Written By Kevin McSweeney
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs. Do you remember how I’ve been moaning that we haven’t had many releases by more established acts in recent weeks? Well, we’re making up for it this week, so let’s get cracking.
Industrial icons Ministry return on October 30th with Hate to Go – Take Out or Delivery, their 18th full-length album, courtesy of Cleopatra Records. (I preferred Nine Inch Nails, if I’m honest.)
We also have the return of stoner rock supremos Queens of The Stone Age with Perfecth, their ninth full-length album, on the 30th via Matador. (I preferred Kyuss, if I’m honest!)
Ohio’s Odious Sanction return with their first album in twenty years. Their blend of death metal and hardcore will be heard again on Overwhelming Hatred for Humanity, which is due on Halloween via independent release.
We have the re-release of the much-missed Thin Lizzy frontman Philip Lynott’s 1981 album Fatalistic Attitude via Universal Music on the 30th. (How tragically prescient that title proved to be.)
UK thrash legends Xentrix are back with Allied With The Enemy on the 30th via Listenable Records – a label that also gives us one of our magnificent seven this week. Oh, and Nickelback have a new album coming out, so that’s nice. Let me just catch my breath and then we’ll get on with the list!
Seven Deadly Songs: Absolute Power – Needs Must When The Devil Drives
We kick things off this week, as if from the centre spot of St Andrews, The Hawthorns or Villa Park, with a little something from the city of Birmingham in England’s West Midlands. Frankly, it’s about time that place contributed something to heavy metal.
In all seriousness, if these Black Country boys are nervous about following in the footsteps of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Napalm Death, they’re showing no signs of it with this assured performance on the title track of their second full-length album, which is due to be released on October 30th via Time to Kill Records.
One small quibble: the admittedly awesome cover art depicts Old Nick himself astride a winged horse. Surely he’s riding it, rather than driving. I’d have put His Infernal Majesty behind the wheel of a Morris Minor myself, just to Brum it up a bit.
Seven Deadly Songs: Black Royal – Water of The Crow
I have no idea what the water of the crow might be, but one thing’s for sure: I won’t be drinking it. This rambunctious little number was the first single to be released from Abyssian, the fourth full-length album from Finland’s Black Royal, which is due to be released on October 30th via M-Theory Audio.
The band’s name sounds like a cigarette brand, and that’s quite fitting, given that stoner metal is their stock in trade, augmented with elements of heavy metal and death metal. It’s a sound so smoking hot, it might melt all that Scandinavian ice.
For more fabulousness from Finland on the 30th, we recommend the alternative metal band Blind Channel’s Painstream, and the Domain of Foul Rebirths EP from death metallers Grave Hex. These releases are courtesy of Century Media and Night Terrors Records respectively.
Seven Deadly Songs: Cirith Ungol – All The Shadows
I really should have mentioned them amongst the legends. California’s Cirith Ungol have been mesmerising audiences with their magnificent blend of epic heavy metal and doom metal for longer than I’ve been alive, which is a really, really long time.
They did have a 23-year hiatus from 1992 to 2015, which explains why All The Shadows, which is due to be released on October 30th via No Remorse Records, is only their seventh full-length album.
Theirs is quite the pedigree all the same. Interestingly, their name is taken from Lord of The Rings, and refers to the mountain pass in Mordor where the giant spider Shelob lurks – otherwise known as every room in Kevin McSweeney’s house. (I actually welcome them. They eat all the flies, which saves me having to clean.)
If the title track is anything to go by, it’ll be fair to say that their music is still as epic as Tolkien’s masterpiece.
Seven Deadly Songs: Crystal Eyes – Metal Bound
It took me a while to get the pun in their name. Also, to what else would you wish to be bound? Actually, don’t answer that.
This track is a lot of fun, and not just because of the Status Quo-style swaying guitar dance they perform in the accompanying video. It is the lead single from Thunder God, the ninth full-length album from the Swedish power metal institution.
This most opulent opus is due to be released on October 30th via Massacre Records. Its final track is called A Silent Farewell. I hope they’re not trying to tell us something. There’s plenty of life in those Crystal Eyes yet. That said, could you ever imagine these sparkling Swedes being silent?
For more spectacular Swedish sounds this week, there’s Eldfödd’s The Night Belongs to The Dead and Trolldom’s Tronen, both of which are out on the 30th, via Edged Circle Productions and Debemur Morti Productions respectively.
Seven Deadly Songs: Korrupt – Devoted to The Grave
This shouldn’t work. It really shouldn’t work, but I absolutely love it! Norway’s Korrupt are about to release The Weight We Carry, their third full-length album, via Holler Records on October 30th, and their sound is a curious blend of styles to say the least, with a mix of black metal banshee shrieks and clean vocals over a melodic hardcore style similar to that of A Wilhelm Scream.
There’s even a bluesy hard rock solo towards the end of this track. You’d have to marvel at the audacity! It has to be acknowledged, they carry the weight well.
For fans of a dark tint being applied to other subgenres, we also recommend the blackened folk/doom metal of Substrate Haruspex by Colorado’s Velnias, which is due to be released on the 30th via Eisenwald, and the blackened thrash metal of Sweden’s Sarcator on The Ones We Follow, which is out on the 30th via Reigning Phoenix Music.
Seven Deadly Songs: Rattlesnakes – Shadows in The Night
What are they putting in the water in Nottingham these days? Someone needs to test the Trent, because we’re getting some astonishing debut albums from the East Midlands city this year.
We’ve had great opening statements from Phoenix Lake and Death Warmed Up, both of which were covered here in Metal Lair. Now, Rattlesnakes have joined the party with Shadows in The Night, which is due to be released on October 30th via Listenable Records.
The title track is a barnstorming blast of high speed heavy metal in the manner of Painkiller-era Judas Priest, and the remarkable pipes of Rowena Neale could give even the great Rob Halford a run for his money.
Nottingham truly is the Rock City in 2026! For more UK metal this week, there’s the superb sludge of Sea Bastard’s Cyclopean, the doom of Lust Ritual’s Devil’s Chains EP, and the black metal of Exaltatio Diaboli’s The Ultimate End EP.
Seven Deadly Songs: Valkyrie Zero – Amakusa Riot
It’s possibly a little insensitive to conclude our list with a song mentioning a riot, given what is currently happening in Paris, but the video for this track actually dropped a year ago.
Last Way Forward, the album from which it is taken, was released on October 28th via Slumber Records, and is the handiwork of all-female Osaka-based thrashers Valkyrie Zero.
The Japanese quartet have released two albums previously: 2018’s Valkyrie Rising and 2023’s Attack of Valkyrie. We hope that their latest offering will not literally be their last way forward.
There’s actually a lot of great thrash coming out this week, but the boss might actually skin me alive if I list all the artists and albums involved, so instead, I’m simply going to wish you a happy Halloween and hope to see you in seven for another seven.
Catch up on last week’s Seven Deadly Songs weekly weekly roundup”
Seven Deadly Songs is A Metal Lair® Original Series
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.
Q: Does Metal Lair have other weekly series?
A: Absolutely, Try:
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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:
Leng Tch’e Hammered Into Collapse EP Review: Five Minutes of Grindcore Brutality
Fail The Enemy Sandcastles EP Review: Gothic Synths Meet Alternative Metal
Album Review: Keep The Fire Burning by Mikey Ball and The Company
THE COLLAPSE OF A BITTER END ALBUM REVIEW: THE CARTOGRAPHER
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