Category Archives: 2026 New Releases

Album Review – Redivider / Sounds Of Malice (2026)

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This up-and-coming Death Metal outfit will destroy our putrid bodies with their debut album, a conceptually rich, sonically punishing record that blends fantasy-driven storytelling with crushing heaviness.

Formed in early 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky by vocalist Jacob Spencer and guitarist Paul Nunavath, the ruthless Death Metal squad known as Redivider is ready to attack armed with their debut album, entitled Sounds Of Malice. Recorded at Round Table Recording Company and Michael Kent O’Bryan Studio, mixed by the band’s own Paul Nunavath, and mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound, the debut opus by the aforementioned Jacob Spencer on vocals and Paul Nunavath on the guitar, alongside Jake Atha also on the guitar, Alexander Farrington on bass, and James Goetz on drums is a conceptually rich, sonically punishing record that blends fantasy-driven storytelling with crushing heaviness, always thriving on tension, rhythm, and unapologetic intensity, or in other words, it’s Death Metal built to be felt as much as heard.

It’s time to slam into the circle pit like a true bastard to the sound of Quartered & Devoured, opening the album on a demented note thanks to the gruesome roars by Jacob and James’ unstoppable beats and fills. Paul and Jake continue to feed Jacob’s roars with their visceral riffage in the title-track Sounds of Malice, resulting in a brutal and intricate display of old school Death Metal; whereas Alexander’s bass couldn’t have sounded more metallic in Shackled to Existence, accompanied by the once again demented drumming by James. Apocalyptic Waste is another bestial song perfect for some wild headbanging, with Jacob vociferating rabidly in the name of Death Metal, followed by Fratricide, a no shenanigans, in-your-face Death Metal extravaganza where Paul and Jake slash their stringed axes ruthlessly. After that, James kicks off the just as heavy and evil Bask in the Rot, an excellent option for their live performances, before we face the bludgeoning Left to Rot, ending the album on a demonic mode to the inhumane growls by Jacob.

In a nutshell, Redivider have crafted a debut that is punishing, articulate, and unflinchingly true to the spirit of Death Metal, a concentrated expression of aggression, narrative depth, and old school brutality fused with modern execution that will surely please the most diehard fans of the style. Those talented and unrelenting American death dealers are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, tour dates and more of their music, and you can also enjoy their demented creations on Spotify and of course purchase Sounds Of Malice from BandCamp or by clicking HERE or HERE. Sounds of Malice brings forward the sounds of the glory of 90’s Death Metal, and we can rest assured Redivider will keep destroying our putrid bodies with their undisputed blend of savagery for many years to come.

Best moments of the album: Quartered & Devoured, Apocalyptic Waste and Left to Rot.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Independent

Track listing
1. Quartered & Devoured 4:04
2. Sounds of Malice 3:10
3. Shackled to Existence 5:21
4. Apocalyptic Waste 4:40
5. Fratricide 4:34
6. Bask in the Rot 3:46
7. Left to Rot 4:01

Band members
Jacob Spencer – vocals
Paul Nunavath – guitar
Jake Atha – guitar
Alexander Farrington – bass
James Goetz – drums

Guest musician
Mike Hargrave – drums (live)

Album Review – Bound To Prevail / Enthroned in Torment (2026)

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A relentless Maltese Death Metal force will attack armed with their debut album, a powerful rediscovery and reinterpretation of the early 2000’s Death Metal vein, blending old school brutality with a modern edge.

Founded in the fall of 2014, and influenced by a wide variety of extreme music subgenres, with each band member bringing their own distinct influences to the songwriting process, Birkirkara, Malta’s relentless Death Metal force Bound To Prevail is unleashing  upon humanity their debut full-length album, aptly titled Enthroned in Torment, following up on their 2017 EP Omen of Iniquity. Recorded, mixed and mastered at SpineSplitter Studio, the new offering by Alan Briffa on vocals, Jean Vella (who’s no longer a member of the band) and Keith Fenech on the guitars, Kevin Mifsud on bass, and Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo on drums is a powerful rediscovery and reinterpretation of the early 2000’s Death Metal vein, blending old school brutality with a modern edge. Drawing on the technical ferocity of old masters like Suffocation and Monstrosity, as well as the more extreme, yet precise, pummeling approaches of Beheaded, Hour of Penance and Inveracity, the album delivers tracks that are simultaneously tense, technical and fluid, giving every riff room to breathe and strike with maximum impact.

Their sonic massacre begins with the devastating The Nevergod, where Mark sounds demented behind his drums, offering Alan exactly what he needs to bark manically, not to mention the caustic riffage by Jean and Keith. Into the Depths is an absolute chaotic, heavy-as-hell Brutal Death Metal tune led by the inhumane growling by Alan, while Kevin and Mark continue to make the earth tremble in the name of extreme music; and another slab of Kevin’s metallic bass is offered to us all in the Death Metal massacre entitled Defier of Empires, perfect for slamming into the pit. Moreover, it’s impressive how they manage to blend Technical and Brutal Death Metal with great balance and energy, exactly like what we get in Consecrated Perdition, keeping the album at an absurdly high level of violence.

