- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Rob Zombie - The Great Satan (2026)
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Møl - Dreamcrush (2026)
|
|
Further expanding their aural palette, today we have Denmark’s Møl and their superbly dreamy release “Dreamcrush”. Keeping on their Post-Black Metal/Shoegaze style, but adding more atmospherics and an extra pinch of heaviness, this release capitulates the momentum the band has and propels them to be compared to the likes of Alcest, Deafheaven, and similar outfits. For over 42 minutes, the band delivers one of the most aurally pleasing releases of 2026 so far. Opening with “Dream”, the band sets a highly atmospheric and intoxicating vibe, with “Små forlis” continuing the onslaught with a peppered step and a masterful mixture of tempos. One second being pretty mellow and the next fierce, this track and others like “Young” and “Hud” unravel the band’s powerful ability to completely change the vibe and unleash some venom alongside their dreamy nature. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Beyond the Black - Break the Silence (2026)
|
|
Continuing the rise in the Symphonic Metal/Rock scene, today we have Germany’s Beyond the Black with their sixth full-length release “Break the Silence”. Masterfully fronted by the charismatic and talented Jennifer Haben, this outfit moves one step closer to transitioning from traditional Symphonic Metal, to the more radio friendly and Within Temptation-esque Symphonic Rock/Alternative Metal territories. While this release is still pretty solid, the band’s shift is more evident than ever. Opening with the bombastic “Rising High”, the band sets a very dynamic and playful atmosphere that, at least for now, keeps things heavy thanks to powerful guitar riffs/leads and crafty drumming. Things get a bit more catchy and engaging with the dreamy “Break The Silence" showcasing the band’s heavier side. Things shift a bit into the Gothic Rock realm with “The Art of Being Alone”, a collaboration featuring Chris Harms of Lord of the Lost. This track is pretty engaging and explosive, but a slight shift is felt, especially coming after two very engaging opening tracks. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Battle Beast - Steelbound (2025)
|
|
Becoming one of the premier Heavy/Power Metal bands in the scene has been no small feat for Finland’s Battle Beast. With “Steelbound” the band showcases their sheer power and catchiness with nearly 40-minutes of high-octane music. Noora Louhimo signature vocals have made the band shine from the rest, and with this release she is ready to propel her band to new heights. Opening with the ridiculously catchy and speedy “The Burning Within”, the band makes a strong statement with crafty instrumentation and soaring vocal melodies. Giving some Nightwish-meets-Sonata Arctica vibes, songs like “Here We Are”, “Steelbound”, and “Twilight Cabaret” feature extremely engaging chorus sections and very engaging atmospheric elements, giving the band a mixture of epicness and playfulness that almost nobody else has. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Testament - Para Bellum (2025)
|
|
There are only a handful of bands in Thrash Metal that have legendary status and have continued to push the envelope with their music. Testament is definitely one of them as with each release they come refreshed and improved, never staying static and constantly evolving. With “Para Bellum”, the band continues to spread their devastating sound while trying new things and inducing massive amounts of headbanging. Opening with the brutal “For the Love of Pain”, we immediately had to make sure we were listening to Testament as this track is vicious and crushing thanks to its aggressive guitars and massive drumming. However, it’s the harsh vocals that got us confused, in a good way. Things come back to the band’s more ‘normal’ thrashing ways with “Infanticide A.I”, “Shadow People”, and “Meant to Be”, were Chuck Billy’s snarls come center stage alongside the vicious riffing of Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Paradise Lost - Ascension (2025)
|
|
Further going back into their earlier days, Paradise Lost returns with a hefty Doomy release that nicely balances their Gothic Rock/Metal side with their crushing earlier Death Doom days. Nick Holmes and company have mostly stayed with the same line-up (sans their drummer) since 1988, allowing them to reach back into their old bag of tricks and deliver one of their most (recently) heavy and misery-induced releases in a while. Opening with the piercing “Serpent on the Cross”, we kick off with Greg Mackintosh melancholic guitar leads, Holmes signature growl, alongside a heavy dose of catchiness and heaviness. Setting a very dark and moody vibe, “Tyrants Serenade" continues the band’s despondent journey with a more Gothic Doom edge thanks to the soaring clean vocals, and crafty bass and rhythm guitar lines. As one of our favorite tracks from the band in more than ten years, “Salvation” is definitely one gargantuan Doomy piece filled with desolate guitars and vocal melodies. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Fallujah - Xenotaph (2025)
|
|
It is quite impressive how far has Fallujah come, from their early Deathcore days, to their current Progressive/Technical Death Metal style. With “Xenotaph”, the band continues to polish their skills and delivers the best album to date. It is brutal, it is technical, it is fast, it is crafty, it basically has it all, and fans of the band and the genre will be blown away as to how good it really is. Setting the mood with “In Stars We Drown”, we get a very dreamy and ethereal piece, similar to Persefone cranks out, but with the distinctive Fallujah style. From here on, the rollercoaster ride begins with the crushing “Kaleidoscopic Waves” and its intricate guitar work, “Labyrinth of Stone” and “Step Through the Portal and Breathe”, and their Death-like tempo changes and crafty melodic interludes . The band’s abilities to craft songs that perfectly blend heaviness with melody and technical prowess have greatly matured over time and are beyond masterful here. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Ghost Bath - Rose Thorn Necklace (2025)
|
|
Fully going back to their roots, Ghost Bath unleashes another masterclass in melancholy and devastation. The band’s Depressive/Post Black Metal sound made a more prominent comeback in their previous release, “Self Loather”, and now they elevate it with the highly melancholic “Rose Thorn Necklace”. Featuring nine tracks and around 36 minutes of music, this album is very engaging, crushing, and yet walks a very fine line between sorrowful and intense. Opening with the dreamy atmospheric opener, “Grotesque Display”, the band sets a bleak mood that is masterfully continued with the piercing album title track. The harrowing screams perfectly flank intense tremolo picking alongside a very lively modern Post-Black Metal vibe, similar to Harakiri For The Sky and such bands. In “Well, I Tried Drowning”, the melancholy starts to ooze as the tempo slowly increases, flanked by crafty guitar leads and harsh growls. The atmospherics in this track give “Moonlover” vibes and we are all for it. | ||
- Posted By: Dark Emperor
- Comments: 0
Behemoth - The Shit Ov God (2025)
|
|
Arriving like a freight train without any breaks, today we have Behemoth and their latest opus “The Shit Ov God”. Nergal and company never shy from controversy and unleash the most powerful music they can, and with this release, the band unleashes nearly 40 minutes of their most potent and yet highly polished songs. For a band that has been around for 34 years, these guys sound like no one else, without any signs of slowing down or just doing more of the same. Opening with the fierce “The Shadow Elite”, the band unleashes mystery and chaos at the same time with hellish atmospherics that lead to pummeling riffing onslaughts by Nergal and Seth. The drumming is massive, as it is always expected from Inferno, ripping through tracks like “Sowing Salt”, and the eerily atmospheric album title track. With a more ravaging Black Metal edge, “Lvciferaeon” is a crafty track that changes the tempo of the release a bit, while still unleashing the aggression and magick that the band always delivers. | ||
