Label: Nidhogg (Independent) Release Date: February 6th, 2026 Unleash the wolves of the Polish black metal metalion. Narcissvs the debut album from Polish practitioners of evil Nidhogg (solo project of former Wilczyca vocalist), released in February with a strength and power to it that you may not hear that often. This sounds to me, very much like a late 90s/early 2000s Behemoth release. Black metal with the hairy balls of death metal. I think it’s awesome honestly. I’m reall

This week's for those who don't like playing by the rules, just like Cemetery Reign, Cryptic Shift, Ennui, Necrosexual and Unverkalt. The big names are playing it fairly off-kilter as well:  Carpenter Brut –  Leather Temple  (synthwave/electronic metal) The Gloom In The Corner –  Royal Discordance  (metalcore) Ruoska –  Kade  (industrial metal) Varials –  Where The Light Leaves  (hardcore/nu metal) Rob Zombie –  The Great Satan  (shock rock/industrial metal) TOP PICK OF THE W

A dark and moody week, with little light penetrating to the underground, as evidenced by the releases from Coscradh, Domhain, Incandescence, Nazghor and Serpent Gates. Up above they've got some actual light to energize and illuminate proceedings: Atlas –  Sunder  (melodic extreme metal/metalcore) Clawfinger –  Before We All Die  (rap metal) Exhumed –  Red Asphalt  (death metal/grindcore) Mirrorcell –  Long Nights In Lovescape  (alternative metal/metalcore) Stam1na –  Apnea  (

The wave of bleak morbidity keeps on rolling, but meets some brighter-minded resistance, featuring releases from Ensanguinate, Mors Verum, Night Of The Vampire, Phendrana and Sleeping Giant. The same thing is happening overground, just on a bigger scale: Before I Turn –  Immoral And Malevolent Happenings  (metalcore) Karnivool –  In Verses  (progressive metal/rock) Mayhem –  Liturgy Of Death  (black metal) Tailgunner –  Midnight Blitz  (heavy metal) TOP PICK OF THE WEEK Overt

Label: Paper Wings Records Release Date: February 20, 2026 Do you like Waking The Cadaver level ignorance? Look no further than the brutal death coming from Colorado’s Disgustingest. Their brand new EP, Coagulating Putrescence is a certified hoe scaring landmark. I pressed play on this in my car and the volume was near full blast without me knowing and it really scared the living shit out of me.  The soundscape on this, the vocals on this, maaaaan it’s like I’m hearing some s

The wave of bleak morbidity keeps on rolling, but meets some brighter-minded resistance, featuring releases from Ensanguinate, Mors Verum, Night Of The Vampire, Phendrana and Sleeping Giant. The same thing is happening overground, just on a bigger scale: Before I Turn –  Immoral And Malevolent Happenings  (metalcore) Karnivool –  In Verses  (progressive metal/rock) Mayhem –  Liturgy Of Death  (black metal) Tailgunner –  Midnight Blitz  (heavy metal) TOP PICK OF THE WEEK Mors

Label: Century Media Release Date: January 30th, 2026 It’s been a little bit of a slow start to the year 2026 and I’ve taken much of January to decompress. I’ve been mainly listening to European New Wave music really, it’s so damn good I can’t stop! But Texas Death Metal band Stabbing has broken the ice for me with the absolute crusher of an album that is Eon of Obscenity. Hopefully this is the kickstart I’ve needed for this year of music ahead. I’ve been pretty busy with wor

No mercy this week, as death and doom roll in from all fronts, with releases from Invictus (JPN), Kosuke Hashida, Malignant Aura, Skulld and Tarlung. If it gets too brutal, take a breather up above the surface: Dead Air Divine –  The Answer  (technical/progressive metalcore) Hanabie. –  HOT TOPIC  (EP) (nu metal/metalcore) Hällas –  Panorama  (hard rock/heavy/progressive metal) Møl –  Dreamcrush  (progressive black/alternative metal) TOP PICK OF THE WEEK Skulld – Abyss Calls

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  (progressiv