Extreme Metal Maniac Blog : January 2026

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

CATTLE HAMMER – Dark Thoughts With Lights Out EP review

CATTLE HAMMER – Dark Thoughts With Lights Out EP

Road To Masochist

Who was the motherfucker that came up with the phrase "The more things change. The more they stay the same"? I wanna know because that is my opinion of Extreme Metal over the past decade. I need to do an Op/Ed on that. But with that said here we have another cool sounding band that falls into that trap known as "For Fans Of" which they don't deserve but will be pigeon-holed into by others anyway.

CATTLE HAMMER, ah yeah that's a cool band name and I do know what it means. This English Sludge/Drone band started out in 2023. Their mainman is guitarist / vocalist Duncan Wilkins who's mostly known by me as being in the Blackened Grindcore band FUKPIG. Since starting out a few years back they've put out a few short form releases. A two song full length titled Cattle Hammer's Methlehem came out early last year. They also put out a compilation of the 2023 demos last year.

So now we have their four song EP. It should also be noted that along with Duncan Wilkins on guitar and vocals there's second guitarist Wyles, J (?) along with the rhythm section of bassist Darren Donovan and drummer Issac Cartwright. This four piece is involved in creating some cool sounding, albeit familiar, sludgey drone. I mean sure listening to this is reminiscent of sounds I heard in the past. I'm talking about slightly blackened snail paced sludgy drone doom which was great for a late night blasting party of drinking and debauchery. It's not that boring crap that slips into the genre by hiptards.

In the end, and after a bunch of plays, I like this short form release a lot.CATTLE HAMMER are the epitome of great sounding Sludgy Drone in 2026. This is a cool late night volume up blast. You know who this is really "for fans of"? Extreme Metal fans who go about their day. Blasting something like this either before or after they go to work, or party, or whatever.

https://roadtomasochist.co.uk/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVRItOA_K_o

Thursday, January 22, 2026

HYPERION - Cybergenesis review

HYPERION - Cybergenesis

Fighter Records

Just for the record back in 2020 this Italian Power Metal band put out a killer album titled Into the Maelstrom which I liked a lot. And like I always state honestly I'm not a Power Metal fan. But I like good music. So here we are six years later and HYPERION has just released the best album of their career as well as being a contending powerhouse to their German Power Metal peers.

First off a lot of things have changed in this band in the years. Starting with new vocalist Max Morelli who joined in 2023. This guy has a better vocal style than his predecessor. He's a great Power Metal vocalist minus the heavy metal screams. Next up you've got new guitarist Francis Di Pasquale who is responsible for the exceptional lead work which runs throughout this album. I mean this guy can shred, create melodic leads and is also into guitar pyrotechnics like a English Power Metal band that I'm not very fond of to say the least.

Anyways this eight song release should be manna from a Power Metal heaven for fans. I've gotta say "Yet We Still Fight" is my favorite cut on here. There's others like "The Shackles of Chronitus" which is Max Morelli's best vocal performance on this album. Mainman, guitarist and original member Davide Cotti is keeping this band alive and over the past few years has done well. If his vision was to create an amazing sounding Power Metal band that had an old school touch along with a tech sense on the guitars then he did it.

Don't be surprised to see this one in my end of year favorites.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hyperionbandheavy.bandcamp.com/album/cybergenesis

MOONCHAPEL - Three Faced Trinity For A Two-Faced World review

MOONCHAPEL - Three Faced Trinity For A Two-Faced World

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

This is the third full length release by Maryland's MOONCHAPEL who are also a one man act. The one man being Kyle Shuman who obviously performs all instruments along with vocals. He's also the mainman behind the band EMBERS OF OUROBOROS. That act had an album out also on this label last year titled The Autumnal Decline and Hermetic Maturation.

This is my introduction to MOONCHAPEL and in all honesty musically this is nothing I haven't heard before. But that doesn't mean it's not intriguing. The genre tagline is Blackened Death Metal and yeah it has that going for it. Then again this release has a certain strong cryptic Black Metal quality. I like the subdued vocals as if they're coming out from walls by hidden faces all while the music is blasting a relentless assault.

There's that old school raw quality in the overall sound which a lot of modern bands just don't do anymore. This is brutal horror that anyone into H.P. Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe will enjoy. This is an eight cut album and the first seven cuts convey an intense suspenseful agony that wants the listener to be in fear as well as hopelessness. The final and title cut comes across as a meaningful yet welcome to hell type of situation.

Like I said earlier I've heard music like this before. MOONCHAPEL, on this release, definitely provide a far more believable evil atmosphere than what I've been hearing of late. To me this is Black Metal and it's only January. This release is something you need to play in October during Halloween. Fuck the pumpkins! Fuck the candy! Just blast this one because it's really fuckin scary.

