Abuser |Blood Marks |Xtreem Music

Release Date May 7^th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Thrash Metal
Country Poland

Formed in Wrocław, Poland, in 2018, Abuser burst onto the scene to deliver relentless, aggressive thrash metal. Following a 2019 demo, the guys took time to recruit a new drummer. Armed with a complete lineup and the backing of Xtreem Music, they unleash their debut album, "Blood Marks". Society is rotting, predator instincts are rising, and the chaotic streets need a soundtrack for the violence. Abuser supplies that very noise.

"Blood Marks" provides an absolute rush of adrenaline. The guys take things straight to the brink of chaos with riffing delivered with complete hostility. The drumming dominates the mix alongside snarled vocals, infusing this aggression with primal fire. This is thrash for headbangers dedicated to the fastest speeds. Tracks like "Cry Of The Innocent" and "Suspended In Torture" deliver wild guitar solos tearing through the speakers like flailing barbed wire. No ballads or experimental detours here except teeth-grinding crunch at furious velocities.

The assault continues relentlessly throughout the runtime. "Painbringer" channels the shock and awe of early Kreator and Destruction. It is glorious insanity. The eponymous track "Abuser" serves as an addictive anthem for the pit. The relentless race to the end features screaming solos and blistering speed on "Witnessing Madness". The production captures the mayhem perfectly, keeping the guitars vicious and the drums pounding like artillery fire. Everything is geared towards maximum destruction.

"Blood Marks" delivers uncompromising, rampaging thrash metal intensity. The Polish Thrashers have crafted a killer debut ready to be played loud. Xtreem Music unleashing this means the seismic shocks will definitely reach the global thrash metal scene. A new riot of violence has begun, and Abuser leads the charge.

Score: 8.0

https://www.facebook.com/abuserthrash

https://www.xtreemmusic.com/

Cronos |Dancing In The Fire |Dissonance Productions (Reissue)

Release Date March 13^th, 2026
Format CD
Genre Heavy Metal
Country United Kingdom

Conrad Lant, aka Cronos, is the bass-playing maniac who fronted the notorious Newcastle outfit Venom responsible for sparking extreme music in 1978. Fusing raw punk and heavy metal, his former crew ignited the black metal movement and forged the blueprint for thrash and speed metal. Mainstream media despised their noise. Popular rockers like Jon Bon Jovi complained they gave heavy music a bad name. Diehard headbangers worshipped the fast, abrasive chaos, devouring essential albums like "Welcome To Hell", "Black Metal", and "At War With Satan". The original lineup eventually fractured. Lars Ulrich correctly stated they started death, speed, and black metal. Years down the line, Dave Grohl recruited Cronos for his Probot project on the song "Centuries Of Sin", cementing his massive influence.

Cronos returns swinging on "Dancing In The Fire", originally dropped in 1990 on Neat Records. This Dissonance Productions re-issue resurrects a raging chapter of his solo history. He teamed up with guitarists Jim Clare and Mike Hickey from the "Calm Before The Storm" era. Clare previously shredded in Tank. Hickey later joined Cathedral before teching for Joe Bonamassa. Together, they unleashed a heavy, thrash-oriented assault. The music steps away from full-blown Satanic extremes, stripping back the pure black metal darkness. The sole exception is the crushing cover of "At War With Satan".

"Dancing In The Fire" is a vicious ripper demanding maximum volume. The guitar work from Jim Clare and Mike Hickey shreds through the speakers with absolute hostility. Cronos screams and thumps his bass with total aggression, perfectly matching the frantic thrash riffs. Songs like "Speedball" and "Terrorise" deliver a relentless beating, attacking the listener with chaotic speed and violent grooves. The audio captures the unhinged, rebellious spirit of the 1990 metal scene. Crushing drums and manic guitar solos drive the music into a complete frenzy. You get loud, abrasive metal played by guys who live and bleed the underground lifestyle.

