Faustian – Parable Of The Sewer 9/10 There are those who claim to be blasphemous and there are those who embody it. Australia’s Faustian is one such act, a supergroup if you will (featuring members of Werewolves) that represent the utter nihilism within. Their second release is the utterly defiant Parable Of The Sewer A sacrilegious interpretation of the parable of the Sower (the trade of the soul for knowledge or power) the exchange in this instance is the convergence of t

Valkyrie’s Fire - Out of Darkness 9/10 Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee one of the unlikeliest locations for Symphonic Power Metal is Valkyrie’s Fire. with several singles and an Ep under their belt their debut album is the truly Epic Out of Darkness. Strap self in, Out of Darkness is colossal, truly colossal, thirteen tracks at over seventy-two minutes, it is grandiose, cinematic, and majestic with its wonder and alluring charm. It is also incredibly metal with some of the

Skjult – A Perfect Devouring Light 8/10 From 2015 Cuban Conspirator (vocals/ all instruments) has led Skjult with such an uncompromising vision that its intensity is felt throughout his interpretation of modern black metal. Its fast frenetic yet multilayered and the fifth full length release ‘A Perfect Devouring Light’ is a deconstruction of ideals where light is not the revelation but a violent penetrative force. Musically excellent, this is a feverish rejection of the acc

Myrkviðr – Harmur 8.5/10 Myrkviðr (Black Forest) are an Icelandic Conglomerate that explore the darkest corners of faith, violence, and the human condition. Their debut release is the raw and chaotic Harmur (Sorrow) four tracks performed in the native Icelandic that encapsulates the bans steadfast vision, that is intense and uncompromising. Harmur is blessed with an atmosphere that is so deeply imbedded it is a natural part of their style. When it does explode it is a lit

Firtan Helios 9.7/10 The fifth album from Germanys Firtan is a masterwork of atmospheric black/ death metal that incorporates the classical to create a truly uncompromising, steadfast piece of art. Much Like its namesake Helios it is a conquest over darkness, the shining sun over brutal enslavement to create the strongest personification of self. After the melancholic intro of "Himsa" and its beautiful strings every Firtan album is blessed with an incredible opening riff a

Exitium Sui is the sole creation of E.S (vocals- Instrumentation) and the result is a profoundly personal experience that reflects the self and that of experience. It is a cathartic release that explores and then destroys the simple genre tags of funeral doom and black metal that combined with subtle orchestration creates a sonic release that is disturbing yet also alluring. It is a darkness that is explained musically and profoundly. The new album is Unravelling, and it is s

Kurayami (vocals & all instruments) ‘’Allarys officially took shape in 2025, but its roots go much further back. Some of the earliest ideas were written around 2019 during one of the most difficult periods of my life. At the time, I never intended to create a band or even release an album. They were simply fragments of emotions that I could not express in any other way. ‘’For years, those unfinished songs remained untouched. Returning to them was not about reliving the past,

’Vicissitude represents death, darkness and decay. We surface to the listener within the realms of Black and Death Metal. Vile, corrupt and horrific to the masses that they openly scorn. C.S and Vicissitude (NZ) are the epitome of brutal cavernous death metal, that is savage, barbaric and steadfast in their belief and ideal to create music that represents their mayhem. ‘’Vicissitude was forged within the abyssic waste of Wellington in 2016, amidst my previous endeavours wit

Aaron Tuck (Guitars, Keyboards, orchestration)’’ It all started back around 2018 with conversations between Gregor and me. Many hours of discussions happened before any music was written. We had both been inactive musically for at least 5 years and decided to make black metal with a set aesthetic and sound in mind. The initial concept was simple - black metal influenced by the second wave artists from Norway and Sweden especially, while also looking to the Australian scene an

Exitium Sui- Unravelling 9/10 The third full length release from Exitium Sui is Unravelling, an album that explores the disturbing reflection of experience. Its sole creator E.S. has delivered a masterclass of atmospheric doom-laden black metal. At times Unravelling feels like a nightmare of epic proportions, its tormented howls punctuated by frantic screams that is a cathartic release of anxieties and nightmares. Its atmosphere is dense and cloying, at times inescapable, a

