Mystic-Force | Man Vs. Machine | High Roller Records (Reissue/Remastered)

Release Date: September 12^th, 2025

Format: CD/LP

Genre: Progressive/Power Metal

Country: United States

Mystic-Force came out of Baltimore in the mid eighties, driven by the shared ambition of Rich Davis and Marc Rouchard, later strengthened by Keith Menser and eventually completed by drummer Chris Lembach and vocalist Bobby Hicks. Their path ran through a batch of demos, a couple of vinyl releases and, thanks to early support from European underground networks, two albums on Rising Sun Records. By the time the band reached the era of “Man Vs. Machine”, the microphone had passed to William Wren, a vocalist known from Prodigy and Oracle. The album originally appeared in 2001 and returns now in remastered form via High Roller Records, handled with care by Patrick W. Engel. With Wren’s voice stepping into the spotlight and the band already seasoned from years of writing and touring, this period marked a final creative surge before Mystic-Force members moved on to new projects.

“Man Vs. Machine” presents a band fully locked into their progressive power metal identity. The riffing is agile, the rhythms snap forward with focus and the guitar lines constantly shift without drifting into chaos. Davis keeps the music moving with quick changes that stay musical instead of showy. Wren delivers a direct vocal performance, strong and expressive, giving the songs personality without drifting into exaggeration. The production of this new edition lifts the details without changing the character of the original release, which keeps everything grounded in its early two thousands roots.

Several tracks strike quickly with energetic hooks, twisting patterns and confident vocals that cut through the mix. Mystic-Force always enjoyed threading the more technical side of power metal into their sound, and the album maintains that approach, carried by sharp transitions and precise musicianship. The pacing maintains interest, since the band constantly shifts gears and pushes the narrative of the songs forward. The combination of heavier moments and melodic lines gives the album steady movement and plenty of memorable passages.

Wren brings a strong presence, able to lift the material and match the band’s tight musicianship. His tone complements Davis’ guitar phrasing and Menser’s driving bass work, while Lembach keeps everything steady with firm drumming that supports the complex turns of the music. The album presents Mystic-Force at a mature point in their career, confident in their craft and committed to delivering a striking final chapter in their discography.

This remastered edition gives “Man Vs. Machine” a brighter second life, offering a clear window into a band that always walked its own path. It captures their energy, their adventurous writing style and the chemistry that defined them during their most productive years. It stands as a strong farewell to a group that earned its place in the American progressive power metal scene.

Score: 8.0

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Mystic-Force | A Step Beyond | High Roller Records (Reissue/Remastered)

Release Date: September 12^th, 2025

Format: CD/LP

Genre: Progressive/Power Metal

Country: United States

Mystic-Force grew out of the Maryland metal scene with a strong drive for intricate ideas and ambitious songwriting. Formed in 1984 by Rich Davis and Marc Rouchard along with Keith Menser, the group slowly shaped its identity through demo tapes and small releases until European underground support pushed them into the spotlight. By the time vocalist Bobby Hicks and drummer Chris Lembach completed the stable lineup, the band had built a reputation for pushing into heavier, more adventurous material. Their second full length, “A Step Beyond,” arrived in 1995 and quickly became one of their most talked about works. This new version has been restored and mastered by Patrick W. Engel, bringing renewed attention to an album that marked an important moment in their path.

“A Step Beyond” presents Mystic-Force in a confident creative phase, moving toward deeper structures without losing their metallic backbone. The guitars run the show with elaborate patterns, shifting textures and a constant sense of motion. The riffs twist in interesting directions, while the rhythm section holds everything with precision and energy. Hicks delivers strong vocal lines, sometimes soaring and sometimes pressing harder, giving the songs a dramatic lift. The album carries a darker atmosphere than its predecessor and the band leans into that character with steady control.

