New Dawn Fades |Lores |Self-release

Release Date March 25^th, 2026
Format Vinyl/Digital
Genre Stoner/Doom Metal
Country United States

New Dawn Fades hails from Philadelphia, bringing a thick blend of doom, grunge, and heavy psych to the table. The lineup features veterans of the scene including vocalist and guitarist GFA (Ritual Earth), guitarist Corey Pettingill (Blackhand), bassist Algar (Green Meteor), and drummer Steve Roche (Saetia). Drawing on the aggressive sounds of bands like Soundgarden, Down, and High On Fire, they mix crushing volume with melodic hooks.

"Lores" is a dirty, loud, and aggressive album that sounds exactly like a dark basement in Philadelphia should sound. The guitars are tuned low and the distortion is thick enough to chew on. The production captures the raw energy of the band without making it sound like a demo tape. The riffs are big and simple, driving the songs forward with a primitive stomp that gets the head nodding immediately.

The songs on this album rely heavily on the interplay between GFA and Corey Pettingill. They trade riffs that sound like chainsaws cutting through metal. Tracks like "Villains Come To Light" and "True Till Death" show that these guys understand how to write a hook without sacrificing heaviness. The vocals are gritty and emotional, fitting the music perfectly. The rhythm section is locked in, with Algar’s bass providing a low-end rumble that shakes the floorboards. Steve Roche’s drumming is particularly interesting, adding a frantic, nervous energy that keeps the slower doom parts from dragging.

There is a straightforward honesty to "Lores" that is refreshing. New Dawn Fades isn't trying to trick you with complex time signatures or overproduced nonsense. They plug in, turn up the volume, and play until their fingers bleed. "Souls" and "Dead Vultures" keep the momentum going with sludge-filled grooves that feel heavy and dangerous. It is rock and roll stripped down to its ugly, beautiful essentials.

This album is a strong release for anyone who likes their music slow, low, and loud. It has a few repetitive moments, but the sheer power of the riffs makes up for it. It is a good, solid listen that delivers the goods without asking for permission. If you are into the heavy side of grunge or the catchier side of doom, "Lores" is worth your time.

Score: 7.0

LORES | New Dawn Fades

NEW DAWN FADES (@newdawnfadesforever)

New Dawn Fades | Facebook

NEW DAWN FADES

Throat |Beyond The Devil's Shroud |Primitive Reaction

Release Date 13.03.2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Black Metal
Country: Poland

Hailing from the fertile grounds of Poland, Throat emerges not as another hooded clone but as a distinct entity worshiping the obscure. Before this full-length, they dropped the "New Flesh Nectar" demo back in 2020 and the "Blood Exaltation" EP in 2024, signaling their intent to deviate from the standard Polish sound. They draw their poison from a different well, looking towards the unorthodox sounds of bands like Necromantia, Mortuary Drape, and the twisted legacy of Tormentor. "Beyond The Devil's Shroud" marks their first proper campaign under the banner of Primitive Reaction.

The sound here is drenched in reverb and ancient decay. Throat opts for a production style that sounds like it was captured in a damp crypt rather than a studio. The guitars have a strange, clanging quality that scrapes against the eardrums, while the bass rumbles with a prominent, distorted presence. It creates a suffocating atmosphere that feels genuinely old and hostile. The band avoids the polished, hyper-speed approach common in modern black metal, favoring a mid-tempo stomp that allows the darkness to settle in and fester.

Listening to "Beyond The Devil's Shroud" recalls the feeling of discovering a lost tape from the early 90s. The songwriting relies on hypnotic repetition and bizarre, twisting riffs that channel the spirit of early Samael or the insanity of Cultes Des Ghoules. The vocals are tortured rasps that sit buried in the mix, adding to the disorienting effect. There is a primitive energy here that feels authentic, ignoring modern trends in favor of a specific, ritualistic wretchedness.

While the dedication to this specific niche of black metal is admirable, the album occasionally wanders. The lengthy runtimes, particularly on the opening track, demand patience. The hypnotic nature of the music works well, but there are moments where the tension slackens before picking back up. It is a specific flavor of rot that won't appeal to everyone, specifically those looking for constant blasts or high-fidelity clarity. However, for those who dig deep into the underground, the oddities here are part of the charm.

