Written By Kevin McSweeney
Seven Deadly Songs – February 20, 2026
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs, Metal Lair’s weekly feature where we draw your attention to some of the best new releases of the week by highlighting the songs that have us excited for them.
We are honoured this week to be able to announce the return of Scandinavian rock royalty, firstly in the form of former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe, who delivers his 12th solo studio album, Outerstellar, on February 20th via Silver Lining Music.
I am also out of Stella, so I must visit the Off-Licence before long. Likewise, we have the return of Swedish rap metal icons Clawfinger, who will release their eighth studio album, Before We All Die, also on February 20th via Napalm Records.
I was taunted in a club as a teenager (who was probably too young to be there) for wearing a Clawfinger t-shirt. That’ll give you an idea of how long they’ve been around.
The culprit had possibly had too much Stella. If I’d had an actual claw on my finger, I’d have jabbed it right in his eye. Right, on that violent note, let’s get on with the list.
Bizarrekult – Avmakt
I’m sure I’ve seen products with those names in Lidl or Aldi, but in this case, it’s Fortnum and Mason-standard black metal from Russian “lone wolf” musician Roman V, in the form of his Bizarrekult project.
He releases his third full-length album, Alt Som Finnes, on February 20th via one of Metal Lair’s favourite labels, the mighty Season of Mist, Avmakt is, to quote the label, “…the third and final single off the album.
Caught between blistering rage and shadowy despair, the song fights for control against the powers that be.” I’m making absolutely no comments about the powers that be in his homeland, for fear of causing massive controversy, but there’s no doubting the power of this excellent music.
Coscradh – Scythe of Saturn
Coscradh is an old Irish word, meaning “massacre”, or “triumphant slaughter”. It’s therefore a perfect choice of name for a black/death metal band from Dublin.
The metropolitan metalheads are due to release their second full-length album, Carving The Causeway to The Otherworld – Fionn mac Cumhaill got there way ahead of you, lads – on February 20th via the super-cool 20 Buck Spin label.
Scythe of Saturn is a musical feast fit for The Fianna – that’s the ancient, mythical Fianna.
Don’t get it twisted – and it boasts a blend of the best old-school elements of both cited extreme subgenres, because Ireland is a land with a proud and ancient culture, and they know there’s no school like the Seanscoil.
Domhain – Talamh Lom
Am I taking the fual by including two bands in a row with Irish-language names? Possibly, but nobody listens to me anyway, so don’t sweat it.
Anyway, these lads are from Belfast, near the Causeway referenced by the Dubs.
The song’s title means “bare ground” and the band’s name means “deep”, which they undoubtedly are, and this is a glorious bit of mesmerising black metal taken from their debut full-length album, In Perfect Stillness.which is due to be released on February 20th via These Hands Melt.
Also, they are not to be confused with An Damhán Alla, which is the Irish name for the spider. It translates literally into English as “The Wall Demon”. Isn’t that the most metal name for an actual creature you’ve ever heard?
Evig Natt – Death
It’s straight to the point with the song title for these nocturnal Norwegians with a neat line in the beauty-and-the-beast vocal approach.
Their name means “Eternal Night”, apparently, and this late into the European winter, I can certainly relate to that.
They are due to release their fourth full-length album, Vaketimen – “The Waking Hour”, apparently, via the charmingly-named Wormholedeath on February 20th.
If gothic/doom/death metal sounds like your kind of thing, then this comes highly recommended. It certainly appeals to me musically, though I could do with a bit less eternal night and a bit more sun in other respects.
Iron Bones – Strigoi
It’s an educational experience this week, as we delve into languages and cultures with which we might not be familiar.
Apparently, strigoi are troubled souls in Romanian mythology who rise from the grave to stalk the living. They’re the blueprint for the vampire myth, or so I’m told.
Listening to this Chilean trio, you’d maybe think Lemmy had risen from the dead. Motorhead are to Iron Bones what strigoi are to vampires.
