Angry March 2026: A Metal Odyssey
March 2026 was a month of diverse and intense metal releases, each offering a unique journey through the realms of heavy music. From the melodic blackened thrash of Epigram to the stoner doom of Kal-El, the enigmatic doom of Bong-Ra, the German thrash of Surturian, the tech death of Barn, the bizarre doom of Dionysiaque, and the sludgy death-doom of Mammon's Throne, this month's offerings showcase the incredible range and creativity within the metal genre.
Epigram: Melodic Blackened Thrash
Epigram's debut album, Obsolescent, is a thrilling fusion of melodic black metal, thrash, and symphonic elements. Tim Cauley's drumming is a dominant force, furiously blast beating through the album's 27-minute runtime. Luis Echevarria's vocal performance adds energy and charm, despite his low growls being described as underpowered. The band's focus on blackened melodic thrash is evident, with Shadi Absi's riffs standing out on tracks like 'Empires'. The album's highlight is 'Hour of Gods', with its sweet riffs and terrific energy. Sanjay Kumar's solos on 'Wrath of Betrayed' and 'No Sin' further enhance the album's appeal.
Kal-El: Stoner Doom Odyssey
Kal-El's Astral Voyager Vol. 2 is a laid-back stoner doom album with a riff-centric approach reminiscent of Black Sabbath. Ståle Rodvelt's vocal performance carries a resemblance to Ozzy, and the album's exploratory nature is akin to Sleep. Tracks like 'Juno' and 'The Prophecy' feature tons of fun, while 'Asteroid' and 'The Nine' showcase longer, more atmospheric cuts. This album is perfect for cruising around the cosmos, offering a chill experience without sacrificing the riffs.
Bong-Ra: Esoterik Doom Odyssey
Bong-Ra's Esoterik is an enigmatic doom album with layers of dense, gritty atmosphere, bass, breakbeats, and distorted riffs. The album is built on a foundation of Black Noise-style vocals, with half-spoken snarls and noise, shifting between tunefulness and venom. The saxophone adds bizarre elegance and chilling eeriness, and the album's grooves are both rhythmic and stylistic. The opener, 'Harmony Cloak', dispels misgivings with a stylish balance between melody and dissonance, and 'Machine Halo' follows in its stride. Esoterik is an album that earns its moniker, requiring a dark diversion but rewarding the listener.
Surturian: German Thrash Assault
Surturian's debut LP, II - Hessian Spears, is an unrelenting, venomous assault of German thrash. The band's sound smacks of early Testament and Metallica, fused with the epic melodies of latter-day Kreator. Vocalist Tim Krogull's delivery reeks of Mille's rancorous vocals, and the album navigates a varied landscape while maintaining its core sound. Tracks like 'Cimmerians Wrath' and 'Night Stalker' showcase signature gallops and anthemic melodies, while 'Beneath a Dying Sky' offers oddball songwriting. Surturian's album is a thrilling journey through the realm of German thrash.
Barn: Tech Death Adventure
Barn's Crucibles is a tech death album that oozes references to Unquestionable Presence, Focus, and Decrepit Birth. The album features staccato bursts of guitar, pinch harmonics, and buttery, fretless bass glissandos, creating a sci-fi adventure supported by track names like 'Black Hole Lens' and 'Cymatics'. The fretless bass, in particular, adds a futuristic aesthetic, gliding through gusts of abrupt, otherworldly guitars. Despite its unconventional onslaught, Barn rarely offers reprieve, and the album's sixty-five-minute runtime is well-worth the journey.
Dionysiaque: Bizarre Doom Odyssey
Dionysiaque's La Tourbe des Rêves is a bizarre derivative of doom, drawing from the bag of tricks defined by Cathedral, Black Sabbath, and Candlemass. The album lumbers and chugs with classic rock-inspired leads and firecracker songcraft, showcasing L.B. and Bruno Penserini's guitar wails and Lethal's absorbing countermelodies. N.C.'s unorthodox vocals, reminiscent of Mayhem's Attila Csihar, soar atop the instrumentation, delivering an unhinged performance that is both captivating and divisive. Despite its occasional ostentation, La Tourbe des Rêves is an album that has earned its place in the listener's heart.
Mammon's Throne: Sludgy Death-Doom
Mammon's Throne's My Body to the Worms is a pleasurable pain inflicted upon metaldom via five filthy slabs of sludgy death-doom. The album conjures Hooded Menace, Temple of Void, and Worm in their proclivity for plodding tempos, swampy riffs, and gravely howls. The band mixes gothy croons, ascendant melodicism, and haunting piano into their sinister stew, creating a labor of love for classic death-doom. The album flows fluidly across 42 minutes, offering endurance and a unique listening experience.
