The Top 10 Black Metal Albums of 2026 ... so far

This was set in motion three years ago when too many journalists tried to erroneously hail hot garbage as the best black metal album of the year. This compelled me to set things straight, as such a claim is disrespectful to the genre; therefore, I decided to uphold this mid-year tradition. Just sounding good from a production standpoint is not going to make the cut, since studio magic alone is not what black metal is about. Though I am not looking for something to sound like trash in the name of being cvlt either. I am also not paying homage to bands that are just press darlings for whatever social reason of the day might be. I want bands who are effective at creating darkness, so with that said, here are the top 10 Black Metal Albums of 2026 ...so far.

10-Darkthrone-"Pre-Historic Metal" 

It seems these guys are now transfixed on their Celtic Frost phase. They are still black metal if you are talking about how that genre was defined in the 80s. There is a rawer sound to this album than their previous one, but it does not hinder the head-banging, fist-pumping riffs. The vocals croaked with a Tom Warrior-like anguish, sitting back further into the guitars. Mercyful Fate's influence seeks to move them from their obsession with Celtic Frost, which makes for interesting listening. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/05/heavy-maytal-darkthrone-pre-historic.html

 

9-Egregore- 'It Echoes in the Wild" 

This Canadian band gets it. They are bringing a blizzard of sound that is equally dark and heavy in its intensity when it hits your ears. The other strength Egregore finds on this album is that the vocals should not be an afterthought, no matter how they are delivered. They draw from more than just black metal, with thrash hooks in the guitar riffs and the aggression of death metal in the way it hits. It almsot sounds like an album from the early 90s in this regard, and the production helps solidify this aspect. It's not underproduced like an old Mayhem album, but it sounds more organic than most of the stuff coming out these days. It is atmospheric without any post anything

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/black-metal-history-month-egregore-it.html

 

8-Bringers of Death-"Sulphur"

Jeff Wilson of Chrome Waves has a blackened death metal project with the drummer from Acid Bath/Goatwhore, that is as ripping as you might expect, given Jeff's prior work in Nachtmystium and Wolvhammer. After the opening assault, things get into a more purposeful throb, and a darker mood is created that carries ample atmosphere.I like the mood it creates and appreciate the darkness invoked here, rather than just a bunch of blast beats beating you in the ears.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/04/bringers-of-death-sulphur.html

7-Bizarrekult-"Alt Somme Finnes"

This Norwegian band does not feel the need to preserve their heritage by sticking to the second wave blast beats, and instead uses a very dynamic perspective on songwriting. The emotional range of this album marries elements of Enslaved to Deafheaven.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/black-metal-history-month-bizarrekult.html

 

6-Mayhem-"Liturgy of Death"

Moving in a bigger and more symphonic direction for their new album, Norway's black metal icons Mayhem keep things dark even if it means crossing over into a marginally more accessible style that feels more like Dimmu Borgir in its epic scope. Hellhammer is behind the drum kit, so that brings a larger-than-life flurry of double bass. Obviously, Necrobutcher and Atilla are crafting these songs with guitarists who have been with them for well over a decade now. You might be surprised that this album is not ranked higher, but it takes fewer chances than the bands in the top 5. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/mayhem-liturgy-of-death.html

 

5-Unverkalt- ""Héréditaire"

Setting the stage with a deceptive sense of melody before blasting into you. The melodic vocals are perhaps more intersting, but they work a delicate balance of playing to both sides of the band's dynamic range. Depressive more than it's blackened, the sonic weight of their songwriting impresses right from the first song. Overall, this album is an impressive marriage of sound into well-balanced songs.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/03/unverkalt-hereditaire.html

 

4- Trelldom-"...by the Word..."

