Heavy Metal Talks music blog

  Artist: Sarcator Origin: Sweden Interview: Jesper Rosén (Drums) Album: The Ones We Follow Label: Reigning Phoenix Music Released: October 30, 2026 Listen/Buy: Official Album Link Swedish metal band Sarcator are preparing to release their fourth album, The Ones We Follow , on October 30 through Reigning Phoenix Music. Heavy Metal Talks caught up with Jesper Rosén to discuss the band's changing musical direction, western influences, the recording process and what comes next for Sarcator. HEAVY METAL TALKS Written Interview - SARCATOR The Ones We Follow - Reigning Phoenix Music - October 30, 2026 Interview with Jesper Rosén 1. You describe the new direction as “death’s rock.” What does that term mean to you, and when did you realise it fit Sarcator better than a more traditional genre label? To be honest I’m not really sure, this is something Mateo’s mentioned and it sounds cool but I think it might have been exaggerated a bit. But it’s true that we don’t really con...

  Artist: Carnation Origin: Belgium Label: Independent Released: October 16, 2026 Genre: Death Metal / Thrash Metal Rating:  6.5/10 Listen/Buy: Carnation Official Store Carnation caught my attention right from the opening track Blackmouth . Some really good old-school thrash riffs mixed with brutal death metal, and I like this combination. Great guitars, heavy rhythms and plenty of groove. This is a promising start! The album continues with fast and aggressive death metal, but what really works for me is the thrash influence and the melodic guitar work. The vocals are spot on, the drumming is excellent and there are some really catchy riffs here. This is the kind of death metal that makes my head bang and my feet move. But after a few tracks, it starts to be a bit too much of the same. The riffs, tempo and song structures follow the same pattern, and I miss variation. Labyrinth of Silence brings in more melodic death metal, which is a nice change, but overall ...

  Artist: Sarcosuchus Origin: Long Island, New York, USA Label: Horror Pain Gore Death Productions Released: November 13, 2026 Genre: Death Metal / Slam Death Metal Rating: 6.5/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp From the first few minutes, De-Extinction feels heavy, dirty and straight to the point. Sarcosuchus are not trying to make death metal pretty here, and that works in their favour. The album mixes old-school death metal with modern slam, with plenty of Death influence and some hints of The Black Dahlia Murder. The riffs has a strong hardcore edge, while the blast beats, breakdowns and solos keep the things moving forward. This is a very drum-driven album, and the rhythm section does a lot of the lifting. The groove is strong, and the slam elements are always there without completely taking over. The vocals are exactly where I want death metal vocals to be. Heavy, aggressive and right in your face and up front in the mix. I really like that they let the vocals take a l...

  Artist: Colliding Worlds Origin: Germany Label: Independent Released: August 21, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death/Gothic Metal Rating: 7/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp Colliding Worlds are a melodic death/gothic metal band from Germany, and Iridescence is their fifth full-length album. It was released independently on August 21 and consists of six tracks with a running time of just over 50 minutes. The first thing that hit me was the guitar playing, which is absolutely fantastic. Together with the atmosphere, it creates a dark and melancholic sound filled with both longing and sadness. There are some really beautiful melodic parts here, but the album still has plenty of weight. The vocals fit the music perfectly. The growling is clear, dark and on point the whole album. It becomes even more powerful on Abyss, where the vocals sound fucking insane.  Abyss is a bit more aggressive, and it really stands out for me. The album opens with Enigma, a track that runs for more th...

  Artist: Coma Control Origin: Finland Label: Independent Released: August 14, 2026 Genre: Progressive Death Metal Rating: 7.5/10 Listen/Buy: Official Links Coma Control are a progressive death metal band from Tampere, Finland, and Shed the Sleep is their second full-length album.  There was something about this dark and melancholic sound that capture me right away , and made me curious. There`s a lot happening on this album. At times it becomes chaotic, but it is technical and controlled, and most of the changes work really well. The music can go from heavy and aggressive to something much more atmospheric before changing direction again. Normally, this amount of change could easily become a mess, but Coma Control know what they are doing. The longer tracks made me skeptical at first , because this can easily loose my interest, that is not the case here. At times this is pure chaos, but it is technical and controlled chaos. There are changes everywhere, heavy...

