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#postblackmetal — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #postblackmetal, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Lord Carrion – Man Made Hell Review By Thus Spoke

    There are a few phrases that I could theoretically read in a promo blurb that would get me to instantly pick it up.1 When my eyes landed on the line “Lord Carrion seeks to usher in 1000 years of ruin to fascists and authoritarians of all stripes,” I thought “say less,” and took Man Made Hell without any care for the fact that its black metal comes with a significant dose of southern hardcore—not my preferred subgenre. I’m glad I did. Their debut LP after two years honing their craft with an EP and a split, Man Made Hell is Lord Carrion’s first big chance to bring about the promised destruction to oppressors. The stark redness of the cover, the marrying of some of metal’s noisiest styles, and the band’s proud antifascism make for a loud statement that the music must live up to. And does it?

    Man Made Hell certainly does not flinch away from the implicit violence of its influences. A crusty, second-wave black metal base meets with the boundless energy and acidity of rampaging hardcore for a sound that’s both aurally and spiritually raw as fuck. Jonross Maddog2 Maddox’s d-beats and the clattering pivots of snare rollovers and cymbal smashes drag you by the scruff of your neck behind a rampaging train of Matthew Price and Miguel Hallare’s riffs, as Jake Plissken screams in your face through a mouthful of barbed wire. Sometimes, it’s no more than this: sanguine yet standard noisy rampaging that doesn’t break any moulds (“Suicide Planet,” “Billions Dead”). At others, Lord Carrion pull back from showing their teeth just enough for some layers and gripping melodicism to show their heart.

    Lord Carrion display their passion best when they stray outside of the lines. It’s tangible in the ballistic extremities—the snippets of solo drums (“Billions Dead,” “Yaldabaoth”) and the passages of particularly intense extended, repeated, throat-shredding screams (“Plutocrat Slaughter Ritual,” “The Walls are Closing In”). Most notably, the feeling on Man Made Hell is strongest in every place Lord Carrion make the sound entirely their own. Resonance that goes beyond its obvious atmo-black inspiration to transform a previously granite riff into a shadowy refrain (“Plutocrat…,” “Peace is a Bloody Sword”) when it isn’t blurring a tremolo melody for some randomly gorgeous meloblack (“What Remains”). Such buoyant, mournful melodies sprinkled around work together with punchy syncopation and aforementioned hellish vocals for compelling, satisfyingly sharp declarations (“Desperate Cruelty,” “What Remains”). Disso-death drips into arachnid arpeggios (“Billions Dead”) and drawling, sinister chords (“Peace…), injecting a cruel edge that just works. Rhythmic turns often take the best of both black metal and hardcore for fun (“Suicide Planet,” “The Walls are Closing In”) and darkly groovy (“Plutocrat…”) moments.

    The greatest issue with Man Made Hell is that its brilliance is a little unevenly distributed. So fiery at its jawbreaking, moody, best, the (over-)use of more “standard” second-wave black/hardcore riffing risks the loss of any audience turned off by such mundanities.3 Similarly, the album would probably benefit from a smidge more time to fully integrate the many great ideas and segments it contains. As an example: the jumpscare of full-volume white noise that splits the doom-drone of “Peace…”‘s first act is visceral, and will probably split listeners into a love/hate dichotomy. The gentle beauty of “What Remains,” rising from carefully-placed strums and the hushed howling of wind to an emotional meloblack finale, though I love it, feels slightly out of place. I can hear the hints of atmosphere and nuance that Lord Carrion drop beforehand, and it seems like minor tweaks would integrate these aspects better.

    Man Made Hell divides me, leaving me affected but uncommitted. It’s pretty fun in a satisfyingly gronky way, whilst also possessing a gravitas that portends—even though it doesn’t execute—greatness. What is certain is that Lord Carrion have got something; their ardour oozes out of most-every fuzz-choked note, and I think they make their point just fine for now.