Dissonance Productions stacked this release with excellent bonus material. Respected writer Darren Sadler provides extensive liner notes, including a brand new interview with Jim Clare. Clare also dumped rare photos from his personal stash into the booklet, giving diehards an awesome look behind the scenes. This entire package rules hard. "Dancing In The Fire" destroys the weak, proving Cronos reigns supreme across the entire metal landscape.  

Score: 8.0

https://www.facebook.com/DissonanceProductionsUK#

Exodus |Goliath |Napalm Records

Release Date March 20^th, 2026
Format CD/LP/Digital
Genre Thrash Metal
Country United States

Exodus formed in the San Francisco Bay Area and helped birth the entire thrash metal movement back in the early eighties. Decades later, the veterans are still tearing heads off and surviving changing trends. For "Goliath", Rob Dukes is back on the microphone, teaming up with Gary Holt, Lee Altus, Jack Gibson, and Tom Hunting. It is an awesome reunion for those who remember his punishing vocal run. They tapped Mark Lewis for production duties, making their jump to Napalm Records a huge metallic event.

I have seen plenty of fans complaining online because "Goliath" drops the constant light-speed aggression. We all worship violent circle pits and non-stop thrashing speed. Only a maniac expects every single album to just be endless neck-breaking tempos. Exodus stepped into a heavier, technical enough, and strictly groove-driven territory this time around, and they made the completely right call. You get serious musicianship and skull-crushing mid-tempo rhythms giving the songs a massive, destructive punch.

"Hostis Humani Generis" brings out the absolute beast in Rob Dukes. His screams cut through the chaotic riffs blasted by Gary Holt and Lee Altus. When you get to "The Changing Me", the guys throw in intense dual guitar work and bring in Peter Tägtgren for extra vocal insanity. The title track, "Goliath", slows things down into a total doom-laden crawl, using pounding drums and eerie strings from Katie Jacoby to build pure menace. "Violence Works" and "2 Minutes Hate" supply a lethal dose of rhythmic rage, seeing Tom Hunting and Jack Gibson destroy everything in their path.

"Summon Of The God Unknown" drags you through twisted melodies and punishing heavy metal darkness. Then "The Dirtiest Of The Dozen" finishes the entire siege with wild dueling solos, crazy bass lines, and insane drum patterns. The guys just unleash everything they have left in the tank. Mark Lewis gave the whole thing an absolutely massive sonic treatment, making every riff sound huge and deadly. Exodus is four decades deep into their career, and they are still out there crushing skulls, taking names, and refusing to play it safe.

Score: 8.0

https://www.facebook.com/exodusattack

https://www.instagram.com/exodusbandofficial/

https://exodusattack.com/site/

https://exodus.bandcamp.com/album/goliath

https://www.youtube.com/c/exodusattack

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

www.facebook.com/vanishment.seattle

www.instagram.com/vanishmentseattle

www.vanishment.bandcamp.com

www.m-theoryaudio.com

Stung |Whispering |Self-Release

Release Date October 4^th, 2025
Format Digital
Genre Thrash Metal / Hardcore / Crossover
Country Belgium

Stung operates out of the Turnhout region in Belgium, bringing an intense mix of thrash, hardcore and crossover. The four guys in the lineup are veterans of the extreme metal scene, having spent years in bands like Leave Scars, Meantime and Soultaker. They have previously destroyed stages at major festivals including Wacken, Graspop and Metaldays. Since forming, they have gigged heavily across local venues and festivals, tearing up the stage next to Channel Zero, Kill The Logo and Bark. They even recruited Joey Zampella from Life Of Agony to mix their previous singles "Follow" and "C.O.C", securing serious professional backing for their noise.

Now they drop "Whispering", an independent release of pure aggression. The guitars rip through the speakers with fast, aggressive riffing that owes a lot to classic thrash metal speed and hardcore punk fury. The vocals are rough and angry, shouting over relentless drum beats and rumbling bass lines. Stung plays music designed for the mosh pit, ignoring modern trends in favor of loud, furious playing. The production delivers an abrasive noise, making sure the guitars and drums punch right through the speakers.

