New Metal Releases January 2nd 2026
Enshine - Staghelm - Ellende - Wildhunt - Celestial Shadows - The Mensis Ritual - Bozopogostickstomp - Arcane Frost - And More...
Another light week of releases for the first week of 2026 with 16. But there should still be a few to look forward to.
Stand outs this week:
Enshine - Third album from project of Jari Lindholm from Slumber, Exgenesis and his solo project. The one album Slumber released is one of my all time favorite albums. I was always disappointed they only released the one. The members of Slumber formed a new band called Atoma but it just wasn’t the same. Jari’s side projects are all great.
Staghelm - Second album from this solo project out of the UK. The three songs on this album portray the forest through 3 different lenses: one of majesty and beauty, one of might and wrath, one of desolation and death.
Also looking forward to: Ellende - The Mensis Ritual - Arcane Frost
Elevation by Enshine
SUBGENRE: Melodic Death / Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden / France
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Slumber - Rapture - Daylight Dies
Natura Semper Praevalet by Staghelm
SUBGENRE: Atmospheric Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Naturmacht Productions
FOR FANS OF: Grima - Skyforest - Bloodbark
Zerfall by Ellende
SUBGENRE: Post Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Austria
RECORD LABEL: AOP Records
FOR FANS OF: Harakiri for the Sky - Woods of Desolation
Aletheia by Wildhunt
SUBGENRE: Thrash Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Austria
RECORD LABEL: Jawbreaker Records
FOR FANS OF: Artillery - Testament - Coroner
The Wheel and the Fire by Celestial Shadows
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia
RECORD LABEL: Rassilon Records
FOR FANS OF: Amphisbaena - Esoctrilihum - Abigor
Cainite by The Mensis Ritual
SUBGENRE: Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Glorious Depravity - Malefice - Deicide
Getting Cancelled for Dummies by Bozopogostickstomp
SUBGENRE: Grindcore
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Barren Path - Pupil Slicer
Night’s Cavalry by Arcane Frost
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
RECORD LABEL: Bleeding Heart Nihilist Productions
FOR FANS OF: Immortal - Dawn Ray’d - Profecium
Poison of the Masses by Feed Them Broken Teeth
SUBGENRE: Grindcore
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Exhumed - Impaled - Macabre
Bully Breed by Gnawing
SUBGENRE: Slam
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Mutilation Barbecue - Gutslit - Kraanium
The Reaping by Feral Winter
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Spirit Possession - Negative Plane - Funeral Presence
Crustaceanal Hymns of Sobbing Worship by Kani Kannushi
SUBGENRE: Grindcore
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: South Korea
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Eroguro Phantasmagore - Ryona Hime
Morbid Mistress by Ordre of the Wampyric Rite
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Sanguinária - Old Nick - Lace Shawl
Far Too Gone by Kiljin
SUBGENRE: Heavy Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Satan’s Fall - Mercyful Fate
Rotten Soul by Enemy Awake
SUBGENRE: Melodic Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Sentient Horror - Wretched Fate
Devastation of the Large Magellanic Cloud by Ellimist
SUBGENRE: Progressive Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Obscura - Atheist - The Faceless