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/three-faced-trinity-for-a-two-faced-world

WOLFBASTARD - Satanic Scum Punks review

WOLFBASTARD - Satanic Scum Punks

Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings

WOLFBASTARD are an English Hardcore band who I first heard decade ago. Back then I was thinking this is the type of music punks should be listening to. Yeah was I fucking wrong. But anyways I got their debut self titled full length from 2015 and their third full length, Hammer the Bastards, from 2022.

As far as this latest one goes to me it's the best one I've heard from em. Yeah the musical term is "Blackened Crust" which everyone who reads this blog (and frankly who doesn't) knows I hate the term "crust". The title of this album says it all and that's what you get.

This full length is their best because of a few obvious reasons. The production is damm better for starters and the band does not lose a bit of rawness as well as savage in their songs. I think this is Derek Carley's best vocal performance and the guitar riffs are cool as well as part of the blackened package. The rhythm section of bassist Simon Fox and drummer Dave Buchan is solid.

I mean this is the band at their best which is that they are Satanic Scum Punks. I don't think much of the album's intro or the ending cut but out of eleven cuts you've got nine to go blitz over. Once again I'll say it. If you're into Punk Fuckin Rock or Metal then this is what you should be listening to. Nuff Said!

https://apocalypticwitchcraft.co.uk/

LISTEN HERE:

https://apocalypticwitchcraft.bandcamp.com/album/satanic-scum-punks

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

SCRUDA - Extreme Speed Violence EP review

SCRUDA - Extreme Speed Violence EP

Godz ov War Productions

Bias alert, Poland's SCRUDA are a band that I like a lot. Last year I had their split release with GAROTA as a best of pick. Their full length, Fury Among Ruins, was in my top three best Thrash / Speed Metal releases of 2025. Oh yeah by the way not only were my top Thrash / Speed Metal releases of 2025 all Polish Blackened Thrash bands. They all came out on Godz ov War Productions.

So with that said here we have a damm good six song EP from these Polish extremists. I don't know if these are throwaway tracks from the last album's recording sessions or new stuff. I really don't give a fuck because it's raw sounding Polish Speed Metal hell. Listening to this I know there's a smile on my face. I can just imagine the slam pit at their shows playing these songs.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/extreme-speed-violence

WSTRET - Enlightened Misanthropy EP review

WSTRET - Enlightened Misanthropy EP

Godz ov War Productions

Here we have the second EP from Poland's WSTRET. Their debut two song EP, Subhuman Eschatology, came out last year on this label as well. The band is a two piece Blackened Death Metal act. The two architects of this release are Voiceless Tongue who handles the guitar and bass duties. Odivm takes care of the drum work and vocals. Here's a photo of em. They look like nice lads. Why don't you invite em over for Sunday quiche.

Then again you might want to check out this release before making a dinner guest list. Especially since WSTRET in Polish means disgust. Anyways musically this is straight up Blackened Death that has that dark crushing claustrophobic sound with bestial vocals. It's what we fans of come accustomed to for the past twenty plus years. I will give this duo props for not trying to reinvent the recipe.

Enlightened Misanthropy is a five song release although there's an opening instro intro so it's basically four good cuts. If the label combined their last EP with this one then it would make a decent full length. Yeah this a band to keep an eye on for a future full length.

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/enlightened-misanthropy

UDREKA - Nieistnienie review

UDREKA - Nieistnienie

Godz ov War Productions

This is the debut full length by Poland's UDREKA. They're a four piece act who originally started out in 2023. Prior to this they released a three song EP, Zgnij, in 2023. So the first time I listened to this one I was like wow cool sounding Black Metal is back. Now don't get me wrong. Sure over the past decade there's been some decent BM releases. But they're few and far between when it comes to what this band is doing on this full length.

Sound-wise UDREKA run the gambit when it comes to blackening Extreme Metal. You'll hear some Thrash, some Death Metal, some Doom and Folk. The cohesive element is a rip your head off attack to the senses throughout these eight tracks. Opener "Do bolu" starts off with horrendous screams and kicks in with a Blackened Thrash attack. The release ends with a punishing almost diabolical Blackened Doom sentence of death. And there's more to that ending track which I won't mention to ruin the excitement.

UDREKA are the type of Black Metal band that old fuckers like me get excited about. This album is an amazing listening experience as far as fury and full on intensity goes. I'll bet when this band plays a show the crowd goes insane. Maybe because the vocals are powerful screams. The guitar work, whether cool riffs or solos, are slick And of course the rhythm section is busting out in perfection.

It's obviously early to say but I'm guessing UDREKA's Nieistnienie will be considered one of the best Black Metal releases of 2026. So get it, get it now!

http://godzovwar.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/nieistnienie

Monday, January 19, 2026

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Transcending Obscurity Records 2006 Label Sampler review

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Transcending Obscurity Records 2006 Label Sampler

Transcending Obscurity Records

I'll just say that this is one of my favorite listening pleasures for the month of January. This compilation release is not just a label sampler. To me it's a bunch of songs from what are my most anticipated releases of the year. Now some asshole will say "you're biasd". Ah no I'm honest, you should try it some time. I am a fan of Transcending Obscurity Records obviously because they release albums by bands who I like. Unless you're a moron I can't see why anyone would not a label that puts out cool music you enjoy.