The songs on "Whispering" deliver what a crossover thrash fan expects. Fast tempos keep the energy high and the breakdowns are heavy enough to get heads banging violently. The band executes their style well, driven by their years of experience in the underground scene. Some riffs run into each other, and the songwriting formula stays very rigid across the runtime. They stick to a specific lane of heavy music, leading to a couple of predictable moments.

Those minor flaws aside, "Whispering" provides a genuinely entertaining listening session for anyone into aggressive metal. Stung brings real anger to their music, relying on fast guitars and barking vocals to get their point across. They deliver a reliable dose of extreme music, supported by heavy touring and stage experience. It is a highly respectable release from a group of Belgian metalheads who live for this style of music.

Score: 7.5

https://www.facebook.com/StunGBookings

Pariah |The Kindred/Blaze Of Obscurity/Unity |Hammerheart Records (Reissue)

Release Date 27.03.2026
Format CD/Vinyl
Genre Power/Thrash Metal
Country United Kingdom

Pariah is the ultimate mutation of the legendary UK act Satan. When tons of bands were just playing fast for the sake of speed, these guys brought serious guitar chops to the table. Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey steered the ship through the late eighties and late nineties, dropping three albums that completely blurred the lines between thrash, power, and traditional heavy metal. Finding a specific box to put them in is a waste of time. They just played heavy music with actual brainpower behind the riffs. Now, Hammerheart Records is dropping "The Kindred", "Blaze Of Obscurity", and "Unity" all over again.

"The Kindred" kicks off their run by smashing NWOBHM melodies into aggressive speed. The riffing is relentless, ripping through the speakers with massive technical skill. Then they unleashed "Blaze Of Obscurity", which operates as the absolute peak of their entire existence. The songwriting on that second album is insane. Every single riff and vocal line snaps into place perfectly. It is a massive barrage of killer guitar work and heavy metal thunder that obliterates anything standing in its way.

Fast forward nine years after they split up, they returned with "Unity". Originally dumped out to a tiny audience of a thousand CDs on their own label, it brings back the classic chugging speed of thrash metal mixed with old school melodic leads. The vocals and the song structures take a different path here, pushing hard into a raw power and thrash hybrid. The riffs slice right through the mix, keeping the aggressive energy up while delivering those classic twin-guitar harmonies Tippins and Ramsey are famous for.

Getting all three of these albums in one massive reissue campaign is a huge win for any headbanger. The musicianship across the board is absolutely killer. There is a serious level of technical insanity and pure riff power packed into these sessions. Hammerheart Records giving these albums a proper physical treatment means this savage metal assault is finally back out in the wild where it belongs.

Score: 8.0/8.5/7.5

Total Maniac |Love Overdrive |Self-Release

Release Date 27.03.2026
Format 12" Vinyl LP/Digital
Genre Street Metal, Thrash/Speed Metal
Country USA

Total Maniac sprouted from the gutters of Baltimore back in 2018. The lineup pulled guys from Nux Vomica, Deathammer, and Raw Filth, mashing up 80s metal elements with raw punk aggression and a heavy dose of rock and roll swagger. After dropping a demo in 2019, they started gigging relentlessly. They eventually dropped their self-titled debut in 2022, securing slots at Maryland Deathfest and tearing up stages alongside bands like Bat, Poison Ruin, Midnight, and Sodom. The quintet bounces between massive festival stages and packed dive bars, bringing pure musical violence wherever they go.

On their sophomore album, "Love Overdrive", Total Maniac delivers pure street metal aggression. The riffs cut straight to the bone, driving a lethal mix of speed metal velocity and d-beat chaos. Tracks like "Love Overdrive" and "Devil In Plain Sight" throw fists right in your face. The guitars from Mike Brown and Nick Etson shred through the mix with savage distortion, churning out infectious hooks. Vaughn Volkman smashes the drum kit into splinters, propelling the fast sections into maximum overdrive. It is a massive assault on the eardrums.