    Rating: Good
    DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: wav
    Label: Self-Released
    Websites: Bandcamp | Instagram
    Releases Worldwide: August 24th, 2026

    #2026 #30 #AmericanMetal #Aug26 #BlackMetal #BlackenedCrust #BlackenedHardcore #Crust #Hardcore #LordCarrion #ManMadeHell #PostBlackMetal #Review #Reviews #SelfReleases
  2. Dymna Lotva – Vyraj Review By Thus Spoke

    The power of storytelling is well-known to Belarusian post-black outcasts Dymna Lotva. Their previous album, The Land Under the Black Wings: Blood, progressed that series through tragic true and folkloric tales, its overt tragedy in this sense bringing the real devastation wracking their native and settled home countries.1 Vyraj sees Dymna Lotva continue to communicate with stories. Taking its name from the Slavic mythological realm to which both migrating birds and the souls of the dead travel, there’s an explicit parallel with the members’ own emigration as well as themes of personal journey, life, and death. But there’s always been more to Dymna Lotva’s music than their symbolically powerful concepts, and Vyraj makes no exception.

    Dymna Lotva already had somewhat of a winning formula in a uniquely executed blend of black, folk, and post-metal. They evolve anyway, bringing in and emphasising further an electronic side that ranges from shimmering, chimelike keys to soft symphonics. It’s never enough to overshadow the metallic and, at its best, amplifies the (melo)drama of the climaxes and adds more layers to the band’s nuanced and emotional sound. This new direction brings with it something of the anthemic, with songs reprising uplifting melodies, stepping into steady sways, and being narrated more often by a duet, if not a chorus of voices.2 Leading those voices is the force of nature Katsiaryna Mankevich, who once again absolutely kills it with her wrenching screams and solemn classical cleans. The music is more direct, due to all the above as well as a comparatively shorter runtime, with fewer tracks, each of which references the others through recurring motifs.

    Vyraj condenses and concentrates Dymna Lotva’s characteristic potency and poignancy, which this time are tinged a touch more with the blush of hope than the blackness of rage. The urgent, cascading melodies ring with a thrilling solidarity (“Zory,” “Viedźmieragina,” “Ustań Za Mianie”) and the mournful soaring solos with bittersweet sadness (“Niama Darohi,” “Return my Coffin Home”). The highlight here, and also the crowning jewel of the album, is the centrepiece “Niama Darohi,” which practically hums with longing for freedom. It’s in these places that the new electronic elements work the most magic, spinning glittering counter-melodies or supporting the climax with subtle strings and fluttering keys. The atmosphere they bring is deepened by the way Dymna Lotva use the dynamics of rhythm and intensity to deepen their compositions and make them still more compelling. Variously whispered, spoken, rasped, screamed lines circulate spells amidst shifting tempos (“Veha,” “Viedźmieragina,” “Niama Darohi”); sung and screamed male and female voices call and respond and join together (“The Boat of Despair,” “Ustań Za Mianie,” “Return my Coffin Home”); and both the graceful lull of cleans and the vicious snarls of harsh vocals move in synchronisation with those of the lead guitars. This also serves to bring the fierceness into sharper focus, through emphasis and contrast alone, or the dramatic turn from this graceful tension into a building explosion of passion and electricity (“Zory,” “Veha,” “Viedźmieragina”).

    All of Vyraj has a somewhat magical aura, thanks to the use of (children’s) group vocals and xylophone-esque chimes and ambience amidst the savage or sombre. At its most vibrant, it sings with so much feeling that I long desperately for a lyric sheet and the ability to speak the language(s) these songs are written in.3 The brightness of these highs also obscures the comparative dimness of the lows, where that fire seems to be missing, and mellowness and ambience win out (“The Boat of Despair,” “Bu Samoje”). This is some feat considering the fact that the overall production seems tailored to the increased electronic emphasis, which presses the beautiful layers together, and so the very aspects that lend Vyraj some new magic also weaken that magic’s power. Just a bit more space would do wonders.

    But Dymna Lotva are not ones to fade into the background. They care about their stories and delivering them in a way that forces you to listen. Despite any unevenness, Vyraj has an intangible specialness to it that irresistibly pulls the listener back. This is a lovely, sad, empowering piece of art that deserves more than the length of its runtime to weave its world around you.

