Dysylumn | Abstraction | Signal Rex

 

Release Date: 17 October 2025

Format: CD, Vinyl LP

Genre: Black Metal

Country: France

Formed in 2010, Dysylumn is a French black metal duo that has quietly built a strong and dedicated following. Their discography already carries weight within underground circles, from the ritualistic intensity of “Occultation” in 2018 to the expansive double album “Cosmogonie” in 2020. With each release, the band has explored new layers of sound without losing the storm that drives their core identity. “Abstraction,” their fourth album, is a new chapter, shorter in duration than its predecessors, yet every second has a sharpened purpose.

Across five compositions, “Abstraction” reveals itself as an album of contrasts. It balances aggression with contemplation, violence with reflection, chaos with precision. The bass pulses like a hidden current beneath the surface, deep and patient, while the guitars paint vast shapes that veer from ethereal streams to cutting storms. Vocals emerge as a raw channel of intensity, commanding but never exaggerated. The drumming stitches everything together, fluid and versatile, carrying subtle shifts that guide the album’s changing atmosphere.

The production retains a raw texture while giving every element enough presence to strike with force. This decision keeps the record firmly rooted in black metal’s traditions while allowing the duo’s personal stamp to shine through. Each track expands upon the previous one, circling around recurring themes that make the album feel unified without repeating itself. The closer, “Abstraction V,” stretches past ten minutes and serves as a final summit, a culmination where every idea introduced earlier comes into sharper focus.

What makes “Abstraction” compelling is its directness. It doesn’t need grand scale or length to establish depth. Instead, the album compresses its vision into 37 minutes that surge forward without hesitation. The music is emotive, turbulent, and unafraid to strike with force, yet it carries an undercurrent of contemplation that lingers long after the last note fades. With this release, Dysylumn confirms their place among the most thoughtful and creative voices of modern French black metal. “Abstraction” is not an easy listen but for those willing to sink into its storms, it offers a rewarding and intense journey.

Score: 8.0

facebook.com/dysylumn

dysylumn.bandcamp.com

signalrex.com

signalrex.bandcamp.com

Helstar | The Devil's Masquerade | Massacre Records

 

Release Date: September 12th, 2025

Format: Mediabook, Vinyl LP, Digital

Genre: Heavy Metal

Country: United States

Label: Massacre Records

Helstar have been waving the flag of US heavy metal since the early 80s, forging their name with albums like “Burning Star” and “Nosferatu” and later works such as “This Wicked Nest” and “Vampiro.” With nearly four decades behind them, they’ve proven to be one of the most enduring and fiery acts of their scene. The return of James Rivera and Larry Barragan as a creative duo on “The Devil’s Masquerade” feels like the rekindling of a classic partnership, one that has always thrived on horror-driven storytelling and aggressive riffing.

The album runs just under forty minutes, making it sharp and impactful. “The Devil’s Masquerade” kicks in early with a sinister energy, quickly pulling the listener into its world of gothic dread and supernatural tales. Barragan’s production gives the riffs a raw punch, and Rivera’s voice once again becomes the theatrical pillar, rising from haunting whispers to banshee screams. The band still has a knack for weaving sinister melodies with razor-edged guitar attacks, keeping the intensity high across all ten tracks.

What really fuels this album is the dark cinematic spirit that Helstar inject into every song. Tracks like “Stygian Miracles” and “Carcass For A King” paint twisted images that feel like scenes out of cult horror cinema, while “The Staff Of Truth” and “The Black Wall” strike with sharp metallic drive. There’s a definite dramatic flair throughout, giving the album a strong narrative character without losing the raw power of heavy metal riffing. The closing storm of “I Am The Way,” bolstered by a choir of veteran Texas voices, raises the bar even further, ending the record in an epic gathering of metallic spirits.