The production of this remastered edition gives more body to the guitar work and helps the vocal parts sit clearly over the music. Nothing is smoothed over, the edges remain intact, and the songs retain their original spirit. The flow of the album pulls the listener along through rising intensity, reflective passages and bold melodic hooks. Mystic-Force always aimed for more than a simple power metal recipe, and here they strike a balance between technical ideas and solid songwriting instincts.

Three decades later, “A Step Beyond” still sounds ambitious and driven. It catches a band pushing forward, growing naturally and exploring their own path. The darker tone and elaborate guitar work continue to stand out, and Hicks’ performance adds personality to every turn. This reissue gives the album new life without changing its character, and it remains an important release for anyone who follows progressive leaning American power metal.

Score: 8.0

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Mystic-Force | The Eternal Quest | High Roller Records (Reissue/Remastered)

Release Date: September 12^th, 2025

Format: CD/LP

Genre: Progressive/Power Metal

Country: United States

Mystic-Force came out of Baltimore in the mid eighties and slowly built a name in the underground through demos, singles and steady work with European distributors. Their early grind through small labels and self made releases shaped a band that aimed for ambitious metal with strong musicianship. The line up that recorded “The Eternal Quest” had already tested its chemistry in the studio, something that helped them reach a unified direction by the time they entered Oz Recording Studio. With Rich Davis on guitar, Keith Menser on bass and keyboards, Bobby Hicks behind the microphone and Chris Lembach on drums, the band delivered its most widely known album, now restored and mastered by Patrick W. Engel for a fresh release on High Roller Records.

“The Eternal Quest” moves with a technical edge that never trips over itself. Mystic-Force build their structures with careful timing, giving space for Davis to drive the songs with intricate guitar patterns while Hicks brings a theatrical spark in his voice, full of range and emotion. There is a clear progressive frame here, with shifting rhythms and changes that nod toward the American side of power metal. Instead of overwhelming the listener with unnecessary clutter, the band balances detail and forward momentum, keeping everything easy to follow even when the music takes unexpected turns.

Hicks powers through the material with strong delivery, rising high when needed and pulling back with control when the song demands something more restrained. Davis operates like a storyteller with his guitar, using melodic runs and expressive phrasing to push the songs forward. Menser’s bass lines add depth and drama, and his keyboard touches color the music without taking attention away from the rest of the group. Lembach anchors the album with tight drumming that always serves the direction of the song. The restored audio gives new life to each song, bringing clarity and warmth while keeping the original character untouched.

The album keeps a consistent atmosphere throughout, shifting between adventurous moments and more direct bursts of power. Tracks such as “Shipwrecked With The Wicked”, “Another World” and “Answers Of The Mystery” show a band that had full command of its craft at the time. Even the bonus track “Blind Vision” blends smoothly into the collection and works as a final nod to the band’s early legacy. Nothing feels out of place, and the sequence works as a complete journey through classic American progressive heavy metal.

Mystic-Force were often mentioned as a hidden treasure of the scene, and this renewed edition explains why. The songwriting, the performances and the overall ambition form a strong package that never drifts away from its target. “The Eternal Quest” stands as a rich and engaging album from a group that deserved more attention during its active years. This reissue gives the music a second life and confirms the album’s solid standing in the genre.

Score: 8.5

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Mystic-Force | Take Command | High Roller Records (Reissue/Remastered)

Release Date: September 12^th, 2025
Format: CD/LP
Genre: Progressive/Power Metal
Country: United States

Mystic-Force came out of Baltimore in the mid eighties and built a name through hard work, constant releases and a streak of demo tapes that earned them an underground following. The line up that shaped their most recognized era brought together Rich Davis, Keith Menser, Bobby Hicks and Chris Lembach, a team with strong chemistry and a steady drive to push forward. Through the early nineties the band delivered material that placed them among the more adventurous American power metal acts before eventually moving on to new paths.

This new edition of “Take Command” gathers the original studio tracks along with songs from singles, demos and several live recordings. The central material from 1990 captures the band at a point where they were hungry and energetic, playing with precision and a sense of ambition that fits their reputation. The four studio tracks at the core show the group balancing heavy riffs, expressive vocals and tightly packed ideas. It has that early nineties charm, raw but focused, and the sound reflects a band that was pushing themselves without drifting into chaos.

