Being one of the few bands that are decently known outside of Indonesia that do not play Gore/Grind Metal, Pure Wrath as always impressed listeners with their raw and visceral Atmospheric Black Metal. After loving their first release through Debemur Morti, “Hymn to the Woeful Hearts”, this release unleashes over 40 minutes of even more refined music that takes a few spins to fully digest.

Opening with the blistering two parts of “Bleak Days Ahead”, Ryo, the band’s single member, unleashes vicious onslaughts of misery inducing riffs that perfectly blend with his harsh screams. However, the subtle atmospherics is what gets the listener as the slowly creep on you and build up some intense momentum. Adding extra elements like sax, piano, organ, and mellotron, the music is quite varied and creates very profound passages thanks to this wider pallet of sounds.

Unleashing vicious exercise in brutality, today we have Spain’s Aversio Humanitatis and their latest opus “To Become The Endless Ecstatic”. In six years since their last effort, the band has managed to expand and make their sound even more crushing, thing of Ulcerate but with a Black Metal edge. Delivering almost 35 minutes of music, this release will certainly grab you by surprise thanks to its incisive and primeval nature.

Opening with blistering “Long Stretch the Shadows”, the band sets an impossible pace with pummeling drumming and hellish riffing. Not holding off on anything, this outfit quickly sets a decadent atmosphere. The album title track continues the nightmare with A.M’s vocals piercing through to the chaotic and powerful instrumentation. This track is pure brutality, and sets nicely the transition to ‘calmer’ territories with “Blackened Mold Marrow”.

Always delivering some truly impressive and challenging releases, today we have Crippled Black Phoenix with their latest opus after 4 years. With “Sceaduhelm”, Justin Greaves and company unleash twelve tracks and over 66 minutes of masterful music. Ranging from Post-Rock, Alternative Rock, to some Shoegazey territories, this release has a bit for everybody, from fans of the band to the occasional listener of dark and macabre rock music.

Opening with some weird samples on “One Man Wall of Death”, the mood is instantly set in a very chaotic and strange way. The bombastic “Ravenettes” quickly shakes things up with catchiness and enveloping atmospherics, only to go back to more weirdness with the opening of the shoegazey “Things Start Falling Apart”. This is what makes the band’s music very unique and engaging, while challenging the listener. CBP’s creativity is unrivaled as these tracks explore different aural soundscapes while staying true to the band’s dynamic and exploratory nature.

After a highly acclaimed debut release, “Lichtvrees”, Doodswens is back with their eponymous sophomore release with a mostly new line-up but with the same vicious and raw sound. Featuring seven tracks and over 37-minutes of pummeling raw Black Metal, this release is very ferocious and punishingly raw. With I taking on vocals and drums, and P from Dödsrit taking on guitars and additional vocals, the band continues their path spewing some of the most crushing and unfiltered BM in the scene.

Opening with the crushing drumming and savage riffing of “ Driven by Death”, we get a very gritty sounding track that continues the band’s musical path while showing additional levels of brutality. I’s vocals are unrestrained and raw, giving tracks like “Verrot” and “The Black Flame” that little extra to push them over the top as they unleash masterfully riffing and crafty tempo changes while leveling everything in the way.

Riding off into the sunset on a high note, today we have Nate Garrett and Spirit Adrift with their last release: “Infinite Illumination”. Not even advertised until its release date, this album delivers eight tracks and 46 minutes of crafty Doom/Heavy Metal featuring a plethora of sick riffs and a very mellow headbanging vibe. Slowly evolving from more of a classical Doom Metal core, into Heavy Metal territories, this band has managed to deliver consistency and quality music over the years, and while sad to see them go, we are glad they leave with a bang.

Opening with the crushing guitars of “Infinite Illumination”, the band instantly sets a very old-school Doom Metal vibe with a very Candlemass-esque progression. Having set a high bar from the get go, the band pummels through: “Window Within” and its crunchy guitars, “You Will Never Hold The Key” with its retro guitar leads, and the playful “Born In A Bad Way” which quickly had us headbanging. The band has never shied away from making simple and yet direct songs that are both heavy and melodic, featuring great versatility and craftiness.

With an ominous name like “Anthems For The Grand Collapse”, SolNegre unleashes one of the most soul-crushing Death/Doom Metal releases in 2026. Featuring five tracks and over 41-minutes of music, this release is both devastating and expertly crafted to infuse bleakness and hopelessness. Hailing from Spain, this outfit can be compared to the greats of the genre like Saturnus, October Tide, My Dying Bride, etc.

Opening with the demoralizing atmospherics of “The Axiom - Song for the Inert Part II”, the band sets a very crushing mood with a slow tempo alongside weeping guitar leads and Ûkh’s growls. Like a funeral procession, this opener is slow and beautifully devastating. Changing things up a bit, “The Hollow Inside” picks up the pace, creating some lush transitions into heavier territories while also delivering some haunting interludes that expand the band’s range.

After kicking off the (proper) revival of old-school Symphonic Black Metal back in 2018 with “Netherstorm”, Vargrav has cranked out a few additional masterful releases. With “Dimension: Daemonium”, the band comes back after 3 years with eight tracks and over 42-minutes of their high-octane retro-inspired music, filled with dramatic synths and chilling atmospheres. For those fans of the genre, this release showcases Vargrav’s creativity and knack for writing some truly epic songs.

Setting a very cinematic and theatrical mood with the opener, the blistering “Ablaze Upon the Nocturnal Realms” unleashes that frosty old-school Symphonic Black Metal vibe as the magical keyboards permeate the atmosphere. Don’t get us wrong, the band is more than its atmospherics as their riffs are vicious, the drumming is punishing, and the vocals, handled by Graf Werwolf Von Armageddon (of Satanic Warmaster, etc.) since 2023, create a very cohesive and ravaging Black Metal core as “Moonfrost Storms”, “Dragons of Nightmare”, and “The Gates of My Dimension” showcase.

Just when you think you have heard enough Finnish Melodic Death Metal, a band like Crowen comes around and lets you know that you can always enjoy some more. In their latest EP, “Through the Dying Mist”, the band combines elements from all the greats: Wolfheart, Before the Dawn, Insomnium, Dawn of Solace, etc. Unleashing 16-minutes of high-octane music, this release is the perfect addition for any fan of the genre, as it is unique enough to not be labeled a clone of the previously mentioned outfits.

Unleashing hell on earth, today we have Relic with their hard-hitting EP “Crown of Flies”. Featuring four songs and over 10-minutes of crushing Death/Black Metal, the band makes a serious introduction with some of the most crushing music released in 2026. If you are looking for a heavy release to mosh till you drop, this is a diamond in the rough.

Hailing from the UK, today we have Industrial Death/Black Metal outfit The Machinist with their latest EP “Towers”. Featuring a futuristic and yet pretty crushing sound, this British trio unleashes all hell for over 24 minutes. With hefty influences from bands like Mysticum and Malignant Eternal, the band also incorporates additional influences to create very engaging and atmospheric songs.