Horrid Mass--Nauseating Ecstatic Degeneration (CD/LP) (2026 Memento Mori Records/Night Terrors Records)

memento-mori.es

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first full length from Milwaukee's death merchants Horrid Mass, following up a demo from three years ago. They sound like a bastard combination of Autopsy and Incantation, but with perhaps some influence from the gasmask metal set with stiff blastbeats and string scrapes. The vocals are cavernous, sounding like they were recorded in an old well after the rest of the band gave up trying to save the singer after he fell down it. I like the raw edge to the recording - it's just this side of noisy, but tempered perfectly with proper levels and a natural drum sound. This is another band that uses textures to add to the songwriting, and it's often the bass guitar adding a layer of grit overtop the rest of it all. I usually don't like this style very much, but there's something about this band that is just a little different, and I can't really pinpoint what it is so that I can tell you dear readers. Suffice it to say that this is a satisfying listen of dark and noisy death metal, and if you like that style, you'll love this record.

Wharflurch--Mycodeath and Rebirth in the Outer Clusters (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Personal Records/Gurgling Gore Records)

personal-records.com

gurglinggore.com

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

After a remarkably prolific several years (2020-2024), this is the first new Wharflurch material in two years, which seems like an eternity for them. From what I understand an entire lineup left the band, leaving them to rebuild from basically nothing, but rebuild they have, and this album is a resounding success. Their style is largely unchanged, being the same Wharflurch we all know and love (that's a huge assumption on my part, but how could you not like this fungi-obsessed, doomed-out death metal?!).  This is even more musically accomplished than their previous work - this band has become even better somehow. Their use of textures on this album doesn't disappoint. The album itself feels like the cover looks, all technicolor and ugly yet somehow clean and wondrous. The synth interludes are amazing, and they add dimension to the death metal that would otherwise be lacking on this record. This is unique stuff, requiring unique sounds. They're a highly song-focused band, writing catchy ear-worms that you won't easily forget, all the time textured by those evil-sounding synths. It's a masterclass in metal songwriting that transcends subgenre. This is just excellent heavy fucking metal in general and deserves recognition as such. This album is a triumph and a high water mark for the year.

Miscreation--Miscreation (CD) (2026 Independent)

miscreation.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Miscreation hail from Germany and play straightforward death metal with quality. They focus on heaviness and groove over speed, and that is perfectly fine - they're at their best with mid-paced material, and their rhythm section clearly loves that slower speed because they can truly show off what they can do with that much space. The guitars often add a little melody to the madness in a way that reminds me of mid-period Hypocrisy, when they were slower and heavier. Vocally we get primarily deep, chesty growls, but they creep into mid-range when the song calls for it or to emphasize a vocal line. It's a powerful performance, and the vocals truly shine on the album, perfectly offset by the clear and heavy guitar tone. This is better than a great deal of the material coming out on labels these days, and you should at the very least pick this up digitally via their Bandcamp site, if not physically.

Brainbath--Headhunted (CD/LP/CS) (2026 Independent)

brainbathdm.bandcamp.com

10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland comes Brainbath, who play death metal firmly grounded in 1990s sensibilities with catchy riffs and rhythmic vocals that reach out and strangle the attention out of you. There are some similarities to Deicide, Bolt Thrower, and Grave, all of which is perfectly fine by me, but this band is more than the sum of its influences. Their songwriting is original and enjoyable. They're not reinventing the goddamn wheel, they're playing damn good death metal. Period. In fact, they have that certain "something" I'm always looking for in death metal bands. It's the catchiness and metal attitude that hearkens back to the bands of old. I really like the use of reverb on the vocals in strategic spots, and the vocals themselves have an interesting unique tone to them, and a forcefulness that most vocalists cannot muster. This band has figured out that death metal vocals aren't an afterthought, but are quite important, as important as any other instrument on the record. I'll be listening to this album over and over, as it has absolutely everything in death metal that I'm hunting for, from speed to breakdowns to thrashing riffs, crushing vocals, and pounding drums, as well as the ever-important good songwriting. I'm settling for the digital edition since I don't trust the tariff situation in the USA yet for ordering from overseas, but if this were to show up in a distro I normally order from, I would be all over getting a physical copy!

Demonic Manifestation--Grimshrine (CD) (2026 Personal Records)

personal-records.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Demonic Manifestation play heavy as fuck death metal from Mexico with a dose of darkness coming from the drawn-out vocal patterns, which are a like a summoned demon draining the light from around it. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the vocals due to the way the patterns are performed, but they grew on me after a few songs and I suddenly understood what the band was attempting to do with them - it's another (horrific) instrument to add a dark heaviness, not just words. It still grates on me a bit. I tend to like catchy, rhythmic vocal performances, and this is neither. There is usually one supremely heavy riff in each of these songs that immediately becomes the focus of the song or at least the most memorable part of it, and the songwriting itself is quite good. The music does a good job of evoking the cover art, with writhing tentacles and a goat demon in the background cavorting in a graveyard, while a phantasmagorical depiction of a screaming man and skull are in the forefront. This is pure nightmare fuel, and the music furthers the artwork. In the end this was just better than average for this style, and it's not something that's on my immediate list to purchase, but if you're an HM-2 junkie, your mileage may vary, especially if you like seriously dark death metal.

