Category Archives: 2026 New Releases

Album Review – Moon Wisdom / Let Water Flow (2026)

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The debut opus by this Italian Black Metal entity will embrace us all in darkness, portraying humanity lost in nature, seeking itself amid hatred, solitude, and the eternal return of its own demons.

Born from the depths of lunar silence from the vision of vocalist Faith and guitarist Kaelos, kindred spirits united by the desire to give voice to inner silence, with drummer Hexis completing the lineup, Moon Wisdom is the reflection of a soul that contemplates darkness as part of its own essence. In their Black Metal, mist, forests, and inner abysses intertwine, every note echoing an ancient feeling suspended between pain and beauty, exactly like what they have to offer in their debut opus, entitled Let Water Flow. Recorded by the band itself, mixed and mastered by Faith and Kaelos, with photography by Debrinka and Faith, and a stunning artwork and logo combo by Faith and Kaelos, this lean, 29-minute ritual introduces the band with unrelenting vigor, channeling the raw spirit of Black Metal’s second wave while weaving a current of Punk Rock energy and depressive Blackgaze.

The atmospheric album Intro will darken the skies and bring a touch of anguish to our hearts before the band destroys our souls with As Rain, with Faith delivering those harsh, devilish vocals we all love so much in primeval Black Metal; and Kaelos keeps firing scorching riffs for our absolute delight in Ashen Winds, supported by the demented blast beats by Hexis in a lesson in Black Metal magic. Then presenting a contemporary fusion of Black Metal with Atmospheric and Blackened Doom Metal we have Frozen Soul, slower and more obscure than its predecessors, whereas they get back to a more ferocious vibe in Solitude, with Faith again vociferating rabidly for our total delight. The longest of all songs, titled Dark Shades, is also the most infernal and visceral, with the trio hammering their sonic weapons in the name of extreme music. Furthermore, Faith’s vocals get even more demonic thanks to the ruthless sonority blasted by Kaelos and Hexis, flowing into the sinister and melancholic outro Lullaby of Woods, concluding the album on a high note to the sound of a crying violin.

A forest of shadows, a lunar call that watches and consumes, Moon Shadow offer cold, melancholic melodies drift like nocturnal winds through the mind in their debut opus, while lyrics steeped in symbolism and mysticism portray humanity lost in nature, seeking itself amid hatred, solitude, and the eternal return of its own demons. You can get to know more about such an up-and-coming entity of the current Black Metal scene via Facebook and Instagram, stream their full album on Spotify, and of course purchase it from the Hypnotic Dirge Records’ Bandcamp or webstore. As the moon rises, the night will enfold us all, and the music found in the debut album by Moon Wisdom is simply perfect for succumbing to such a dark embrace.

Best moments of the album: Ashen Winds and Dark Shades.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Hypnotic Dirge Records

Track listing
1. Intro 1:42
2. As Rain 3:44
3. Ashen Winds 3:33
4. Frozen Soul 5:47
5. Solitude 4:48
6. Dark Shades 6:31
7. Lullaby of Woods 2:22

Band members
Faith – vocals
Kaelos – guitars
Hexis – drums

Album Review – Architectural Genocide / Malignant Cognition (2026)

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These unrelenting Texas-based Brutal Death Metal bruisers are out for blood armed with their sophomore beast, serving up a banquet of the band’s inimitable brutality.

Almost six years after the release of their debut offering Cordyceptic Anthropomorph, Houston, Texas-based Brutal Death Metal bruisers Architectural Genocide are finally back in action with their sophomore opus, titled Malignant Cognition. Mixed and mastered at Southwing Audio, and encased in the superb artwork by Rudi Yanto (Devastrosity, E-Force, Perveration) and Den Yudi (Decrepitation, Realm Of Chaos, Rotting Demise), the perfect visual depiction of the soul-eating madness within, the new album by Daniel Brockway on vocals, Tom Savage on the guitar, Matt Day on bass, and Nat Conner on drums serves up a banquet of the band’s inimitable brutality, being therefore perfect for fans of Cannibal Corpse, Skinless, Devourment, and Disentomb, just to name a few.

The band doesn’t waste a single second and begins their putrid fest with the evil intro Precursor To Bloodshed, flowing into the insanely gory Coercion Into Carnality, where Daniel vomits the song’s devilish words with tons of hatred and aggressiveness while Nat delivers those pounding beats we all love in Brutal Death Metal. It’s then pedal to the metal in the slamming tune Leave It To Cleaver, with Tom extracting pure violence from his axe supported by the always ass-kicking drumming by Nat, and there’s no sign of happiness or joy in Trophies For My Murders, an ode to all serial killers led by Daniel’s demented “breeeeeeeeeees” in an overdose of sheer violence.

