Hailing from North America, today we have one of the best local Progressive/Power Metal outfits with Novareign. Unleashing their sophomore full-length release “Shifting the Axis of the World”, the band delivers seven tracks and around 53-minutes of high=octane music, filled with catchiness and craftiness. Showing tons of influences from bands like Dragonforce, Sonata Arctica, Evergrey, etc. this outfit’s sound is more focused on proficient instrumentation rather than atmospheric/symphonic elements, making their music quite engaging to fans of the genre.

Opening with the epic “Ode to the Masses”, we quickly get the band’s very cinematic and explosive sound delivering some killer guitar leads alongside crafty drumming. While many bands in the genre are overdoing it with symphonic elements, these guys have a more compact sound that is as epic, thanks to the excellent vocals of David Marquez alongside engaging tempo changes. Tracks like “Sun & Moon”, “Ironsides”, “Blood of the Game” are straight up bangers filled with intricate technical work and some old-school catchiness.

Australia’s finest Tech Death Metal export, Psycroptic, is finally back with another heavy hitting release “The Pulse of Annahilation”. Constantly improving and refining their craft, I don’t think this band has any bad release, and with this new one, they showcase their abilities to write crafty songs that are engaging, intricate and never overdone. For over 38-minutes the band mixes fierce brutality with technical proficiency in a very balanced and powerful way.

Unleashing a collection of early Death/Mantas tracks brought up to modern standards, today we have super group Left to Die with the full-length release “Initium Mortis”. Having seen original Death members Terry Butler and Rick Rozz, alongside Matt Harvey and Gus Rios, from Gruesome fame unleash all her with their live appearances playing Death’s seminal releases “Spiritual Healing” and “Leprosy”, this release takes the band further. If you like that old-school Death Metal vibe, this is one release you can’t miss.

Creating a truly immersive and sickening listening experience, “Nowhere Speaks” delivers waves of minimalist textures layered in dissonant ways unlike anything you have heard before. Emptiness continues to surprise the listener with their highly evocative fractured approach to experimental Metal, while incorporating tons of decadent elements to perfection. For over 40-minutes, the listener will be challenged by this expansive and disturbing release.

This album is more of a continuation of 2014’s “Nothing but the Whole”, as the release has that cavernous and more Avant-garde Black/Death Metal nature. Bringing back that darker and more punishing side of the band, tracks like “The Threat”, "Nowhere Speaks”, and the vicious “Darkness Commands”, layer crafty distorted guitars with minimalist rhythms and some enigmatic vocals. The band’s Black/Death Metal elements shine more than in their recent release, and create creepy tracks like the playful and funky “Words to Wind”.

Unleashing unrivaled cavernous darkness, today we have Czechia’s Inferno and their ninth full-length release “The Anthropic Sophisms (On the Heights of Despair)”. Featuring a crushing sound that is a mixture of Blut Aus Nord, Oranssi Pazuzu, Deathspell Omega, and some Akhlys, this release is as brutal and atmospheric as they get.

Opening with the fierce dissonant riffs of “Fission of the Soul”, the band creates a very chaotic and yet piercing atmosphere that slowly builds up to deliver waves of devastating melody and harsh vocals. Clocking in at around 10 minutes, this piece sets a very hypnotic and oppressive vibe that blends into the decadence and obliteration of “Dekranos Katexochen”. With all tracks being quite long, the band can explore different movements and moods while creating a cohesive pummeling experience.

In order to keep the momentum going after the crushing release of their 2025 opus “Signum”, Hammerfilosofi returns with a two track EP that features ‘reforged’ versions of two of the most intense tracks of said release. Not your average remaster or re-interpretation, these tracks underwent a brand new mix and master, alongside a re-recording of the drums by Dystopian. If you thought their original versions were intense, just wait to hear them here.

Featuring a very fuzzy and twangy sound, today we have Wailin Storms and their Season of Mist first release: “The Arsonist”. Mixing elements from outfits like King Dude, Beast Milk/Grave Pleasures and Årabrot, this outfit delivers nine crafty tracks, clocking in at over 46 minutes. For those that like hard to define but yet rewarding music, the band will immerse you in their Southerny sound from the first minute.

Creating a very atmospheric and epic blend of Gothic and Black Metal, today we have Sojourner and their third full-length release: “Gateways”. Featuring a fantasy inspired theme, this outfit delivers seven tracks of lush and elegant music filled with masterful contrasts and a hefty dose of heaviness. Greatly enhancing their sound and improving since their last release, this outfit creates a very dynamic and engaging release that any fan of their earlier work will love.

Quickly setting a very melancholic vibe, “Dawnrays” opens up this release with solemn piano arrangements that quickly transition into Doomy territories. The addition of Heike Langhans on vocals, changes the band’s sound slightly, but it adds more emotional depth to the female vocals, rapidly showcased by opener and “An the Paintings Fall”. There is a certain magic to Heike’s vocals, and it is very cool to hear them in a different concept than her other work with Draconian, Remina, and Lightfield Reverie.

Always keeping their sound fresh and engaging, today we have Portugal’s Moonspell and their latest opus “Far From God”. Featuring eight tracks and over 42-minutes of music, this release showcases the band’s ability to create a very dark and engaging atmosphere around catchiness. Five years have passed since “Hermitage”, and they have been worth the wait, as this is one of the band’s most dynamic and engaging releases.

Opening with the bombastic “Cross Your Heart”, which features the band’s quintessential guitar work alongside eerie atmospherics.. This track sets an extremely high bar, as it has everything we love about Moonspell and yet sounds fresh and explosive. Things only keep getting better and better with the pastoral atmospherics of the album title track, the sultry vocals of “Biblical”, and the overall darkness of “The Great Wolf in the Sky”. With the band upping the lush atmospherics, this album kicked off in style.

Delivering one of the most Atmospheric Doom Metal releases ever produced, today we have Spain’s Todomal and their third full-length release “Graveyards of Joy”. Very aptly titled, this release features a very powerful and uplifting found, creating a very epic and dramatic vibe. With the usual influences from bands like Candlemass, Anathema, Katatonia, there are also some Pink Floyd-esque elements that give this outfit a completely unique and very regal sound.

Making a statement with the dreamy opener “Mare Ignis”, Mile and Wildman create a very powerful and moving vibe with soaring vocal arrangements and piercing atmospherics. Being huge fans of Doom Metal, this is certainly a very unique approach to the genre, creating some truly regal and powerful atmospheres that are intoxicating, as “Lucid Nightmare”, “Point of Coalescence" and “Misericordiah” fill the air. The band’s Doom side is also worth noting, with crushing riffs and very moody atmospherics.