Billed as heavy metal, speed metal and even death and roll, it’s clear who the blueprint really is, and that’s no bad thing.
Their third full-length album, Poison Riot, will be available from February 19th, and is to be released independently. Rest in peace, Lemmy. I’m sure you’d approve.
Serpent Gates – Down The Cross
The name makes them sound like a member of an Avenged Sevenfold tribute band, but these heavy metal hellraisers from Finland actually sound like Bruce Dickinson fronting mid-90s Megadeth. (We love you, Dave!
You’re one of the great metal songwriters and guitarists, but even you’d have to admit: that’d be one heck of an upgrade in terms of vocals.)
Down The Cross was the second single from their debut full-length album, The Veil of Darkness, which is due to be released on February 20th via, appropriately enough, Venomoon, the sub label of Inverse Records. We’re sure you’ll be just as keen to get your teeth into it as we were.
Struck/Down – Leach
You might expect to be struck down with great force if you were foolish enough to spill Linden Twyman’s pint.
The burly frontman of Kent groove metallers Struck/Down is probably a lovely bloke, but no matter how heavy his band’s music might be, he’d be able to bench press it quite easily.
Their self-released debut full-length album, Queue For The Cure, will be available from February 20th, and Leach is the album’s lead single.
You’ll certainly hear the influence of the likes of Lamb of God in a song that, according to the band, “…is about today’s abundance of fakery and fickle perspectives, artificial views, selfish uses of alleged kindness, a care coated sheep on a manipulative wolf.”
I’d probably tell Twyman it was great even if it were shit. Fortunately, it is great, so I wouldn’t have to lie. I’m not as brave as in the intro, A So, with that confession of cowardice, I’ll leave you. See you in seven for seven.
Missed last week’s Seven Deadly Songs? You can find it right here
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SEVEN DEADLY SONGS Q&A
Q: What is Seven Deadly Songs?
A: Seven Deadly Songs is Metal Lair’s weekly roundup of the heaviest new releases across the full metal spectrum. Each week we spotlight seven standout tracks you shouldn’t miss.
Q: When does Seven Deadly Songs update?
A: We post a new edition every Friday, typically highlighting weekly new releases.
Q: Where can I find the best new metal songs?
A: Right here. Seven Deadly Songs is your go-to source for discovering the latest metal tracks including fresh black, death, thrash, doom, and speed metal releases, all curated in one place.
Q: How can I listen to the songs featured?
A: Every featured track links out to the artist’s official release, streaming platform, or label page so you can dive deeper and support the bands directly.
Q: Does Metal Lair have other weekly series?
A: Absolutely, Try:
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A series celebrating the voices, pioneers, and rule-breakers reshaping heavy music’s DNA. - Ministry of Metal –
A satirical authority devoted to the laws, rituals, and unspoken rules of heavy music. Features proclamations, decrees, cultural edicts, metal lore, and an original comic book series, all delivered with humor and bite. - Metal Legacy Profiles –
Deep dive essays honoring artists who shaped metal’s sound, culture, and philosophy. These aren’t timelines or greatest-hits lists, but examinations of impact, conflict, evolution, and what each figure left behind. - Road Riffs: Metal On The Map– We take metal beyond the speakers and onto the highway, exploring legendary venues, scene-defining cities, historic landmarks, local haunts, and travel stops tied to real
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About The Author
Kevin McSweeney is Metal Lair’s resident scribe of the underground, eternally rummaging through the global metal scene for riffs worth your time.
As the guiding hand behind Seven Deadly Songs every Friday, he has an uncanny knack for finding the track you didn’t know you needed, usually before finishing his pint.
Equal parts loyal, kind, and quietly razor-witted, Kevin brings deep knowledge, impeccable taste, and a steady, reliable presence to Metal Lair.
Read More From This Author. Ponte Del Diavolo – De Venom Natura Album Review
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