Malicious Wager is absolutely mental from start to finish, a lesson in brutality by Architectural Genocide where Tom and Matt are savage armed with their stringed axes; and there’s no sign of the band slowing down at all in Decent Deranged, a slab of Brutal Death Metal tailored for admirers of the genre. Zed Requiem features the iconic Damonteal Harris of PeelingFlesh on vocals, who brings the groove to the band’s trademark sound, and the final result is simply demolishing, evil and absurdly fun; whereas a dark, wicked narration sets the tone in Stuffed Under Floorboards, another song inspired by the darkest corners of the human mind, with Nat stealing the spotlight with his pounding beats.

In a nutshell, Architectural Genocide’s long awaited second album is an even more dangerous, vicious creation that adds an unnerving, skin crawling terror to their trademark elixir of darkness and depravity. You can get more details about those ruthless death dealers on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their demented creations on any platform such as Spotify, and of course grab a copy of the venomous Malignant Cognition from Comatose Music’s BandCamp or webstore. In other words, prepare yourself for the fearsome assault of Malignant Cognition, as the year of 2026 is kicking off on a vile and gory mode with the brand new Brutal Death Metal holocaust by those unrelenting Texans.

Best moments of the album: Coercion Into Carnality, Malicious Wager and Zed Requiem.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Comatose Music

Track listing
1. Precursor To Bloodshed 1:25
2. Coercion Into Carnality 2:56
3. Leave It To Cleaver 2:27
4. Trophies For My Murders 2:39
5. Malicious Wager 2:53
6. Decent Deranged 3:26
7. Zed Requiem 4:01
8. Stuffed Under Floorboards 3:51

Band members
Daniel Brockway – vocals
Tom Savage – guitar
Matt Day – bass
Nat Conner – drums

Guest musician
Damonteal Harris – vocals on “Zed Requiem”

Album Review – Vesseles / Home (2026)

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This uncanny Symphonic Black Metal entity returns with their first full-length opus, a devastating and majestic release that delves deep into identity, belonging, and the mythos of a demon cast into the human world.

A Demon Symphonic Black Metal project about dysphoria and coping with living in a world that you’re not from, Santa Clara, California-based creature Vesseles, the brainchild of the uncanny vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Valira Pietrangelo, returns with Home, a devastating and majestic release that delves deep into identity, belonging, and the mythos of a demon cast into the human world. Pulled from the scorched marrow of The Beneath, the demon dominion she once forgot and now remembers with terrifying clarity, Valira and her henchmen Joel Ferry on vocals, Ron Graves on bass, and Nick Brown on drums fuse Symphonic Black Metal with cinematic grandeur and emotional weight in their newborn spawn, a worthy follow-up to their 2024 debut EP I Am A Demon, beautifully depicting the sound of returning to a place you’ve never truly known.

In the opening aria Flesh Throne, Valira reclaims her sovereignty over humanity, with her keys and orchestrations sounding absolutely hypnotizing and perfect for the visceral roars by Joel, starting the album on a truly haunting mode. Eternally Within Us is a ceremonial track complete with Latin mantras and sweeping symphonics that ground the demon realm’s ancient roots in flesh and blood, again presenting Valira’s cryptic, grim piano while Nick hammers his drums in the name of Doom Metal; followed by The Beneath, a brutal, bombastic ode to Valira’s home world, as obscure as some of the best creations by the mighty Cradle of Filth, with our demon firing razor-edged riffs in paradox with her phantasmagorical keys. She then takes on lead vocals in the title-track Home, questioning whether the place she fought so hard to return to was ever meant to comfort her, captivating our senses with her sinister piano before all suddenly morphs into a Black Metal beast tailored for admirers of the genre.

They Wither… is an instrumental piano piece that counters the despair of previous releases, flowing into Until They Are Dust, which details the grotesque birth of The Beneath, a cursed sludge consuming humanity to give rise to the next generation of demons, offering three minutes of absolute madness where Joel once again barks rabidly until the very end. Scriptures Etched Into the Mind’s Pillars marks the album’s lyrical turning point, from external reclamation to internal unraveling, while flirting with Melodic Black Metal, in special in its riffs and keys. Needless to say, it should sound brilliant if played live. Then we have Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors, a harrowing journey through isolation, suffocation, and the horror of being self-aware in a world that rejects you, and it’s when the music gets less violent that you’ll feel its fury and darkness deep inside your heart. Lastly, This Is Not Home brings the album full circle, also presenting Gothic Metal elements in its vocals, with Valira’s riffage again sounding and feeling fantastic, ending the album on a true epic and climatic vibe.

