Release Date March 20th, 2026 Format CD/LP Genre Death
Metal Country Austria
Before the
world knew what hit it, these Austrian freaks were busy dragging the genre
through a sewer. Formed in the late 80s, Pungent Stench
became the ultimate black sheep of the extreme scene. While everyone else was
obsessing over surgical precision or occult nonsense, this trio was focused on
filth, perversion, and a massive dose of pitch-black humor. They didn't just
play death metal; they made it crawl. By the time 1990 rolled around, they were
already local legends of the obscene, ready to drop a debut that would make
even the toughest metalheads want to take a bleach shower.
"For God Your Soul... For Me
Your Flesh" landed right as the Florida and Swedish scenes were peaking,
but it didn't sound like anything from those camps. This is a savage blend of early
grindcore speed and a disgusting, slow-motion sludge that echoes the heaviest
parts of Obituary. It’s a hostile, primitive racket
that ignores technical flash in favor of a raw, churning energy. This remaster
by Erwin
Hermsen at Toneshed Studio gives the bass a monstrous rumble, making the whole
experience feel like being trapped in a collapsing morgue.
The riffs on "A Small
Lunch" and "Blood, Pus & Gastric Juice" are absolute filth.
They lurch with a d-beat swagger before diving back into a sickening, mid-paced
crawl. The guitar tone is thick and crusty, stripped of any fake gloss,
delivering a relentless assault that sticks in your brain. It’s got that
classic thrashy undercurrent, but warped into something far more depraved. This
reissue is packed with ten bonus tracks including "Dead Body Love"
and "In The Vault," making it an essential hoard of sickness for
anyone who misses when metal actually smelled like death.
Visually, these guys always had the
most beautiful, sick frontcovers in the history of death metal along with "Been Caught Buttering."
They understood that the art needs to be as repulsive and provocative as the
music. The aesthetics of this era are legendary, perfectly capturing the sick
vibe of the songs. This isn't for the weak or those looking for pretty melodies.
It’s a masterpiece of gore that stands sick as one of the most twisted debuts
ever recorded. If you want your extreme metal to actually sound dangerous, this
is the gold standard.
Release
Date November 28th, 2025 Format LP/CD Genre Death Metal Country Austria
Pungent
Stench emerged
from the depths of Austria back in the late eighties, bringing a sickening mix
of groove and gore to the developing death metal scene. Before they released
their full-length classics, the trio of Martin Schirenc,
Jacek Perkowski, and Alex
Wank built their reputation on split releases and underground
compilations. This self-titled collection gathers those earliest recordings
into one package, documenting the band right before they gained wider
notoriety. It serves as a history lesson on how twisted the underground sounded
over three decades ago.
The studio side covers the material
originally found on the split with Disharmonic
Orchestra. These tracks are crude and abrasive. The sound remains thick
and unpolished, preserving the analog production values of 1989. Tracks like
"Pulsating Protoplasma" and "Dead Body Love" churn with a
primal aggression. There is no digital cleanup here to sanitize the atmosphere.
It sounds like a bunch of maniacs bashing out noise in a dungeon. The guitars
have that distinct buzz, and the drums crash with a hollow thud that defines
the era.
The second half offers a live set
recorded at Rockhaus in 1989. Live recordings
from this time period are often chaotic, and this session captures the erratic
energy of a young band. It includes songs not found on the studio portion,
giving a broader look at their early setlist. The audio quality is rough, which
suits the music. It places the listener right in a sweaty club to witness the
birth of something gross. The performance is loose and frantic, showing the
group in their most natural state.
Hammerheart Records put
together a compilation that appeals to the die-hard collectors. This is not for
people who want pristine production or technical wizardry. It is for the freaks
who worship the roots of the genre. The packaging includes the original artwork
and liner notes, adding value for the physical collectors. "Pungent
Stench" stands as a testament to the days when death metal was dangerous
and disgusting. It is a raw document of a legendary act finding their footing.
