GROND - The Temple (2026)

Ten years passing between this new album and the previous one probably didn't help (that and maybe also being Russian), but I feel GROND don't get the recognition they deserve. I think they are among the best old school death metal bands around and The Temple is another proof. They kept their cool concept of mixing monstrous sea creatures, old warships and Lovecraft for the lyrics and art. The music is still grounded in mid tempo old school death, but I'd say it's now a bit more polished, with more attention to details, melodic elements and atmosphere, losing a bit the primitive rawness and moving slightly towards death doom. They still reminds Obituary, but now maybe Incantation and Immolation even more. But that being said I think they really managed to craft their own style. Anyone into more old-school and slower death metal should worship (or warship maybe!) The Themple.. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition (2026)

Engines of Demolition is the best Black Label Society since Mafia, the best in twenty years. There still are a couple of mellow piano driven songs we didn't really need, but here it's taking less space than on their others recent albums, and the heavy songs are better, and of course Zakk Wylde's leads are still worth your time. Not as good as their first albums, but better than what they did in between, overall it's an nice album that I enjoy (old school heavy metal with a Black Sab' influence if you didn't know).

 

The BC page. 

 

Fake Dust - Decrepitizing Din Of The Cerebral Psyopticon (2026)

Another band I saw recently at Les Passagers du Zinc, in Besançon (East of France), playing with Archagathus, Tension and Apoptose. And also a great show. Decrepitizing Din Of The Cerebral Psyopticon is their first album, released by the mighty Iron Lung Records. And it's an excellent album. Grindcore rooted in the old school, but also with some heavier parts and manic snare beating drumming evoking goregrind, but also some moments more on the powerviolence/punk side of grind. They can please the whole grind family.

 

The BC page. 

 

The Heavy Eyes - Focus (2026)

I don't think Focus is their best album, but anyway it's a pleaseure to hear again The Heavy Eyes six years after their previous one. Their garage / stoner /doom, somewhere between Brant Bjork and Black Sabbath, still has something special and theydifferentiate from similar bands thanks to superior songwriting skills and their excellent vocalist. Good stuff again!

 

The BC page. 

 

Haunted Horses - Dweller (2025)

Haunted Horses is a trio from Seattle, and their fourth album, Dweller, is confirming the excellency of their post-punk (reminding a bit Iceage, especially the vocals) mixed with some noise rock heavy enough to border doom, with a sinister industrial feel. Haunted indeed, and recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Archagthus - Cold Universe (EP 2017)

Actually this post isn't really about this specific release from Archagthus (but all their more recent stuff is splits, and also it's a good one in any case), I saw them play the other day and wanted to say how awesome they are. They played at Les Passagers du zinc in Besançon (France) with Tension, Fake Dust and local band Apoptose, and it was truly a memorable gig, all bands delivering a great show (I'll post about the others later, they also deserve it). Archagatus is an experienced old-school grind /mincore band, and are excelling at being at the same time totally wild but also groovy and catchy. Why we don't hear people sing Archagathus songs in the bus, in shopping malls or restaurants is beyond me. Why? Any idea? In any case, you got it, I really enjoy Archagathus and recommend you try it. 

 

The BC page. 

 

Immolation - Descent (2026)

Bands able to consistently release excellent music without a single failure for nearly 40 years aren't so many. Immolation is one of them. They don't release albums so often, but when they do they make sur it doesn't disappoint. Descent is their twelth one, and another masterpice in mid-tempo death-metal, with a strong feel of dark majesty and inexorable evil. Nothing new for them, but they found their own unmistakable sound long ago and they stick to it. And the results are there to show they are right.

 

The BC page.