Heavy Metal Talks is an independent metal blog covering album reviews across death metal, black metal, thrash metal and more. New reviews posted regularly.
Author's Metal Picks 2026
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My personal selection of metal albums from 2026, sorted by month. Not a complete release calendar — just the albums that stood out to me.
▶ January 2026
Picks within blackgaze, atmospheric black metal, melodic doom/death metal, sludge metal and progressive metal.
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MØLDreamcrushDenmark — January 30, 2026Post-Black MetalBlackgaze
MØL return with Dreamcrush, an emotional and powerful blackgaze album where heavy riffs, shoegaze atmosphere and post-black metal intensity collide.
DeadnightThe Black ScourgeUnited States — May 15, 2026 — Dead of NightBlack MetalThrash Metal
Black/thrash metal from Chicago, Illinois. Raw, aggressive and uncompromising.
▶ June 2026
A strong month for melodic doom, progressive death and atmospheric black metal.
1
Fires in the DistanceCircadian PromiseUnited States — June 12, 2026 — Prosthetic RecordsMelodic Death MetalDoom Metal
10/10. An emotional masterpiece. Everything works — vocals, guitars, bass, drums, razor sharp across the board. An album that gives me exactly what I need, an escape, a room to breathe. WOW.
DissentientBlack GalacticCanada — June 5, 2026 — IndependentProgressive Death Metal
8.5/10. Progressive and technical death metal from Ottawa. The cosmic side gives it a whole different dimension. Keeps growing on me with every listen.
Via DolorisGuerre et PaixNorway — March 20, 2026 — Season of MistAtmospheric Black Metal
8/10. Solo project of Gildas Le Pape with session drums by Frost (Satyricon). Rooted in Nordic black metal tradition, guided by melody and introspection.
Three Days, 24 Bands and a Completely Wrecked Festival Weekend This weekend was exactly what festivals are supposed to be — long days, aching feet, little sleep, loud music, sore backs and massive concert experiences. Over three days I caught 24 bands, ranging from black metal and melodic death metal to progressive metal, hard rock and a few things that just didn't land for me at all. Some concerts were unforgettable. Some disappointed. Some surprised me completely. But overall, this was exactly the chaotic and memorable festival weekend I was hoping for. Thursday Thursday started strong. First up was Rioter, and they did exactly what an opening band should do. Young guys going in full energy from the first second and kicking off the festival with a bang. A fantastic start to the weekend. Next was Mayfire, a band I'd actually been looking forward to. Unfortunately this was one of the weaker sets of the day. The sound wasn't quite right and the vocals kept falling through ...
Artist: Dissentient Origin: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Label: Independent Released: June 5, 2026 Genre: Progressive Death Metal Rating: 8.5/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp I've listened to Dissentient – Black Galactic a few times now, and it just keeps growing on me. First impression was good, but the more I hear it, the more details show up. The cosmic side of the album especially gives it another vibe even a bigger picture. This is progressive, technical death metal at its core, but it never gets technical just for the sake of it. There's groove, rhythm and weight, and all the progressive parts add depth. The vocals are spot on death metal. Solid, brutal, exactly what it needs. Guitars and the rest of the instruments are top notch too. This oozes quality, and the band shows they have something to bring to the table. The title track "Black Galactic" stands out the most for me. A real mix of death metal, progressive and technical, and that chant , "Bla...
My review on For Ruin - Painted in the colours of War Release : January 29th , 2026 Origin : Cork , Ireland Label : Sentinel Records Rating : At The End Painted in the colours of War Painted In The Colours Of War is an album defined by atmosphere. From the very start , the mood is dark, heavy, and emotionally. This is not a record that rushes to impress,instead, it builds patiently , layer by layer, allowing tension and weight to accumulate before it finally releases. And when it does, it hits HARD . Musically, the album sits firmly within melodic blackened death metal . The guitars balance heaviness and melody well, creating riffs that feel both aggressive and expressive rather than purely technical. The drums are powerful and well-placed, giving the music a strong sense of drive without overwhelming the rest of the instrumentation. Everything feels intentional and controlled, yet never sterile. One of the key...
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