Throat has delivered a debut that succeeds in establishing a vile identity. It is a promising start that captures the essence of medieval witchcraft and southern black metal weirdness. "Beyond The Devil's Shroud" is a dirty, cavernous experience that pays tribute to its influences without shame. It is a worthy addition to the shelf for anyone who prefers their metal to smell like incense and sulfur.

Score: 7.0

www.devilsthroat.bandcamp.com

www.primitivereaction.com

Rotheads |Unfazed By Death |Memento Mori (Demo, 10th anniversary official release)

Release Date January 26^th, 2026
Format Digital/CD
Genre Death/Doom Metal
Country Romania

Rotheads kicked off their existence in Bucharest back in late 2014. Before they started churning out full albums, the duo of Bogdan and Dávid laid down these tracks in a jazz rehearsal room at the Bucharest Music University between 2015 and 2016. Now, marking a full decade of decay, Memento Mori and Temniță Recs have dug up "Unfazed By Death" for an official release on CD and cassette. This is a chance to hear the band in their rawest form, long before they polished their blades.

The production here is exactly what you expect from a ten-year-old death metal demo. It sounds rough, abrasive, and totally unconcerned with modern standards. The guitars have a thick, jagged distortion that dominates the mix, while the drums sound distinctively organic. It lacks the punch of a big studio effort, but that is part of the charm. It captures the honest, scraping sound of two guys making noise because they have to.

Musically, this is pure worship of the old gods. Rotheads leans heavily into the doom side of death metal here. The riffs are slow, heavy, and repetitive in a way that induces a trance. You can hear heavy influences from bands like Autopsy and Asphyx. The tempo rarely picks up speed, preferring to drag the listener through the mud. Dávid’s vocals are deep and guttural, sitting right in the center of the noise. It is simple, effective, and heavy.

Since this is a look back at their start, the songwriting is a bit primitive compared to their later work. The ideas are there, but the execution is still finding its footing. Some sections wander a bit, and the variety is limited. However, for a first attempt, it sets the groundwork for everything that came later. It is a grim snapshot of a band just starting to rot. "Unfazed By Death" is a cool collectible for the dedicated fans. It has grit, it has riffs, and it has a rotten attitude. If you like your death metal stripped down to the bone, this is worth a spin.

Score: 7.0

 

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/rotheads/

https://www.instagram.com/rotheads/

https://www.youtube.com/@rotheads

https://rotheads.bandcamp.com/album/unfazed-by-death

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0IaUxf3CmYzeYNLKjvR6n0

https://www.bandsintown.com/a/10624839-rotheads

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/rotheads/dBrL

https://www.memento-mori.es/

Stalwart |Tempvs Edax Rervm |Wormholedeath Records

Release Date January 23^rd, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Death/Groove Metal
Country Russia

Formed back in 1999 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Stalwart earned a reputation in the scene by mixing death, groove, thrash, and progressive metal. They released six full-length albums through labels like Fono and CD-Maximum, with four of them produced by the Wiesławski brothers at Hertz Studio. The band played stages with big names like Behemoth and Vader across Europe. After a break in 2019 and moving members to different continents, they are back with "Tempvs Edax Rervm".

"Tempvs Edax Rervm" focuses on the dark idea that time kills everything. Stalwart creates a heavy atmosphere where vices rot and old gods lose their power. The music matches this bleak outlook perfectly. It sounds angry and resigned at the same time. The band brings a thick sound that fits the theme of decay and the end of the world. The whole thing sounds massive.

The guitars churn out heavy rhythms that stick in your head immediately. Anton Sofronov and Leonid Verman lock in for some serious chugging riffs. They mix up the speed, going from slow stomps to faster thrash beats. The bass from Dmitry Ivanov adds a layer of filth underneath that keeps everything heavy. It makes you want to bang your head. The playing is technical without being showy.

Pavel’s vocals are deep and rough like he is growling from the crypt. He matches the music well. The drumming by Alexey Timanov drives the songs forward. He uses blast beats when needed but mostly keeps a steady, pounding rhythm. The production lets you hear every hit. It is loud. The songs are catchy and keep the energy high.

