2026
Black metal reviews of 2026 releases.
Review: Faustian - Parable of the Sewer (2026)
Faustian - Parable of the Sewer (8/10) Black Metal from Australia. A strong, riff-heavy release blending aggression with unsettling atmospheres.
Review: Pusta Noc - Funus Vampyri (2026)
Pusta Noc – Funus Vampyri (7.5/10) Atmospheric Black Metal from Poland. A bleak, mid-tempo offering steeped in Slavic folklore and dread.
Review: Umbría - Descent into the Forgotten Core (2026)
Umbría - Descent into the Forgotten Core (9/10) Black Metal from Chile. A solid, hauntingly aggressive album with standout bass and atmosphere.
Review: Grabunhold - Frostheim (2026)
Grabunhold - Frostheim (9/0) Tolkienian Black Metal from Germany. With Frostheim, Grabunhold solidifies their status alongside One of Nine at the absolute vanguard of modern Tolkienian black metal. A freezing, brilliantly paced descent into the tragic ruins of Angmar. Read more!
Review: Maria of the Copper Mountain - Into the Black Whirlpools (2026)
Maria of the Copper Mountain - Into the Black Whirlpools) (8/10) a one-woman atmospheric black metal/Folk from Russia. Read More!
Review: Mossystone - Paysages Tristes (2026)
Mossystone - Paysages Tristes (8.5/10) Atmospheric Black Metal from France. An incredibly promising debut album that confronts and challenges the loneliness of our modern times. Read more.
Review: Imladris - Kings of Forgotten Lore (2026)
Imladris - Kings of Forgotten Lore (9.5/10) Atmospheric Black Metal from the United Kingdom. Imladris sees Abghul (Ghül) step away from the blast-driven rawness of Ghül, into the cinematic, synth-driven world of the likes of Summoning. Read more!
Review: Automaton – Labyrinth (2026)
Automaton - Labyrinth (9/10) Greek Blackened Doom Metal band Automaton has released their second full length album. Based on Minoan mythology, with the Minotaur as the main figure. Through the lense of the Minotaur, the band creates a very dark story. Read more!
Review: Walg - VI (2026)
Walg returns with VI, a masterclass in modern melodic black metal. Read our full 9/10 review of the prolific Dutch duo's latest offering.
Review: Murk - Battlefields of Destiny
Murk - Battlefields of Destiny (8.5/10) Black metal from Italy. With Battlefields of Destiny, Murk bypasses modern production polish entirely, opting instead for a suffocating, gravel-raw atmosphere. It’s a relentless exhibition of old-school black metal malice. Read more!
Review: Stormkeep - The Nocturnes of Iswylm
Stormkeep - The Nocturnes of Iswylm (9/10) Melodic/Symphonic Black Metal from Denver, Colorado. Melding 90's Dissection with the keyboard-drenched splendor of early Emperor and Dimmu Borgir, the quartet once again prove that symphonic black metal could still has teeth. Read more!
Review: De l'Abîme Naît l'Aube - Rituel : Initiation (2026)
De l'Abîme Naît l'Aube - Rituel : Initiation (7.5/10) Atmospheric black metal from Switzerland. What happens if you mix the melodic vocals of alcest, add in some atmospheric black metal vibes and then threw in a bunch of ISIS style post metal? Read more!
Review: Véhémence - Assiégé pour l'éternité (2026)
Véhémence - Assiégé pour l'éternité (8/10) Melodic Black Metal from France. Does this reimagined take on their debut album stand out or is it just a cliche cash in? Read more!
Review: Niveous - Cult of the Void Star (2026)
Niveous - Cult of the Void Star (9.5/10), the chilling 2026 full-length debut album from Milwaukee atmospheric black metal trio Niveous. This concept-driven cosmic black metal masterpiece blends raw second-wave aggression with a sprawling, sub-zero sci-fi mythology. Read more!
Review: Ulvhedner - Berg Øde (2026)
Ulvhedner’s Berg Øde (10/10). This Norwegian Black Metal release is an outstanding homage to rural traditions, draped in brilliant Sognametal textures. Read more!
Review: Svrm - Мертвий край EP (2026)
Svrm - Мертвий край EP (9/10) Atmospheric Black Metal from Ukraine. While dozens of bands try to copy the hypnotic, wall-of-sound formula pioneered by Drudkh, does Svrm rise above the crowd? Read more!
Review: Via ad Mortem (2026)
Via ad Mortem's Requiem I: Through the Path, over the Ruins (8.5/10) Brand new Italian Black Metal band Via ad Mortem has delivered a record that feels genuinely alive, grounded in the roots of traditional black metal. Read more!
Review: Panopticon - Det hjemsøkte hjertet (2026)
Panopticon's Det hjemsøkte hjertet (9/10) Atmospheric Black Metal from the United States. A conclusion to the Laurentian Trilogy and a meditation on the loss of our culture and heritage to the modern world. Read more!
Review: Gemynd Beadu - Obsolete Human Machine (2026)
Gemynd Beadu's Obsolete Human Machine (8/10) Australian atmospheric/Depressive black metal. A one man hellscape stokes the flames with dystopian nightmare fuel. Read more!
Review: Drudkh - Thaw EP (2026)
Deudkh's Thaw EP (10/10) Ukrainian atmospheric black metal legends Drudkh follow up 2025's Shadow Play with their new EP Thaw. Read more!