Artist: Behemoth
Album Title: I, Scvlptor
Record Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
For Fans Of: Hate, Septicflesh, Vader, Belphegor
Release Date: September 4th, 2026

Behemoth does EPs correctly. While EPs are a great release strategy for underground bands, I’ve always hated it when bands of Behemoth’s size release EPs. I’d usually rather wait a while longer for a full LP. However, Behemoth EPs are usually more of a treat or bonus rather than a big entry in their catalog. 2020’s ‘A Forest’ featured two unreleased tracks from ILYAYD and two versions of a The Cure cover. Similarly, ‘I, Scvlptor’ is also a collection of bonus tracks, covers, and demos. It features fun guest appearances from Rotting Christ and Dimmu Borgir. These are the sort of moves I wouldn’t expect or want on a full Behemoth LP. However, the ‘I, Scvlptor’ EP is a perfect vehicle for Nergal and company to complete side quests. Any Behemoth mega fan should own a copy, and casuals will enjoy a few spins but can wait until the next big release from the blackened death stalwarts.

Rating:

“Pretty Good”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Apocælypse
Album Title: Fænix
Record Label: Independent
Genre: Radio Metal
For Fans Of: Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Bad Wolves
Release Date: August 28th, 2026

Please forgive the odd and seemingly unrelated analogy I’m about to use, but it will make sense shortly. This record made me reminisce about my college years playing Call of Duty when I should have been doing my homework. I remember being called a “try-hard.” I never understood this term as an insult. Why on earth would I not try hard? Why would I not use best practices like taking cover and checking my corners?

I now understand why “try-hard” is an insult. This is a try-hard album. Apocælypse tried really hard to make music that would fit on Sirius XM Octane, and they largely succeeded. Each song is a driving anthem with big choruses and slick production. While the music videos they released for the singles are really covers of a book, this time you can judge a book by its cover. The videos are try-hard as well, and emblematic of my point. The video for ‘Black Box’ mixes real-life cinematography with thick layers of AI-generated special effects. The result is uncanny and jarring.

The production team tried really hard to make a Michael Bay-esque music video. If they had tried a little less hard, the video would’ve looked much better. The shots of the band performing in a desert crash site would have looked great on their own, but the inclusion of cheap AI effects ruined what would have been an otherwise entertaining video.

The same could be said of the music. Each song is packed with tight performances and stellar musicianship; however, the choice to include electronic flourishes like the “whoop whoop” sound in “Intell-i-gents” was such an obvious “try-hard” move. The fact that each song is perfectly ready for radio was also a deliberate choice. Because the band tried so hard in this regard, I think a lot of Sirius XM subscribers will love this album, but I do not.

Rating:

“Annoying”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Fen
Album Title: Elemental Part One: Mourning Earth
Record Label: Prophecy Productions	
Genre: Atmospheric Black/Post-Black Metal
For Fans Of: Enslaved, Early Ulver, Alcest, Agalloch
Release Date: August 21st, 2026

I love it when an album reveals one of my inadequacies. Throughout this listening experience, I kept wondering how to describe such a progressive record without using the word progressive. It’s not one THOSE prog albums. It’s not prog at all. However, the arrangements are clever and dense. The atmosphere is dreamy and captivating, and the heavy parts enter seamlessly. Still, there aren’t any odd time signatures or esoteric scales. Fen has delivered quite a grounded album. They seem to relish moments for the music to take a breath, even if it’s the kind of breath you take before facing something challenging. I found myself thinking “Wow” several times, but it wasn’t at some technical performance or punchy riff. It was usually a choice, a tone, or an inventive transition. This one will take numerous listens to grasp fully, and none of those listens will be without pleasure.

Rating:

Great Album

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Afrofuturistics
Album Title: The Enigmatic
Record Label: Big Bonkey Records
Genre: Cosmic Jazz Fusion/Experimental Hip-Hop
For Fans Of: A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Sun Ra
Release Date: August 14th, 2026

I have a brilliant album in my inbox, and I know the algorithms of the various platforms I post metal content to will absolutely punish me for talking about it. Most of these social media sites have the not-so-social tendency to hide posts deemed outside of one’s lane. Most of them are coy about it, but YouTube is the most transparent. YouTube will tell you the truth. When you publish outside your niche, the analytics will tell you “fewer of your subscribers watched, causing it to be recommended less.” If my extreme metal audience doesn’t dig it, then YouTube isn’t going to bother recommending it to other people.

