Metallian Heavy

Simulacre is the name for the debut album by Quebec, Canada-based death metal band DÉCRYPTAL, which will be released through Saco Un Ojo Records and Rotted Life Records on 11.07.2025.

Canada-based DISEMBODIMENT has an album called Spiral Crypts through Everlasting Spew Records on the 11th of July 2025. It follows the Mutated Chaos EP of 2021.

The sixth edition of QCDM BBQ will take place in Trois-Rivières, Canada on July 18 and 19th 2025. Bands appearing include INCANTATION, MALIGNANCY, MORPHEUS DESCENDS, Turkey-based CENOTAPH, CEREBRAL INCUBATION, ROOT CELLAR, TOMBS OF DISGUST and OBSOLETE MANKIND.

Indonesia-based death metal band SYMPHOBIA has an album called Hideously Traumatic through Comatose Music in July. Members are also in DEMENTED HEART, PERVERATION and ORBITAL ELEMENT.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions is releasing KING’s K on June 27th. The band is based in Colombia and was founded in 2005. The band is compared to NECROPHOBIC and KRISIUN.

Another side-project: BLOOD MONOLITH, featuring members from NAILS, ULTHAR, UNDEATH, GOETIA, GENOCIDE PACT, etc., has a debut album entitled The Calling Of Fire through Profound Lore Records.

Florida, USA-based death metal band UNALIGNED has signed with Transcending Obscurity Records for the release of an album called A Form Beyond.

Horror Pain Gore Death is releasing Spain-based BOCC’s Obrint El Taüt compilation on June 13th 2025. The death/doom band is compared to AUTOPSY and DISMA. The release compiles three demos, Al La Forca, Santa Eulàlia and La Forja Dels Cranis, from the band.

Belgium-based death/doom metal band DISCARNATION has a mini-album entitled Mournful Incantations Of Mortality through Morbid Chapel Records. The label has also issued Canada-based NECRODEIFIC SLAUGHTER’s 2024 demo, Ripping Flesh.

Italy-based TENEBRO has signed to Time To Kill Records. A compilation CD, called Uomo Mangia Uomo, will be released this summer. Scheduled for release to coincide with the band’s performance at this year’s Frantic Festival, this compilation includes previously released cassette and 7-inch vinyl material together with an unreleased track called Uomo Mangia Uomo.

Black/death metal band DROUTH’s newest full-length is called The Teeth Of Time. It is out through Eternal Warfare Records now.

Russia-based death metal band DIG ME NO GRAVE will issue a new album, entitled Necrocosmic Ceremony, through Satanath Records on 15.06.2025.

Poland-based black/death metal band DEVILPRIEST will release an album, called Where I Am the Chalice, Be Thou The Blood, through Nuclear Winter Records on 27.06.2025.

Turkey-based solo act OHOL YEG has a demo called Shadows Of The Future Converged. The act incorporates Turkish mythos.

Lethal Scissor Records is issuing Intense Digestive Release, an EP from Indonesia-based ANALTOPSY, on June 26th, 2025. The band was founded in 2016.

VIOGRESSION has a full-length called Thaumaturgic Veil. It will be released on July 11, 2025.

SIX FEET UNDER is in the studio recording a new album, which is expected in 2026.

Finland-based death metal band SUOTANA shall release an album called Ounas II through Reaper Entertainment on August 29th, 2025.

Sweden-based GRAND CADAVER has announced an EP, called The Rot Beneath, which is recorded by Per Stålberg at Welfare Studio in Gothenburg Sweden. Majestic Mountain Records has scheduled it for August 15, 2025.

Rottweiler Records will release the debut album by the solo act of one Josh Henderson, THE FINAL WITNESS, Beneath The Altar, on August 15th 2025. It is described as death/thrash.

To support its Geysterzvvang EP through Folter Records, Germany-based DRUDENSANG has released a video for the song Blutkreys Teufeley.

Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Rotted Life Records will issue Sweden-based FILTH’s Time To Rot album in July. It is the band’s first.

UNLEASHED has an album called Fire Upon Your Lands through Napalm Records on August 15th 2025.

Unorthodox Emanations is issuing AKOUPHENOM‘s Connections To The Erebus (blackened death metal from Spain) and ­TENEBRAE IN PERPETUUM’s Vacuum Coeli (black metal from Italy) this month. AKOUPHENOM’s EP is completing the concept started by the band two years ago with its debut album, Death·Chaos·Void.

Greece-based death metal group BLACK PATH has a demo called Of Paint And Ash.