Release Date 13.02.2026 Format CD/LP Genre Speed Metal Country Greece
Leatherheadis a speed metal band from Greece.
Formed in 2022, they released their self-titled debut album in 2024, receiving
astounding reviews in the worldwide heavy metal press, and sharing the stage
with Savatage,
Michael
Schenker, Tankard, Jag Panzer, Heir Apparent and Destruction among others.
Their second full-length album will be the establishment of their horror heavy
metal sound, achieving a darker and more aggressive approach than its
predecessor. Recommended for fans of Agent Steel, Metal Church, Riot City,
and early Overkill, “Violent Horror Stories” came out last Friday the 13th of
February 2026.
The Greek metal scene keeps spitting
out killer bands, and Leatherhead is right at the front of the pack. Their
debut was cool, but "Violent Horror Stories" is where the gloves come
off. This album is faster, darker, and way more aggressive. It sounds like the
band spent the last two years watching 80s slasher flicks and drinking jet
fuel. They took the blueprint of bands like Agent Steel and injected it
with a serious dose of adrenaline. There is zero hesitation here, they just
plug in and go for the throat.
The guitar work is absolutely
savage. Thanos
Metalios and Dimitris Komninos are trading riffs that could cut
steel. It is pure speed metal worship, but they play with so much energy that
it feels fresh. The solos are wild and chaotic, fitting the horror theme
perfectly. You don't get bored because the riffs are constantly attacking you.
It is rare to hear a band play this fast without losing the catchiness of the
songs. Every track has a hook that gets stuck in your head, even while your
neck is snapping from the tempo.
Tolis Mekras sounds like a man possessed. His vocals are high-pitched,
loud, and full of venom. He is screaming his lungs out to match the intensity
of the music. The rhythm section is a war machine behind him. George Bradley
on bass and Michalis Zounarakis on drums are locked in, creating a foundation
that stops the whole thing from flying off the rails. The drumming is
relentless, hammering away with power and speed. They drive these songs forward
with zero mercy.
The production on "Violent
Horror Stories" is spot on. It is not too clean or plastic, which ruins a
lot of modern metal albums. It sounds organic and rough around the edges,
exactly how speed metal should be. You can hear everything clearly, but it
still has that dangerous vibe. The horror atmosphere is not just a gimmick; the
whole album sounds menacing. It brings a dark energy that separates them from
the happy-go-lucky thrash bands.
Leatherheaddelivered a serious ripper with this one. It is a
massive step up from their first album and proves they are not messing around.
This is 37 minutes of headbanging madness that demands to be played loud. If
you worship the gods of speed and heavy metal, you need this in your collection
immediately. It is fast, evil, and totally awesome.
Release Date February 6th, 2026 Format Digital/CD/LP Genre Hard Rock Country Sweden
Stockholm
hard rock trio Supralunar returns with their
third full-length album, "Dead Come To Dance", released on February
6, 2026 via Supralunatic Records. This follows
up on their previous works, including "A New Hope" and
"Ghosts", as well as a trilogy of EPs. The road to this release was
bumpy, marked by the exit of longtime drummer Johann
Enoksson. While Enoksson laid down the
beats for the majority of the album, the band eventually recruited Akane Delle Fave, a Japanese drummer discovered
through social media, to complete the lineup and the recording. She steps in on
three tracks, solidifying the new era for the band.
This album comes out swinging with a
production job that sounds expensive. You can tell Petri
Tuulik spent a hell of a lot of time behind the mixing desk because the
sound is thick and stacked high. It brings a level of density that makes the
three-piece sound much larger. The vocal harmonies are everywhere, piling on
top of the riffs to create that massive arena-rock atmosphere. It is heavy, but
it also has a theatrical side that keeps things interesting. The transition
between the two drummers is seamless, so the groove stays locked in throughout
the runtime.
The songwriting on "Dead Come
To Dance" leans into the darker side of things lyrically, probably because
the world has been going to hell lately. However, the music doesn't wallow in misery.
