200 Stab Wounds — Manual Manic Procedures
83/100: the Americans' old-school, gory death metal hits with contagious glee.
8/10 August 3, 2026
Darkest Hour — Perpetual Terminal
83/100: the American melodic-metalcore veterans hit a brilliant new form.
8/10 August 3, 2026
Finsterforst — Still
The "strongest album in a 22-year career" — bloat included. 78/100 for the Black Forest.
8/10 August 2, 2026
Nothingness — Godslaughter
Twisted Minneapolis death metal: "one of the most adventurous and obnoxious records of the year" (8.5/10).
8/10 August 2, 2026
Rezn — Cycles in the Infinite Dream
Sumptuous psychedelic doom: "fantastic" even to its harshest critic. 8/10 average.
8/10 July 29, 2026
Quicksand — Bring On The Psychics
Six reviews, zero sour notes: the post-hardcore godfathers still "fizz with energy and life".
8/10 July 22, 2026
Loathe — A Stranger To You
Six years slow-cooking, 82/100: Loathe deliver 2026's great art-metalcore record, muddy production included.
8/10 July 21, 2026
Haken — In a Fever Dream
Slimmed to a trio, Haken reinvent themselves in 27 minutes: "ingenious and classy", yet "the least Haken-y" release of their career.
8/10 July 19, 2026
Mourir — Nous, le venin
Metal Storm at 8.3, French press won over: Toulouse black metal spits its venom with newfound maturity.
8/10 July 14, 2026
No Cure — It Is Going To Get Dark
Three reviews, three 80s: Alabama straight edge finds unanimity in the dark. 8/10.
8/10 July 13, 2026
The Plot In You — The Plot In You
A compilation dressed as a self-titled album — but the songs are strong enough for 80/100.
8/10 July 12, 2026
Witchsorrow — The Devil And All His Works
Twenty years in, their best album — "the devil's work!": 80/100, a rare doom communion.
8/10 July 7, 2026
Mutoid Man — Mutants
The American supergroup make virtuosity a game: 83/100 for a record as ferocious as it is joyful.
8/10 June 22, 2026
Artificial Brain — Artificial Brain
Cosmic death metal reaches its most accomplished form: 83/100 for a record at once cold and dizzying.
8/10 June 22, 2026
Full of Hell & Nothing — When No Birds Sang
The improbable meeting of fury and mist: 82/100 for a collaboration of troubled beauty.
8/10 June 21, 2026
Wiegedood — There’s Always Blood at the End of the Road
The Belgians broaden their palette without losing their edge: 83/100 for a black metal mid-moult.
8/10 June 21, 2026
Undeath — It’s Time… to Rise from the Grave
The new guard of old-school death metal embrace their heritage: 82/100 for a jubilant, uncomplexed record.
8/10 June 21, 2026
Gatecreeper — Dark Superstition
Arizona death metal gains melody without losing power: 82/100 for a record built to last.
8/10 June 21, 2026
Autopsy — Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts
The pioneers of putrid death metal stay true to their grime: 81/100 for a record of gleeful insalubrity.
8/10 June 20, 2026
Cannibal Corpse — Chaos Horrific
The most famous institution of death metal does not falter: 80/100 for a record of metronome regularity.
8/10 June 20, 2026
Zeal & Ardor — Zeal & Ardor
The negro spiritual meets black metal: 82/100 for a third album consolidating a stroke of genius.
8/10 June 19, 2026
Gaerea — Mirage
Portuguese black metal steps up: 83/100 for a record of visceral intensity.
8/10 June 18, 2026
1914 — Where Fear and Weapons Meet
The Great War set to music: 82/100 for a brutal, documented record on the horror of the trenches.
8/10 June 18, 2026
Chelsea Wolfe — She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She
The priestess of electronic goth reinvents herself: 82/100 for a record of intimate rebirth.
8/10 June 18, 2026
Khemmis — Deceiver
The Americans' luminous doom grows heavier: 83/100 for a fourth album shot through with grief.
8/10 June 18, 2026
Cult of Luna — The Long Road North
The Swedish masters of post-metal unfold their sonic cathedrals: 83/100 for a monumental record.
8/10 June 17, 2026
The Ocean — Holocene
The German collective close their geological fresco with restraint: 82/100 for a record more atmospheric than ever.
8/10 June 17, 2026
Khemmis — Khemmis
79/100 and no song that lets you down: Denver's epic doom restarts without reinventing its axe.
8/10 June 17, 2026
Cave In — Heavy Pendulum
The Boston veterans reconnect with breadth: 83/100 for a rich, generous return after loss.
8/10 June 17, 2026
Russian Circles — Gnosis
The Chicago instrumental trio harden their tone: 82/100 for a rougher, denser record.
8/10 June 16, 2026
High on Fire — Cometh the Storm
Matt Pike's beast still roars as loud as ever: 81/100 for an implacable sludge record.
8/10 June 16, 2026
Baroness — Stone
The Americans pursue their melodic metamorphosis: 80/100 for an accessible, colourful record, not without risks.
8/10 June 16, 2026
King Buffalo — Regenerator
The Rochester trio close their pandemic trilogy in weightlessness: 82/100 for a hovering, hypnotic record.
8/10 June 16, 2026
Leprous — Melodies of Atonement
The Norwegians reconnect with weight and tension: 82/100 for a record that restores density to progressive metal.
8/10 June 16, 2026
Haken — Fauna
The London collective cross virtuosity with an imaginary bestiary: 82/100 for a playful, learned record.
8/10 June 15, 2026
Rivers of Nihil — The Work
Pennsylvania death metal opens to saxophone and introspection: 83/100 for a daring record.
8/10 June 15, 2026