Haunt - Ignite (2025)

Haunt is a Californian band that is relentlessly keeping alive and relevant the spirit of traditionnal heavy speed metal. On their latest one Ignite, the mood is quite melodic, but I think anyone into traditionnal metal will enjoy it. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Bütcher - On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing (2024)

On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing, like Bütcher previous album, is a fine piece of old school speed/black/thrash heavy metal. With a first half of the album more focused speed and aggression, and a second half, the last three songs, being longer epic songs channeling a nice Bathory vibe. Suitably released by Osmose Productions. Recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

 

Savage Master - Dark & Dangerous (2025)

Dark & Dangerous is the Fifth album from Savage Master, and they deliver again a finely crafted piece of heavy/speed metal, full of cool riffing, but what really set them apart are the awesome vocals of Stacey Savage. It's released by Shadow Kingdom records, probably the best dealer of traditional heavy metal right now. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Midnight - Hellish Expectations (2024)

The world seems determined to turn into a vile pool of shit, but at least we still can rely on Midnight to get our regular dose of speed, thrashing dbeating, traditional metal, or maybe we could call it blackened speed metal, you get the idea. Their sixth album is Hellish Expectations and we indeed get the hell we expected. And's when it's fun hell coming from Midnight it's great!

 

The BC page.

 

Enforcer - Nostalgia (2023)

Nostalgia is Enforcer sixth album, and we could indeed say say it's rooted in the past, but for the best.  They're burning bright with the hottest traditionnal heavy speed fire, shining in all its cheesiest glory (there's even some hair metal feel at times!). A masterfully executed and really fun album. Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Ultra Razzia - Jusqu'au bout de la nuit (2022)

I'm not usually interested a lot in the street/oi! side of punk, but Jusqu'au bout de la nuit from Ultra Razzia grabbed my attention and I really like it. The band from Montréal (they sing in French) manage to bring extra dimensions to oi!/street punk by mixing it with speed rock/metal (Motörhead comes to mind, especially with the powerfull and catchy basslines) and a post-punk feel (the darker atmosphere and, again, the basslines). Give it a try!

 

The BC page. 

 

Intöxicated - Sadistic Nightmare (2023)

Ten years after their first album Intöxicated, from Germany, are back with Sadistic Nightmare, which is a very well crafted and enjoyable piece of thrash /speed metal. Not far from Metallica's Kill'em All, Mötorhead or more recently Midnight, agressive, rocking and traditionnal speed metal the way it should be done. Easy to get why they are Intöxicated, their music is addïctïve! 

The BC page.

 

Systemik Viølence - Negative Mangel Attitude (2023)

Great to have Systemik Viølence back! They deliver their second album, Negative Mangel Attitude, after five years of discographic silence, and they're sharp as ever! Raw and fast D-beat with elements of speed/thrash metal, and they make the best of this cool mix. Think Discharge, Venom, Midnight and Impaled Nazarene. Excellent stuff!

The BC page.

 

 

Seax - Speed Infermo (2022)

This fifth album from Seax, called Speed Inferno is, guess what, pure speed metal. Excellent speed metal. Fast riffing and soloing, relentless drumming and high-pitched screams. In a vein similar to the first Metallica album or more recently the excellent Belgian band Evil Invaders. If you're into that kind of stuff you sure will enjoy it. I definitely do!

The BC page.

 

Roadwolf - Midnight Lightning (2023)

With this second album, Midnight Lightning, Austrian band Roadwolf confirms the excellent impression left by their first one. Top quality traditional heavy/speed metal reminding Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but also Motörhead and Scorpions. Highly recommended if you're into this kind of stuff.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Screamer - Kingmaker (2023)

Fifth album from Screamer, maybe I prefer the previous one, the awesome Highway of Heroes, I feel Kingmaker is a bit more cheesy, but it feels better after a few listens, and it's still very finely crafted heavy/speed, and I also enjoy it. 

The BC page.

