Picked up the new Herzel album, "Le dernier rempart". Can already tell it's a special one. Really carries that classic french heavy metal torch proudly. Fans of Sortilege, High Power, ADX, Steel Angel, Blaspheme ect ought to give it a go. Has some really personal and unique touches to it too in the songwriting. Lots of passion.

The new album from The Stone is pretty solid

Udånde - Life as a Purist
https://udande.bandcamp.com/releases

Got this rec from Afsky, which was one of my favs of last year and it sounds amazing. The only album I've heard this year that would stand a chance to contend for a top 10 spot in my 2020 list.

https://cvltnation.com/experience-the-l ... -a-purist/

For those into death/thrash, the new Steel Bearing Hand release is well worth checking out. It's not strictly death/thrash, they throw in elements of black metal, doom (this closing track is 12 minutes long) and even some traditional heavy metal. If you're into bands like Deceased, these guys are not far off.

Krallice - Demonic Wealth

First listen on Bandcamp and it's different (as usual) but really good.

I can definitely relate to the feeling that their releases lately are more like experimental jam sessions than planned albums, which is weird because the early ones had such a keen progression. If you swapped two tracks on Diotima, it could break the album. If you swapped two tracks on a newer one, I honestly might not notice.

But I look at it like these dudes gave me four of my all-time favorite albums in a span of five years and I can hardly fault them for continuing to have fun together after that initial spark of inspiration fizzed out a bit. I guess I go in with fairly low expectations and enjoy the basic fact that they're still making music? Given more extended repetition, I don't see Demonic Wealth pushing a competitive spot on my 2021 list, but I definitely got a kick out of the weird approach they took on it. Mass Cathexis kind of left me going what are you even doing anymore.

Demiser - Through the Gate Eternal

Blackened speed/thrash done really welll. Very riffy, tight, and perfect production. This should be on a lot of end of the year lists for thrashers.

For fans of Immolation, Hate Eternal and Belphegor, out this Friday:

This is fuckin awesome! Early days, but I'd say there's a definite chance Demiser will end up in my top 10, they've just gotta release it on CD.

For those into death/thrash, the new Steel Bearing Hand release is well worth checking out. It's not strictly death/thrash, they throw in elements of black metal, doom (this closing track is 12 minutes long) and even some traditional heavy metal. If you're into bands like Deceased, these guys are not far off.

For those into death/thrash, the new Steel Bearing Hand release is well worth checking out. It's not strictly death/thrash, they throw in elements of black metal, doom (this closing track is 12 minutes long) and even some traditional heavy metal. If you're into bands like Deceased, these guys are not far off.

Another album I just discovered, black/doom on the melancholic side.

More great blackened thrash courtesy of Japan's Evil.

For those into French and Icelandic black metal:

Off-beat insane prog death from India. Hannes Grossmann on drums and a bunch of other guests.

https://moralcollapse.bandcamp.com/