Weekly Digest, Week 04 / 2026

This is the first week of the year where I feel that the underground loses the edge, even with quality releases from Deathraiser, Furi Helium, Karloff and Meteora.

Some first-rate metalcore and thrash is on offer up on the surface: 

Crystal Lake – The Weight Of Sound (metalcore)

Elwood Stray – Descending (metalcore)

Helix – Scrap Metal (hard rock/heavy metal)

Megadeth – Megadeth (thrash metal)

Poppy – Empty Hands (pop metal/metalcore)

Textures – Genotype (progressive metal/metalcore)

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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK

Karloff – Revered By Death

Genre: Black/sludge metal/punk

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Germany

Blackened punk is one of those subgenres that I feel get away with being quite understated, both in terms of production, instrumental complexity and even the level of perceived involvement in the performances, with little heed paid to overall refinement. Mood and attitude is more important. Karloff have both those things nailed down, and add on to it with sludgy coarseness and low-end heft. They don't stick to one type of approach, but transition between rowdy riff romps and black-hooded, slow-burn bitterness, with a genuinely creepy and engrossing instrumental interlude with "On Weathered Altar" being one of the highlights of the experience. Not all of it leaves as much of a mark, but for those enjoying black 'n' roll-esque irreverence with strong personality and an actual bit of depth, this should hit the mark pretty well dead on.

Highlights: "Pessimistic Soaring" and "Regicide"

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Deathraiser – Forged In Hatred

Genre: Thrash metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Brazil

Back with their sophomore album after a mere 15 years, Brazilian band Deathraiser clearly aim to build on their foundation of furious, balls-to-the-wall thrash metal, leaving you with backswept hair (and/or beard) in the aftermath of this gale of aggression. That being said, this feels a tad more reigned in than 2011's "Violent Aggression", opting for a pinch more mid-tempo grooves and prioritizing ordered instrumental interplay and low-end heft over all out relentlessness. That said, it's still plenty intense and focused, and aided by a far superior production it delivers its ravenous riffs, screaming solos and charging beats in satisfyingly impactful fashion. Not a revelation, but a stripped down hellion of a genre-true banger.

Highlight: "Everything Dies"

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Furi Helium – No Altar Stands Eternal

Genre: Thrash metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3/5

Country of origin: Spain

Spanish thrash tends to be a great heap of fun for fans of both the modern and old school iterations of the subgenre. Enthusiasm is almost always the key, and while this album doesn't quite offer the same no-holds-barred riot that bands like Crisix put out, it's still very much a feisty little miscreant exuding up-yours energy, just more prone to controlled, catchy groove and more strongly attempting memorable choruses and melody lines. It works to a degree, but also leaves pockets of somewhat repetitive and interchangeable riff lines. But they break it up with great bass acrobatics and cheeky gallops, and match the instrumental attitude with Alexi Laiho-like snarling vocals.

Highlight: "Fall in Disgrace"  

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Meteora – Darkest Light

Genre: Symphonic metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Hungary

Hungarian symphonic metal band Meteora combine mighty storm fronts of symphonic bombast with Finnish-style melodic aggression, adding thrashy riffs and harsh vocals to the usual semi-operatic ones. While there are elements of folk, they are not particularly pronounced compared to the moderate neoclassical influences and modern heavy metal and hard rock riffs and rhythms. It's a heavyweight of an album at over 63 minutes runtime, and could have used a bit of trimming, but compared to many of its peers it's refreshingly varied and unpredictable, offering a decent range of moods and good range of intensity, although with a few slightly iffy performances and vocal/instrumental harmonies.

Highlight: "Rebirth"

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HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Asaru – V.O.I.D.

Genre: Black metal

Country of origin: Germany

Barbarian – Reek Of God

Genre: Speed/black metal/punk

Country of origin: Italy

Sad Whisperings – The Hermit

Genre: Melodic death/doom metal

Country of origin: The Netherlands