The later additions, especially the 1990 demo cuts, offer a look at how the group shaped their style. You can hear the same attitude, the same urge to push forward, only in a rougher form. The live recordings included here add extra character. They capture a band that was confident on stage, loud, energetic and clearly connecting with the crowd. Nothing about these recordings is neat or trimmed, which actually makes the release more interesting as a document of the band’s history.

Overall this reissue presents an honest and engaging picture of Mystic-Force during their most active period. It is not a quick listen. It is a long dive into everything they were creating at the time, strong studio work mixed with the grit of early demos and the chaotic charm of live shows. Fans of American power metal will likely appreciate the honesty of the material and the effort to bring it all together in one place. As a tribute to the band’s past and to the memory of Keith Menser, it works well and has a sense of respect.

Score: 8.0

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Mystic-Force | Mystic-Force | High Roller Records (Reissue/Remastered)

Release Date: September 12^th, 2025

Format: LP/CD

Genre: Progressive/Power Metal

Country: USA

Mystic Force came out of Baltimore in the mid eighties with ambitions bigger than the local club circuit they conquered. They built their name through demos and tireless gigging, sharing stages with bands like Pantera and Fates Warning. Their early history was full of shifting lineups, fast sessions in small studios and the kind of raw drive that shaped so many underground groups of that era. The core of Rich Davis, Keith Menser, Chris Lembach and Bobby Hicks eventually solidified and pushed the band toward their later full-length albums, but this material from 1987 shows them right before that phase, young and sharp, chasing their place in the power metal world.

This new High Roller Records edition brings those early recordings back into circulation with restored sound and a tidy presentation. The heart of the release sits in the early demo cuts like “Stagestruck”, “Burn The Sky”, “With Rank Comes Rule” and “Dethroned”. The band plays with urgency, the kind of drive you get when musicians are still hungry and willing to sprint through a studio session with only a few takes. The guitars carve the path forward, the vocals cut straight through and the rhythm section pushes everything along with enough energy to keep things lively. The character of these songs is shaped by that era’s metallic pulse, somewhere between American power metal grit and the more technical approach that would define the band’s later sound.

The additional tracks offer a glimpse into the band’s practice room and early development. The rehearsal versions have rough edges, nothing sugarcoated, and that gives the listener a sense of how the band worked behind closed doors. “Blind Vision” sits comfortably alongside the earlier material, bringing a slightly different intensity that hints at where Mystic Force would head in the coming years. The inclusion of the 1987 studio recording of “Immortal Souls” adds a nice touch, showing how confident the band already was when stepping into a controlled environment.

As a whole, this reissue serves as a window into Mystic Force during their formative stage. It captures the spark that fans of underground metal appreciate, the moment when a band is still building its identity. The remastering boosts clarity without scrubbing away the rawness that originally defined these sessions. For listeners who follow American progressive and power metal history, this is a welcome release that pulls overlooked work back into view. It stands as a solid archival document that treats the band’s early story with respect and care.

Score: 7.5

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Buzzard | Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright | Self-release

Release Date: November 7th, 2025

Format: Digital

Genre: Doom Metal, Folk Rock, Americana, Stoner

Country: United States

Christopher Thomas Elliott has lived many musical lives before shaping Buzzard. After decades in New England folk circles and a long run with the duo Austin & Elliott, he shifted toward a darker frontier. His earlier work earned praise for its twisted storytelling and irreverent slant on folk traditions, and that background feeds directly into the crooked Americana horror he now builds under the Buzzard name. The new EP “Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright” arrives with the same bitter humor and social bite that has become his signature.

The EP moves through modern American decay with a voice that mixes worn down outrage and gallows comedy. Elliott pulls from doom metal’s heaviness and folk’s narrative habits, then packs them together with fuzzed guitars and rough edged acoustic work. The sound comes across like a lone storyteller who wired old protest songs into a busted amplifier. At its best, this approach gives the tracks a direct punch, especially in “This Land Is Your Land (Until It’s Not)” and “Doom Folk Fury,” where the grit and sarcasm hit hardest.

