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MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - April 2025
Welcome back to MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month! Spring is upon us, and with that comes a deluge of new music that's nearly impossible to keep up with, as is evidenced by us getting almost a full month behind and putting this list out in June. We'll hope to get back on track with May 2025's list, but for now, enjoying the soothing sounds of extreme metal and give a bit of time to some landmark April albums you may have missed when they first dropped. Cheers!
-Nate
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Lik - Necro
Metal Blade Records
Groovy, BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal distortion pedal riffs after riffs, with a touch of melody peeking out of the distortion from time to time, making this a quintessentially Swedish sounding record. They can go fast, throwing in tasteful, precise blast beats and fast double kick but can also sit on a riff mid-tempo, creating a thick and heavy atmosphere that will make you slowly headbang making that face, you know, the face when the riff hits and is disgustingly good! Far from being a technical death album, nevertheless, every musician is offering a technically impressive performance. With a runtime of 40 minutes, it's the perfect length and makes it a highly re-playable experience.
-Raphael
Atrox Trauma - Where Death Hunts
WormHoleDeath
These four menacing dudes from Hungary have delivered their interesting, but really I should say intense, second album. Where Death Hunts is a concise explosion of death, thrash, and a sprinkle of groove that sets out to annihilate your ears whichever style they're using. Sort of a hypothetical middle ground between the hi-octane fury of The Haunted's recent endeavours and the more melodic tendencies of Allegaeon, albeit more devoted to frontal aggression, and propelled by a powerhouse of a drummer. Some songs certainly go by too fast for their own good, but make sure to reach the better back half of the album, either for the flat-out ferocious cuts like 'I Am The Master' and 'Raise The Level' or the slightly groovier 'Freedom Is the Life' and 'Emptiness'. Is this what people call a 'gym album'? Probably – I even felt like I was growing a decent full beard towards the end of it.
-Greg
Hyena - About Rock And Roll
Dying Victims Production
Heavy metal from South America is always special, so when I saw that Hyena, a band from Peru, was releasing a new album and on Dying Victims, I instantly knew I would like it and boy oh boy was I right! Like a ceviche this album is bright, zesty, fresh and filling. Catchy riffs, fast and precise drumming, groovy bass and a solid vocal performance from El Sucio where he summons his inner Rob Halford (quite successfully I might add) with all the super high pitched "aaaaaaaah", you can want. The harmonizing dual guitar melodies here are full of emotions and sounding so crisp and organic. If you like pure heavy metal, this is 38 minutes that will pass so quickly you will hit replay instantly.
-Raphael
Cytotoxin - Biographyte
Blood Blast Distribution
Although tech-death is my wheelhouse, I have admittedly not "gotten into" Cytotoxin, despite being familiar with them and knowing they're a household name in the subgenre. I don't have much of a reason for it. I know they're good, based on the people in my circles that recommend them, and the amount of praise they get from style aficionados, but I just haven't taken the time to sit down and really digest a full album. Chalk it up to the classic "too many bands, not enough time" dilemma I guess.
Anyways, consider this mini-review a personal vendetta for neglecting these German masters of zippy sweeps and Chernobyl-themed brutality. They've got a bit of everything that makes the style great and a frequent destination for my ears: Necrophagist's penchant for verse riffs and solos that are acrobatic and impossible to play, Gorod's affinity for off-kilter elegance, tastefully incorporated breakdowns that will make even the most stoic of listeners fight invisible ninjas in the mosh pit, and a roaring vocalist with stupidly low tones (think Disentomb). As I mentioned, I'm new to the band, so I don't know if this a drop in quality from their previous work, or their best release yet - but based on how much I'm enjoying this, I'm inclined to think it's closer to the latter than the former.