“The Devil’s Masquerade” is Helstar doing what they were born to do. Delivering heavy metal with teeth, fire, and a sense of the macabre. It’s the kind of album that feels alive with the same horror-soaked imagination that’s always fueled their best work. Fans who’ve followed them since the 80s will find that familiar flame, and newcomers are in for an introduction to a band that continues to sound timelessly vicious. This album reinforces Helstar’s legacy as one of the true masters of horror-infused US heavy metal, and it hits with the energy of a band that still has plenty of blood to spill.

Score: 8.5

https://www.facebook.com/Helstar.Metal/

https://www.instagram.com/helstarofficial/

Sintage | Unbound Triumph | High Roller Records

 

Release Date: 17.10.2025

Format: CD/LP/MC/Digital

Genre: Heavy/Speed Metal

Country: Germany

Germany has long been a breeding ground for furious riffs and screaming solos, and Sintage keeps that tradition alive. Formed a few years back, the band first made their presence felt with the self-financed EP “The Sign” in 2021. They properly kicked in the doors with their debut “Paralyzing Chains” in 2023, a release that put them straight on the map. Two years later, Sintage return with “Unbound Triumph”, now featuring Chili as a second guitarist, doubling the firepower.

At just under 37 minutes, “Unbound Triumph” is lean, sharp and to the point. The songs come flying at you with that heavy and speedy edge that fans of classic metal hunger for. Twin guitars blaze and harmonize, while Randy delivers vocals that soar and slice in equal measure. Tracks like “Ramming Speed” and “Blood Upon The Stage” are exactly what the titles promise, pure fuel for headbangers who want their metal horny, wild and pumping iron.

The band also knows how to throw in some variation. “Silent Tears” slows things down for a moment, stretching into melodic territory before the storm returns. “One With The Wind”, the final single, feels like the anthem of the album, with everything turned up. Galloping bass, storming riffs, and a middle section that opens up just enough before everything crashes back in full power.

The production is raw in the right way, letting the energy burst out while keeping every instrument distinct. Nothing lingers too much, and the band clearly knows the exact length their songs should go. It is the kind of album that makes you want to lift something heavy, drink something strong, and then jump into the pit.

Sintage promised more twin-guitar harmonies, and they delivered, giving “Unbound Triumph” an extra edge compared to their debut. It’s an album meant for sweaty clubs, packed festivals, and anyone who still believes heavy metal should be fast, loud and dangerously fun. This one belongs to the fans who like their metal fast, and horny. “Unbound Triumph” is pure heavy/speed fury the way it should be.

Score: 8.3

https://www.hrrecords.de/SINTAGE

https://www.facebook.com/hrrecords

https://www.instagram.com/highrollerrecordsofficial

https://www.facebook.com/people/Sintage/100089607068295

https://www.instagram.com/sintage.rock

Heraldic Blaze | Monument Of Will | Purity Through Fire

 

Release Date: 31 October 2025

Format: CD, Vinyl

Genre: Medieval Black Metal

Country: USA/Norway

Heraldic Blaze emerged in 2024 with the demo “Blazoned Heraldry”, a short but striking introduction that already showed a clear vision. The band is formed by American multi-instrumentalist Argent Pale, who handles vocals, bass and flute, and Norwegian guitarist Peregrinus, known from Kvad, Hjemsøkt, Solus Grief, and Unholy Craft. On “Monument Of Will”, their first full-length, they are joined by session drummer Kave, and the result is an album that confirms Heraldic Blaze as a promising name in the landscape of medieval-inspired black metal.

The sound of “Monument Of Will” has a sense of grandeur. Guitars dominate the space with melodic riffs that carry sorrow and brightness, moving between harshness and an almost regal quality. The production avoids being overly sterile, keeping a touch of warmth that makes the performance organic. Argent Pale’s vocals bring a sharp and commanding edge, while the addition of flute adds a faint but noticeable medieval spirit without turning the music into pastiche.

Songs such as “The Proffered Word” and “Steel Sun Bleeds Gold” display an energy that balances aggression with atmospheric depth, while “Harken The Peals Of May” leans into a more majestic and uplifting aura. Instrumental passages, especially in the brief “Dawn Of The Luminary” and “The Last Procession Of The Golden King”, expand the sense of narrative and carry the listener further into the band’s imagined realm. The album closes with “An Ignoble End”, a track that underlines Heraldic Blaze’s approach of weaving melody into raw black metal intensity.

