Archspire - Too Fast To Die (2026)

I have mixed feelings with Archspire new album, Too Fast To Die, I just feel the songs are a bit less memorable and jaw-dropping, but I remember I was disapointed when Bleed The Future came out, and found it great when I listened to it the other day, so... I guess Archspire music is so dense you need time to "digest" it and get all its intricacies. Anyway I already enjoy Toos Fast To Die, no time needed to hear that Archspire intensity and musicianship is still really hard to match. At the same time brutal, technical and melodic (neoclassical style) death metal at its most over the top.

 

The BC page. 

 

Kandarivas - Rhythms of Obliteration (2026)

Kandarivas is an awesome grind band from Japan, they have been around for more than ten years now, but I only discovered them with their split with Durian released two years ago by Nerve Altar Records. So Rhythms of Obliteration is the first Kandarivas album I listen to. And it makes me regret not having discovered them earlier! The somewhat "tribal" feel of the japanese kaito drums they use is really something different and fresh to their grindcore, otherwise rooted into the old school. But the greatness of the album is definitely not limited to this "exotic" element, it's a nice touch, but what is more important is that the songs are powerfull! Rhythms of Obliteration is a strong candidate for best grind album of the year, don't sleep on it!

 

The BC page.

 

Kanine - Khaos (2026)

See that huge monster on the cover? See what's coming? Yes, definitely gonna be brutal. Absurdly over the top brutal. Kanine first album four years ago was already an excellent piece of slamming deathcore, Khaos is pushing it even more to the extreme. Bestial super angry vocals, massive bass drop, machine gun drumming, and of course slam and breakdowns at every corner. But they don't just do more of everything, they also are good at making it heavier and at the same time "catchy and fun", well, kind of :) you get the idea. I'm far from being a slamming deathcore specialist, but I think this album will be hard to beat for other bands doing that.

 

The BC page. 

 

Neurosis - An Undying Love For A Burning World (2026)

An Undying Love For A Burning World is the first Neurosis album in twelve years, and the first since Scott Kelly left the band, and first one with Aaron Turner. Is it still the Neurosis we know and love? Definitely yes. For sure, for a change of direction they would have chosen someone else than the main man in the Neurosis influenced post-metal scene. Neurosis is still a behemoth of deep, atmospheric and heavy music. And An Undying Love For A Burning World is a totally worthy addition to their awesome discography.

 

The BC page. 

 

Cryptworm - Infectious Pathological Waste (2026)

Do you love sweet melodies and pretty flowers? Would you kill for it? Do you love brutal death metal, goregrind, and Suffocation? If you do, The third Cryptoworm album Infectious Pathological Waste is exactly what you need. So sweet, groovy and putrid!

 

The BC page. 

 

Uulliata Digir - Uulliata Digir (2025)

First and self-titled album from Polish band Uulliata Digir. And what a strong debut it is! Could be described as death/black progressive death metal, with sax and male/female vocals sometimes screamed, sometimes more melodic, great and special in any case. The use of the sax is also especially good. And their music has a dissonant and weird feel that make them definitely closer to Imperial Triumphant or Oranssi Pazuzu than to Opeth. But they managed to craft a distinctive style from the start. If I had made an AOTY list last year, it should have been included. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Hold Me Down - Devour (2025)

From their debut EP and this second album, Devour, it sounds like Hold Me Down mostly developed their Godflesh whorship side. Well, a more personal style wouldn't harm, but I have to say that talented disciples of the Godflesh are also always welcome as well. And Hold Me down are for sure excellent at doing the godfleshian kind of industrial metal. If you're into it, you'll enjoy Hold Me Down.

 

The BC page. 

 

Deadguy - Near-Death Travel Service (2025)

I'm discovering Deadguy with Near-Death Travel Service, their first album after their classics of the nineties. I won't compare it with their older stuff, in any case Near-Death Travel Service is definitely great on its own. It's an extremely strong piece of hardcore/noise rock hybrid, reminding both Black Flag and Unsane and Today is The Day. With excellent songs and especially good spoken/screamed vocals. Yes, most reunion of bands inactive during 30 years doesn't end up very exciting, but don't make the error of thinking it would be the same here, it's a really impressive reunion album. A total success.

 

The BC page. 

 

 

Shock Withdrawal - The Dismal Advance (2024)

The Dismal Advance is the first Shock Withdrawal album (after a good debut EP in 2022), and a great pick if you're into modern, tight and powerful grindcore (in a Nasum / Rotten Sound vein). No more, no less.

 

The BC page. 

 

 

Bygone - Bygone (2025)

Bygone is an excellent first self-titled album, merging synth propelled space rock and hard rock/heavy metal. It reminds at time Deep Purple and more often Hawkwind, but with also a touch of more recent stoner sound. Epic and catchy songs with great vocals. A strong start, recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Labyrinth of Stars - Spectrum Xenomorph (2022)

Spectrum Xenomorph, released in 2002, was the first album from German band Labyrinth of Stars (with guys from Lantlos and Valborg / Owl). I really recommend it if you're into both death-metal and more industrial and dissonant sound, with also a spacey element. They create atmospheres that could remind bands like The Amenta, Meshuggah and Godflesh. And, except the long ambient track closing the album, which isn't so bad, but not really memorable either, not really a problem but more like a lost opportunity, the songs are all very solid. I really wish they will release another one.

