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                                                                                          

Mordant Rhed/Lord Humongous--Bonded By the Bomb (LP) (2026 Jems Label)

This record has two of the most important black metal bands from the US on its two sides. No other black metal bands sound like these two bands, and it speaks to their originality and songcraft that this is so. Hopefully this will be repressed, as I am sure availability is low. You can always get this digitally if you have to, I recommend getting it however you can. Side A contains Lord Humongous' offerings, and we get three originals and a cover of Exodus' "And Then There Were None" for good measure (which Mordant Rhed helps out on). Their thrash-based black metal assault is as it ever was - intense, evil, and nuclear-obsessed, with the usual bit of influence from war metal in their sound. They're deceptively skilled musicians, delivering some wild time shifts and changes in what at first seem to be simpler songs. Side B has the sick dreamings of Mordant Rhed, one of my personal favorites. They start strong, blasting like Blasphemy, but tempered by their hardcore punk influences into something more. Their songs are short, sharp, black metal shocks, the way it ought to be. They're barbaric, by far the more uncontrolled of the two bands, and they just sound dangerous. The material here is their best yet, and catchiest by far. Depending on if your tastes are like mine, they're the best band on the split. Mark my words - these two bands will be legends in the US underground, and they're well on their way to notoriety.

mordantrhed.bandcamp.com

From Distant Hills--...and Whispering Trees (CD) (2026 Purity Through Fire Records)

Here we have some nature-worshipping black metal from Greece from a member of Sad, as well as a bunch of other bands. How does this material differ? Well, for one thing it's a mostly mid-paced effort with a lot of melodic tremolo-picked riffs that soar like the mountains and forests they write about. They absolutely nail the imagery-to-music ideas, and you can almost "see" these riffs. I'd call that a success. The vocals are absolutely wild, high pitched wails that reek of insanity and pain, almost literally. It sounds like he's being stabbed while singing, or maybe his nuts are caught in something. Either thing would cause a scream like this, honestly. All jokes aside, they're unique vocals that take a second or two to digest and to become accustomed. The band is quite good at building textures in their songs, often with one guitar doing something completely different as an overlaid melody, and they build up these textures slowly over the length of the songs. This isn't my favorite style of black metal, but I recognize talent where I see it, and these guys have it. Worth a listen.

www.purity-through-fire.com

Axe--Autogeddon (CS) (2026 Caligari Records)

Black thrash bands tend to be a dime a dozen, and they're often fairly interchangeable. Enter Axe with their Autogeddon demo, a solid slab of blackness that just sounds honest and unpretentious. Not only do they bring their thrash with excellent raw sound, with true black metal spirit (especially in the vocals), the musicianship is excellent. Everything is properly tight and audible. These guys can play as well as look the part. I honestly place this band more in the black metal camp than the thrash camp just due to the seriously dark atmosphere this stuff has. It's less about style and more about ripping your head off. You can't listen to this and say it's not black as fuck. That said, the thrashier riffs do remind me a bit of Razor, and that's a good thing. They have a frenetic approach that most black thrash bands don't, a dark energy that suffuses their work, that certain intangible "something" we all crave in black metal. This is a truly exciting demo and I'll be quite interested to hear what they do next, whether EP or LP. I am sure it will be good. I hope they keep it raw.

www.caligarirecords.com

Scordatura--Led Into Oblivion CD&LP and CS{Everlasting Spew Rec.)

 

Scordatura are a four man band  coming out of the U.K'S brutal death metal scene.Led Into Oblivion is the  bands  newest full length featuring nine tracks  of solid brutal death metal at it's  finest.The guitars range from extremely fast paced patterns.The guitars do slow to a more controlled mid paced in a few of the songs.The guitarist does write and execute some well performed solo's and passages.The drums are a mix of extremly fast chaotic drum passages that are brutal in the delievery.Like the guitars the drums do slow to a more heavier mid paced range in a few of the songs.The vocals are brutal death metal growls that are powerful in their delievery.This is my first encounter with Scordatura but this is a top notch death metal band and release.If you are a fan of well written and performed death metal then defintly  give this band a chance and pick this up today.                                                                            Scordatura                                                                                                                                                    https://scordatura.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                                https://www.facebook.com/Scordaturaofficial                                                                                        https://www.instagram.com/scordatura__/                                                                                                    Everlasting Spew Rec.                                                                                                                                  https://everlastingspew.com/                                                                                                                    https://everlastingspew.bandcamp.com/album/led-into-oblivion                                                                https://www.facebook.com/everlastingspew/                                                                                          https://www.instagram.com/everlastingspew/                                                                                              https://www.youtube.com/@EverlastingSpew/featured

