2025

Lord of the Lost – Opvs Noir Vol 2 Review

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.

Weft – The Splintered Oar Review

Weft – The Splintered Oar Review

By Killjoy on January 25, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Folk Metal, Progressive Metal, 30 comments

“Black metal and the violin go together like peanut butter and jelly, which makes it particularly exciting when an artist who is accomplished in both steps forward. Weft is the solo endeavor of Charlie Anderson, the live violinist for Panopticon. His debut album, The Splintered Oar, is one of two releases by Bindrune Recordings on the weekend before the beginning of Listurnalia 2025. Nevertheless, this is a record that should not go unnoticed during the time of year when many of us have adopted either a backward- or forward-looking mindset.” Black strings and negative feelings.

St. Unholyness – Through High Holy Haze Review

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?

Dead Sun – This Life is a Grave Review

Dead Sun – This Life is a Grave Review

By ClarkKent on January 10, 2026 in Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 35 comments

“He must be a music addict. I can’t fathom any other reason Rogga Johansson has so many heavy metal projects. Scratching his songwriting itch must require the slightly different flavors of death metal and variety of collaborators each project provides. This latest from his melodeath outfit, Dead Sun, marks, by my count, album number nine for Rogga this year alone, and it is also album number nine for Dead Sun since its formation.” Rogga! Rogga!

Dawn of a Dark Age – Ver Sacrum Review

Dawn of a Dark Age – Ver Sacrum Review

By Grin Reaper on January 7, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, 21 comments

“As 2025 winds to a close, the depleted promo pit growls with hunger, eager for the new year and a fresh bucket o’ chum. As I sift through the meager mid-December hopefuls, I detect a flash of black and silver. Snatching the promo, I discover clarinet-wielding Vittorio Sabelli and his project Dawn of a Dark Age, along with ninth album Ver Sacrum.” At the end of the year is the Dark Age.

Bygone – Bygone Review

Bygone – Bygone Review

By Creeping Ivy on January 7, 2026 in Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic Rock, 50 comments

“Being a non-native Bostonian in Beantown allows me to exercise a dispassionate objectivity towards the city’s musical culture. I vicariously experience the pride of housing The Pixies but don’t feel the shame of inhabiting Aerosmith Land. And yet, I’m always curious about local artists who can obliterate this objectivity, making me feel proud of Boston. Bygone, a heavy metal/hard rock sextet, may be able to liberate my revolutionary heart from its Tory shackles.” Wicked haad music.