This album fucks hard! Death metal that's dissonant and technical, but also crushing and obliterating at the same time! So good. Teeth The Curse of Entropy (2019) USA

Brutal death metal is so much fun when done right. This is one of those cases: annihilating and keeps you on your toes with excellent songwriting. Devangelic Xul (2023) Italy

Black metal Saturday, eh? Cold, nihilistic and hateful misanthropic black metal of the highest order. Azelisassath Total Desecration of Existence (2015) Sweden

This album is all kinds of fucked up fun. Black metal at its core, but the toppings are quite varied, yet still work like a fucking charm. I appreciate it even more as time goes by. Teitan In Oculus Abyss (2023) Netherlands

Black metal Friday is upon us, so here's an awesome esoteric dissonant album with clear avant-gardey tendencies. I love both of their albums, too bad they split up. Diĝir Gidim I Thought There Was the Sun Awaiting My Awakening (2017) Italy

This EP is only under 18 minutes long, but it's packed full of cold aggressive riffs and insanely catchy melodicity! Mesmerizing piece of punkish black metal. Grandeur Aurea Aetas (2021) Austria

Been having an "only black metal" week, so here's another fucking sick album. Striking occult black metal with death metal and dissonance sprinkled in, basically fun for the whole family. Their sophomore album from 2023 rules also. Marthyrium Beyond the Thresholds (2017) Spain

Another day, another great fucking black metal album. They call it "Frisian black metal", and i guess that's a trademark for this style that balances aggression, atmosphere, skill and a bit of adventurousness into a highly enjoyable package. Kjeld Ôfstân (2021) Netherlands

This is just pure glorious devil worshipping black metal, where literally everything works so fucking good. Kvltist Catechesis (2015) Germany

Easily one of my favorite atmospheric black metal albums of all time, although what else would you even expect from this line-up with Alex Poole, the Blackburns and Eric Baker? That's right, nothing but brilliance. Chaos Moon Eschaton Mémoire (2017) USA

Rarely does one call a technical deathgrind album "funny"... But this album is so fucking fun in all the right ways: combining sheer skill and brutality with quirky and surprising elements works wonders. Defigurement Endbryo (2025) USA

What an evening. Great bands and Proscription slapped the shit out of everything... But just seeing older friends and noticing how much they appreciate my personal change/growth feels actually really good. Sarcastic, negative and depressive Nico is long gone, fuck him.

Hell yeah, this heater is tonight! Love these small DIY-events, this one had ~150 tickets only to sell, and it's being held in the middle of fucking nowhere. Chymist is the organizing party, one of my friends plays in it, and their debut EP is some solid esoteric black metal.

Steelfest confirmed Azazel, True Iron Will and Kroda performing "GinnungaGap GinnungaGaldr GinnungaKaos" album in its entirety. Apparently still a lot of negotiations with interesting acts. The 15th year edition is going to be nuts.

Ruthless and violent blackened grindcore. Awesome stuff. Libranos Del Mal Las Columnas del Cielo tienen base en el Abismo (2026) Colombia

When the blackthrash bug bites, this is one of my go-tos. An absolutely fucking ripping and riffing blackthrash assault, one of the best ones in the genre. Witchaven Terrorstorm (2010) USA

Killer blackened grindcore. Dissonant and fucking intense. Swampworm Architeuthis (2024) Germany

This is just a madhouse from start to finish. The best 20 minutes you'll ever spend if you love an insane grinding black/death sonic assault. Alpdruck Alpdruck (2019) USA

Is it petty of me to "modify" this little art piece probably some kids made? Nah, fuck it, someone has to set them straight at an early age, might as well be me!

Apparently a lot my favorite albums this year will be heavily prog/post-influenced. Incredible cinematic and grandiose prog/post-metal. Equally moving both physically and mentally. Hippotraktor Annihilist (2026) Belgium