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MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - April 2025

April - Top 10

Welcome back to MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month! Spring is upon us, and with that comes a deluge of new music that's nearly impossible to keep up with, as is evidenced by us getting almost a full month behind and putting this list out in June. We'll hope to get back on track with May 2025's list, but for now, enjoying the soothing sounds of extreme metal and give a bit of time to some landmark April albums you may have missed when they first dropped. Cheers!

-Nate

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Lik - Necro
Metal Blade Records

Groovy, BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal distortion pedal riffs after riffs, with a touch of melody peeking out of the distortion from time to time, making this a quintessentially Swedish sounding record. They can go fast, throwing in tasteful, precise blast beats and fast double kick but can also sit on a riff mid-tempo, creating a thick and heavy atmosphere that will make you slowly headbang making that face, you know, the face when the riff hits and is disgustingly good! Far from being a technical death album, nevertheless, every musician is offering a technically impressive performance. With a runtime of 40 minutes, it's the perfect length and makes it a highly re-playable experience.
-Raphael

Atrox Trauma - Where Death Hunts
WormHoleDeath

These four menacing dudes from Hungary have delivered their interesting, but really I should say intense, second album. Where Death Hunts is a concise explosion of death, thrash, and a sprinkle of groove that sets out to annihilate your ears whichever style they're using. Sort of a hypothetical middle ground between the hi-octane fury of The Haunted's recent endeavours and the more melodic tendencies of Allegaeon, albeit more devoted to frontal aggression, and propelled by a powerhouse of a drummer. Some songs certainly go by too fast for their own good, but make sure to reach the better back half of the album, either for the flat-out ferocious cuts like 'I Am The Master' and 'Raise The Level' or the slightly groovier 'Freedom Is the Life' and 'Emptiness'. Is this what people call a 'gym album'? Probably – I even felt like I was growing a decent full beard towards the end of it.
-Greg

Hyena - About Rock And Roll
Dying Victims Production

Heavy metal from South America is always special, so when I saw that Hyena, a band from Peru, was releasing a new album and on Dying Victims, I instantly knew I would like it and boy oh boy was I right! Like a ceviche this album is bright, zesty, fresh and filling. Catchy riffs, fast and precise drumming, groovy bass and a solid vocal performance from El Sucio where he summons his inner Rob Halford (quite successfully I might add) with all the super high pitched "aaaaaaaah", you can want. The harmonizing dual guitar melodies here are full of emotions and sounding so crisp and organic. If you like pure heavy metal, this is 38 minutes that will pass so quickly you will hit replay instantly.
-Raphael

Cytotoxin - Biographyte
Blood Blast Distribution

Although tech-death is my wheelhouse, I have admittedly not "gotten into" Cytotoxin, despite being familiar with them and knowing they're a household name in the subgenre. I don't have much of a reason for it. I know they're good, based on the people in my circles that recommend them, and the amount of praise they get from style aficionados, but I just haven't taken the time to sit down and really digest a full album. Chalk it up to the classic "too many bands, not enough time" dilemma I guess.

Anyways, consider this mini-review a personal vendetta for neglecting these German masters of zippy sweeps and Chernobyl-themed brutality. They've got a bit of everything that makes the style great and a frequent destination for my ears: Necrophagist's penchant for verse riffs and solos that are acrobatic and impossible to play, Gorod's affinity for off-kilter elegance, tastefully incorporated breakdowns that will make even the most stoic of listeners fight invisible ninjas in the mosh pit, and a roaring vocalist with stupidly low tones (think Disentomb). As I mentioned, I'm new to the band, so I don't know if this a drop in quality from their previous work, or their best release yet - but based on how much I'm enjoying this, I'm inclined to think it's closer to the latter than the former.
-Nate

Dormant Ordeal - Tooth And Nail
Willowtip Records

Nothing dormant here, this is 47 minutes of tight riffs with a touch of dissonance, mesmerizing atmospheres, precise drumming and bestial angry vocals reminiscent of 2000 era Behemoth. Speaking of their Polish comrades, comparisons are inevitable of course, both playing in the same unholy blackened sandbox but Dormant Ordeal are bringing more technical aspects, making their songwriting more engaging in my humble opinion. The combination of furious sounding barks, relentless drumming and that touch of dissonance makes it sound extra evil. That being said, it's not just mindless brutality, the drumming is full of subtleties, with plenty of extra ghost notes on the cymbals and in the rare occasions where they slow down, the drums can take a back seat and enhance the atmosphere. Chason Westmoreland (known for his drumming in the Canadian deathcore band Brand of Sacrifice) truly outdid himself here. Speaking of atmosphere, while not as central as in bands like Ulcerate, you can clearly hear the similarities between the bands. The technicality doesn't overshadow the overall emotional aspect of this music. I feel a great sadness being expressed, it comes out in some of the riffs and solos, especially towards the end. Overall, it's a great experience and can I just add that the lack of cringe is much appreciated (not talking about anyone here… Nergal)
-Raphael