-Nate
Dormant Ordeal - Tooth And Nail
Willowtip Records
Nothing dormant here, this is 47 minutes of tight riffs with a touch of dissonance, mesmerizing atmospheres, precise drumming and bestial angry vocals reminiscent of 2000 era Behemoth. Speaking of their Polish comrades, comparisons are inevitable of course, both playing in the same unholy blackened sandbox but Dormant Ordeal are bringing more technical aspects, making their songwriting more engaging in my humble opinion. The combination of furious sounding barks, relentless drumming and that touch of dissonance makes it sound extra evil. That being said, it's not just mindless brutality, the drumming is full of subtleties, with plenty of extra ghost notes on the cymbals and in the rare occasions where they slow down, the drums can take a back seat and enhance the atmosphere. Chason Westmoreland (known for his drumming in the Canadian deathcore band Brand of Sacrifice) truly outdid himself here. Speaking of atmosphere, while not as central as in bands like Ulcerate, you can clearly hear the similarities between the bands. The technicality doesn't overshadow the overall emotional aspect of this music. I feel a great sadness being expressed, it comes out in some of the riffs and solos, especially towards the end. Overall, it's a great experience and can I just add that the lack of cringe is much appreciated (not talking about anyone here… Nergal)
-Raphael
Final Dose - Under The Eternal Shadow
Wolves Of Hades
Billed as a fusion of black metal and punk, due to the d-beat driven velocity of their exhilarating noise, realistically, the balance is heavily weighted in favour of the former, taking the listener back to a world in which the monochromatic aesthetic of Darkthrone and mid-90s Marduk had not yet been supplanted by shoegaze influences, and the only thing that mattered was which one of the first three Bathory albums was your personal favourite. Although Final Dose's sound may be (intentionally) primitive, the immediacy of their power-chord riffing, and the throat-shredding feral vocal delivery of Bruno Fusco, is totally compelling, the listener encouraged to emulate the band's obvious commitment to filth and depravity. Even across a suitably short run-time, Final Dose find some room for experimentation and variety, with the black-ambient interlude of 'Servant' adding layers of atmospheric mystique, and post-punk guitar leads liberally sprinkled across the excellent 'Wretched'. The British black metal scene only continues to grow, and Final Dose are the much-needed middle-finger to the atmospheric sophistication of many of the bands leading the charge, taking their own, more direct route, to hell.
-Benjamin
METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH
10: Kardashev - Alunea
Metal Blade Records
Named after the Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev (which is famous for the Kardashev scale that defines type I, II and III civilizations), they mix soft atmospheres and melodies with the brutality of deathcore, creating a sound truly out of this world, that many call "deathgaze". Their music is all about layers, Mark Garrett's soft and vulnerable clean vocals layered with his powerful death growls, banshee shrieks and super varied instrumentation, going from crushing deathcore to lush and soothing post-metal. Coupled with a pristine production enabling these rich layers of sound to be perfectly audible, making you discover something new with each new listen. Kardashev creates such unique and powerful music, demonstrating yet again that they have carved and are sitting on top of their own niche subgenre.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.2/10
9: Warfield - With The Old Breed
Napalm Records
German thrash that focuses its themes on what worship the old breed of teutonic legends that came before them but still bring in a ton of youthful energy? Yes please! The first thing that you'll notice is Johannes Clemens' vocals, piercing shrieks that explodes with a raw and savage energy, coupled with the occasional gang vocals, it will pump you up to thrash alone in your apartment! Musically as relentless as the vocals, it does not slow down, with a barrage of riffs, technical solos and a drummer that must be on speed! They do sometimes take their time, like on the 7 minutes "GASP (Gather At Suffering's Peak)" which is a song that describes a mustard gas attack (get it, gasp) and where they brilliantly take their time to establish a sinister atmosphere. The album ends with the song "With The Old Breed", which begins with a small, super-fast drum solo and then never takes their foot off the pedal. All in all, this is a superb sounding, old school teutonic thrash album, I honestly have no notes, it's thrash the way it's supposed to be, fast, aggressive and with virtuoso musicians.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10
8: Tomarum - Beyond Obsidian Euphoria
Prosthetic Records
After releasing one of the most bombastic, emotionally resonant, and ambitious offerings of 2022 with Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons, Tomarum had made their mark in the greater pantheon of modern extreme metal - but after an album like that, where do you go next?
After 3 years of deliberation, we finally have our answer. No longer is this band a spunky up-and-comer - they're here to prove they have the artistry and vision to comfortably hang among the big dogs. Touring with Inferi appears to have boosted their proclivity for acrobatic guitar lines - the opening of "Shed This Erroneous Skin" and many of the verses in "In Search Of The Triumph Beyond" have a tech-melodeath flavour in their acrobatics. There's still an undercurrent of modern black metal that permeates this, but it's been reduced in favour of more bombastic prog and ethereal diversions. They've taken significant steps to create a distinct, unique, but no less Tomarum-y album with Beyond Obsidian Euphoria. This could also be the byproduct of adding more cooks in the kitchen - Ash In Realms was mostly Kyle Walburn and Brandon Iacovella's work filled out with session musicians, whereas this album features second guitarist Matt Longerbeam and drummer Chris Stropoli, both of whom have dedicated their blood and sweat to this band on tour. You get less of a "uber-talented fanboy" vibe and more of a "seasoned veteran band" feeling.
