Heavy Blog is Heavy

Air thick and walls too near
Clocks fold in on themselves, ooh
The doors lean, tired praise
Soundless sirens pressing in

The white flags that no one sees
Hold out quiet like a vow, oh
Cracked on, jitter loose
Pass the weight palm to palm

Hum Of Maybe, by Apparat from the album A Hum Of Maybe

Bluesky messed up my (Eden's) main account, so you got this post here instead:

Playing this track on the speakers at full volume and praying for a golden shadow to come and wash me away into brilliant, obliterating, gentle light

apparat-music.bandcamp.com/track/hum-of...

Release Roundup: 2/27/26 Rounding up new releases from Rob Zombie, Cryptic Shift, A Wilhelm Scream, Nothing, Farson, Final Gasp, Weedpacker, Blackwater Drowning, Heksproces, Black Swan, Matador, The Gloom In The Corner, Chalice, Acherontia, Joel Hoekstra’s 13, Unburier, Gorillaz, Carpenter Brut and more.

Rounding up new releases from Rob Zombie, Cryptic Shift, A Wilhelm Scream, Nothing, Farson, Final Gasp, Weedpacker, Heksproces, Black Swan, Matador, Chalice, Acherontia, Joel Hoekstra’s 13, Unburier, Gorillaz, and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/27/release-roundup-2-27-26/

Cryptic Shift - Overspace & Supertime Science fiction-themed prog/tech death thrashers Cryptic Shift return with their first celestial voyage in six years, upping the ante with more complexity and a newfound emphasis on psychedelic experimentation.

Science fiction-themed prog/tech death thrashers Cryptic Shift return with their first celestial voyage in six years, upping the ante with more complexity and a newfound emphasis on psychedelic experimentation.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/24/cryptic-shift-overspace-supertime/

Chained To the Bottom of the Ocean - Let Us Not Speak Of Them But Look And Pass On Let Us Not Speak Of Them But Look And Pass On is Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean's best release to date. It is a fantastic distillation of the journey their sound has been on for a while now and a testament to their ability to delve the depths of sludge and doom.

The album is "a fantastic distillation of the journey their sound has been on for a while now and a testament to their ability to delve the depths of sludge and doom".

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/20/chained-to-the-bottom-of-the-ocean-let-us-not-speak-of-them-but-look-and-pass-on/

Release Roundup: 2/20/26 Rounding up new releases from Sylosis, Phasma, Exhumed, Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean, New FOund Glory, Lovebites, Stam1na, Deadtrees, Wreck-Defy, Worm Shephered, Crowen, Abstracted, Domhain, Peaches and more.

Rounding up new releases from Sylosis, Phasma, Exhumed, Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean, New Found Glory, Lovebites, Stam1na, Deadtrees, Wreck-Defy, Worm Shephered, Crowen, Abstracted, Domhain, Peaches and more.

https://loom.ly/FTxxihU

Thank you for releasing kick ass music!

Another strong review for Ashbringer's Subglacial, courtesy of @heavyblog.bsky.social

"Subglacial shows Ashbringer coming to grips with returning to the most triumphant iteration of their sound in many ways, while continuing to evolve & refine their sound."

2/13 via @bolverkcollective.bsky.social

Editors' Picks // February 2026 Once more, a year begins. Experts tell me this will keep happening; to be honest, that sounds concerning.

Once more, a year begins. Experts tell us this will keep happening; to be honest, that sounds concerning. For now, here's some excellent new music from January with Exuul, Wildhunt, Enshine, and more!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/16/editors-picks-february-2026/

Exhumed - Red Asphalt The horror-obsessed death metal/goregrind act Exhumed returns with an album that explores the slime, sleaze, and, yes, gore inherent in life on the road.

The horror-obsessed death metal/goregrind act Exhumed returns with an album that explores the slime, sleaze, and, yes, gore inherent in life on the road.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/16/exhumed-red-asphalt/

New Converge and Worm day! Along with new releases from Temple Balls, Thy Gnosis, Nullingroots, Ashbringer, Malific, Overtoun, Sun Guts, Shaving The Werewolf, Diespnea, Charli XCX and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/13/release-roundup-2-13-26/

Ashbringer - Subglacial Subglacial’s frozen glimmer still shines most brightly in the moments it refracts the vulnerable, plaintive and gorgeous tones of Ashbringer’s roots.

Subglacial’s frozen glimmer still shines most brightly in the moments it refracts the vulnerable, plaintive and gorgeous tones of Ashbringer’s roots.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/10/ashbringer-subglacial/

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Weedpecker Light Up With In the Dark We Shine Over the last few years, Weedpecker have released some of my favorite works in this kind of expansive, spacey, psychedelic rock.

Over the last few years, Weedpecker have released some of our favorite works in this kind of expansive, spacey, psychedelic rock which is why we're stoked to premiere a new single from them today!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/10/exclusive-premiere-15/

Karnivool - In Verses Thirteen years! Thirteen years since Australian progressive metal legends Karnivool released Asymmetry (2013) and seemingly went into hibernation. Now, I’m not the same person I was in 2013, or the same person I was when I first heard Sound Awake (2009) or Themata (2005), so it’s only fair

"there was no way In Verses was going to be Sound Awake again [...] But In Verses is a fantastic, well-rounded album in its own right that’s only grown on me with every listen."

Read Ahmed's full review of Karnivool's return!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/05/karnivool-in-verses/

Rounding up new releases from Tailgunner, Karnivool, Puscifer, Demonic Resurrection, Big Big Train, Silversun Pickups, Tender Anger, Paganizer, Eternal Winter, Ablaze, Phendrana, Mors Verum, Mayhem and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/06/release-roundup-2-6-26/

Hey! Listen to Orob! From the description, I expected something heavier and more harrowing but instead I found an intriguing mix of post-punk, moody art rock, and progressive black metal.

