Speglas |Endarkenment, Being & Death |Trust No One Recordings

Release Date February 27^th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Black/Death Metal
Country Sweden

Speglas formed in the metal hotbed of Stockholm in 2015, dropping two shorter EPs, "Birth, Dreams & Death" and "Time, Futility & Death", before finally getting their act together for this debut album. Now, "Endarkenment, Being & Death" is tearing out of the gates via Trust No One Recordings. The crew driving this machine includes Isak Rosemarin on vocals and guitar, Jesper Nyrelius destroying the drums, Alexi Hedlund on second guitar, and Victor Berg rounding out the low end on bass. Together, they smash the rotting corpses of black and death metal straight into the melodic, twin-guitar assault of classic heavy metal.

The music here is a straight-up assault on the eardrums. You get blisteringly fast blast beats, sinister tremolo picking, and then out of nowhere, these totally infectious, classic heavy metal leads rip right through the chaos. Simon Söderberg and Magnus Lindberg dialed in a filthy, roaring sound. The guitars gnash and bite with extreme aggression, perfectly matching the raspy, throat-shredding screams from Isak Rosemarin. When the extreme metal velocity backs off, massive heavy metal grooves take over, turning the songs into total headbanging anthems.

You get a serious dose of hostility here. The rhythm section built by Jesper Nyrelius and Victor Berg is a destructive force, constantly hammering the music forward into total chaos. Those traditional metal melodies injected into the extreme metal madness work insanely well. Speglas throws down absolute savagery one minute, transitioning into massive, soaring guitar solos the next. It creates an awesome dynamic, keeping the violence totally engaging. They continually keep the pedal to the metal.

This is a vicious, killer debut album from a Swedish squad out for blood. "Endarkenment, Being & Death" is a brutal, rippin' attack delivering on all fronts. They successfully smash different metallic subgenres together into a massive, violent monstrosity. It drops some seriously heavy riffs, melding them with face-melting solos, making it an insanely fun listen for any metalhead. Speglas came out swinging, laying down a highly destructive path for their future.

Score: 8.3 

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Melting Rot |Infatuation With Premeditation |Hells Headbangers

Release Date March 27^th, 2026
Format CD/LP
Genre Grindcore, Deathgrind Metal
Country USA

Melting Rot crawled out of the underground in 2017. They spit out two EPs and a three-way split in short order. By 2021, they dropped their first full-length, "Blood Delusions". After a brief silence, they crashed the "Cold Case Files" compilation. Now, they return to cave in your skull with their second full-length attack, "Infatuation With Premeditation".

This new assault brings 18 minutes of total audio destruction across 11 tracks. It is PURE grindcore madness. You get constant d-beats, crazy blast beats, and a massive guitar crunch. The attack channels extreme sickness similar to Dead Infection, Excruciating Terror, and the 2000s era of Regurgitate. The music punches straight through the speakers with zero compromise and absolute hostility.

Every song on "Infatuation With Premeditation" attacks with maximum ferocity. The band completely wrecks everything in their path. Matt Harvey from Exhumed screams his guts out on "Morbid Infatuation". His vocal presence adds extra violence to an already lethal dose of grind. The entire album acts as a massive sledgehammer crushing your bones.

This is a vicious dose of extreme music for absolute maniacs. The guitars rip through the speakers, the drums blast into oblivion, and the vocals sound completely diseased. It delivers the kind of relentless audio punishment you want from a filthy grind release. Melting Rot bring the absolute chaos, and "Infatuation With Premeditation" demands maximum volume.

Score: 7.5

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https://meltingrot.bandcamp.com/

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Erbeet Azhak |Only The Vile Will Remain |Amor Fati Productions

Release Date March 7^th, 2026
Format CD/LP
Genre Black Metal
Country Belgium

Erbeet Azhak comes to life through Corvus, a musician entrenched in the underground through acts like Wolvennest, LVTHN, Aerdryk, and Cult Of Erinyes. He recruits a hostile lineup for this sonic attack. S. Iblis from Possession handles guitar solos, Laye provides the ruthless drumming, and Onbra Oscoura from Trogne and Abyssal Vacuum layers the noise. Together, they create "Only The Vile Will Remain", an album forged in total hatred and destruction.

The music relies entirely on violence and total negation. Corvus steers the sound into a storm of dissonance and decaying melodies. The recording sessions happened mainly in his own space, handing over the mixing and mastering duties to Déhà at Blackout Studio. The resulting audio is entirely rotting and organic. It sounds completely dead and utterly hostile. You get a barrage of fast, relentless riffs crashing into merciless percussion.