All of that being said - is this a better album than its predecessor? Do I want to listen to it more? That's what really matters…and as of right now, I would say based on sheer surface appeal, I prefer Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons just a tad. That album had a way of forcing you to listen to 10-minute behemoth songs repeatedly like they were pop hits. However, it's worth noting that this is not the kind of music that you can make a thorough assessment on immediately. Beyond Obsidian Euphoria is a monster, 69-minute album that covers a ton of ground, and it's a more detailed, mature and multi-faceted piece of music - so it's entirely possible that time will have me gravitating to this album more. Whatever your assessment of one compared to the other, this album is a mandatory listen for fans of Warforged, Enslaved, Fallujah, Ne Obliviscaris and Inferi.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10
7: The Riven - Visions Of Tomorrow
Dying Victims Productions
Pure melody and catchiness is the name of the game on Visions Of Tomorrow the latest album of rock heroes, The Riven, with pure rock'n'roll anthems that are scientifically designed to immediately take over your brain and stay there for a while. Totta Ekebergh's vocal performance is awe-inspiring, reminding me of the Canadian legend Geddy Lee but with even more range and a catchy quality that serves the abundance of infectious and at times, down right emotional chorus. Arnau Diaz and Joakim Sandegård dueling guitars are constantly harmonizing and offering us solos after solos of the highest technicality and musicality. Max Ternebring (bass) and Elias Jonsson (drums) provide the rhythmic backbone of the sound and do a particularly good job of setting a certain atmosphere when the band slows down and give us these short, more psychedelic breaks. Paired with an impeccable old school and organic production, this album will be on repeat in my home for a long time!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10
6: Pagan Altar - Never Quite Dead
Dying Victims Productions
Terry Jones's tragic passing in 2015 made many believe Pagan Altar would never get back up yet, here we are, proving the Altar is indeed not quite dead. First off, Brendan Radigan operates in a similar register, a kind of nasally, high pitch singing that is not only an attempted copy but brings something new. All of that being said, it is still undoubtably Pagan Altar, Alan Jones's guitar is still a huge part of the sound, his doomy and full of hooks riffs are still dominating the sound and trust me, you get a lot for your money on Never Quite Dead. "Saints And Sinners" begins on a strong note with a hell of a catchy riff and vocal chorus, proving on the get go Brendan was a superb choice to continue Pagan Altar's journey. Madame M'Rachel's Grave brings an infectious old school riff that will bury itself in your brain for days. Also, incredible drumming by Andy Green on this one in particular. The slow-paced riffs of "The Dead's Last March" bring delicious gloomy vibes to the song and is followed by a beautiful folky acoustic guitar interlude that transitions to "Kismet", the epic 9 minutes closer with a satisfying build up and impeccable solo. So, it's safe to say Pagan Altar are not dead and made a notable comeback. It is always a pleasure to see veterans thrive like this, late in their career, take a tragedy in their lives and make what they do best, creating art and sharing it with the world.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10
5: Diabolizer - Murderous Revelations
Dark Descent / Me Saco Un Ojo
Mustafa Gürcalioğlu is a RIFF KING. I don't know how many more albums he has to release until you get the point, but love him or love him, between his half a dozen bands he maintains a steady output of about one blood-pumping masterpiece per year.
Diabolizer is perhaps the most straightforward and modern of his projects, and Murderous Revelations trims a bit of the midpaced groove work for a visceral, straight-for-the-throat attack, while still keeping enough dynamic variety to ensure it doesn't become a faceless blur. The magic of Mustafa is that a song starts up and you immediately know it's him, but where exactly he'll take you on his riff rollercoaster is a mystery that slowly unfolds, remaining a thrilling experience throughout. Where Engulfed opts for a bit more Swedeath-y melody, Hyperdontia takes the old-school route, and Decaying Purity (RIP) aims for maximum brutality, Diabolizer is…the most Mustafa-ish Mustafa project. Catchy without a reliance on melody, an unbelievably thick guitar tone that somehow makes room for the other instruments to shine as needed, and an unrelenting approach that simultaneously never allows you to get bored. Murderous Revelations has everything that makes this Turkish wonder one of my favorite modern metal guitarists.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10
4: Fractal Universe - The Great Filters
Napalm Records
This is…way too catchy for a prog-death album. There's a certain nasally quality to the vocalist but it helps to really staple the choruses into your brain, the hint of technicality provides the contrast that makes the more restrained moments hit harder. This is the first time I've fully dove into a Fractal Universe album - there's no reason why I avoided them for this long, I like Rivers of Nihil, Alluvial and Obscura as much as the next guy, and I hear a lot of that same strain of prog here. For a tech-head that occasionally wants something a little more relaxing where you don't have to think too much while it's on, this is perfect. I found myself reaching for this album on quick car trips more than anything else the past month, and now I just keep coming back to it because I can't get the choruses out of my head. This is as close to prog death is going to get to having pop hooks and I am HERE for it.