Then the band offers the longest, most detailed of all songs from the album, Atone in Blasphemy, a six-minute overdose of brutality and gore where Mark hammers his drums like a stone crusher, opening up the pit for the visceral riffage by Jean and Keith. It’s pedal to the metal in the frantic, no shenanigans Death Metal attack titled Dawn of Emptiness, again presenting that rudimentary, raw drum sound we all love in this type of music; whereas an ominous start gradually evolves into a bestial sonority in Tomb of the Graveless, with Alan once again vomiting the song’s devilish words like a rabid creature. Lastly, we’re treated to the ruthless title-track Enthroned in Torment, ending the album with the same level of violence as it started for our total delight.

Showcasing their core fusion of aggressive, frantic, pounding rhythmic passages with instantly recognizable melodic overtones, Enthroned in Torment beautifully blends the relentless aggression of classic Death Metal with contemporary clarity and production, creating a sound that honors the past while feeling undeniably current, while also exploring the morbid tension between malevolence and benevolence, set in a chaotic realm shaped by false beliefs and deceitful ambitions. Hence, you can get in touch with those talented and hardworking Maltese metallers via Facebook and Instagram, stream their bludgeoning music on Spotify, and of course purchase Enthroned in Torment from the Lethal Scissor Records’ BandCamp or webstore. With their debut, Bound To Prevail stake their claim in European Death Metal, captivating fans of both old school and modern eras and, therefore, leaving us eager for more of their sonic violence in a not-so-distant future.

Best moments of the album: Into the Depths, Consecrated Perdition and Dawn of Emptiness.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Lethal Scissor Records

Track listing
1. The Nevergod 5:04
2. Into the Depths 5:06
3. Defier of Empires 5:14
4. Consecrated Perdition 3:47
5. Atone in Blasphemy 6:08
6. Dawn of Emptiness 4:59
7. Tomb of the Graveless 5:28
8. Enthroned in Torment 3:41

Band members
Alan Briffa – vocals
Jean Vella – guitars
Keith Fenech – guitars
Kevin Mifsud – bass
Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo – drums

Album Review – Deadwood / Rituals of a Dying Light EP (2026)

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It’s time to make Deathcore angry again with the incendiary new EP by these unstoppable Canadian bruisers.

Make Deathcore Angry Again. That’s the ruthless motto by Montreal, Quebec’s own Deathcore bruisers Deadwood, who uniquely blend elements from Death Metal and Hardcore to create their own blend of modern Deathcore. Aiming to evoke terror and fear through their music, ensuring their performances are unforgettable, the band currently formed of Derek Heynekemp on vocals (note: the vocals in the EP were recorded by Martin Demontigny), Stephane Filion and Fred Element on the guitars, and Charles Etienne Lafrance on drums returns with a new EP entitled Rituals of a Dying Light, following up on their vicious 2023 EP Inhuman. Recorded at EMNT Studio, and produced mixed and mastered by the band’s own guitarist Fred Element, the EP caters to enthusiastic metalheads who crave pure brutality and violence, positioning the band as one of the must-see acts of the current scene.

In Tales of Massacre the band blends Deathcore with Technical Death Metal to give the song an even more insane vibe, with Stephane and Fred sounding ruthless armed with their axes, therefore offering Martin all he needs to growl like a rabid beast. Heretic is an even heavier, more dynamic and bestial tune by the quartet, with the deep guttural by Martin matching perfectly with the rumbling drums by Charles, not to mention the song’s background haunting sounds; whereas another demented roar by Martin kicks things off in Thirst for Blood, offering more of the band’s trademark Deathcore violence. Whispers of Death is a song made for being played live, as it will surely ignite some sick, infernal mosh pits to the metallic, thunderous riffs by Stephane and Fred; and the EP ends just like it started, on a vile and demented mode with Echoes of The Fallen thanks to the hammering drums by Charles in a beyond cryptic instrumental tune.

Drawing from the ferocity of Meshuggah, the brutality of Whitechapel, and the groove-driven power of Pantera, Deadwood deliver crushing riffs and haunting atmospheres steeped in true dark histories, from the Salem witch trials to the reign of Jack the Ripper, translating into a no shenanigans, vicious EP that will surely please all fans of extreme music. You can get to know more about Deadwood on Facebook, including their upcoming tour dates across Canada and Europe, stream their wicked music on Spotify, and purchase the excellent Rituals of a Dying Light from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In other words, it’s time to make Deathcore angry again, and the incendiary new EP by these unstoppable Canadian beasts is exactly what’s needed to achieve such a fun objective.

Best moments of the album: Heretic and Whispers of Death.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Innerstrength Records

Track listing
1. Tales of Massacre 2:48
2. Heretic 4:23
3. Thirst for Blood 2:54
4. Whispers of Death 4:26
5. Echoes of The Fallen 3:36

Band members
Martin Demontigny – vocals
Stephane Filion – lead guitars
Fred Element – guitars
Charles Etienne Lafrance – drums

Guest musician
Derek Heynekemp – vocals (live)

Album Review – Ellende / Zerfall (2026)

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Austria’s own one-man Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal project is back with its sixth opus, portraying the state of being shattered into fragments and the slow, painful process of rebuilding oneself.

