Mossgiver--Renewer (Digital) {2026 Sij Musicart}

This is completely unique epic, atmospheric black metal with soaring melodies and excellent (if long) songs. There's almost a folk aspect to some of the melodies, and it's perfect for this band. Flute-like synths appear in the second eponymous track and several other tracks throughout the record, which I thought was a most interesting choice. However, the synths are diverse and do a lot of the heavy lifting as far as the melodies. The image of the band is wild, a hooded cloaked figure in the woods at springtime with a face of moss. I'd run like a scared little bitch if I saw that while out hiking. The band perfectly captures the majesty of nature, and since that's what they write about, I'd classify that as a resounding success. The vocals almost remind me of a staticky wall of sound, which is a strange choice given the clarity of the production, but it helps keep an underground aesthetic in the music. The songs themselves are all longer - we get five total tracks, three songs between eight and ten minutes in length, and a pair of two minute instrumentals. There's almost a magical effect these songs have, though, in that they don't seem nearly that long when you're actually listening to them and taking the ride provided by the music. They're so epic, so majestic, that you fall into them and don't come up for air until the album is over. All I can say is this album is a triumph of skill, and I highly recommend it to any of you metalists that want epic black metal.

sijmusicart.bandcamp.com

Pest Hole--Relax (LP) {2026 Angry Voice Records}

Here's a genre I don't get to review much - crust. This isn't straight crust, however, it's a pure mixture of crust and thrash metal, a fullblown metalpunk album. Not only does it have infectious punk songwriting and hard driving thrash riffs, but the two styles are fused together so completely that there's no dividing line between them. It's all metal and all punk, all the time. The vocals are sung in a fairly typical harsh crust punk yell, but at the same time it's breathy and raspy. The Motorhead influence is front and center and you can hear it in both the bass and the guitar. Fans of Inepsy and Toxic Holocaust should take note, as well as fans of old Bolt Thrower, Anti-Cimex, and Onslaught. This is good stuff, and full of aggressive riffing with a nod to the masters of the past.

www.angry-voice-records.de

Axe Dragger--Axe Dragger (CD/LP) {2026 Ripple Music}

Axe Dragger features current members of Fu Manchu and Dark Funeral, and ex-members of Pentagram and Pantera. The only comparisons I can really make here would be to the band's admitted influences like Riot, Judas Priest, and Armored Saint, but with a sound that's very much modern traditional metal, stemming from the productions values mainly. Every single song is memorable and distinct, as a good heavy metal album ought to have. The singer, who was the original singer of Pantera, has a smooth voice, but he's able to break out some great screams from time to time as well. Every member turns in an excellent performance, in fact, and I'd expect no less from this group. Knowing the guitarist is in Fu Manchu, I can hear some Sabbath-ian influence in the riffs, and it's most welcome. This is one of those albums that actually does live up to the hype of being a so-called "supergroup," and it should be on your radar if you're looking for good traditional metal.

www.ripple-music.com

Melting Rot--Infatuation With Premeditation Cd&Lp{Hells Headbangers}

 

Melting Rot  is a grinding death metal band that comes out of Illinois and this is a review of the bands second full length.Infatuation With Premeditation  is eleven tracks of grinding madness that is done with powerful music passages.The drums are non stop blasting drums that are devestating in their delievery.The guitars are played at a whirlwind fast paced guitar patterns.The vocals are brutal death metal growls and some insanely gruff screams.If you are a fan of grinding death metal that doesn't disapoint then be sure to pick this beast up when it is released. 

Melting Rot 

https://www.facebook.com/meltingrot/

https://www.instagram.com/meltingrot                                                                                                          Hells Headbangers 

https://www.hellsheadbangers.com/

https://melting-rot.bandcamp.com/album/infatuation-with-premeditation                                                  https://www.facebook.com/hellsheadbangers

https://www.instagram.com/hellsheadbangers

Ravenspell--Obsidian King (CD/LP) {2026 Fighter Records}

Ravenspell from Canada play decent heavy metal that borders on speed metal quite a bit of the time on their first full length. This band is at its best when playing fast, and they're much more interesting when they do so. Blastbeats even make an appearance at the end of the very first song "God the Chosen," and in a couple more places as accents on the record. The vocalist keeps his voice lower in tone, but it capable of higher-pitched screams. He can carry a melody, although I do wish his singing had a little bit more grit to it like his screams do, but he does fine in the style he's chosen. His melodies tend to be a little sing-songy at times, but it's not intolerable. It's almost like he's a thrash singer forcing himself to be a heavy metal singer. We do get a few guitar solos on the record, and when they do appear they're good, like in the track "Warriors 9 to 5." The recording itself is impeccable and very natural sounding, not over-digitized. Overall, this isn't a bad effort, but it has some flaws, and it's going to come down to taste whether you like it or not.