The lyrics and concept behind this album are great as well (something I rarely say), and it adds an extra memorable touch to the earworm sections.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.6/10
3: Ancient Death - Ego Dissolution
Profound Lore Records
Right at the beginning you can tell this album is going to be special, it sounds super old school but then the groove hits and already it sounds modern. Continuing the modern vibe is the bright sounding guitars of the technical solo and then everything slows down a bit and becomes quieter bringing a tranquil almost warm atmosphere before punching you in the face with a blast beat, turning the death metal back on 11. "Breathe - Transcend (Into the Glowing Streams of Forever)" is a song that takes its time to establish a thick gloomy atmosphere even adding the delicate clean singing of Jasmine Alexander. Cleans in death metal, especially OSDM, is an interesting choice but here it adds a lot of character. She once again uses her delicate cleans on "Echoing Chambers Within The Dismal Mind", contrasting beautifully with her truly savage growls. Other notable mentions is the rhythm section, tasty drum fills and groovy bass lines are everywhere, for a first album, this is quite the achievement. Creating death metal that sounds truly unique, mixing atmospheres and touches of melody in an otherwise raw package.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.8/10
2: Allegaeon - The Ossuary Lens
Metal Blade Records
Allegaeon has constantly been one of my favorite bands since their 2010 debut Fragments Of Form And Function. Their signature blend of technical melodic death metal always hit the bullseye of my musical taste. In 2015, when Ezra Haynes decided to call it quits with the band, I was sad to see him go but the band quickly announced Riley McShane would take vocal duty and for the next three albums, Allegaeon continued evolving, adding more and more progressive elements in their overall sound, Riley adding more varied vocals to their sound, I really loved his cleans, it added a new melodic dimension to the music. So, in 2022, when he announced he was stepping down after the masterpiece that was Damnum, I was again really sad but then they announced Ezra Haynes was coming back and I was super intrigued, would they go back to the sound they had for their first three album or continue on their newest expansion of sounds and influences? The album begins with a short classical guitar introduction that quickly transitions to a classic Allegaeon banger, full of melodic hooks and technical solos. "Driftwood" begins with their traditional technical guitar wizardry and then, the glorious chorus hits, with Ezra's powerful and extremely catchy cleans, showing us that they are still embracing their newer sound. The rest of the album is classic Allegaeon bangers after bangers that shows that Ezra continued evolving as a vocalist and musically, they still give us little bonuses like classical guitars sprinkled in two other songs and the triumphant "Wake Circling Above", a song that begins with a notably slower tempo and features a clean vocal chorus sung by Michael Stancel, who's been playing guitars in the band since 2014 and holy hell, we need to continue hearing him sing, what a voice! I'm not sure I like it as much as Damnum, the Opeth influences are much less present but still, I would put it pretty high in their already pretty flawless discography.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 9/10
1: Messa - The Spin
Metal Blade Records
I'm at a loss for words to accurately describe the rich musical and emotional experience that is The Spin by Italian psych doom band Messa. Starting with retro synths accelerating, with Sara's siren voice soon taking center stage, "Void Meridian" begins this album showcasing the band's ability to blend sounds and textures ranging from post-punk to bluesy doom with a chorus that gives me chills every time. The low rumble of a heavy doom riff is contrasted by the pure light that is Sara's angelic voice. Makes me feel things inside! Carrying on, "Fire On The Roof" reveals the pure musical genius of the band, using a buildup structure, it takes its time to establish a smooth atmosphere before a big musical release in the form of a catchy riff paired with the grandiose voice of Sara singing: fireeeeee ooon theeee roooooof in both an emotional and just incredibly catchy way. Speaking of emotions, "Immolation" begins with Sara softly signing with a piano culminating with an impressive guitar solo. "The Dress" uses a similar build up structure taking its time to establish that smooth atmosphere before releasing that tension with a heavy riff and that divine voice, I swear the notes this woman can reach will pierce your soul and touch your heart. Speaking of smooth atmospheres, they throw in a complete jazz break, with trumpets courtesy of Michele Tedesco, giving so much personality to the song before, yet again, a full release of tension with the final riff and guitar solo. "Thicker Blood" ends the album on the highest note possible, the longest song on the album, clocking in at 8 minutes and 45 seconds, it takes its time to slowly build up alternating slow and heavy doom riffs with minimalistic sections of Sara's voice and slowly becoming faster, even throwing in fast double kick drums in short bursts. Then, the final section begins, a mid-paced, repeating riff with such a mesmerizing groove. After a few minutes, out of nowhere, Sara lets out a few black metal screams before the music becomes slower and slower and comes to a complete halt thus ending this masterpiece. It's difficult to truly explain when an album just has "it", Messa has always been special, thinking outside the box and incorporating all sorts of influences but on The Spin, they refined their sound, making the album shorter, incorporating a good dose of gothic rock, making it more "accessible" and making each song on the album single worthy while still being a cohesive package, flowing seamlessly. Another noteworthy thing would be the massive boost in production, having signed to Metal Blade Records, they got a well-deserved boost in financial means and it shows. Although it's kind of early to be speaking of the AOTY contender, I know for a fact Messa is going to finish high on the list.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 9.8/10
Thanks as always for stopping by. In case you missed it, check out our previous lists from this year so far:
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
And, of course, Follow MetalBite on Facebook, Spotify and Instagram so you can be there right when the next Top 10 list drops!