Home is the natural maturation of the unique sound crafted by Vesseles, sounding and feeling more dynamic, more orchestral, and more unflinchingly personal, charting Valira’s journey from confident origin to tortured self-doubt and finally to righteous authority. During recording, a late inclusion of Valira’s own vocals unlocked new potential, revealing the expressive power of her voice in leading the story and, therefore, pointing to a bolder, deeper, more human, and more demonic future. Unfortunately, due to Valira taking on all vocal duties, Home is also the band’s last album with vocalist Joel Ferry, but of course their friendship will remain forever. Anyway, you can get in touch with Valira and her Vesseles via Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to the project’s YouTube channel, stream their eerie music on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of the caustic, incendiary Home from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In the end, Vesseles is not just music. It’s a reckoning, and Home is the sound of a demon returning, not to find peace, but to claim it by force.

Best moments of the album: Eternally Within Us, Home and Scriptures Etched Into the Mind’s Pillars.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. Flesh Throne 5:18
2. Eternally Within Us 5:02
3. The Beneath 5:16
4. Home 6:11
5. They Wither… 1:32
6. Until They Are Dust 3:07
7. Scriptures Etched Into the Mind’s Pillars 3:41
8. Perpetual Chasm of Black Mirrors 5:03
9. This Is Not Home 7:14

Band members
Joel Ferry – vocals
Valira Pietrangelo – guitars, piano, orchestrations, backing vocals, vocals on “Home”
Ron Graves – bass
Nick Brown – drums

Album Review – Kreator / Krushers Of The World (2026)

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Germany’s own Thrash Metal titans continue their tale of humble beginnings, ambitious visions and unbreakable will with their krushing new album, an expression of pride and self-awareness knowing how long and hard the band’s path has been.

Having celebrated in 2025 two outstanding achievements by releasing vocalist and guitarist Miland “Mille” Petrozza’s book Your Heaven, My Hell with co-writer Torsten Gross, and hitting German cinemas with Hate & Hope, Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s own Thrash Metal titans Kreator continue in 2026 their tale of humble beginnings, ambitious visions and unbreakable will with their much-anticipated sixteenth chapter, the ruthless Krushers Of The World, following up on their critically acclaimed 2022 album Hate Über Alles. Produced and mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, and showcasing a classy, thrashing-as-hell artwork by Zbigniew M. Bielak, the new opus by the aforementioned iconic frontman Miland “Mille” Petrozza alongside guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö, bassist Frédéric Leclercq, and drummer Jürgen “Ventor” Reil shows a band that has lost none of its bite, with the album title working as a statement, an expression of pride and self-awareness knowing how long and hard the band’s path has been and knowing what they still have to say and share with their ever growing following.

The album kicks off on a flammable mode with the first single released, the phenomenal Seven Serpents, with the guitars by Mille and Sami exhaling a melodious blend of undisputed aggression, whereas Satanic Anarchy is a thrashing beast showcasing rebellious lyrics rabidly vociferated by Mille (“Are you among the chosen? / The ones who’ll always reign / They’ve killed the singers / But not the songs they sang / And in this dying Endzeit / Not all that melts is gold / Keep your bread and circuses / And learn this is divine revolt!”). Then we face the ominous title-track Krushers of the World, where Ventor hammers his drums mercilessly for our absolute delight; and featuring the indomitable Britta Görtz of German melodeath beasts Hiraes on vocals (making an incendiary duet with Mille) we have Tränenpalast, while the music is a beautiful fusion of Kreator’s trademark anarchy and the more modern approach by Hiraes. And let’s open up the circle pit and enjoy a venomous wall of death to the sound of Barbarian, where their riffs, bass and drums are the epitome of Thrash Metal.

The second half of the album kicks off with the also fast-paced, violent Blood of Our Blood, a classic Kreator extravaganza with Mille and Sami firing their trademark solos nonstop, followed by Combatants, perfect for some wild headbanging, with the ruthless bass by Frédéric supporting Ventor’s pounding drums from start to finish. Then an eerie intro morphs into another battle hymn by those Teutonic thrashing masters titled Psychotic Imperator, offering us all a straightforward, no shenanigans sonic attack, and their undisputed energy keeps flowing in Death Scream, where its desperate backing vocals walk hand in hand with Mille’s raspy roars. Lastly, their coup-de-grace comes in the form of the rhythmic, hard hitting Loyal to the Grave, one of those songs perfect for raising our fists in the air together with the band.

Kreator Krushers of the World Deluxe Boxset

In a nutshell, although Krushers Of The World is not a throwback to Kreator’s past, it is still furious, massive sounding and creative in its own right, gifted with a songwriting quality honed over years, and of course displaying a hardworking and ultra talented band which earned their spot among the giants of the genre. You can stay up to date with all things Kreator on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, including their must-see live concerts, stream their breathtaking thrashing madness on any platform such as Spotify, and of course put your blood-soaked hands on Krushers Of The World by purchasing it from BandCamp, or by clicking HERE or HERE. Kreator return to the battlefield in perfect shape armed with their thrilling new album, appearing more mindful of their early days while simultaneously progressing uncompromisingly, unstoppable in their search for new realms to conquer and new worlds to krush. And hell yeah, they will definitely keep krushing us all with their unique blend of visceral and electrifying Thrash Metal.

