Picking up again this week with 61 releases. Lots of black metal with quite a bit of death metal and several others to round things out. My best of August list is coming along but not quite ready yet. Day job has been taking a lot of time lately but the list should be out in the next few days.
Stand outs this week:
Beyond Seventh Dimension - Debut album from Finnish atmospheric black metal concept. Started as an instrumental project in 2025, vocals were added after the first track was complete. There have been considerations of making this a full band but we’ll have to see how that pans out.
Vanessa Funke - 5th album from melodic death metal band with gothic and black metal elements. Her previous album, Requiem, from last year made my year end list and all of her releases have been fantastic.
Also looking forward to: Sworn - Boötes Void - Skuggor - Wyrdstæf - Severoth - Rahvn - Deviated Instinct - Vredesverk
Tähtien ikuinen suru by Beyond Seventh Dimension
SUBGENRE: Atmospheric Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Finland
RECORD LABEL: Inverse Records
FOR FANS OF: Celestial Annihilator - Mare Cognitum - Spectral Lore
Aura by Vanessa Funke
SUBGENRE: Melodic Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
RECORD LABEL: Liminal Dread Productions / Okända Öden Records
FOR FANS OF: Dark the Suns - Before the Dawn
Null Crowned the Infinite by Sworn
SUBGENRE: Melodic Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Norway
RECORD LABEL: The Circle Music
FOR FANS OF: Dissection - Naglfar - Cor Scorpii
Panta Rhei by Boötes Void
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
RECORD LABEL: Vendetta Records
FOR FANS OF: Groza - Human Serpent - Uada
Construction of Conflict by Februus
SUBGENRE: Progressive Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden
RECORD LABEL: Transcending Obscurity Records
FOR FANS OF: Edge of Sanity - Demilich - Defect Designer
The Expanse by Skuggor
SUBGENRE: Atmospheric Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden
RECORD LABEL: Nordvis
FOR FANS OF: Wrack - Ghost Bath
A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex by Green Carnation
SUBGENRE: Progressive Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Norway
RECORD LABEL: Season of Mist
FOR FANS OF: Pain of Salvation - In the Silence - In the Woods…
The Darkest Side of Humanity by A Night in Texas
SUBGENRE: Technical Deathcore
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia
RECORD LABEL: Unique Leader Records
FOR FANS OF: Aversions Crown - Rings of Saturn - Osiah
Unravelling by Exitium Sui
SUBGENRE: Blackened Funeral Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia
RECORD LABEL: Meuse Music Records
FOR FANS OF: Carma - Funeral Mourning - Abyssmal Sorrow
Grimshrine by Demonic Manifestation
SUBGENRE: Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Mexico
RECORD LABEL: Personal Records
FOR FANS OF: Dismember - Grave - Wombbath
Bloody Dreams by Devil Master
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Relapse Records
FOR FANS OF: Cape of Bats - Spiter - Zorn
Stormvingar by Grimner
SUBGENRE: Folk / Viking Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden
RECORD LABEL: Despotz Records
FOR FANS OF: Månegarm - Falkenbach - Thyrfing
Travelling Around the World by Pirate Queen
SUBGENRE: Symphonic Power Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Spain / United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Despotz Records
FOR FANS OF: Visions of Atlantis - Nightwish - Edenbridge
The Curse of Nephtar by Pelegrin
SUBGENRE: Stoner Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: France
RECORD LABEL: Ripple Music
FOR FANS OF: Sergeant Thunderhoof - Howling Giant - Dopelord
Verdwazing Der Dwazen by Bacht’n de Vulle Maone
SUBGENRE: Raw Black Metal
COUNTRY OR ORIGIN: Belgium
RECORD LABEL: Into Endless Chaos Records
FOR FANS OF: Calvary - Brånd
Neural Lamentation of the Broken Lilith by Mental Disorder
SUBGENRE: Slam
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Japan
RECORD LABEL: Coyote Records
FOR FANS OF: Gutrectomy - Ingested - Frog Mallet
Encasement by Encasement
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
RECORD LABEL: Hypaethral Records, I, Voidhanger Records
FOR FANS OF: Yellow Eyes - Krallice - Ash Borer
Ŋvęŧş: Violator Of Mater by Venomous Echoes
SUBGENRE: Experimental Blackened Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: I, Voidhanger Records
FOR FANS OF: Dodecahedron - Thantifaxath
Vomit Meditations by Acausal Intrusion
SUBGENRE: Technical Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: I, Voidhanger Records
FOR FANS OF: Ad Nauseam - Howls of Ebb - Gorguts
Stalagmite Angels by Judiciary
SUBGENRE: Crossover Thrash
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Closed Casket Activities
FOR FANS OF: Enforced - Power Trip - Red Death
As All Is Undone by Nott
SUBGENRE: Deathcore
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Silent Pendulum Records
FOR FANS OF: Worm - Devenial Verdict
Primordial Bloodlines by Wyrdstæf
SUBGENRE: Tribal Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings
FOR FANS OF: Spectral Wound - Hellruin
Goh-Ka by Sigh
SUBGENRE: Avant-garde Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Japan
RECORD LABEL: Peaceville Records
FOR FANS OF: The Meads of Asphodel - Solefald - Ihsahn
Carrie Chains by Castle
SUBGENRE: Heavy / Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Hammerheart Records / Black Wren Records
FOR FANS OF: Witch Mountain - Venomous Maximus - The Oath
Cremation Grounds Abyss by Wrath Division
SUBGENRE: Blackened Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Poland
RECORD LABEL: Old Temple
FOR FANS OF: Lunar Blood - Prophetic Suffering - Fire Magic
Medieval Violence by Toxic Goat
SUBGENRE: Blackened Thrash Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Argentina
RECORD LABEL: Metal Command Records
FOR FANS OF: Hellripper - Municion
Roede voor de Borst by Vanaheim