Now honestly I don't care for everything they release. But I'm old school and remember a time when you would be in a record store. You would see an album by an artist you didn't know but they were on a label which you had a bunch of stuff from. So you bought it anyway because you supported and respected that label. To me that model has not changed as far as common Metal sense goes.

With all of that said here we go to dive into this 2006 compilation and it'll take a few days for me. But here we go and I'll only mention what I like. So VEILBURNER is on here. They're an amazing USBM act who for years now just put out great / interesting Blackened Death Metal. Speaking of hate filled music VIANDE from France sound diabolical as hell. Then again their last album was killer as fuck.

Keeping in on the Extreme Metal wagon of truth we've got CUTTERRED FLESH who hail from the Czech Republic and are pushing the whole Euro version of Brutal Death Metal. Denmark's DYSGNOSTIC are a Dissonant Death Doom act I've heard before but this song interests me. As far as Tech Death goes,and I'm not a huge fan, but Canada's GOREWORM sounds worthwhile.

DECIPHER from Greece are already a band I've written about this year as well as before.Their 2006 full length release is amazing. APOLAUSTIC from Switzerland sound really cool with their brand of Blackened Death Metal. VERDUN from France are a Sludge Metal act who I believe I've heard before. I definitely want to check them out.

Also there's MUERTO a Black Metal band from Mexico, hell yeah. BESOTTEN are a typical sounding Death/Doom Metal band from that hellhole called Portland, Oregon. I'm interested at least. Finally there's ABYSSAL RIFT with some interesting Death Metal sounds from Ohio. Now with that all said it looks like another cool year is gonna happen checking out various releases from Transcending Obscurity Records.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com/album/2026-label-sampler

Sunday, January 18, 2026

ROTHEADS - Unfazed by Death reissue

ROTHEADS - Unfazed by Death reissue

Memento Mori

This is my first reissue review for 2026 and it's by a Romanian Death Metal band who I never heard of. Now in all honesty I don't know anything about Romanian Death Metal. In fact I probably have two or three CDs on the shelves behind me by Romanian Black Metal bands but that's it. So call me names I just don't give a fuck because you're probably as ignorant as I am on this scene.

So history wise ROTHEADS was originally a duo consisting of David who sang and played drums plus Bogdan (aka: Leonardo Spurcaciune) on guitars and bass. The band started out in 2014 and recorded this demo in 2016. By the way it should be mentioned that ROTHEADS are technically still around today. In fact their last full length, Slither in Slime, came out in 2022. Leonardo Spurcaciune is still in the band singing and playing guitar.

So as far as this reissue goes well here's where the fun comes in. This does not sound like modern Death Metal from 2016. In fact this comes off sounding like a demo from the 1990's. Now let's go back in history. In the late 2000s there was that little old Old School Death Metal revival with young bands bringing back the old ways. So let's just say this Romanian band was six to eight years behind the revival.

Be that as it may I like this release. ROTHEADS' sound is dark with deep guttural vocals, an old school grimy DM sound and even some Doom influence thrown in. The drum work is satisfactory. In a way this all reminds me of an American Death Metal act only known for their incredible demo and nothing else afterwards. What we have here are a handful of decent Death Metal cuts book ended by some insto intros and outros. Welcome back to the early days people.

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

LISTEN HERE:

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

Friday, January 16, 2026

FUATH - III review

FUATH - III

Northern Silence Productions

For some cool reason January always has some cool as fuck Black Metal releases. In just the past couple of weeks I've heard two amazing releases which will be remembered in December. Here's another one which needs attention. This is the third full length release by FUATH which is a one man band from Glasgow, Scotland. The one man is Andy Marshall who performs everything.

Musically this is Atmospheric Black Metal in the same vein as early DRUDKH. In fact the four cuts on here are very similar to what DRUDKH has done. You've got two long tracks that bookend the release with two shorter tracks inbetween. Now with that said it is an amazing release as far as Atmospheric Black Metal goes. Andy Marshall channels DRUDKH through his Scottish lens.

You have to appreciate the cascading and painful tremolo picked melodic riffs, harsh vocals and pummeling drum work that runs throughout this release. It's a renewed sound by someone else which fans from the past will congregate too instead of being jaded. All in all it's an amazing piece of work. One of the best of 2026 easily unless you're a jaded piece of shit. What's funny is I'm the 60 plus year old guy who's supposed to be jaded and I'm not. So yeah buy this one and then back track to this band's previous releases.

https://northern-silence.de/en/

LISTEN HERE:

https://fuath.bandcamp.com/album/iii

DECIPHER - θελημα reDECIPHER - θελημα Transcending Obscurity Recordsview

DECIPHER - θελημα

Transcending Obscurity Records

Back in 2023 I called this band the new kings of Greek Black Metal after hearing their debut full length Arcane Paths to Resurrection. That album was released on Transcending Obscurity Records. So here we are a few years later with their follow up. And I can honesly say I wasn't wrong years ago. DECIPHER's sothmore album is not only better than their debut but it's just a great Black Metal album.