From the description, we expected something heavier and more harrowing but instead we found an intriguing mix of post-punk, moody art rock, and progressive black metal.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/06/hey-listen-to-orob/

I Am Going To Progstorm Festival In Montreal This Year And You Should Join Me This is going to be such a blast and I would love to see some Heavy Blog readers at this! Come high five!

Eden is going to Progstorm Festival! Look at that lineup! Come join him!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/05/i-am-going-to-progstorm-festival-in-montreal-this-year-and-you-should-join-me/

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Lueenas Overflow With Tender Anger The year has truly begun when I am caught off-guard by a now release. For 2026, this has been Lueenas' Tender Anger.

Tender Anger is, like its name, a study in contradictions. It is an experimental ambient album, composed mainly of strings (both deep and vibrant) but studded with warm static, and cavernous silences.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/02/04/exclusive-premiere-lueenas-overflow-with-tender-anger/

Release Roundup: 1/30/26 Rounding up new releases from Møl, Urne, Hanabie., Nightmarer, Stabbing, Blackwater Holylight, Eximperitus, Fili Bibiano’s Fortress, Krateros, Invictus, The Buzzcocks, Gorrch, Anal Trump and more.

Rounding up new releases from Møl, Urne, Hanabie., Nightmarer, Stabbing, Blackwater Holylight, Eximperitus, Fili Bibiano’s Fortress, Krateros, Invictus, The Buzzcocks, Gorrch, Anal Trump and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/30/release-roundup-1-30-26/

Death Whispered a Lullaby - An Opeth Retrospective, Part IV Given the previous analytic of My Arms, Your Hearse, Still Life, the group's fourth record, is ironically rendered almost fait accompli.

We return with the fourth part of Langdon Hickman's Opeth retrospective, this time covering the iconic, and complex, Still Life!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/25/death-whispered-a-lullaby-an-opeth-retrospective-part-iv/

Release Roundup: 1/23/26 The first truly big release day of 2026 is here, with new records from Crystal Lake, Megadeth, Textures, Rotting Christ, Poppy, Pelican, Alkaloid, Hamasaari, Barbarian, The Damned, Shadowmass, New Miserable Experience and more.

The first truly big release day of 2026 is here, with new records from Crystal Lake, Megadeth, Textures, Rotting Christ, Poppy, Pelican, Alkaloid, Hamasaari, Barbarian, The Damned, Shadowmass, New Miserable Experience and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/23/release-roundup-1-23-26/

Rotten to the Core // 2025 in Review A belated but detailed recap of our favourite 2025 releases, including top 10s sorted into grindcore, metalcore/mathcore, post-hardcore/screamo, noise rock/sludge, and deathcore.

A belated but detailed recap of our favorite 2025 releases, including top 10s sorted into grindcore, metalcore/mathcore, post-hardcore/screamo, noise rock/sludge, and deathcore.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/21/rotten-to-the-core-2025-in-review/

This is heavy, evocative, and moving post-metal, drawing from the deeper, darker end of the genre's sound for explosive impact. Check out Dimscûa's latest single from the upcoming album, "Dust Eater"!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/21/dimscua-unfurl-the-dusteater/

The Anatomy Of: Anna Pest Featuring impactful influences from Between the Buried and Me, Discordance Axis, Veil of Maya, All Shall Perish and—of course—The End of Evangelion.

Progressive deathcore outfit Anna Pest have released what is easily one of the best albums of 2026 so far. Featuring impactful influences from Between the Buried and Me, Discordance Axis, Veil of Maya, All Shall Perish and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/19/the-anatomy-of-anna-pest/

Doom, stoner, and all sorts of associated slow genres had a banner year in 2025. Here's our review, including some of our absolute favorite albums of the year!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/19/doomsday-2025-in-review/

Kvlt Kolvmn // 2025 In Review I don’t think it’s a particularly bold claim to assert that black metal has the most natural genes for experimentation in the extreme music world. Of all the subgenres in this space, few have found themselves attached to more unique, obtuse, and/or flat-out odd sonic combinations. The

We wrap up a year in frost with over 50 kick ass, blackened releases from 2025!

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/16/kilt-kolvmn-2025-in-review/

New discovery, and great so far! Thank you @heavyblog.bsky.social!

Release Roundup: 1/16/26 Rounding up new releases from Takatak, Kreator, Serpent Column, The Eternal, Carrion Vael, Gluecifer, Soen, Ov Sulfer and more.

Rounding up new releases from Takatak, Kreator, Serpent Column, The Eternal, Carrion Vael, Gluecifer, Soen, Ov Sulfer and more.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/16/release-roundup-1-16-26/

Death’s Door // 2025 In Review Year-end lists are an industry standard within the music blogosphere. I can’t think of a reputable music coverage outlet that doesn’t have one. But the existence of these lists has always been an interesting proposition for me. The positives on the readership and band level are obvious and

Death metal. Forever.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/14/deaths-door-2025-in-review/

Heavy Blog Staff's Top 25 Albums // 2025 This is just a cool post that forgoes all analysis and smacks you in the face with around a hundred fantastic releases. So, enjoy trawling through the lists below - there's a bunch of really killer releases on them.

This is just a cool post that forgoes all analysis and smacks you in the face with around a hundred fantastic releases. So, enjoy trawling through the lists below - there's a bunch of really killer releases on them.

https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2026/01/13/heavy-blog-staffs-top-25-albums-2025/