As one of the most anticipated releases of 2025, Unreqvited finally returns with the highly melancholic and head turning “Pathway to the Moon”. Perfectly expanding on their Post-Black Metal/Shoegaze style with some more dreamy and ethereal elements, this release delivers over 40 minutes of some of the most engaging and goosebump-inducing music we have heard in quite a while. If you are a fan of the ban or the genre, you will certainly not be disappointed.

Opening with the ethereal “Overture I: Disintegrate”, we get a very moody start with dreamy clean vocals and lush piano arrangements. This nicely transitions into the fierce “The Antimatter”, which showcases the band’s duality as it quickly escalates into a brutal onslaught of harsh Black Metal frostiness, flanked by lush atmospherics and a very melodic vibe. This song masterfully transitions into more restrained territories, fully unleashing clean vocals alongside dramatic arrangements. Surprisingly enough, this track gave us some later Dimmu Borgir vibes at times.

Unleashing waves of downright filthy old-school Doom Metal, today we have Germany’s Obsidian Scapes and their self-titled EP. With two tracks in this release, the band showcases their raw and punishing power, bringing back memories of the early days of the genre. Highly recommended for those that like grimy and raw music, this EP brilliantly introduces the band to the scene.

The USA Black Metal scene has seen a resurgence as of late, with bands that have both technical and songwriting skills to create their own signature style with some hints of what has worked from their European counterparts. Skaldr is ready for primetime with their guitar driven, BM with similarities to Dissection, Uada, and the likes. With “Saṃsṛ”, the band delivers over 40 minutes of high-octane music filled with memorable moments, balancing aggression and melody, definitely a great place to be for a sophomore release.

Unleashing a very unique and theatrical release, today we have Selvans and their third full-length release “Saturnalia”. This one-man battalion has been delivering very different and unique releases in the past, and with this one he breaks further musical barriers by creating a highly engaging and theatrical Black/Heavy Metal with progressive elements. Think of a mixture of bands like Pensées Nocturnes with Notre Dame and some Snowy Shaw/King Diamond eccentricities. Definitely a unique blend.

Setting a very grand symphonic stage with the opener, “Il Mio Maleficio V'incalzerà!” quickly changes gears delivering a mix of crafty Black Metal-ish elements with some playful theatrics and a solid mixture of classical Heavy Metal elements. This is certainly quite different from the band’s previous releases, but that core darkness and horror/folklore elements are nicely blended with the more dramatic style. “Madre dei Tormenti” and “Pantàfica” keep the dramatic antics to the max, while unleashing some crafty lead guitars and even some progressive melodic interludes.

Featuring members from Moonlight Sorcery and Ondfødt, today we have newcomers Void of Hope and their harrowing debut release “Proof of Existence”. Recorded during the several harsh and cold days of winter, this release transmits misery and rawness in a visceral way, similar to outfits like Lifelover, Austere, and Thy Light. With over 42 minutes of music, this release is the perfect soundtrack to a bleak existence.

Opening with dramatic atmospherics, “Gift of Life” sets a very chilling and desolate soundscape thanks to its buzzing guitars and masterful tempo changes. There are still plenty of traditional Black Metal elements as the opener and “Proof of Existence” showcase punishing harsh vocals and crafty riffing. The slower tempo of “The Hollow Hymn” perfectly introduces melancholic passages of bleakness as it transitions from blistering onslaughts to more dramatic arrangements.

Delivering a swift and brutal start of 2025, today we have Barshasketh and their incisive Black Metal, unleashing all hell with the brutal “Antinomian Asceticism”, the band’s fifth full-length release. With a very punishing and yet highly refined sound, this outfit masterfully creates a ravaging experience through 43 minutes of music. Highly recommended for fans of outfits like The Ruins of Beverast or Blut aus Nord, this release is full of both musicianship and raw savagery.

Opening with the immersive “Radiant Aperture”, the outfit sets a very hectic and punishing mood with walls of distorted guitars and a solid mixture of harsh and clean vocals, creating a very eerie mood. As “Nitimur in Vetitum”, “Lebenswelt Below”, and “Charnel Quietism” roll around, the band showcases a great balance between atmosphere and speed, with some interesting mood building passages nicely blended with savage guitar riffing and even some doomy tempos. This makes the band’s sound more incisive and pummeling, and separates them from your average outfit.

Unleashing an earlier contender for album of the year, The Halo Effect returns with the excellent “March of the Unheard”. Continuing their In Flames-meets-Dark Tranquillity explorations of the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal sound, the band delivers twelve tracks and over 42-minutes of superbly catchy and engaging music with a certain softer tone to keep things more mellow and accessible.

Opening with the bombastic “Conspire to Deceive”, we get the signature riffing of Niclas Engelin and Jesper Strömblad alongside Mikael Stanne’s snarls in a very catchy and engaging package. As the album progresses with “Detonate”, “Our Channel to the Darkness”, and “Cruel Perception”, the band showcases their signature sound while inserting some versatility with different tempos, dramatic guitar leads and an overall mastery of melody and pace.

Finally putting all their legal messes behind,Bartłomiej Krysiuk’s Batushka is now Патриархь or Patriarch, and they are back with an impressive release titled “Пророк Илия”. Keeping some of their ‘old’ stylistic themes and sound, but also adding some extra layers and new dimensions, this release unleashes over 40 minutes of highly ritualistic and hypnotic music, that while not close to “Литоургиiа”, it does show the band in a new light and with a unique identity.

The release kicks off with an atmospheric piece that slowly transitions into the chilling “Вершалин II”. This track perfectly exploits the band’s eerie choir arrangements alongside a good dose of Black Metal harshness and some new string instruments. The full effect is quite cinematic, unveiling new layers to the band’s sound while keeping their own uniqueness. This bleeds into “Вершалин III”, another engaging ritualistic track that masterfully incorporates some haunting female vocals.