3.0

The Mountain King – Pike Dreams Review

By Thus Spoke on March 9, 2026 in Reviews, Ambient, Electronic, Not Metal, 25 comments

“My general lack of awareness and the fact that The Mountain King themselves submitted the album via contact form and didn’t give much away in their promo pack left me unprepared for Pike Dreams. In the hazy air of the promo sump, I caught the word ‘doom’, but when I hit play on Pike Dreams that’s not quite what I got. As much as the name and cover art seem to scream Sabbathian (neo-)classical heavy metal, stoner, and of course doom, Pike Dreams is ambient, synth-led post-rock, and it’s instrumental.” The hills have sighs.

Borrower – Killerdemons Review

By ClarkKent on March 8, 2026 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Stoner Metal, 22 comments

“Unlike some of our staff, I’ve never been in a band. However, I can imagine the feeling of satisfaction in putting together and releasing that first full-length record. For every band that achieves this milestone, countless more never do. Italy’s Borrower was nearly among that number. Formed in 1993, Borrower released three demos in the ’90s, a fourth in 2005, and then disappeared until 2018 with their debut EP. Whatever interrupted their musical career, the dream remained, and they finally released their first album (and signed to a label, to boot) 33 years later with their founding vocalist, Massano Ratano, and drummer, Frank Formoso, joined by new guitarists Matteo Marzo and Matteo Marini. Behold their vision, a story of killer, humanoid demons as told through music that harks back to some of the legends of ’80s and ’90s speed metal.” Kill for metal.

Erbeet Azhak – Only the Vile Will Remain Review

By Tyme on March 4, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, 11 comments

“I’ll take “Global Notables” for $600, please, Ken—The clue: Country famous for its waffles, chocolate, beer, and castles. The answer—What is Belgium?! Correct! Belgium is also home to some pretty decent black metal bands—Lugubrum, Enthroned, and Wiegedood, to name a few. Here to add another branch to that blackened Belgian family tree is Erbeet Azhak, the side project of one pretty busy Corvus von Burtle—C.V.B.(Cult of Erinyes, Wolvennest, LVTHN, Aerdryk).” Belgium bulging with blackness.

Abstracted – Hiraeth Review

By Samguineous Maximus on March 3, 2026 in Reviews, Djent, Progressive Death, Progressive Metal, 31 comments

“Abstracted have been a band since 2013, and their long-gestating debut record, 2022’s Atma Conflux, was an effective and varied slab of djenty progressive death metal, marred by tepid production and less-than-stellar clean vocals. More than anything, though, it showed potential as a record brimming with ideas that was so close to being great. With Hiraeth, can the Brazilian group finally unify their influences into something more than the sum of their parts?” Add and Abstract.

Triumpher – Piercing the Heart of the World Review

By Kenstrosity on March 3, 2026 in Reviews, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, 54 comments

When Greek trve metal heroes Triumpher drop a new magnus opus, it requires 2 reviews to cope with all the glory. Will Piercing the Heart of the World impale you on the lance of majesty and honor?

Dusk – Bunker Review

By Kronos on March 3, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Industrial Metal, 14 comments

“Dusk have been at it for a while now, toiling in the shadows to scrape together an acid concoction of abrasive noise and screaming menace. But who hasn’t? Newcomers to the blog, or the metal scene in general, may not have enjoyed of the deep sadness of early-2010s underground metal, when the promo pit burst with bedroom black metal from a seemingly inexhaustible trove of men who owned a guitar and made up for their lack of talent, and bandmates, and vision by pure profligacy. Though we’re now blessed with far more in the way of interesting music, the Vardans of the world are still out there, now and again transformed by their toil into something worthy of remark. And the crisp mashup of industrial synthesizers and black metal intensity has been worth a listen for the last decade in which Dusk have operated.” Gloom in the gloaming.

Hoaxed – Death Knocks Review

By Maddog on March 2, 2026 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Occult Rock, 19 comments

“Death Knocks isn’t the most extreme album out there, but it straddles the metal boundary more than enough to earn a spot here. While I hadn’t heard of Hoaxed before, their new release caught my eye through its album art and its impressive lead single, “Where the Seas Fall Silent.” This three-piece from Portland plays metal-edged occult rock that aims for an eerie atmosphere as much as for melodic gems.” Deep fake or deep cuts?

De l’Abîme Naît l’Aube – Rituel : Initiation Review

By Twelve on February 28, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 34 comments

“Atmospheric post-black metal is quite the concept. Both titular subgenres span wide varieties of inspirations, levels of aggression, and affinities for emotion. Done well, they are gateways to catharsis and emotional storytelling. So I was intrigued when Rituel : Initiation caught my eye. This is the debut full-length release from Swiss post-black metal band De l’Abîme Naît l’Aube, recommended, or so I’m told, for fans of Alcest and Heilung.” Swiss misery.

Post Luctum – Timor Lucis Review

By Kenstrosity on February 27, 2026 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 8 comments

“Even with someone as infinitely absorbent as this sponge, things slip through the cracks sometimes. In 2019, I gave a shout to Post Luctum’s debut EP After Mourning, citing its very promising funereal pall as a welcome comrade to contemporary heavy hitters like Altars of Grief and Slow. Somehow, some way, I completely missed not one, not two, but three full-lengths from the Maryland-based solo artist in the span between then and 2026’s Timor Lucis. But it couldn’t have come at a better time, with the inclement weather demanding tunes of a dour, reposed, overcast character. The only variable left is how much Post Luctum changed in the years since my last visit.” Lighthouse, darkhaus.

Templar – Conquering Swords Review

By Steel Druhm on February 26, 2026 in Reviews, Heavy Metal, 47 comments

“There’s a burgeoning old school 80s trve metal movement growing these days, with more and more young bands longing to sound really olde. Steel is there for that, as it speaks directly to his ancient bones. A good number of these retro sword-swinging acts seem to be coming out of Sweden of late. We covered Century’s Sign of the Storm last year, and here comes Templar with their Conquering Swords debut, which was produced by Century’s Staffan Tengnér. As a fan of conquest and swords (and that awesome van-worthy cover art), I’m the target audience for this early 80s throwback insanity.” Room & sword.