There is variety across the tracks, and a unifying atmosphere ties everything together. The use of flute is subtle but effective, and the guitar lines frequently cross into territories of melancholic beauty. The drumming supports the music with steady force, pushing it forward when needed and pulling back to allow the melodic passages to unfold.

“Monument Of Will” shows Heraldic Blaze taking their first major step into the scene with confidence. It is a release that captures a distinct medieval black metal character while also offering a broader folkloric atmosphere that invites listeners to lose themselves in its soundscape. A solid debut, and one that sets the foundation for what could grow into something even more captivating in the years to come.

Score: 7.0

heraldicblaze.bandcamp.com

www.purity-through-fire.com

Valdur | Guilded Abyss | Bloody Mountain Records

 

Release Date: 3 October 2025

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette, Vinyl

Genre: Black/Death Metal

Country: USA

Seven years after their last full-length, the California black/death collective Valdur returns from their mountain crypt with “Guilded Abyss.” For those unfamiliar, Valdur has long existed in their own corner of extreme metal. Their music is often described as harsh, cavernous, and mercilessly atmospheric, balancing chaos with suffocating heaviness. Formed in the mid-2000s, they’ve maintained a reputation for crafting music that feels more like a hostile environment than a structured listening session.

“Guilded Abyss” continues that tradition. Across its seven tracks, the album revels in noise, distortion, and an unrelenting wall of sound. The guitars are blown out, riffs churn like collapsing tectonic plates, and the drums thunder with little regard for space or restraint. Vocals are buried, more like guttural echoes erupting from beneath the mix than a guiding presence. It creates a murky, disorienting experience, one that often feels like standing in the middle of a storm with no clear direction.

There is structure here, though it hides beneath layers of static and chaos. The songs stretch long, drenched in repetition, pulling the listener deeper into the maelstrom. Occasionally a riff or rhythm pushes forward from the noise, only to be swallowed again. The atmosphere is oppressive, built for those who prefer their metal harsh and unforgiving.

The production, handled at the Bloody Mountain Bunker and finalized at Canyon Lodge Studios, leans into this rawness. It’s murky, it’s noisy, and it thrives on abrasion. This will either pull listeners into its vortex or push them away almost immediately. What makes Valdur distinct is their refusal to dilute their sound. This is underground black/death played with commitment to atmosphere over precision. It isn’t about clarity or hooks, it’s about immersion into a hostile sonic world. For those drawn to the more chaotic side of extreme metal, this record delivers exactly that.

Score: 6.0

https://valdur.bandcamp.com/album/guilded-abyss

Wolfheart | Draconian Darkness II | Reigning Phoenix Music

https://www.instagram.com/wolfheartofficial/ 

Release Date: September 19, 2025

Format: EP

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Country: Finland

Forged in the frozen heart of Finland, Wolfheart has become one of melodic death metal’s most compelling voices. With seven acclaimed full-length albums, countless global tours, and a signature sound that channels the fury and beauty of the north, Wolfheart stands at the peak of the genre’s modern vanguard. Founded in 2013 by visionary multi-instrumentalist Tuomas Saukkonen, Wolfheart immediately caught fire with their blend of fierce metal power and wintry atmosphere. Their debut, “Winterborn,” set the tone for what would become a discography defined by sweeping grandeur, emotional depth, and icy aggression. Follow-ups like “Shadow World,” “Tyhjyys,” and “Wolves Of Karelia” solidified their status among genre greats, praised for their cinematic songwriting and intensely energetic performances.

Wolfheart’s music reflects the stark beauty of the Finnish landscapes. Bleak and poetic, cold yet emotionally resonant. Their songs often weave together themes of nature, conflict, and resilience, combining brutal melodic death metal with symphonic flourishes and a deep undercurrent of sorrow and strength. Over the years, they’ve shared their vision across the globe, touring relentlessly through Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Australia, and earning slots at major festivals like Summer Breeze, MetalDays, and 70,000 Tons Of Metal. Their global fan base continues to grow, drawn in by the band’s blend of crushing heaviness, refined melodies, and mythic storytelling.