Instead, it pairs those heavy themes with big, catchy hooks and a serious
amount of melody. It has that classic rock strut, drawing on influences like Def Leppard or Queen
without sounding like a cheap tribute act. The guitars have a satisfying crunch,
and the bass lines wander enough to keep your ears busy.
"Dead Come To Dance" is a
good time. It delivers exactly what you want from a hard rock album. Loud guitars,
singing choruses, and a bit of drama. It is a consistent ride that fits well
alongside bands like The Darkness or Foo Fighters. Supralunar
survived their lineup hell and managed to put out an album that sounds focused
and energetic.
Release Date March 5th, 2026 Format Digital Genre Dark/Cabaret
Metal Country
Russia
Tardigrade
Inferno is a dark
cabaret metal band known for mixing heavy riffs with theatrical, circus-like
atmospheres. They have built a reputation on their chaotic live performances
and a visual style that borrows heavily from horror aesthetics and dark humor.
"Hush" is their third full-length studio album, following up on their
previous releases with more tales of the macabre. The band consists of a rhythm
section, keyboards, and the distinct vocal work of Darya
Rorria, creating a sound that sits somewhere between a freak show and a
metal concert.
"Hush" lands in the
speakers like a sequel that nobody really asked for but is decent enough to
watch anyway. Tardigrade Inferno has spent years
building this spooky carnival sound, and this album feels like they are just
adding another room to the funhouse rather than burning the building down. It
sounds exactly like them, which is fine if you are obsessed with their previous
stuff, but it feels a bit safe. The circus burned down in the intro, yet the
band seems content to play among the ashes rather than building something new
and terrifying.
The main attraction here is
obviously Darya Rorria. She carries the entire
emotional weight of the album on her back. Her voice shifts from a creeping
whisper to a full-on shout, and she sells the drama hard. The problem is that
the rest of the band sometimes feels like paid actors in her play. The
keyboards are doing that cool retro-horror thing, buzzing and whining like a
broken radio, but the guitars often take a backseat. They chug along
competently, yet they rarely threaten to rip your face off. It is metal, sure,
but it feels like metal with a leash on it.
Production-wise, everything is where
it should be. The bass is loud and rumbles nicely in the low end, and the drums
kick with enough force to keep your head nodding. However, the whole thing
feels a bit too clean. For a band that sings about dark, twisted fairytales and
burning circuses, the sound is surprisingly polite. It lacks the filth and
danger that you want from this kind of music. It is professional, shiny, and
easy to digest, which takes away some of the edge they desperately try to
project visually. "Hush" is a competent album with some catchy
moments, but it struggles to be memorable. It is a fun distraction, but once
the curtain falls, you probably won't be rushing back for an encore.
Release
Date March 6th, 2026 Format Vinyl/CD/Cassette/Digital Genre Sludge/Stoner/Doom Metal, Death
Metal Country USA
Hibernaut is a heavy hybrid of doom, stoner,
and sludge metal hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah. The band formed in 2021
when guitarist/vocalist Dave Jones (Subrosa, Dwellers, Oxcross)
and drummer Zach Hatsis (Subrosa, Dwellers) reconnected creatively after years
of collaboration. Joined by bassist Josh Dupree and lead guitarist Matt Miller
(Thunderfist,
Oldtimer),
Hibernaut
found their stride channeling decades of collective experience into a powerful,
riff-laden sound. Their 2023 debut album "Ingress" was recorded with
producer Andy
Patterson and landed at #15 on The Doom Charts. Their second full-length album,
"Obsidian Eye", released on July 11, 2025, marked a significant leap
for the band, earning #7 on that month’s Doom Charts.
Face Pulp started officially in October of 2021 in Flagstaff,
Arizona. The band features Steve on vocals, MT on guitar, Landyn on
bass, and Randy
on drums. Face
Pulp mixes genres of hardcore punk, grindcore, thrash, and hints of
OSDM. In 2023 they released their full length "Eye Grabbing Detail"
and were pivotal in booking the "Burning Pines" festival. Throughout
2025 they played consistently all over the region, ran a southwest tour, and
opened for acts like Gatecreeper, Soulfly, and Go Ahead And Die. With big
tour plans for 2026 in the midwest and Europe, they joined forces with Hibernaut
for this split LP.