Best moments of the album: Seven Serpents, Tränenpalast, Barbarian, Psychotic Imperator and Death Scream.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Nuclear Blast Records

Track listing
1. Seven Serpents 4:40
2. Satanic Anarchy 3:33
3. Krushers of the World 4:20
4. Tränenpalast 4:43
5. Barbarian 4:40
6. Blood of Our Blood 4:31
7. Combatants 4:01
8. Psychotic Imperator 5:05
9. Death Scream 3:52
10. Loyal to the Grave 4:58

Band members
Miland “Mille” Petrozza – vocals, guitar
Sami Yli-Sirniö – guitar
Frédéric Leclercq – bass
Jürgen “Ventor” Reil – drums

Guest musician
Britta Görtz – vocals on “Tränenpalast”

Album Review – Ov Sulfur / Endless (2026)

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What kind of god would test a child? You’ll get the answer to such a delicate question and more in the incendiary sophomore opus by one of the most demented monsters of the current Blackened Deathcore scene worldwide.

Time is a strange thing. Just ask Las Vegas, Nevada’s own Blackened Deathcore monster Ov Sulfur. Almost three years after the release of their bestial debut The Burden ov Faith, the band formed of Ricky Hoover on vocals, Christian Becker and Chase Wilson on the guitars, Josh Bearden on bass, and Leviathvn on drums returns in full force with their sophomore opus, entitled Endless. Produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Signs Of The Swarm, King 810, Varials) at Random Awesome! Recording Studio, Endless may just be the magnum opus for those anti-God metallers, here aiming for something timeless. The album’s overarching theme calls back to a line from “Earthen,” a song about Hoover’s nephew’s tragic losing battle with cancer that questions, “What kind of god would test a child?” Extend that to everyone – does religion not claim us all as children of God? – and you have to wonder what kind of benevolent maker would put their very own through trials and tribulations.

The menacing intro Endless//Godless will drag us all to Ov Sulfur’s Stygian lair, crushing our spinal cords with Seed, where Ricky vociferates the song’s acid lyrics manically (“The realization of completely losing everything / Feeling all the pressure, knowing things forever changed / The weight of guilt and agony has become too much to bare”) amidst an absolute sonic devastation. Leviathvn keeps the adrenaline flowing in Forlorn, accompanied by the crisp, no shenanigans riffage by Christian and Chase; and it seems to be a trend among Deathcore bands to release longer, more elaborate songs, like Lorna Shore did in their latest album, and Ov Sulfur’s contribution comes with Vast Eternal, with those breakdowns plus the deep screeches by Ricky turning it into a must-listen for fans of the style. Wither sounds maybe too Metalcore for my taste, and not the good type of Metalcore, but that extremely mellow one, although I understand the message of the song.

Evermore feels a lot heavier and more dynamic, with Ricky sounding demonic screaming the song’s austere words (“Why is it that death is always around me? / It’s taken everything and everyone I love / I’m forever stuck and always left behind / Trapped in an endless cycle / It’s never my time”); whereas Josh Davies (of Ingested) lends his demented vocals to the band’s Deathcore sonority in Dread, while Christian, Chase and Josh hammer their axes like true metalmaniacs. Then Johnny Ciardullo (of Carcosa) joins the band in the somber, visceral Bleak, again showcasing a pulverizing performance by Leviathvn  on drums, sounding like a Symphonic Black Metal beast at times. The last guest of the album is vocalist Alan Grnja (of Distant), with the band offering a more direct Deathcore hymn entitled A World Away, where the riffs and solos by the band’s guitar duo sound as acid as possible, before we have the pensive Endless//Loveless closing the album, a dark ballad full of emotions like rage, despair, hope and anger.

“If experiences or the resulting feelings went on forever, the subject would go insane,” commented Rick. “Even positive ones would eventually be blasé, which could lead to a lot of questioning yourself. Of course, we focused on the negative ones; because we’re a metal band after all. What if this doubt never ceases? What if I never stop grieving over the loss of a loved one? How would this all make us feel? How would it affect our sanity?” That eternal paradox between good and evil, positive and negative, light and darkness, and so on, can be fully appreciated throughout the ten songs in Endless, and you can purchase it from their own BandCamp, or by clicking HERE, and don’t forget to also check their merch HERE,  to give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and to stream their Stygian hymns on Spotify. Because time might be a strange thing, but the music blasted by Ov Sulfur in Endless is not. It’s first-class, dark and visceral Deathcore, and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more from those talented guys in a not-so-distant future.