Across the seven songs, Elliott keeps the imagery vivid. Corrupt leaders, collapsing towns, cosmic shadows and ordinary frustration pass through his lyrics without dressing them up. His delivery stays raw and unfiltered. The production is modest, shaped by a basement setup, and it suits the material. The songs grow from the same soil, and the EP works as a quick tour through Elliott’s current worldview, full of cynicism, dry humor and that strange mix of doom heaviness with folk storytelling.

“Everything Is Not Going To Be Alright” does not push for grand statements. It sits closer to a personal dispatch from someone staring at the mess around him and answering with riffs, grit and sarcasm. The project’s identity is clear and the themes are consistent. For listeners drawn to doom metal with storytelling roots, the EP offers a sharp perspective wrapped in distorted Americana gloom. Someone looking for deeper refinement might want more development, although the rough edges seem intentional. Buzzard continues carving out his own rusted corner of folk doom, and this release keeps that path steady.

Score: 6.5

https://www.facebook.com/DoomFolkBuzzard

https://www.instagram.com/buzzard_doom_folk_music/

https://buzzarddoomfolk.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7wxZRBJYER2DOhiQnYLzlQ

Malemort/Cerbère | Aimless/Glace Mère | Rope Or Guillotine/La Harelle/Arsenic Solaris/Chien Noir

Release Date: December 5^th, 2025

Format: LP/Digital

Genre: Doom Metal

Country: France

Malemort rose in 2015 from the ashes of Fatum Elisum, forming the slowest and most suffocating branch of the Rouen collective La Harelle. Their path runs through chaos, bleak dissonance and a harsh vocal approach shared by all three members. After their first album reached listeners across the US and Asia, the group spent years performing with heavy hitters of the underground before returning to the studio. Parisian trio Cerbère comes from a similar place, although their strength comes from raw sludge punishment with a punk charge. Since 2021 they have shaped their own corner of brutality, moving from an EP to the album “Cendre”, and hammering stages across France and England. The split “Aimless/Glace Mère” brings these two forces together on a shared slab of cold devastation.

“Aimless” immediately drags the listener into a landscape where everything is stripped to stone and metal. Malemort moves with patience, turning repetition into something crushing. The guitar hangs like a grey sky, the bass grinds underneath and the vocals come across like broken declarations from the edge of collapse. The whole track grows in slow tremors, circling around its dissonant roots. It never warms up, it never shifts toward comfort, it carries on like a freezing wind that refuses to weaken. This is Malemort in their purest form, stark and unwavering.

Cerbère answers with “Glace Mère”, a long descent through frostbitten terrain. Their sludge approach gives the track a rougher texture, more dirt in the seams and more bite in the riffs. The psychedelic touches twist the sound without turning it soft, keeping everything hostile and unwelcoming. The band recorded it live, and that rawness works well here. It pushes the track forward with steady force, as if the whole trio is locked into a trance of cold violence.

Both sides complement each other in a natural way. Malemort brings the void, Cerbère brings the grime and together they carve out a bleak panorama that stands on strong foundations. The split does not aim for comfort or variety, it stays loyal to the underground spirit that shaped both bands. What you get is a heavy, crushing listen that holds its ground, cold as iron and ruthless as a falling hammer.

