Review: Walg - VI (2026)

Band: Walg
Album: VI
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Country: Netherlands
Label: Independent
Released: June 26, 2026

Introduction

​​Few bands in the contemporary underground match the terrifyingly prolific work ethic of the Dutch melodic black metal duo Walg. Hailing from Groningen, Netherlands, composer Robert Koning and vocalist Yorick Keijzer have unleashed a full-length album every single year since their 2021 debut. Meaning "disgust" or "loathing" in Dutch, Walg channels human frailty, existential despair, and a profound misanthropy into a signature storm of sound. Relying heavily on the harsh, aggressive phonetics of their native tongue, they have carved a unique path through European extreme music. Now, arriving exactly on schedule, their 2026 offering, VI, represents both a culmination of their signature style and a deeper plunge into the sonic abyss.

VI

Track Listing:

1. Nevel
2. 1597
3. De eenlonkster
4. De beul, de lafaard
5. Stil geboren
6. Het klooster van Ter Apel
7. De nacht behoort ons allen toe
8. Erfvloek

Roberto: As said, there isn't a Dutch black metal band with the same work ethos as Walg (in our opinion), but the thing that stands out for me the most is the quality they seem to deliver with each album. The same goes for this latest album VI. From the first note until the last one, you hear that they thought about this production very well (as they did with the previous 5).

I wrote reviews for the albums III, IV, and V so for me this is just an annual exercise, but not a bad one to be doing. The quality of the albums is constant and with V, the conclusion was that they are still improving the albums and the quality, and that also goes for this latest installment, VI.

What stands out for me on this album are the arangements of the songs, but also the clean singing parts. Normally i'm not really a fan of those because lets be honest a lot of black metal vocalists can't sing very well. But as with the previous albums, the clean bits on the album are very well executed, which in my book is a plus, because it won't be the first time I stop playing an album because of the clean vocals.

Of all the albums this is one is on the same level as V which I gave a 9. The songs are very well written, the lyrics are great (if you understand them that is), and the topics (witches, existential dread, etc.) fit the style of the music very well.

The songs that stand out for me are the Eenlonkster the entire compesition of the song is great, the vocals (clean and harsh), the guitars and the lyrics are just very well done. If I read correctly on the internet, this song was written by Robert's dad just before he passed away. So this has an very emotional charge to it and you can feel that in this song.

But overall this is simply a great album again and kudos to both of them for maintiing this level because to me that doesnt seem like a easy job.

Strider: From the opening notes of "Nevel", VI establishes itself as a masterclass in modern melodic black metal. Walg has always excelled at balancing raw, biting aggression with soaring, melancholic atmospheres, but VI sharpens those contrasts to a razor's edge. Koning's composition is brilliantly dynamic; the guitars trade tremolo-picked fury for devastating, mid-tempo riffs that lock into a dense, suffocating rhythm. What truly sets this record apart for me  is the sophisticated vocal performance from Keijzer. His feral, throat-shredding shrieks capture a pure, existential panic, while the perfectly placed clean vocal sections offer a haunting reprieve.

Conclusion

​VI is a staggering achievement for a band that refuses to slow down. While lesser acts burn out or become repetitive under the weight of an annual release cycle, Walg only grows more potent, using their momentum to refine their bleak artistic vision. The album offers zero comfort, yet its absolute bleakness is precisely what makes it a stellar, immersive experience.

BMZ Rating: 9/10

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