    Rating: Very Good
    DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
    Label: Prophecy Productions
    Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
    Releases Worldwide: August 7th, 2026

    #2026 #35 #Aug26 #BelarusianMetal #BlackMetal #DymnaLotva #FolkMetal #PostBlackMetal #PostMetal #ProphecyProductions #Review #Reviews #Vyraj
  3. Silaera – An Aberration of the Void Review By Kenstrosity

    Written By: Aleken’s Gunstrosity

    Every year has one magical moment that I look forward to with great anticipation: the first metal release that wows me enough to think it’ll be my AotY. It’s an electric sensation, and it just so happens that Alekhines Gun brought first lightning to my world this year, in the form of atmospheric post-black metal band Silaera’s debut record, An Aberration of the Void. The Chicagoan triplet, established in 2019 as a one-man project, rounded out their lineup with a bassist and a second guitarist last year as they recorded their striking debut. Complete with a stunning Burke piece adorning its cover, An Aberration of the Void left Gun and I with our jaws on the floor, so much so that we had no choice but to write this review together. Two different voices, one unified piece.

    An Aberration of the Void is an apt moniker for Silaera’s first outing, as the band masterfully wields all of black metal’s forms as if they were intrinsic properties of their very being. At once gorgeous, frightening, triumphant, and evil, An Aberration of the Void recalls the sweeping flares of Mare Cognitum (“A Celestial Grave”), the gentle caress of Noltem (the first quarter of “Fall into Cosmic Sleep”), the fervent dissonance of Vimur (“From Entropic Dust”), and the devastating heft of the altogether more vicious Keres (“Abhorring the Lifting of Eyes, the middle third of “Fall into Cosmic Sleep”). Yet, Silaera’s talent for transitions and assembly manage to craft a vision like visiting an alien planet; you’ve seen planets before, but none like this, and trying to classify its place in the cosmos in relation to other stars is a waste of time. This planet simply is. An Aberration’s production conjures specters of the celestial in similar fashion, transversely aligning full, rich chords, cavernous reverb, and a deep low end against crystalline shimmers and bright midranges. The result is a magical composition of unknown and unknowable beauty churning with the destructive energy of a collapsing star.

    If you need a quick peak into the nebula awaiting, point your telescopes to “Abhorring the Lifting of Eyes,” a masterstroke of composition, creativity, and unpredictability. Launching with a sparkling1 trem-heavy intro, it glides into a long-form riff of cosmic mysticism before variating into a brutally heavy crush, which then spontaneously combusts into a jagged groove attack liable to snap your neck like a toothpick. Tellingly, vocals take a dumbfounding length of time to kick in, but aren’t noticed in their absence until they make their presence known—this serves only to enhance their impact. Moments of contrast like this abound on An Aberration, giving new meaning to the term “beauty and the beast,” but few hit harder than “From Entropic Dust” and epic closer “Fall into Cosmic Sleep” when they offset their impeccable atmospheric allure with deadly swings and terrifying dissonance. Imagine if Cosmic Putrification wrote an album about their feelings and had it produced by Blackbraid, and you’ll almost get it. Silaera takes their songwriting chiaroscuro even further, morphing and mutating phrases with each repetition so radically as to redefine, but never estrange, the tones and textures of the next measure.

    That songwriting makes An Aberration of the Void engaging and stimulating from start to finish in spite of its uniformly long-form construction. You’d expect a record where no song falls below six minutes to feature some bloat, but not here. Not a moment wasted, An Aberration arranges compelling choices and elevating decorations around every corner, on both the songwriting and production front. The snare positively crackles and pops when devolving into ferocious blasts, but sibilates and snaps instead during gentler phrases to emphasize mood and atmosphere to great effect (“A Celestial Gaze”). A throaty rasp informs the more intense sections while guttural roars evoke a lurking monstrosity when the moment calls for something more ominous (“Fall into Cosmic Sleep”). Riffs pummel and pound with the terrible force of black holes, but delicate melodies ascend beyond the heavens in tandem to uplift the listener as the event horizon guarantees their final destination (“Abhorring the Lifting of Eyes,” “Fall into Cosmic Sleep”). This interplay of contrast and complement, paired with meticulous detailing, is the unfathomable core of An Aberration of the Void, and the main reason why it universally captivates my attention.