Basically this band does have a respect for past Greek Black Metal greatness. But then they take that and add a lot to make a sound which is more dynamic as well as mandatory concentration. Yes there's harshness and also melody along with intricate playing. Of the seven cuts on here it's the longer ones like "The Black March" and "Hail Death" which put forth an overwelming listening experiece.There's also some Blackened Death on songs like "Seven Scars" and touches on other cuts.

I think the greatness of this release is in it's compositions which, all seven, are a listening pleasure. It's a perfect album which needs to be heard by all but especially those in that Black Metal repository of oldness.I keep on looking for the future of Black Metal. Here it is and it's harsh as fuck as well as beautiful.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://decipherbm.bandcamp.com/album/thelema

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

ENGORGEMENT -They Rot Beneath Our Floor review

ENGORGEMENT -They Rot Beneath Our Floor

Comatose Music

Just for the record I became a fan of the Comatose Music label because a local North Carolina Death Metal band, BLOODSOAKED, had all of their releases out on it. Comatose Music is also a label from North Carolina. Add to that they're are the purveyors of pretty much the best there is when it comes to truly extreme Brutal Death Metal.

Now as far as my tastes go I like Brutal Death Metal when the sound is so repulsive and inhumane that it makes me smile in a truly sadistic manner. Seriously when the music is playing and I'm not feeling a sinister grin come around then the band ain't good enough. I don't listen to Brutal Death Metal for the enjoyment. I listen to it so to judge how offensive it is towards other human beings. And then I share it just to piss people off. It's like farting in an elevator but with music.

So what we have here is the second full length by this English four piece Brutal Death Metal act. If you're a fan of this style of music then you've got a winner here. ENGORGEMENT on here pretty much encapsulates the greatness or nastiness of the sub genre. Let's start with the vocals by Stu Hine. This guy does the whole pig squiling, bestial vocals style to the hilt. At this moment in time I think he's the fuckin best.

Of course the music has to have some proneness to it. ENGORGEMENT do a great job with a variety of riff signatures be they straight up Death Metal, some Death Doom, Grind and obviously the BDM. So shocker yeah this is actually a cool album to listen to even though it's generally offensive to 99.9% of the human race. I also props to the drum work. It's no punk rock guy banging on Tupperware.

In the end I can't help but wonder if this band started recording this release early in the day. Then stopped for tea in the afternoon like a lot of English people do traditionally. and then continued to record afterwards. I have to laugh at that especially because it reminds me of a friend who I served with in the military many years ago. Whenever the subject of irony would arise he would exclaim in a faux British accent "Well Let Me Slit My Wrists"!

So there you go. This is a damm good album and if you're a BDM fan it's a must have. I know it's only January but this release automatically rates a position as one of the best Death Metal releases of 2026 easily because I always have one represented. Nuff Said!

https://www.comatosemusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://comatosemusic.bandcamp.com/album/they-rot-beneath-our-floor

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

KOSUKE HASHIDA - Moment Of Silence review

KOSUKE HASHIDA - Moment Of Silence

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

So it's after twelve o'clock at night and I'm listening to this new full length by KOSUKE HASHIDA which is Death Grind. Now the opening cut "The Cultist" was playing and I could hear it playing outside from my office which meant I left the outdoor speakers on. Now previously I've mentioned my outdoor speakers in past reviews. Basically I've got it set up where I can hear my stereo, TV and lamp-top outside via those speakers.

Earlier today I listening to a podcast and went outside to do some yard work prior to work but I wanted to hear the thing outside.I was running late so while getting ready for work I shut everything off but not totally. So when I decided to check out this new release by KOSUKE HASHIDA well the whole fuckin neighborhood did as well. Ah yeah, whoops on my part. Then again it ain't the first time I've fucked up with the speaker system. But those times might've been deliberate, hint, hint.

Be that as it may this is the third full length I've heard from KOSUKE HASHIDA. The guy does Japanese Death Grind like I do potato leek soup as a chef. He just has three ingredients and goes to blazes with them. Basically it's diabolical savage riffs, the drum work is insanely punishing and the vocals are flat out pissed the fuck off.

Three albums in three years is good but I won't say prolific since it's Death Grind. His albums are pretty much the same formula. I just so happen to like the formula. You get fourteen songs on this one which are under two minute short sharp shocks to the system. This album is easily his best of the three. How can he surpass this next year if he comes out with another? All I know is that if you're an Extreme Metal fanatic and want to get your day started. Fuck the coffee just play this. Nuff Said!

