{"id":564354,"date":"2026-04-04T15:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/564354\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T15:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:45:12","slug":"ep-split-single-roundup-of-2025-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/564354\/","title":{"rendered":"EP\/Split\/Single Roundup of 2025, Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ah, this wouldn\u2019t be everyone\u2019s favorite webbed site AMG if we didn\u2019t regularly blaspheme and desecrate the altar of punctuality, yes? Sorry for the remarkable lateness of this round-up, and I can only assume that your collective appetite for our platter of EP\u2019s, Splits and Singles has grown so impossibly ravenous and uncontrollable that seeing this will trigger a feeding frenzy of clicks and views that will crash the site permanently.<\/p>\n

So here you go, starving creatures, enjoy these patron saints of hidden gems, as I\u2019ve called them, the bite-sized yet potentially most succulent morsels of a band\u2019s repertoire. These liminal ventures offer artists the freedom to experiment, or can be the ideal place to release a catered, well-trimmed selection of Premium Grade-A Jams, free of the threat of bloat that comes with a full-length album. They\u2019re the perfect place to dip your toes into a band\u2019s work, or perhaps the perfect thing to throw on when you only have so much listening time. As always, we\u2019ve labored tirelessly to find the best pieces for you, to celebrate an oft-overlooked but vital part of the metal ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Of course, thanks to Herr Dolph and his beloved for their assistance with the artwork, patience and impossibly, unbearably good taste. Under no circumstances should you miss the second part, coming soon to the world wide web! \u2013 Mystikus Hugebeard<\/p>\n

\"\"To the Grave \/\/ Still<\/a> \u2013 Still extends To the Grave\u2019s latest LP with the vehement clarification that Everyone\u2019s Still A Murderer. It\u2019s about as angry as you might expect, continuing in the band\u2019s latest, particularly br00tal vein of violent deathcore, and settling into the groove. And I do mean groove. I defy you not to headbang\/bob, or jerk about in rage to these riffs and breakdowns (\u201cSawed Off,\u201d \u201cHunt the Hunters,\u201d \u201cEmesis System\u201d). Likewise, expect to get your face caved in and enjoy it by shorter, more straightforwardly brutal tracks (\u201cForced Diet Reassignment,\u201d \u201cShow Them the Bodies\u201d). The two are not exactly divorced, of course, and the marrying of extremely pongy snares, whiplash vocal switches, and irresistible crunchiness make all the ugliness incredibly enjoyable. The return of (minimal) guitar soloing bodes well (\u201cHunt the Hunters,\u201d \u201cDNA (Do Not Amputate)\u201d), providing that sliver of urgent melody that makes the blood and mashed-up corpses go down. Leaning back into horror with real or imagined movie samples works exceptionally well for the real-life horror story To the Grave speak out against, and the very death-metal-coded way they express their rage. A revenge on humankind by chainsaw (\u201cSawed Off\u201d), rifle (\u201cHunt the Hunters\u201d), and throat-slitting and skinning taken right out of the slaughterhouse playbook (\u201cForced Diet Reassignment,\u201d \u201cDNA\u201d). Is this the best thing released this year? No. Does it rewrite deathcore conventions and push boundaries? Also no. But is it a very fun 20 minutes you can aggressively, self-righteously flip out to? Oh absolutely yes. \u2013 Thus Spoke<\/p>\n