Khemmis--Khemmis (CD/LP) (2026 Nuclear Blast Records)

It's uncommon for a band to name their fifth album after themselves - it's usually a statement made earlier in a band's career, typically on the first or third record. This time, however, Khemmis have turned in an album sufficiently impressive to deserve that eponymous treatment. Their hybrid heavy/doom metal is much as it ever was, except perhaps more polished and focused with intent than ever. I am completely floored with just how good this album is - it transcends their previous work. The vocals remain haunting, somber, and smooth. If only every doom metal band had a vocalist like this I would probably listen to so much more of it. Not to mention the inventiveness of the riffing, which is masterful. The whole album is a heavy metal masterclass of melody and malevolence. The production is natural-sounding and pristine, a top notch recording and engineering job by someone who clearly understands the band and its sound. I can't say enough how great the melodies themselves are on this record. They're sublime and emotional and transcendent, and fully metal. I'll be picking this album up for sure, and I'll be spinning it often.

www.nuclearblast.de

Sardonic Order--By Doom Of Battle {digital}{Independent}

 

Sardonic Order is a duo who comes out of Canada's black metal scene and this is a review of their new EP.By Doom Of Battle is a two song EP that features some very well performed black metal that is mainly played with mid paced passages and even has some melodic influences mixed into the raw delievery.The first song is By Doom Of Battle and starts off with some very well executed fast guitars that are played with intensity.The guitars and music does slow to a more mid paced range.The drums are played in the same vein with ssome mid paced drums that are performed with skill.The vocals are raw black metal metal screams that are powerful.The second song is  Enthralling Ancestral Void starts off with some fast paced drums and guitars that are well performed with skill.The music does slow to a more controlled pace with some well composed music.Both the guitars and drums are performed with memorable passages that played with intensity.The music does speed up to a faster pace halfway through the song for a nice mix of fast paced and mid paced black metal.Sardonic Order has crafted a raw black metal release with some melodic touches throughout both songs for a good release worth checking out.                                                                                                                                              Sardonic Order                                                                                                                                              https://sardonicorder.bandcamp.com/                                                                                                          https://www.instagram.com/sardonicorder                                                                                                  https://www.youtube.com/@SardonicOrder

Ymberophilia--Vegletek {digital}{Independent}

 

Ymberophilia is a solo project  coming out of Hungary who plays a good style of black and death metal.Vegletek is the newest five tracks of well played black death metal.Musically it has a good mix of mid paced and faster passages. The guitars are played with some fast paced guitars that are well executed even adding in some solo's and patterns.Their are some slower and heavier mid paced guitars used in a few of the songs The vocals are a mix of  raw black metal screams and some deeper death metal growls are used in a few of the songs.Ymberophilia has some  good musicial idea's on the debut so if you are looking for a new band that blends black and death metal influences totgether then be sure to check this band out today.                                                                                                                          Ymberophilia                                                                                                                                                https://ymberophilia.bandcamp.com/music                                                                                                https://www.instagram.com/ymberophilia                                                                                                     https://www.youtube.com/@Ymberophilia

Kerzenlicht/Kirous--Split (CD/CS) (2026 Signal Rex)

On this split Kerzenlicht give us four tracks of raw black metal while Kirous give us three tracks of (less raw) black metal. Kerzenlicht, from Finland, is quite similar to Satanic Warmaster with the same melodic, plodding style. The vocals are shrieks that cut like a knife and really add to the occult atmosphere. They have that obscure black metal feel that I like to hear in bands. Kirous, also from Finland, also sound a lot like Satanic Warmaster, and have a similar vocal style to Kerzenlicht. The band is more clearly produced yet still has an element of rawness to the music. They mix in some epic riffs and acoustic guitar to make their music just that little bit different. Of the two bands Kirous is the most musically accomplished, as is evident in the songwriting and riffs. They're just a bit more interesting. Overall this is a mildly interesting release with a few good songs. It appears it may be Kirous' last, according to the Archives. But we can hope for some additional material from Kerzenlicht if they continue strong.

