MY TOP LIST OF SEPTEMBER 2025

 

September 2025. RIP Tompa. Another legend gone, another month gone. 

It's been more hectic in terms of releases, and there are a few potential AOTY contenders that have been released this month that I definitely am going to take with me until the end of the year and beyond. Of course, I always make these lists based on what I enjoyed the most and what made a solid impression immediately after its release in the course of the given month. Most of the time, I don't have omissions or I am not mistaken about certain albums. 

This is why you won't find new Amorphis in the present list. I bought the vinyl, but the album is soft, cheesy, super safe, and poppy. In one word -  needless. The direction Amorphis took is unnecessary for me, given the kvlt status of their early works and what the fanbase actually likes. No, I am not going to rant about their new album, just illustrating my point. Mors Principium Est did it so much better...

Revocation couldn't make the cut for the first time in many years. The new record didn't do anything for me, and I like the band. Same about Demiurgon.

I am also struggling with Lorna Shore and the hype around them, although their new album is different for me compared to their previous works. It is more accessible, less deathcore. I can spot in between a mix of Parkway Drive, Obscura, modern Dimmu Borgir, Fallujah/Obsequiae solos ffs.  I listen occasionally to certain deathcore/metalcore bands in the gym, but Lorna Shore is still not in my alley. Who knows if this album would grow with me...😱 

Despite being my Album of the month, I feel that Paradise Lost's Ascension reuses riffs and melodies that I heard before. Yes, I do know the band and their albums super well, and that's why I can say this. For the newcomers, this album will be a true gem, though. I can comment on Before the Dawn as well - unfortunately, now I can completely understand why Wolfheart went so cheesy. Novembers Doom is inconsistent, but somehow crawled under my skin, probably because of this PL release and In Mourning's record, out in August. And finally, what albums by Esoctrilihum and Der Weg einer Freiheit! The latter is such a reminder of Blood Abscission, surely someone plays there. 

The month also offered some very UG and heavy stuff that I enjoyed, so make sure to check them all if you like suffocating DM or more UG BM.  Anyway, below you will find 30 albums that deserve attention. Not everything is in particular order, but more or less... You know everything is transient, everything can change. 

PARADISE LOST - Ascension (Bandcamp). No words needed, PL are in great shape. 

BEFORE THE DAWN - Cold Flare Eternal (Spotify) FFO of old Wolfheart.

ESOCTRILIHUM - Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm (Bandcamp). The best Esoctrilihum so far, when I just lost faith, this one comes. Super occult and UG. 

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT - Innern (Bandcamp). Better than Noktvrn. Blood Abscission vibes. 

NOVEMBERS DOOM - Major Arcana (Bandcamp) Some great parts with some inconsistent ones, overall got under my skin due to the death doom autumn melancholy I am in. 

BONE FETISH - Bone Fetish (Bandcamp) Symphonies of Sickness lovers rejoice!

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST - Darkness Invisible (Spotify). It is a surprise. Very, very tight and well composed, I don't mind the sympho parts even.  

SPECIES - Changelings (Bandcamp) Sci-Fi thrash - FFO Cryptic Shift and Vektor. Awesome music, great leads. 

GREEN CARNATION - A Dark Poem Part I: The Shores of Melancholia (Bandcamp). Dark and appropriate for the autumn season, despite of being in the progressive territory. 

EVILCULT - Triumph of Evil (Bandcamp). Weaker than their previous albums, I love the band and the style. 

NEXION - Sundrung (Bandcamp) Occultism and darkness, Icelandic BM with DM flavour. 

SVARTRIT - Timglasets Sand (Bandcamp) Sir N. and Grifteskymfning, so good UG BM. 

HADOPELAGYAL - Haematophoryktos (Bandcamp) No air, complete suffocation, heavy af. 

TETRAGRAMMACIDE - Cyber-Tantric Paradigm of Radical Sri-Vidya (Bandcamp). This is Tetragrammacide I like. 

AUTREST - Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves (Bandcamp) Melancholy, autumn, more melancholy in my Black metal...

GJENDØD - Svekkelse (Bandcamp) Best Gjendød to date! 

LIJKSCHOUWER - All What Did the Blade Reveal (Bandcamp). Crisp, intense, Dutch, ripping BM

PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS - Wretch (Bandcamp) PS with another solid album. If you know the band, you know what to expect and you will be pleased. 

FAETOOTH - Labyrinthine (Bandcamp). Faetooth doom. 

HASARD - Abgnose (Bandcamp) Akhlys didn't deliver last year. Hasard takes in charge.

NAILED TO OBSCURITY - Generation Of The Void (Bandcamp). The death doom melancholy. NtO always released very good albums, this one is a bit softer, though. 

CRUENTATION - Damned Fallen Angels (Bandcamp) Another black/death act on the present list. Iron Bonehead rooster, you know what to expect

MORILD - DISSE FUGLE FÅR INGEN AT SE (Bandcamp). Liked the band when Så kom mørket og tog mig på ordet en sort sky af minder i afgørende stunder frosset fast i mit indre jeg håber det forsvinder med lyset at dø eller blive fri was released and I had to jump onto the new one immediately. 

FRELSER - Afgrundsprofeti (Bandcamp) Another Danish BM act here, and it is a proper debut. 

VOLAHN - El Tigre del Sur (Bandcamp) I am not much into the indigenous BM, but this is a solid album. 11 years after the previous one. 

KAMRA - Unending Confluence (Bandcamp) Love me some experimental, avant-garde, atmospheric BM. 

OCCULSED - Antegnosis (Bandcamp). Buzzsaw death metal. Short songs, cutting heads.

HERETOIR - Solastalgia (Bandcamp). It seems Heretoir is releasing another good album, dreamy post black melancholy.

RITUAL MASS - Cascading Misery (Bandcamp). Pittsburgh DM with some Portland vibes. Not as good, though, but enjoyable. 

PRIMAL FEAR - Domination (Spotify). New lineup, cheesy, but it is ok. I wished it was heavier and tighter, with lower vox.