www.fighter-records.com

Barbaric Oath--Sword,Sorcery,Vengengeance Mcd&CS{Caligari Rec.}

 

Barbaric Oath is a duo who comes out of Germany's black death war metal scene and this is a review of the debut Mcd.Sword,Sorcery,Vengengeance is five tracks of  bestial.brutal blackend death metal that is played with intensisity and violent musicial passages.Both the guitars and drums are performed with a brutal assault.The vocals are raw raspy growls with some screams entertwined within a few of the songs.If you are a fan of well executed vicious black death war metal then you need to add this to your collection once it is released.                                                                                                                        Barbaric Oath                                                                                                                                                https://www.instagram.com/barbaricoath.dm                                                                                              Caligari Rec.                                                                                                                                                  http://www.caligarirecords.com/                                                                                                                  https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/sword-sorcery-vengeance                                                    https://www.facebook.com/CaligariRecords                                                                                              https://www.instagram.com/caligarirecords/

Gladium Regis--Quest (CD) {2026 Dusktone Records}

I never get sick of epic black metal, and that's exactly what Gladium Regis give us on Quest, their second full length. They use clean vocals in addition to black metal vocals, and the singing is clean and melodic much like ICS Vortex from Borknagar. There's quite a bit of influence from medieval music and dungeon synth here, and the band does indeed rely on synths quite heavily in all their songs. This one isn't as epic as I would like it to be, but it's definitely not bad, and it's quite unique. I can't think of any black metal band that sounds like this at all. Often the synths overpower the guitar, which I am not a fan of, unfortunately, as I much prefer metal to be driven by guitar exclusively. This is a bit hit and miss for me. I enjoy the clean vocals and the epic riffs, but I have a hard time with the extent the keys are used here, even though I have no problem with keyboard use. I just think it may be too skewed toward it. But in the end, this is a record unlike any other black metal release in your collection, so challenge yourself, and make sure you hear it!

dusktone.bandcamp.com

Sinistrous Mist--A Voice Through Constellations (CD) {2026 Independent}

Sinistrous Mist hails from Greece, and this is their first and only release so far. It's exactly what I needed. After listening to a bunch of death metal bands to review that sounded exactly the same, a palate cleanser was needed, and Sinistrous Mist provided exactly that with their brand of epic black metal. This is truly epic, with big, soaring, melodically morose riffs and bombastic yet tasteful keys driving the music's atmosphere. I especially love when the keys sound like a horn section during some parts. It's like the devil's army is marching off to war! The songs tend to be lengthier, most of them coming in around give to seven minutes, but their compositions are such that they can weather these longer runtimes without becoming a chore to listen to. In fact, they seem much shorter when listening to them. Majestic is the best word I can think of to describe their sound, and I'll be revisiting this album quite often in the future. It's a massive record.

sinistrousmist.bandcamp.com

Hounds--Rise of the Immortals (CD) {2025 Iron Shield Records}

Hounds plays high-quality heavy metal with a bit of a power metal edge to it, but not enough to push them into that category - they have too much nutsack for that. The vocals definitely remind me of Matthew Barlow of Iced Earth fame, but the music is more in line with something like Savatage if I have to make a comparison to anything. They have quite the pair of guitarists, with harmonies and solos to accent the killer riffs found all over the album. You can't hear the beginning of a song like "A.O.R." and not bang your fuckin' head to the riff. Their singer can carry a melody, but isn't a virtuoso - he rather sings metal as fuck, with a lower tone than a lot of metal singers, and his gravelly delivery is spot-on for this band. Some of their songs are long, with the eponymous "Rise of the Immortals" coming in at about eight and a half minutes, and it's a glorious eight and a half minutes, a true metal masterpiece. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this one, so take my word for it, true metal maniacs, and find out for yourself.