This split LP plays out like a bar
fight between a giant and a meth-head. It brings together two bands that have
no business sharing a stage, yet somehow, the carnage makes sense. On side A, Hibernaut
drags the listener into the mud. These guys have been around the block in bands
like Subrosa,
and you can hear that experience in the distortion. They do not rush anything.
The riffs roll out slow and thick, burying the room in a wall of fuzz. It is
heavy, smoked-out doom that rumbles the floorboards. They keep the tempo down
and the volume up, creating a massive, suffocating noise that demands volume.
Then you flip the album, and Face Pulp
kicks the door in. The Arizona crew drops the doom vibes entirely for a
spazzed-out assault of grind and hardcore. The drums sound like they are
falling down stairs, and the vocals are pure screeching hostility. It is
chaotic and abrasive. Where the first half of the split tries to crush you with
weight, Face
Pulp tries to stab you with speed. The contrast is jarring, snapping you
out of the stoner trance and forcing you into the pit.
The production on this release is
appropriately filthy. Neither band sounds over-produced or sterile. The drums
sound like drums, and the guitars sound like chainsaws. What's Left Records
put this out on vinyl, and the analog format suits the griminess of the music.
It is raw, loud, and honest. This is not high art; it is a noise complaint
waiting to happen.
This split is a solid addition to
the shelf for anyone who collects underground heavy music. It captures two
distinct scenes in the American West and mashes them together without apology.
It is not going to change the world, but it will definitely annoy the
neighbors. It is a good, heavy listen that delivers on its promises without any
pretentious nonsense.
Release DateJanuary 16th, 2026 Format CD/Digital Genre Progressive Metal Country Finland
Pulling you into their one-of-a-kind heavy rock soundscape, Frozen Factory skillfully delivers diverse
prog-adjacent metal, exploring themes of good and evil, truth and deceit,
mystery and wonder. Drawing from a wide range of influences, from Pink Floyd, Iron
Maiden and Alice In Chains to Depeche Mode and many more, the band conjure up a
truly moody and meaningful listening experience, showing technical and musical
maturity both in the studio and on stage. In December 2018, as four unattached
guys with no plan, Frozen Factory formed and
hit the studio, leaving with three tracks. The songs felt like the start of
something big and caught the attention of British/Finnish vocalist Stephen Baker. After meeting band leader Tomi Hassinen for tea and checking out a new demo song,
Stephen wrote the lyrics for “The Truth Is So
Dead” the same day, and recorded it the next. Stephen
and Tomi immediately felt in sync and forged
a new deeper sound for Frozen Factory.
Soon, the band’s debut album “Planted Feet”, themed around social
and environmental crises, was ready. In January 2020, the band celebrated by
performing their live debut, with a dramatic set in Finland’s iconic Vernissa venue in Vantaa. The show was filmed in
full and is available to watch on YouTube. In 2021, the band welcomed
powerhouse drummer Marianne Heikkinen (Rabbit Cult, Jess By
The Lake) and followed “Planted Feet” with “The First Liquidation EP”,
an unorthodox less-than-30-minute 8-track EP/short album. Literally lifting off
where the debut album ended, it shifts the band into even more emotional themes
and provides a bridge to their second full-length album “Of Pearls & Perils”,
which was released in 2022 with 12 often-anthemic tracks. “Of Pearls &
Perils” impressed reviewers and earned high-profile radio play, such as on
Germany’s SWR1. Throughout 2023 and 2024,
the band, now including exceptional lead guitarist Zsolt
Szilagyi (Dreamtale, After Infinity), released several singles. First a
series of standalone singles, and then a few from the upcoming “Apocalypse Inc.”
album, including one with talented Silentium
singer Riina Rinkinen. With confidence
soaring, the band decided an album as killer as “Apocalypse Inc.” should be
released on a label with matching energy, and so started a new era in
partnership with WormHoleDeath.
