Weekly Digest, Week 45 / 2025

We've got a strong neoclassical presence this week, fronting mostly melodic approaches (and one quite the opposite), from Aephanemer, Burned In Effigy, Howling Giant, Outlaw and Primitive Man.

There's more melodic stuff from the big names, but also crushing heaviness: 

Aviana – Void

Avatar – Don't Go In The Forest

Chat Pile + Hayden Pedigo – In the Earth Again

Despised Icon – Shadow Work

King 810 – Rustbelt Numetal 2

Smash Into Pieces – ARMAHEAVEN

Spite – New World Killer 

Trivium – Struck Dead (EP)

Unprocessed – Angel

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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK

Aephanemer – Utopie

Genre: Symphonic/melodic death metal

Subjective rating: 4.5/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: France

Mash up Children of Bodom, Finntroll, Arch Enemy, Yngwie Malmsteen, and perhaps a bit of An Abstract Illusion for a touch of that towering solemnity, and you should at least be approaching an accurate impression of what to expect from this band. It's the lofty yet playful neoclassical style that the shred monsters of the 80s championed, and bands like COB took into the realm of extreme metal, now revived with aggressive melodeath fervor and a flair of prog death complexity. Added some distinctly Finnish-sounding folk melody and a touch of thrash riffing, this scores sky high on both distinction, vibrancy and richness, without sacrificing too much heaviness. The two-parter title track finish is a bit on the slow side, and tonally I think they could have aimed for even greater contrasts, but it's plenty dramatic, and good for dozens of repeat listens.

Highlights: "La Règle du Jeu" and "Le Cimetière Marin"

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Burned In Effigy – Tyrannus Aeternum

Genre: Melodic death metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 3.5/5

Country of origin: USA

These guys had an excellent debut in 2022 with "Rex Mortem", laying the foundations for a melodeath sound mixing Black Dahlia Murder with At the Gates, and taking it in a tastefully restrained neoclassical direction. This latest album picks up where the last one left off, and keeps pushing the instrumentation in a slightly more technical and progressive direction. It's a delight to listen to for a melodic extreme metal fan, although not quite as memorable as its predecessor.

Highlights: "Befouled Benefaction" and "Wage of Exile"

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Howling Giant – Crucible & Ruin

Genre: Stoner/psychedelic metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

On their third full-length, Nashville's Howling Giant pull you into a harmonious, isolated world of understated wonders, and take you exploring in leaps and bounds as well as gentle treks. This is a gorgeous sounding album that will have you delighting in the classic, tasteful instrumentation as well as the enveloping atmosphere. There is a mild prog-ness to the rhythms, but nothing distracting or overly complicated, and a warm, doom-like patience to the progression. This will effortlessly capture your attention and likely leave you wanting more as it rounds off.    

Highlights: "Beholder I: Downfall" and "Hunter's Mark"

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Outlaw – Opus Mortis

Genre: Melodic black metal

Subjective rating: 4/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: Brazil

Brazilian band Outlaw follow up their excellent 2023 release "Reaching Beyond Assiah" with an equally solid effort in their fourth full-length. This is black metal that dares to dream, and even though these dreams drip with melancholy, it's not the venomous nor overly nihilistic kind we so often get from Northern Europe. There are just enough hints of a grand vision to make you sense the deeper dimensions of the sound. It sounds earnest and serious, and sells it by staying relatively modest, while delivering rock solid performances based on carefully considered songwriting.  

Highlight: "Those Who Breathe Fire" and "A Million Midnights"

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Primitive Man – Observance

Genre: Doom/sludge metal

Subjective rating: 3.5/5

Objective rating: 4/5

Country of origin: USA

The sound of being buried alive, trapped inside a massive industrial drill that's digging deeper and deeper into the earthy blackness. There is no salvation, no silver lining, only mounting pressure and despair. At its best, it offers grating, frightening texture to the mostly funeral-paced descent, but there is also droning noise and repetitive patterns that seem like attempts to drive you mad. It's a very specific sort of misery that fans of this kind of nihilistic punishment will no doubt appreciate greatly.

Highlights: "Seer" and "Devotion"

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HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Believe In Nothing – Rot

Genre: Blackened sludge/noise metal

Country of origin: England

Cemican – U k 'u' uk'ankil Mayakaaj

Genre: Folk/melodic death metal

Country of origin: Mexico

One Of Nine – Dawn Of The Iron Shadow

Genre: Melodic/atmospheric black metal

Country of origin: USA