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/moment-of-silence

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

EXCAVATED GRAVES - Life Isn't for Everyone EP review

EXCAVATED GRAVES - Life Isn't for Everyone EP

Selfmadegod Records

Well I like the album title but the opening track, "Soil" is kinda strange. The song starts off with some weird movie / TV soundtrack. Then the band kicks in with their Death Doom approach. But it continues with people clapping as if forced to do so (maybe commies?) then ends with the Death Doom. Not a great way to introduce yourselves to say the least. But introductions are not needed as this release moves on. But hey the clapping at the end of the release was bothersome too.

EXCAVATED GRAVES need to call Sweden and tell em they're the new GRAVE. I'm serious on that one because this band sounds like they've copied much of Into the Grave and part of You'll Never See albums.Not just the Boss MM pedal riffs but the dive bomb guitar soloing is in style with the Swedes.I will say the vocals are a little more aggressive sounding to say the least as well as the drum work.

The bottom line is that yeah this is damm good.

https://selfmadegod.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://selfmadegod.bandcamp.com/album/life-isnt-for-everyone

PHASMA - Purgatory review

PHASMA - Purgatory

Transcending Obscurity Records

I'd file this one under the genre title Extreme Fuckin Metal. Yes I'm serious about that and no I don't want to create a new genre. There's just a hell of a lot to unpack here on this one. For starters this is a two piece act featuring Jason Athanasiadis and Luis Ferre. Jason Athanasiadis is from Greece and the composer of the band. Basically he creates the music which is a combination of Atmospheric Black Metal and all styles / sub genres of Death Metal. I give this guy props because half of these cuts are insanity while others are regiment ally stable.

Which brings us to the vocalist Luis Ferre from the US who is an Extreme Metal singer to the hilt. He can do harsh blackened screams, cookie monster vocals and even Brutal DM pig squeals. So with this tag-team of the extreme they musically produce something akin to a beat-down with an added saws- saw cutting through your banging forehead. Yeah there's actually some groove to it all.

This full length is six cuts long with Roman numerals as titles. Yeah I know why waste time with lyrics or song titles when it's all about musical destruction. Be that as it may, and it's just fuckin January damm it, there's something cool about this fuckin insanity. While the opening two cuts are out to tear you to ribbons. What comes next is where I find some cool touches. Midway into this album is where Jason Athanasiadis really excels on the song structures that more define what's going on in his deranged mind.

In the end this is the most insane extreme music experience you'll hear this year, and it's just January. Or you'll walk away feeling I'm insane anyway and you'll blast this because you like noise for the sake of noise. All I know is that I need a drink and a smoke after listening to this nightmare. The final cut has the audacity to end it with Hammond organ sounding keyboards. That's the audio equivalent of giving you the middle finger. That's right we're done and fuck you. Yeah this release is a winner.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://phasmametal.bandcamp.com/album/purgatory

PAGANIZER - As Mankind Rots review

PAGANIZER - As Mankind Rots

Xtreem Music

In all honesty my favorite Rogga Johansson affiliated band is PAGANIZER. It's the one that introduced me to him (aka 2009's Scandinavian Warmachine full length) and his obsession to keeping Swedish Death Metal alive and well. He's done it for me at least and for fans with all of these offshoot bands / projects he's been involved with over the years.

But last year with another RIBSPREADER full length, As Gods Devour, sounding kinda borring. And the previous year you had the REVOLTING full length, Night of the Horrid, which was so fucking great. I had to wonder if Rogga was out of riffs. Well on this new PAGANIZER full length he's at his best again. I'll give em that.

So this fourteenth full length by PAGANIZER is everything you'd expect it to be or in other words it's Old School Swedish Death Metal. But on here Rogga and company seem to be more into beast mode than previous outings. As far as Rogga's vocals go he's gotten more evil sounding with age. And the riffs are fairly diabolical sounding throughout these eleven cuts.

Obviously one key reason for this release sounding so damm good is the people Rogga has surrounded himself with in the band. For over a decade bassist Martin Klasen and drummer Matthias Fiebig have been the rhythm section from Swede DM hell. As far as lead guitar work goes it's Kjetil Lynghaug who's also been with Rogga for a decade.

So yeah this is a great fuckin album. I say that because 2024's Flesh Requiem was a let down. I haven't listened to that one since it came out. But this one hell yeah! If you still like that savage Old School Swedish DM sound brought up to modern times then PAGANIZER's As Mankind Rots is the release in 2026 to grab onto.

https://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.main.index.php

LISTEN HERE:

https://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/album/as-mankind-rots

Thursday, January 1, 2026

EXTREME METAL MANIAC'S FAVORITE RELEASES FOR 2025

EXTREME METAL MANIACS FAVORITE RELEASES OF 2025

To borrow a line from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (you might've of heard of him. He was once fairly famous.) for me as far as 2025 went, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". That's a two fold answer based on my year's opinion of Extreme Metal and my personal struggles this year. Before I get into the Music part let me explain something. For me 2025 was a tough year dealing with my work schedule, health issues and being too passionately involved in other things.