Still by To The Grave<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Pains \/\/ Blistering Wrath \u2013 I once attended a show in Chicago where Pains was an opener for See You Next Tuesday, and I\u2019ll never forget the guitarist Kubrick-staring the audience down and belting \u201cBANG YOUR FUCKING HEADS\u201d moments before the song kicked into gear. That one command has ever been at the core of Pains\u2019 songwriting philosophy, and is especially prescient in Blistering Wrath, Pains\u2019 newest slab of viciously heavy, sludgy death-grind. As always, Pains loves to be succinct: Blistering Wrath barely crests nine minutes across three songs, but is vacuum-packed with enough violence and skull-hollowing riffage to make Cancer Christ blush. Make no mistake, Blistering Wrath is suffocating. Nigh-constant blast-beats only relent to give the guitars space to gnash and pummel, complemented with a filthy veneer of dissonance and one of the most satisfying bass mixes I\u2019ve heard in the genre. Pains make the most of their brevity, eradicating all traces of fat or excess on Blistering Wrath and leaving only laser-focused, vital aggression. I love the mind-melting assault and swaggering riffs of \u201cShrapnel Dispersion,\u201d and the cogent build-up and release of \u201cJaws of Malice,\u201d but really you should not insult Blistering Wrath by listening to just one track; you sign a fucking liability waiver for an uninterrupted nine minutes of summary sonic execution. Talk to me when you\u2019re done, if you\u2019re still alive. \u2013 Mystikus Hugebeard<\/p>\n

\ufeffBlistering Wrath by Pains<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Higher Walls \/\/ No End<\/a> \u2013 Between the shadows of genocide, endless wars, the friction of sociopolitical venom and the weight of intergenerational trauma, living in today\u2019s world can be, frankly, pretty fucking bleak. London hardcore quartet Higher Walls strips back the skin on these themes with their debut EP, No End, transforming the crushing emotional weight of today\u2019s global barbarities into a deluge of pure, unadulterated anger. Channeling the grimy, abrasive atmosphere of Cult Leader and Nails with the sharp, crunchy guitar tones Knocked Loose, No End is a direct and relentless surge of piss and vinegar that doesn\u2019t mince words. The vitriolic anthem \u201cThorn\u201d is built for destroying small clubs, while \u201cCollateral Damage\u201d encapsulates the atrocities in Gaza with a bombardment of breakneck rhythms, surgical shifts and chaotic stops and starts that will leave the taste of copper in your mouth. Even with the brief reprieve \u201cA Harrowed Wisdom\u201d provides, energy stage-dives out of the speakers with reckless abandon. No End is a short, succinct burst of pure mosh fodder that leaves the listener figuring out how to pick up the pieces after the final breakdown of \u201cSo Much, For So Long, For So Little\u201d rings out. Higher Walls is a group with an incredibly bright\u2014albeit violent\u2014future and I can\u2019t wait for a full-length. \u2013 Owlswald<\/p>\n

No End by Higher Walls<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Cross Bringer \/\/ Healismus Aeternus<\/a> \u2013 An international collaboration between members in Belgium, Cyprus, America and Russia, Cross Bringer has crafted one of the best black metal records of the year\u2014and its only an EP. Despite its brevity, Healismus Aeternus is as immersive as it is haunting, bolstered by a production that favors a thick, resonant low end over the genre\u2019s traditional treble-heavy wash. Traveling a similar blackened flight path as Immortal Bird while incorporating the dissonant, foreboding alarms of groups like Deathspell Omega, swarming guitars surround and smother the listener with their anxiety-inducing tones and sparkling, eerie arpeggios. Meanwhile, the syncopated drum rolls and surgical hi-hat hits of Michael Kadnar (Downfall of Gaia) collide with basslines that offer just enough buoyancy to keep the listener from drowning in the intensity. Lina R\u2019s (Predatory Void) vocals are imbued with raw desperation and authentic pain, yet she balances their desolation beautifully with hopeful ethereal croons (\u201cPerpetual Servantship,\u201d \u201cStructural Imbalance\u201d) that provide a much-needed sense of space and lift against the sonic barrage. Diving deep into the ocean of spiritual delusion, Healismus Aeternus is as pulverizing as it is melodically rich\u2014a nightmare-fueled EP that black metal fans can\u2019t afford to miss. \u2013 Owlswald<\/p>\n