Nothingness--Godslaughter (CD/CS) (2026 Everlasting Spew Records)

everlastingspew.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Nothingness has returned with a third full length, but this is my first encounter with the band. Superficially, I can compare them a bit to older Gorguts or Tomb Mold, but only superficially. This band has their own sound, and it's dingy, dark, and full of filth. They're not necessarily worrying about hooks or catchiness even with the significant amount of repetition in their songs. They're just bulldozing you with capable riffs and going where the riffs take them. Not that there are no hooks at all, there are. It's just not the primary focus from what I can gather. This is oppressively heavy and at times experimental, playhing with textures and layers in the riffing. This is challenging death metal for the thinking metalist, and while that's not usually my favorite type of band to listen to, the heaviness this band brings to the fore makes up for that, at least for me. Death doom fans will also find a lot to like here, especially in songs like "Vanquishing Providence," with its doomed-out passages and grooves. Overall, I can take this or leave it, but it's better than the average death metal record these days, so give it a try if you want something a bit more outside the box.

Horror Paradise--Dominio Inhumano (CD) (2026 Concreto Records)

concretorecs.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is very much brutal death metal in the Suffocation style, with playful riffs and tons of technicality. The production is solid and modern sounding without being overdriven or too loud. The engineer did a fine job here. Vocally, this is all low growls, occasionally creeping into mid-range, and it's a powerful performance with excellent tone and diction, although I can't understand all of the Spanish lyrics. I'm mono-lingual, of course, with English being my only language. The band occasionally slows into a catchy groove in many of the songs, adding hooks and dynamics to their material. A lot of bands that play in this style can't write a good song, instead relying on the sheer abundance of riffs they generate, but this band can and does write well. The drummer puts on an absolute clinic and is the star of the show other than the vocalist. He even uses a cowbell here and there in his fills which I thought was highly entertaining and unique. The bass is allowed to shine as well, being higher in the mix than the usual brutal death metal band. The tone and playing are exceptional, like every other instrument on the record. This is definitely one to check out if you crave this style, and it's worth a few listens. 

SInister Void--By Rot and Shrapnel (CD) (2026 Metal Race Records)

metalrace.com

9/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Sinister Void play completely heads-down death thrash that reminds me of the best of the late '80s and early '90s death metal scene. They don't focus on speed but on grimace-inducing heavy thrashing riffs with driving rhythms behind them, much like the power that Demolition Hammer showed off in their time but tempered with Massacre-style death metal. This is heavy death thrash with growled vocals, not your typical party thrash masquerading as something more vile. The double bass drumming fires like a machine gun through a lot of this material, which is nice to hear. It adds some serious intensity to the songs. The band inevitably breaks each song down into a heavy-ass death metal groove, and I love when they do it. It makes the songs so much heavier. They also don't piss around with songs that are too long, either, most being around that sweet spot of three minutes or so. I've been looking for a good band in this style and I'm happy to say I've found them.

Neurologic Pathology--Born of Pathology (CD) (2026 Pathologically Explicit Recordings)

pathologicallyexplicitrecords.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Here we have brutal death metal in the vein of Suffocation and Dying Fetus that has some fantastically technical moments from all instruments. They break up the typical chugging riffs with anything but typical sweeps and arpeggios from the guitars, while the drums are an absolute clinic of brutal death metal percussion. There's a lot of talent here, and brutal-heads will want to pay attention. They also have an endearing habit of breakdown their songs down in the middle of a fast part to focus on a killer groove and they ride that motherfucker until it dies. This album is different enough to have caught my attention and held it, not boring me to death like so many other brutal bands do. Each song is also quite different from the previous one, which can be exceedingly difficult to do in this style, trapped as it is in the confines of the genre. This is one you do not want to pass up if you prefer the brutal shit. Well worth it.

Doctrine of Gore--Blood Sacrifice (CS) (2026 Independent)

doctrineofgore.bandcamp.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

After opening with a Goblin-esque intro, we get four tracks of decently crafted and heavy death metal that focuses on groove and heaviness overall. They remind me just a little of 200 Stab Wounds but without that band's superlative songwriting skill. I don't like some of the dissonance in the riffs that appears here and there on this record, that's always been a no-go for me. Otherwise the riffs are serviceable if not always memorable. There are a few bass drops present here as well as some quite typical breakdowns, which is unfortunate, because this has so much potential to have such trendy aspects in it. I think with more refinement of their sound this band could be quite good, as they're on the upside of average at this point. This isn't bad for a first EP at all, and I wish them continued success while they find their own sound.