Be that the situation there was a lot of good and bad as far as Extreme Metal goes in 2025. There was also a continuation of a newer fad going on which matched 90's Post Punk with Metal whether it was Doom or Death Metal. Yeah I know they left Black Metal alone this time. Speaking of which when it came to new Black Metal releases by bands I've followed for years. I was pissed on how many of them just went to release borring shit by progressing themselves out of the genre. Thankfully I heard a new track from MAYHEM's 2026 release which gives me hope that the old guard ain't all dead.

As usual Death Metal was great in 2025. There were a ton of great chaotic releases to choose from. To me the top bands were the ones who either were pushing Blackened Death or keeping it old school, ancient and raw. I did have a problem with some past favorite bands since their contributions this year sounded cut and paste like what they did a year or two ago. I really didn't think much for Grindcore's output this year. I heard on some Youtube Metal program that Thrash made a comeback in 2025. I guess the guy was talking about more mainstream oriented fan base Thrash put out by the larger labels. Yeah they can have that because for me it's gotta be early raw old school sounding Thrash or non-generic throat slashing Blackened Thrash.

As far as straight up Traditional Metal (aka: TROO METAL) goes there was a favorite US band of mine who I knew were gonna put out a great album again this year and of course they did. But there were a ton of cool Traditional Metal bands who put out stuff this year. and it was not on the big labels. Moving on there were some other cool stuff out there this year. A great compilation from one of my favorite bands was released this year. I found some decent reissues which ya need to check out.

So like I've done over the past few years instead of trying to slam a top 40. I'm giving you a bunch of my favorites by genre and at the end I'm gonna slam a top ten list of releases which should go into every Extreme Metal fan's coffers. Here we go you motherfuckers!

BEST BLACK METAL RELEASES OF 2025

1. ENTHRONED - Ashspawn

Season of Mist

Belgium's Black Metal titans came out with one of the best albums of their career.

2. ZMARLYM - Wielkie zanikanie

Godz ov War Productions

Second album by this Polish band which pushes brutality with added progressive touches, some fuckin industrial metal punishment, clean vocal passages, electronica stuff and yet it's still icy, cold and cruel sounding BM.

3. DRUDKH - Shadow Play

Season of Mist

It's DRUDKH nuff said.

4. VRAG - Renduletlenul

Filosofem Records

One man Hungarian Black Metal act with a sound that's ripping 1990's era cold, cruel and icy.

5. HEXECUTOR - Where Spirit Withers in Its Flesh Constraint

Dying Victims Productions

A French Blackened something or other and just kicks ass doing it.

6. ANCESTOR OF KAOS - Animal Ritual

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Another one of those whatafuck is it kind of bands. Originally from Cuba, now in Florida. Their sound is Black Metal, Blackened Thrash, Blackened everything.

7. VARNHEIM - Void

Godz ov War Productions

Amazing atmospheric Black Metal from Poland.

8. IMPERIALIST - Prime

Transcending Obscurity Records

A USBM band from California that joins their lyrical love of Sci Fi with some melodic DISSECTION stuff.

8. MALUMMORTEM - Volume I

Black Mass Prayers

Depressive Black Metal which I haven't heard in a while and maybe I don't want to hear again after this guy,

9. JORDFAST - BlodsdAd och hor

Black Lion Records

A Swedish Black Metal band that continues their great nation's legacy.

10. BLUT AUS NORD - Ethereal Horizons

Debemur Morti Productions

French BM icons pushing the avant-garde atmospheric measure to the hilt of the templates' limits.

BEST DEATH METAL RELEASES OF 2025

1. TEITANBLOOD - From the Visceral Abyss

Norma Evangelium Diaboli

This Blackened Death band from Spain has been a favotite of mine for years. This their fourth album is the absolute best they've ever done.

2. VEILBURNER - Longing for Triumph, Reeking of Tragedy

Transcending Obscurity Records

A release to read Lovecraft to. This is atmospheric Blackened Death Metal by a two piece act from Pennsylvania. Amazing!

3. BENEDICTION - Ravage of Empires

Nuclear Blast Records

Five years ago vocalist Dave Ingram returned to this band which put out the fucking amazing Scriptures. This new one just shows it wasn't a fluke.

4. PERDITION TEMPLE - Malign Apotheosis

Hells Headbangers Records

Great US style Blackened Death from Florida with bassist Alex Blume from ARES KINGDOM in the band.

5. BLOOD OF THE WOLF - V: Indomitable

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Surprise DM release of the year for me. Imagine Eastern European Blackened Death performed by a four piece from Chicago, Illinois. So sorry to my friends in VADER and BELPHEGOR but this is cool as fuck.

6. DEMIURGON - Miasmatic Deathless Chamber

Transcending Obscurity Records

The new kings of Italian Death Metal. You'd be a fool not to check this release out.

7. GRAVE INFESTATION - Carnage Gathers

Dark Descent Records / Invictus Productions

Fucking Canadians doing first era USDM, Holy Shit!

8. DETERIOROT - Awakening

Xtreem Music

This one rules! Imagine early USDM combined with early Finnish DM influences. Oh Hell Yeah and they live here in my home state of North Carolina.