    Criticisms are extremely difficult to commit to, not just for me, but also for Gun. Neither one of us felt any held water for longer than a few moments. We nonetheless noted that, for some, Silaera’s disparate references could feel disjointed in the moment,2 with cohesion only coming after focused spins. An Aberration of the Void also does not escape common genre trappings: maximum reverb, more runtime dedicated to slower paces than outright aggression, arpeggios everywhere. But in execution, these small points of contention feel like inseparable parts of the cosmos Silaera created, and what a wondrous cosmos it is.

    Rating Consensus: Great!!3
    DR: Lost to the Void | Format Reviewed: Bandcamp Stream
    Label: Self Released
    Websites: silaera.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Silaera
    Releases Worldwide: April 10th, 2026

    #2026 #40 #AmericanMetal #AnAberrationOfTheVoid #Apr26 #AtmosphericBlackMetal #BlackMetal #Blackbraid #CosmicPutrefaction #Keres #MareCognitum #MelodicBlackMetal #Noltem #PostBlackMetal #PostMetal #Review #Reviews #SelfReleased #Silaera #Vimur
  4. Nullingroots – Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape Review By Killjoy

    Here at AMG Industries, we strive to unearth as many underground gems as possible. Sometimes, though, we may get a bit carried away, as Master of Muppets once did in a TYMHM article wherein he crammed as many shoutouts to other groups as possible. As this solitary line1 has been the only coverage Nullingroots has received here so far, allow me to introduce them more formally. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Nullingroots was originally formed by Cameron Boesch as an instrumental post-metal solo project. Various shades of black metal were added over time alongside additional band members. The current iteration of Nullingroots includes Alex Haddad, the founder of rising progressive death metal act Dessiderium.2 Now, Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape signals Nullingroots’ re-emergence after a six-year hiatus.

    I don’t know the extent to which Alex Haddad participated in writing Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape, but it certainly sounds as if he had a hand in it. The breezy major key melodies that defined last year’s Dessiderium record can be easily discerned in the guitar, bass, and piano, albeit filtered through a post-black lens instead of progressive death. In this way, I prefer Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape to its 2019 predecessor, Malady’s Black Maw, which was much more uniformly blackened with fewer instances to breathe. The most compelling moments now come from the piano and various other keyboard effects, which add a crystalline luster much like the otherworldly stylings of Unreqvited.

    Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape by Nullingroots

    Nullingroots packed a lot into the 55 minutes of Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape. The guitar chords often straddle the line between consonance and dissonance (“Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape,” “Remember My Name”). Drum tempo shifts are plentiful to the point of feeling erratic rather than progressive. The most intriguing track, “In Reverie’s Embrace,” combines a mystical keyboard tune with something almost resembling a rap beat played on the virtual drum kit. The vocals are the only area that can sometimes feel monotonous. The fierce rasps fit better within faster-paced songs like “Remember My Name,” but don’t mesh as well with the gentler “Memoir of a Frail Past,” though there are brief instances of smoother, gentler growls (“Life Thief”). The biggest missed opportunity is the complete absence of clean vocals, as Haddad’s singing would likely have complemented much of the instrumentation well if given the opportunity.

    Despite its busyness, Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape doesn’t accomplish as much as it could. More often than not, it presents a jumble of independent moments as opposed to a fluid whole. Some of these moments are, admittedly, impressive, such as the guitar shredding partway through “The Optimist.” “Memoir of a Frail Past” and “In Reverie’s Embrace” fare better thanks to recurring keyboard melodies, but the rest of Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape is largely disjointed and at times nondescript. With a minimum track length of 7 minutes, the listener needs more reinforcement to stay grounded, especially in a setting where song intros and conclusions are regarded as optional. Ultimately, I don’t feel guided so much as roughly dragged through the majority of these long-form excursions.

    Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape is a promising new sonic direction for Nullingroots after an extended absence, though it’s not without growing pains. I am convinced by the band members’ instrumental prowess, but less so by the songcraft. The first half goes down more smoothly than the second half, but the entire package isn’t sufficiently focused or cohesive. While it’s tough to wholeheartedly recommend Fourth Dimensional Dreamscape, with some tweaks and tightening, there’s a ton of potential for something really good to come. I’m (Nulling)rooting for them.