Score: 7.0

https://www.facebook.com/thetruemalemort/

https://malemort-doom.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/la.harelle/#

https://www.facebook.com/Cerbere666

https://cerbere666.bandcamp.com/album/malemort-cerb-re-aimless-glace-m-re

https://www.instagram.com/cerbere.666.band/

Slôdder | Narcissist | Shit County Records

Release Date: November 26, 2025

Format: Vinyl/Digital

Genre: Sludge Metal

Country: Sweden

Sweden’s Slôdder has always walked into the room with a snarl instead of a smile. Formed in 2016, the band pushes a harsh, unfiltered sludge sound that owes plenty to the filth-caked lineage of EyeHateGod, Iron Monkey and the rest of the underground swamp dwellers. Their new album “Narcissist” follows 2023’s “A Mind Designed To Destroy Beautiful Things” and arrives loaded with personal scars. The band openly talks about the rough years behind them, friendships gained and lost, and the emotional rubble that shaped these ten tracks. Slôdder remains locked into their mission, soaked in frustration, depression, anxiety, fear and anger.

“Narcissist” moves with a raw and mean spirit, carrying the sort of unvarnished ugliness that sludge metal thrives on. The guitars grind forward like machinery that has not been serviced in decades, vocals spit venom with no sense of restraint, and the rhythm section moves with a stubborn heaviness that refuses to lighten. The sound is uncomfortably close, massive in volume, and shaped for listeners who want their sludge as harsh as possible. There is no shine here, only pressure and hostility. It suits them perfectly.

The songwriting stays direct and unfiltered. Shorter bursts hit with immediate aggression, while longer tracks drag the listener through hostile emotional terrain. Instead of drifting into filler or wandering around, the album keeps its anger locked in place. Even when Slôdder stretches a song, they do it with the same sour intent, keeping a steady grip on the atmosphere. Every track is soaked in grime and irritation, and that steady ugliness becomes the record’s signature.

The production keeps everything in close quarters. Joona Hassinen captures the band with a raw, street-level punch, loud enough to rattle bones. Everything is right in front of you, exactly where this kind of music belongs. For a band preparing to mark their tenth anniversary, “Narcissist” shows they know what they want to express and they are not shying away from the darker corners of their own lives.

Slôdder doesn’t widen their scope here, they intensify it. “Narcissist” is a bitter, angry album built for listeners who want sludge that stares them down instead of trying to charm them. It may not shake the ground beneath the genre’s foundation, but it brings the band’s personality to the front with harsh honesty. The bitterness is real, the sound is ugly, and the intent is unmistakably theirs. For a band heading into 2026 with plans to bring this noise on stage, the album works as a solid warning of what is coming.

Score: 7.0

Links:

https://sldr.bandcamp.com/album/narcissist

https://www.instagram.com/sldr.band/

https://www.facebook.com/slddr/

https://www.youtube.com/@slodder2898/featured

Moonscape | Entity, Chapter III: A Sudden Glimpse Of Clarity | Self-release

Release Date: 21 November 2025

Format: Digital/CD

Genre: Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal

Country: Norway

Moonscape is the long running personal project of Håvard Lunde, a musician who has built a small universe out of layered storytelling and progressive metal since 2015. Working from Gjøvik, he handles every creative step, then brings in guest singers and players to give the narratives different voices. Over the years he has developed this ongoing saga into something surprisingly intimate, especially considering how large the arrangements can grow. “Entity, Chapter III: A Sudden Glimpse Of Clarity” closes the trilogy that began in 2017, reaching the point where the main character finally breaks through his darkest cycle.

The new album takes the emotional thread of the story and stretches it into long flowing passages, more theatrical in structure than most conventional prog releases. Lunde leans into his influences, especially the wide angle storytelling you find in Ayreon projects, and uses the different vocalists to show the internal conflict of the protagonist. Matthew Brown brings tension, David Åkesson adds a calmer presence, and Nina Pohleven lifts the narrative whenever Hope enters the picture. Their voices pass the torch from one chapter to another, keeping the album steady even when the music moves through larger shifts.

Musically the album stays on the melodic side of progressive metal and rock. Lunde prefers warm arrangements, with symphonic layers rising behind the guitars. The dramatic swings between heavy sections and calmer passages are handled with clear intention, and the story benefits from the pacing. The heavy moments underline the turmoil, the gentler passages underline the recovery. None of it aims for shock value, it simply pushes the story toward its final turning point, where the main character reaches something resembling peace.