Stalwart returned with a strong collection of tracks. "Tempvs Edax Rervm" delivers the goods for fans of mid-tempo death metal. The album has a specific sound and sticks to it. It offers plenty of heavy riffs and angry vocals. It is a good listen for anyone who likes their metal rhythmic and dark.

Score: 7.5

Stalwart:

www.facebook.com/stalwartmetal

www.youtube.com/@stalwart.metalband

www.instagram.com/stalwart.metalband

www.tiktok.com/@stalwartmetal

www.soundcloud.com/stalwartmetal

Kaleidobolt |Karakuchi |Svart Records

Release Date 06.03.2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Psych/Prog Rock
Country Finland

Kaleidobolt has been kicking around Helsinki since 2014, establishing themselves as a loud power trio with a habit of making noise. They spent the last decade building a discography that includes "Bitter" and "This One Simple Trick," albums where they seemingly threw every effect pedal and studio trick into the mix. For this fifth album, "Karakuchi", they decided to strip the gear back. Instead of layering endless overdubs, they went for a raw, live-in-the-studio approach, relying entirely on their ability to play off one another in real-time.

The energy here is frantic and anxious. It sounds like a collision between the technical frustration of King Crimson’s "Red" and the filth of early speed rock. The music is hyperkinetic, twitching between tempos and threatening to spin off the tracks at any moment. The cover art, featuring the band members fused into a weird biomechanical torpedo, actually sums up the vibe well. It is organic, sweaty human performance trying to achieve the velocity of a machine. The riffs are tangled knots of distortion, and the rhythm section pushes everything forward with a sense of panic.

The title "Karakuchi" refers to a dry, pungent taste that hits fast and vanishes, and that description fits the production here perfectly. Because they removed the atmospheric gloss of previous records, the sound is incredibly dry. There is no reverb to hide behind. The songs strike quickly and end abruptly. While the technical skill is obvious, the dryness sometimes makes the tracks feel like rigorous exercises rather than cohesive anthems. It is abrasive and impressive, but the lack of sonic depth means the music doesn't stick in your head long after the needle lifts.

This is a decent listen if you want something that demands your full attention for 37 minutes. It serves up plenty of nervous energy and frantic playing, appealing to those who like their prog weird and their psych fast. However, by trading texture for raw agitation, the album loses some of the immersion found in their back catalog. It is a proficient display of chops that feels a little too clinically dry to truly love.

Score: 6.5

https://www.svartrecords.com

https://www.facebook.com/svartrecords

https://www.instagram.com/svartrecords

https://www.facebook.com/kaleidobolt

https://www.instagram.com/kaleidobolt

Asterise |Twilight Opera |Inverse Records

Release Date January 16^th, 2026
Format Digital

Genre Power Metal
Country Poland

Asterise is a power metal band delivering epic melodies, uplifting harmonies, and a cinematic sense of adventure. Blending classic European power metal with modern energy and emotional storytelling, Asterise brings back the spirit of the genre’s golden era. With soaring vocals, fast guitars, and orchestral arrangements, their music captures both nostalgia and a fresh, powerful sound.

Asterise drops "Twilight Opera" and immediately proves they understand what makes European power metal fun. This Polish project does not mess around with boring intros or unnecessary buildup; they go straight for the jugular with speed and melody. The production is top-tier, handling the massive layers of keyboards and guitars without turning into a sonic mess. It sounds loud and professional, giving the double-bass drumming enough punch to rattle your speakers while keeping the leads distinct.

The decision to use multiple vocalists, including names like Sozos Michael and Mike Livas, pays off. Each singer brings a different flavor to the tracks, preventing the EP from sounding monotonous. The high notes are piercing, and the choruses on songs like "Hope" and "On My Way To Heaven" are huge. You can tell these guys grew up worshipping the high-fantasy style of the late 90s. The vocal delivery is passionate and energetic, selling the dramatic lyrics completely.

Musically, Bartlomiej Mezynski and his crew play with serious skill. The guitars are fast and melodic, trading off with Ariel Perchuk’s keyboards in true genre fashion. A specific cool moment is the guest violin on the title track, which adds a nice classical texture to the metallic galloping. The songwriting is catchy, keeping the energy high throughout the twenty-four-minute runtime. Nothing drags here; it is just pure, adrenaline-fueled metal.