Now, in 2025, Wolfheart returns with the “Draconian Darkness II” EP. Across its five tracks, the band paints with a wide palette, from their signature storm of melodic death metal to acoustic fragility and orchestral grandeur.

“Carnivore” opens the release with cold precision, bringing together harsh riffing, soaring guitar lines, and Tuomas Saukkonen’s cavernous growls. It captures the aggressive side of Wolfheart in a direct and forceful way. “Forefathers” follows, leaning into sweeping melody and rhythmic charge, a track that feels written to echo across festival grounds. The live version of “Burning Sky” carries raw energy, with crowd noise and stage sound adding an untamed layer that the studio cannot replicate.

On the second half of the EP, Wolfheart reveals a different face. “The Gale” is stripped down into an acoustic arrangement, its melancholy shining through in simple textures and stark vocal delivery. The closing “Grave,” re-imagined as an orchestral version, swells with cinematic atmosphere, pulling the listener into a world of shadow and solemnity.

“Draconian Darkness II” is not just a stopgap between albums, it is a portrait of Wolfheart’s full range. It shows their storm, their silence, their fire on stage, and their grand northern sorrow. For a band that has already built a towering legacy in modern melodic death metal, this EP is another strong stone added to the fortress.

Score: 8.3

https://www.facebook.com/WolfheartRealm

https://www.wolfheartmetal.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/WolfheartVEVO

https://www.instagram.com/wolfheartofficial/

Old Year | No Dissent | Apocalyptic Witchcraft

 

Release Date: October 24th, 2025

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl

Genre: Drone Doom Death Metal

Country: USA

Old Year began their existence in 2017 as a duo in Boise, Idaho, drifting like a rumor through the underground, a band more spoken of than seen. For years they created in silence, hidden away, until 2021 when their numbers grew to three and they finally brought their suffocating sound to the stage. Their first release came in 2023, a single track that lasted ten minutes and set the groundwork for what was to follow: long form, oppressive, droning metal steeped in visions of decay. Now under the banner of Apocalyptic Witchcraft, they unveil their first full album, "No Dissent".

The album runs for just over 36 minutes, divided into four long tracks. "Death Frequency" opens the descent, dragging the listener into a nightmarish slow-motion collapse, where every guitar tone hovers like an insect swarm and the vocals come through like a voice speaking from a tomb. "Rotting Illusion" continues with tension stretched to breaking point, wringing out every last ounce of despair, its riffs echoing like echoes from an abandoned cathedral buried under earth. "Mechanical Birth" lurches forward with a more immediate menace, as if something monstrous has awakened and begun to crawl. The final track, "Lock Step", ends under crushing pressure that seems to paralyze, leaving silence heavy and strange after the album ends.

Old Year’s music is about immersion. Listening to "No Dissent" is like standing in the shadow of a monolith, where the longer you remain, the more its presence alters you. It strips away energy, drains you of certainty, and offers only the echo of ruin in return. The atmosphere is consistent, oppressive and ritualistic, with every note serving to deepen the abyss.

The album artwork and Orwellian quotes tie into the sound perfectly, reinforcing the sense of control, submission, and bleak futures. The band’s trio formation keeps the music raw and unrelenting, each instrument locked into the dirge, each part of the whole crushing forward together.

This is not music for casual background listening. It’s heavy in the most psychological way, dragging the listener into a state of slow erosion. Those who embrace drone and doom will find "No Dissent" an absorbing and punishing ritual, while others may find it too overwhelming to return to often. This album is like a long march into darkness, and Old Year makes sure the destination is as bleak as the path itself.

