Bitter Branches - Let's Give The Land Back To The Animals (2026)

Guitars are sharp, vocals are tense, evoking at turns Black Flag and Oxbow. This second Bitter Branches album, called Let's Give The Land Back To The Animals, is another excellent piece of Am Rep style noise rock, confirming them as among the best noise rock bands around.

 

The BC page. 

 

The Scalar Process - Agnomysticism (2026)

The Scalar Process is a young French band and after an already excellent first album they confirm their quality with a second one (released by Transcending Obscurity) called Agnomysticism, which also is a fine piece in progressive and technical death metal. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Innumerable Forms - Pain Effulgence (2025)

Pain Effulgence is the third album from Innumerable Forms, and I think their best since their first EP. Slow and old-school death metal, with a cavernous feel, an epic heaviness that can remind Immolation at times, but their main influence is early UK death/doom. And they are great at doing that. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Soft Play - Heavy Jelly (2024)

SOFT PLAY, who used to be called SLAVES, is an English punk duo. Heavy Jelly is their firts album since they changed their name, and it's soon obvious they didn't get softer! And they are still great at channeling the original spirit and energy of punk, but without trying to replicate a sound or a formula over and over, they are not just another d-beat or Oi! clone, nor basic streetpunk. On some soungs they get heavier and darker, and close to nu-metal, while the closing track sound a bit like a Oasis hit played by angry punks. Straight-forward but never boring, diverse but always intense. they changed their name, but not their habit of delivering excellent punk albums. 

 

Their website. 

 

Bong-Ra - Esoterik (2026)

Bong-Ra recent music is often described as "doomjazz", which is relevant, but I'd say "Godflesh with sax" would give you a more accurate idea of what Esoterik sounds like. What's different in Esoterik from the previous album Black Noise is that the jungle beats are gone, while the music gets more atmospheric, especially those ritualistic ambient with saxophone parts. Godflesh meets Painkiller could be another good description. In any case, Esoterik is an excellent piece of dark and heavy music somewhere between doom metal and industrial. And I'm looking forward to what the next Bong-Ra evolution will be.

 

The BC page. 

 

Elijah Minnelli - Clams As A Main Meal (2025)

Did you know folk cumbia dub existed? In any case that's what Elijah Minnelli is doing on Clams As A Main Meal. And, believe it or not (but trying it will make you a beliver in cumbia folk dub), the reuslt is brilliant and the album not only stand out as a curiosity (and it's definitely also a curiosity) but is also really enjoyable and even addicitive (yes, rehab for folk cumbia dub addicts is the next booming business, you'll thank me later, you're welcome). Good good stuff! 

 

The BC page. 

 

Archspire - Too Fast To Die (2026)

I have mixed feelings with Archspire new album, Too Fast To Die, I just feel the songs are a bit less memorable and jaw-dropping, but I remember I was disapointed when Bleed The Future came out, and found it great when I listened to it the other day, so... I guess Archspire music is so dense you need time to "digest" it and get all its intricacies. Anyway I already enjoy Toos Fast To Die, no time needed to hear that Archspire intensity and musicianship is still really hard to match. At the same time brutal, technical and melodic (neoclassical style) death metal at its most over the top.

 

The BC page.