Chalice of Suffering – The Raven Cries One Last Time (2026) – Review

Chalice of Suffering - The Raven Cries One Last Time - Album Cover

Metal newbies, speed metal adepts, and acolytes of thundering screamo fare, pay attention! This record ain’t for you. You’ll be faced with a cartload of Snailpace Metal that will be anathema to any metalhead worshipping at the altar of the metal equivalent of The Hulk.

That said, for all with a morose condition, do pause for an avalanche of felt eons of slow-marching beats. You will not be disappointed. Because of Chalice of Suffering‘s unwieldingly named The Raven Cries One Last Time, patience will be of the order. And a lot of that, too. So, either you take … [...] Click to raid more!

Green Carnation – A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex (2026) – Review

Let’s not even talk about the first part of A Dark Poem. That one already piqued our interest and delivered as intended. Instead, let’s jump right into the second installment. Yes, that one. Sanguis made quite a splash over here earlier this year. An absolute kicker in this powerful constellation made up of doom, goth, prog rock, and metal. Presented in so many ways – and with absolute gusto. It also featured one of the most frugal but also one of my most favored videos of 2026.

So much praise is a tough wall to run up against … [...] Click to raid more!

Black Sites – For Eternity (2026) – Review

Black Sites - For Eternity - Album Cover

There’s one thing Black Sites do expertly well. And that is producing easily accessible, somewhat traditional modern metal. Their offering is – of course – not all that simply explained, but you get my drift. We’ll be exploring what’s there and what isn’t a bit further down.

Already Untrue and The Promised Land? gave us a good taste of what the folks over at Black Sites dispensed of that very medicine. Now, here’s a new piece on the chopping block. Mark Sugar‘s gang of merry men have been at it again. So, let’s push the play button on our … [...] Click to raid more!

Finsterforst – Still (2026) – Review

Finsterforst - Still - Album Cover

Mach Dich Frei was the first Finsterforst piece to grace this fledgling zine’s pages back in 2015. Rastlos provided that firm foothold into the RMR roster necessary for repeat reviews. Now, it’s been 7 years since the mysterious, Greta-infested Zerfall hit us in 2019. A kinda weird blackened record that didn’t really land on our best side for long stretches. But it finally managed to convince in a few obscure ways. Somewhat.

Now, the mudfaces of Finsterforst are back with Still. The name would translate into ‘silent’, as in ‘total silence’ or ‘still’, as in deadly silent. Pun intended, … [...] Click to raid more!