This album operates as a strict manifesto of chaos. "Lecherous Angels" brings in Zd from LVTHN for vocal duties, adding a completely inhuman scream to the mayhem. Erbeet Azhak strips black metal down to its bare, aggressive core. The solos tear through the distortion in a frantic, wild manner. The layers of decay build up constantly throughout the tracks, providing a suffocating atmosphere of pure ruin.

"Only The Vile Will Remain" brings a massive dose of unyielding punishment. It attacks relentlessly. The execution stays ferocious across the tracklist. Erbeet Azhak delivers a highly effective and destructive assault. Headbangers addicted to total musical violence will definitely thrash to this release.

Score: 7.5

https://erbeetazhak.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/erbeetazhak.official

www.amor-fati-productions.de

www.amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/amorfatiprod

Internal Decay |Fires Of The Forgotten |Hammerheart Records

Release Date February 27^th, 2026
Format CD/LP
Genre Death/Doom Metal
Country Sweden

Spawned in Stockholm back in 1991, Internal Decay operated in the underground tape-trading days before dropping their debut "A Forgotten Dream" in 1993. Even though they tracked it at Sunlight Studios with Thomas Skogsberg, the band avoided the standard chainsaw distortion, choosing a more atmospheric and gloomy direction. They faded into silence after a single compilation track in 1994. The members split up to join acts like Therion and A Canorous Quintet. Over thirty years later, Mikael Vega and Kim Blomkvist resurrected the beast. Backed by new blood, they unleashed this new EP on the Hammerheart label.

"Fires Of The Forgotten" delivers three tracks of sorrow-drenched melodic death metal. The music crawls through the speakers, channeling the early days of Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride. Guitars weave melancholic melodies over steady, pounding drums. The atmosphere is grim and desolate. Vocals roar as a deep, agonizing growl, fitting the funereal doom pacing perfectly.

It is just straight-up old-school misery. The guitars drag you into the dirt. Internal Decay delivers some seriously bleak riffs. The drumming pounds heavily. Mikael Vega and Björn Sundling play sinister, weeping harmonies. The bass from Linus Nirbrant thumps constantly in the background. Hearing an old band return and play proper, gloomy death metal with zero nonsense is great.

These three songs deliver a heavy dose of melodic sadness. The return of Internal Decay adds a seriously dark chapter to their story. Fans of early Anathema and Sentenced will spin this EP constantly. The playtime goes by fast, leaving a massive desire for a full-length release soon.

Score: 7.5

Internal Decay:

https://internal-decay.bandcamp.com/

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Cemetery Reign |Confined To Time |Carbonized Records

Release Date February 26^th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Cassette/Digital
Genre Death Metal
Country USA

Cemetery Reign crawled out of the atomic desert of Northern New Mexico during the global lockdowns. Spearheaded by David McMaster from Street Tombs and Superstition, this solo project channels suicidal depression and psychotic political instability into total death metal madness. McMaster wrote these songs amidst a world descending into chaos, focusing his deteriorated mind entirely on savage riff creation and punishing drum attacks.

"Confined To Time" drops absolute devastation through massive reverberating guitars and pounding bass. The production courtesy of Augustine Ortiz at The Decibel Foundry captures a truly rotting atmosphere. The influences bleed clearly from legends such as Autopsy, Grave, and Bolt Thrower. Listeners get pummeled with relentless rhythmic aggression and sickening vocal deliveries screaming about apocalyptic insanity beneath the funeral grounds.

Songs such as "Pendulum Clock" and "Despised By Fire" deliver crushing death metal violence. McMaster tortures the guitar strings and unleashes heavy blast beats. The entire album operates as a non-stop attack on the senses. The lyrics plunge into war and psychedelic-death devastation, matching the ruthless musical execution.

This debut album released through Carbonized Records provides an extremely heavy dose of true death metal hostility. Tracks such as "Captive In A Coffin" and "Curse Of Despair" throw pure aggression at the listener. The riffs are violent, the drums destroy everything in their path, and the entire experience is relentlessly savage. "Confined To Time" guarantees a proper neck-breaking session for any death metal maniac.

Score: 7.8

https://www.instagram.com/cemeteryreigndead

https://carbonizedrecords.merchtable.com

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Tulus |Morbid Desires |Darkness Shall Rise Productions

Release Date March 27^th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Cassette
Genre Black Metal
Country Norway

Tulus formed in Oslo thirty-five years ago, spreading freezing Norwegian madness across the underground. The trio of Sarke, Blodstrup, and Crowbel return right now with their eighth full-length album. "Morbid Desires" arrives only three years after their previous output, proving the veterans remain active and vicious. They maintain a strict allegiance to their icy origins, delivering harsh and aggressive noise straight to our skulls.