So what will happen if I publish a glowing review of a hip-hop-infused jazz fusion record? The metalheads will ignore it, but does that mean there aren’t rap and jazz fans in the world that might benefit from knowing about this record? Obviously not, but I suppose those fans on YouTube will have to hopefully find out about Afrofuturistics from someone else on the platform.

Meanwhile, I will test Substack. Maybe some of you like to listen to things other than black and death metal occasionally. Maybe some of you like the intermittent listening of bands where the bass guitar is integral or, at minimum, audible. If so, the vibes, instrumental performances, and infectious groove of ‘The Enigmatic’ are the type of fun that is difficult to come by in our dark corner of the world. Might I suggest a palate cleanser before your next course of gory blasphemy? My praise for this record is only rivaled by my lament at the algorithmic cage I find myself in.

Raring:

AOTY Contender

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Hulder
Album Title: Verbolgen
Record Label: 20 Buck Spin
Genre: Black Metal
For Fans Of: Darkthone, Dissection, Primordial
Release Date: August 7th, 2026

For me, ‘Verses in Oath’ was a revelation. Consequently, I couldn’t contain my excitement to dive into Hulder’s latest, ‘Verbolgen.’ It did not disappoint. While there aren’t any earworms like ‘Hearken The End’ from their last record, the overall work feels more organic, mature, and dense. It still has that dark medieval fantasy vibe, but the instruments have a warmer tone and fewer digital synth distractions. This made ‘Verbolgen’ an album I could lose myself in without wondering about production choices. Meanwhile, the guitar harmonies and atmospheric effects were grand while remaining tasteful. The leap in songcraft and production maturation over two years is remarkable. I was excited about Hulder last time around, and that has only increased from here.

Rating:

“Great Album”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Negative Frame
Album Title: Break The Ice
Record Label: Blood Blast Distribution
Genre: Alternative/Metallic Hardcore
For Fans Of: Malevolence, Guilt Trip, Pest Control
Release Date: August 7th, 2026

Here’s a band that clearly listens to a wide range of metal. ‘Break The Ice’ boasts guitar harmonies and leads that would feel at home on any heavy metal record. It has earthy vocals reminiscent of modern alternative and 90s grunge. It also has the thudding percussive chugs of hardcore. That breadth of tools in the chest makes for a record brimming with variety. It walks right up to the border of being disjointed, but is held together by a through-line of punchy delivery and consistent groove. In terms of a cohesive offering, these choices are slightly risky, but I would much rather a band lean in this direction than the opposite. ‘Break The Ice’ is an enjoyable record for a diversity of moods.

Rating:

“Pretty Good”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Psycroptic
Album Title: The Pulse Of Annihilation
Record Label: Metal Blade
Genre: Technical Death Metal
For Fans Of: Decapitated, Necrophagist, Spawn of Possession, Cryptopsy
Release Date: July 17th, 2026

With ‘The Pulse Of Annihilation,’ Psycroptic is entering an upper echelon amongst their tech death peers. This is not to say the band wasn’t elite before, but this record builds upon their already lofty works. The key on their 9^th outing is groove. Groove is sorely lacking throughout the tech death genre, but Psycroptic are making up for it in spades. I found myself bobbing my head far more often than tilting it in amazement at some speedy technique or fill. Of course, there are plenty of awe-inspiring moments, but the most impressive ones are the songwriting and energy. In my perfect world, Psycroptic would be the name that comes to mind when we say the words “tech death” instead of some of the other standard bearers.

Rating:

“Great Album”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Left To Die
Album Title: Initium Mortis
Record Label: Relapse
Genre: Death Metal
For Fans Of: Death
Release Date: July 17th, 2026

Is anything sacred in death metal? If there is, it’s an odd concept given the nature of the art form is built upon offending sensibilities. Well, like most ideas in philosophy, the answer is, “it depends on the circumstances.” Amongst the founding fathers of death metal, few are more revered than Chuck Schuldiner. That’s why (at least on paper) the idea of a new band without Chuck recording demos he decided to leave on the cutting room floor is blasphemous, if there is such a thing in death metal. However, there are extenuating circumstances that make ‘Initium Mortis’ more than the idea written on the page. For starters, two of the original members of Death (Rick Rozz and Terry Butler) are involved. That’s about as close to getting Chuck’s blessing as we are going to get. Further, the addition of Matt Harvey (Exhumed) and Gus Rios (Gruesome) is assurance that the project is in caring hands. It’s also a guarantee of studio quality. The record sounds great. It’s about as close as we’re ever going to get to new Death material.