Final Dose - Under The Eternal Shadow
Wolves Of Hades

Billed as a fusion of black metal and punk, due to the d-beat driven velocity of their exhilarating noise, realistically, the balance is heavily weighted in favour of the former, taking the listener back to a world in which the monochromatic aesthetic of Darkthrone and mid-90s Marduk had not yet been supplanted by shoegaze influences, and the only thing that mattered was which one of the first three Bathory albums was your personal favourite. Although Final Dose's sound may be (intentionally) primitive, the immediacy of their power-chord riffing, and the throat-shredding feral vocal delivery of Bruno Fusco, is totally compelling, the listener encouraged to emulate the band's obvious commitment to filth and depravity. Even across a suitably short run-time, Final Dose find some room for experimentation and variety, with the black-ambient interlude of 'Servant' adding layers of atmospheric mystique, and post-punk guitar leads liberally sprinkled across the excellent 'Wretched'. The British black metal scene only continues to grow, and Final Dose are the much-needed middle-finger to the atmospheric sophistication of many of the bands leading the charge, taking their own, more direct route, to hell.
-Benjamin

METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH

Kardashev - Alunea

10: Kardashev - Alunea
Metal Blade Records

Named after the Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev (which is famous for the Kardashev scale that defines type I, II and III civilizations), they mix soft atmospheres and melodies with the brutality of deathcore, creating a sound truly out of this world, that many call "deathgaze". Their music is all about layers, Mark Garrett's soft and vulnerable clean vocals layered with his powerful death growls, banshee shrieks and super varied instrumentation, going from crushing deathcore to lush and soothing post-metal. Coupled with a pristine production enabling these rich layers of sound to be perfectly audible, making you discover something new with each new listen. Kardashev creates such unique and powerful music, demonstrating yet again that they have carved and are sitting on top of their own niche subgenre.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.2/10

Warfield - With The Old Breed

9: Warfield - With The Old Breed
Napalm Records

German thrash that focuses its themes on what worship the old breed of teutonic legends that came before them but still bring in a ton of youthful energy? Yes please! The first thing that you'll notice is Johannes Clemens' vocals, piercing shrieks that explodes with a raw and savage energy, coupled with the occasional gang vocals, it will pump you up to thrash alone in your apartment! Musically as relentless as the vocals, it does not slow down, with a barrage of riffs, technical solos and a drummer that must be on speed! They do sometimes take their time, like on the 7 minutes "GASP (Gather At Suffering's Peak)" which is a song that describes a mustard gas attack (get it, gasp) and where they brilliantly take their time to establish a sinister atmosphere. The album ends with the song "With The Old Breed", which begins with a small, super-fast drum solo and then never takes their foot off the pedal. All in all, this is a superb sounding, old school teutonic thrash album, I honestly have no notes, it's thrash the way it's supposed to be, fast, aggressive and with virtuoso musicians.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10

Tomarum - Beyond Obsidian Euphoria

8: Tomarum - Beyond Obsidian Euphoria
Prosthetic Records

After releasing one of the most bombastic, emotionally resonant, and ambitious offerings of 2022 with Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons, Tomarum had made their mark in the greater pantheon of modern extreme metal - but after an album like that, where do you go next?

After 3 years of deliberation, we finally have our answer. No longer is this band a spunky up-and-comer - they're here to prove they have the artistry and vision to comfortably hang among the big dogs. Touring with Inferi appears to have boosted their proclivity for acrobatic guitar lines - the opening of "Shed This Erroneous Skin" and many of the verses in "In Search Of The Triumph Beyond" have a tech-melodeath flavour in their acrobatics. There's still an undercurrent of modern black metal that permeates this, but it's been reduced in favour of more bombastic prog and ethereal diversions. They've taken significant steps to create a distinct, unique, but no less Tomarum-y album with Beyond Obsidian Euphoria. This could also be the byproduct of adding more cooks in the kitchen - Ash In Realms was mostly Kyle Walburn and Brandon Iacovella's work filled out with session musicians, whereas this album features second guitarist Matt Longerbeam and drummer Chris Stropoli, both of whom have dedicated their blood and sweat to this band on tour. You get less of a "uber-talented fanboy" vibe and more of a "seasoned veteran band" feeling.