    Rating: 2.5/5.0
    DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: PCM
    Label: Self-Release
    Websites: nullingroots.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/nullingroots
    Releases Worldwide: February 11th, 2026

    #25 #2026 #AmericanMetal #BlackMetal #Dessiderium #Feb26 #FourthDimensionalDreamscape #Nullingroots #PostBlackMetal #PostMetal #ProgressiveBlackMetal #ProgressiveMetal #Review #Reviews #SelfRelease #Unreqvited
  5. Atlantic – Timeworn [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]

    By ClarkKent

    The picture I have in my head of Ireland is an isolated, yet calming, place by the sea. Callan Hoy, from the western coastal town of Galway, further cements this image on the debut record of his atmospheric post-black project, Atlantic. It’s apparent that the setting is important to Timeworn, as crashing waves not only begin and end the album, but they make frequent appearances throughout. This gives the feeling that Hoy recorded Timeworn right along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. A calm pervades despite the energetic black metal on display, making Atlantic a pleasing melodic journey you’ll want to play on repeat.

    Atlantic alternates between atmospheric post-black metal and a much more poppy-style of black rock. The three longer tracks hue more towards the atmospheric (“Weathered,” “Underside,” “Spirit Trails”), but rather than atmoblack of the depressive variety, this is more of an uplifting form. Hoy’s guitar tones ooze feel-good vibes along the lines of Countless Skies, but with plenty of blackened reverb. These lengthier songs have a lot in common with the black metal of Starer and the black/shoegaze of Deafheaven. On the other end are the shorter tracks (“Timeworn,” “Voyages”), which sound almost like pop/rock songs, only with heavy reverb and dark growls. There’s a feeling of joy in the instrumentation that takes me back to Torche’s Harmonicraft. The drums by Milan Jejina bring out the pop with simple yet powerful beats that’ll get you bopping along. The combo of kitwork and catchy riffs make “Voyages” one of the most memorable tunes of the year.

    There’s something about all of the performances that make Timeworn so pleasing to listen to. Hoy makes heavy use of tremolos to keep up a feeling of constant kinetic motion. The jubilant tone of the tremolos is pleasant enough, but the way Hoy blends melodies with the atmospherics elevates the music. The melodic elements also make the lengthier passages on songs like “Spirit Trails” work—they keep you engaged for every second. Hoy’s vocal performance is also nothing to sneeze at. His growls are guttural rather than the piercing screamo style of some shoegaze, and he has a surprisingly melodic cadence that helps fill up every second with satisfying, catchy sounds. Atlantic features very little cleans, but they do complement the growls on “Underside” and reveal just how versatile an artist Hoy is.

    Timeworn is an impressive achievement, the mark of a young talent with strong songwriting clout. While most of the songs pass the seven-minute mark, they never meander or feel boring. Hoy mixes in the shorter, poppier tracks to create a varied and powerful listening experience. Atlantic blew me away when it crept into my Bandcamp feed back in April. Hoy has created something special that I think even those who don’t love atmospheric or post-black metal can appreciate. Given that it’s just a bite-sized 34 minutes, there’s no reason not to give it a spin—and then another as it calls to you like a siren luring unwitting sailors into the sea. But don’t worry, there’s no danger here, just some pleasant earworms.

    Tracks to Check Out: “Underside,” “Voyages,” “Spirit Trails”

    #2025 #Atlantic #AtmosphericBlackMetal #BlackMetal #CountlessSkies #Deafheaven #FiadhProductions #IrishMetal #PostBlackMetal #PostMetal #Starer #ThingsYouMightHaveMissed2025 #Timeworn #Torche #TYMHM

  6. Stuck in the Filter: September 2025’s Angry Misses

    By Kenstrosity

    At last, a burst of cool calms the blood after a brutal summer, and the leaves are turning. Which means I was able to recruit a bunch of grubby little leaf-lookers off the highway to serve as minions to my ever-needy Filter! With a temporarily replenished staff of fools who are unwittingly risking their lives for mere nuggets, I conduct with renewed vigor the search for quality finds.