This project steps even further into a bleak sea of chaos and further from their black metal beginnings, which is fine. It's more dynamic than black metal tends to be, so much like Ulver, they outgrew the bounds of the sub-genre.Despite it not being as song-focused as the previous album, as I respect what they have created here and their willingness to explore new places

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/05/trelldom-by-word.html

3-Ellende-"Zerfall"

They are atmospheric, with stunning guitar work and a haze of melancholy, lending their waves of scathing picking an edge. The wrathful vocals are perhaps more scornful this time around. This willingness to experiment is one of the things that makes this one of their best releases so far. They have doubled down on their commitment to melody and great guitar playing.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/ellende-zerfall.html

2-Worm -"Necropalace"

This Florida-based band shifted into blackened doom, which earned their place here thanks to their dynamic songwriting that finds its more progressive moments of this album will appeal to Emperor fans. This is a creative high mark for the band, so if you are a fan or like progressive black metal with darkly epic tendencies, then this album is for you.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/black-metal-history-month-worm.html

1-Ponte Del Diavolo -"De Venom Natura"

This is not the heaviest or most cvlt black metal album on this list. It is, however, an album that thinks outside of the box and follows its own path while bringing a shade of darkness that is unique to what they are doing. There is not just blast metals and screaming, but a balanced range of dynamics that serve hooky songs worth repeat listens, which is what puts you atop the heap when it comes to this genre.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/01/ponte-del-diavolo-de-venom-natura.html

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February's Top 10 Albums

Another February is done, so let's get you abreast of new releases. This might help you, casual readers, with what you might have missed.  I am not doing little blurbs on them, just linking the reviews. This helps me organize my lists for the end of the year by listing the album's genre. This does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most. I have albums in my in-box that are not coming out til June, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month, there is a wide variety from pagan folk pop to grind-core to black metal, so perhaps you will find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums for February of 2026.

10-Mothica- "Somewhere In Between." 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/mothica-somewhere-in-between.html

9-Final Gasp -"New Day Symptoms." 

Dark Hardcore 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/final-gasp-new-day-symptoms.html

,

 8-KMFDM-"ENEMY" 

Electro / EBM

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/kmfdm-enemy.html

7-lights,-"A6EXTENDED" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/lights-a6extended.html

 6-Puscifer, -"Normal Isn't" 

Alternative Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/puscifer-normal-isnt.html

5-Worm- "Necropalace"

 

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/karnivool-in-verses.html

4-Joji-"Piss in the Wind" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/joji-piss-in-wind.html

3-Karnivool-"In Verses." 

Prog Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/karnivool-in-verses.html

2-Converge-"We Were Never the Same." 

Hardcore

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/converge-love-is-not-enough.html

1-Rob Zombie- "The Great Satan." 

Industrial 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/02/rob-zombie-great-satan.html

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Black Metal History Month - Worm : "Necropalace"

 

Blackened doom is a sub-genre I normally like when I hear it, and the past work from Floridians Worm has also held its own unique place in the genre. This album finds the band locked into their most refined and focused effort yet, with black metal taking the dominant position when it comes to the fusion of the two genres. An increased melodic sensibility haunts the title track that opens the album with its ten minutes of romanticized darkness and scathing spite. The blast beats are used to bridge sections rather than being the sole dynamic force. 

One notable element of this album is the sweeping majesty of the guitar solos that flourish in the songs. "Halls of Weeping" finds this more nuanced as deliberate riffing brings things to a head, with a banging pulse. This gives the snarled vocals more purpose. It feels creepier than what goes down on the new Mayhem record, though both had a larger-than-life sound that feels them following Dimmu Borgir's grandiose boot prints.  Two songs into this album, it was hard not to be impressed by how they have stepped it up with the songwriting here. 

It takes some simmering for "The Night Has Fangs" to come to a boil. The guitar heroics resume once there is some momentum built. Low croaked Cradle of Filth vocal passages begin to appear. The more melodic "Blackheart" is one of the album's more impressive moments in terms of songwriting. It borders on being progressive metal. Keyboards are more notable here as well, and throughout the album well used. 

The album closes with the most sprawling track in "Witchmoon," which features Marty Friedman. The guitar playing is already so great on this album that nothing jumps out and makes me say, "Oh, that is Marty Friedman". In some ways, the more progressive moments of this album will appeal to Emperor fans. I will give this album a 9.5, showing that it is a creative high mark for the band, so if you are a fan or like progressive black metal with darkly epic tendencies, then this album is for you.

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Worm : "Bluenothing"

 I really like the "Foreverglade" album these guys released. This EP is meant to introduce a guitarist who is a new edition to the band, and it does that well. There is a great deal of stelar guitar playing on the eleven-and-a-half-minute title track those kicks things off. However, despite being an opus of tremendous proportions, the songs writing is not as impressive as what they brought on their last album.  There are cleaner more pristine tones. There is more space, thus allowing for monks chanting in the background. In using these sounds, it is not as dark or oppressive as the previous album. The first song in its eleven and a half minutes wanders more than it pound the point home. The atmosphere so thick it never solidifies, but the mood and playing is still pretty spectacular, if not sterile in the clarity of the mix.  

