CRUSADERIn For The Kill EP Self-released (2025)Rating: 8.5/10 As if the night sky has cracked open and plummeted them to earth, London, England-based rockers Crusader are born without warning. Of all the 80s throwback hard rock / heavy metal I’ve heard, this In For The Kill EP is right up there with the most authentic. […]

SPECTRAL SACRIFICETranscending The Abyss Self-released (2025)Rating: 7/10 I honestly think that alongside the word “putrid”, “abyss” is one of the most used words in the death metal genre. In this case it’s relatively new Chilean band Spectral Sacrifice that has used it for their debut full-length release. Chile has produced some fantastic extreme metal over […]

FASTER Speed For Satan Self-released (2025) Rating: 6/10 After choking on the fumes of the latest Hellcrash album (Inferno Crematörio) I decided to dive into the frying pan of another hellish speed metal outing. Faster hails from Colombia, they bring nothing new to the table but they do shed rust and blood all over it. […]

BEHEMOTHThe Shit Ov God Nuclear Blast (2025)Rating: 7/10 I didn’t realise God could shit, but daft title aside the latest release from Poland’s Behemoth is rather colossal. I guess that’s all you need to know, but while you’re here I may as well elaborate as to why this is the best slab Nergal and co […]

OMINOUS RUINRequiem Willow Tip (2025)Rating: 7/10 Tech-death has never been my cup of tea, but every now and then I’ll lend a hesitant ear to such a slab. In this case it’s the second full-length album from San Francisco, California-based combo Ominous Ruin. Since the last outing, Amidst Voices That Echo In Stone, in 2021 […]

AEROSCREAMERCountess Of The Night Self-released (2025)Rating: 6.5/10 Although still unsigned, Spanish female-led band Aeroscreamer is making quite the name for themselves in the underground scene. Countess Of The Night is their debut full-length outing, although the band first drew my attention back in 2020 with their Cast The Fire EP. If you’re not familiar with […]

INTERCEPTORMetal Death Motorpunk (2025)Rating: 7/10 I really hope the album cover is for comedic effect, especially when Interceptor’s brand of metal is decent. The photo does the Charleston, South Carolina-based band no favours, so if you can, look beyond the flesh, leather and poses for what is essentially another dose of vicious speed metal. Hot […]

BLOOD SPECTERFarewell Fucking Kill (2025)Rating: 8/10 Lumbering out of Bielefeld in Germany is this doom metal mob that I’ve not come across before. Blood Specter, which formed three years ago, is fronted by Rebecca Möller and the sound the quintet creates is of a traditional doom metal stance; heavy grey slabs of traipsing riffs caressed […]

POWER SURGEShadows Warning FHM (2025)Rating: 8/10 There was and still are a few bands adopting the Power Surge moniker, but this international combo of well travelled musicians is the newest on the block. After issuing a number of singles over the last year, Power Surge now unleashes its debut full-length album, Shadows Warning, featuring nine […]

WITCH KINGThe World Of Men Will Fall Nocturnal Curse / Grime Stone (2025)Rating: 7.5/10 J.R.R. Tolkien obsessed metal is the order of the day here from UK metalheads Witch King (not to be confused with the American act of the same name) who bring their debut full-length to the table alongside a gallon of mead […]