Sputnikmusic's own dark ambient solo artist Kannatama has moved away from soundscapes and towards traditional melodic black/death metal influences. The project is being expanded and future releases may incorporate a mix of the two styles, or simply keep them separated in specific releases.
Stream the demo version of "Every Monument Will Turn To Dust" below - full length LP to follow in 2026.
Chrocktikal, a four-member Korean band formed under Dreamcatcher Company, announced their debut with a LP to be released on January 15th.
The band is led by Dreamcatcher member Lee Siyeon, who's also the vocalist and producer. The other members include bassist Lee Junyoung (former IZ member), drummer Je Gwanwoo and guitarist and producer Lee Wonseok.
Their debut LP "We break, you awake" includes 11 tracks, with a 12th bonus track being vinyl-exclusive.
You can check the band's last interview where they talk a bit about creative choices, the upcoming LP and working together here:
The album is also available for pre-order in multiple korean websites: https://chrocktikal.carrd.co/#preorder .
Guitar virtuoso Ichika Nito has formally announced his long awaited debut LP The Moon’s Elbow which will be released on January 30th. Ichika is most known for providing guitar features with numerous bands including Earthists, Polyphia, Field Of Forest, Von Citizen, and Hidden Machine to name a few.
The tracklist features many contributing musicians to his debut LP:
1. Where I Begin
2. Lost Stars
3. Echo (feat. Nakajin)
4. LA NUIT (feat. NIX)
5. The Itch (feat. Manuel Gardner Fernandes, Feryquitous
6. The Moon’s Elbow (feat. Marcin)
7. I’m Your Ghost (feat. Flower.far)
8. we weren’t, were we?
9. should’ve cried
10. In your quiet (feat. Yvette Young)
11. Where I Return
Norwegian vocalist Silje Wergeland is no longer a member of the atmospheric heavy music pioneers The Gathering.
Her statement, as it appeared in a social media post, is as follows:
It's a new dawn and a new year. After 16 years of creating and playing great music with THE GATHERING, it's time to move on to new ventures.
I have had so many awesome experiences and made great memories with this band that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
I wish my band mates all the best for the future.
Thanks for all the great support and the lovely conversations with all you wonderful fans around the globe.
Lots of love, Silje.
Wergeland's departure after 16 years and three albums plus one EP, takes place in the aftermath of the outfit's recent and successful live reunion with previous singer Anneke Van Giersbergen, for the celebration of 30 years since the release of Mandyli ...more
British musician, guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure, Perry Bamonte has passed away at the age of 65. According to the band, he passed after what was simply described as a "short illness", though details of the said illness are unknown.
Bamonte joined the band in 1990 before being dismissed from the band in 2005, and then rejoining in 2022, being involved in the group's most recent album, Songs of a Lost World, in 2024.
In the aftermath of a warehouse fire at the outskirts of Copenhagen that destroyed its equipment for recording sessions and live events, Danish experimental metal outfit VOLA has found itself in an uphill battle to replace and rebuild what was lost.
To that end, a gofundme campaign was launched (see url below), whereby the details of the devastation are laid down:
British singer/songwriter Chris Rea has passed away at the age of 74.
According to a statement issued by his family, he "died peacefully at the hospital, surrounded by his relatives".
Born and raised from an Italian father and an Irish mother in Middlesbrough, Rea swiftly moved up the echelons of the music industry to a solo career that sold over 30 million albums.
His most know albums are The Road To Hell featuring the namesake hit single, and the followup full-length Auberge.
A new LA emo group Car Underwater has emerged with their first track, titled "Calling This Healing".
Among people involved are Nolan Nunes (Ghostemane) on bass, Zach Capittifenton (Cryogeyser, ex-Momma) on drums, quannic and Sonny Foster (Versera) on guitars and vocals, Darcy Baylis on keyboards and vocals and Max Epstein (Photographic Memory, ex-Militarie Gun) on lead vocals, with Casey Lagos (ex-Stick to Your Guns) credited as a co-writer and co-producer. Several of them have previously collaborated on their respective projects, as well as on If Not Winter - the debut album by the American shoegaze musician Wisp.
Named most likely after the song by Armor for Sleep, the band is drawing from the 2000's emo/post-hardcore sound.
Norwegian lofi/black metal/post punk outfit Fanatisme, is streaming its first album at the official Bandcamp location of compatriot imprint FysiskFormat.
Titled Tro, Håp Og Kjærlighet, the long player is an official production since December 12.
You can listen to the entire release, right below:
https://fanatisme.bandcamp.com/album/tro-h-p-og-kj-rlighet
Miserere Luminis, Quebecois black metal band comprised of members of Sombres Forets and Gris, have announced their upcoming album "Sidera" to be released March 6, 2026. The album will feature 5 tracks and is described as an extension of the sound explored on their 2023 release "Ordalie".
The album's tracklist will be:
1. Les fleurs de l'exil
2. De cris & de cendres
3. Aux bras des vagues et des vomissures
4. À la douleur de l'aube
5. Dans la voie de nos lumières
The announcement came with the release of new song "De cris & de cendres".
German black metal outfit Beschwoerung, is streaming its first/namesake album at a bespoke Bandcamp location created by Muschelkalk Musik, a compatriot imprint.
Beschwoerung is an official production as of today (December 13).
You can listen to the entire release, right below:
https://beschwoerung.bandcamp.com/album/beschwoerung
Swedish heavy/power/speed metal outfit Blazon Stone, is streaming a new EP at its official Bandcamp location.
Titled Treasure Hunt, the extended player features superfluous material from an upcoming full-length album, and was independently let out on December 10.