This album delivers nine tracks loaded with catchy, mid-tempo riffs. The guitars slice through the speakers, building a freezing atmosphere. Sarke pounds the drums with raw aggression, driving the music forward relentlessly. Blodstrup screams over the chaos with extreme malice. The entire sonic attack remains harsh and relentless. They focus on headbanging rhythms, avoiding any weak modern tricks.

The trio throws some weird madness into the chaotic mix. You will hear acoustic guitars and random flamenco strumming popping up inside the freezing riffs. Some bizarre, chanted vocals echo over the distortion. These strange additions make the entire listening session totally unhinged. The darkness stays completely intact, and the bizarre elements simply make the madness weirder.

"Sabbat" closes the album and drags past the eight-minute mark. Tulus pays total homage to Black Sabbath on this massive track. The guitars slow down into a crushing doom metal crawl. The riffs stomp heavily across the speakers, dragging the listener straight into the abyss. The Norwegian trio totally dominates this slow, grinding tempo. It ends the whole thing on a massively heavy note.

Score: 8.3

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www.darknessshallrise.de

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Vanishment |…And Now We Die |M-Theory Audio

Release Date January 23^rd, 2026
Format CD/LP/Cassette/Digital
Genre Heavy/Thrash Metal
Country United States

Formed up in the Seattle suburbs back in 2019, Vanishment brings together veterans from the underground scene. The lineup boasts guys who previously shredded in Himsa, Lair Of The Minotaur, Hell Promise, Trial, and Earthen Grave. They spent their early days locked in the jam room worshiping the golden era of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Judas Priest. That dedication resulted in their 2023 self-released debut "No More Torture". Following tons of gigs supporting rippers like Warbringer, Flotsam & Jetsam, Mutoid Man, and Accused A.D. across the Pacific Northwest, they inked a deal with M-Theory Audio for their sophomore strike, "...And Now We Die".

The new album delivers a furious assault of traditional heavy metal crashing into thrash. Vanishment ignores the cheesy fantasy garbage taking over the scene right now. Instead, they focus entirely on riffs, grooves, and pure aggression. The guitars from Brian Johnson and Jeremy Mcallister trade fast, aggressive picking alongside slower, crushing doom-tinged sections. You get the harmony and the thunder expected from guys who have been playing loud music for decades. It is a very raw and bloody approach to metal music. They strip away any unnecessary junk to give the listener straightforward, headbanging material.

Rob Ropkins screams and sings over the chaos, adding a harsh edge to the classic metal structures. Underneath those vocals, Nate Baker on bass and Chris Wozniak on drums lock into a massive, driving groove. The production handled by Nicholas Wilbur at Anacortes Unknown and mastering by Alan Douches ensures the guitars punch through the speakers. Everything strikes the eardrums properly. The album rules for a weekend drive or a loud house party. Sometimes the pacing of the tracks blends together, keeping it from absolute perfection. Even so, the riffs supply the damage you expect from a heavy metal release.

"...And Now We Die" proves Vanishment writes genuinely heavy music. They capture a serious DIY mentality mixed with real musical chops. Fans of zero-nonsense thrash and metal will definitely bang their heads to these songs. The M-Theory Audio physical editions include green vinyl, cassette, and CD for the physical media collectors. It is an extremely cool sophomore output. Turn up the volume and let the riffs do the talking.

Score: 7.5

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www.vanishment.bandcamp.com

www.m-theoryaudio.com

Nuctemeron |Demonic Sceptre |I Hate Records

Release Date 13.03.2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Black/Speed Metal
Country Germany

Formed well over a decade ago, Germany's Nuctemeron spent twelve grueling years in the underground trenches dropping a relentless barrage of splits and EPs. Forged in leather, spikes, chains, and bullet belts, this crew finally unleashes their long-awaited debut full-length, "Demonic Sceptre", to the masses. Dropping appropriately on Friday the 13th, this release unleashes pure black/speed metal hell upon the earth.

The band unloads a ruthless barrage of fast, vicious riffing and maniacal speed. "Demonic Sceptre" delivers total devastation through chaotic guitar attacks, thunderous drumming, and throat-shredding vocal madness. Nuctemeron channels the ancient destruction of legends like Sodom, Violent Force, and Nifelheim, ripping through the speakers with absolute savage aggression. There is zero compromise here, just old school metal dominance firing on all cylinders.

A massive advantage to this album is the serious diversity across the tracklist. Every single song establishes a completely unique identity. Whether the band is tearing through hyper-fast neck-breakers like "Fresh Blood For The 13^th Coffin" or stomping the skull in "Brandish The Hammer Of Hell", the music remains lethal. The riffing changes gears constantly, the bass lines rumble like an earthquake, and the solos tear through the mix with blistering speed. Nuctemeron maintains the old school banner high throughout the entire playtime.

