo--Civitas Lacrimarum (CD/LP) (2026 Seeing Red Records)

Here's something I don't review all the time - gothic metal. The reason I chose this to review is that this isn't a typical gothic metal record at all. It has a lot of classic metal elements and presents like a true metal record, not a rock record. There are also influences from black metal that creep into the miasmic mixture in the form of both riffs and vocals. The main vocal style is a gothic rock-styled sung vocal, but growls back it up, especially in more aggressive songs. This is truly an original sounding record these guys have cobbled together. Perhaps the closest I could come to comparing it to anything would be Sentenced and Bauhaus playing Watain's instruments on stage with Savage Master? It's addictive listening and every song is loaded with hooks and memorable riffs, even the more straight gothic songs. It's not a record that every metalist would enjoy, but I suspect a great many would, and I urge you, fine readers, to give it a shot. I did and I count myself as a new fan.

www.seeingredrecords.com

Ripper--Towards Rebirth CD&LP{Dark Descent Rec.}

 

Chile's Ripper return with a new assult of razor sharp thrashing death metal mayhem.The guitars are played with fast paced guitars that are relentless in their delievery.The guitarist does write and perform some memorable passages and adds some well performed solo's throughout the songs.The drums are equally as violent with some extremly fast and chaotic drum passages.Like the guitars the drummer does execute some memorable well performed drum passages.The vocals are old school death metals and some gruff growls and screams for a nice mix of the two vocal styles.If you are looking for a violent and lethal thrashing death metal release then do not  miss out on Ripper's newest release and pick it up today.                                                                                                                                              Ripper                                                                                                                                                          https://ripperdeathrashchile.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                https://www.facebook.com/ripperchileoficial/                                                                                            https://www.instagram.com/ripper.chile?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D                                                Dark Descent Rec.                                                                                                                                    https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/                                                                                                  https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/towards-rebirth                                                              https://www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords                                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/darkdescentrecords/                                                                                    https://www.youtube.com/user/darkdescentrecords