Rating:

“Great Album” & “For Niche Tastes Only”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

P.S. Speaking of trusting Gus Rios with sacred projects, I just had him on the podcast to talk about being entrusted by Hasbro with remaking the Transformers Movie soundtrack. You can find that episode here…

Artist: Boundaries
Album Title: Yearning: The Unbeautiful After
Record Label: Sumerian Records
Genre: Metallic Hardcore
For Fans Of: Kublai Khan, Harm’s Way, 
Release Date: July 17th, 2026

This will be an “experimental” two-part review of two quite different bands releasing albums this coming Friday. Why? Because they both made me consider the power of simple lyrics or, in some cases, the lack thereof. For this part, we’ll focus on Boundaries and ‘Yearning: The Unbeautiful After.’ Hardcore has always been a genre that flourishes with both insightful prose and direct-on-the-nose aggression. Boundaries takes full advantage. In the song ‘Torn Wide Open,’ both approaches complement each other. The opening line, “Fear is all that I’ve ever known, It’s stolen my heart and hides in my home, A finger dug into every groove, Pulled apart out of view,” is clear but poetic enough to be artistic. The song also has lines like “Life is a fucking nightmare, And no one makes it out alive.” There’s nothing poetic about that line, but the simplicity, directness, and delivery make that line land like a gut punch. That’s where the magic is in music. We write reviews describing rhythm, melody, arrangement, tone, vibe, etc, but some bands defy simple mechanical choices and description. This is where the written word struggles to explain why some things work for some bands and not for others. It’s like trying to flirt with a girl. You could say “I think you’re beautiful,” and it may or may not work; another man might have significantly different results with the exact same words. The difference is the girl’s intuition when you approach, the intangible feeling inside. Boundaries has the aura, skill, and passion to pull off what other bands cannot.

P.S. The other album review, where lyrical simplicity does not work can be found here.

Rating:

“Great Album”

*See below for rating scale*

https://boundariesct.com/

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Under Auburn Skies
Album Title: Diminisher Of Hope
Record Label: Independent
Genre: Metalcore
For Fans Of: Invent Animate, Polaris, Currents, Make Them Suffer
Release Date: July 17th, 2026

This will be an “experimental” two-part review of two quite different bands releasing albums this coming Friday. Why? Because they both made me consider the power of simple lyrics or, in some cases, the lack thereof. For this part, we’ll focus on Under Auburn Skies and ‘Diminisher Of Hope.’ A prime example is the lyrics to ‘World Eater, ’ which land on the nose like a well-trained jab.

“If you only open your mind to things that confirm your biases
What truth do you think you’ll find?
A frail mind is built upon false answers.
You’re so alike those that you love to criticize”

This sentiment is, of course, true, but it’s so lacking in any prose or poetry that the on-the-nose jab lands like a pillow. I felt myself groaning. Hearing these lyrics was like listening to the 100th bro podcast in a row, where the hosts have conversations about having conversations. However, it’s not merely the content of the lyrics that makes them impotent. We’ve already discussed the truth value. It’s the delivery. Let’s take another on-the-nose lyric. In Corpseginder’s single ‘Crimson Proof,’ he opens the song with the declaration, “Bring on the bloodshed!” That lyric is not poetry. It will not be listed in the pantheon of artistic lines. It has punch, though, due to its delivery. In my other review analyzing simple lyrics, I noted that delivering a basic line can be powerful with the right messenger. I likened it to different men attempting to flirt with a girl with the same words “I think you’re beautiful”. The words are the same, but the charisma is not. Under Auburn Skies did not close the deal.

It’s a shame too, because the rhythms and guitar work are excellent. The production also lacks imagination, but the riffs and rhythm section still manage to shine through. This is clearly a band with a lot of talent and a lot to say. I would only suggest they spend as much effort on artistically presenting the lyrics and vocal cadences as they do the riffs and melodies. Some production and arrangement diversity between songs would also go a long way.

P.S. The other album review, where lyrical simplicity does work can be found here here.

