Written By Kevin McSweeney
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs, Metal Lair’s weekly feature in which we highlight a song from seven of the best newly-released albums and EPs of the week, with a particular emphasis on those artists who have yet to achieve the level of exposure their talents deserve.
I was going to include Revenant from Loathe’s forthcoming album A Stranger To You, which is available from July 17th via Sharptone. I like the way you can hear vocalist Kadeem France’s Liverpudlian accent in the spoken word parts, and how his voice reminds me of the beloved actor Paul Barber.
However, in true Scouse style, I’ve had it nicked off me by Sabbatha Ashvale for inclusion in her article, The Most Anticipated Heavy Releases of Late 2026. I didn’t anticipate that, let me tell you!
I’m also going to make mention of the ninth album by veteran German power metallers Stormhammer. Wrath of The Hammer will be available also from July 17th via Roar!/ Rock of Angels Records, and the title track is an absolute face-melter!
Do you know what else is returning this week? The rain in the United Kingdom, after an uncharacteristically long heatwave! It’s been like living in an air fryer these past few weeks.
I don’t know how my Floridian and Australian colleagues cope with it! It must be hot enough to melt Miss Ashvale’s cold, black heart. On that note, let’s get on with the list.
Seven Deadly Songs: Black Sites – Giving Up The Ghost
I’m giving up the ghost from the outset here with our first entry from one of two bands from Chicago on this week’s list.
Few words strike fear into my heart when combined with rock or metal quite like “progressive”. The only one that comes close is “technical”.
Still, I’m going with a bit of prog here, as this fine track from the band’s fifth full-length album For Eternity (due to be released independently on July 17th), isn’t all that proggy. It’s not too long, it’s in a conventional time signature, and it doesn’t sound like you’d need an engineering degree to understand it.
If nothing else, it’s nice to have some clean vocals as a kind of palette cleanser, as this is going to be a heavy list!
For more proggy goodness this week, check out Novareign’s Shifting The Axis of The World and Protest The Hero’s Within.
Seven Deadly Songs: Doomcult – Poison The Well
I don’t know how much poisoning of wells goes on in the Netherlands, though I’ve seen many desperate revellers relieving themselves in the canals of Amsterdam.
That’s not going to do the fish any favours. This cheery little number is taken from Doomcult’s fourth full-length album, Sacrifice All Life.
The previous three were called End All Life, Life Must End and Failure of Life. I’m spotting a bit of a pattern here.
The dour Dutch duo’s latest offering will be available from July 17th via Meuse Music Records.
The band used to be a solo project by multi-instrumentalist J.G. Arts, but he has since been joined in his endeavours by vocalist Rens Van Herp, making it a double Dutch doom-laden delight.
I apologise wholeheartedly to the people of the Netherlands for that one, especially my buddy Gerard.
Seven Deadly Songs: Emptiness – The Threat
This one comes courtesy of our good friends at Season of Mist, so it was always going to be good. If darkwave/avant-garde/black/death metal, or any variants thereof, are your thing, then Belgium’s Emptiness might just be for you.
They are due to release their seventh full-length album, Nowhere Speaks, on July 17th, continuing a legacy, according to the press release, of moving: “…beyond genre constraints, developing a sound rooted in experimentation, atmosphere and transformation.” The Threat certainly sounds threatening.
It’s eerie, unnerving and melodic in the most sinister way. Also, the vocals actually remind me of Jared Leto’s portrayal of Skeletor in the recent Masters of The Universe movie. Check it out or be a giant boob.
Seven Deadly Songs: Fuming Mouth – A Blaze of Nihilism
I love the title! There’s something Pythonesque about it, like a small dose of leprosy, or a pinch of strychnine in one’s morning coffee.
What we have here in essence is an intoxicating blend of death metal and crust punk from these merry men of Milford, Massachusetts.
This nihilistic number is taken from their third full-length album The Ringing Bell, which is due to be released on July 17th via Triple-B Records.
The feedback at the end is something to behold. We also recommend the Bellow EP from the Atlanta-based Muelas for a further extreme punk/metal mix.
This is also due on the 17th. Hell, we’ll throw in a third release on the 17th in a similar vein, in the form of the Things I Want EP, from Colombia’s Poison The Preacher. How’s that for adhering to the punk ethos?
Seven Deadly Songs: Left To Die – Witch of Hell
Here we have a death metal band from Florida who have a song called Witch of Hell. I can only assume they know Sabbatha.
It’s real old-school Floridian death metal as well, and is essentially a tribute to Chuck Schuldiner of Death.
The project is the brainchild of legendary Exhumed/Repulsion frontman Matt Harvey, and features Terry Butler and Rick Rozz, who played alongside the late and much-missed Chuck in that most influential of extreme metal institutions.
This short and ferocious track is from their forthcoming album Initium Mortis, which means, aptly enough: “The Beginning of Death.”
It’s available from July 17th via Relapse Records, and also features a song called Legion of Doom, which may be a tribute to the legendary wrestling tag team The Road Warriors. I hope so, anyway. Oh, what a rush!
Seven Deadly Songs: Repentance – Retaliate
This is melodic groove metal, apparently. I’ll be honest: on this track at least, I’m not hearing much in the way of melody.
The pre-chorus reminds me a little of Paige/Saraya’s theme music during her time in All Elite Wrestling, or the main title music from Das Boot.
I can’t decide which. The chorus proper, on the other hand, is a fun little stompalong. The lead guitar is straight off the Carcass album Heartwork, and I guess there’s melody in that, but mostly, this is an ass kicker of a song.
It’s taken from the album of the same name, which is the third full-length effort from the Chicago bruisers. I told you we had another Chicago band coming! It is due to be released via Noble Demon. Go check it out in haste, or repent at leisure.
Editor’s Note: Since this edition of Seven Deadly Songs was written, the metal community has suffered a tremendous loss. Repentance guitarist and founding member Shaun Glass, also known for his work with SOiL, Broken Hope, Dirge Within and numerous other projects, passed away on July 1 at the age of 57 following complications from a stroke.
In light of his passing, Repentance has postponed the release of Retaliate. We extend our deepest condolences to Shaun’s family, friends, bandmates, and everyone whose lives he touched through his music.
Shaun had his fingerprints all over the Chicago metal scene for decades with producing, mentoring… he wasn’t just another guitarist. He was one of those people who quietly helped hold a local scene together. Fifty-seven is far too young.
Rest in power, Shaun. 🤘🖤
Seven Deadly Songs: Ruthless – Curse of The Beast
We have some bestial behaviour to round off this week’s list, courtesy of LA’s Ruthless.
Their music is billed as a blend of heavy metal and power metal, though what I’m hearing on this, the title track from their fifth full-length album, is more akin to something from the NWOBHM era, and specifically something from that time that formed the blueprint for thrash.
Curse of The Beast is due to be unleashed upon us on July 17th via Fireflash Records, so have your silver bullets on standby.
For more music of a traditional metal leaning, we recommend Cosmic Dawn, the third full-length album from California’s Coffin Hunters, which is also due on the 17th.
Right, that’ll just about do it for this week. Stay safe, keep headbanging and we’ll see you in seven for another seven. Oh, and Sabbatha? Call me!
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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.
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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.
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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:
Wailin’ Storms The Arsonist Review
Witchsorrow Album Review: The Devil and All His Works
Album Review: Apocalyptic Steel by Nargaroth
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