9. GLORIOUS DEPRAVITY - Death Never Sleeps

Transcending Obscurity Records

Great sounding Death Metal from this New York band.

10. GALGEBERG - Cerberus

Aftermath Music

Basically this is BLOOD TSUNAMI doing Death Punk infused with that crunchy Boss HM2 early Stockholm DM sound.

11. FELGRAVE - Otherlike Darknesses

Transcending Obscurity Records

Actual Prog Death from Norway.

12. UNBOUNDED TERROR - Something Is Rotten In Humanity

Xtreem Music

Diabolical sounding Death Metal from Spain.

13. LOATHFINDER - Broken Branches and Torn Roots

Godz ov War Productions

Nightmarish Blackened Death from Poland.

14. AVULSED - Phoenix Cryptobiosis

Xtreem Music

Old School Death Metal band from Spain returns with a punishing full length showing age does not stop extreme metal.

15. CROWN OF MADNESS - Memories Fragmented

Transcending Obscurity Records

A band to keep an eye on. Dissonant Death Metal from Canada.

16. DEATHGOAT - Dragged into Realms Below

Xtreem Music

Finnish Death Metal going old school.

17. HATE - Bellum Regiis

Metal Blade Records

Another strong DM release from this Polish band.

18. HEXEKRATION RITES - Misanthropic Path of Carnal Deliverance

Godz ov War Productions

Debut album by this French Blackened Death act. Keep an eye on this band.

19. CORRUPTER - Gloria in Profundis

Godz ov War Productions

Another great French Death Metal act to keep tabs on.

20. THORN - Nebulous Womb of Eternity

Transcending Obscurity Records

Late night Death Doom for insomniacs.

BEST THRASH (and Speed Metal) Releases of 2025

1. FRIGHTFUL - What Lies Ahead

Godz ov War Productions

Yeah this is the best Thrash album of the year. This Polish band combines great Death Thrash with some Swedish melodic DM and it's not "melo-deth".

2. SCRUDA - Fury Among Ruins

Godz ov War Productions

Blackened Thrash / Speed Metal by a three piece act from Poland. This is their amazing debut album.

3. GAROTA - Z mieczem na gwiazdy

Godz ov War Productions

Second album by this Polish Blackened Thrash three piece.

4. SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH - Violence

Dying Victims Productions

German Blackened Thrash and Hessian Speed Metal trio.

5. MORTAL SCEPTER - Ethereal Dominance

Xtreem Music

Teutonic Blackened Thrash from Dunkirk, France.

BEST DOOM METAL RELEASES of 2025

1. Paradise Lost - Ascension

Nuclear Blast Records

Their seventeenth full length and in my not so humble opinion another master class in English Gothic Doom.

2. CASTLE RAT - The Bestiary

King Volume Records

Second album by New York's female fronted Occult Doom act.

3. NAEVUS - Back Home

Dying Victims Productions

Doom Metal from Germany heavily influenced by US bands like TROUBLE, PENTAGRAM, SAINT VITUS & THE OBSESSED.

4. FER DE LANCE - Fires on the Mountainside

Cruz del Sur Music

Sophomore album from America's best export of Epic Doom.

5. CRYSTAL SPIDERS - Metanoia

Ripple Music

SABBATH - ian female fronted Doom from North Carolina.

6. SMOKE MOUNTAIN - The Rider

Argonauta Records

Second album by this Tallahassee, Florida female fronted Stoner Doom act.

7. ZOMBIE EATER - Faces

Argonauta Records

Good O'l Sludge Metal from Finland, yes fuckin Finland.

8. PENTAGRAM - Lightning In A Bottle

Heavy Psych Sounds

After a decade Bobby Liebling is back sounding great with a new lease on great Doom.

9. BEHOLDER - In the Temple of the Tyrant

Black Lion Records

Debut full length by this Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who combine Epic Doom and Power Metal to create a killer sound. A US Doom act to keep an eye on.

10. VOID KING - The Hidden Hymnal: Chapter 2

Argonauta Records

Classic sounding Midwest American Doom Metal. I mean these guys are from fucking Indianapolis, Indiana. Can you say GATES OF SLUMBER or APOSTLE OF SOLITUTUDE.

BEST GRINDCORE RELEASES of 2025

1.NAKED WHIPPER - Chapel Defilement

Iron Bonehead Productions

Blackened Grind that's an unholy soundtrack of filth, rage and sonic devistation.

2. KOSUKE HASHIDA - Outrage

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Japanese murder mayhem death grind!

3. PULPIT VOMIT - Hospital Lens

Rottweiler Records

Old School Grind from California (where it originated from).

BEST POWER METAL RELEASES of 2025

1. HELLOWEEN - Giants & Monsters

Soyuz Music

It's hard to beat out the German kings of this genre. Not as good as their last one but still great.

2. FIRMAMENT - For Centuries Alive

Dying Victims Productions

The second best Power Metal album of the year and they're also from Germany.