Score: 7.0

https://www.facebook.com/OldYearBoise

https://apocalypticwitchcraft.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/apocalypticwitchcraftrecordings

Feanor | Hellhammer | No Remorse Records

 

Release Date: 19.09.2025

Format: CD/Digital

Genre: Epic Heavy/Power Metal

Country: Argentina

Label: No Remorse Records

Feanor is not a new name for fans of epic heavy metal. Formed in Argentina back in the late 90s, the band has carried the banner of traditional heavy and power metal through the years, delivering albums filled with sword-wielding energy and grand storytelling. With past releases like “Invencible” (2005), “Hellas” (2010), and “Power Of The Chosen One” (2021), they have built a reputation as one of the most loyal torchbearers of the genre. Now, in 2025, they return with “Hellhammer”, their most ambitious album to date, released by No Remorse Records.

This album isn’t just another step forward, it is the result of a massive international collaboration. Musicians from Argentina, Brazil, Sweden, Germany, South Korea, and beyond have lent their talent, making this a worldwide metal brotherhood. The album was mixed and mastered by Piet Sielck (Iron Savior), and the artwork comes from Andreas Marschall, the legendary artist who has worked with Running Wild, Grave Digger, and Blind Guardian.

Clocking in at more than 67 minutes, “Hellhammer” is a sprawling epic that stretches across themes of mythology, history, fantasy, and the essence of heavy metal itself. Songs like “Sirens Of Death,” “Hellhammer,” and “Remember The Fallen” are filled with imagery of battles, dark forests, and otherworldly forces. Storytelling plays a vital role here, pulling the listener into different worlds, whether that’s the ancient Mesopotamian saga in “The Epic Of Gilgamesh Pt.2 (The Quest For Immortality)” or Tolkien-inspired tales in “Maglor The Singer” and the monumental “The Ballad Of Beren And Luthien.”

Musically, Feanor sticks firmly to their epic heavy and power metal roots. You can expect galloping riffs, thundering drums, majestic choirs, and plenty of soaring choruses to raise fists to. What adds more character is the heavy use of violins by Diana Boncheva, giving the songs a unique dramatic touch without drowning them in symphonic excess. Guest appearances from metal legends like Ross The Boss and David Shankle (both ex-Manowar) add historical weight, while additional voices and instruments enrich the grander, theatrical numbers.

Despite the large guest list and wide variety of inspirations, the album holds together as a strong journey. It balances metal anthems like “This One’s For You” with balladic or narrative-driven tracks such as “Forged In Steel” and the closing epic of Beren and Luthien. Feanor has always been about telling stories through metal, and this time they’ve gone further than ever before, creating an album that feels like a complete world of its own.

Fans of Running Wild, Grave Digger, Manowar, and 90s European power metal will worship the new album. “Hellhammer” lives and breathes the spirit of epic heavy metal and delivers it with grand theatrical passion. This is a feast for those who want their heavy metal heroic, full of legends, and larger than life. One of the best albums of the year. Just epic!

Score: 8.8

https://www.noremorse.gr

https://www.facebook.com/NoRemorseRecordsGreece

https://www.instagram.com/noremorserecords

https://www.facebook.com/feanorband

https://www.instagram.com/feanorband

Hadopelagyal | Haematophoryktos | Amor Fati

 

Release Date: 19 September 2025

Format: CD, Vinyl LP

Genre: Black/Death Metal

Country: Germany

Label: Amor Fati Productions

Hadopelagyal formed in Germany in 2020, emerging from the underground with a vision rooted in abyssal black and death metal. The duo quickly attracted attention through their debut “Nereidean Seismic End,” released in 2021, a work that established them as a band channeling the crushing enormity of the deep sea into sound. Their music is often described as suffocating, vast, and otherworldly, combining ritualistic black metal with chaotic death metal currents. With their second album, “Haematophoryktos,” released through Amor Fati Productions, Hadopelagyal descends even deeper into unlit waters, delivering a work that continues their fascination with abyssal imagery, cosmic violence, and the raw sound of subterranean chaos.