Best moments of the album: Seed, Vast Eternal, Evermore and Bleak.

Worst moments of the album: Wither.

Released in 2026 Century Media Records

Track listing
1. Endless//Godless 1:50
2. Seed 4:49
3. Forlorn 4:23
4. Vast Eternal 6:03
5. Wither 5:01
6. Evermore 4:24
7. Dread 5:14
8. Bleak 5:13
9. A World Away 4:31
10. Endless//Loveless 4:30

Band members
Ricky Hoover – vocals
Christian Becker – guitars
Chase Wilson – guitars
Josh Bearden – bass
Leviathvn – drums

Guest musicians
Josh Davies – vocals on “Dread”
Johnny Ciardullo – vocals on “Bleak”
Alan Grnja – vocals on “A World Away”

Album Review – Void Monuments / Posthumous Imprecation (2026)

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Behold the debut offering by this ruthless Russian entity, a tour de force of dark, deadly Death Metal of a most 90’s vintage.

Founded in 2020 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, dead in 2022, but reborn in 2024 with a newly sculptured style blasting wicked, old school Death Metal with sinister lyrics, the ruthless entity Void Monuments will decimate your putrid bodies with their debut opus, entitled Posthumous Imprecation. Adorned by a clear and crushing production and a suitably eerie cover artwork, the new album by K. Svart on  vocals and guitar, P. Doom also on the guitar, Ivan on bass, and Bestial Barlog on drums stands tall as a debut declaration, a tour de force of dark, deadly Death Metal of a most 90’s vintage, constructing crushing towers of sound that shoot off into dusty catacombs and primordial slime alike.

Like a demonic creature arising from the pits of the underworld, the album’s Intro will captivate our senses before the band rips our putrid souls in half with Epitome Of Fear, a lecture in Death and Black Metal where Bestial Barlog shows no mercy for our necks with his demonic beats and fills. Then investing in a blood-soaked, vile Doom Metal sonority we face Devilish Prophecies, with K. Svart vomiting the song’s impious words like a rabid beast; followed by Decapitate The Saints, perhaps the song with the most poetic name, a headbanging 90’s-inspired Death Metal attack by the band, with K. Svart and P. Doom showcasing the power of a deadly riff.

Ascent to the Crucifixion is another song with a blasphemous name offering us all an overdose of Blackened Death Metal in the form of six (six six) minutes of pure infernal sounds spearheaded by another gory vocal performance by K. Svart; and Void Monuments go absolutely mental in Invocation, a lesson in Death Metal savagery where Bestial Barlog’s demented drumming is boosted by the metallic, ruthless bass by Ivan and the striking solos by the band’s guitar duo. Their second to last explosion of utter violence is offered in the form of The Sign of Blasphemy, living up to the legacy of 90’s Death Metal, before the band concludes their black mass with Father Of Sin, led by Bestial Barlog’s undisputed hammering drums, putting a beyond demonic ending to the album.

No more but definitely no less, Posthumous Imprecation is undoubtedly a strong release by Death Metal maniacs, for Death Metal maniacs, being highly recommended for admirers of bands the likes of Malevolent Creation, Sinister, The Chasm, Monstrosity, and Cenotaph, among others. You can get in touch with Void Monuments via Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on any platform like Spotify, and of course put your damned hands on Posthumous Imprecation from the Blood Harvest’s BandCamp or webstore. Void Monuments are craving fresh blood armed with their newborn spawn, and you better get ready because there’s nowhere to hide from their undisputed Death Metal savagery.

Best moments of the album: Epitome Of Fear, Decapitate The Saints and Invocation.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Blood Harvest

Track listing
1. Intro 2:14
2. Epitome Of Fear 4:50
3. Devilish Prophecies 5:32
4. Decapitate The Saints 4:50
5. Ascent to the Crucifixion 6:13
6. Invocation 4:58
7. The Sign of Blasphemy 3:30
8. Father Of Sin 4:03

Band members
K. Svart –  vocals, guitar
P. Doom – guitar
Ivan – bass
Bestial Barlog – drums

Album Review – Viserion / Fire and Blood EP (2026)

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Behold the fires of Black Metal and the blood of the Targaryen dynasty united in the form of the new opus by this ruthless American horde.

Hailing from New York City, the ruthless Black Metal horde known as Viserion unites the Second Wave Black Metal tradition with Atmospheric and Death Metal, balancing melodic soundscapes with raw aggression while also exploring a wealth of fantastical literature, highly influenced by the writings of George R.R. Martin and the World of Westeros, through the bloodthirsty shroud of extreme music. Produced, recorded and engineered by Billy Pfister at Westfall Recording, mastered by Jacob Buczarski, mixed by Chris Grigg, and displaying as its stunning cover art the painting Fire in Rome (1785) by Hubert Robert, Fire and Blood, the new EP by Benedetto Marvilli on vocals and guitars, Cris Valentine also on the guitars, Tasso Diakov on bass, and Matthew Marvilli on drums, is a worthy follow-up to their 2021 full-length Natural Selection, offering more of the band’s trademark blend of epic and scorching Black Metal magic. “Our concept for this album was inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones world. It particularly focuses on the Targaryen dynasty hence the title being their house words: Fire and Blood,” commented the band.

