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Kasck: The Universal Lie (2026) [mini-review]

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Indian band Kasck are out with the album "The Universal Lie" through German label Witches Brew, and metal is the style explored on this production. In this case this is a band that appear to know and love their thrash metal, and who aim to incorporate a number of different variations of that form into the landscapes they create. The intense sounds of crossover thrash are present just as much as the slower paced, groove-oriented escapades, and material with staccato riff and rhythm patterns as well as more high paced, technically oriented riffs are very much in place too. In addition the band will drop down to a more heavy metal oriented sound and execution at times, and will also incorporate occasional forays into gentler and atmospheric laden territories. The vocals are present with a raspy aggression all along though, and functions as a bit of a contrast to the more smooth and firm instrumentation as such. An album to seek out if you know and love your classic era thrash me...
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Wömit Angel: Spermhamforash (2026) [mini-review]

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Finnish band Wömit Angel are out with the album "Spermhamforash" through Finnish label Hex-Io Productions, and metal is the style explored on this production. It is quite the aggressive variety of the form we get in this case, and aggressive also for being inside of the extreme metal tradition. There is a raw, primal energy that runs through everything here, from the distorted and twisted vocals with a hardcore style snarl to them to the unrelenting high degree of intensity that define the landscapes explored. While the pace and momentum are kept at a high level throughout, and aspects like regular guitar solo runs have been dropped, this isn't all about a high speed and vibrant ongoing run though. Slower paced side steps into regular thrash metal landscapes is a recurring element here, and on other occasions we are presented with compositions that explore the boundaries between crossover thrash and extreme metal. An album to seek out by those who enjoy a high intensity a...
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Mystic Tea Party: Slipstream (2026) [mini-review]

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Australian band Mystic Tea Party are out with the album "Slipstream", and this is a bit of an interesting creation that explore a few more or less related landscapes inside of the pop and rock music context. Delicate, floating and flowing constructions with an otherworldly feel and dominant soft synthesizers and keyboards is one part of the package, and dream pop the expression of choice in those instances. We also get more fleshed out, majestic, powerful and darker toned varieties of the same, where the dreams take on a darker and more nightmarish tone if you like. But we also get songs where the guitars are more prominent in part or in full, and the landscape is closer to an indie rock, psychedelic rock or alternative rock expression. And fairly often throughout all of these style variations, a little bit or a more direct nod in the direction of the post-punk expression is a bit of a presence here too. The soft, ethereal and innocent sounding lead vocals is a stark contrast...
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Ctrl Click: Systems For Disassembly (2026) [mini-review]

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US artist Ctrl Click is out with the album "Systems For Disassembly" through the label Negative Gain Productions, and dystopian electronic music is what we get on this production. There is a clear but subtle industrial element that is a bit of an ongoing feature on this album, with a firm and often dominant bass presence accompanied by firm and mainly strict rhythms. Occasionally with a little bit of a techno feel making their way into this foundation of the compositions. Synthesizers are used to craft and maintain the core melody elements, which tends to be minimalist rather than expressive, and a liberal array of sounds and effects adds an ongoing chaotic feel to the landscapes explored. With the subtly hoarse, calm spoken like vocal presence providing a contrast as well as a generally menacing presence. Caught somewhere between industrial electronic music and EBM, this is a dark and bleak venture into this type of music, music that would fit just as well for an apocalyptic...
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Fraught: Pillar I. Ashes Of Verdant Collapse (2026) [mini-review]

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Irish band Fraught are out with the EP "Pillar I. Ashes Of Verdant Collapse" through UK label Apocalyptic Witchcraft, and metal is the style explored on this production. We get to encounter to somewhat different varieties of this band's take on the extreme metal tradition in this case. While a more primal aggression in sound and vocals alike is a bit of an ongoing feature there, it is only on the track 'Detritivore' that these facets are explored in full and in depth, wit a high pace and high intensity primal sounding expression is a bot of a constant. But for 'Death Assemblage' we get more atmospheric laden passages and what sounds a little bit like a detour into thrash metal landscapes at some point too. As well as a side step into a passage where a greater focus appears to be on technically demanding instrument performances. An EP to seek out if a more primal sounding and aggressive extreme metal band is something you generally tens to enjoy, and then i...
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Waylander: Mac Tire, Son Of The Land (2026) [mini-review]

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Northern Ireland band Waylander are out with the album "Mac Tire, Son Of The Land" through Italian label Rockshots Records, and metal is the style explored on this production. The more specific tradition and expression is folk metal in this case, and I'd suggest that Irish folk metal and Celtic folk metal will both be equally correct here. We get standalone folk musjc passages with more calm and elegant landscapes as well as livelier escapades. On the other hand we get standalone metal parts here too, ranging from more delicate, atmospheric laden varieties of the form to higher paced, intense forays that touch base with the extreme metal tradition. In between those extremes we find the grater majority of the material there, that mix and blend elements from the folk music and the metal into a cohesive, well developed and richer total experience. The vocals mainly stay in a raspy and often twisted mode of delivery, emphasizing the metal inspired aspect of the sound explored...
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The Gods They Made: Awaken (2026) [mini-review]

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Swiss band The Gods They Made are out with the EP "Awaken", and the general description rock music is perhaps the best fit for the landscapes explored on this production. One of the more defining aspects of this band is the use of a hard and driving bass line, and with the firm and often spoken like vocals these two details adds a rather distinct post punk vibe to the proceedings. We do have a bit less of a guitar presence than in many post punk bands though, with the more careful guitar role and the more embellished and dominant role of the synthesizers throughout adding a more synth pop goes new wave character to these songs. With futuristic and otherwise cold and clinical sounding synthesizers adding a further seasoning of electronic pop and rock. An album to seek out if you tend to like post punk and new wave music and don't mind a combination of these that adds a bit of an alternative pop music character to the landscapes explored.  https://www.thegodstheymade.com/ ...
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