Release Round Up - May 15th, 2026
Every week there is a tidal wave of new music released unto the world. Each Friday we'll round up some of the best new music available, some we've reviewed, some we haven't, but all worth checking out!
Theres a lot of new heavy music hitting the airwaves this week, everything from black metal, death metal, gothic metal, Stoner rock, doom, thrash metal and even some of your traditional heavy metal!
Here's what we think you should check out today!
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Danish thrash metal pioneers Artillery release new EP 'Made In Hell' via Mighty Music.
”It’s great to have these Danish legends back, and ‘Made in Hell’ is a tasty appetiser”
Read our full review here
Jungle Rot deliver a blend of old-school thrash metal, death metal, crossover on new album 'Cruel Face Of War', released via Unique Leader.
"Cruel Face Of War is testament that overt technical and avant-garde ideas aren’t required for a band to retain its fanbase."
Read our full review here.
The magnificent Exhumed and Iron Reagan Split gets a repress this week via Tank Crimes.
“twelve minutes of punk-infused rampancy from two bands whose job it is to vent their wrath at the state of the world.”
Read our full review here
Fuse metal, dubstep and drum & bass with raw grit and UK attitude, DeadWax release 'Nu-K'
”a cracking album which will put Deadwax and their alt-grime/nu-metal music firmly on the UK map.”
Read our full review here.
New York hardcore juggernauts PRO-PAIN make their Napalm Records debut with 'Stone Cold Anger'.
”Pro-Pain have been going about their business with a ruthless efficiency since the days of Grunge.”
Read our full review here.
Maltese post-metal outfit Krishna release 'Absence of Loss'
"a triumph in experimental music, demonstrating creativity and artistic expression that are truly boundless."
Read our full review here.
Thrash legends Slayer celebrate 40 years of ‘Hell Awaits’ with a very special edition of the album.
”like being reacquainted with an old school friend you’ve been meaning to call for years but something has always got in the way.”
Read our full review here
British thrash metal stalwarts Acid Reign deliver the latest instalment in their catalogue ‘Daze of the Week’
”a masterful display of how to thrash in 2026”
Read our full review here.
And thats just the tip of the iceberg! Other releases today we think you should check out include...
Rock
Dennis Atlas - Principle (MRI)
Frontline - Rebirth (Frontiers Music SRL)
Held. - Grey (MNRK Heavy)
Hysterese - Hysterese (V) (This Charming Man records)
Melancholost - Tales From The Poisoned Apple (Independent)
Robin Beck - Living Proof (Frontiers Music SRL)
Self Deception - One of Us (Napalm Records)
The Karma Effect - Cruel Intentions (Earache Records)
Von Groove - Born To Rock (Frontiers Music SRL)
Heavy Metal
Confess - Metalmorphis (Frontiers Music SRL)
Profaned - The Human Condition (Independent)
Solemnity - Opus Barbaricum (Independent)
Black Metal
Antimozdebeast - The Vagrant Unkempt Grave (Independent)
Mortiis - Ghosts of Europa (Prophecy Productions)
Varathron - Procreation Of The Unaltered Evil [EP - Vinyl Reissue] (Wolfkult Religion)
Death Metal / Death-Doom / Grindcore
Arroganz - Death Doom Punks (Testimony Records)
Atavistia - Old Gods Awaken (Blood Blast Distribution)
Beleth - The Grinding Void (Independent)
Crown The Beast - Judgement [EP] (Emanzipation Productions)
Defect Designer - Depressants (Transcending Obscurity Records)
Exhumed / Iron Reagan - Split [REPRESS] (Tank Crimes)
Inthraced - Constellation Zero (Inverse Records)
Makkmat - Syke Fantasier (Independent)
Molosser - Molosser (Gutter Prince Cabal)
Orphan Donor - Ailments [EP] (Tomb Tree Tapes/Zegema Beach Records)
Tyrannus - Mournhold (True Cult Records)
Doom / Stoner Rock / Sludge / Psych
Angellore - Nocturnes (Ardua Music)
Desiccation - Legatum Mortuorum (Carbonized Records)
Dromos - Failing Light (Argonauta Records)
Goldfish Kaseem - For A Bryter Future (Morbid and Miserable Records)
Gozu - Gozu VI (Metal Blade Records)
My Heart, An Inverted Flame - My Death Is More Beautiful Than Your Life (Crucial Blast)
Noosed - Misery (Road to Masochist)
Progressive Rock / Metal
Crown Lands - Apocalypse (InsideOut Music)
Opensight - The Outfit (Inertial Music)
Port Noir - The Dark We Keep (InsideOut Music)
Sum of Seven - Echoes of the Hypermind (Inverse Records)
Punk
The Ghoulstars - The Dark Overlords of the Universe (Season of Mist)
Thrash Metal
Acid Reign - Daze of the Week (Back on Black)
Artillery - Made In Hell [EP] (Mighty Music)
Heavenfall - Thorn (Rockshots Records)
Louder - Devil's Night (Fighter Records)
Savage Mania - Demonic Assault (Fireflash Records)
Slayer - Hell Awaits [40th Anniversary Edition] (Metal Blade Records)
... and the rest!
Cruel Division - Carcosa (Cultkill Music) Crust/Black [Metal/hardcore]
DeadWax - Nu-K (Independent) [DnB/Rock/Metal]
Gravery - Purified In Blood [EP] (Upstate Records) [Deathcore]
Pro-Pain - Stone Cold Anger (Napalm Records) [Hardcore]