Originally conceived as an introverted, misanthropic, and anonymous project by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist L.G. (aka Lukas Gosch) in Graz, Austria back in 2011, the unrelenting Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal entity Ellende, a Middle High German adjective which means “miserable” or “exiled” (as well as “misery” in Dutch), is unleashing upon humanity its sixth full-length offering, titled Zerfall, which translates as “disintegration” or “decay,” portraying the state of being shattered into fragments and the slow, painful process of rebuilding oneself, a confrontation with the void and ultimately a triumph over it. Recorded, mixed and mastered by L.G. and Markus “Schwadorf“ Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E, featuring session drummer P.F., with oil painting by L.G. himself (under the moniker Farbbringer), and shaped also by a tragic event in the life of its mastermind, the follow-up to the project’s critically acclaimed 2024 album Todbringerin continues to fuse raw intensity with profound emotional depth, turning it into a must-listen for fans of Harakiri For The Sky, Wolves In The Throne Room, Alcest, Drudkh, Blut aus Nord, Negura Bunget, Paysage d’Hiver, and Woods of Desolation.

Stygian, introspective sounds set the tone in the intro Nur (or “only” from German), growing in intensity until we face Wahrheit Teil I (“truth part I”), starting with the caustic riffs by L.G. in the most visceral Black Metal style, offering seven minutes of first-class extreme music with L.G.’s venomous gnarls bringing even more anguish to the music, flowing into Wahrheit Teil II (“truth part II”), a darker tune exhaling Depressive Black and Doom Metal, with P.F.’s pounding drums hammering our souls mercilessly. Then the title-track Zerfall starts in a serene, melancholic manner before exploding into majestic Atmospheric Black Metal led by our lone wolf’s devilish riffs and vociferations, alternating between absolute darkness and whimsical, enfolding passages; followed by Übertritt (“transition”), another song that reeks of contemporary Melodic and Atmospheric Black Metal where the strident sound of L.G.’s guitar will pierce our blackened minds in great fashion.

Ode ans Licht (“ode to the light”) brings forward an imposing start to L.G.’s scathing riffage, sounding very melodic albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album while still presenting the project’s trademark melancholy. Zeitenwende Teil I (“turning point part I”), featuring Klara Bachmair from German Black Metal horde Firtan on the violin, is a lecture in extreme music, taking the listener on a one-way journey to absolute darkness together with L.G., with his riffs transpiring epicness; whereas in Zeitenwende Teil II (“turning point part II”), the second piece of such a thrilling Black Metal aria, L.G. keeps gnarling in the most obscure way imaginable supported by the classic beats by P.F., ending with a killer guest guitar solo by Peter Mairhofer from Austrian Melodic Death/Thrash Metal band Norikum. And lastly, we’re treated to the atmospheric, gloomy Reise (“journey”), where its acoustic moments bring peace to our gloomy hearts while its climatic ending sounds as captivating as it is devilish and grim.

Ellende has grown into an internationally recognized live act with session musicians firmly rooted in the Atmospheric Black Metal genre, while also incorporating classical instrumentation such as strings and grand piano, often pushing beyond the boundaries of what is considered traditional within the style, and that’s exactly what makes an album like Zerfall so interesting, detailed and hypnotizing. Hence, you can get in touch with L.G. and his Ellende via Facebook and Instagram, stream his vast and innovative discography on Spotify or any other streaming service, and grab a copy of Zerfall from BandCamp, from AOP Records, from Nuclear Blast or from Napalm Records allowing the music by Ellende to penetrate deep inside your blackened heart and, therefore, letting your deepest emotions arise. Because that’s what high quality Atmospheric Black Metal is all about, and we should always thank L.G. and his Ellende for providing us with such an amazing form of extreme music.

Best moments of the album: Zerfall, Zeitenwende Teil I and Zeitenwende Teil II.

Worst moments of the album: Ode ans Licht.

Released in 2026 AOP Records

Track listing
1. Nur 2:35
2. Wahrheit Teil I 7:03
3. Wahrheit Teil II 5:50
4. Zerfall 7:19
5. Übertritt 6:03
6. Ode ans Licht 4:23
7. Zeitenwende Teil I 6:36
8. Zeitenwende Teil II 5:01
9. Reise 7:14

Double LP bonus tracks
10. Secunda (Jeremy Soule cover) 2:03
11. Verborgenes inneres Leiden 2:28

Band members
L.G. – vocals, choirs, whispers, electric & acoustic guitars, bass, piano, synths, samples, ambience

Guest musicians
P.F. – drums (session)
Klara Bachmair – violin on “Zeitenwende Teil I”
Peter Mairhofer – guitar solo on “Zeitenwende Teil II”
S.R. – guitars (live)
G.T. – guitars (live)
S.L. – bass (live)
T.H.Z. – drums (live)