 “Haematophoryktos” is not an album that provides comfort. It thrives in obscurity, building an atmosphere of overwhelming depth where guitars grind and swirl like collapsing tides, and drums pound with a primal violence that mimics tectonic forces. The sound is cavernous, drenched in distortion and echo, as if performed inside an ocean trench. Vocals emerge like guttural howls from below the surface, an instrument of ritual.

The eight tracks here bleed into each other with an unrelenting sense of descent. Opener “Swarthseleniasmos” throws the listener into chaos immediately, and from there the album sustains a balance of aggression and atmosphere, where riffs collapse into churning repetition and bursts of violence are framed by droning, cavern-like resonance. “Promulgating Haematekchysia” and “Litany Of Saltridden Exudate Under Theosectrian Tides” hammer forward with furious precision, while tracks like “Halios Enthroned In Hyperdiluvian Kataklysmos” sprawl into near ten minutes of abyssal ritual, closing the album with waves of crushing dissonance.

The sound is uncompromising, raw, and suffocating, maintaining a ritualistic pace that makes the album feel like a single plunge into darkness. The riffs are often obscured beneath layers of distortion, but this is intentional, creating the impression of sound as a physical environment, not just a series of notes. The percussion is relentless, ranging from blast-driven chaos to slow, pounding rhythms.

This is an album that demands to be experienced as a whole. It thrives on immersion, rewarding listeners who are willing to surrender to its oceanic violence and its cryptic, almost liturgical presentation. “Haematophoryktos” is not about melody or hooks, it embodies endurance and atmosphere, summoning the sound of drowning in cosmic blood tides. Hadopelagyal has crafted something punishing and hypnotic, a ritual of death and abyssal worship.

Score: 7.8

hadopelagyal.bandcamp.com

www.amor-fati-productions.de

amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com  

www.facebook.com/amorfatiprod

Dunes Of Ash | The Fall Of The Seven Sisters | Signal Rex

 

Release Date: 26 September 2025

Format: CD, Vinyl LP, Cassette

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Unknown

Dunes Of Ash is a new entity in the black metal underground, emerging from obscurity with a vision deeply rooted in the atmosphere and hostility of the 1990s tradition. Little is known about the individuals behind it, which fits the project’s ritualistic and hostile stance. Their debut, “The Fall Of The Seven Sisters”, comes under the banner of Signal Rex, a label already known for digging out extreme and esoteric acts from the shadows. The band dresses their work with heavy symbolism, portraying the album as an anti-litany devoted to the destruction of the sacred order.

 “The Fall Of The Seven Sisters” is a compact and venomous album, running for just over 30 minutes. Its black metal stripped to its essence, raw and aggressive, but also atmospheric in a way that enhances its ritualistic character. The guitars carve jagged riffs with a cutting tone, often circling around hypnotic phrases that drive the songs into trance-like repetition. The drumming keeps everything grounded, shifting between martial, pounding strikes and fast, storming blasts. Vocals are delivered with a commanding snarl, buried just enough in the mix to sound as though they come from beyond, but still sharp enough to cut through.

Tracks like “The Eye Of The Seraphic Void” and “Womb Of The Abyssal Dawn” immediately set the album’s violent current, short in duration yet brimming with energy. “Sorrow’s Eternal Flame” burns slower, its riffs carrying a more lamenting character, while “War Hymn Of The Wounded Star” stretches longer, taking on an almost ceremonial intensity. The album closes with “The Mortal’s Shame”, its longest track, which unfolds like a last curse and leaves the listener with an impression of finality and ruin.

Production is kept raw but not chaotic. Each element has presence without softening the overall edge. It avoids over-layered arrangements, relying instead on repetition, atmosphere, and intensity of performance to build its strength. The artwork and presentation reinforce the music’s intent, turning the whole release into an immersive strike of orthodox black metal.

“The Fall Of The Seven Sisters” attacks directly, keeps its structure tight, and wraps its ritual in sound and vision. For those drawn to black metal that is uncompromising, ritualistic, and built on atmosphere as much as violence, Dunes Of Ash delivers an album that fits perfectly into that lineage.

Score: 7.5

signalrex.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/signalrec