3. BRAINSTORM - Plague of Rats

Reigning Phoenix Music

The third best Power Metal album of the year and no shit they're also from Germany. Go Figure.

BEST VIKING METAL RELEASE of 2025

EREB ALTOR - Halsingemorker

Hammerheart Records

EREB ALTOR's tenth full length is probably the best sounding modern developed style of Viking Metal.

FAVORITE METAL ALBUMS of 2025

1. SAVAGE MASTER - Dark & Dangerous

Shadow Kingdom Records

This not only is the band's best album to date but it's a fuckin masterpiece as far as a Metal album goes. There's variety in speed, heaviness, melody and themes throughout. SAVAGE MASTER are the best US Metal band around right now.

2. TOWER - Let There Be Dark

Cruz del Sur Music

Another explosive album from this New York five piece. Sarabeth Linden is one of the better female vocalists in Metal today. If you've overlooked this band then catch up.

3. NITE - Cult of the Serpent Sun

Season of Mist

Surprise Metal album of the year for me. They're from San Francisco, California. Their sound is 80's MAIDEN and MERCIFUL FATE (minus the KD vocals) with Blackened influences. I liked this album at first. Then I saw em live and knew it was a winner.

4. LADY BEAST - The Inner Alchemist

Dying Victims Productions

This band has been around since 2009 and on this their fifth full length they show that time has not stopped em from kicking ass.

5. TIME RIFT - In Flight

Dying Victims Productions

More of a Hard Fuckin Rock album than Metal. But hey if this was the 1980's then TIME RIFT would be one of the coolest bands around. Well hell I remember the 80's so let's make em one of the great bands of 2025.

FAVORITE HARDCORE / PUNK album of 2025;

THE SLIME - Crab-Walk to Oblivion

Self Released

I think in 2025 and you're into Hardcore Punk then THE SLIME should be one of your favorite bands. They're from Canada and like DRI.

FAVORITE EPs of 2025:

1. OBSCUREVIOLENCE - Refuting the Flesh EP

Transcending Obscurity Records

This Russian band does Blackened Death Metal right. It's brutal, diabolical and inviting which is what want these days.

2. PALANTYR - The Ascent & the Hunger EP

Dying Victims Productions

A five piece Traditional Metal act hailing from France with MAIDEN-esque melodies and female vocals. Oh yeah this band deserves a full length.

3. ARMORY - Black Star EP

Dying Victims Productions

Great Swedish Speed Metal!

4. SERPENT CORPSE - Retaliate EP

Transcending Obscurity Records

SERPENT CORPSE is Quebec's Death Metal band for the future. This four song release fucking rules in every way.

5. AVENGER OF BLOOD - Revenge Is My Name EP

M-Theory Audio

This EP proves that this band needs another full length.

FAVORITE SPLIT RELEASE of 2025;

GAROTA / SCRUDA - Czern Połnocy Split

Godz ov War Productions

Two bands, both Polish, both Blackened Thrash, both have new albums out. Both are fucking great. Nuff said!

FAVORITE LIVE ALBUM of 2025;

CIRITH UNGOL - Live at the Roxy 2XCD

Metal Blade Records

Here you have a great opportunity to check out CIRITH UNGOL live and new. This is a double dink's worth of the band's material which covers the past to the present. This band, half of which is original members, delivers the goods.

FAVORITE REISSUES of 2025;

1. ORGAN DEALER - Visceral Infection Reissue

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

A true Grindcore classic that came out in 2015.

2. PERCUSSOR - Remnants Of Horror The Final Cut Reissue

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

PERCUSSOR have been the premier Death Metal band out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a decade now. This is their lost album which should've came out on HPGD but didn't until now.

3. DEFENDER - City Ad Mortis reissue

Hammerheart Records

The holy grail of Dutch Speed Metal.

4. SADISM - Tribulated Bells reissue

Hammerheart Records

Old School Death Metal from Chile.

5. ENDLESS DISMAL MOAN - Lord of Nightmare Reissue

Hessian Firm

Japanese Extreme Music which is a second chance to pick something up by an artist who unfortunately decided to take his own life a few years after it was originally released. You might even consider this a masterpiece. Nuff Said!

FAVORITE COMPILATIONS of 2025

1. DECEASED - March of the Cadavers: 40 Years of Death Metal from the Grave 2x CD Compilation

Hells Headbangers Records

Bias alert they're one of my favorite bands so of course I'm gonna like this one and you will to.

2. VARIOUS ARTISTS - King Of The Kill 3 compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

The sport of kings aka Wrasslin and Extreme Metal meet in a death match of blood, sweat and more blood.

3. BOCC - Obrint el taut The Ep Compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

BOCC are actually a three piece act from Barcelona, Spain who started out in 2019. For the record the band has been fairly prolific releasing a bunch of demo's, EP's, Splits, a compilation and a full length since starting out. I refer to this compilation from HPGD as spreading the disease.