  Artist: SAROF Origin: Lappeenranta, Finland Label: Independent Released: August 7, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death Metal Rating: 9/10 Listen/Buy: sarofband.com Melodic death metal from Finland just keeps getting better and better, and SAROF are no exception! Already after a few seconds, I was sold. There is just something about the sound on this album that hit me immediately. Via Discendi is the second full-length album from SAROF, following Force of Will from 2019. It contains nine tracks and runs for just under 40 minutes, and the quality stays high throughout the whole album. The sound reminds me of the old melodeath scene and that classic Gothenburg sound, and it is so fucking good. Is this the new melodeath sound coming from Finland? I do not know, but it sounds amazing. The vocals are on point all the way through. There are some great variations in the voice, which give the album exactly what it needs. The guitars are sharp, technical and fucking rhythmic, full ...

  Artist: Enshine Origin: Sweden / France Label: Independent Released: January 3, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death/Doom Metal Rating: 5.5/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp I thought I reviewed this album when it was first released, but apparently I forgot about it. So with a lack of both creativity and time, I decided it was finally time to bring out Elevation again. This is Enshine’s third full-length album and comes more than ten years after Singularity . It consists of eight tracks and runs for around 50 minutes. You can feel the atmospheric longing and darkness already from the first track. This is a heavily melancholic album. The guitars are beautiful and full of emotion, with some really good riffs and melodic parts. Together with the keyboards, they create a dreamy and almost cosmic atmosphere. The keyboards can become a little too dominant, but for the most part this works really well. The vocals are also good, although they disappear a little into the music from time to t...

  Artist: Cipher System Origin: Tjörn, Sweden Label: At Dawn Records Released: July 31, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death Metal Rating: 9 /10 Follow: Facebook After 15 years, Cipher System are finally back with a new release, and what a fucking comeback this is! Torn Between Realities starts so fucking strong with Endveiler . This track hit me immediately. The melodies, the energy and Christian Älvestam’s vocals all come together in a way that just works. Älvestam's clean vocals sound almost unchanged after all these years, and they hit exactly where they should. The growls are also on point, and the shifts between the two styles are a big part of what makes this work so well. If you are a fan of Scar Symmetry, you will definitly like this. It is difficult to listen to Torn Between Realities without thinking about the early Scar Symmetry period with Symmetric in Design , Pitch Black Progress and Holographic Universe . The last one also includes my personal favorite Scar...

Artist: Syrax Origin: St. Petersburg, Russia Label: Independent Released: July 31, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death Metal Rating: 7/10 This EP came completely out of nowhere. I saw the name Syrax on a list of new releases, and thought I had to check them out and it was much better than I expected. Another Side of the Battlefield starts with a folk metal feeling, at first I was not really sure what this was, but then it picks up and moves more into melodic death metal, mixed with elements of viking and folk metal. This works so much better than I first expected. The guitars sound really good and are a big part of this EP. There are plenty of great melodies, and the drums also get their moments with a good dose of blastbeats. Everything is technically well played and on point exactly where it needs to be, it feels like the band has been doing this for years. The vocals are a little special. Sometimes they are a bit unclear, but they are also very good when they hit. There are also...

  Artist: Eternal Mourn Origin: Italy Label: Terror from Hell Records Released: July 20, 2026 Genre: Death/Doom Metal Rating: 8/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp Sometimes you just have to love the algorithms, especially when bands like Eternal Mourn suddenly appear. The band consists of experienced musicians from different projects, who have now come together to play doom/death, and it sounds so fucking good. You really get a feeling of longing, sorrow and pain, with a melancholic atmosphere hanging over the entire EP. Throughout these three songs, you are pulled into the band’s own little darkness. What I enjoy the most are all the shifts between the slower parts and the slightly more uptempo sections, before the music falls back into the heavy and sorrowful atmosphere again. That really works here. The guitar carries a lot of the melancholy, with heavy riffs and sorrowful melodies working side by side. There is plenty of weight here.The melodic guitar adds another layer to...