A new ETERNAL DARKNESS (Sweden) will release its self-titled debut full-length through Pulverised Records on 18.07.2025.

Finland-based death metal group ENRAGEMENT has signed a new deal with Transcending Obscurity Records and will release its next studio album, Extinguish All Existence, this year.

Australia-based death metal band ZERSTIREN has a music video for the song Tarrare, which is its first new song in 14 years.

A tribute to Drumpf? Black metal band IMPERIALIST announced an album called Prime through Transcending Obscurity Records for late 2025. It was recorded and produced by Charles Elliott and mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö.

France-based ENTERRÉ VIVANT has a new full-length called Akuzaï through Antiq Records. The band is one of many on the scene following the theme of Japan.

Avantgarde Music is issuing VALDRIN’s Apex Violator and TENEBRAE IN PERPETUUM’s Vacuum Coeli albums in June 2025. Both bands are described as black metal.

International groove and death metal band SINSAENUM – featuring co-lead vocalists Sean Zatorsky (DÅÅTH and ex-CHIMAIRA) and Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), guitarists Frédéric Leclercq (ex-DragonForce, and LOUDBLAST) and Stéphane Buriez (LOUDBLAST) and bassist Heimoth (SETH) – has an album, In Devastation, through earMUSIC in August. A music video for the title track is available now.

STRESS ANGEL and RAZE (Germany) are touring Europe.

Chile-based death-doom band DEVS MORTVORVM will rerelease its 2024 demo The Oldest Crypt through Apocalyptic Productions in June 2025.

Costa Rica-based death metal band MORTUAL offers a debut full-length, entitled Altar Of Brutality, through Nuclear Winter Records in July 2025.

DESASTER has a new full-length, entitled Kill All Idols, through Metal Blade Records on August 22nd, 2025.

LAZARUS CASKET has an EP called Spiritual Warfare through The Charon Collective.

Finland-based THE BLEAK PICTURE will release an album, entitled Shades Of Life, through Ardua Music on June 27th 2025.

Sweden-based back metal act MARA has uploaded a song called Primordial Sonin in advance of the Sword Of Vengeance album. It is available through Immortal Frost Productions on 27.06.2025.

Switzerland-based TYRMFAR has parted ways with singer Robin Délèze and recruited Jonas Babey (AOTB) as a replacement.

Guests, guests and more guests: 5RAND has signed with Art Gates Records and will release an upcoming album. A song called The Nihilist, featuring Milo from FEAR FACTORY, is available now. The band’s name was inspired by a chance encounter with a shaman and a South African 5 Rand coin.

Finland-based black metal band SARASTUS has guest vocals from Trevor Strnad of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER on its Agony Eternal album. It will be released through Dominance Of Darkness Records on July 1st, 2025.

SITH’ARI, the Iowa, USA-based ‘black metal’ project for both Lord Kafir of NEDAKH (known for fascism) and Pathos of SYMPHONY OF HEAVEN and SATAN DESTROYER (known for loving Jebus) has a demo called Before The Dawn through the Ethanol Studio imprint. The act is compared to GORGOROTH.

Finland-based black metal band KAAMOS WARRIORS has a video for the song Seita, which is taken from the group’s next full-length due through Inverse Records out later this year.

Solo act THORN has a full-length called Nebulous Womb Of Eternity through Transcending Obscurity Records in July 2025.

Australia-based PORTAL has a mini-tour there in August. Support comes from Switzerland-based BØLZER.

IKU-TURSO will release a new 5-track EP, Wolfheart, through Purity Through Fire on June 6th 2025.

MAGA rally? An Ocean Ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell is the title for the debut full-length from Florida, USA-based death metal band PLASMODULATED. Among others Personal Records and Dawnbreed Records are involved in the release.

IV: Silencing Of The Prophets Of Deceit is the new album by Germany-based GOATH. It will be released through Chaos Records/Ván Records on June 06, 2025.

Finland-based PROGENY OF SUN will release a full-length called Prophets Of The Void through Inverse Records in September.

INOCULATION has a video for the song Void Corpse Collection. It is taken from the band’s latest full-length Actuality, which is available through Maggot Stomp.

Russia-based instrumental act DARK MATTER SECRET’s New Matter album, which was mixed and mastered by Dennis Fursov, will be released through The Artisan Era on 13.06.2025.

Illinois, USA-based duo CACOTOPIA has a new and self-titled demo.

Rottweiler Records and Broken Curfew Records will release the debut EP from KING’S HAMMER, To Speak In Tongues, on June 13th 2025. The act features SHOVELHEAD A.D.’s singer and guitarist Chuck Weatherman.

