This week’s new heavy metal releases include acoustic hardcore, a symphonic pirate score, long-awaited returns, and more! To the metals…
ALSO! Today, Bandcamp is doing their first Bandcamp Friday of 2026 where they waive the site’s share of profits giving bands/artists more money. So if you can get stuff from Bandcamp, please do.
Stephen Brodsky – Cut To The Core Vol. 2
Genre: Acoustic hardcore covers
Origin: Massachusetts
Label: Pax Aeternum
Buy now on Bandcamp
Cave In and Mutoid Man’s Stephen Brodsky has returned with his grandpa’s guitar once more to serenade you with hardcore covers. The twists on these make them more etheral and melodic while putting a showcase on lyrics more than before. This time you’re getting some Gorilla Biscuits, Hero is Gone, Neurosis, and more.
Hermano – Clisson, France
Genre: Stoner rock/metal
Origin: California
Label: Ripple
Buy now on Bandcamp
A decade after it was recorded, this Hellfest set from the legendary desert rock outfit is finally hitting the masses. John Garcia (ex-Kyuss) sounds fantastic and the fellas still had the riffs here. This was before their 2024 record so it’s all stuff form their original run. A must for fans.
Karnivool – In Verses
Genre: Progressive metal/rock
Origin: Perth, Australia
Label: Cymatic
Buy now here
If you’re a Karnivool fan, the last thirteen years have been torture. Well, the wait is finally over and Australia’s moodiest, proggiest, Karnivooliest band is back and just so great still. As always, rhythmic weirdness and melancholic beauty are in perfect balance.
Mayhem – Liturgy Of Death
Genre: Black metal
Origin: Oslo, Norway
Label: Century Media
Buy now on Bandcamp
For those looking for something less melodic and more evil, great news! It’s been seven long years but Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, and the boys are back to rip you apart. This doesn’t reinvent the black metal wheel, but they’re one of the ones who invented this in the first place, so who cares?
Puscifer – Normal Isn’t
Genre: Art rock
Origin: Los Angeles, California
Label: Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings
Buy now from Puscifer
Carina Round, Mat Mitchell, etc’s artsy rock outfit has always shifted its sound. Normal Isn’t has rocking moments, glitchy boopy songs, vibing grooves, and more. This band has come a long way since it felt like an excuse for them to sing “boner.”
Visions Of Atlantis – Armada – An Orchestral Voyage
Genre: Power/symphonic metal
Origin: Bruck An Der Mur, Austria
Label: Napalm Records
Buy now on Bandcamp
This is the orchestral version of the their rad 2024 Pirates II – Armada record. So, no pesky vocals, guitars, drums this time. Just sweeping symphonies that feel like the perfect score to a swashbuckle. Also, I’ll be honest. I’m sort of lost with what Visions of Atlantis are doing with this whole Armada thing they’re on. There’s so much. There has also been three live EPs (that became a album), an RPG game, and probably something else. Anyway, if VoA are your favorite band you’ll have a ton of stuff that says “Armada” on it.
Also dropping this week…
Assignment – With The End Comes Silence (Massacre) – Progressive power metal
Ablaze – Slow Death (Self-released) – Mathcore
Adeline Gray – Portrait of Our Descent (Self-released) – Groove/alternative metal
Agenbite Misery – Remorse Of Conscience (Self-released) – Experimental black/death metal
All The Damn Vampires – Vicecore (Self-released) – Synthwave
Daniele Brusaschetto – Dichotomous (Self-released) – Experimental metal
Before I Turn – Immoral And Malevolent Happenings (Self-released) – Metalcore
Belonging / Inny – The Dog (Dipterid Records) – SLudge/psychedelic
Big Big Train – Woodcut (InsideOut) – Progressive rock
Blossoms Fall – La Alma (Eclipse Records) – Metalcore/post-hardcore
Cattle Hammer – Dark Thoughts With Lights Out (Road To Masochist) – Drone/sludge
Chat Pile – Masks (Sub Pop Records) – Experimental/noise rock
Cyclone – Known Unto God (M-Theory Audio) – Thrash
Demonic Resurrection – Apocalyptic Dawn (Self-released) – Progressive death/black metal
Ensanguinate – Death Saturnalia (Soulseller) – Death metal
Epinikion – The Force Of Nature (Dr. Music Records) – Symphonic metal
Evoked Eclipse – The Cries Of Evil (Club Inferno Ent.) – Black/death metal
Full House Brew Crew – Glasgow Grin (Roar) – Groove metal
Heir Corpse One – Destination: Domination (Emanzipation Productions) – Death/groove metal
I Am Mook – Hollow Allegory (Seek & Strike) – Deathcore
In Aeternum – …Of Death And Fire (Soulseller) – Black/death metal
Induction – Love Kills! (Reigning Phoenix Music) – Symphonic/power metal
Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows – Inexorable Opposites (Magnetic Eye) – Psychedelic/Southern rock
KMFDM – Enemy (Metropolis Records) – Industrial
Lily Löwe – Beautiful Disaster (Self-released) – Rock
Lomor – Sabouk Rouge (Rockshot Records) – Thrash
Mors Verum – Canvas (Transcending Obscurity Records) – Death metal
Mount Palatine – Wormholy World (Octopus Rising/Argonauta Records) – Doom/psychedelic
Night Of The Vampire – The Enchanting Winds Of The Dreamweaving Masquerade (Profound Lore) – Black metal
Outer Gloom – Outer Gloom (Outer Gloom) – Outer Gloom
Paganizer – As Mankind Rots (Xtreem Music) – Death metal
Phendrana – Cathexis (Frozen Archives) – Atmospheric/progressive black metal
Predatory Void – Atoned In Metamorphosis (Pelagic Records) – Blackened sludge
Sleeping Giant – The Beauty Of Obliteration (Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records) – Sludge/stoner
Supralunar – Dead Come To Dance? (Supralunatic Records) – Hard rock
Tailgunner – Midnight Blitz (Napalm Records) – Heavy metal
Uncultivates – This Will Become Clear Later, Like The French Revolution (Horsebox Records) – Mathcore/post-hardcore
Wicked Smile – When Night Falls (Self-released) – Heavy metal
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