    Today, I bring you those finds, in all of their sparkly glory. WITNESS THEM!

    Kenstrosity’s Jaunty Juke

    Jordsjuk // Naglet til livet [September 19th, 2025 – Indie Recordings]

    The lack of conversation I’ve seen surrounding this Norwegian black metal riff machine is highly disconcerting. Brought to my attention by my wonderfully wise—and devilshly handsome—owlpal1 from… GASP… another blog, Jordsjuk’s debut LP Naglet til livet has my spine whipping to a fro from the onset of ripping opener “Kollaps.” The whiplash doesn’t stop there as thrashy numbers “Grovt skadeverk” and “Skreddersøm” body me against several walls and even a couple of ceilings. For 36 relentless minutes, with only one song pushing the four minute mark, Naglet til livet is an unqualified triumph of editing and tight, effective songwriting. My immediate comparison is 2007-2013 Skeletonwitch, but some of these riffs, like the turbobangers on “Parasitt,” “Rottebitt,” “Klarhet og dybde,” and “Rennestein,” give those hallowed skellybois a serious run for their money. When they aren’t thrashing, Jordsjuk shift into a dour, but still ravenous black metal shadow. Wraiths like “Riv skorpen av såret” and “Svikter din neste” showcase this looming character quite well, and prove Jordsjuk to be dynamic, versatile songwriters. In short, Naglet til livet is a raucous good time for anyone craving black metal with sharp teeth and limitless energy.

    Baguette’s Bouncy Blessing

    Arjen Anthony Lucassen // Songs No One Will Hear [September 12th, 2025 – Inside Out Music]

    A year without an Arjen record would be a much lesser one. It’s not often the crazy Dutchman reuses a non-Ayreon project title, but here we have his fourth solo album becoming the second under the full Arjen Anthony Lucassen name! Dropping 13 years after the previous one, Songs No One Will Hear announces the end of the world is a mere five months away, its tracks depicting the resulting stages of chaos, disarray, and human silliness. It doesn’t fall far off the catchy and melodic Arjen tree but casts a wider net than prior prog rock adventures. Much of the record reflects different eras of Ayreon, including the ’70s prog whimsy of Into the Electric Castle (“Dr. Slumber’s Blue Bus”) and the fun ’80s metal edge of The Source (“Goddamn Conspiracy”). Closing epic “Our Final Song” is a microcosm of his musical breadth, shapeshifting from Jethro Tull flute shenanigans to analog synth ambience to dramatic riff bombast at will. But it’s “The Clock Ticks Down” that steals the spotlight, marking a brief return to the dark, somber grit of Guilt Machine and 01011001. It’s an unusually normal-sized album from Mr. Lucassen as well, the regular, unnarrated version being only 46 minutes and change. A condensed, jovial jack-of-all-trades showcase with many of the usual great guest musician and vocalist selections! And it’s always nice to hear him sing more, too.

    Thus Spoke’s Lurid Leftovers

    Fauna // Ochre and Ash [September 26th, 2025 – Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Productions]

    It’s been 13 years since Cascadian black metal duo Fauna released Avifauna, to quiet yet great acclaim. Given their preoccupation with human prehistory, they might just be operating on a larger timescale than you or I. Ochre and Ash—the two main ingredients used in ancient cave paintings—is an attempt to invoke the spirit of forgotten ceremonies during which the stories of the people were immortalised on stone. Building on an atmospheric black metal base familiar in their better-known exemplars Wolves in the Throne Room and Agalloch, Fauna give Ochre and Ash a distinctive edge by roaming further afield into the experimental. For every metal-dominated track (“Nature & Madness,” “Labyrinths,” “Eternal Return”), there is an ambient, decidedly unsettling counterpart (“A Conjuring,” “Femoral Sun,” “Mockery”), and the latter are not interludes, but integral parts of the ritual. Each infuses skin-prickling drone with eerie chimes and rattles, and uncomfortable vocalisations ranging from moans and wails to laughter and the howling, yipping cries of animals—or humans mimicking them. In their repetition of haunting, hollow sounds, they are both frightening and trance-inducing. Ochre and Ash’s metallic segments are no less ominous, treading as they do between confrontationally turbulent atmoblack2 and diSEMBOWELMENT-adjacent death doom that puts me right back in the void of madness last year’s Spectral Voice generated. This is not a casual listen, and Fauna could have helped it a bit with some editing, as the weirdness combined with an excessive 70-minute runtime makes some longer passages feel tired and could be off-putting to some. Still, it’s an experience I’d recommend trying at least once.