The vocal delivery from Diamond Dustin sneers and spits absolute hostility across the entire runtime. He howls over the distortion, giving songs like "Drinkin Our Way To Hell" and "Early Grave" an obnoxious, riotous edge. Ben Martin handles the low end, keeping the rhythm section thick and punishing. The production, handled by Kevin Bernsten, captures the feral energy of their live performances. Brad Boatright locked down the mastering, ensuring the final product will totally wreck your speakers. You can practically smell the sweat and spilled alcohol blasting out of the grooves.

Total Maniac just wants to play fast, loud, and dangerous. "Love Overdrive" rules the stereo with aggressive riffs and rebellious punk energy. They bridge the gap between thrash metal speed and dirty hard rock hooks. This is a violently fun album for anyone who wants to bash their head against the wall and thrash around the living room. It packs a serious punch and guarantees a riotous time whenever you press play.

Score: 7.5

https://www.facebook.com/Totalmaniac/

https://www.instagram.com/totalmaniacband/

https://totalmaniac.bandcamp.com/album/love-overdrive

Zerre |Rotting On A Golden Throne |Dying Victims Productions

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

Zerre emerged from the underground cellars of Würzburg, Germany. Nico Ziska screams on vocals, Dominik Bertelt and Rocco Lepore attack the guitars, Tim Müller destroys the bass, and Basti Spahn annihilates the drums on their newest release. The quintet delivered absolute chaos with their previous album in 2024. Now, Dying Victims Productions unleashes their fourth full-length album, "Rotting On A Golden Throne".

The music plunges headfirst into the decay of power and human corruption. The band attacks with intense hostility and massive crossover grooves. You hear the furious thrashing speed of early Metallica colliding with the stomping rhythms of Faith No More. Bertelt and Lepore deliver a vicious guitar assault. Every riff smashes into the skull. The entire album provides a brutal soundtrack for a crumbling world.

Spahn drives a monstrous, locomotive rhythm on the drum kit. Müller locks his bass lines into the fast tempos to maximize the sonic destruction. Ziska spits pure rage, screaming against a machine bloated by human suffering. The production stays extremely dark and ominous. You catch every angry vocal line and every thunderous blast. Zerre executes their chaos beautifully.

"Rotting On A Golden Throne" delivers a titanic crossover beating. The relentless tempos make the music huge and totally infectious. Sometimes the unyielding speed causes a couple of sections to blur together slightly. The musical hostility remains incredibly fierce regardless of those minor similarities. As the throne collapses entirely, Zerre plays the absolute anthem for its destruction.

Score: 8.5

https://www.facebook.com/zerre.thrash

https://zerrethrash.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/zerre.thrash/

https://www.youtube.com/@zerre.thrash

https://www.youtube.com/c/DyingVictimsProductions

https://dying-victims.de/

https://www.facebook.com/dyingvictimsproductions/#

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dyingvictimsproductions/

Legionary |Never-Ending Quest For Purpose |Self-Release

Release Date March 6^th, 2026
Format Digital/CD
Genre Melodic Death/Thrash Metal
Country United States

Legionary is a melodic death/thrash metal band originating in NYC, currently operating out of New Jersey. Previously playing live regularly, the act operates as a solo project headed by mastermind Frank D'Erasmo. Frank employs top-tier metal musicians for studio recordings. The project holds several previous EP releases, now adding a second full-length album to the discography.

Legionary dropped an absolute monster with "Never-Ending Quest For Purpose". Frank D’Erasmo assembled his returning crew of musicians to deliver pure sonic destruction. The fusion of melodic death metal and thrash metal rips through the speakers, sounding massive and extremely epic. Fast picking, insane drum fills, and aggressive vocal lines dominate the entire runtime. The full-length screams pure attitude and raw power.

The production destroys everything in its path, reaching gigantic proportions thanks to audio engineer Mike Low. Guitars tear through the soundscape with absolute precision, with Tony Barhoum shredding those insane solos. Frank handles the rhythm section, laying down crushing drum beats and brutal riffs. Chris Clancy delivers intense vocal screams and powerful melodic singing. The engineering amplifies every heavy riff and brutal transition to maximum volume.