Healismus Aeternus by Cross Bringer<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Carach Angren \/\/ The Cult of Kariba<\/a> \u2013 Theatrical, story-driven metal quickens my pulse, grinding other activities to a halt so that I may revel in consummately realized concepts. The lures of King Diamond<\/a>, Cradle of Filth<\/a>, and Bal-Sagoth captivate and enthrall, and Carach Angren<\/a> similarly preys upon me without compunction. The Cult of Kariba continues the story from 2008 debut Lammendam, detailing ritual sacrifice, the resurrection of Kariba, and an undying lust for wengeance. Sonically, the EP reminds me of Septicflesh<\/a>\u2019s blackened orchestrations, where symphonic elements elegantly embolden Carach Angren<\/a>\u2019s baroque style. From the gorgeous violin frills in \u201cDraw Blood\u201d and \u201cVenomous 1666\u201d to the industrial-informed rigidity of \u201cIk Kom Uit Het Graf,\u201d each track brandishes its own identity while coherently blending with one another, expertly distilling opulent compositions into a meticulously crafted twenty-one minutes. Quiet since 2020, Carach <\/a>Angren<\/a> slowly dwindled from my listening rotation until The Cult of Kariba reminded me just how ghoulishly great they are, leaving me flush with anticipation for what comes next. \u2013 Grin Reaper<\/p>\n

The Cult of Kariba by Carach Angren<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Maladie \/\/ Symptoms V<\/a> \u2013 Saxophobes beware, Maladie\u2019s latest EP packs enough sultry horn into its blackened noirscape to goad listeners into prowling for dames in smoky nightclubs. The fifth entry in their EP series, Symptoms V simmers with impassioned intensity as Maladie explores bleak themes across tracks like \u201cThe Implacability of Time\u201d and \u201cBlack Hole Weight in Our Hearts.\u201d Grim inevitability meshes with noir\u2019s cynical, shadowy aesthetics, prodding at raw nerves with dissonant twangs, furious howls, and one of the most emotive sax performances I\u2019ve heard in years. The German outfit\u2019s avant-garde stylings writhe across five tracks, constructing an entrancing half hour of progressive structures that seamlessly swing between brooding atmospheres and naked ferocity, highlighting Symptom V\u2019s clever composition. If you find yourself seeking a quick hit of metal to thwart the din of relentless holiday racket and you\u2019re not afraid of a little unsafe sax, give Maladie a spin and succumb to their infectious swagger. \u2013 Grin Reaper<\/p>\n

Symptoms V by Maladie<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Hanging Garden \/\/ The Unending<\/a> \u2013 One of the best releases of the year, The Unending, might also be Hanging Garden\u2019s best work to date. I wish it were longer, but if you write a melodic masterpiece, who am I to complain? The back and forth vocals between Toni Hatakka and Riikka Hatakka are beautiful to behold. Their soaring melodies on \u201cTo Seize the Night\u201d reach an emotional crescendo that is capped off by a lovely melodic guitar lead. As great as Toni Hatakka\u2019s cleans are, his growls are just as impressive. With these elements of cleans, growls, and fetching melodies, Hanging Garden do their best impression of Amorphis on \u201cMorgan\u2019s Trail,\u201d one of the year\u2019s best songs. That killer melody just bursts from my chest like a newly-hatched xenomorph, and it\u2019s a contagion that can spread just as quickly\u2014and violently\u2014as it rips through the Avengers in the latest Marvel crossover comic. The finale, \u201cThe First Sunrise,\u201d is a poetic piece of gothic metal, with some lovely lyrics amplified by Riikka\u2019s melodic lilt. Combined with deathly growls, the song highlights nature\u2019s harshness lurking just beneath its beauty. The Unending is a staggering, bite-sized accomplishment. \u2013 ClarkKent<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe Unending by Hanging Garden<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Grand Cadaver \/\/ The Rot Beneath<\/a> \u2013 Since their debut in 2021, this supergroup, composed of members from Dark Tranquillity and Katatonia, has released an LP every two years until 2025, when they released this EP instead. But what a glorious EP it is. It contains four tracks and fifteen minutes of tightly-written, catchy swedeath that\u2019s in strong competition with Puteraeon<\/a> for some of the best of the year. As it opens on \u201cBlood-Red Banner\u201d with the HM-2 guitar lead, you might be excused for thinking you\u2019ve been transported to Character<\/a>-era Dark Tranquillity, but as the song develops it takes on its own character. The anchor is \u201cThe Rot Beneath,\u201d featuring a killer melodic lead that\u2019s sure to worm its way into your brain. This one absolutely slays and might be the best thing these guys have ever written. However, all the songs hit hard thanks to some absolute pummeling on the kit courtesy of Daniel Liljekvist, not to mention Mikael Stanne\u2019s distinct vocals and the down n\u2019 dirty guitar riffs. If you\u2019re not careful, The Rot Beneath might demolish you like Anthony Joshua\u2019s right hook demolished Jake Paul\u2019s jaw, but Grand Cadaver also mix it up with a more moody finale in \u201cDarkened Apathy.\u201d While it\u2019s a shame they didn\u2019t put out a full-length album, this morsel will more than whet your appetite for whatever\u2019s next. \u2013 ClarkKent<\/p>\n

