New Metal Releases: 8/23/26 – 8/29/26

Here are the new releases for August 23rd to 29th. Releases reflect proposed North American scheduling, if available.

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New Metal Releases: 8/23/26 – 8/29/26

Black Door — Shadows of a Funerary Gleam | Wolves of Hades | Black Metal | Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Despite operating out of Amsterdam, Black Door bears strong similarities to the Los Angeles black metal scene, with fuzzy, melodic riffs and vampyric vocals. Their latest record, Shadows of a Funerary Gleam, cultivates its atmosphere through direct action. You could say it’s “raw,” but that better describes how vicious it is rather than its production quality.

–Colin Dempsey

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Mastodon — Marrow Deep | Loma Vista Recordings | Progressive Metal | United States (Atlanta, GA)

Marrow Deep, the long-awaited follow-up to 2021’s Hushed and Grim and perhaps one of the most portentous album titles in recent memory, sees the grizzled band writing a new chapter in their storied history after the acrimonious break-up with and subsequent tragic death of guitarist/talisman Brent Hinds in 2025. Marrow Deep marks the introduction of new guitarist Nick Johnston and keyboard player Joao Nogueira, both of whom instill a renewed sense of vitality and purpose within Mastodon’s battered core. Heavy and emotional can’t even begin to describe the aura saturating “Your Ghost Again,” a haunting, relentless Iron Maiden-on-steroids ode to the familiarity of sorrow and loss in addition to a few poignant messages for their fallen comrade. “Snakes for Dinner” is a kaleidoscopic ripper that features a doomy vocal coda from Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme. In addition to Homme, Marrow Deep also boasts heavyweight cameos from Geezer Butler, Randy Blythe and Clutch’s Neil Fallon. The depths beckon.

–Dennis Seese

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Hesperia — Picenum (True Marchigian Black Metal Renaissance) | Hammerheart Records | Black Metal + Folk | Italy (Marche)

Long gone are the days when Hesperia album covers would feature ancient Roman maidens and would-be emperors in corpse paint. The one-man act has seemingly nailed their combination of cinematic folk and Immortal-revering black metal. Picenum runs for nearly 90 minutes and covers the history, folklore, and geography of Hesperia’s home region. It’s plenty to take in and best heard in one sitting, welcoming the farm animals and synth digressions that accompany it.

–Colin Dempsey

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Exumer — Death Mask Messiah | Metal Blade Records | Thrash Metal | United States (New York, NY)

Exumer have now been back longer than they were broken up, and their sixth album Death Mask Messiah is as cynical and sharp as you’d expect from them.

–Colin Dempsey

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Russian Circles — Nine | Sargent House | Post-Metal | United States (Chicago, IL)

Somehow, Russian Circles still sound imposing nine records and two decades into their career. Their foundation of gargantuan bass, earth-swallowing riffs, and the absence of vocals holds strong, with any developments only evident to those already deeply familiar with the band. Your body will feel Nine before your ears do.

–Colin Dempsey

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Static Abyss — The Dying Hunt | Peaceville Records | Death Metal | United States (Oakland, CA)

The third record from Greg Wilkinson and Chris Reifert’s not-quite-Autopsy-side-project benefits from bringing Chad Gailey into the fold on drums. Fundamentally, Static Abyss are the same, crossing the streams of OSDM, d-beat, and psychedelic rock in as tight a package as possible. While that sounds lofty, The Dying Hunt never goes too far into experimenting. Hell, it barely even tries to transition between styles, and that gives it a sense of unpredictability.

–Colin Dempsey

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Cardinal — Nocturne | Sonorous Night | Symphonic Black Metal | United States (San Francisco, CA)

Taking this right from Caylen Darling’s Instagram story, in which they write: “This is the best black metal you’ll hear all year. Posers and tourists fuck off and die this is not for you.” Cardinal’s full-length debut pairs venomous black metal with none-so-subtle synths. Depraved opulence is the motto here.

–Colin Dempsey

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