This release is a winner for anyone who misses the glory days of melodic speed. It has the hooks, the speed, and the attitude to back it up. Asterise has delivered a collection of songs that are simply fun to listen to. If you need a dose of high-speed heroics, this EP will do the job.

Score: 8.0

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/asteriseband

https://www.instagram.com/asteriseofficial

Ektomorf |Heretic |Bleeding Nose Records

Release Date October 24^th, 2025
Format Digital/CD/LP
Genre Groove Metal
Country Hungary

Hungarian veterans Ektomorf have been grinding out heavy music for decades. Led by Zoltán Farkas, the band has built a reputation on reliable, rhythmic aggression that favors power over technical showing off. They have survived line-up changes and shifting trends by sticking to a formula that mixes thrash elements with bouncing, mid-tempo riffs. They are a staple in the European metal scene, known for bringing pure energy to the stage and the stereo.

Zoli Farkas walked into the creation of "Heretic" carrying a lot of personal baggage. He was dealing with loss and showed up at Antfarm Studio without a finished album in his pocket. He had five rough ideas and a need to get them out. Working with producer Tue Madsen, the band built the rest of the material right there in the room. You can hear that urgency in the final product. It sounds like a band reacting to their circumstances in real time, channeling frustration into the music without overthinking the structure.

The sound on this album is massive. They tuned the guitars down to Drop-B and Drop-A, plugging into a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier to get the thickest distortion possible. The result is a guitar tone that shakes the floor. It is simple and primitive. The riffs are big, blocky chunks of noise designed to make you move. Ektomorf isn't trying to impress you with solos; they are trying to crush you with volume and rhythm. The bass and drums lock in to support that low-tuned assault perfectly.

"Heretic" sees Ektomorf going back to the specific sound their long-time followers want. They stripped away any weird experiments and focused entirely on the groove. Tracks like "Pure Hate" and "Bitch" are exactly as hostile as they sound. It is angry music for angry people. The band hammers away at these riffs until they are drilled into your skull. It is an honest expression of rage that doesn't hide behind fancy production tricks or complex songwriting.

This release is a winner for anyone who just wants to disconnect and headbang. It is heavy, loud, and effective. Zoli turned a terrible time in his life into a strong collection of songs. It might be simple, but it hits the spot. "Heretic" is a focused burst of aggression that proves Ektomorf still has plenty of fire left in the tank.

Score: 7.5

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/ektomorf_official/

https://www.facebook.com/EKTOMORF.official/

https://ektomorf.bandcamp.com/

https://ektomorf.army/

Beyond The Pale |Monument In Time |Black Metal Archives

Release Date January 30^th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal
Country The Netherlands

Beyond The Pale forged their sound in Utrecht during the 2020 lockdowns. Brutal tragedy struck the group in 2022 when founding guitarist Jeroen Van Donselaar suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on stage. The survivors pushed through the devastation and brought in Geoffrey Maas to complete the lineup alongside Janneke De Rooy, Johnny Derechos, Frank Van Boven, and Boudewijn De Kraaij. The band initially dropped "Monument In Time" independently in 2024 to honor the final riffs Jeroen Van Donselaar wrote. Now, Black Metal Archives brings this tribute to the global underground with extra tracks added to the chaos.

The music blasts out with pure thrashing aggression and melodic death metal violence. "Monument In Time" rips open with fast guitars and heavy bass lines tearing through the mix. Janneke De Rooy brings an absolutely devastating vocal attack. She screams and roars over the furious drumming from Johnny Derechos. The twin guitar assault delivers severe punishment, ripping ahead with zero mercy.

The riffs simply tear flesh from bone. Songs like "Liberation For The Damned" and "Walk The Plank" bring vicious hooks and thrashing speed to the pit. You also get melodic leads slicing through the heavy assault on "Payback Is A Bitch". The bonus material expands the carnage. Listeners get the original 2021 cut of "Storm En Drift" alongside a heavily altered industrial remix of "Facts And Figures" by Japanese artist Frost. The remix brings weird robotic terror into the mayhem.

The sonic assault is totally massive, mixed at Mass Audio Studios and mastered by Tony Lindgren. You hear every blast beat and tearing riff destroying your ears. "Monument In Time" brings pure metal destruction and honors a fallen brother. It crushes skulls and keeps heads banging. Beyond The Pale delivers the goods and leaves total ruins behind.