Frozen Factory kicks
the door down with a sound that is equal parts heavy and trippy.
"Apocalypse Inc." is a weird beast, mixing the heavy grunge vibes of Alice In Chains with the spacey atmosphere of Pink Floyd. It is dark, heavy, and full of
attitude. The band isn't trying to write pop hits here. They are making noise
for the end of the world. The guitars are thick, and the bass rumbles low
enough to shake your floorboards. It is a heavy listen, but it keeps your head
nodding.
The vocals from Stephen Baker cut
through the noise. He sounds like he means every word. The lyrics deal with
heavy stuff, money, greed, and the world going down the drain. It fits the
music perfectly. The drums from Marianne Heikkinen
drive the songs forward. They are loud and aggressive. The band plays well
together. The production lets the instruments breathe without sounding too
clean.
There
are some strange turns on this album. It is not a straight line from start to
finish. The band takes detours into weird soundscapes. Some people might find
it too experimental. But if you like metal that takes chances, this is for you.
The lead guitar work from Zsolt Szilagyi
adds a nice layer of melody on top of the heavy riffs. It is technical but not
boring. "Apocalypse Inc." is a strong release. It is not perfect, but
it is honest. It has a lot of character. The songs stick in your head after you
listen. It is a good soundtrack for bad times. If you are tired of the same old
metal, give this a spin. It might surprise you.
Release DateJanuary 23rd, 2026 Format CD/Digital Genre
Progressive Metal Country
United States
Spiral
Fracture emerges
from the shadows with a sound that bridges the past and future of progressive
metal. Combining thunderous drums, soul-shaking bass, and atmospheric guitar
work with a soaring alto vocal range, the band weaves primal emotion into a
precise, genre-defying tapestry. Inspired by the Fibonacci spiral, nature’s
symbol of balance, Spiral Fracture leans into
chaos, reflecting the fractures of modern society through a fusion of prog,
rock, death, black, and power metal. Their music is both raw and refined,
designed to challenge convention and connect listeners on a deeper level. Each
member brings a unique force to the sound. David Givens
delivers intricate, melodic guitar lines shaped by a deep foundation in music
theory. Live, Spiral Fracture is magnetic, radiating
intensity and unity. At its core, Spiral Fracture
is a call for connection in a fractured world. Through genre-blurring
compositions and thoughtful lyrics, they aim to heal divides and offer
listeners a renewed perspective, one note at a time.
Spiral Fracture decided to
throw every subgenre they could find into a blender for "Grace In
Decay". The result is a weird beast that sometimes confuses as much as it
entertains. You get these distorted guitar riffs that spiral around your head,
courtesy of Dave Givens. The guy clearly knows his
theory, but he isn't afraid to get messy with it. The sound is heavy, loud, and
constantly shifting. It demands your attention because if you zone out, you
miss the change-up.
The rhythm section acts like a
broken machine that somehow keeps running. Brian Fisher
on drums and Brian Tanner on bass play these
jagged patterns that don't let you settle down. The bass lines are thick and
rattle the speakers, providing a foundation for the guitar madness. The
drumming avoids simple beats, opting for complex patterns that challenge the
listener to keep up. It is technically impressive stuff that hits the mark more
often than not.
Then you have Javier Ramos on the mic. Instead of barking or
screeching, he brings these smooth, high vocals to the fight. It is a clash of
styles. The music is trying to rip your face off with dissonance, and the
vocals are trying to sing you a lullaby. It is an odd combination, but it
sticks in your brain. It stops the album from becoming just another noise fest
and adds a layer of melody that actually works.
This record is a worthy addition to
your collection. It has enough twists and turns to keep a prog nerd happy,
while packing enough heaviness for the metal crowd. It isn't perfect, and
sometimes the genre-hopping gets a bit exhausting. However, Spiral Fracture proves they can play their instruments
damn well. "Grace In Decay" deserves a spin if you are tired of
standard timing and want something that challenges your ears.