Rating:

“Annoying” but should be “Pretty Good”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Fuming Mouth
Album Title: The Ringing Bell
Record Label: Triple B Records
Genre: Death Metal/Hardcore/Crust
For Fans Of: Creeping Death, Gatecreeper, Gates To Hell, Full Of Hell
Release Date: July 17th, 2026

Those following Fuming Mouth will find their latest outing a triumph, that is, if you count getting pissed off and banging your head as a celebration. I certainly do. Their sophomore record ‘Last Day of Sun’ was an existential rager following frontman Mark Whelan’s cancer diagnosis. Three years later, I wonder if ‘The Ringing Bell’ isn’t a double entendre symbolizing both the religious imagery and the literal ringing of the bell following a completed program of cancer treatments. Songs like ‘Cheat Death,’ ‘Self-Exhumed,’ ‘Finally Fearless,’ ‘Respect Mortality,’ and numerous others signal both a victorious conquering but also a changed perspective after facing death. The record sounds like the atmosphere of a prize fighter walking away from their unconscious opponent. He roars in exultant dominion. The moment is ascendant, but it’s also the body and spirit overflowing with the fury and urgency of battle that suddenly ends. What is a warrior to do? What is next left to fight? Well, that’s the crux of life and music; there’s always another battle coming.

Rating:

“Pretty Good”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: No Cure
Album Title: It Is Going To Get Dark
Record Label: Sharptone Records
Genre: Hardcore/Death
For Fans Of: Jesus Piece, Gates To Hell, Wielded Steel, Nails
Release Date: July 10th, 2026

Back in March, I discovered a hardcore band from Birmingham, Alabama called Wielded Steel. Their punishing riffs surprised me almost as much as finding out there is a thriving hardcore scene in Alabama. Now I’m learning about No Cure (also from Birmingham), and they seem to be poised to take on the wider world. I got into a bit of minor controversy for calling Wielded Steel “hardcore” when they have so much death metal in their sound, and I imagine I will get similar reactions here with No Cure. The thing is, modern deathcore holds almost no resemblance to the original deathcore of the late 90s. No Cure is definitely far closer to hardcore than they are modern deathcore. However, the sound is too fresh to call them a revival or throwback band. The riffs are chunkier and chuggier than the more percussive modern hardcore, and a few welcome guitar harmonies give the sound a bright panache. Meanwhile, the vocals effortlessly transition between a Knocked Loose-esque frustrated wail and low gutturals. Simply put, ‘It Is Going To Get Dark’ is a statement. No Cure is a band ready to meet the moment.

Rating:

“Great Album”

*See below for rating scale*

https://itisgoingtogetdark.com/

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Arise From Worms
Album Title: A Bleeding Tree Hanging Self Destruction
Record Label: Church Road Records
Genre: Technical Death Metal/Progressive
For Fans Of: Cryptopsy, Dream Theater
Release Date: July 10th, 2026

Records like this one are why I try to never dismiss an album by its genre. While prog and tech-death are two of my favorites, I dislike most prog and tech-death bands. It’s usually either an elite band or something I’d never give the time of day. Arise From Worms is elite. Despite the variety of progressive and technical music, I often hear too many tropes. I’m never into syncopated odd time signatures or rapid arpeggios for the sake of impressive technique. This record contains both, but the songs are driven by an energetic brutality, and all of the grandiosity takes a back seat to the vocals. That brutality should come as no surprise considering that Flo Mounier of Cryptopsy fame is behind the kit. These are serious players of world-class pedigree, but, more importantly, the songs are heavy and groovy, and they seem to have a destination other than “look what I can do!” I see what they can do: write damn heavy songs.

Rating:

“Great Album”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Forsmán
Album Title: Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur
Record Label: Vesperian
Genre: Black Metal
For Fans Of: Svartidauði, Sinmara, Misþyrming, Emperor
Release Date: June 26th, 2026

It is difficult to please both black metal purists and novelty seekers. How can something be fresh and new without defying the foundational conventions of the past 30 years? I submit that Forsmán might thread this impossible needle. ‘Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur’ has the primal intensity and frigid atmosphere of traditional black metal without relying on tired tropes. For example, the guitar work is frantic, busy, and aggressive, but this is accomplished without tremolo-picked arpeggios. By leaning more into chords and dissonance, the music sounds weightier. The layered production creates an airy atmosphere while remaining sharp and present. Meanwhile, ferocious drums and vocal delivery cut through even the most upbeat sections, grounding the listening experience in palpable anger. Offerings like this are why black metal continues to be at the cutting edge rather than dated, like some other decades-old metal sub-genres.