This is a triumphant strike for German extreme metal. The twelve years of grinding in the underground paid off massively, resulting in a tremendously thrilling and devastating debut. "Demonic Sceptre" is mandatory listening for extreme metal maniacs seeking pure, violent, and unholy speed. Nuctemeron crafted an absolutely killer album for anyone worshipping the dark and fast arts.

Score: 8.0

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Cruel Force |Haneda |Shadow Kingdom Records

Release Date March 27^th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Cassette
Genre Speed Metal
Country Germany

Cruel Force erupted out of Germany in 2008 playing ruthless black thrash. They dropped their debut demo and quickly became underground legends. Their first two full-length albums, "The Rise Of Satanic Might" and "Under The Sign Of The Moon", cemented their status among maniacs worldwide. The guys vanished into the shadows for a long time after that second attack. They finally woke up from their slumber in 2022 with the "Across The Styx" EP and completely destroyed everything in 2023 with "Dawn Of The Axe". Now they return on Shadow Kingdom Records for their fourth full-length strike.

"Haneda" takes the total speed metal destruction of their previous album and injects massive doses of epic mysticism. The early blackened days are mostly gone, replaced by a pure, lethal heavy metal assault. The guitars shred through blistering riffs and ripping solos, pushing the speed into the red zone. "Whips A Swinging" and "Sword Of Iron" deliver face-melting velocity mixed with massive, epic melodies. These guys play like absolute maniacs. They merge pure thrashing rage with colossal, grand scale heavy metal majesty.

The sound on "Haneda" completely rules. The production is gigantic and totally natural, capturing the essence of the glorious eighties. The drums explode like artillery fire, and the guitars maintain a savage, ripping distortion. The music drags you across ancient temples, dead deserts, and frozen mountains. "Crystal Skull" and "Savage Gods" deliver intense mystical atmospheres. Everything sounds organic, massive, and entirely genuine.

Cruel Force totally annihilates with this release. The songs are fast, vicious, and insanely memorable. "Titan's Awakening" and the massive title track "Haneda" prove these warriors operate on an absolute elite level. They fuse lethal thrash metal speed with towering traditional metal glory. This album requires maximum volume and demands total worship. "Haneda" is an absolute triumph of heavy metal destruction.

Score: 9.0

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www.shadowkingdomrecords.com

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Wazzara |Arbor |Self-release

Release Date February 13^th, 2026
Format Full-length
Genre Atmospheric Black/Doom Metal, Blackgaze
Country Switzerland

Wazzara started burning their path in 2015 as the solo project of Swiss singer and composer Barbara Brawand. After dropping the "Zessa" EP in 2019, the lineup expanded. George Necola brought his low-end rumbling and production skills to the fold in 2020. They gathered a full live crew and spent the next few years spreading their chaotic, hypnotic noise across stages. Now we get "Arbor", their fourth release and an absolute collision of atmospheric black metal, crushing doom, and massive blackgaze walls of sound. This release summons ancient forces, bringing out untamed aggression masked in sheer beauty.

The musicianship on "Arbor" rips through the speakers with serious hostility, fusing absolute darkness with strange, ethereal beauty. We get heavy, dragging doom riffs crashing into vast, echoing tremolo picking. Andrei Jumuga sits behind the kit to provide a massive rhythmic foundation, blasting through the fast sections and slowing down to a monstrous, agonizing crawl when required. The guitar work from Tom Kuzmic and Masi Stettler shreds out huge, melancholic melodies that drift above the crushing rhythm section. The production job gives the harsh elements plenty of teeth to rip your face off, ensuring the massive soundscapes echo straight into the void.

Barbara’s vocal delivery dictates the entire massacre, echoing like ancient spirits rising from the dirt. She switches between haunting, spectral singing and absolutely vicious shrieks, anchoring the extreme shifts happening in the music. Tracks like "9 Confines" and "Nova" display this dynamic assault, hitting you with pure aggression before pulling back into huge, sorrowful valleys of sound. The band even dragged an older song, "Zessa (Reborn)", into the studio to give it a massive overhaul, completely thrashing the 2019 version and bringing it up to their current, devastating standard.

This album delivers a serious, heavy beating layered with beautiful, agonizing melancholy. The score reflects the killer riffs and crushing atmospheres all over the place, even if a couple of the transitions between the black metal blasting and the slow doom sections drag on a fraction too long. It is a massive, bone-crushing release that truly holds up under maximum volume. Wazzara forged an alloy of sheer, untamed aggression and soaring melodies for extreme metal maniacs who want their eardrums annihilated.

Score: 7.8

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