“Entity, Chapter III: A Sudden Glimpse Of Clarity” comes across as an honest conclusion, shaped with care for the characters and the world Lunde has been building for almost a decade. It does not try to overpower the listener, it moves with patience, pulling you into the closing chapter. Fans of narrative driven progressive metal will find a project that stays loyal to its concept and brings its trilogy to a clear end. The album works as a steady continuation of Moonscape’s path, wrapping up its long running story in an emotionally grounded way.

Score: 7.5

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/moonscapenorway/

https://instagram.com/MoonscapeNorway

https://moonscape-norway.blogspot.com/

https://moonscape.bandcamp.com/

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

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Moonscape/3540432220

Acheron | Rites Of The Black Mass: The Definitive Edition | Kenyon Records

Release Date: December 5, 2025

Format: 2LP/2CD/Double Cassette/Digital

Genre: Death/Black Metal

Country: US

Acheron formed in the late eighties in the United States and quickly became one of the most recognizable forces in early death and black metal. Led by Vincent Crowley, the band carved its identity through harsh vocals, blasphemous themes and a cold, punishing sound that placed them among the underground’s most notorious names. Their debut album “Rites Of The Black Mass” became a cornerstone for extreme metal followers, a release that kept circulating through tape trading circles long after its first pressings faded away. Three decades later, the album returns in a definitive edition that aims to present it in its strongest form without changing what made it so important.

This new version arrives with fresh mastering and a level of care that shows how much this material still matters to long time fans. The original Morrisound production remains raw and upfront, the kind of sound that defined an entire era in Florida. The remaster strengthens the impact, raising the intensity without smoothing away the rough edges that gave the album its personality. Crowley’s voice and bass remain the driving force, while Pete Slate’s guitar work slices through with authority and Jim Strauss keeps everything tightly locked. The energy of the original sessions stays intact and the remaster enhances it rather than altering its core character.

Hearing “Ave Satanas”, “Thou Art Lord” and “Summoning The Master” with this updated treatment shows how very strongly these songs still strike. They hold their ground with straightforward aggression and dark atmosphere, the kind of approach that made early nineties American death metal so influential. There is no attempt to imitate modern trends. The music stands firm in its original form and the remaster only boosts its presence. It is an album built on direct impact and it still delivers that impact with full force.

The additional demo material, restored from the original DAT, completes the historical arc without distracting from the main album. It offers context and shows the band’s early rawness while keeping the focus where it belongs. The range of available formats from vinyl variants to a deluxe CD edition highlights the attention given to collectors and fans who have followed Acheron for decades. For newcomers, this edition provides the most complete and faithful way to discover the band’s origins.

As a whole, this definitive edition reinforces why “Rites Of The Black Mass” has survived in the underground for so long. It returns in a form that respects its legacy and presents it with renewed strength, giving old listeners a reason to return and new listeners a proper entry point into Acheron’s world. Extreme metal history is filled with important releases, and this one keeps its status without relying on nostalgia.

Score: 8.5

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/Acheronband

https://www.instagram.com/acheroncult

https://kenyonrecordsusa.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KenyonRecords

https://www.instagram.com/kenyon_records

Funeral Harvest | Malum In Se | Amor Fati Productions

Release Date: 31 October 2025

Format: CD/12" Vinyl

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Norway

Funeral Harvest began stirring the underground with a raw black metal sound rooted in the cold soil of Norway. The band’s early work carried a violent and unfiltered approach, then “Redemptio” in 2022 pushed their identity into something darker and more openly spiritual. Their music draws from occult traditions, fierce Scandinavian coldness and an unwavering dedication to Luciferian themes. Each release moves deeper into that direction, always with a clear focus on atmosphere through guitars, vocals and ritualistic intent.