\ufeffThe Rot Beneath by Grand Cadaver<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Curta\u2019n Wall \/\/ Georgie and the Dragon<\/a> \u2013 When I first heard Curta\u2019n Wall\u2019s highly-praised Siege Ubsessed!, I didn\u2019t get it. Now on their fifth EP, Georgie and the Dragon, I finally see the charm. This is raw, lo-fi music with garbled guitars, tinny drums, and vocals that sound like your grandma singing through her tracheostomy tube\u2014but man if it isn\u2019t a ton of fun. Curta\u2019n Wall keeps up a high dose of energy thanks to a combination of consistent mid-paced drumming, bouncy bass lines, and fuzzy tremolos. Yet it is the synths and folky flutes that steal the show. Their hooky nature makes each song such a fun, goofy listen\u2014the bugle to open the rollicking \u201cnorman keep\u201d introduces us to an especially silly place, one like Camelot<\/a>. As much fun as the preceding songs are, \u201ctriple flail\u201d is where the record finds its true footing with its inspired ukulele\/mandolin-sounding arpeggios along with a nifty beat on some steel drums. Meanwhile, finale \u201cgeorgie and the dragon\u201d is downright triumphant, with angelic choral chanting that builds into an amazing synth riff. It\u2019s the kind of tune that will inspire you to go out and slay a dragon. If you\u2019re looking for some catchy, goofy fun, Curta\u2019n Wall has got you covered. \u2013 ClarkKent<\/p>\n

\ufeffCurta\u2019n Wall \u2013 georgie and the dragon by Curta\u2019n Wall<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0 \u00a0 Ah, this wouldn\u2019t be everyone\u2019s favorite webbed site AMG if we didn\u2019t regularly blaspheme and desecrate…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":564355,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[2967,249764,9676,249765,47293,249766,249767,249768,12026,91401,214143,88,249769,249770,12034,249771,3608,249772,249773,249774,46879,216,249775,222211,37137,2851,249776,249777,249778,249779,249780,152710,152711,249781],"class_list":{"0":"post-564354","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-2967","9":"tag-avant-garde-black-metal","10":"tag-black-metal","11":"tag-blistering-wrath","12":"tag-blog-post","13":"tag-carach-angren","14":"tag-cross-bringer","15":"tag-curtan-wall","16":"tag-death-metal","17":"tag-deathcore","18":"tag-dungeon-synth","19":"tag-entertainment","20":"tag-georgie-and-the-dragon","21":"tag-grand-cadaver","22":"tag-grindcore","23":"tag-hanging-garden","24":"tag-hardcore","25":"tag-healismus-aeternus","26":"tag-higher-walls","27":"tag-maladie","28":"tag-melodic-death-metal","29":"tag-music","30":"tag-no-end","31":"tag-pains","32":"tag-slam","33":"tag-still","34":"tag-symphonic-black-metal","35":"tag-symptoms-v","36":"tag-the-cult-of-kariba","37":"tag-the-rot-beneath","38":"tag-the-unending","39":"tag-things-you-might-have-missed","40":"tag-things-you-might-have-missed-2025","41":"tag-to-the-grave"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=564354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/564355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=564354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=564354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=564354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}