Entered: 6/9/2025 9:11:59 AM
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MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - August 2025
Welcome back to MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month! Is it just me or was it relatively quiet for new releases? A calm before the Album-of-the-year storm, perhaps? Maybe it's just that the big-bill bands held off putting out new stuff. Maybe we just have a proclivity here for the darker recesses of the underground. Whatever the case, we've got the goods down below.
-Nate
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Harvested - Dysthymia
Independent
Really tight no frills modern death metal with a lot of Soreption-esque groove to it. At first, it doesn't seem like anything special but then you listen for a bit, a few riffs sink their claws into you, and you can't find any major faults even with careful scrutiny. Not everything has to be avant-garde or experimental to be effective, after all.
-Nate
Call Of Charon - Tales Of Tragedy
Massacre Records
The first time I listened to Call Of Charon's new album was right after the new Signs of the Swarm, which is not bad but falls in the overproduced and formulaic kind of deathcore I'm not the biggest fan of and the difference was stark. Call Of Charon's brand of deathcore is a more organic and "Slaughter of the Soul" riffs inspired kind of deathcore, which was very welcome for my ears. If you crave a more "old school" and honest deathcore sound, Call Of Charon's got you covered!
-Raphael
Finnr's Cane - Finnr's Cane
Nordvis Produktion
For a small, isolated city, Sudbury has a surprisingly fertile metal scene - although a majority of the bands are studio projects from the same half-dozen guys. Fractal Generator, Wolven Ancestry, Symbotic Growth, and now this little atmospheric black metal project has revived itself after a few years of inactivity.
I am unsure if this was also the case on previous albums, but this eponymous work features no bass guitar, instead using cellos and keyboards to provide an extra layer of depth and contrast to the cold, treble-heavy guitar. Sometimes, the rock beat style pacing brings Lifelover to mind, though I wouldn't classify this as DSBM - there's certainly a sorrowful undercurrent, but it emerges out of something more intentionally colorful and lush - almost as to highlight the beauty in decay, like when the season turns to autumn and leaves lose their green pigment for a final scenic flourish. The literal mountain of dime-a-dozen black metal bands out there has left me pretty jaded in regards to the genre, so when I do hear something that can stand with some of the atmospheric beacons that made me fall in love with the genre (Agalloch, Alcest, Solstafir, early Ulver), it's cause for celebration.
-Nate
Centuries Of Decay - A Monument To Oblivion
Independent
Nice vaguely proggy, vaguely melodic death metal from my neck of the woods. Bit of a "kitchen sink metal" vibe going on where it pulls from a smattering of different styles and vibes - good stuff if you enjoy Rivers of Nihil, Black Crown Initiate and stuff of that ilk. Very professionally played and produced, especially for a band that's doing things completely independently.
-Nate
Cancer Void - First Metastasis
Me Saco Un Ojo Records
That spooky, synth filled intro sets the mood perfectly for this incredibly fun and highly well composed OSDM EP. Again, I'm judging by the cover, but have you seen this disgustingly beautiful art by Prague artist serus, you just know the music will be good! This is four OSDM songs crafted to perfection with monstrous vocals, precise riffs, fat meaty bass and great drumming. And considering it's their first release, stay vigilant for Cancer Void, I hope they continue developing their irresistible brand of malignant death metal.
-Raphael
Rhabdomyolysis - Visceral Lesion
Inherited Production
Snare goes ping, vocals go gurgle gurgle, guitar goes bzzzzzz. Me likey.