Rating:

“Pretty Good”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

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Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

I drove through this quiet residential area, filled with columned mansions, cathedral –like churches, and schools that looked more like Hogwarts than the rectangular brick prison yards I attended. As I approached my destination (The Buckhead Theatre), the boujee neighborhood turned into a “downtown” area, but it was nothing like the downtown Atlanta I’m accustomed to. Instead of bodegas, there was a Whole Foods. Instead of affordable housing projects, there were high-rise apartments with designated dog parks that were better landscaped than public parks. Instead of a dive bar, there was a “Lobster Bar.”

And then I walked into the Buckhead Theatre to find a lounge that was ritzier than any hotel bar I’ve ever seen. A long time ago, I was traveling for work, and Delta Airlines lost our luggage. I was stranded in Washington, D.C. with no change of clothes and without the equipment I needed to work. As a gesture of goodwill, Delta put us up in the Washington, D.C. Hyatt to compensate us and paid for our concierge service while they attempted to find our luggage. The Buckhead Theatre lounge was ritzier even than that place.

I came here to hear loud bands scream about death. I felt a bit like Pip from Great Expectations. I was here to see Estella, but found myself bewildered by the lifestyle and culture of Miss Havisham. I looked around, and the room was full of heavily tattooed degenerates like me and very little in the way of color in our wardrobes. I felt a little more comfortable knowing I was around my people.

I wonder if the opening band had a similar feeling. Crystal Lake came all the way from Japan, and they are touring with a guest vocalist to boot. Despite the surroundings and the 11th-hour vocal fill-in, the band seemed comfortable and excited. Myke Terry fronted the band like he owned the place. However, I did still feel uncomfortable. From the photo pit, I was making my best effort to capture the band’s intensity, but I have to admit I’m unfamiliar with their atmospheric metalcore sound. Now I know, and consider me won over.

I was happy to see Atlanta show up early on a weeknight, despite the torrential rainfall. Crystal Lake got a good audience, and we were now properly warmed up for Entheos. It seemed like tech-death royalty on stage with Chaney Crabb and Navene being helped live by Michael Stancel of Allegaeon and Scott Carstairs of Fallujah on their flanks. They performed like royalty, too. Maybe the Buckhead Theatre was a suitable venue after all?

After my neck was thoroughly worked by Entheos, I went to the back of the venue to see if I could capture any weird goings-on. I did, but nothing I’ve ever expected at a metal show. There were half a dozen staff constantly sweeping and buffing the immaculate hardwood floors. There was not a single plastic cup or spill on the floor. Usually, after two bands, a few sticky spots would be par for the course. You could practically eat off of this floor. Now I was beginning to feel out of place again.

Jinjer snapped me out of it. It wasn’t that they made me feel like I belonged there. It was more that their charisma and enthusiasm made me forget where I was. All of my attention was on Tatiana’s voice, Vlad’s percussive ghost notes, Roman’s busy riffs, and Eugene’s beautiful stank face. The men were dressed like factory workers in plain black fatigues and hats covering their faces. It seemed the attention was meant to be on Tatiana, with her old-Hollywood glamour, albeit a dark, gothic version. I thought to myself once again that maybe this was a fitting venue after all.

So now I have to give thanks once again to metal and, in particular, Jinjer, Entheos, and Crystal Lake for getting me out of my comfort zone. Now I’ve got another novel experience under my belt, and I can always return home to the cabin in the woods to be comfortable in my dirt and mid social standing. Although given that I’m into “that screamy music,” I suppose I don’t really belong in this community either. Thank God, Atlanta is close enough to visit and far enough away to escape.

Artist: Blood Mother
Album Title: Blood Mother
Record Label: Independent 
Genre: Ambient Post-Black Metal 
For Fans Of: Ulver, Darkspace, Blut Aus Nord, Cult of Luna
Release Date: June 19th, 2026

The underground was heartbroken at the news of the end of The Lion’s Daughter. While there is no replacing TLD, Blood Mother does scratch a new itch, yet one that is familiar. With two of the former members of TLD, this record is full of the sort of novel ideas we would expect, but this outing is a little more grounded and a lot more horrific. The melodic and atmospheric motifs here could easily soundtrack tense chase scenes and diabolical reveals in any psychological thriller. The tension is palpable in every song, and there’s a payoff in every crescendo. I will always miss The Lion’s Daughter, but now I’m very excited for the future of this next project.