It’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated, incandescent title-track Fire and Blood, focusing on the black magic rituals that the Targaryen family was rumored to use in order to control dragons, with Matthew blasting his drums in great Black Metal fashion; whereas Mad King explores the delusions and cruelty of King Aerys II as well as his demise, continuing the band’s path of annihilation with the guitars by Benedetto and Cris exhaling sulfur and hatred. Aegon The Conqueror and his dragon Balerion are the focus on Reign of Fire, a lecture in modern-day Melodic Black Metal without a single second of peace, with Benedetto’s dragon-like vile gnarling sounding absolutely haunting. Then we have Blackfyre, telling of The Blackfyre Rebellions through a dark and rhythmic offering, with Tasso and Matthew bringing the rhythm and groove to the song in another display of the band’s trademark Black Metal magic; and lastly, we face Harrenhal, a composition of despair that sees the lyrics portray the horrifying destruction of Lord Harren’s fortress at the hands of Aegon the Conqueror and his dragon. Furthermore, the EP couldn’t have ended in a stronger way, sounding infernal from start to finish thanks to another killer performance by Matthew on drums.

Renowned bands the likes of Ultar, 1349, Satyricon, and Gates of Ishtar are significantly influential in the construction of Viserion’s creativity, as they delve heavily into the melodic across their discography, with Fire and Blood perfectly depicting those influences, therefore becoming a must-listen for fans of bands such as Ultar, Wormwitch, and the early-era of Enslaved. Viserion are waiting for you on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify, and you can grab a copy of their flammable new EP from their own BandCamp. Because, in the end, when you have an album that unites the power of the Targaryen dynasty with our beloved Black Metal, you know you’re in for a treat, one of pure fire and blood.

Best moments of the album: Reign of Fire and Harrenhal.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. Fire and Blood 3:09
2. Mad King 3:33
3. Reign of Fire 4:51
4. Blackfyre 5:31
5. Harrenhal 6:33

Band members
Benedetto Marvilli – vocals, guitar
Cris Valentine – guitar
Tasso Diakov – bass
Matthew Marvilli – drums

Album Review – HyperioN / Cybergenesis (2026)

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These Italian Heavy Metal warriors return with their third studio opus, a dark concept album rooted in classic Sci-Fi telling a story of resistance and sacrifice where the human spirit defies impossible odds.

Formed in 2015 by drummer Jason Beghelli and guitarist Davide Cotti to play traditional Heavy Metal, drawing inspiration from bands such as Metal Church, Queensrÿche, and Judas Priest, while adding their own personal touch, Bologna, Italy-based force HyperioN, whose name was taken from the Hyperion Cantos, a series of science fiction novels written by Dan Simmons, returns to the battlefield with a new opus, titled Cybergenesis. Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Davide Cotti, with vocals recorded by Antonio Inserillo, and displaying a striking cover artwork hand-painted on canvas by English artist Ryan T. Hancock, renowned for his work with bands such as Seven Sisters, Blood Star, and Stormborn, the follow-up to their 2020 sophomore Into the Maelstrom is a dark concept album rooted in classic Sci-Fi, from Star Trek to Ghost in the Shell, telling a story of resistance and sacrifice where the human spirit defies impossible odds, all carefully brought into being by Max Morelli on vocals, Francis Dipasquale and Davide Cotti on the guitars, Simone “Nega” Cauli on bass, and Francesco Madonna on drums.

The striking guitars by Francis and Davide kick off the band’s metallic journey in Deafening, evolving into a frantic Heavy and Power Metal extravaganza where Max’s vocals couldn’t have sounded more epic. Then investing in a darker, more rhythmic sonority, it’s time for Francesco to shine on drums in Rewire, Rebuild, presenting elements of Progressive Metal to give the song an extra kick, followed by Yet We Still Fight, clearly inspired by the glory of 80’s Heavy Metal, with Max delivering those soaring vocals we all love so much supported by the spot-on riffage by Francis and Davide. And The Shackles of Chronitus is an Epic Power Metal composition with a strong, reverberating kitchen by Simone and Francesco, albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album.