    Spicie Forrest’s Sautéed Surplus

    Piece // Rambler’s Axe [September 5th, 2025 – This Charming Man Records]

    Finding gym metal has always proven difficult for me. It’s not about the fastest or loudest, but about striking a balance between weight and pace. Rambler’s Axe fits the bill nicely. Influenced by the likes of Crowbar and High on Fire, these Berlin-based doomsters peddle raucous and sludgy heavy metal. There’s a bit of Conan in Piece’s DNA, too, making sure to worship each riff long enough for you to make it through any given set. Beefy basslines and aggressive, chiseled drums make it easy to drop into a groove and get your pump on. Faster cuts like “Demigod” and “Rambler’s Axe” go great with chest flies and leg press, but they’ve got tracks for bench press and deadlifts too. “Bastard Sword” and “Owl Eyes” rumble forward like the slow but inevitable rise of the barbell at max weight. Whether marching or running, baritone shouts like tank treads hang over riffs just looking for an excuse to blow off steam. Whatever your reason for visiting the glorious house of gains, Piece has your soundtrack covered.

    Heruvim // Mercator [September 12th, 2025 – Self-Release]

    As each passing year leaves the almighty Bolt Thrower further in the past, the yearning for that sound grows. I was quite surprised to find a small amount of solace in Heruvim, hailing from Odesa, Ukraine. I say small solace, because debut LP Mercator is more than just a clone. Augmented with the unsettling atmosphere of early Pestilence and the vocal malevolence of Sinister, this platter of old school death metal carves its own niche in a storied scene. Off-kilter leads bubble up and spew out of a murky, tarred rhythm section like prehistoric gases in a primordial soup (“Gnosis,” “Lacrimae Rerum”). Lachrymose, doom-laden passages and violent death threats trade back and forth, anchored by volatile blast beats and percussive assaults in the vein of Cannibal Corpse (“Nulla Res,” “Mercator”). Stitched together with eerie, short-and-sweet interludes, Mercator’s lean 30 minutes fly by and always leave me itching for more. Heruvim riffs on a slew of classic sounds, creating a casual brutality and primal barbarism that is both compelling and uniquely their own.

    ClarkKent’s Melodic Monstrosities

    Galundo Tenvulance // Insomnis Somnia [September 17th, 2025 – Spiritual Beast Records]

    Falling somewhere between symphonic deathcore acts Assemble the Chariots and Grimnis enters Japan’s Galundo Tenvulance. On their second full-length LP, Insomnis Somnia, the sextet demonstrates raw power and frenetic energy throughout its 41-minute runtime. Songs are anchored by catchy melodic leads, atmospheric symphonies, and punishing, relentless kitwork (no drummer is credited, so hopefully it’s not programmed). Galundo Tenvulance’s new vocalist, Sao, delivers the goods, bringing a spirited energy to her performance that elevates the already terrific material. While the symphonics don’t quite elevate the music the same way they do for Assemble the Chariots, it’s the melodic riffs that make these guys stand out. “Noble Rot” is the highlight, with a killer lead riff that uses harmonics to add just that extra bit of oomph. Other highlights include the catchy “Regret Never Sleeps,” evoking Character-era Dark Tranquillity, and “In The Realms of the Unreal,” which demonstrates their ability to transform solos into surprising melodies. This might be too good to have landed in the filter, but with my TYMHM slots filled up, it’s better than nothing.