Release Date 20.02.2026 Format CD/LP/Digital Genre Black/Thrash Metal Country Germany
Lead Injector is a trio hailing from Dresden, founded in 2022. The band consists of Jason on guitars, Leo
on bass and vocals, and Justus on drums.
While the members cut their teeth in various solo projects and school bands
previously, this group marks their first serious venture into the metal scene.
They made their initial mark with the 2024 demo "From The Crypts... Of
Hell" and have now re-recorded those tracks alongside new material for
their debut full-length, "Witching Attack," released via High Roller Records.
Lead Injector plays metal
the way it was meant to be. The sound is rough, loud, and angry. "Witching
Attack" mixes black metal speed with thrash riffs in a way that just
works. The production keeps things raw, maintaining the necessary dirt for this
style. It is a fast album that keeps the energy high and the aggression
constant. The songs have good variation. You can tell the difference between
"Siege Upon Heaven" and something like "M.C.C.I." The band
writes tracks that stick in your head. The guitars are aggressive, and the
drums keep a steady, pounding rhythm. They avoid making every song sound
identical, which is a common problem for new bands in this specific sub-genre. The writing is
straightforward and effective.
Leo screams
with plenty of hate. His voice suits the dark vibes of "Evil
Executioner" and "Pest Thrash." The whole album has a classic,
evil feeling to it. These guys are not trying to be fancy, they just bang
heads. The attitude is right there in the music. It sounds like three maniacs
in a room making noise because they have to. This is a cool debut. It delivers
forty-five minutes of heavy music that fans of the style will appreciate. High Roller Records made a good choice picking
them up. If you need some new German steel to listen to, check this out. It is
a fun ride that does the job well.
Release Date 20.02.2026 Format CD/LP/MC/Digital Genre Traditional Heavy Metal Country Austria
Zepter comes out of
Austria, kicking off the project in January 2024. They wasted no time, quickly
dropping the "Inferno" EP on cassette through Ironbound, which saw subsequent vinyl and CD versions via Fucking Kill Records and Witches
Brew. The lineup consists of musicians who already knew each other from
the local scene and played in other groups before uniting for this traditional
metal outfit. High Roller Records now
handles the release of their self-titled debut album.
This album
screams 1980. It is pure, denim-and-leather worship that fits right in with the
current High Roller catalog. You get exactly
what the cover art suggests. Twin guitars, galloping bass lines, and vocals
that aim for the rafters. The sound leans heavily on the British steel of forty
years ago, channeling the spirit of bands like Saxon
or Angel Witch. It is fast, loud, and
enthusiastic, capturing a specific era of heavy metal history with genuine
affection.
The guitars do the heavy lifting
here. Lukas Götzenberger and Stefan Bolda trade licks that remind you of the Schenker era or the early days of Iron Maiden. The harmonies are the main
attraction, sitting on top of a rhythm section that keeps things moving
forward. Tracks like "The Exterminator" or "Slasher On The
Highway" possess a raw aggression that works well. The inclusion of the Screem cover, "Lonely Night," blends in
perfectly with the original material, proving these guys did their homework on
obscure heavy metal gems.
Production-wise, it sounds organic.
It avoids modern digital trickery, keeping the drums sounding like actual drums
and the amps buzzing with electricity. The mix by Johnnyfromtherotten
captures a garage vibe where the sweat is real. It is not perfect audio
engineering, but that roughness adds to the charm. The vocals sit slightly back
in the mix, allowing the riffs to dominate the sonic landscape, which is
exactly how this sort of music should sound.
While the album is a fun listen, it
stays safely within the boundaries of the style. Zepter
pays homage to their heroes without straying from the path laid down by the NWOBHM.
It is a competent debut that hits the requisite marks for the genre. If you
hoard obscure 7-inch singles from 1981, this album will make you happy. It
delivers the goods for thirty-four minutes and leaves you wanting a beer.