-Nate
The Prophecy²³ - Mosh O'Clock
Massacre Records
On their Instagram page, The Prophecy²³ describes their sound with a simple equation: Thrash+Death+Punk = Fresh Metal. Fresh is indeed a great way to describe their eclectic sound. One minute it's a punk anthem and the next, a savage death/thrash ragger and both elements blend seamlessly together to create a fun, summer vibes album. Not taking themselves to seriously with songs like "Ready To Get Wasted Again" or "Chill 'Em All", they still have a more serious side, as evident from songs like "Fresh Metal Fights Fascism" or "Work Eat Sleep Repeat" bringing a good dose of social commentary amidst all this fun.
-Raphael
Imperishable - Revelation In Purity
Everlasting Spew
When's the last time you saw an album with Derek Roddy on it? To be fair, according to his metal-archive page, he is active in a smattering of different bands in the Florida region. However, it's a lot of stuff that seems to be primarily studio projects and not the type of stuff that's into heavy touring. Gone are the days where it seems like every big bill extreme metal band that wants a fast drummer got him on board.
That's what makes this album by Imperishable such a pleasant surprise. Not only is Roddy showing that he can still kill it as an established veteran, but he's joined by top-tier talent from Nile and Olkoth to unify a worthy supergroup. There's plenty of overwhelming, dense blastbeat sections but there's a surprising amount of curveballs and diversions to balance it out (did I hear a clean vocal section in there?) while still keeping a steady mix of untainted death metal inspired by both old and new-school facets of the genre. This is undoubtedly the work of skilled, experienced musicians that know how to make something unique and compelling without showing off in a ham-fisted tension. In a word: this is meaty.
-Nate
Desaster - Kill All Idols
Metal Blade Records
Germany's blackened thrash icons, Desaster, are here with their 10th album, Kill All Idols, hopefully not talking about themselves! Since this is a new band for me, I can't compare with the rest of their discography, but this album is 40 min of polished thrash, while still retaining a blackened atmosphere, making for a perfect sounding album! It features dynamic songwriting, oscillating between mid tempo thrash to furious and fast black metal. Never forgetting melody, they always incorporate catchy riffs here and there, making for an overall fun but still kvlt and trve experience!
-Raphael
METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH
10: In Mourning - The Immortal
Supreme Chaos Records
I do not understand why this band does not get heralded among the greats of expansive, proggy melodeath - they have the hooks, they have the rich, flowing song structures that weave elaborate tapestries, they have the crunchy groove riffs that the genre is known for with an extra bit of musicality thrown in, they don't have a bad album - why this band isn't as big as, say, Insomnium or Omnium Gatherum is a mystery to me (although they are touring with the latter, so maybe I'm underestimating their pedigree a bit). Either way, if you don't know them already - get familiar.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.1/10
9: Obvurt - An Alternate Dimension
Brutal Mind
We all know that no one techs like Quebec! Obvurt's story is one of adversity overcome with unusual avenues to success. If you don't know the backstory, frontman/mastermind Phillippe Drouin played in another QCDM band called Unbreakable Hatred, who were solid, well-established, worked with Unique Leader, all that fun stuff - and then Drouin got in a car accident rendering his unable to play guitar in the way he had learned to over the course of decades. Most folks would throw in the towel at that point, but Drouin is not most folks. He re-learned guitar left handed, even employing the dual-neck guitar a la Michael Angelo Batio on some occasions, started a new band (even enlisting the help of some old friends and scene veterans, Sam Santiago and Olivier Pinard, for his band's first EP) and gained a modicum of viral fame when his new project played their debut show for the elementary school Drouin works at as a music teacher. Not by any means a traditional path, but an inspiring one nonetheless.