"Centuries of Ooze 2" starts off with the kind of guitar solo that could just as easily been found on a Joe Satriani album, it takes the heavier darker middle section of the song to give things more direction. The chanting of the monks in the background replicates the kind of feel they started with on the first song. The interlude "Invoking the Dragon Moon" is more of an exercise is shredding and makes little attempt to be a song. This kind of guitar wizardry is what this album becomes fixated upon. It comes cross to me as more about a sound than a song. While the band themselves claim this shuts the door on what they were doing on their last album it can be a difficult pill to swallow if you are not here for the guitar solos. I appreciate the ability it takes to pull it off but feel if it does not work with the song and bring value its purpose is more masturbatory. 

The circular jerk continues on the last song, though the intentions are more obscured by ambiance. At times they seem to want to go in a black metal direction as the vocals rise from the lowed gurgle that dominated the album for more of scream. There are blast beats and everything. This shift does offer more possibilities in regard to song writing. While I am not as wowed as I was by their previous album, I can hear the talent here It might not be directed in the manner I prefer, but they did accomplish what it is they set out to do here, with that said I will give this album an 8. Being released on 20 Buck Spin.  

November is Doom- The Top 10 Doom Albums of 2021

We are still seeing who can take the slow burn of the world ending 2021 offers little hope, so we need music to match this feeling. II celebrate death, that is why I listen to doom. I mean the name of the genre says it all. If you are not down with despair then get the fuck out of here. Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. You can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list.  I listen to five new albums a day so yes, I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Doom albums of 2021

10- Altareth- "Blood" 

I suppose this is almost more like an honorable mention, as they at times struggle to separate themselves from sounding to much like Pallbearer, as the end of the day however they are more depressed than Pallbearer who seems hopeful in comparison and manage to convey that in their music which is a beautiful thing to me as I want my doom depressing as fuck.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Altareth- "Blood"

9- Kuan - "Ice Fleet"

There is a band from Estonia, which means they are going to have both Finnish and Russian influence to their sound. This might factor into the dark woodsy sound that might even bring Agalloch to mind at time. To call this band atmospheric doom is a bit of an exaggeration at this point in time. They have a very expansive sound. They are mournful and sonically intense so; it might be fitting to say they at least color their songs with a similar shade of melancholy as doom does.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Kuan : "Ice Fleet"

8-Clouds - "Despartire"

 I have always liked hearing this Romanian band, but never really invested much time into their albums, this album showed me the error of my ways.  The create a beautiful mix of atmosphere and melody off set by the low growled vocals which are really the only heavy or dark element of the otherwise soaring sound that retains many of the emotional elements of doom and the dynamics shift in levels of how woefully expansive they paint these songs with those sounds. 

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom - Clouds :"Despărțire"

7-Swallow the Sun - "Moonflowers"

The 8th album by the Finnish orchestrators of doom. Their last album placed number 4 on 2019's Best Doom Albums list so the bar was raised rather high. Catchy melodies prove you can ease hooks into your melancholy. These guys have always effectively worked harsher vocals into their songs and do it in a less predictable way here as well.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom -Swallow the Sun - "Moonflowers"

6-Indigo Raven - "Looking For Transcendence" 

This album surprised the hell out of me. They pound into the chords more like sludge at times as there is not a great deal of Sabbath worship. But the mood is more atmosphere and doomy. Female vocals doing their own thing and not trying to be Coven haunt the songs. Are there some Diamanda Galas moments mixed in this the more gothy stylings of her voice. Yes, but that is a rarer bird to find in the wild so I will take it.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom - Indigo Raven- "Looking For Transcendence"

5-Grief Collector - "En Delirium" 

All you have to tell me is Robert Lowe is singing and I am there. If you are not educated in metal enough to know that he sings for Solitude Aeturnus and Candlemass, then your ability to call yourself a metal head is thus revoked. Riff wise this band really does not have to do much but give this man plenty of room to sing. This is more aggressive than his past work. The chug of the riffs has more attack to them and make for a powerful listen.

