Written By Kevin McSweeney
Seven Deadly Songs Week of September 19, 2025
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs, Metal Lair’s weekly feature, in which you are offered a scintillating seven to send you south of Heaven by a dipstick in Devon. This week, you find me pondering the fleeting nature of mortality, as I am drawn one whole year closer to my demise by way of the annual mourning of my birth. Your humble scribe is now the same age Peter Steele was when he left us, which is a difficult thing for any Type O Negative fan to come to terms with, especially as I’m not quite ready to shuffle off this mortal coil myself just yet. I need some good music to make me feel alive, and that’s where the following seven artists come in. Here, we present songs from seven of the best albums and EPs to be released between the 15th of the 21st of September. Enjoy them while you can, for death stalks us all.
Ancient Thrones – Melancholia
Let us commence this week’s proceedings with a bit of Melancholia, seeing as I’m in that kind of mood. The video for this song, the title track from the Nova Scotia-based blackened death metal marauders’ second full-length album, is set in a birthday party for the band’s drummer who doesn’t seem entirely keen to be celebrating the event. This is certainly apt! I love the sense of macabre gleefulness throughout the whole affair. The album is due to be made available to us by Slam Worldwide on September 19th and, needless to say, it’s heavy as all Hell, with some virtuoso musicianship on display from these crazy Canadians!
Ded – Purpose: Be Myself
Arizona’s Ded return with Resent, their third full-length release, on September 19th. The album is due to be unearthed courtesy of the UNFD label, and this little banger taken from it is a captivating blend of blistering alt/nü metal and pounding techno beats. The temptation with any metal that is embellished thus is to compare it to Nine Inch Nails, and this certainly bears a resemblance to the sounds that are found in the Pretty Hate Machine era of Trent Reznor’s storied career. With its bold, melodic chorus and massive hooks, it’s not unlike Head Like a Hole. That said, there’s more than a passing resemblance to Taproot as well, if anyone is able to remember them. (If not, seek out a copy of Gift immediately. They were one of the better nu-metal bands.) Your purpose is to seek this out forthwith!
Doomsday Profit – Sin Eater
I thought at first that this was a tribute to the 1980s pop diva Sinitta, but it seems I might be waiting a long time for a metal cover of Toy Boy or So Macho, and more’s the pity. (I’m not sure I want to know what a sin eater is, though I have certainly been guilty of gluttony at times.) Instead, what we have is superbly slow and sludgy doom metal from the North Carolina crew. Their self-titled second full-length album is due to be released independently on September 19th, and it looks like it’s going to be comprised of good, old-fashioned dirge-like doom, but having said that, they’re not afraid to let the guitars shred and the kick drums roll when the occasion calls for it. (As far as I’m concerned, the occasion can’t call for it enough!)
Hellbearer – Counting Seconds
British thrashers Hellbearer are about to unleash their second full-length album, entitled Darker Fates, independently on September 19th, and it sounds like it’s going to be a glorious bounty of Bay Area-style bangers, even if the closest you could get to a bay area in Manchester is to sit by a murky old canal. The intro to Counting Seconds is enticingly similar to that of Slayer’s Seasons in The Abyss, with perhaps a hint of Buried Dreams by Carcass. However, it doesn’t take them quite as long as it did for the big four legends in the aforementioned track to get down to the business of thrashing. There’s not quite as much of an atmospheric build up. They get stuck right in! There’s some big riffs in here that are bound to get your neck muscles working, and the slower solo section verges on mid-90s groove metal, perhaps in the vein of Machine Head. It’s well worthy of your attention, so make sure it only takes a matter of seconds for you to check them out.
Many Eyes – The Clock Behind All Other Clocks
I love that song title! Maybe it’s because it’s my birthday week that I’m especially receptive to a memento mori, but anyway, what else would you expect from the man behind Every Time I Die? This is some excellent shouty hardcore punk from Keith Buckley’s new project, though it features much more variety in terms of tempo and pace than that subgenre’s standard fare. Their forthcoming EP, Combust, is due to be released on September 19th via the Perseverance Media Group, and I thoroughly recommend it, even if it is a reminder that the clock is ticking faster than ever! If anyone wants me, I’ll be joining Mr Buckley in staring at the void with my sunglasses on.
Meridian – Uprising
Uprising is the first single to be released from the forthcoming self-titled album by Denmark’s Meridian, and it’s a classic metal delight with distinct thrash overtones. That chugging opening riff is very much like the intro to Metallica’s Seek and Destroy. Otherwise, it’s a little bit of Priest, and a little bit of Maiden, and a lot of outstanding lead guitar that would be worthy of either. The album is their fifth full-length offering, and is due to be upon us by way of Target Records on September 19th. The football terrace chants in the chorus are worthy of note also, whereas the lead vocals are more to the punky end of the trad metal spectrum, bringing to mind the late, great Paul Di’Anno. (May he rock in peace.)
Sadistic Goatmessiah – Forces of Evil
How could I not finish with a band called Sadistic Goatmessiah? In all seriousness, when a group has such an outlandish name, there can be a temptation to treat them as a novelty. This would be a mistake with this German trio, for though they clearly go about their business with a sense of great fun, they are a serious proposition as a metal band, making a huge amount of noise for just three people with their blistering brand of blackened thrash. Their debut album Violence is due to be visited upon us on September 19th, courtesy of Dying Victims Productions. They are the Sadistic Goatmessiah, and they are very naughty boys (and girl!) And with that, I bid you farewell for this week. Always look on the bright side of life, folks!
Always look on the bright side of life, folks! 🎶
Before you go:
Check out our Deep Cuts series for more hidden gems from the underground. Catch up on last week’s Seven Deadly Songs to keep your playlist armed to the teeth.
FAQ – Seven Deadly Songs
Q: What is Seven Deadly Songs?
A: It’s Metal Lair’s weekly feature spotlighting the best new metal tracks from the past week, across subgenres from folk and power to death, doom, and black metal.
Q: How often is Seven Deadly Songs published?
A: Every week. We cover the freshest songs released between Monday and Sunday to keep you up to date with the latest in metal.
Q: Which bands are featured this week (Sept 19th, 2025)?
A: Ancient Thrones, Ded, UNFD, Doomsday Profit, Hellbearer, Many Eyes, Meridian, Sadistic Goatmessiah
Q: Where can I listen to the songs featured?
A: Most tracks are available on major platforms like Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube. Links are included in each write-up where possible.
Q: How can I see past Seven Deadly Songs lists?
A: Visit Metal Lair’s Seven Deadly Songs hub page for the complete archive of weekly features.