Weekly Digest, Week 17 / 2026

It's up to the underground to convince us that the world of metal will go on after the monumental goodbyes happening among the big names, and a laudable effort is made by Armed For Apocalypse, Aversio Humanitatis, Cnoc An Tursa, Scimitar and Volcandra.

Here are the mentioned goodbyes, and some other stuff that's not quite as notable in comparison: 

The Amity Affliction – House Of Cards (metalcore)

At The Gates – The Ghost Of A Future Dead (melodic death metal)

Atreyu – The End Is Not The End (metalcore)

Gus G. – Steel Burner (shred)

Plini – An Unnameable Desire (progressive metal/shred)

Portrayal of Guilt – …Beginning Of The End (experimental extreme metal/hardcore)

Sepultura – The Cloud Of Unknowing (EP) (groove/thrash metal)

Six Feet Under – Next To Die (death metal)

Terror – Still Suffer (metallic hardcore)

---

TOP PICK OF THE WEEK

Aversio Humanitatis – To Become the Endless Static

Genre: Atmospheric black metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4.5/5

Country of origin: Spain

I'm not saying that this is what I wanted the new Gaerea album to sound like, but I am saying that (at least to me) it would have been a far more interesting way for them to evolve their sound. This is Spanish band Aversio Humanitatis' third full-length in 15 years, so we can assume that they put some real thought into their compositions. This becomes evident anyway, as you get sucked into their dense, all-encompassing soundscape like a leaf into a cyclone. Inside rages a mighty gale made up of thundering riffs, an earthquake-level bass rumble and a colossus' howl of a vocal performance, sweeping along with it great masses of semi-dissonant melody.

The tone is predictably dark and speaks of debilitating madness and suffering. This point is made early on, and I find myself wanting a bit more nuance and contrast towards the end of the album. But the fact that they've managed to compress such a monumental expression into a sub-35 minute runtime is pretty phenomenal, and keeps you from getting completely worn out. Seriously impressive stuff.

Highlights: "Long Stretch the Shadows" and "Blackened Mold Marrow"

---

Armed For Apocalypse – The Earth Is Breathing Beneath Me

Genre: Sludge metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: USA

Apparently you've been bad, 'cause it's time for a sonic beating. Armed For Apocalypse are a sludge band in deep worship of the sledgehammer riff, and guess what? You're the recipient. On their third full-length they shed a good deal of the groove that made 2022's "Ritual Violence" such a banger-friendly beast, and they have replaced it with a doom-oriented, morose kind of mood that gives the crushing heaviness an almost cruel quality.

There are still a good few instances of hardcore and grindcore ferocity to spice things up, but overall it's a more serious-feeling album that seems to delight a bit too much in oppressiveness. It didn't need to slow things down to be heavy, and some energy is lost in the process. Still, it's far from stale, and just as relentless as you'd expect sludge of this caliber to be.

Highlights: "FISTS LIKE FEATHERS" and "LOST WITHOUT A LIGHT"

---

Cnoc An Tursa – A Cry for the Slain

Genre: Melodic black/folk metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: Scotland

This Scottish band grabs a hold of you with bony talons and dives straight into a world of epic, Celtic legend.  This isn't your typical Finnish-style, tankard-clanking, synth-infused solo fest of a folk sound though. There's a somber mood to the music, as it conveys lamentations from, and longing evocations of, a long lost time. All of this is carried on the back of hot-tempered yet melodic black metal with some classic heavy metal thrown in there to dampen the bitterness.

The immersion is great and the music itself quite engaging. It's not the most distinct thing you'll ever hear in terms of traditional influences, and its atmospheric tendencies do kind of dampen its aggressive energy overall. But the passion feels genuine, and they more than justify their stance on keeping their blackened folk metal serious rather than flippant.

Highlight: "Cailleach and The Guardians of The Seven Stones"

---

Scimitar – Scimitarium II

Genre: Heavy/black/gothic metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: Denmark

Scimitar's full-length debut "Scimitarium I" was a bit of an underground darling last year, but I unfortunately missed out on it completely. No worries, as the Danes are already back with the follow-up. For those still unfamiliar, this is blackened heavy metal that sounds like it's being played in a cult's secret hideout in some forgotten underground bunker.

There is very little about this that's conventional, and yet I wouldn't go so far as to call it progressive. The woe-stricken vocal style and tone provide a strong gothic flair, and there are absolutely gloomy atmospheric tendencies present, but for the most part the guitars and drums run wild on intense, speedy charges. They balance dissonance with ripping riffs and wicked lead guitar work, and occasionally focus their aggression into peaks of black metal harshness. It takes a bit of getting used to, and won't necessarily be for fans of more classic, blackened thrash or speed riffing. But if you're into bands doing their own thing, then you shouldn't hesitate to jump on board.  

Highlights: "A Reverence Warning" and "Mobula Mobular"

---

Volcandra – Beyond The Will Of Mortals

Genre: Melodic black/death metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

Volcandra quickly became one of my favorite melodic black metal bands with the 2022 EP "Border World" and 2024's full-length "The Way of Ancients". Their video game references are what pulled me in, and their playful attitude to songwriting is what made me stay. On "Beyond The Will Of Mortals" the band leave the references be and seek to carve out a dark fantasy realm of their own.

Their mix of epic melody with black metal sharpness and death metal force is just as strong as before, and they add to it with high energy thrash and a touch of heavy metal adventurousness. The mood swings between borderline bleakness and jolliness, which might be a bit too much for some, and I wish they would be a bit more consistent with their stylistic traits. But once you finish you're left with the feeling of having been part of a grand tale.

Highlights: "Marauders of the Cosmic Vortex" and "Venom Marsh Enchantress"

---

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Anubis – Anthromorphicide

Genre: Power/thrash metal

Country of origin: USA

Blood Countess – Imperatrix Sanguinis

Genre: Black metal

Country of origin: England

A Dream of Poe – Katabasis: A Marriage Among Ashes

Genre: Doom metal

Country of origin: Portugal

Xorsist – Aberrations

Genre: Death metal

Country of origin: Sweden