Abysmal Hymns: Grief Collector : "En Delirium

 4-Worm- "Foreverglade" 

There are a few ways to do death doom. Neither is wrong. Some rely on Incantation more and others rely on Paradise Lost, then there is just slow death metal. If these guys have to pick a team, they would be Incantation, but they employ a wider range of atmosphere and come across sounding way more legit in their mood. Much like funk, metal is something you can no fake, I need to feel the darkness. Even when the pick up the pace; their chug I am never left thinking ok this is just slow death metal, this is so dark it is beautiful.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom - Worm : "Foreverglade"

3-King Woman - "Celestial Blues " 

the follow up to "Created in the Image of Suffering" find the band not a bluesy in terms of the guitar riffs, but it does have a heavier emotional weight. The riffs themselves feel depressing at times, which I of course love since darkness and sonic heaviness are what I seek out in music. For an opener the title track is more introspective in its ambiance, though there are punchy doom ridden dynamics.

Abysmal Hymns: King Woman : "Celestial Blues"

2- Monolord - "Your Time to Shine" 

 

This Swedish band is back and heavier than they have been in some time on their 5th album and it recalls the more classic Sabbath influenced groove. The chords as allowed to ramble out from the smoky mountains. While the guitar tones are dialed in and they are making the most of a sound, they have taken even more time to polish these often dirge like rumbling riffs into pieces the vocals can find their way upon.

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Monolord - "Your Time to Shine"

1-Witnesses - 'the Collapse"

They bravely follow up to "Doom II " which was such a perfect album, In my head this bar they set for themselves, they did not make the same album twice. Instead, they approached this more another angle. Perhaps, not as desolate and dark in the way it occupies sonic space as their previous album. But after a couple days of playtime, it is clear the guitar melodies are as equally haunting. I think in doing so for this album they have allowed the vocals to convey a similar emoting with more subtle flow as the take on a rawer edge. Heavier and more metallic it works in its own way.  

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Witnesses : "the Collapse"

November is Doom - Worm : "Foreverglade"

 There are a few ways to do death doom. Neither is wrong. Some rely on Incantation more and others rely on Paradise Lost, then there is just slow death metal. If these guys have to pick a team they would be Incantation, but they employ a wider ranger of atmosphere and come across sounding way more legit in their mood. Much like funk , metal is something you can no fake, I need to feel the darkness. Even when the pick up the pace of  their chug I am never left thinking ok this is just slow death metal.  I just reviewed the new Apparition  and those guys are more death metal with a side order of doom. "Murk Above the Dark Moor" has ringing sounds to keep the creepy going. I am almost more inclined to think of this as blackened doom, as the vocals shift into hateful nastiness. There are no slouches in the musical department as the guitar solos will show you.  The drummer is not as versatile as the dude from Apparition, but these guitars in this project are more grandiose and willing to shred . 

Going into the almost 12 minute "Cloaked in Night Winds" when you think they might be taking a turns toward getting mired into the typical tropes they add a ghostly sound or turn course with a more driving riff that honors these sounds rather than making them seem incidental.  The it took nine minutes for me to glance up and see where we were at in the song means it kept me engaged more often than not, they sail down a river deeper into the darkness and find the sound to convey this. The song generally works of f more of a funeral doom drone. The guitars get more epic, which is an over used adjective particularly with power metal, but in this context I think it is fitting as it conveys the almost more classical influenced sweep of guitars taking it some where else. Once again I can hear a black metal influence in the romantic way this is carried out. Not to take a way from the crushing weight of the riffs to this one.  

The best song is the under four minute "Subaqueous Funeral" which still gets the job done with half the sprawl and better groove and more time for the solo to rip a new ass hole in people who might have thought they could play guitar going into this.  Not that a solo is going to make or break a song for me these guys are just great at them so they make sense and add to the song rather than the song serving as a book end for it. While the last song does fall into some of the more typical sonic places in terms of the flow when it comes to funeral doom I will give them credit for painting it with new sounds and not being afraid to go beyond the typical metal choices , while staying dark.  Midway into it they keep it interesting by locking into a pretty powerful chug contrasted by the creepy clean guitar.  I will give this one a 9.5 , 20 Buck Spin delivers the goods again , wish I listened to this one when the promo popped up in my in box a few months ago but glad to have it now.