15. CRYPTA, “Shades of Sorrow” (Napalm): Brazilian death metal destroyers Crypta paint a lot of pictures about those who battle with metal health struggles on their great new record “Shades of Sorrow,” their second. You can hear the snarled words, follow along with the lyrics, and just absorb the darkness in their music to know there are harrowing topics here, plights we all face, and in order to prevent them from taking over our lives, we must find ways to cope, heal, and eventually fight. Their creativity is evident as is the fire and blood they put into their music, and if you’re someone who’s also struggling, these songs can act as battle anthems to help you rise above the disarray.

“Dark Clouds” unleashes with a mix of growls and shrieks, acoustics helping cut into the chaos, and pummeling hell raining down. “The invisible enemy is creeping in, darkness steadily surrounding me,” bassist/vocalist Fernanda Lira howls as the leads blaze, and the final assault buries you in mental shrapnel. “The Outsider” feels doomy and hazy at the start, the leads acting as a muscular spine through the middle. The feel is thrashy and grimy, the basslines flex and increase the swaggering power, and everything is torched, ashes coating the ground. “Trial of Traitors” is a plastering force that leaves brush burns on the flesh while the soloing stings, the assault renews, and growls utterly destroy, crashing out with drums turning everything to soot. “Agents of Chaos” is humid as it dawns, and then it begins to grind pretty hard, the playing getting steamier, energetic bursts making your blood flow. This is an exciting record, one that tackles the darkest of tidings, the most morbid of emotions, and comes out swinging, defiant to conquer the odds and leave negative forces burnt to a crisp. (Aug. 4)

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/cryptadeath

To buy the album (U.S./Canada), go here: https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/

Or here (rest of the word): https://napalmrecords.com/

For more on the label, go here: https://label.napalmrecords.com/

14. MAJESTIES, “Vast Reaches Unclaimed” (20 Buck Spin): DO YOU LIKE RIFFS? I assume you do since you’re reading this. Majesties’ debut record “Vast Reaches Unclaimed” revives and sets ablaze the spirits of classic Gothenburg-style death metal. Joining forces are Tanner Anderson (vocals, guitars, drums) from Obsequiae as well as guitarist Carl Skildum and bassist Matthew Kirkwold of Inexorum to create this incredible triumph that could travel back three decades and knock the sound’s creators on their asses. These three pull together what they do best and both pay homage to a sound that sparked the desire in them and have added to that vocabulary with these thunderous 10 tracks. And goddamn are there riffs.

“In Yearning, Alive” tears in with delirious riffs, and devastating shrieks rains down with force. Smearing and driving hard, the playing is as thick melodic storm that blows in, floods, and rampages away. “Our Gracious Captors” stomps and delivers punches, and then the shrieks strangle, everything else tramping you underfoot. “Across the Neverwhen” is exhilarating from the start, aggression bleeding and teaming with vicious shrieks to add to the bruising. “Seekers of the Ineffable” lands with stabbing guitars, the fiery terror coming at you with force, the shrieks utterly bludgeoning. Leads glow as the storming increases, the vocals tear at flesh, and colorful playing laps until an abrupt end. Closer “Journey’s End” lets waters bubble and humidity add steam as the pace keeps amplifying. Guitars jolt the system as the rapid-fire playing increases the intensity, and the vocals massacre any sense of calm. You want an energy boost? Go play this record. Now! (March 3)

For more on the band, go here: https://www.instagram.com/majesties_melodicdeath/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.20buckspin.com/collections/majesties

For more on the label, go here: https://www.20buckspin.com/

13. AHAB, “The Coral Tombs” (Napalm): I am utterly terrified of water adventures, but I can live vicariously through Ahab, the long-running and self-described “nautik funeral doom” band that returned after eight long years with their excellent record “The Coral Tombs,” their fifth overall. Unabashed fans of tales that originate in large bodies of water, this record focuses on the classic Jules Verne novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a story about Professor Pierre Aronnax and his shipmates who go on an excursion to find an elusive beast only to discover it’s actually a highly advanced submarine headed by Captain Nemo. It’s the best thing Ahab ever has done, which is a massive statement considering their resume.