Score: 7.5

https://beyondthepale.nl/

https://www.facebook.com/beyondthepalemetal/

https://www.instagram.com/beyondthepalemetal?igsh=MWEzbnBuaWxyZm0zaw==

https://blackmetalarchiveslabel.bandcamp.com

Bras D'Honneur |Hate Speech |Primitive Reaction

Release Date 13.03.2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Black/Death Metal
Country Ukraine

Bras D'honneur is the latest sonic weapon forged by the infamous duo R and V. These two musicians have already scorched the earth through their involvement in Drudkh, Precambrian, Blood Of Kingu, and Rattenfänger. Now they emerge from the shadows with "Hate Speech", a thirty-five-minute assault spanning thirteen tracks. They draw heavy inspiration from the absolute filthiest corners of the extreme metal spectrum, channeling the raw aggression of Von, Profanatica, Havohej, and Finland’s Belial into a barrage of militant black and death metal.

This release delivers total sonic abuse. R usually conjures hypnotic darkness in Hate Forest, and here he strips everything down to absolute caveman hostility. "Hate Speech" batters the skull using about two riffs per song played at relentless speed. You get pure blunt-force trauma right to the brain without any compromise. The guitars buzz like a swarm of diseased hornets over incredibly primal, pounding drums. The production sounds intentionally decayed, scraping the deepest dirt for maximum aural torture.

Thirty-five minutes of unhinged hostility takes a toll on the listener. The relentless barrage of primitive riffs eventually blurs together into one continuous onslaught of distortion and blast beats. You will get crushed under the sheer mass of their assault. The duo simply plugs in and bashes away at their instruments until the tape runs out. This dedication to absolute minimalism requires a specific maniac willing to absorb a monotonous beating. They never stray from their path of total sonic destruction.

"Hate Speech" stands as a testament to pure musical violence. Bras D'honneur completely disregard technical finesse, delivering a straight dose of audio terrorism. The extreme limitation of riffs and the chaotic production keep the music entirely in the gutter. Extreme metal fans searching for relentless, primitive black and death metal will violently bang their heads to this chaos. R and V continue their streak of terrorizing the underground scene.

Score: 7.0

www.primitivereaction.com

Coscradh |Carving The Causeway To The Otherworld |20 Buck Spin

Release Date 20.02.2026
Format CD/LP/Tape/Digital
Genre Black/Death Metal
Country Ireland

Coscradh emerged from the Irish bogs to summon ancient violence. Formed with an obsession for the harsh realities of old Gaelic war and druidic rituals, the band blasts out pure auditory hostility. Their second album "Carving The Causeway To The Otherworld" takes myths of blood sacrifices and celestial war gods, turning them into a total assault. The band channels six-thousand-year-old graves and star-born mysticism into their sonic attacks, offering zero compromises.

Listening to "Carving The Causeway To The Otherworld" throws you into the middle of a brutal, primitive battlefield. Guitars scorch through the speakers, firing off rusted riffs that cut through the absolute chaos. The drumming is a relentless beating, hammering down on the kit like hooves trampling over destroyed soil. Vocals rip through the noise as wild war cries directed at cold stars. Everything is draped in dirt and blood, pushing a hostile assault on the ears. It is relentless black/death metal devastation.

The extreme hostility works well most of the time. Sometimes the sheer chaotic onslaught blends the riffs into a massive wall of noise, making it tricky to separate the individual attacks. You get blasted with continuous aggression, and the endless blasting occasionally blurs the songwriting. The atmospheric druidic elements are cool and add a grim aura to the carnage. When Coscradh locks into a heavy groove amidst the blasts, the music destroys everything in its path.

"Carving The Causeway To The Otherworld" delivers a massive dose of savage fury for maniacs who worship acts like Teitanblood and Malthusian. Coscradh harnesses an ancient destructive energy, tearing up the earth with primitive force. A solid, hostile offering of extreme metal from the Irish underground that leaves a bloody mark.

Score: 7.0

https://www.20buckspin.com

https://www.facebook.com/20buckspin

https://www.instagram.com/20buckspinlabel

https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/Coscradh

https://www.instagram.com/coscradh