German Metal

Lord of the Lost – Opvs Noir Vol 2 Review

By ClarkKent on February 3, 2026 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, Industrial Metal, Pop Metal, Symphonic Metal, 23 comments

“Little did I realize when Napalm announced that Lord of the Lost was recording a 33-song trilogy that each album would release so close to one another. A mere four months following the release of Opvs Noir Vol 1, we get Opvs Noir Vol 2, and it’s just in time for stocking stuffer season. Vol 1 was my introduction to this one-time Eurovision finalist, and I came away impressed. So I was pretty excited to see this in the doldrums of our December promo bin. With the quick release of Vol 2, I can only assume Lord of the Lost wrote all 33 songs of the trilogy together, Lord of the Rings-style.” Lots of lost.

Coronatus – Dreadful Waters Review

By Andy-War-Hall on February 1, 2026 in Reviews, Folk Metal, Symphonic Metal, 22 comments

“Like a sailor’s call to the sea, I am routinely compelled to the sub-genre of symphonic metal in all of its be-corset-ed miscellany. Why? Maybe I need a break from dudes singing ugly for ladies singing pretty. Maybe falling for Seven Spires justified my continued curiosity in the style. Maybe I’ve never been as happy as I was discovering Imaginaerum in high school. Regardless, the call brought me now to the German symphonic group Coronatus and their new record, Dreadful Waters.” Symphonies of Same Ness.

Casket – In the Long Run We Are All Dead

By Spicie Forrest on January 22, 2026 in Reviews, Death Metal, 12 comments

“For over 30 years, Casket has been a reliable—if slow and not terribly well-known—source of classic death metal. Originally forming as a four-piece in Reutlingen, Germany in 1990, they released a slew of demos between 1992 and 1996 before releasing their debut, Under the Surface, in 1998. They’ve released something (demo, EP, or LP) every five years or so since then, and aside from paring down to a trio in 2007, not much has changed since the early days.” Getting laid in the coffin.

Beyond the Black – Break the Silence Review

By ClarkKent on January 21, 2026 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, 31 comments

“Beyond the Black play the sort of female-led symphonic metal that seems to get a bit of traction in Europe. Since Jennifer Haben formed the band in 2014, they have recorded five LPs that climbed the charts in her home country of Germany as well as those of neighboring countries. Break the Silence, their sixth record, finds them at their peak. It’s a concept album revolving around themes of communication and connection.” Can’t you hear me screaming?

Kreator – Krushers of the World Review

By Steel Druhm on January 14, 2026 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, 120 comments

“We’re in the honeymoon phase of our shiny new year, and over the next few weeks, some big names will be dropping albums to set the tone for this trip around the Sun. First up is Kreator, Germany’s long-running and legendary thrash institution, with their 16th album, Krushers of the World. So which version of Kreator are we getting here? The straight-up, no-bullshit thrashers, or the ones that stir traditional metal sounds into the expected speed for a more polished brew?” Painting with a broad krush.

The Ruins of Beverast – Tempelschlaf Review

By Dear Hollow on January 13, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 110 comments

“The Ruins of Beverast has never released a bad album. Its architect, Nagelfar alum Alexander von Meilenwald, has both a devotion to the trve and old-school as well as a flexibility to experiment, creating a legendary discography that feels like a natural progression from beginning to end. From the early and raw marriage of black metal and doom that set the foundation with genre classics Unlock the Shrine and Rain Upon the Impure, to the more melodic and ritualistic horrors of Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite and Blood Vaults, culminating in the ritual-imbued pinnacle Exuvia, the act has an uncanny ability to recall the familiar while trudging into unexplored territory.” Ruins, runes, and revulsion.

St. Unholyness – Through High Holy Haze Review

By Spicie Forrest on January 11, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 25 comments

“As a non-musician, writing music and playing an instrument is always impressive to me, but I am in awe of the successful solo artist. The knowledge and skill required must be staggering. St. Unholyness, hailing from Pfarrkirchen, Germany, is essentially one such project. Aside from conscripting Mac Carrigan to play bass, debut Through High Holy Haze is the singular vision of guitarist/vocalist Christina Earlymorn. As far back as 2008, Earlymorn has been playing in various black metal projects, mostly solo, but Through High Holy Haze is a much wider-ranging affair.” One cowgirl from Hell?

Dagdrøm – Schauder [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]

By Kenstrosity on December 20, 2025 in Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2025, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 18 comments

“To be perfectly honest, I no longer recall when or how exactly I encountered Germany’s Dagdrøm for the first time. There’s a pretty good chance it was a Discordian recommendation, or I discovered it organically while sifting through Bandcamp’s new releases feed. Either way, their debut Schauder regularly circulates on my listening rotation. Weirdly, it received very little fanfare from the commenters or other arenas of metallic discourse that I frequent. It’s a shame, because Schauder remains one of the coolest melodic black metal albums released this year.” Døggøne it!

Olymp – Rising Review

By Steel Druhm on December 18, 2025 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 15 comments

“You’ve heard me rant about the horrors that lurk in the promo sump come December, and how it’s mostly sub-basement black metal made by those who live on gas station pizza rolls. That kind of low-target high-risk environment is why I noticed the offering from German trve metal act Olymp and took action upon it rashly.” May your sword stay stiff.

Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Innern [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]

By Thus Spoke on December 1, 2025 in Things You Might Have Missed 2025, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 51 comments

“My experience with Der Weg Einer Freiheit differs quite substantially from our resident Eldritch reviewer. Perhaps because my first taste was 2017’s Finisterre, I never saw it, nor later Noktvrn (2021) as disappointing steps down from previous Stellar heights. In my eyes, the path that Der Weg Einer Freiheit followed in the last decade is not only a natural extension of their introspective, emotionally-charged black metal, but it has also enabled them to expand and enhance this consistently potent core to new levels.” Freiheit 451.