As with any new year, it feels weird writing 2025 in lieu of 2024 so expect a slip up from time to time, but not today. We’re still in ‘best of’ season so expect more of that this week and we still are in ‘short list’ season for new releases for now. A shorter list doesn’t mean there’s nothing to uncover, oh quite the contrary. For example, death metallers Faithxtractor kick things off quite raucously, then The Halo Effect go the melodic route with their latest, and last but not least we’ve got Bergthron kickin’ it pagan metal style. As always though, there’s more hiding out below these opening picks. Not much more, but MOAR. It should be a good mix of best of lists and reviews here this week so stay tuned…

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Faithxtractor – Loathing & The Noose (Redefining Darkness Records) – death metal

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The Halo Effect – March of the Unheard (Nuclear Blast Records) – melodic death metal

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Bergthron – Neu Asen Land (Trollzorn Records) – pagan metal

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Also on tap:

After Nations – Surface | Essence (Self) – post-metal

Barshasketh – Antinomian Asceticism (W.T.C. Productions) – black metal

Ex Deo – Year Of The Four Emperors (Reigning Phoenix Music) – symphonic metal

Exiled Hope/Steel Forge – Realm Of The Exiled (Self) – blackened power metal

Garden of Stone – The Grave Mistake (Inverse Records) – melancholic metal

Hanry – Disruption, EP (Pelagic Records) – post-metal

Haunted Horses – Dweller (Three One G) – punk

Järnbörd – Filmer för blinda (Self) – metal

Moon Wizard – Sirens (Hammerheart Records) – stoner 

Second Day – Flamboyance (Self) – post-prog

Slaughtersun – Black Marrow (Self) – death metal

Stick To Your Guns – Keep Planting Flowers (SharpTone Records) – rock

The Andretti – The Silent Goodbye (Self) – avant

The Cimmerian – An Age Undreamed Of (Hyborian Rage / BVR) – doom / thrash

Urfiend – Dauþalaikaz (Nine to Zero) – black metal

Void Born – In Throes Of Rage (Self) – crusty doom

— Josh