    Mortal Scepter // Ethereal Dominance [September 9th, 2025 – Xtreem Music]

    As if we didn’t have enough thrash floating in the filter, French outfit Mortal Scepter finds itself as yet another piece of thrash dredged from the muck. This quartet has been around since 2012, yet Ethereal Dominance is only their second full-length release. Their sound lands somewhere between the melodic thrash of Bloodletter and the mania of Deathhammer—though a touch less zany. The persistent level of energy these bands can maintain never ceases to amaze me. While the constant beat of drum blasts threatens to make thrash songs sound too similar, the variety of melodies Mortal Scepter delivers ensures that things never grow repetitive. They have a raw, blackened sound that feels immediate and in your face. Drummer Guillaume keeps an impressive pace with fresh-sounding, nonstop blast beats, while vocalist Lucas Scellier snarls with enthusiasm, with a voice comparable to Deathhammer’s Sergeant Salsten. However, it’s the guitars by Maxime and Scellier that really bring the band to life, from the noodly melodies to the dynamic, lengthy, and impressive solos on each song. These guys prove they are more than just simple thrash metallers on the epic thrash, ten-minute finale, “Into the Wolves Den,” which uses a mix of tempo shifts and hooky melodies to make the song just fly by. With this second LP under their belts, these guys have proven themselves an exciting newish band on the thrash scene.

    Grin Reaper’s Woodland Windfall

    Autrest // Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves [September 5th, 2025 – Northern Silence Productions]

    Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves merges atmospheric black metal with nature, resuming Autrest’s vision from debut Follow the Cold Path. Like Saor or Falls of Rauros, stunning melodies play across untamed backdrops that stir heartstrings in unexpected ways. Ethereal keys, mournful strings, and rapid-fire tremolos impeccably capture Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves’ autumnal artwork, bringing Autrest’s imagery to life. Harsh vocals sit back in the mix, evoking windswept trees as cool harvest gusts leach branches of color, while sporadic baritone cleans add variation. “Lobos (Offering)” sets the stage with melancholic guitar plucks bolstered by forlorn strings, giving way to a controlled spark as “Ashes from the Burning Embers” ratchets up roiling vigor. Through forty-two minutes, Autrest expertly guides listeners across shifting landscapes that are delightful in their earnestness. Mastermind Matheus Vidor establishes himself as a preeminent architect of mood, channeling transitions from gentle, wonder-filled serenity to unyielding wrath. The dynamic between aggression and introspection is marvelous, permeating the album with emotion. While I could understand a complaint that some songs blur together, the spirit of Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves is never stale or disposable. Rather, Autrest has taken what began two years ago and enriched it, composing an ode to self-discovery and transformation.3 My own experience with the music conjures wilderness’s last hurrah before succumbing to winter’s embrace. As days grow shorter and temperatures drop,4 I encourage you to seek refuge and draw warmth from these Burning Embers.

    Dolphin Whisperer’s Very Not Late Novella

    Sterveling // Sterveling [September 26th, 2025 – Self Release]

    Between the world of atmospheric and post-tinged black metal, there exists a twisted form of progressive music that teeters about brooding moods and crackling tones to explore shrieking sadness and profound sorrow. Michiel van der Werff (Prospectors, Weltschmerz), primary Dutch proprietor of Sterveling, places his expressive guitar runs and lurching rhythm clangs in the company of trusted friends to carry out his tortured, baroque vision of black metal. Against the hissing design of synth maestro and Prospectors bandmate Matthias Ruijgrok, a fullness and warping warmth pervades the spacious amp textures and muscular rhythmic framework of each piece. And through the bloodied cries of Weltschmerz bandmate Hreim, a vocal lightning flashes to illuminate the nooks between pulsing synth lines and deathly bursts of full tremolo assault. In three longform pieces, all still totaling a generous forty-two minutes, Sterveling tints a monochrome narrative with vibrant shades from thoughtful tones and well-timed, emotional escalations. Committed to each careful iteration on a melody, the woven Sterveling web grows ever stickier with every passing moment, none of the ten-minute-plus excursions ever feeling even close to their declared runtimes. And with a sound construction that hits delicate yet forceful, creaking yet incising, it’s easy to wander through several journeys on this debut outing before realizing what time has passed. Fans of equally forlorn acts like Tongues or Andalvald will feel more at home here than others. But with a tonal palette that’s as inviting as it is crushing, Sterveling should attract the ears of fans across the extreme spectrum.

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