The five tracks blast pure heavy metal fury. "If The Judges Became The Judged" and "Story Without Closure" unleash frantic drumming alongside extreme guitar harmonies. The music remains extremely aggressive and fast-paced. A guest violin solo by Ben Karas adds a unique dynamic to the heavy foundation. Everything points to top-tier musicianship and extreme aggression. This full-length totally rips. It delivers what heavy metal maniacs crave: fast riffs, brutal vocals, and insane solos. Legionary basically destroys your neck with these five tracks, leaving absolute destruction behind. The extreme metal community needs to blast this loud.

Score: 8.3

https://www.facebook.com/Legionaryband

https://www.instagram.com/legionary_band/

https://www.youtube.com/@thelegionary07

https://legionary.bandcamp.com/

Messticator |Total Mastery |Testimony Records

Release Date 13.03.2026
Format CD/LP/MC/Digital
Genre Death/Thrash Metal
Country Germany

Something filthy crawled out of the Hamburg harbor in 2019 when Messticator formed to spread their own brand of audio violence. They dropped their debut "Forthcoming Revelation" in 2022 and managed to land spots at major festivals like Wacken and Turock, proving they could hang with the heavyweights. After spitting out a Slayer cover EP to pay respects to the old gods, they returned to the studio with producer Timo Höcke. The lineup of Thomas Thede, Marvin Brühl, Maik Weinhardt, and Thorben "Tobbo" Lohmann is locked in and ready for war.

"Total Mastery" takes the foundation of their debut and injects it with pure steroids. The fusion of death and thrash metal here is volatile and dangerous. Where the first album knocked on the door, this one kicks it off the hinges. The guitar work shreds with precision while the drums provide a barrage of artillery fire. It is faster and angrier than their previous material. The production makes every riff sound like a chainsaw cutting through bone, ensuring the aggression translates perfectly to the speakers.

The energy remains high throughout the runtime. Tracks like "The Pitslayer" and "Mass Human Extinction" are absolute bangers that incite violence. The vocals are guttural and nasty, matching the hostility of the music. At over fifty minutes, the album is a massive serving of brutality, yet it manages to keep the adrenaline pumping. The artwork by Andreas Christanetoff captures the grim atmosphere perfectly. It is a relentless assault that demands headbanging until your spine gives out.

This album is a strong display of force. Messticator has sharpened their skills and delivered a collection of songs that rip. It is a skull-crushing listen for anyone who worships at the altar of heavy metal. They bring the noise and the fury in equal measure. This is a worthy purchase for any thrasher or death metal maniac looking to wreck their neck. Another kickass album for this years.

Score: 8.5

https://spkr.store/collections/messticator

https://www.facebook.com/testimonyrecords

https://www.instagram.com/testimony_records

https://messticator.bandcamp.com/album/total-mastery

https://www.facebook.com/messticator

https://www.instagram.com/messticator_metal

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

Cremate |Ready To Fight |Wormholedeath Records

Release Date November 7^th, 2025
Format Digital/CD
Genre Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Greece

Cremate formed in the Athens underground back in 1991. The Greek crew took heavy inspiration from European titans like Kreator and Sodom, dropping their "End Of Time" demo in 1993 and making serious noise in the global tape-trading circuit. After releasing a 7-inch in 1995, the group eventually disbanded, leaving their early momentum behind. Fast forward to 2021, founding members Christos and George teamed up with Akis Pastras to bring the dead back to life. They dusted off the old tapes, injected sick synthetic elements into the mix, and returned with "Ready To Fight".

"Ready To Fight" throws old-school death and thrash metal into a meat grinder with eerie electronic atmospheres. The guitars slash through the speakers with pure hostility, ripping flesh from bone alongside frantic, punishing drumming. Adding synths and violins to a violent thrash framework sounds risky. Cremate pulls it off, creating a disturbing environment inside the aggression. The title track brings in Marios Iliopoulos from Nightrage for a blistering solo, adding extra fire to the assault.