“Prof. Arronax’ Descent Into the Vast Oceans” starts in the most misleading manner possible, with the band in total devastation mode, mashing, drums blasting, everything coming apart before we gradually slide into slower, more torturous doom like we expect from Ahab. “Mobilis in Mobili” starts with waters bubbling, a blistering pace greeting you as the waves subside. Growls wretch as the playing grows spacious, clean calling glistening as the mood turns dour. Dark and lonely melodies tighten their grip, marching ominously as the power creaks and drubs to an end. “A Coral Tomb” opens slowly, the growls buckling as the shadows envelop. Slurring guitars immerse the senses as clean singing numbs your wounds, giving off a feel of corporeal class. Closer “The Mælstrom” runs 10:02 and bursts open, the playing sounding wonderfully fluid but also devastating. Dark growls engorge, changing the pace from the hearty singing, and elegant leads transform the dark waters to streaks of gold. (Jan. 13)

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/AhabDoom

To buy the album (North America), go here: https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/ahab

Or here (Europe): https://napalmrecords.com/deutsch/ahab

For more on the label, go here: https://napalmrecords.com/

12. DØDHEIMSGARD, “Black Medium Current” (Peaceville): Long-running Nordic black metal institution Dødheimsgard never seem content with where they stand currently, and over three decades as a band, they’ve spent their journey shapeshifting. “Black Medium Current,” their sixth album and first since 2015’s “A Umbra Omega,” is a journey into astronomical imagination, strange frozen realities that lull you into a fever dream, and an expansive collection of influences that could be a mess to put together but is constructed beautifully by these veterans. This record infected me from first listen, and this nine-track, nearly 70-minute opus is fascinating and devastating all at once.

“Et Smelter” opens cleanly and spacey, singing wafting, thrilling and tornadic melodies pulling you under and letting you see visions you never imagined before. The burst of dancey synth at the end is a strange, welcome icing on the cake. “Interstellar Nexus” brings driving riffs, moody singing, and weirdness that gets into your bones. “When you sleep, you enter the void of what you seek,” vocalist Vicotnik sings, following that with a dreamy call of, “Beneath your shadow, I am under your skin.” Prepare yourself for the frenetic beats that slice in toward the end. “Halow” is a strange one with icy keys, wrenching group singing, and metallic nerve damage that leaves your flesh swollen. “Abyss Perihelion Transit” brings cold pulses, soulful singing, and an atmospheric jolt. “There is no way out of here,” Vicotnik prods, “The abyss, I heard it speak in my mind,” as chilling a sentiment as the music you hear on this immersive track. This is a record that proves time can open your mind to greater ideas, and a crowning achievement can come later in your career when many people don’t expect it. (April 14)

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/DODHEIMSGARD

To buy the album, go here: https://peaceville.com/bands/dodheimsgard/

For more on the label, go here: https://peaceville.com/

11. TRESPASSER, “Αποκάλυψισ” (self-released/Red Nebula/Vault of Heaven): Swedish two-headed beast Trespasser have been fighting against fascism and right-wing ideologies since their formation in 2017, and their fire-breathing second record “ἈΠΟΚΆΛΥΨΙΣ” (translated means “Apokalypsis”) has arrived to disrupt and dismantle power structures. The band uses the Book of Revelation in an anarchist sense and its ideals as a base to let loose the idea that taking back control and living in a society where victory over tyrannical power is something that can be achieved.

“Forward Into the Light!” storms out of the gates with warning sirens swirling and blistering fury overcoming, the fires blazing for all to see. “The Great Debt-Strike I: A Pillar of Smoke” delivers an ominous riff that melts into chaos, pummeling and scorching as the damage is spread liberally. The chorus is a firestormer as vocalist Dräparn howls, “Burn the records of the creditor!” “Flakes of Ash” opens with guitars glimmering and the playing trudging, glorious emotions running over. The gutting continues as the riffs melt, the pace clobbers, and it’s hard to regain your senses once it’s over. “Hand in Hand Towards Har-Megiddo” ruptures and storms, bringing down the columns and dousing everything with riotous energy. Closer “The Great Debt-Strike II: יובל” enters in drums blasts and mauling force, Dräparn wailing, “What beautiful chaos it was! What delightful disarray! What majestic confusion! It was divine pandemonium.” This is a statement, a call to action, and a collection of songs that can ignite the fires inside you. (Feb. 3)

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/trespasserxvi

To buy the album (digital), go here: https://trespasserxvi.bandcamp.com/album/–2

Or here (physical, U.S.): https://rednebula.bandcamp.com/album/-

Or here (physical, Europe): https://vaultofheaven.bandcamp.com/album/–2

For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/rednebulalabel/

And here: https://vaultofheaven.bandcamp.com/