An Iron Maiden-inspired atmospheric and melodic intro evolves into another killer tune entitled Blood Over Chrome, where their riffs and solos bring endless stamina to the already exciting song’s pace; whereas Grain of Sand brings to our avid years metal’s old school galloping rhythm led by Simone and Francesco, providing Max with exactly what he needs to fire his rebellious vocal lines. Rhizome Rider brings forward more of the band’s trademark sound, a pure Heavy Metal feast tailored for admirers of the style perfect for raising their fists together with HyperioN, and closing the album we face the theatrical, ruthless The Whole of Time, with its background keys and sounds elevating its punch considerably, not to mention Francis and Davide are once again on fire armed with their stringed axes.

The concept of Cybergenesis fits seamlessly with the fiery Heavy Metal therein, a daring expedition into a space-time rift that ends in disaster, and all that power, tragedy and rebelliousness couldn’t have sounded better than what HyperioN have to offer us all in their new album. You can get in touch with those talented Italians via Facebook and Instagram, including their breathtaking live performances, stream their music on Spotify or any other streaming platform, and grab a copy of Cybergenesis from BandCamp or from Fighter Records, or click HERE for all things HyperioN. Will the reborn commander Rhizome Rider succeed in leading a rebellion from within and sacrificing himself to free humanity? Simply listen to the thrilling Heavy Metal crafted by HyperioN in Cybergenesis, and you’ll have the answer to that question and more while you bang your head to their undisputed heavy music.

Best moments of the album: Deafening, Yet We Still Fight and Blood Over Chrome.

Worst moments of the album: The Shackles of Chronitus.

Released in 2026 Fighter Records

Track listing
1. Deafening 3:54
2. Rewire, Rebuild 4:46
3. Yet We Still Fight 4:26
4. The Shackles of Chronitus 4:51
5. Blood Over Chrome 5:18
6. Grain of Sand 4:17
7. Rhizome Rider 4:57
8. The Whole of Time 6:48

Band members
Max Morelli – vocals
Francis Dipasquale – guitars
Davide Cotti – guitars
Simone “Nega” Cauli – bass
Francesco Madonna – drums

Album Review – Semper Acerbus / Following Omens (2026)

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Blasting us across deserts, dunes, mountains, and woodlands, the first full-length offering by this blazing hot Texas-based Metalcore outfit goes deep and dark into the pit of our hearts.

Hailing from from the heart of Del Rio, Texas, the blazing hot Metalcore act known as Semper Acerbus (a Latin phrase that translates to “always bitter” or “always harsh”) goes straight for the jugular with their blistering third full-length album, titled Following Omens. Produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Mora (Upon a Burning Body, Kingdom Collapse), and showcasing a classy artwork by Federico Bossinga of Abstract Chaos Design (Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir, Old Man’s Child), the follow-up to their 2021 album Ouroboros sees the band formed of vocalist Nelson Acerbus, guitarists Jaime Vargas and Joe Dragich, bassist Sammy Farhat, and drummer Tyler Thomas deliver an explosion of sonic heaviness that thematically covers the whole of the psychological super spectrum, oftentimes all the way to the fringes where the darkness is the deepest and despair is thick as fog on old cobblestone. Lyrically, the band explores all types of toxic relationships leading to destructive aftermaths that teach us the hard lessons, the ones that change us forever.

A very Metalcore intro ignites the opening tune Suffering Awaits, exploding into a well-balanced mix of their core sound and nuances of Death Metal led by the venomous roars by Nelson. After such a demented start the band offers our avid ears Unwanted, with Tyler stealing the spotlight with his progressive, intricate drumming, whereas in One Day At A Time the title carries a deep meaning to all of us, and the band makes sure the music reflects that with its Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore riffs, background keys and anguished screams. And Jaime and Joe rev up the band’s metallic engine with their razor-edged riffs in The Gallows, inspiring us all to bang our heads nonstop to their scathing, electrifying extravaganza.

The second part of the album begins with the cinematic interlude Alluring Vendetta, warming us up for the hard hitting Archangel, where Nelson keeps vociferating rabidly from the bottom of his blackened heart accompanied by another rumbling performance by Sammy and Tyler armed with their respective bass and drums. Wounded sounds a bit generic compared to the other songs, as it doesn’t offer the same level of intricacy nor dynamism; fortunately, Torn Inside gets the band back on track with a striking blend of Progressive Metalcore spearheaded by the demolishing yet very technical drumming by Tyler, not to mention the guitars by Jaime and Joe are breathing fire. And their coup-de-grace comes in the form of District Coward, again presenting a truly menacing kitchen by Sammy and Tyler, as heavy and headbanging as it can be.

Blasting us across deserts, dunes, mountains, and woodlands, Following Omens goes deep and dark into the pit of our hearts while the band entertains themes of isolation, addiction, vendettas, and death, religion and romance, omens and ghosts. Such a must-see name of the current Metalcore scene is waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details, and you can also stream their acid creations on YouTube and on Spotify, and purchase your copy of their excellent newborn spawn by clicking HERE or HERE. In the end, the new album by Semper Acerbus is perfect for those who want to rock out, while simultaneously important for those who need to engage in a search of the self. We dig them. We play them loud as all hell, and we’re one of them.