“Malum In Se” arrives from Amor Fati Productions as a new chapter for Funeral Harvest, and the band approaches it with sharpened focus. Where the previous full length burned with punishment and divine wrath, this mini album turns its face toward the adversary, embracing a luminous darkness. The six songs form a unified expression of devotion to Hēlēl ben Šāḥar, and the band treats this theme with fiery commitment. The guitar work moves with a venomous pulse, the vocals cut through the mix with a tone that feels scorched, and the rhythm section pushes everything forward with constant pressure.

The atmosphere across the album is harsh, direct and proudly unfiltered. Funeral Harvest lean toward a traditional black metal backbone, but they infuse it with their own sense of spiritual urgency. The songs carry a straightforward intensity that avoids unnecessary clutter and moves with steady precision. Guest appearances provide extra texture, especially where additional guitars and vocals widen the sonic attack. The cover of Celestial Bloodshed’s “Truth Is Truth, Beyond The God” stands as a respectful salute to one of the acts that shaped Funeral Harvest’s path. Instead of copying the original, the band performs it with their own raw force.

What makes “Malum In Se” compelling is the way it channels a clear devotional fire without slipping into melodrama or empty gestures. The music is unrelenting, the riffing is sharp and cold, and the aggression remains consistent from beginning to end. Even during slower movements, the tension remains coiled, giving the record a sense of ritualistic heat. The production supports this approach, keeping the guitars cutting and the drums hammering without smoothing anything out.

Overall, “Malum In Se” stands as a strong and focused offering from Funeral Harvest. It deepens their spiritual narrative, sharpens their sound and reinforces their identity within the modern black metal landscape. The mini album works as both an extension of what the band has already forged and a clear declaration of their path forward. Anyone following the Norwegian underground will recognize the fire in these songs, and newcomers will understand quickly what the band is about. This is a dedicated and fierce release, and it confirms Funeral Harvest as a force that continues to grow through devotion, darkness and pure sonic ferocity.

Score: 7.5

www.facebook.com/funeralharvest

www.amor-fati-productions.de

amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/amorfatiprod

Nornes | Thou Hast Done Nothing | Sleeping Church Records

Release Date: November 28^th, 2025

Format: Digital/CD/Vinyl

Genre: Doom Metal

Country: France

Nornes began in 2017 in Valenciennes and have been shaping a sound rooted in traditional doom, funeral doom and death metal. Their approach is slow, heavy and soaked in sorrow, driven by deep growls and strained vocals that echo over long, crushing passages. After years of shorter releases, they now present their first full album, “Thou Hast Done Nothing”, through Sleeping Church Records.

The album moves with a steady pull, like a long walk through a grey landscape. Nornes keeps the focus on thick riffing and voice, always pushing forward without drifting away from the central mood they create. The music has a strong emotional weight, not through dramatic tricks, but through patience and an almost stubborn commitment to bleakness. The dual vocals give the material a raw edge, like two different shades of despair answering each other from across the room.

The band’s approach suits the length of these songs. Instead of trying to rush toward big payoffs, they let the heaviness sit and sink in. There is a steady pressure in the way the riffs move, with every section given time to settle. The production helps the album stay grounded. The guitars feel rough, the drums strike plainly, and the vocals arrive like cracked stone. It matches the emotional intent and makes the record sound honest.

“Thou Hast Done Nothing” stands as a strong opening chapter for Nornes. It shows a band committed to sorrow and heaviness without drifting into empty darkness for its own sake. Fans of Candlemass, Bell Witch or YOB will likely connect with the slow pull and emotional depth here. Nornes sound ready to step further into the scene, but with pure doom shaped by grief and stubborn resolve.

Score: 7.5

https://linktr.ee/Nornes

https://www.instagram.com/nornes_cult/

https://www.facebook.com/Nornescult

https://nornes.bandcamp.com

https://www.sleepingchurchrds.com

https://sleepingchurchrecords.bandcamp.com/

Ellende | Zerfall | AOP Records

Release Date: 2 January 2026

Format: CD/LP/Digital

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Austria

Ellende began as the intensely private outlet of L.G. in Graz, a project shaped by isolation, bleak introspection and classical leaning black metal. Through the years it grew far beyond its solitary origins, evolving into a respected live act with albums that reached European charts and pulled in a wide international audience. The project has steadily expanded its emotional range, moving from raw misanthropy to heavier themes of human collapse, war, loss and the long road through despair. The new album, “Zerfall”, arrives during a difficult chapter in its creator’s life and channels that weight into a story of breaking apart and slowly assembling oneself again.