www.ironshieldrecords.de

Hemotoxin--When Time Becomes Loss (CD/LP) {2025 Pulverised Records}

This is the fourth full length from this Pittsburgh, PA-based act, originally formed in 2011. They've been quietly producing some very important music. Influenced by latter-day Death and Cynic, at least to my old-ass ears, as well as Bay Area thrash, they manage to keep everything melodic and intense while balancing ever-changing riffs and patterns. This is death thrash elevated to artistic level, and while I normally don't give a fuck about the technical ability of a band, this is a pleasure to listen to because of their skill. It's an absolute fuckin' clinic. Every instrument is operating at the highest of levels, but never does it descend into preposterous wankery. This is technical in the same way that Hellwitch is technical. The melodies aren't hokey or contrived, either, but legitimately awesome heavy metal melodies that are serious earworms. I cannot recommend this highly enough, and it's absolutely worth the effort to get yourself a copy.

www.pulverised.net

Chalice--Divine Spear (CD/LP) {2026 Dying Victims Productions}

This is completely unique heavy metal with incredible melodies and interesting songwriting. The synths they use occasionally are interesting as well - they're not there to really add to the melody. The guitars and vocals handle that part. Instead, they create atmospheres around the music and behind it. The singer has an almost folksy delivery, singing with much more of a progressive style, like a less bombastic Nevermore. Some of the melodies they use sort of remind me of Ghost. That's where the comparisons stop, however. This sounds like nothing else I can think of in the metal scene, and that's a hell of a feat. It's not often I get to say I don't know how to articulate how different a band is, but this is one of those times. This is completely and utterly unique. Hats off, gentlemen, you've done a hell of a job.

www.dying-victims.de

Templar--Conquering Swords (CD/LP/CS) {2026 Jawbreaker Records}

This is Swedish heavy metal with a definite NWOBHM feel. They remind me, though, a little bit, of the cult band Overlorde from the US, and perhaps a little of Omen as well. The production is quite warm and analog-sounding, with a rich feel, and it perfectly accentuates the strengths of the band. The vocals aren't virtuosic by any means, but the singer is quite capable of carrying a melody, and he does it all in a fairly deep tone that only occasionally climbs into higher registers. The riffs are infectious and the guitar harmonies and solos are all perfect. This is fairly epic heavy metal with big melodies and soaring harmonies and it worms its way into your brain quite easily. Lyrically, I hear fantasy and mythology, with references to Tolkien, King Arthur, and possibly Norse mythology as well. This is quite the record, and one that true fans of real heavy metal will enjoy thoroughly.

www.jawbreaker.se

Wolfhex--Profane Heresies (LP) {2024 Independent}

Wolfhex play black thrash that's aggressive yet simple in its approach. The execution is a bit loose, with seat-of-the-pants drum fills and somewhat frenetic playing, but that just gives this record a character all its own and is not a defect in musicianship at all. There's a lot of repetition in these songs, each song being comprised of but a few riffs, and they return to them often, serving to make these short songs a bit catchier. The riffs themselves are somewhat interesting, especially when they lean into their black metal side like on the song "Echelons of Decadence." This is fairly serviceable stuff overall, nothing earth-shatteringly awesome, but definitely worth a spin if you are a devotee of the unholiest of thrash.

wolfhex.bandcamp.com

Nekro Cvlt Desecration--Purification in the Witchcraft Flames (CD/CS) {2025 Murder Records}

This is dirty black thrash from Venezuela that reminds me of the feel of '80s speed metal, if not the sound. Musically, they could be compared to Witchtrap or Midnight, and there's plenty of Sodom and punk influence. It's a particularly savage example of this style, however. The vocals are mostly yelled, both in a normal gruff shout and a higher, more black metal oriented style. There's a layer of filth over the recording that is absolutely wonderful and makes the record sound like a relic of the 1980s. The musicianship is tight, especially the rhythm section, the bass and drums working in tandem throughout the record. This is fairly unique stuff, even with the rough comparisons to other bands I drew earlier, and is definitely worth seeking out for black thrash maniacs.

www.murder-records.eu

Beholder--Prisonniers de l'Abime (Digital) {2025 Independent}

Beholder hails from Quebec, and this is their third full length. I had not been familiar with this band before hearing this, but I am glad I stumbled upon this band. They play extremely dark black metal that truly has its own personality, from the music to the image of the band. The guitars, even when fast, are fairly laid back, but occasionally they'll dip into a big catchy riff that really ups the intensity. Often they'll use melody over top another more rhythmic riff, which gives them an almost atmospheric feel. The drums are easily the backbone of this band, swirling away behind the guitars with all sorts of rolls, cymbal play, and fills. It's a pleasure to hear. Vocally, it's pretty standard fare, delivered in a pretty normal sort of black metal vocal. This music feels almost magical, like a dark spell cast by the band to capture our attention, and the spell has succeeded. I look forward to more from this act.

beholderqc.bandcamp.com