Best moments of the album: Suffering Awaits, The Gallows and District Coward.

Worst moments of the album: Wounded.

Released in 2026 Eclipse Records

Track listing
1. Suffering Awaits 4:11
2. Unwanted 3:22
3. One Day At A Time 4:05
4. The Gallows 3:40
5. Alluring Vendetta 1:00
6. Archangel 3:41
7. Wounded 3:37
8. Torn Inside 3:29
9. District Coward 3:51

Band members
Nelson Acerbus – vocals
Jaime Vargas – guitar
Joe Dragich – guitar
Sammy Farhat – bass
Tyler Thomas – drums

Album Review – Ectovoid / In Unreality’s Coffin (2026)

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From the abyssal and blistering depths of Alabama, this vile creature returns with its third studio album, an exhumation of Death Metal’s spectral essence and a relentless pulse of putrefaction.

From the abyssal and blistering depths of Alabama and featuring members from Seraphic Entombment and Father Befouled, the destructive Death Metal force known as Ectovoid returns in full force with their third full-length opus, titled In Unreality’s Coffin, the follow-up to their 2015 sophomore Dark Abstraction. Recorded, mixed and engineered by Alex Parra at Second Sight Sound, mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio, and showcasing another killer artwork by Italian master Paulo Girardi, the new offering by C.B. on vocals and guitars, C.S. also on the guitars, R.S. on bass, and C.M. on drums is an exhumation of Death Metal’s spectral essence and a relentless pulse of putrefaction, summoning shadows into eternal decay and entombing listeners in cavernous pummeling riffs.

Those American death dealers begin their infuriated feast of venomous sounds in Dissonance Corporeum, with C.B. already vomiting the song’s devilish words accompanied by the unstoppable beats and fills by C.M., whereas Collapsing Spiritual Nebula sounds even more dynamic and vibrant, with the Crust-infused riffs by C.B. and C.S. transpiring a violent blend of Death Metal. R.S. and C.M. continue to shake the foundations of earth in Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane), perfect for some insane “dancing” inside the circle pit; and investing in a ruthless 90’s Death Metal sonority we face Formless Seeking Form, with C.B.’s gruesome roars being nicely complemented by C.S.’s grim backing vocals. And if that’s not heavy enough for you, Irradiated Self manages to get even more demented, infernal and visceral than its predecessors, with C.M. once again stealing the show with his deadly beats and fills.

The guitars by C.B. and C.S. keep breathing fire in the title-track In Unreality’s Coffin, inviting us all to bang our fucking heads nonstop in the name of primeval Death Metal, supported by the rumbling bass by R.S.; and the quartet shows no mercy for our putrid souls in Erroneous Birth, melting our faces with their undisputed violence and hatred, with C.B. barking and roaring manically for our total delight. Their second to last explosion of old school Death Metal comes in the form of It Is Without Shape, an instrumental interlude that could have had some vocals to give it an extra taste, flowing into In Anguished Levitation, a lecture in absolute brutality and insanity where their caustic riffs, demonic guttural and demolishing bass and drums turn it into a must-listen for fans of the genre.

Across three full-length albums and various other releases, Ectovoid have fiercely honed their craft, carving out a distinct identity in the broader Death Metal landscape while continuing to pursue higher plateaus of dark Death Metal artistry, with In Unreality’s Coffin flawlessly representing the band’s evolution in the extreme arts, being therefore tailored for admirers of the just as heavy sounds by Autopsy, Necrot, Incantation, and Acephalix, among others. The guys from Ectovoid are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their music, and don’t forget to also stream their vicious creations on Spotify, and to put your bloody hands on In Unreality’s Coffin by clicking HERE (BandCamp) or HERE (mailorder). In other words, it’s time to summon total darkness to the sound of the new opus by Ectovoid, feeding you inner demons with their ruthless and primeval blend of Death Metal insanity.

Best moments of the album: Collapsing Spiritual Nebula, Irradiated Self and In Anguished Levitation.

Worst moments of the album: It Is Without Shape.

Released in 2026 Everlasting Spew Records

Track listing
1. Dissonance Corporeum 4:24
2. Collapsing Spiritual Nebula 5:42
3. Intrusive Illusions (Echoes from a Distant Plane) 3:55
4. Formless Seeking Form 6:02
5. Irradiated Self 3:55
6. In Unreality’s Coffin 4:06
7. Erroneous Birth 5:42
8. It Is Without Shape 3:22
9. In Anguished Levitation 7:26

Band members
C.B. – vocals, guitars
C.S. – guitars, backing vocals
R.S. – bass
C.M. – drums