Tir – Vengeance/ Possessed 8.5/10 Tir is the creation of solo instrumentalist Oytun Bektas. A progener of the modern dungeon synth movement. With over fifteen releases in ten years, it is an accomplished body of work that is rich and sweeping with its textures that is vivid and emotive. Tir’s latest release are the Vengeance and Possessed singles. Vengeance is a slowly building crescendo born of dread and darkness, its horn like

Hulder – Verbolgen 9/10 Pennsylvania’s Hulder have developed a formidable reputation for not only their uncompromising black metal, but their underground heritage and ability to surprise with every new release. No longer a solo act, Hulder (Vocals /guitars /keys) has welcomed Necreon (Bass /vocals) into her inner circle as a creative partner. Verbolgen is the result of this partnership, their third full-length release (Separate from the collectable Eps and

Argul - Soledad and Orgullo 8.5/10 Formed in Peru in 2014 by guitarist Mauricio Guerrero and drummer Jose María Venturi, the road to their debut album has been a long one. Soledad and Orgullo is that debut and it is a celebration of the undeniable power of traditional doom merged with flourishes of psychedelia and stoner. From the opening note with its dual guitar passages Soledad and Orgullo is an ode to Traditional doom, the style purely emotional without any of the mo

Blodtar – Monark 8.5/10 The Stockholm based duo that is Blodtar have returned with their third release, the incredible Monark. An album created in tragedy and the urgency to create and release it, yet without a sense of optimism and hope. Created in darkness yet yearning for light. The self-titled Blodtar reflects the urgency of this album’s creation. It is melodic yet quintessentially black metal, carrying a vitality and a tangibility this is undeniab

‘’Léan is my debut as a composer. The idea of a separate project for my music came to me back in 2018, while I was bored during a hospital stay, though the very first song I wrote there won't be featured on the upcoming album. ‘’Originally, Léan was conceived around the theme of flora, but I decided to give the project more creative freedom, and that idea became secondary. Lorelei Ether is the composer, clean vocalist, keyboardist, and the leader of the duo known as Léan. A

Photo Aitana Fernández. ‘’The Fold” is not just an album but an experience. The second album from Teresa Marraco’s solo Piano based project of Antinoe is a sumptuous and intimate exploration of romance and emotion. It is uncompromising in its honesty and raw purity, recognizing grief and hope, darkness and light whilst being wildly expressive. The Fold is a wonderful accomplishment. 'Hello, Sparky, and thank you! It’s good to speak again, I remember our first conversation fo

‘’The band started as two members wanting to create deep meaningful raw second wave black metal. As we progressed, we added our drummer & bassist from there we slowly began conjuring a unique sound that each member brings to the table. ‘’Our ritual is not only about summoning a feeling but also creating an experience for the listener when they see us live. We want to invoke an intense, dark, and abysmal atmosphere. Unholy Altar is a creation born of chaos and darkness, music

A Grave Ascent - Lumen Ad Mortem 9/10 Hailing from what is undeniably the extreme metal state of South Australia Is Lumen Ad Morten. Following up from their debut 2023 release ‘Upon the Edge of Darkness’ is ‘A Grave Ascent’, an album of atmospheric black metal that is so utterly uncompromising displaying their immense musical capabilities and depth. A Grave Ascent is an album of contrasts. Its overwhelming sense of melancholy is marked by extreme tremolo and temp

Dying to Live is the debut album from Michigan’s Mothertomb. It is a sound that is as fresh as it is classic. Epic soundscapes that carry the swagger of the doom metal greats yet blessed with a modern ethereal sensibility and a spirituality that is sensual and alluring. It is a powerful debut that has a progressive improvisation driven by a huge rhythm section and some fantastic riffing. It is band that that was born from tragedy and mother nature’s wrath. Alice Gawlinski (vo

Photo credit: Jillian Grace Benham (@celesticos on instagram) Rick Martel and Lauren Crosser are Chainlacing. A Duo that has created a sound that is a fuzz infused Synaesthesia of emotion, depth and an almost kinaesthetic wonder. After teasing several singles, the debut album Messuage is finally available, and it is a revelation of sound that has roots in urban shoegaze but is blessed with a dreamy ethereal wonder that surprises with every listen. It is an intelligent organ