Vancouver, Canada-based “Cosmic Thrashers” CRÜZER have a demo called Look To The Skies. The band appeared at the Hyperspace Metal Festival recently and is playing locally with GORGONUM CHAOS, THE BIFURCATED, NOBODY and DJ HAMMER in June.

Poland-based thrash metal group SPECIES has signed with 20 Buck Spin and will release an album this year.

Kentucky, USA-based PYROMANCER has a debut full-length, called Absolute Dominion, through Adirondack Black Mass of Canada.

Poland-based black/thrash metal act SEXMAG has a debut full-length through Sexorcyzm through Dying Victims Productions.

Spain-based thrash metal band FUNEBRE DEVASTATION has an EP entitled Allegiance In Torment through Morbid Shrine Productions. It features music from the band’s forthcoming full-length as well self-cover versions.

Poland-based thrash metal band LUCILLE has an album called Dawn Of Destruction through Dying Victims Productions.

TESTAMENT is touring Latin America in August.

USA-based groove thrashers BYZANTINE has an album called Harbingers through Metal Blade Records. There is a video for the song Floating Chrysanthema.

Thrash metal band BLOODRUNNER has seen a release of its Total Annihilation demo of 2008 on LP and CD through Golden Core. They contain a bonus live track.

Bay Area thrash metal band FROLIC has a USA southwestern summer tour on the heels of its Live demo, Live At the Great American Music Hall, this July and August. The band is working on a full-length as well.

Deathcore act SIGNS OF THE SWARM has an album, called To Rid Myself Of Truth, through Century Media Records on 22.08.2025. The record features guest appearances by Will Ramos of LORNA SHORE, Phil Bozeman of WHITECHAPEL and 156/SILENCE. There is a music video for the song Hellmustfearme.

Denmark-based folk metal band SVARTSOT has a single called Tarditas through Mighty Music as of the 30th of May 2025.

Metalcore act IANWILL has a demo called Echoes. The Paris, France-based act was founded in 2011.

Guests, guests and more guests: UK-based doom/sludge act with keyboards TIGGUO COBAUC has a music video for the song Ascended Deliverance featuring guest vocals by Chelsea Marrow (VORAATH and VISITANT). The song itself is a self-cover version of the album track from 2024’s Fountains of Anguish, which was released through Exitus Stratagem Records.

Funere has issued a single by solo funeral doom metal act FUNERAL TEARS called Kiss Me One Last Time.

SEAR BLISS is booking a 2026 tour to play its 1996 album Phantoms in its entirety in Europe. In the meantime, guitarist Zoltán Vigh has left the band suddenly. Péter Erdélyi, guitarist of ARCHAIC and SALVUS is going to play with the band at the summer and autumn concerts.

Greece-based goth and growl act CAELESTIA has a video for the song Jutland, a retelling of the largest naval duel of World War I.

JORD, SHADE EMPIRE and AS THE SUN FALLS will conduct the Torn Asunder Tour of Europe in September 2025. JORD has a new album through Hammerheart in September as well.


Metallian Hard

ALDIOUS has made it official in May 2025. There would be three concerts in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka in August 2025 and the band would disband. Former singer Re:NO and drummer Aruto are to appear.

TEMTRIS has uploaded a song called The World Is Bleeding Out, which is from the band's Queen Of Crows album. It is available through Wormholedeath Records in August.

Finland-based WARMEN will issue an album called Band Of Brothers through Reaper Entertainment in August.

Sweden-based heavy metal band WATCHER has an EP, called Chains Of Crystal, through Turborock Productions. This is the act's first as a full group.

Sweden-based STYGIAN FAIR has a full-length album, entitled The Hidden Realm, through Rockshots Records later this year. The band self-produced it.

METAL DETEKTOR has signed with Rude Awakening Records. Founded in 2000 and hailing from Calabria, Italy, the band's Violence And Pride album follows the 2021 EP, Maximum Overdrive.

VICIOUS RUMORS has an album called The Devil's Asylum through Steamhammer in August. The band has already uploaded a video called Bloodbath.

US-based heavy metal band CELESTIAL WIZARD released a video for the song Pale Horse, from the Regenesis album, which was issued by Scarlet Records in July 2025. The same label had reissued the band's 2022 demo in 2023.

Brazil-based all-girl quartet MALVADA has a self-titled album through Frontiers Music this month.

Chicago, USA-based heavy metal band FER DE LANCE has a new full-length, called Fires On The Mountainside, through Cruz Del Sur Music on June 27th 2025. It was recorded and mixed by Matt Russell.The opening track "is the 13-minute long Fires On The Mountainside."

