German heavy metallers Generation Steel are streaming two new songs, “Witches Cross” and “Steelmachine”, from their upcoming full-length Steelmachine set to come out on October 12th, 2026 via Fireflash Records. It was produced, mixed and mastered by Piet Sielck. Read moreā¦
Firmly at the frontline of their genre for over two decades, Tasmanian Technical Death Metal outfit Psycroptic are set to unleash studio full-length number nine, The Pulse Of Annihilation, and as always, it is an excellent release.
The element which consistently makes them stand out for me has always been guitarist and principal songwriter Joe Haleyās compositional and playing style. It is complex, uniquely distinctive and immediately recognisable.
But at the same time, I never underestimate or overlook the brutal dynamism in the drum department from Joeās brother and co-founder, Dave. His playing style both complements and bolsters the guitar work superbly and builds on their soundās brutal edge as always.
Psycroptic / The Pulse Of Annihilation Is Technical Death Metal At Its Brutal Best
“The Pulse Of AnnihilationĀ is pretty much the culmination of everything that has come before,” Joe says. “As with past releases, we never force anything stylistically and just let the songs manifest of their own accord – maintaining progression while remaining very much Psycroptic. Because of this, I feel this is our most epic, thrashing, technical, while grooviest release yet.”
Another aspect that benefited the previous release, Divine Council and continues on The Pulse Of Annihilation is the return of Originās Jason Keyser as guest vocalist. This adds a greater dimension and contrast to Jason Peppiattās vocals as well as adding texture to the overall sound, as Psycroptic continue to challenge themselves and push their capabilities with every release.
As it opens, the first track, Ashes Of A New Dawn, is chillingly engaging and powerfully dark. The intro sets the scene, then rapidly makes way for an instantly recognisable trademark Psycroptic style riff pattern. It is densely crushing throughout, with the dual vocals utilised to maximum effect. Overall, a stunningly good start to the album.
This is followed by the albumās first single, Gathering A Venomous Herd. This is about as fast and intense as it can get in the riff department, but maintains that famously engaging Psycroptic bounce, something that could easily be lost in such a fast piece. It is guaranteed to set your head spinning with excitement.
After a reflective opener, A Sword Of Me builds in steady increments, the twin vocals forming a dialogue effect and the bursts of spiralling riffs exuding technical excellence.
No Time For The Weak is a sharp, driving piece that packs a punch, and again, you get a strong definition of contrast between the two vocal styles. A superbly phrased piece.
Opening again with a reflective, slightly exotic intro, Our Pillars Fall builds on and out of that opener, rapidly becoming a complex offering with heady riffs that twist and turn, spiral and repeat. The more melodic, reflective chorus midway and towards the close breaks the piece up nicely and adds variance and extra interest.
After the opening drum battery, Annihilation Pulse harbours a slightly thrashy undercurrent. But gradually the technical riffing gathers strength, spiralling out in bigger and bigger flamboyant and powerful bursts. I like the vocal layering here as it builds on the depth and atmosphere of the piece superbly.
No Blade Of Grass comes in fast, dark, and intense, with the vocals delivered again in a two-way dialogue effect to the greater part. A fast-paced and punchy offering.
Penultimate piece To Embrace This Curse continues to forge forward in a similar fast, dark, and intense vein to that of its predecessor. It really comes into its own in the second half with the fluid melding between chugging and complex technical passages.
I love the dark, haunting build on the final track, Forging The Crown, rapidly elevating to frantically intense swathes of technical riffing. Here, the well-phrased vocals burst through with dramatic impact, contrasted with dramatic drops where the vocals course over with more of an acerbic fluidity to their delivery. The close reflects the dark, haunting opening.
Maintaining control and continuity, The Pulse of Annihilation was produced once again by Haley at his Crawlspace Productions studio.
The cover artwork, which I love, is by Belial Necroarts. It is unnervingly ominous and visually descriptive. The aim, to which I think it succeeds brilliantly, is to “mirror the themes of tension, collapse, and calculated devastation woven throughout the record.”
Psycroptic released The Pulse Of Annihilation on 17 July 2026 via Metal Blade Records. It will be available as a CD, limited edition vinyl in a choice of five colours or as a digital download and is a superb listen from start to finish. For more details, visit MetalBlade.com/Psycroptic.
Switzerland-based melodic death metal crew Irony Of Fate revealed that they have parted ways with three members: vocalist Cveti Stojmenova, drummer Kevin LĆ¼tolf and guitarist Dr. GrĆ¼. The band now runs as a four-piece, with two new members: drummer Sandro Kernen and vocalist Jessica. Read moreā¦
German power metal project Ristridi have released āSilver and Steel,ā the latest single from their upcoming album, Ride the Storm. The independently released digital album will arrive on August 21, 2026. Inspired by Geralt of Rivia, the central character of Andrzej Sapkowskiās The Witcher saga, āSilver and Steelā explores the conflict between Geraltās reputation as […]
German blackened death metal band Horresque have released their new single, āBehind the Door.ā The track offers the first glimpse of their upcoming third full-length album, Chasms Pt. III ā The Dread, Unveiled, scheduled for release in early 2027. The forthcoming record will complete the bandās Chasms trilogy and mark their first independent album release […]
Belgian speed/heavy metal collective Killer is all set to unleash their next full-length instalment entitled The Grand Finale. Due out on September 11, 2026 through High Roller Records, it’s comprised of 10 new tracks. Read moreā¦
Produced by John Douglass (Alluvial, Nile, Nekrogoblikon) Canadian extreme groove metal Without Mercy have unleashed a striking new theatrical guitar playthrough video for āThe Saintā, supporting their newly released EP “Infinite Loss” produced with John Douglass (Alluvial, Nile, Nekrogoblikon) and released this past May. The visual highlights guitarist DJ Templeās performance while immersing viewers in the tension, restraint, and unfamiliar […]
Formed in 2015 in Dukla, southern Poland, KALT VINDUR have steadily built their reputation as one of the most distinctive acts emerging from the Polish black metal underground. Blending melody, atmosphere and raw intensity, the band developed its own artistic identity, often described as Subcarpathian Black Metal. Following their debut album “Delusions” (2017) and the critically acclaimed “And […]
LEFT TO DIE today unleashes their debut full-length, Initium Mortis, on Relapse Records! Initium Mortis sees the supergroup ā including original Death members Terry Butler (Obituary) and Rick Rozz (Massacre) ā joining gore metal pioneer Matt Harvey (Exhumed, Gruesome) and Gus Rios (Gruesome) to capture the morbid depths of Deathās early catalog. Stream LEFT TO DIEās Initium Mortis on YouTube HERE and […]