 

Ranger - Yl​ö​s raunioista / Risen From The Ruins (2022)

 

Yl​ö​s raunioista / Risen From The Ruins is the third album from speed metal duo from Finland, Ranger. 16 songs, but it's two versions of the same 8 ones, first in Finnish, then in English. Why not? But what matters most is that it's excellent speed metal, with a big Slayer vibe but also more heavy/speed elements. Somewhere between Reign in blood, Kill'em All and Painkiller. Among more recent bands, they could be compared to the also awesome Evil Invaders. Fast and aggressive as it should be, but also catchy just enough. Recommended for everyone, especially if you're into old-school metal.

The BC page.

 

Revenge - Venomous Vengeance (2022)

As you can guess this Revenge is not the War/black metal Revenge, nor the hardcore one. They play traditional heavy/speed metal, are from Columbia, and for the 20th anniversary of the band they released this album called Venomous Vengeance. There is a Iron Maiden / Judas Priest element, but I'd say the biggest influence would be early Metallica (Kill & Ride, mostly the first one). Fast, thrashy and aggressive heavy/speed. Very well crafted and enjoyable.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Savage Master - Those Who Hunt at Night (2022)

Fourth album from Savage Master (check their back catalogue as well!), and with Those Who Hunt at Night we get the same addictive speed/heavy metal recipe, very traditionnal but catchy and freash anyway, memorable riffing, cool vocals, groovy rhythmic parts. No bullshit fun and enjoyable. Perfect for partying through the end of the year!

The BC page.

 

 

Exordium Mors - As Legends Fade and Gods Dies (2022)

As Legends Fade and Gods Dies, the second album from Exordium Mors may be not as awesome as their first one (I urge you to listen to The Apotheosis of Death), but it's another excellent one anyway, among the best recent metal releases. They polished a bit their sound, and I'm not sure it really makes it better, but it's ok, I suppose some will prefer it this way. Othersiwe they are back with another assault of epic black/death/thrash/speed, with high level songwriting skills, and old school in spirit but modern and quite technical in execution. Highly recommended!

The BC page.

 

Ambush - Infidel (2020)

Infidel, released two years ago, is the third album of Ambush. It sees the Swedish band going a bit more personnal, keeping the very strong Judas Priest influence (Accept as well) but less permanently blatant. The result is a solid and enjoyable traditionnal heavy/speed metal album, with good songs, musicianship and excellent vocals. And they maintains the cheesiness inherent to the style at the right level (enough for the fun, but not too much).

 

Their website.

 

MIDNIGHT - Let There Be Witchery (2022)

Let There Be Witchery is the fifth album from MIDNIGHT, and as usual they deliver a nice dose of speed metal (think a mix of Venom, Sodom, and Motörhead). Not really different from their previous albums, but they play a very traditional kind of metal anyway, and as long as it's so good and pleasing, that's totally fine.

The BC page.

 

Evil Invaders - Shattering Reflection (2022)

In 2015 I wrote that Evil Invaders first album Pulses of Pleasures would be hard to surpass. And indeed, like previously Feed Me Violence, Shattering Reflection is not as impressive. But in all fairness, Pulses of Pleasures is probably the best speed metal album of the XXIth century so far and Evil Invaders are still an excellent band, and Shattering Reflection is a great album to listen to. On Shattering Reflection, maybe even more than on Feed Me Violence, the Belgian band kept the speed metal/thrash intensity but overall are less fast and aggressive, evolving more in a traditional heavy metal direction. The good thing is that they also are very good at that, and with Shattering Reflection they produced another old school metal classic.  

The BC page.

 

 

Bewitcher - Cursed Be Thy Kingdom (2021)

Cursed Be Thy Kingdom is the third album (previous ones are good as well) from the black/speed/trash demons from Portland Bewitcher. They still sound like early Metallica (I mean Kill and Ride) meets Venom, while also reminding the Swedish band that has nearly the same name, Bewitched, but this time it's slightly more polished and melodic. But they keep on rocking hard and fast anyway and the more traditionnal heavy metal inclined ones will approve the (slight) change. Cool stuff. 

Their Website.

 

MIDNIGHT - Rebirth by Blasphemy (2020)

Rebirth by Blasphemy is MIDNIGHT fourth album (one every three year since 2011) and they stay faithful to their hard/heavy/speed metal in a Venom vein (but played tight and sharp), it's similar to their previous albums, and it's as good. Traditional metal done right.
Cool stuff. I enjoy it.

The Bandcamp page.