www.signalrex.com

Gravecity Bandits--Bandit Rock 'N Roll (Digital) (2026 Independent)

Finally, something a little different to review. Gravecity Bandits from Finland mix Motorhead, speed metal, and ferocious punk rock to bring us a real bastard of an album with a full speed ahead approach and not wasted effort. The production is dirty and mean and organic, and it absolutely perfect. It makes them sound gritty, tough, and dangerous, which is exactly what I want from tunes like these. Vocally, the singer uses a style similar to Lemmy, with maybe a bit more raspiness and punk snark in his voice. The band has the same fuck you attitude that pervades Pig Iron by Anti-Nowhere League, and I would reckon that band is an influence on this one. Attitude is all-important with music like this and these boys have all of it. They also bring some speed metal to the party, like on the songs "Built to Last" and "Speed Blues," and they merge them perfectly with the punk influences and Motorhead-isms to make a seamless whole. They have some musical chops, too, evidenced by the decent guitar solos and quick drum work that crop up in several songs. They can play, and they prove it. I recommend this highly and anticipate hearing more from this band in the future. They're a joy to listen to.

Black Odyssey--Black Odyssey (CD/LP) (2026 Independent)

Here's a band that gets it! They've released their own CD and LP physically, which is what bands should be doing! Now on to the music. For some reason, although this band's Archives page tells us they've been a band since 2010, this is their first full length and only release thus far, other than two singles prior to this record, likely in preparation for the album coming out. They give us dark heavy metal similar to modern Judas Priest, just without the vocal histrionics. Instead we get understated vocals that are similar to Halford's lower range, and they're fucking good. They're smooth and powerful and perfectly suited to the music. I have to commend them on a heavy, thick drum sound, which isn't always the case nowadays in this age of triggers and sound replacement. I can tell they were going the extra mile to get a good solid sound with a lot of what I call "wetness" to it. Some bluesy influences pop into the mix on the second track, "Bless Me Father," with its slow grind of a riff and emphatic vocals. It fits perfectly into the record with the tinges of doom in their songs. This is an incredible record for a first full length and I hope they continue to regularly make music. Every song is distinct and worthy of being on the record, and there are no songs where I felt like hitting the skip button. This is pretty dark stuff atmospherically, and there's no feel-good songs here, just shadowy riffs. Nine Euros gets you the digital album on Bandcamp, and with the way the mail is now with the fucking tariffs in place in the US, it's the best option for US fans to get this mighty slab of heavy metal.

blackodysseyband.bandcamp.com

Vehemence--Assiege pour l'eternite (CD/LP) (2026 Antiq Records)

This is the fourth full length from Vehemence from France, and they give us epic melodic black metal on this release. The melodies soar on this one, and they're amazing at building textures throughout the songs, with added layers of melody often happening behind or on top of the main riffs. The recording itself is a natural-sounding one, almost a live sound, especially where the drums are concerned. I won't give them too much shit for having such a nice recording, as the textures in this piece of black metal actually require a decent production. That doesn't stop them from including the rogue string scrape or pick sound on the recording, and that's a nice touch. It helps add just a bit of rawness. They're not afraid of other instruments, either, as a flute makes an appearance in one of the songs with a lilting melody. They can also blast fiercely, and they pepper these explosions in fairly readily in all the songs. It makes for quite an interesting listen. My high school French sucks, so I can't understand a damn word of the lyrics, but the songs appear to be about quests, forests, plains, and shit like that. I liked this album quite a bit, and will probably revisit it at some point. Worth the price of admission.

www.antiqrecords.com

Windswept--Howling in Baptismal Filth (LP/CS) (2026 Northern Void Records)