 

The BC page. 

 

Wiggavisceration - Sinista Slam (2025)

Read the album name, look at the cover art? You probably guessed what the music could be. This cover art is ugly and vulgar (I suppose it's deliberate), but totally succeeds in illustrating the music. Yes, the concept here is combining slamming death metal with some hip-hop elements. Sophistication would have been misleading, indeed. Now let's get to the most important point : is the music good? Yes it is, hip-hop and slam definitely mix well since both are all about the groove, and Wiggavisceration are great at doing that, both the death metal and hip-hop parts (death metal being the prevalent part) are mastered and Sinista Slam is a nice and catchy album. Vulgar, yes, but really enjoyable nevertheless (and, let's admit it, also because of it!).

 

The BC page. 

 

Rwake - The Return of Magik (2025)

The Return of Magik is the Fifth Rwake album, and we could also say it's a magical return, since Fourteen years after their previous album Rawke are back with their best one, a masterpiece in southern progressive doom (with some aggressive sludge vocals). I love the atmosphere they manage to create with these songs. Their music, somewhere between Crowbar, Mastodon and Neurosis combines nicely heaviness, epicness and melodic subtleties (including the use of acoustic and pedal steel guitars). Warmly recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

Rise of The Northstar - Chapter 4 : Red Falcon Super Battle! Neo Paris War!! (2025)

As you can guess, Chapter 4 : Red Falcon Super Battle! Neo Paris War!! is the fourth album from the most ambitious French hardcore band, Rise of The Northstar. Is the music backing the attitude? I think it is, this fourth one is another convincing one, maybe not better than the two previous ones, but adding some more diversity to a music already very "crossover", mostly reminding Biohazard, with its mix of old school hardcore, metallic hardcore, nu-metal, hip-hop, and for ROTN a bit of deathcore and now some bits of melodic hardcore as well. Cool stuff!

 

Ophiolatry - Serpent's Verdict (2025)

Serpent's Verdict is a new album from Brazilian band Ophiolatry, seventeen years after their previous one! They combine modern brutal death with old school US influences, especially Morbid Angel, with also a touch of Nile, and they do it well. Good stuff.

Their Website. 

 

Wytch Hazel - V: Lamentations (2025)

Wytch Hazel managed to create their own space in heavy metal, being at the same time very traditional (highly reminiscent of heavy metal from the 80' and even also proto-heavy metal / heavy blues bands from the 70', with echoes of Cream, Mountain, etc.), but also very personal, developing their own sound and otherworldly atmosphere. Their new album V: Lamentations is another masterpiece in old school epic and melodic heavy metal. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

King Yosef - Spire of Fear(2025)

With Spire of Fear, one-man band King Yosef leaves nearly completely behind his nu-metal roots and gets full industrial metal. Spire of fear is definitely closer to The Downward Spiral than it is to Life is Peachy. There's also a hardcore element, reminding sometimes Youth Code (with whom he shared a split record). In any case, it's a nicely abrasive album.

 

The BC page. 

 

GIST - Preservation of Decomposing Tissues via Adipocere Formation (2025)

Which music could be better suited for Christmas than pathological goregrind? Right, then Preservation of Decomposing Tissues via Adipocere Formation from one-man-band GIST is what you need. Even if, actually, if you except the vocals and the drum machine it would be closer to death-doom, with it's quite melodic riffs (but Carcass fans know that melodic guitar parts are no stranger to goregrind isn't it?). In any case, it's cool stuff, I especially recommend the last track. Have a good time!

 

The BC page. 

Primitive Man - Observance (2025)

Last time I reviewed a Primitive Man album was when they released their first one, like twelve or thirteen years ago. I listened to each of their albums, but I felt the next ones were ok, but a bit too samey and monotonous (except the collab with Full of Hell that was bringing different elements). So why reviewing this new one, Observance? Maybe it's just because I paid more attention, but I feel they managed to make those new songs a bit more "catchy" while keeping their trademark sound, that is sludge/death/doom that is especially heavy, raw and bleak. In any case, I enjoy it!

 

The BC page. 

 

Malefic Throne - The Conquering Darkness (2025)

Malefic Throne is a trio comprising Gene Palubicki (Angelcorpse, Perdition Temple), vocalist & bassist Steve Tucker (Morbid Angel) and drummer John Longstreth (Origin, Hate Eternal, ex-Angelcorpse). The Conquering Darkness is their first album (following an EP). As you can expect, we're talking about old-school US Death metal, rooted in traditions (some moments not only reminds, Angelcorpse and Morbid Angel, but also early Slayer!), but with an intensity that always has characterized the musicians past and present bands and that totally can look modern death metal in the eyes. Good stuff!

 

The BC page.