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    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Evig Natt - Vaketimen (2026)

    Evig Natt - Vaketimen (2026)
    Evig Natt - Vaketimen (2026)

    Continuing the torch for that late 90’s, early 2000’s bombastic and explosive Gothic Doom/Death Metal style of bands like Trail of Tears, Theatre of Tragedy, Sirenia and Nox Aurea, today we have Evig Natt with “Vaketimen”. As the band’s first album in almost a decade, this release delivers ten tracks and nearly 50-minutes of high-octane music that is both expertly crafted and in your face.

    Kicking off with the dreamy arrangements and piano of “Shimmer”, the release sets a very lush and bombastic vibe as it transitions to the explosive “Last of the Light”. With fierce guitars and crafty drumming this track unravels around harsh male vocals, contrasting Kirsten Jørgensen angelic singing. The beauty-and-the-beast nature of the band’s style works wonders as songs like “Death”, “Når Lyset Svikte”, and “Sorrow My World” masterfully deliver the perfect balance of aggression and calmness, making them quite explosive and engaging.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Carpenter Brut - Leather Temple (2026)

    Carpenter Brut - Leather Temple (2026)
    Carpenter Brut - Leather Temple (2026)

    Opening with the expansive “Axis”, the band sets a very lively vibe with soaring vocal arrangements, intricate bass guitar lines, and very engaging tempo changes. Things get heavier with the powerful “Languish”, a song that features Chaney Crabb of Entheos on guest vocals. The band’s ability to switch from full on Prog mode into heavier territories is perfectly showcased in the magical “Sirens”, a very engaging song full of technical wizardry and engaging melodies.

    Opening with a dramatic overture, the release sets a very cinematic opening that quickly shapes into the catchy futuristic vibes of “Major Threat”, a complete banger that sets the mood for a very lively release. Masterfully crafting an aural journey, the listener will be quickly immersed in this release as tracks like “Leather Temple”, and “She Rules the Ruins” blast their way around dramatic synth arrangements and masterful tempo changes.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Abstracted - Hiraeth (2026)

    Abstracted - Hiraeth (2026)
    Abstracted - Hiraeth (2026)

    Hailing from Brazil, today we have Progressive Death Metal outfit Abstracted and their captivating sophomore release “Hiraeth”. Featuring a very well crafted and intricate sound that reminds us of bands like Obscura, Persefone, and similar outfits, the band unleashes seven tracks and over 50 minutes of high-octane music. Highly recommended for fans of crafty and well executed music, this release is full of surprises.

    Opening with the expansive “Axis”, the band sets a very lively vibe with soaring vocal arrangements, intricate bass guitar lines, and very engaging tempo changes. Things get heavier with the powerful “Languish”, a song that features Chaney Crabb of Entheos on guest vocals. The band’s ability to switch from full on Prog mode into heavier territories is perfectly showcased in the magical “Sirens”, a very engaging song full of technical wizardry and engaging melodies.

    • 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
    • Comments: 0

    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.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    The Eternal - Celestial (2026)

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    Perfectly unleashing a highly melancholic mixture of Gothic and Doom Metal, today we have international outfit The Eternal, returning with a six-track EP titled “Celestial”. Featuring current and ex members of Finland’s Amorphis and members of Australia’s Nefariym, this release unleashes nearly 30 minutes of music that reminds us of a cross between bands like To/Die/For with sprinkles of Anathema and Paradise Lost.

    After the dreamy opener, “Celestial Veil” quickly unleashes powerful Doomy riffs that set a very melancholic backdrop to Mark Kelson’s piercing vocals. The band’s ability to shift tempos and moods is very effective, partly thanks to Jan Rechberger’s expert drumming, creating very dynamic songs. Other tracks like “It All Ends” have a more prominent Gothic Metal edge with crafty percussions and dreamy atmospherics, reminding us of the late 90’s/early 2000’s Finnish Gothic Metal scene.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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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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    Ulver - Neverland (2025)

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    Always an event when the wolves of Ulver return with their signature antics and superbly produced sound. Waiting until the last day of 2025 to unleash “Neverland”, the band continues to expand and explore with their sound, removing all vocals and focusing on creating trippy ambient soundscapes that capture subtleties of other genres like Post-Punk and Synth-pop. For 11-tracks and over forty minutes, the band weaves back and forth between dreamy and ethereal soundspaces, to darker and hypnotic pieces, always being uniquely Ulver and completely enthralling.

    Setting a somber opening mood, “Fear in a Handful of Dust” creates a very ethereal vibe, similar to outfits like Hælos. The exploration of synths/pianos of the sultry “Elephant Trunk” and “Weeping Stone”, takes us back to the band’s “The Assassination of Julius Caesar” sans the vocals, while “People of the Hills” has that funkiness to it of walking into a time machine. Crafty tempo changes and Ambient elements make "They're Coming the Birds” and “Horses of the Plough” be dark and yet quite refreshing, alongside more catchy pieces like “Hark Hark The Dogs Bark”.

    • 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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