  Artist: Dark Side Origin: Gniew, Pomerania, Poland Label: Independent Released: July 10, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore Rating: 9/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp Dark Side – W matni is actually an album I should have reviewed last weeked, but it is holiday season, and I do allow myself a few days off now and then. So the reviews are not coming as often right now, but they are not forgotten. This album starts insanely good with “Sadysta”, and it hits me right in the face. Anyone who reads the blog knows that I love melodic death metal, and when you throw breakdowns into the mix as well, then I am pretty much sold. This is dark, aggressive and melodic , that really works for me. The riffs hit hard, the guitar solos lift the songs, and the breakdowns give the album the extra weight. The drums are seriously on point, with great blastbeats, technical precision and a drive that keeps the album alive all the way through. And then there is the vocal , it is so good, li...

  Artist: Sigyn Origin: Finland Label: Noble Demon Released: July 10, 2026 Genre: Melodic Death Metal Rating: 6/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp Sigyn came up as a new release and I had heard the name before, so I had to check it out. Turned out they had an album back in 2023 ,not the most well-known band to me, so I sat down with zero expectations other than melodic death metal, and there it was , melo death. Opening track "A New Nation" hits you hard right away and sets a solid foundation for what's to come. This is energetic,technically and solid. The synth is clearly meant to add an epic layer, but for me it ends up being more of a distraction than anything else. The guitars and drums are very on point , lots of double bass blast beats and precise, good riffs. And the vocals are really good ,I mean really fuckin good. Honestly it's the vocals that keep me going from start to finish. This isn't a revolutionary record, and I've heard this before , b...

  Artist: Entropist Origin: Colorado, USA Label: Independent Released: June 26, 2026 Genre: Progressive Death Metal Rating: 9/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp I knew this one was dropping while I was on vacation in Spain, and when it finally came out and I got to listen to it on my morning walk , wow-that was something else. Had some expectations for this album and they were met bigtime. This is not just and album it`s a journey,didn't expect acoustic guitar or violin on a progressive death metal record, but somehow it works like hell. Technical, brutal at times, lots of progressive shifts and chaos. Vocals are both growling and clean, and I know I've been negative about clean vocals lately, but here they are absolutely fantastic. Opening track "Intense Warmth" sets the standard right away. "Devour Us" follows close behind. Personally I'm a big fan of "Creation".The 14-minute closer Revelation has to be mentioned ,doesn't feel th...

June 2026 — Best Metal Album For Me June 2026   Fires in the Distance – Circadian Promise Melodic Doom/Death Metal | USA This one hit me right in the chest. Not just an album I listen to — it's an album I disappear into. The best thing I've heard in a long time. Read the full review   Entropist – The Vision Progressive Death Metal | USA A debut that hits hard. Huge and ambitious, with a concept that runs deep. Technical precision without losing the groove. One of the best things I've heard this year. Full review coming.   Loneshore – Nothing Left to Deconstruct Melodic Progressive Doom/Death Metal | Brazil Dark, melancholic and atmospheric. The guitars carry this album from start to finish, and the two strongest tracks — "Straylight" and "To Stride the Black Earth" — are something else. Read the full review   Via Doloris – Guerre et Paix Atmospheric Black Metal | Norway Solo project from Oslo with Frost of 1349 on drums. Dark, atmospheric and r...

  Artist: Soliloquium Origin: Sweden Label: Meuse Music Records Released: April 11, 2025 Genre: Melodic Death/Doom Metal Rating: 8/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp There is something about lying on the beach and just enjoying life that makes me reach for something a bit calmer and more melancholic, maybee it is the sun, the sound of the sea and the fact that everything moves a little slower, but Famine ended up following me here in Spain. Not exactly typical beach music, but this album somehow fitted the moment perfectly. It is dark, emotional and heavy, but also has enough space in it to just sit back and let it sink in. This is a melancholic death/doom album, and when Soliloquium move into the more melodic death metal parts, it feels almost like a revelation. Those moments really hits me. There is a lot of emotions running through this record, and the more you listen, the more you start to feel the desperation, the loss and the sadness behind it. I can also hear progressi...