You can listen to the entire release, right below:
https://blazonstone.bandcamp.com/album/treasure-hunt-ep
Indie Rock band Tigers Jaw will release their new album titled Lost on You on March 27th. Once again the album is produced by Will Yip.
Alongside the announcement, the band have released the lead single "Head is Like a Sinking Stone".
Lost on You tracklist :
1. It’s ok (1:41)
2. Primary Colors (3:37)
3. Head is Like a Sinking Stone (3:01)
4. Anxious Blade (2:47)
5. Baptized on a Redwood Drive (5:37)
6. BREEZER (3:30)
7. Ghost (2:29)
8. Staring at Empty Faces (3:30)
9. Light Leaks Through (3:58)
10. Roses + Thorns (4:35)
11. Lost on You (3:31)
Indiana black and death metal band A Circle Of Crows have released the second single from their long awaited second release, simply entitled "...Bring Death And Desolation".
Jurre Timmer, primarily known for his dark folk project Thurnin, is going back to his roots and releasing a new EP for his metal project I, Forlorn. Requiem is set to release 6th January, 2026. Requiem is the first recorded work since 2017’s My Kingdom Eclipsed, I, Forlorn’s debut LP.
Jurre posted the following announcement on his Instagram page:
“The first single of the upcoming I, Forlorn EP "Requiem",
Eternal Winter is a song I composed around 2014 and was finally due a proper release on my side project, I, Forlorn, A melodic death/doom project that has been on hold after the debut album in 2017, until today.
And with that I stumbled upon the idea of Requiem, 4 songs I wrote about loss combined in one new package as an appetizer for the upcoming full length for I, Forlorn.
Requiem will be releasing on January 6th, a 27 minute, 5 song EP in the style of classic Swallow the Sun, Daylight Dies and various oth ...more
German post-hardcore trio Future Palace dropped a new single titled "Deep Blue". Although there is no information about a potential album, the band's next live shows are scheduled half a year from now, suggesting they would record more material during this time. Moreover, the new video shares the blue color motif with previously released "Cyclone", suggesting it would be the theme for the whole album cycle.
Steve Morse Band, the instrumental Rock group of veteran guitarist Steve Morse has released a new album titled Triangulation.
This is the band’s first album in 16 years and features longtime members Dave LaRue on bass and Van Romaine on drums. The album has guest appearances from other guitar legends including Eric Johnson & John Petrucci, and features the blend of genres that Steve is known for including Rock, Jazz Fusion, and Blues.
Tracklist for Triangulation:
1. Break Through
2. Off the Cuff
3. TexUS (ft. Eric Johnson)
4. The Unexpected
5. March of the Nomads (ft. Scott Sim)
6. Ice Breaker
7. Tumeni Partz
8. Triangulation (ft. John Petrucci)
9. Taken by an Angel (ft. Kevin Morse)
Check out the title track featuring John Petrucci below
Guys, gals, and non-binary pals: voting season is upon us!
The tl;dr: if you would like to submit a ballot so that your voice is heard for the site’s Top 50 LPs of 2025, please submit yours here:
https://forms.gle/BPcK6Xg9JAswvyB5A
The tl;dr of that tl;dr:
1) The ballot is in three sections. The first is your username (even if you can’t create an account, remember your password, etc.). The middle third is your (mandatory) top 10. The last portion is completely optional, but you can include picks 11-25 on it. Please be sure to submit your ballot officially! You can go back and edit it as long as the form is accepting submissions.
2) For now, we’re going to stick to LPs, so please do not submit EPs, Live Albums, Compilations, singles that are somehow in the database, or any other non-LP item.
3) Please strive to ensure the artist and album reflect what’s in the Sput database, even if it’s not tech ...more
Canadian black metal outfit Forteresse, has uploaded a brand new track at its official Bandcamp location.
Titled "À Couteaux Tirés", the first piece of new material in nine years, is vanguard to the band's upcoming new album, whose title and release date are currently unbeknownst.
You can listen to the single, right below:
https://forteresseqc.bandcamp.com/track/couteaux-tir-s
Norwegian experimental music group Ulver have unveiled Neverland, their new studio LP due to be released on December 31st. In addition to the album announcement, the band has also shared the first single which is titled “Weeping Stone”. The song sees the band exploring a more ambient sound compared to the new wave and electronic influences of their recent releases.
Tracklist for Neverland
1. Fear in a Handful of Dust
2. Elephant Trunk
3. Weeping Stone
4. People of the Hills
5. They’re Coming! The Birds!
6. Hark! Hark! The Dogs Bark!
7. Horses of the Plough
8. Pandora’s Box
9. Quivers in the Marrow
10. Welcome to the Jungle
11. Fire in the End
One-man black metal artist Black Usurper has released the outfit's first music since 2018’s Shadows of The World. The single "Fecund Corrupter" is a selected work from the forthcoming full-length ‘Echoes From Beneath’. Additionally, it features an ambient introductory composition entitled ‘Upon The Twilit Moor’, which will not be included with the aforementioned record.
The artwork is an illustration by Mr. J. Augustus Knapp, taken from the 1895 publication of John Uri Lloyd’s ‘Etidorhpa; Or, The End of Earth: The Strange History of a Mysterious Being and the Account of a Remarkable Journey’
Echoes From Beneath tracklist:
1. ACT I. I: Hallo Morgensonne (5:44)
2. II: Clandestine Presence (2:44)
3. III: Fecund Corrupter (Ich Werde Nicht) (3:17)
4. ACT II. I: Doldrum Through Hummock & ...more
