Black Metal

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    Slagmaur - Hulders Ritual (2026)

    Slagmaur - Hulders Ritual (2026)
    Slagmaur - Hulders Ritual (2026)

    If the great anticipation of the band’s first full-length release in nine years wasn’t enough, the band created all kinds of additional hype with their masterfully executed missing persons faux report in late 2025. For the uninitiated, Slagmaur is one of the truly weirdest and more mysterious Avant-garde Black Metal outfits to ever come out of Norway, with their intense live performances and insane music. With all the hype around “Hulders Ritual”, we can confirm that the hype is real as this release propels the band to the next level.

    Opening with the fierce “Ritual Dogs”, we quickly get that raw and cavernous Norwegian Black Metal sound of yesteryears alongside some funky atmospherics. That initial impression quickly evolves into the buzzsawing guitars of “Wildkatze”, which is less raw and more typical Slagmaur, repetitive, crafty and intense. Eliciting a visceral reaction, the opening riffs of “Huldergeist” are brutal and haunting, creating a truly immersive and ravaging experience.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Bizarrekult - Alt som finnes (2026)

    Bizarrekult - Alt som finnes (2026)
    Bizarrekult - Alt som finnes (2026)

    Unleashing a highly melancholic and very diverse take on Black Metal, today we have Bizarrekult and their third full-length release “Alt som finnes”. Featuring eight tracks and over 42 minutes of music, this album delves into the vowels of old-school BM, while touching the more unique and expansive confines of Post-Black Metal/Avant-garde Black Metal. As a whole, this release is full of surprises and excellent corners to explore.

    Opening with the moody “Hun”, we get a small glimpse into the band’s more atmospheric inclinations alongside a hearty dose of punishing riffs. Things quickly escalate with the piercing “Blikket hennes”, and its waves of pummeling drumming, which also features Vicotnik (DHG, ex-Code) on guest vocals. This track creates that bleak and desolate ambiance of old-school Norwegian Black Metal, while adding some extra layers of madness, particularly the super catchy clean vocal passages.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Saille - Forbode (2026)

    Saille - Forbode (2026)
    Saille - Forbode (2026)

    It has been a while since Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal outfit, Saille, has released a full length album. Luckily for us, “Forbode” marks the band’s sixth release and it delivers nine tracks and over 52 minutes of high-octane music. Featuring 4 new songs, one re-interpretation and one extended version of older tracks, and three live offerings, the band showcases they still have some killer chops to unleash crafty and engaging music.

    Opening with the lush “Deception of Decadence”, we get a blistering pace and whirlwind guitar riffing, creating a very immersive atmosphere. Reinier Schenk’s the band’s remaining original member unleashes vicious guitar onslaughts that nicely change tempos and allow for the immersive atmospherics to permeate. New members, Jasper van Minnen and Wessel van Oostrum do an excellent job at drums and bass guitar respectively, showcasing their fury on blistering tracks like “Cycle of Cynicism”.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Malefic - Impermanence (2026)

    Malefic - Impermanence (2026)
    Malefic - Impermanence (2026)

    After a series of demos over the years, Atlanta’s Malefic unleashes their debut full-length with the crafty “Impermenance”. Delivering nine tracks and around 38 minutes of high-octane music, this release is for the diehard fans of Black/Death Metal with plenty of melody and aggression. Headbanging from start to finish, this album will leave you neck sore and wanting more.

    Opening with the dynamism of “Blood of the Throne”, we immediately get a taste of the technically mature and proficient abilities of the band in crafting catchy and engaging songs. As the band pummels through tracks like “In Darkest Dreams”, “Of Gods and Man”, “Idiocracy”, and “Deserter”, we further appreciate the band’s core influences taking elements from old-school Death Metal greats like Grave, to Blackened Death Metal influences from Dissection and Necrophobic.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Ponte Del Diavolo - De Venom Natura (2026)

    Ponte Del Diavolo - De Venom Natura (2026)
    Ponte Del Diavolo - De Venom Natura (2026)

    Proving their intoxicating 2024 release “Fire Blades from the Tomb” was not a fluke, Italian outfit Ponte Del Diavolo returns with another brilliant exercise in blending genres with “De Venom Natura”. Further evolving their sultry Post-Punk/Doom/Black Metal sound, the band returns with seven tracks and around 40 minutes of hypnotic music. If you are looking for a band that defies stereotypes and has a truly unique and haunting sound, do not miss out on this release.