SORTILÈGE guitarist Bruno Ramos has died. He was sixty.

Former ROUGH CUTT guitarist Chris Hager died on May 19th at the age of 67.

Norway-based STARGAZER has an album called Stone Cold Creature through Mighty Music in September. A single called Make A Deal With The Devil is available now.

SCORPIONS cancelled three South American concerts in May as singer Klaus Meine was diagnosed with a bacterial bronchitis which caused him to not be able to sing.

UK-based MARGARITA WITCH CULT has signed a deal with Heavy Psych Sounds for the release of a second full-length album. It is called Strung Out In Hell and available on 18.07.2025.

THE SWORD will tour the western part of the USA this August and play the 2010 album Warp Riders in its entirety in order to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

Theatrical doom metal act CASTLE RAT has a new album, called The Bestiary, through King Volume Records (in North America) and Blues Funeral Recordings (in Europe) slated for September.

Sweden-based ZHIVA is booked for Rockgarden Festival Påarp this August.

UK-based hard rock band WYTCH HAZEL has an album, called V: Lamentations, through Bad Omen Records on July 4th 2025. The band is touring with MSG as part of the My Years With UFO UK tour.

Sweden-based TORCH has a video and song called Trail Of The Damned through Metalville.

BraveWords Records has signed singer David Reece for a new BANGALORE CHOIR studio album, which will be released in 2026. David Reece will be hitting the road supporting GIRLSCHOOL and his BraveWords Records' label-mates ALCATRAZZ in Europe in December.

USA-based rock and hard rock band TRAGIK has a new album called Crescendo through Rock Company. It is the follow-up to 2023's Realm Angelic.

France-based keyboard damaged FAIRYLAND has a video for the song Karma. It is taken from the band's The Story Remains album, which is available through Frontiers on June 13th, 2025.

Hammerheart Records has reissued Revelations Of The Insane as a double-LP. It is a collection of rare TROUBLE recordings covering 1980 to 1994.

Doom/goth act THE MEDEA PROJECT will release a full-length demo called Kharon on June 20th. The band was born in South Africa before moving to the UK.

Calgary, Canada-based LOVER will perform at this year's Armstrong Metal Fest on July 11 to 12th. The band has a demo called Fatal Attraction.

After several decades of working with the band, singer, guitarist and producer Kevin Ridley has left SKYCLAD. He wants to focus on his family and the THEIGNS & THRALLS project.

Boonsdale Records presents a rock opera by THUNDEROR, which is giving five shows as part of the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival this July. The music stems from THUNDEROR's upcoming concept album Bleed For It, which is slated for this autumn.

There are no more doom bands on the planet. They are all stoner/doom (like all death metal is now "progressive"): Tennessee, USA-based stoner doom quartet WYNDRIDER is touring the USA and Canada, marking its first international appearances including a stop at Rhune Mountain Fest in Ontario.

Progressive band THOUGHT CHAMBER, featuring guitarist Michael Harris, will issue an album called Myst Of Lyriad through Lion Music this year. The album features multiple lead vocalists including Travis Wills (CRIMSON GLORY), Devon Graves (PSYCHOTIC WALTZ), and John Jaycee Cuijpers (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

JAILHOUSE's Demos 1989-1990 is available through FnA Records. The band's primary line-up included members of RATT and ROUGH CUTT. The act was active between 1988 and 1991.

Italy-based hard rock band NASTYVILLE has a full-length album, called Rebirth, through Rockshots Records on 06.06.2025. The group is compared to SKID ROW and CRASHDÏET.


Metallian Demos

KRISHNA'S CULT - RETRIBUTION
It is not clear whether the solo project of guitarist Hubert Gagné of Hatalom is pro Hinduism or anti Hinduism, but either way, the good news is that no flute was used in the recording of Retribution.
The track list reads either like an inventory of The Pessimist Club or the agenda for your country's right-wing political party. Retribution kicks off with a hell of a start. The vocals are deathcore hollow and an acquired taste. The underwater cover artwork is perhaps a representation of the abode of the singer if his vocals are anything to go by. The high gain guitar lasts throughout and where the focus of the solo act is, although these songs are certainly complete compositions and not just guitar doodling. The material is pretty fast and rapidfire with a fair bit of technical intensity. Time changes are another feature. The track Retribution ends in ambient mode. Abduction is overdone and even includes both ethnic and classical rhythms. Imagine a blend of Fallujah and Kosuke Hashida and you will have an idea what this sounds like. - Anna Tergel