Rating:

“AOTY Contender”

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*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Make
Album Title: Exegesis At The End Of Time
Record Label: Accident Prone Records
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge
For Fans Of: Old Man Gloom, Mouth Of The Architect, Rosetta, The Atlas Moth
Release Date: June 12th, 2026

In episode 204 of the Heavy Metal Philosophy podcast, I make the claim that “gatekeeping” is a myth. My central thesis was that if someone saying something rude to you is enough to prevent you from being a metalhead, then you never really loved metal that much to begin with. However, some bands do gatekeep. They don’t do it with words; they do it with their music. The gates are wide open for grindcore, but normies naturally don’t enter because of the nature of the music itself. Well, ‘Exegesis At The End Of Time’ almost closed the gate on me liking the band Make. The first song is over 11 minutes long. The first three minutes are just ambient sound. The next three minutes are a slow instrumental section. If I didn’t listen to these albums for my job, I would’ve moved on from this record a long time before the 6-minute mark when the real music begins.

With that said, the rest of the album is fantastic. It’s heavy, angry, and unpredictable. I fear the band isn’t doing themselves any favors with the song order on this record. In the streaming world, the first few minutes of any album are crucial. Then again, maybe Make made this choice on purpose. Maybe they were keeping the gate?

Rating:

“Pretty Good” but should be a “Great Album”

*See below for rating scale*

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Khemmis
Album Title: Khemmis
Record Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Doomed Heavy Metal
For Fans Of: Spirit Adrift, Green Lung, Pallbearer, Baroness
Release Date: June 12th, 2026

How many heavy metal revival bands have you heard? How many of them sounded unique to themselves? Khemmis is that unicorn band. Their self-titled and 5th LP comes out swinging as an unmistakably traditional heavy metal album. However, no band has vocals like Khemmis. Couple their unique voices with punchy modern production, dense compositions, and exciting arrangements, and the result is a heavy metal record that sounds fresh and hungry. As if that weren’t enough, the lyrical content is heavy with existential themes. This one is the complete package that we will be revisiting at the end of the year. This is a for-sure purchase.

Rating:

“AOTY Contender”

*See below for rating scale*

P.S. If you’re curious about those existential themes, Ben sat down with me on episode 274 of the Heavy Metal Philosophy podcast where we might’ve gone a little too deep. You can find that linked below.

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another.

Artist: Apostle
Album Title: A Splinter In The Infinite Noumenon
Record Label: Terminus Hate City
Genre: Post-Black Metal/Noise
Release Date: June 5th, 2026

Bands like this are why, despite not generally liking the genres, I still give grindcore and raw black metal bands a chance every time I see them. I typically prefer my black metal grand and my death metal punchy. However, ‘A Splinter in the Infinite Noumenon’ is the kind of record that I search for amongst the masses of cacophonous and disjointed extreme bands. Occasionally, a band comes along that knows how to, or perhaps instinctively, composes that noise and chaos into something thoughtful and artistic. This record feels like an indictment of attempting to understand while existing as a mere “splinter” in God’s makeup. The soundtrack of the mental strain in such an attempt should sound exactly like this. If you like art that makes you uncomfortable but satisfies that unscratched itch upon completion, definitely spin this one.

Rating:

“Great Album” & “For Niche Tastes Only”

*See below for rating scale*

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another. 

Artist: Godthrymm
Album Title: Projections
Record Label: Profound Lore
Genre: Doom
For Fans Of: My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Anathema, Vallenfyre
Release Date: May 29th, 2026

Fans of the “Peaceville Three” will be lured by the familiar sound here, but will also find a few fresh accompaniments and garnish to the doom-laden main course. ‘Projections’ completes the “Visions Trilogy” (Reflections, Distortions, & Projections), which feels a bit like finally being presented the pièce de résistance after several smaller courses. They were good, but they built the appetite and anticipation for the crescendo. The guest vocals from Aaron Stainthorpe on ‘Endure My Skin’ felt like putting mother’s signature gravy on a brand new dish. The comfort is palpable, but it’s also a bit jolting to experience Aaron reunited with two of his former MDB bandmates outside of MDB. If you give the offering a try, I’m sure the oddity will give way to delight. This is a new cuisine, but it’s flavorful and likely to become a regular in the rotation.

Rating:

“Pretty Good”

*See below for rating scale*

*Possible ratings on Heavy Metal Philosophy are;

All-Timer
AOTY Contender
Great Album
Pretty Good
It’s Fine
For Niche Tastes Only
Silly But Really Good At It
Bad
Annoying
Unlistenable
Not Music

*Note that some albums can have more than one rating. It’s possible for an album to be a “Great Album” and “For Niche Tastes Only”. One rating isn’t always better than another.