    Opening with “Every Tongue Has Its Thorns”, the band quickly sets a very sultry and intoxicating backdrop with fuzzy guitars and crafty drums. However, one of the standout elements has to be Erba del Diavolo’s mysterious vocals, and how they blend between Black Metal riffs, crafty atmospherics and suddenly transform to fierce harsh vocals. Just when you think the album will go in one direction, tracks like “Lunga vita alla necrosi” showcase the band’s more theatrical and playful side, with its Post-Punk influences and crafty tempo changes.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Ernte - Der schwarzen Flamme Vermächtnis (2026)

    Ernte - Der schwarzen Flamme Vermächtnis (2026)
    Ernte - Der schwarzen Flamme Vermächtnis (2026)

    Unleashing frosty and fierce old-school Black Metal onslaughts, today we have Switzerland's Ernet and their fourth full-length release “Der schwarzen Flamme Vermächtnis”. With a very ravagaging and punishing style, this duo delivers over 36 minutes of harsh music that brings back some of the late 90’s Scandinavian harshness with updated production values.

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    Umbrío - Quintaesencia nocturna (2025)

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    Hailing from Chile, today we have a very unique and interesting Atmospheric Black Metal release titled “Quintaesencia nocturna”. Featuring a poignant Black Metal sound with heavy Doom influences, this outfit delivers eight tracks and nearly 40-minutes of hypnotic and ritualistic music with a certain retro edge, and some truly haunting passages. This band has a similar, albeit less theatrical sound that one of our favorite Mexican bands of the 90’s: Argentum, and their captivating Black/Doom Metal.

    After a magical and lush atmospheric opening, “El vacío de una flama bajo el firmamento” kicks off with blistering drumming and punishing riffs. The deep monotone vocals are quite engaging, keeping things very eerie, particularly thanks to the Spanish lyrics that add that extra layer of mystery (to non-Spanish speakers). The harsh vocals are very fitting of the genre, and a solid contribution, but the atmospheric components of the music is what draws the listener’s attention as “Vientos del clamor del pasado” and “Polvo - piedras - silencio” showcase.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Martröð - Draumsýnir eldsins (2025)

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    As one of the most brutal and punishing releases of 2025, “Draumsýnir eldsins” comes directly at your throat and never lets go. Featuring four tracks and over 36-minutes of demoralizing Black Metal, this Icelanding/American duo unleash one hell of a blistering sound that is both violent and chaotic. For fans of outfits like Misþyrming, this album took us by surprise as it is quite masterfully crafted and equally vicious, making us listen to it non-stop for several days

    Opening with the blistering dissonance of “Sköpunin”, A.P. and H.V. Lyngdal set a high bar with a seemingly chaotic riffing onslaught that is masterfully flanked by an assortment of different vocal styles, creating a very immersive and demoralizing atmosphere. Particularly with the well planned atmospheric interludes that further elevate the tension and allow the songs to build up momentum, like on the brilliant “Líkaminn”.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Lychgate - Precipice (2025)

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    For their first release in over five years, UK’s Lychgate returns with their cavernous and maddening Avant-garde Black/Doom metal, unleashing “Precipice”. Featuring nine tracks and over 45-minutes of truly chaotic and haunting music, the band’s sound is enveloping and this release does feel like falling into a hellish precipice as it descends into total aural annihilation. For the fans of the weird and the bizarre, this release has plenty of magical things to digest.

    The madness immediately starts with the haunting intro, as it sets a chaotic backdrop for “Mausoleum of Steel” to unleash some crafty doomy riffs alongside harrowing vocals, creating a dense and immersive atmosphere. As “Renunciation” and “The Meeting of Orion and Scorpio” roll around, the band delivers some interesting and sultry jazzy passages alongside hearty guitar driven sections that further expand the band’s creativity and reach.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Burial Gift - MMXXV (2025)

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    Unleashing an explosive and totally awesome EP, today we have North American outfit Burial Gift with their three song debut. With a sound that evokes the likes of Deafheaven, Heretoir, Alcest, etc. and but with a hefty dose of heaviness and rawness, this release makes a statement to keep an eye out for these guys.

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