Written By Kevin McSweeney
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs. Please excuse my impertinence, but there’s a lot to get through, so let’s turn straight to the legends. Oh, so many legends!
Frankly, they don’t come much more legendary than Accept. The German gods showcase “half a century of heavy metal” on Teutonic Titans 1976-2026, which is available from September 4th via Napalm Records. Heavy is the music of those who wear the crown.
The Polish bastion of black metal that is Behemoth – Nergal is remarkably angry with God for a man the Good Lord chose to make so startlingly handsome, don’t you think? – returns with I Skvlptor, an EP with eight tracks that is longer than many albums. It is available from September 4th via Massacre Records, and was ably reviewed by our own Lucien Drake.
Speaking of reviews, I hopefully won’t take too long with mine for A Dark Poem, Part III: The Messiah Complex. Metal Lair has been with the Norwegian progressive metal powerhouse Green Carnation through every stage of this epic trilogy, with reviews and interviews aplenty. The completion of the process occurs on September 4th, courtesy of Season of Mist.
We have another notable return in the form of a new album from Sleep… No! Not Sleep Token! Come back! I’m talking about the San Jose stoners who are about to release the fabulously named Hempispheres (I didn’t need to smoke anything for that to give me the giggles) via Third Man Records on September 3rd, which is an apt choice of date.
It’s their sixth full-length album in a career that stretches back to 1990. They have a rate of productivity comparable to that of Flash Slothmore from Zootopia/Zootropolis. I can’t imagine what might be the cause, but each album is worth the lengthy wait.
Finally, we’d like to point you in the direction of The Elector, the new EP by Utah power metal quintet, and Seven Deadly Songs alumni, Judicator, which is to be released independently on September 4th. We’d also like to get on with the list, and will do so now.
Seven Deadly Songs: Fog Wall – The Accursed
Death metal dudes Fog Wall hail from Reno in Nevada, so there might be some songs on their debut album about shooting a man just to watch him die.
It would be perfectly in keeping with the staple subject matter of their chosen subgenre. (Johnny Cash was metal before there was metal, was he not?)
The album in question is due to be released independently on September 4th, and is titled Gloomweaver, which sounds lovely, like the name of some exotic species of spider.The sound? Not so lovely!
It’s brutal as all Hell, in fact, which is just as it should be. For more death metal this week, we recommend Grimshine by Mexico’s Demonic Manifestation, which is due to be released via Personal Records, also on September 4th.
Seven Deadly Songs: Grimner – Stormvingar
Next up, we have a beautifully batshit bit of folk-infused viking metal in the form of the title track from Grimner’s fifth full-length album, which is due to be released on September 4th via Despotz Records.
The Swedes deploy an array of instruments that are incongruous in a metal context, such as flutes, mandola and bagpipes, as well as a combination of harsh metal vocals with more traditional singing styles, to create a sound that is uniquely theirs.
Also on the 4th via Despotz Records, we have Travelling Around The World, the second full-length album from the equally eccentric Spanglish symphonic power metal quintet Pirate Queen. That label really is spoiling us!
For more folk metal, look to the Netherlands for Vanaheim’s Roede Voor De Borst, which comes courtesy of Fireflash Records, again on the 4th.
Seven Deadly Songs: KingCrown – Nothing
My initial search for this on YouTube brought up Metallica’s King Nothing, and frankly, the video for that classic of the Load era makes for better viewing, as the accompanying video for this pummeling bit of power metal is a bit naff.
The song, on the other hand, is absolutely magical, with a stunning vocal performance from Joe Amore. Nothing is taken from Moonfall, the Nice-based quintet’s fourth full-length album, which is due to be released on September 4th via Rockshots Records.
The album cover is every bit as naff as the video, if I’m honest, but the music? C’est magnifique! For more outstanding power metal this week, see the aforementioned releases by Judicator and Pirate Queen.
Seven Deadly Songs: Pyroclast – Break The Tide
It’s chugs and Glasgow kisses from these Scottish heavy metal troops who, until last year, operated under the name Tantrum. They’ve been busy since the rebranding, as Fractured State, from which this track is taken, is their second full-length release as Pyroclast.
It is due to be released independently on September 4th and, if this belter of a track is anything to go by, will feature many solos that can only be described as pure gallus, pal!
It’s one of a number of traditional metal/hard rock releases this week. You might also be interested in Achilles by Norway’s Audrey Horne (Napalm Records), or Stories of Destiny by Germany’s Mad Max (ROAR/Rock of Angels Records).
Then, of course, there’s the aforementioned release by Accept. All of these are available from the 4th, and are more than enough reason to squeeze back into your spandex if you possibly can.
Seven Deadly Songs: Sardonic Witchery – Crown of Burning Spikes
This Portuguese black metal band is not to be confused with Fineen Wycherley, who is an Irish second row. He’s more Munster Rugby than monster riffs.
I say black metal, but there’s every bit as much thrash and death metal to be found in this track from Hell’s Thorns Attack, their fifth full-length album, which was released on September 1st via Firecum Records. (Just for the record, I spit – mouthfuls of tea across my screen when I see the name of that label.)
The intro reminds me a little of Slayer’s South of Heaven, which is no bad thing. This is one of a number of notable black metal releases this week.
We also recommend The Expanse by Skuggor, Tähtien Ikuinen Suru by Beyond Seventh Dimension and the beguiling Waves by Severoth. The latter has a song called Stars Will Show The Way, which is far too nice for black metal. It sounds like the title of a Disney song; thankfully, it doesn’t sound like one.
Seven Deadly Songs: Vanessa Funke – Fading Memory
We’ve covered quite a few solo projects from remarkably talented multi-instrumentalists in this column, but to the best of my knowledge, this is the first from an artist with no Y chromosome. (You wouldn’t think that to be the case when you hear Funke’s deep death growls, however.)
This is a gloriously gothic bit of melodic death metal from Aura – due to be released on September 4th via Liminal Dread Productions – which is Funke’s fifth full-length album since 2022.
There’s German efficiency for you. That country is absolutely smashing it this week, with releases mentioned previously in this article, plus Offense by doom/sludge metal outfit Sauros, the Forsaker EP by metalcore band Doomcrusher, and one more we have yet to cover.’Speaking of which…
Seven Deadly Songs: Witchburner – Black Raging Flames
Yes, another witch-themed band! We snuff out this week’s edition of Seven Deadly Songs with some German thrash metal from a band that should probably be included in my opening ramblings.
Withburner first fanned the flames of thrash in the early 1990s. This is the title track from their eighth full-length album, which is available from September 4th via Diabolic Might Records, marking the end of a 13-year hiatus.
It is old school thrash that is as traditionally executed as, well, a witch burned at the stake. (They tended to drown them here in the South West of England. In fact, there’s a few ducking stools in the more rural areas that are probably still in use.)
I can’t help but notice that the witch being burned on the album cover is a redhead. I honestly can’t say I’m surprised. It’s only a matter of time before they impose a similar fate on Sabbatha Ashvale. I’d better wrap this up before she puts a curse on me. See you in seven for another seven.
“Dive into last week’s Seven Deadly Songs weekly metal 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.
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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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- 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
metal scenes around the world that every metalhead should experience.
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:
Album Review: To No Avail by Xenith
Album Review: Made Flesh by Untitled With Drums
Sakoya – World Gone Crazy EP Review
The Larches – Nihilistic Majesties EP Review
Album Review: Exodus Unknown by Imperium
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