“Zerfall” continues Ellende’s tradition of atmospheric black metal that balances aggression with sorrow soaked melody. The album moves with an emotional gravity that feels personal, carrying the listener into Ellende’s familiar world of cold catharsis and wounded introspection. L.G. uses layered guitars, mournful harmonies and his anguished voice to build an immersive landscape. The classical touches, such as strings and piano, have been part of Ellende’s identity for years and they reappear here with careful use, adding a somber glow rather than overwhelming the metal core.

Where the album shines is in the way it drifts between rage and resignation, between eruption and calm. Nothing comes across as exaggerated or distant from Ellende’s established character. Even when the music turns more imposing or when it sinks into fragility, it retains the emotional thread that has defined the project for more than a decade. The two “Zeitenwende” songs, featuring members of Norikum and Firtan, blend naturally into Ellende’s sound, giving the record a wider palette without breaking its cohesion.

By the time the album reaches its closing moments, “Zerfall” has shaped its narrative clearly. It reflects collapse, grief, and reconstruction. It is a long work that moves with patience, offering the kind of emotional depth that Ellende has always aimed for, while keeping a steady hand on its atmosphere.

“Zerfall” stands comfortably among the strongest entries in Ellende’s catalogue, carrying forward the project’s trademark sorrow and melodic intensity. It will speak most to listeners who appreciate atmospheric black metal that leans heavily on emotional storytelling, and it reinforces Ellende as one of the genre’s most thoughtful voices. The album leaves room for the listener to wander within its sadness and its quiet resilience, which is where its power rests.

Score: 8.0

https://shop.aoprecords.de

https://www.facebook.com/aoprecs

https://www.instagram.com/aop.records

https://artofpropaganda.bandcamp.com/album/zerfall

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Garde | Harbinger Of Revenge And War | Heidens Hart Records

Release Date: 28 November 2025

Format: CD, Vinyl

Genre: Viking Metal

Country: Netherlands

Garde come from a long and winding story. The project was born in the early 2000s, then left in the shadows for decades, waiting for the right spark. That spark came when Arjan revived the material and invited Dan Capp to take over the vocals. With the original recordings restored and expanded, “Harbinger Of Revenge And War” arrives as a rare case of Viking metal pulled straight from another era, created across a quarter century and finally brought to completion.

“Harbinger Of Revenge And War” moves with the heavy stride of older northern metal, the kind that relied on grit, raw atmosphere and melodic grandiosity. The guitars stay proud and firm, shaped around big, ancient sounding riffs that push the songs forward with steady force. Capp’s vocals carry a hard, commanding presence, giving the music an almost mythic storytelling tone. The production keeps everything earthy and rugged, matching the spirit of the original recordings. Nothing is plastic, nothing is touched-up for modern ears, everything is that early 2000s fire intact.

There is an epic temper throughout the album, driven by long structures, triumphant melodic themes and a sense of old war lore rising from the ground. Garde focus on strength, forward motion and the kind of atmosphere that bands like Mithotyn, Scald and Bathory once carved into stone. The result sounds like a lost chapter finally restored and released to the world. It captures the cold northern spirit without drifting into cartoonish territory, staying serious in tone and rooted in the origins of Viking metal.

“Harbinger Of Revenge And War” will appeal to listeners who want Viking metal the way it used to be forged, with grit and long-burning fire. The album’s story, its raw energy and its dedication to its own roots make it a compelling debut, even if it arrives two and a half decades after its conception. It stands as a resurrection of an idea, completed with pride and delivered with warrior spirit. This is old flame metal, kept alive against time.

Score: 7.5

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