The riffs attack with absolute venom. "Human" and "Cerebral Pain" deliver pure carnage, exploring psychological warfare and societal decay. The drums obliterate the kit with mechanical precision, driving the chaotic rhythms straight into your skull. The inclusion of Lusty Apricot on violin during "Die As You Lived" casts a weird, gothic shadow over the thrash foundation. It makes the destruction sound almost cinematic, turning the aggression into something more sinister.

Mastering engineer George Nerantzis ensured the sonic destruction will wreck your speakers. The integration of modern tech into the old-school violence creates an engaging fusion of man and machine. Cremate returned from the grave pissed off, armed with heavy artillery, and ready to inflict maximum damage. The four tracks deliver massive headbanging material for anyone craving raw, unfiltered metallic hostility.

Score: 7.5

www.instagram.com/CremateTHEBAND

www.facebook.com/crematetheband

www.youtube.com/@CREMATEtheband

Lead Injector |Witching Attack |High Roller Records

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.

Score: 8.0

https://www.hrrecords.de

https://www.facebook.com/hrrecords

https://www.instagram.com/highrollerrecordsofficial

https://www.instagram.com/lead_injector

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566910634869

Satanic Squirrel |Crush Everyone |Self-release

Release Date January 1^st, 2026
Format Digital
Genre Bay Area Thrash Metal
Country Germany

Satanic Squirrel hail from the German metal strongholds of Hamburg and Berlin, formed back in late 2022 by two veterans of the scene, Saschimoto and T-Fresh. You might know them from their grindcore days in Hellatio. They grew up worshipping the Bay Area gods of the late 80s and early 90s, Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, and Nuclear Assault. Their goal is pretty simple: aggressive old-school riffs mixed with a heavy, modern production. Lyrically, they obsess over conspiracies and global manipulation. After dropping "Toxic World Invasion" in 2023, they released "Crush Everyone" on January 1, 2026.

This duo does not mess around with the formula. You put this EP on and you know instantly what you are getting. It is straight-up worship of that classic California sound, but filtered through a couple of angry Germans. The guitars crunch and chug with that specific rhythm that makes you want to circle pit in your living room. It has that energetic bounce you hear on old Nuclear Assault albums, but the sound quality is way beefier thanks to the production work. It hits the ears properly without sounding like a dusty demo tape found in a garage.

Saschimoto handles all the music, and the guy clearly spent his youth learning every riff Hetfield and Mustaine ever wrote. The guitar work drives everything here. It is fast and aggressive. There is no progressive nonsense or showing off just for the sake of it. It is all about the riff. T-Fresh vocals sit right on top, shouting about conspiracy theories and how the world is going to hell. It fits the music perfectly. You can tell these guys have played in bands for years because the execution is professional even if the attitude is punk and dirty.

The production deserves a mention because it saves this from being just another retro-thrash throwback. Timo Höcke at Wellenschmiede gave this a thick bottom end. Usually, these retro bands sound thin, but "Crush Everyone" sounds massive. The drums pound through the speakers and the bass actually exists in the mix, which is rare for the genre. It makes the songs kick you in the teeth. It sounds like a modern metal record that just happens to be playing music from 1989.

The songs are short and to the point. They get in, bash your head in, and get out. There is a great energy here that keeps the head banging. Sometimes you just want metal that is loud and angry without having to think too much about it, and Satanic Squirrel delivers that. The hooks are there, and the choruses are shout-along anthems for the paranoid. It is fun, aggressive music made by guys who clearly love this stuff.

Look, this is not going to change the course of music history, but who cares? It is a damn good time. If you miss the days when thrash was about denim, leather, and drinking beer while headbanging until your neck snapped, this is for you. It is honest, heavy, and aggressive. Satanic Squirrel came to crush, and they did a pretty good job of it. Grab a beer, turn it up, and piss off your neighbors.

Score: 7.5

Link:

https://satanicsquirrel.bandcamp.com/album/crush-everyone-2