Dripping Decay--Ripping Remains (CD/LP) (2024 Satanik Royalty Records)

satanikroyaltyrecords.com

6/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

I thought I'd give this a review even though it appears the band has split up since this was released. I really like the recent trend (I know, a bad word) toward '70s and '80s inspired horror movie intros, and there's a very short one that leads off this record. They just perfectly set up the record's atmosphere when they're present. I think they're perfect for death metal, especially when the band is a bit of a throwback like this one. This band included Neil Smith, one time member of Blood Freak and Frightmare, and there is a bit of that old Razorback sound mixed into this band's effluence. Other than these bands, I can hear a bit of Molder in their sound. The recording is spacious, giving plenty of room to all the instruments, even the bass guitar, which is nice to hear. Not a lot of death metal bands let the bass really perform out front, or at least equally. Vocally we get mid-range to low growls that sound like the singer is on the verge of vomiting occasionally. It's a perfectly nasty performance. Overall, it's not an absolutely astounding record, but it is a decent one, and definitely worth a listen.

Crypts of Golgotha--Disembodied in the Arms of Perdition (LP) (2026 Return Trip Records)

returntriprecords.bandcamp.com

3/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Crypts of Golgotha return with their first full length, but overall it's a pretty uninspired effort. The songs are just average to below average, with a few good riffs sprinkled in. They are part of the new wave of death metal bands that focus a lot on groove over speed, and that's perfectly fine, but there's just not a lot of memorable hooks here. On top of that, this sounds so overproduced, with volumes pushed to the limit, the drums especially close to distortion. There's just no need for brickwalling like this. The vocals are a low growl with some highs tossed in for good measure and emphasis on certain vocal lines. And the biggest travesty of all is the bass drops - this is a trend that needs to go away. They're completely unnecessary and distracting, not to mention they step all over the recording itself. Sorry boys, but this is a hard pass for me.

Lithopaedia--Inferno (Digital) (2026 New Standard Elite)

lithopaedia-ca.bandcamp.com

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Lithopaedia from LA play a groove-forward style of brutal death metal that I found quite satisfying because it had so many catchy riffs and rhythms, with lots of changes and time shifts. They tend to find a groove in each song that they layer and exploit, and then intersperse blasting sections to really ramp up the intensity. So many brutal death metal bands aren't intense, but that's not the case with these guys. Nor do they mindlessly slam like so many other bands. This is real brutal death metal for the real brutal maniacs. What's more is they're using more traditional song structures than a lot of brutal death metal bands. Their songwriting is actually coherent and can be very hook-laden at times. The vocals are a guttural croaking noise, not really growls. They're fairly unique and they never get into dreaded pig squeal territory, thankfully. They definitely sound ugly as fuck, and it fits the music perfectly. This is truly barbaric shit, really savage and heavy, and real brutal maniacs will find this irresistible. It looks like New Standard Elite has at least released this digitally, although I can find no sign of a CD, but I would assume one is coming.

Venomous Invokation--Diabolic Death Metal (CD) (2026 Crow's Nest Records)

crowsnest22.bigcartel.com

5/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Venomous Invokation hail from Nashville, TN, and they arise with a new demo with a title that perfectly describes their sound, Diabolic Death Metal. I can hear some similarities to Grotesque, Sadistic Intent, and Unholy Redeemer, mainly in the darkness and morbid atmosphere that all these bands have in common. Venomous Invokation has that same sickness. The vocals are firmly in the "cavernous" camp, with a rather intense echo effect on  them, making them sound both obscene and obscure, and like they were recorded at the bottom of a well. Musically the band is quite solid, with talented lead guitar work, especially on the solos, and whirlwind drums that are tight as can be. I like the layer of mud this recording has, it really gives it personality in a scene that has been overly concerned with perfect recordings. I wish they'd sprinkle in a bit more of the sinister synths they use to open the first track, that would be quite unique. Overall, not a bad effort, but I'll wait to hear more before I form a verdict.

Hating Life--Revenge from Beyond (CD/LP) (2026 Pulverised Records)

pulverised.net

7/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

From Spain comes this Swedish-style death metal band, a band I was interested in because they named themselves after a Grave song. I figured I was in for death metal of this persuasion, and I was correct. The riffs are big, written for maximum heaviness and morbid atmosphere. They're darker than the average HM-2 style band, bringing in doomy influences and a dark vocal tone. If this had a slightly different guitar sound, they might sound closer to Incantation than Grave, but as it stands it's firmly in the Swedish camp. Just when I wonder if they're more doom influenced than I thought, they return with a fast moment, and dash that assumption on the rocks. Usually once per song they'll deliver a massive groove that acts as the heaviest part of the track, and often sets up a return to the main riffs in the song. The singer's cadence is much like that of Jorgen Sandsstrom, his work on You'll Never See... especially. Tone-wise there's not much in common with him as the singer here is less growly and more grunty. Overall this isn't a bad record at all, and worth a quick listen if you get a chance. It's not going to floor you, but you won't shut it off, either.