  Artist: Novembre Origin: Rome, Italy Label: Peaceville Records Released: November 7, 2025 Genre: Progressive Melodic Doom/Death Metal Rating: 8/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp As I was laying on the beach in Spain, Novembre suddenly popped up in my head.I then realized I had never given Words of Indigo a proper listen. So I did. And I am glad for it. The guitars are really good throughout this album, carrying a lot of the melodies and atmosphere that make Novembre sound like Novembre. There is a heavy sense of melancholy atmosphere hanging over the whole record, and the production brings that out in a strong way. Dark, warm and detailed without losing the heaviness. The drums are a huge strength here. Full of darkness, blast beats and small details that give the songs more weight when they need it. This is a progressive and melodic doom metal album, but it never feels slow for the sake of being slow. There is always something happening. My main issue is still the clean ...

  Sun, Sand and Metal — What I've Been Spinning sofar in Spain I'm finally on vacation,sand between my toes, something cold in my hand and metal in my ears. I haven't forgotten about the blog , new reviews dropping this weekend. But here's some of what's been on rotation down here. Flykt – Sinister Strain Dissonant, atmospheric black metal with tremolo guitars all over the place. Gets a bit too much at times, but a decent attempt on norwegian black metal. Worth checking out. Scordatura – Led into Oblivion Brutal death metal. Rhythmic and technical, dirty and thrashy at the same time. New on my radar, but this one's staying with me. Manøver – Insurrection Got recommended this one. Found out pretty fast that sludge isn't for me. It became a bit too demanding for me, and after a while it felt more exhausting than engaging. Aeonik – The Roamer of Heaven and Hell Been aware of these guys for a while but never really sat down with them, well i did it no...

  Artist: Loneshore Origin: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Label: Willowtip Records Released: June 19, 2026 Genre: Melodic Progressive Doom/Death Metal Rating: 8.5/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp Don't know who recommended this album to me, but whoever you are , thank you so fuckin much. Nothing Left to Deconstruct mixes post-metal, death metal, doom and even progressive metal. Long parts with build-up, lots of clean vocals, and just a really good vibe. Lots of riffs, blast beats and melodic parts, vocal is both clean and brutal , both works. This is an atmospheric journey through their universe, and i enjoyed listening to this album.The production feels solid , the soundscape is really good,especially on  "Straylight" and "To Stride the Black Earth", which are probably the strongest tracks on the album for me. A really good mix of everything the album has to offer, this is where they really show what they can do. You can really hear their influences here ,the...

  Artist: Fires in the Distance Origin: Newington, Connecticut, USA Label: Prosthetic Records Released: June 12, 2026 Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal Rating: 10/10 Listen/Buy: Bandcamp I don't really know where to start with Fires in the Distance – Circadian Promise, because this album hit me right in the chest. First time I heard this ,I sat there with one feeling: WOW. This is something else. And the craziest thing is that it just keeps gettin better with every listen. A feeling I haven't had in a long time. An album that gives me exactly what I need right now ,an escape, a room to breathe, somewhere I can just exist in my own little world. So thank you. Thank you so damn much. I love melodic death metal, and when it's done like this, it's almost impossible not to get pulled in. Everything works here. The vocals, the drums, guitars and bass,razor sharp across the board. Blast beats hit exactly where they should, the riffs grab you, and the solos will...

June has been a strong month for metal so far. Here are six albums that have stuck with me. Via Doloris – Guerre et Paix Solo project from Oslo, Frost of 1349 and Satyricon on drums. Dark, atmospheric black metal with a folk edge. The drumming alone is worth your time. Read the full review Revolting – Supernatural Anthems Straight up Swedish death metal. No reinventing the wheel, but it doesn't need to. Raw riffs, horror atmosphere and enough melodic hooks to stick. Read the full review Dissentient – Black Galactic Progressive and technical death metal from Ottawa. The cosmic side of this album gives it a whole different dimension. "Black Galactic, Black Galactic" — that chant doesn't leave your head. Read the full review Crocell – Swarm of Insects Danish black/death metal. Solid sound, dark vocals, strong moments — but also stretches that are a little too easy to forget. "Traitors' Blood" is the standout. Read the full review Sinamort ...