New Zealand often gets lumped in with the Australian scene, what I think is unfairly. They have a share of decent bands in New Zealand, and this is one of them. Windswept play rather melodic black metal that definitely takes its influence from the Norwegian gods, particularly Satyricon circa Nemesis Divina (at least that's what my ears make of it). They have a similar anthemic melodic approach even when they're blasting. The problem is I don't much like the recording - it's too clean. While it's very natural-sounding, it's pristinely recorded which isn't how I want much of my black metal to sound. I want it to be ugly, in your face, but all instruments still audible. Rough and rugged is the way, and this isn't so much. However, this is nitpicky. Sometime that stands way out is the frantic and frenzied vocal performance of Rachel Collins, their singer. She's a fuckin' beast and even has the look a black metal singer should have. Her vocals are some of the most filthy I've heard in black metal for a while, raspy screams that exude metalized blood. Apart from that there are some standout riffs and solid playing by all, and some great guitar harmonies. I just wish this was a bit dirtier-sounding, like I often do with modern black metal.

www.northernvoidrecords.com

Medieval Skull--Hellion Earth (Digital) (2026 Independent)

Well, I've definitely never heard this particular mixture before - epic heavy metal with black metal vocals. It really does sound unique, like a black thrash band playing Manilla Road's instruments. It's kind of a refreshing style mix. Of course, I'm a sucker for epic metal of all kinds, and this definitely scratches that itch. Some of the riffs are, yeah I'm gonna say it, medieval in nature, with that little gallop that epic heavy metal bands have. The riffs are big, also, with lots of space for the drums and vocals to do their thing. Vocally this almost reminds me of Gravewurm, with that high-in-the-throat black metal vocal style that's really raspy and not all that powerful. It works, though, and it meshes with the music, acting almost like another instrument. From what little I can make out, I hear lyrics about fantasy, dark quests, and other such epic metal fodder, which is perfectly suited for this music. Sometimes the drums are a little loose, which gives this a very human feel and in today's world that is worth something. Not a bad album at all, and one that I'll surely play again.

medievalskull.bandcamp.com

Heavy Metal Shapnel--Heavy Metal Hairspray (CD/LP) (2026 Nameless Grave Records)

This is '80s heavy metal in the vein of early Dokken, which is fine by me. I like the straight beats and easily listenable riffs! However, I'm gonna bitch about the lyrical content. Heavy Metal Hairspray, the album and the song, has some dumb as fuck lyrics. I don't even want to give you an example. I get what they're trying to do, but even as a song that lampoons '80s metal, it's too on-the-nose. And this song starts the album. It's not too agonizing from there until we get to the goddamn love ballad "When Love Isn't Enough." Fucking gross. That shit isn't metal. It's weak. It's followed up by "Love Is A Racket (Baby Grab My Handle)." DO YOU SEE? Do. You. See? Fortunately the rest of the album is mostly devoid of this stuff. So tuned out the dumbass lyrics and focused on the overall pretty excellent heavy metal music. The melodies are killer, worming their way into your brain very easily, and the songs don't overstay their welcome (at least, the ones with decent lyrics don't). The guitarist can fuckin' shred, too, the leads and harmonies are incredible, Yngwie-like even. Very talented. When they stay away from dumb ballads and goofy lyrics their tunes are great, and I can skip the stupid songs. I'll definitely listen to this more than once, even with the lyrics I hate. The music is just that good.

www.namelessgraverecords.com

Dishumane--Centurion's Demise CD,MLP and CS.{Blood Harvest}

 

Centurion's Demise is the debut EP. from the new band Dishumane featuring three full length and a instrumental.The three songs are pure old school death metal that are performed with power.The guitars are a mix of heavy mid paced patterns.The guitarist does cut loose with some faster guitar passages throughout the songs and adds some well played solo's.The drumming is done with powerful drum passages that like the guitars are a mix of heavy mid paced drums and some faster drums both styles are performed with skill. Centurion's Demise is a great introduction to this band that blends old school death metal with some brutal death elements for a classic sound and style.                                                 Blood Harvest                                                                                                                                              https://www.bloodharvest.se/                                                                                                                    https://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/                                                                                              https://www.facebook.com/BloodHarvestRecords#                                                                                    https://www.instagram.com/bloodharvestmailorder