An Alternate Dimension might be my favorite Obvurt album yet - perhaps it's the abundance of tasty Gorod-esque tapping licks. Leaning more into that stuff as opposed to percussive chugging is where this band really gets the chance to showcase Drouin's augmented talents. Enzo Roussel's active bass work sounds like he took some lessons from Forest Lapointe, and Dany Araya's drumwork is grounded and groovy with enough speedy flourishes to keep up with the flurry of notes. When tech-death still maintains a catchiness and groove amidst the jumble of notes, that's when it can be particularly effective and even ensnare the minds of those that aren't immersed in the style, and Obvurt very successfully does that here. Worth a look from any tech-heads, but I think prog fans and even more classic brutal death fiends will get some mileage out of this as well.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.1/10
8: Thorn - Nebulous Womb Of Eternity
Transcending Obscurity Records
For a death/doom album, it has an interesting beginning. The second you press play, you get hit in the face with full-on, high-speed death metal with the doom slowly creeping in, with extremely satisfying chugs and a slow, ominous solo towards the end, bringing a lot of atmosphere. The album brings groovy riffs, occasional atmosphere filled interludes, soft whispers, like voices in your head and unsettling noises just makes you feel more claustrophobic. The album ends on a high note with the title track, 7 and a half minutes of slow and heavy death/doom that transports you in a dark and moldy cave where escape is impossible. Although I preferred their last album, 2023 Evergloom, this is still a solid offering for fans of dark and crushing metal.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.2/10
7: Devolver - Non Compos Mentis
Independent
The first thing that drew me in was the beautiful cover art done by the legendary Travis Smith at Seempieces (who worked with Opeth, Katatonia and Death, to name a few) and that they are from Alberta (support local music, and please don't leave us! For people not taped in Canadian politics drama, there is a movement for Alberta to leave Canada and yes, I see the irony of a dude from Québec saying that) Anyway, musically, this album is pure comfort food in sonic waves. They play the kind of melodic metalcore that was big in the 2000's. Melodic death style riffs, plenty of catchy and emotional chorus, satisfying breakdowns and technical solos, I swear, to say these guys are virtuoso, is an understatement. The fact this is an independent release blows my mind, I can't wait to see where these guys go from here!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.2/10
6: Hedonist - Scapulimancy
Southern Lord Recordings
For apocalyptic death metal band Hedonist's first album, they offer us a large portion of Bolt Thrower style heavy riffs, a disgusting (positive) guitar tone, à la Entombed, an incredible reverb filled and monstrous vocal performance. AJ summons the deepest growls a human can conjure and the most piercing screams imaginable. Musically engaging from beginning to end, each song has its own flavor of grimace inducing riffs and an overall dirty (again, positive), crust punk attitude. Featuring members from legendary Canadian blackened crust band Iskra, no wonder you feel this authentic atmosphere and raw emotions, or maybe I'm just biased.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10
5: Cemetery - Thoughts On Life... And Death
Independent
Formed all the way back in 1986, these guys went through many stylistic and band name changes before resurrecting Cemetry in 2017 and going back to a Death inspired progressive death metal sound. Thoughts On Life... And Death is a concept album about a totalitarian regime and its oppressive nature on regular people. (absolutely no modern example of this right now…) As written on their bancamp page: "Across nine intense tracks, the album explores themes of fear, manipulation, psychological isolation, and the final struggle for dignity in the face of dehumanization." Musically the band demonstrates their immense talent and experience, offering an OSDM experience that is completely modern with progressive compositions and virtuoso playing. Their music is everything at once, brutal and aggressive, complex yet atmospheric, sometimes fast and other times slower and doom infused but the crazy, technical solos are always lurking around every corner. Again, an impressive independent release with a magnificent artwork by Silvio Fiorese, this is what makes metal special, no AI slop, just pure raw artistic talent!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10
4: Defacement - Doomed
Avantgarde / Total Dissonance Worship
Dissodeath's inherently abrasive nature means that bands in the style have to do something extra to stand out - there has to be an integration of softer melody to balance out the inherently entropy, or you just need to throw some completely unexpected, scary shit into the mix - which is harder than it should be, because everyone in the style is trying to do that.
Defacement already stood out with their previous release, Duality, with the key to them standing out among the herd being the heart-wrenching emotion they could inject into their cacophony. There was all of the hair-raising tension that this realm allows, but there was a certain eerie beauty once you peeled back the layers. It's what made it one of my top 25 albums of the year for 2024.
Barely a year later, they've already put forth another 40 minutes of equally dense music - AND they've evolved significantly from the previous release Duality. There's still moments of somber catharsis ("Unexplainable"), but immediately following that, they slowly plunge into an all-encompassing abyss that can bring Obscura-era Gorguts to mind ("Worthless"). This is less of an album that jumps out at you, requiring careful examination to get the same mileage out of it as the previous release - but there's been no compromises on the quality front, even with the quick turnaround from the previous album. Was definitely exciting and surprising to see that Defacement already had something new out - they're fast becoming one of the most intriguing and "need to know" bands in the realm of dissonant extreme metal. Get on board while the bandwagon still has room.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10
3: Victim Of Fire - The Old Lie
Southern Lord Recordings
Victim Of Fire have succeeded in blending 90's style Swedish melodic death with a good dose of crust punk for that authentic raw aggression. Already with the first song I was sold, meaty riffs, fast paced and d-beat filled drumming with an equal injection of melody and rawness, but the break before the solo of the second song, "Apocalyptic Inclination", was it for me. A recording of Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1961 farewell address, about the dangers of the influence of the military industrial complex. Looking at the state of the world in 2025, safe to say he was 100% right! The album ends with an interesting cover of "Aces High", both faithful to the original, yet transforming it completely into a Victim Of Fire song. Ending with a cover is not my favorite, I would've much better liked them to end it with the epic, 7 min. long "Disharmonist" but hey! What do I know, I'm just one dumb guy on the internet.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10
2: Malevich - Under A Gilded Sun
Church Road Records
One of my favorite new discoveries of the past few months was this band's 2019 release, Our Hollow. A mix of black metal, aggressive screamo, sludgy post-metal and a tinge of post-hardcore, it sucked me in immediately and kept me wondering how they would merge the elements present - and they nailed everything they tried. Tough to pin down, but it all coalesces into a potent, emotional broth that drips genuine atmosphere from its edges. This won't be something you're into if you only listen to second-wave BM worship or think any death metal after 1993 is inherently inferior. For the rest of us, Malevich is something special, and a buried gem in the realms of modern extreme metal.