SUBGENRE: Epic Folk Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Netherlands
RECORD LABEL: Fireflash Records
FOR FANS OF: Ensiferum - Equilibrium - Finsterforst
Moonfall by KingCrown
SUBGENRE: Heavy / Power Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: France
RECORD LABEL: Rockshots Records
FOR FANS OF: Firewind - New Horizon - Dream Evil
Fractured State by Pyroclast
SUBGENRE: Heavy Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Dream Tröll - Haunt - Striker
I, Scvlptor by Behemoth
SUBGENRE: Blackened Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Poland
RECORD LABEL: Massacre Records
FOR FANS OF: Hate - Belphegor - Azarath
Achilles by Audrey Horne
SUBGENRE: Heavy Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Norway
RECORD LABEL: Napalm Records
FOR FANS OF: Magick Touch - Thin Lizzy
Omni by Moon Destroys
SUBGENRE: Progressive Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Blues Funeral Recordings
FOR FANS OF: Gojira - Anciients
Offense by Sauros
SUBGENRE: Doom / Sludge Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Verdun - Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean
Inner Demons by Nolove
SUBGENRE: Depressive Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Poland
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Ghost Bath - Woods of Desolation - Austere
Waves by Severoth
SUBGENRE: Atmospheric Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Ukraine
RECORD LABEL: Avantgarde Music
FOR FANS OF: Midnight Odyssey - Eskapism - Lustre
Force Majeure & The Acts Of God by The Black Wizards
SUBGENRE: Stoner Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Portugal
RECORD LABEL: Hassle Records
FOR FANS OF: Earth Drive - Elephant Tree - Monolord
The Purity of Vengeance by Rahvn
SUBGENRE: Blackened Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Phasma - Dark Sermon
Gloomweaver by Fog Wall
SUBGENRE: Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Morbid Angel - The Acacia Strain - Deicide
The Elector by Judicator
SUBGENRE: Power Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Blind Guardian - Helion Prime - Savage Circus
Scavenger Gospel by Deviated Instinct
SUBGENRE: Death / Thrash Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Amebix - Axegrinder - Instinct of Survival
The Sanguine Heir by Vredesverk
SUBGENRE: Melodic Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Ardent Nova - King of Asgard - Wulfgar
Finitude by Peste Negra
SUBGENRE: Deathgrind
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Portugal
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Mutagenic Host - Gutslit - Limbsplitter
Fobiden Kaleidoscopic Abomination by Monochromatic Residua
SUBGENRE: Technical Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Red Rot - Static Abyss
Tumult by Wince and Frisson
SUBGENRE: Blackened Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Defacement - Abyssal - Ceremony of Silence
A Thousand Suns by Titanosaur
SUBGENRE: Stoner Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: High on Fire - Sleep - Red Fang
Mgła by Hellmetall
SUBGENRE: Death / Thrash Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy
RECORD LABEL: Rockshots Records
FOR FANS OF: Tyrannus - Necrodeath - Possessed
Worm Tongue by Ancient Malice
SUBGENRE: Grindcore
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Ireland
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Abaddon Incarnate - Rotten Sound -Inhume
Valley of a Sun by A Thousand Sufferings
SUBGENRE: Blackened Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Belgium
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Ultha - The Ruins of Beverast
Holocene Blues by Kavernist
SUBGENRE: Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
RECORD LABEL: Civilization Records
FOR FANS OF: Unearthly Rites - Gatecreeper - Grave
Stora Allvaret by Gravvård
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden / Italy
RECORD LABEL: SneeuwStorm Produkties
FOR FANS OF: Pure Wrath - Nocturnal Keep
Devoured Ferociously by Dead Meat
SUBGENRE: Brutal Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Portugal
RECORD LABEL: Vomit Your Shirt
FOR FANS OF: Analepsy - Annihilation - Bleeding Display
Death Bonanza by Worship the Pestilence
SUBGENRE: Brutal Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Bolivia
RECORD LABEL: Rotten Music
FOR FANS OF: Emasculator - Castrator - Deeds of Flesh
Guardians of Time Part II by Holy Dragons
SUBGENRE: Power Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Kazakhstan
RECORD LABEL: HDR Records
FOR FANS OF: Hibria - Stormwarrior - Lost Horizon
Hemispheres by Sleep
SUBGENRE: Stoner Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Third Man Records
FOR FANS OF: Electric Wizard - Kyuss - High on Fire
Six Rites by Zvindiyar
SUBGENRE: Death Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Bahrain
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Pyrrhon - Gruesome - Pestifer
Ghost/Echo by Rūdus
SUBGENRE: Stoner Doom Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Bog Wizard - Dust Lord
Unique and Eternal by Avern
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Spain
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Wode - Craft
Mata Pedang Penghabisan by Sandekala
SUBGENRE: Gothic Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Indonesia
RECORD LABEL: Logam Production
FOR FANS OF: Astral Alchemy - Gonemage - Astral Alchemy
Hell’s Thorns Attack by Sardonic Witchery
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Portugal
RECORD LABEL: Independent
FOR FANS OF: Decayed - Irae - Infernal Kingdom
Nachtwaerts by Legatus
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Germany
RECORD LABEL: Schattenkult Produktionen
FOR FANS OF: Verheerer - Grimah
Archer XIII by Nigredo
SUBGENRE: Black Metal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Chile
RECORD LABEL: Schattenkult Produktionen
FOR FANS OF: Master’s Hammer - Negative Plane
Your year end list turned me on to Vanessa Funke. Really looking forward to her new one.