Written By Kevin McSweeney
Seven Deadly Songs Week of September 25th, 2025
Welcome to Seven Deadly Songs, Metal Lair’s weekly feature where, this week, we look at some of the best albums and EPS to be released between the 22nd and the 28th of September, and the songs that have us most excited for them.
It was a tough choice this week, with some truly brilliant releases not making the cut. We urge you to cast your net wide in search of new musical offerings from so many more than just the seven listed below. As for those who did make it, well, stand by for some outstanding musical excellence from seven bands who deserve your attention. Here we go!
After Earth – Dark Night of The Soul
I’d like to begin the Seven Deadly Songs proceedings with some melodic death metal from Sweden, especially in light of the untimely passing of At The Gates frontman Tomas Lindberg, who left us on September 16th at just 52 years of age. The legacy created by Tomas and his bandmates is in safe hands here, as Dark Night of The Soul, the second full-length album by After Earth, is sure to be an absolute belter, judging by the title track.
It is available from September 26th and is an independent release. From the ominous tones at the start, through massive riffs and powerful guttural vocals of which Lindberg himself would have been proud, this is one dark night of the soul that is to be welcomed.
Amorphis – Dancing Shadow
The second band on our Seven Deadly Songs list whose name begins with an A is Finland’s Amorphis, who bring a blend of heavy metal, folk and progressive rock to the table, though in the case of Dancing Shadow at least, there’s some strong pop sensibilities on show as well, and a chorus that would grace Eurovision. (Their nation won the infamous Song Contest in 2006 with a metal song – Lordi’s Hard Rock Hallelujah, so never say never.)
There’s a forest in the video, because of course there is, and there’s massive riffs aplenty to please the purists, There’s plenty of reasons to look forward to Borlerland, which is, astonishingly, the 16th album from this veteran crew via Reigning Phoenix Music, who have been tearing it up since the early 90s. Show them their due respect and check it out.
We recently dug deeper into Amorphis in our Deep Cuts Metals Hidden Gems series. Well worth checking out if you want the full context behind their legacy.
Anthology – Living in The Lies
The last of our Triple A-rated selections comes courtesy of Slovakia’s Anthology, whose third full-length album, Frozen Sun, is due to be released independently on September 26th. (I don’t know about the sun, but you’re bound to be frozen if you’re going around naked like the angel on the album’s cover.)
Billed as melodic power metal, and understanding so, there is yet a strong element of symphonic metal in their sound, thanks in no small part to the mesmerising vocals of Lilian Anerousi. I’m also quite taken with the epic backing synths, and there’s an absolute doozy of a key change in there as well. All good fun if you’re so inclined!
Cosmic Reaper – Bones
We leave Europe now to head to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Cosmic Reaper have made our Seven Deadly Songs list. They are about to release their second full-length album, the splendidly-titled Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned, courtesy of Heavy Psych Sounds Records on September 26th. It’s going to be a treat for all of you who are partial to a bit of stoner metal or doom metal, and I have a great fondness for both.
Bones is nearly seven minutes of slow, sludgy and colossal riffs that remain steadfastly true to the Black Sabbath blueprint – especially as frontman Thad Collis sings it pretty much as Ozzy would have done. Enjoyment may or may not be enhanced with the aid of certain illicit substances, but we couldn’t possibly recommend that such a course of action be taken. Thankfully, it’s also awesome without such indulgences.
From The Crypt – Drained
This band is not to be confused with Rocker From The Crypt, the San Diego punk rockers who gave us one of the most annoyingly repetitive hits of the 1990s in the form of On a Rope.
From The Crypt is a Dutch death metal band whose debut album, Born in The Grave, is due to be released on September 26th, courtesy of Raw Skull Recordz. Drained is one of the more conventionally titled songs on the album, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s any less hard-hitting.
This is old-school, mostly mid-paced death metal with plenty of palm mutes, rolling kick drums and bestial howls. Vocalist Ben’s gutturals bear an uncanny resemblance to those of former Morbid Angel frontman David Vincent, and this track certainly wouldn’t be out of place on Covenant or Altars of Madness. That’s the level of quality we’re looking at here.
Throne of Desolation – Temple of Death
This is how it’s done, folks! This is black metal as it was originally intended to sound. I don’t mean to be dismissive of any of the modern variants, with their melodic interludes and their eulogising of nature or whatever else they might be getting up to, but there’s no school like the old school!
This has all the OG elements: rough-arsed production, demonic vocals, carpal tunnel syndrome-inducing riffs, superhuman drumming and an abiding sense that you wouldn’t leave them near your church with a petrol can and a box of matches.
(Disclaimer: we’re not suggesting they’d actually burn down a church. They just sound a lot like the bands that did.) Eternal Dust is the debut album by the Frenchmen, available from September 24th via MFT Records, and it’s bound to be a thoroughly intense and slightly scary experience. Can’t wait!
Uragh – Crimson Dove
Finally, we turn to Ireland, and I find myself struggling to figure out why a band from Dublin would name themselves in honour of a monument in County Kerry, given the fierce nature of the rivalry between the Kingdom and the Big Smoke, at least in sporting terms. I’m really not sure about that one.
What I am sure about however, is that this is metalcore/progressive metal of the finest quality from the lads, with a discomfiting video to accompany it. Crimson Dove is taken from the Stalemate EP, which was released independently on September 25th, and it’s as fine a way to conclude this week’s list as I can imagine. Maith sibh, a chairde!
Seven Deadly Songs, seven different doorways into the inferno. From Sweden’s shadows to Dublin’s fire, this week proves metal’s pulse is restless, unruly, and impossible to cage.
That’s the point of Seven Deadly Songs, not just to hand you a playlist, but to remind you that the underground is deeper than you think, and worth diving headfirst into. Stay loud, stay curious, and let the riffs drag you somewhere new. Until next week.
Before you go:
Check out our Deep Cuts series for more hidden gems from the underground. Catch up on last week’s Seven Deadly Songsl 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: This week September 25th 2025 we are featuring After Earth, Amorphis, Anthology, Cosmic Reaper, From The Crypt, Throne of Desolation and Uragh
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.
