Greetings,Decibel readers!
Really excited to present the five albums below. If you’re looking for great black metal, high-quality speed metal, industrial metal royalty, or something to just vibe to in a dark cavern (the first one on the list), we’ve got your weekend covered.
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Death.Void.Terror – To the Great Monolith III: Rifts
Ominous, foreboding, and cinematic all at once —Death.Void.Terror embody everything we mean when talking about “atmosphere” in extreme metal. Their presence in the Swiss Jünger Tumilon provides a contrast to more immediate work of bands like Ungfell, Ateiggär and Kvelgeyst, one that makes them an essential, expansive and exploratory voice in modern black metal.
Stream:Apple Music
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Godflesh – Decay
And thus the long story of one of industrial metal’s titans comes to a close. Although Justin Broderick has plans to “move on creatively with heavy/ugly music to new ground,” it will be a loss to no longer look forward to new noise under theGodflesh banner. On the other hand, there’s a definite dignity in Broderick closing the book: “it has to reach a point where enough is enough. Creatively, there has to be self-discipline. One has to end it.”
Stream:Apple Music
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Iskald – Curse of The Mind
Straightforward Norwegian black metal in the modern, well-produced 2000s style.Definitely check out Iskaldif you’re in the mood for something that blendsKampfar, Blodhemn-eraEnslaved, andWindir with the folk elements dialed back.
Stream:Apple Music
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Krolok – Hričov – Súľov – Lietava
We atDecibel have been hot on the trail of Slovakia’sKrolok for a long time now, and so it’s gratifying to witness their path leading to still greater heights! The band’s mastery comes in how they put songs together, creating a story with every riff, every groove, and every beat. Oh, speaking of beats, they remember to use two-step beats, like on the excellent Súľov, mixing it up with single- and double-kick techniques. It’s easy to win me over with that.
Stream:Apple Music
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Skumstrike – Flawless Intrigue from Hell
The past is alive, specifically the mid-1980s.Skumstrikefirst struck their deadly blade into the scene in 2022 withDeadly Intrusions, and this new album sharpens the blade ever more into a finely-honed instrument of deathy speed-metal extremity. When it comes to this style, we don’t need innovation or ground-breaking exploration — we need to keep the eternal fires burning!
Stream:Apple Music