Seeing they had a new album on deck was an equally pleasant surprise. Under A Gilded Sun shows more willingness to play with space and explore some of the softer sides of their sound. There's less maniacal aggression, but more dynamics. Not to say this doesn't have its share of moments that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up - their signature tonal, agonizing screech gets me every time. But the moments where they do let the ambiance slowly drift into your consciousness really show off their incredible chemistry and how each member knows exactly what to contribute to Malevich's multifaceted sound. The conclusive title track, which start off very minimal and slowly adds layers until a powerful, static force completely envelops you, is a noteworthy example of this, and one of many highlights of another powerful, compelling release from one of my new favorite bands. Don't sleep on this.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10
1: Blackbraid – Blackbraid III
Independent
It's been three years since the world has been blessed by the creative genius of Jon S. Krieger aka Sgah'gahsowáh (a Mohawk name meaning "the witch hawk") and his project Blackbraid. Three years, three albums, that have propelled Jon to the top of the American and worldwide metal scene. I've been a massive day one fan and I'm so happy to see his well-deserved success. His third album is everything I wished his first and second album was. Blackbraid I was a nice introduction to his sonic world but was too short, Blackbraid II was much longer, perhaps a bit too long, and saw him experiment a bit with different styles, to varying degrees of success and now, I feel like he almost reached perfection with Blackbraid III. The fact that all this evolution happened in just three years is mind-blowing!
The album begins with a short instrumental, setting the mood with a soft acoustic guitar picking, over the sound of a fire, that ends with distortion kicking in leading to the next song. A fast blastbeat, a sadness filled riff, and his savage scream combine and send chills down my spine. The track follows a familiar structure, cleverly combining lyrics and music, to create a whole experience. While striking the toms rhythmically, he screams with passion: "The imminence of fate on the horizon, The drums of war on the wind". The track ends with a fast solo and a long, epic scream, summoning the eagles to rise and carry us to the silence of death.
"The Dying Breath Of A Sacred Stag" softly enters with a sad, acoustic guitar melody, that transforms with distortion and drums slowly kicking in, getting progressively faster and then, from the sacred forest of the ancestors, comes a powerful scream accompanied by a short tapping riff that cracks up the energy to 11. The song being kind of long, 7 min 45 sec, it is constructed in such a way that there are enough repetitions, making the melody get planted in your head and has a good meditative quality, it's surprisingly relaxing. It ends on a fade out, just as it began, with that sad melody on acoustic guitar. Speaking of sadness, I would say it is the main theme of this album, the melodies, the lyrics, it combines to leave us reflecting on our own mortality.
I think "God Of Black Blood" might be my favorite song, although it can change depending on the day. Every song has its own life and mood, but the simple blackened, stomping rhythm combined with his powerful voice always pumps me up! And in the middle of this brutality, the soft and soothing sound of a traditional flute appears, as if sent from the heavens to heal our hearts. But it only makes a quick appearance, and the cold brutality comes back. Towards the end, he drops an incredible shredding solo, just because he can!
To top it all, the beautiful Adam Burke cover, with border art by Adrian Baxter makes for, hands down, the best album cover of the year! And with Neil Schneider handling the recording, mixing and mastering, everything sounds balanced, polished but organic. Blackbraid's ascension to the top of the black and general metal scene is an inspiring sight, the resilience, after surviving some of the worst crimes humanity has committed, being still here, with a burning desire to live and I feel so lucky to be able to witness it. Speaking of crimes against humanity, I'll end with an obligatory Free Palestine and never lose hope!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 9.9/10
Thanks as always for stopping by. Check out the previous lists for this year here:
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
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Entered: 10/24/2025 6:40:06 AM
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