All of that being said - is this a better album than its predecessor? Do I want to listen to it more? That's what really matters…and as of right now, I would say based on sheer surface appeal, I prefer Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons just a tad. That album had a way of forcing you to listen to 10-minute behemoth songs repeatedly like they were pop hits. However, it's worth noting that this is not the kind of music that you can make a thorough assessment on immediately. Beyond Obsidian Euphoria is a monster, 69-minute album that covers a ton of ground, and it's a more detailed, mature and multi-faceted piece of music - so it's entirely possible that time will have me gravitating to this album more. Whatever your assessment of one compared to the other, this album is a mandatory listen for fans of Warforged, Enslaved, Fallujah, Ne Obliviscaris and Inferi.
-Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10

The Riven - Visions Of Tomorrow

7: The Riven - Visions Of Tomorrow
Dying Victims Productions

Pure melody and catchiness is the name of the game on Visions Of Tomorrow the latest album of rock heroes, The Riven, with pure rock'n'roll anthems that are scientifically designed to immediately take over your brain and stay there for a while. Totta Ekebergh's vocal performance is awe-inspiring, reminding me of the Canadian legend Geddy Lee but with even more range and a catchy quality that serves the abundance of infectious and at times, down right emotional chorus. Arnau Diaz and Joakim Sandegård dueling guitars are constantly harmonizing and offering us solos after solos of the highest technicality and musicality. Max Ternebring (bass) and Elias Jonsson (drums) provide the rhythmic backbone of the sound and do a particularly good job of setting a certain atmosphere when the band slows down and give us these short, more psychedelic breaks. Paired with an impeccable old school and organic production, this album will be on repeat in my home for a long time!
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10

Pagan Altar - Never Quite Dead

6: Pagan Altar - Never Quite Dead
Dying Victims Productions

Terry Jones's tragic passing in 2015 made many believe Pagan Altar would never get back up yet, here we are, proving the Altar is indeed not quite dead. First off, Brendan Radigan operates in a similar register, a kind of nasally, high pitch singing that is not only an attempted copy but brings something new. All of that being said, it is still undoubtably Pagan Altar, Alan Jones's guitar is still a huge part of the sound, his doomy and full of hooks riffs are still dominating the sound and trust me, you get a lot for your money on Never Quite Dead. "Saints And Sinners" begins on a strong note with a hell of a catchy riff and vocal chorus, proving on the get go Brendan was a superb choice to continue Pagan Altar's journey. Madame M'Rachel's Grave brings an infectious old school riff that will bury itself in your brain for days. Also, incredible drumming by Andy Green on this one in particular. The slow-paced riffs of "The Dead's Last March" bring delicious gloomy vibes to the song and is followed by a beautiful folky acoustic guitar interlude that transitions to "Kismet", the epic 9 minutes closer with a satisfying build up and impeccable solo. So, it's safe to say Pagan Altar are not dead and made a notable comeback. It is always a pleasure to see veterans thrive like this, late in their career, take a tragedy in their lives and make what they do best, creating art and sharing it with the world.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10

Diabolizer - Murderous Revelations

5: Diabolizer - Murderous Revelations
Dark Descent / Me Saco Un Ojo

Mustafa Gürcalioğlu is a RIFF KING. I don't know how many more albums he has to release until you get the point, but love him or love him, between his half a dozen bands he maintains a steady output of about one blood-pumping masterpiece per year.

Diabolizer is perhaps the most straightforward and modern of his projects, and Murderous Revelations trims a bit of the midpaced groove work for a visceral, straight-for-the-throat attack, while still keeping enough dynamic variety to ensure it doesn't become a faceless blur. The magic of Mustafa is that a song starts up and you immediately know it's him, but where exactly he'll take you on his riff rollercoaster is a mystery that slowly unfolds, remaining a thrilling experience throughout. Where Engulfed opts for a bit more Swedeath-y melody, Hyperdontia takes the old-school route, and Decaying Purity (RIP) aims for maximum brutality, Diabolizer is…the most Mustafa-ish Mustafa project. Catchy without a reliance on melody, an unbelievably thick guitar tone that somehow makes room for the other instruments to shine as needed, and an unrelenting approach that simultaneously never allows you to get bored. Murderous Revelations has everything that makes this Turkish wonder one of my favorite modern metal guitarists.
-Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10

Fractal Universe - The Great Filters

4: Fractal Universe - The Great Filters
Napalm Records

This is…way too catchy for a prog-death album. There's a certain nasally quality to the vocalist but it helps to really staple the choruses into your brain, the hint of technicality provides the contrast that makes the more restrained moments hit harder. This is the first time I've fully dove into a Fractal Universe album - there's no reason why I avoided them for this long, I like Rivers of Nihil, Alluvial and Obscura as much as the next guy, and I hear a lot of that same strain of prog here. For a tech-head that occasionally wants something a little more relaxing where you don't have to think too much while it's on, this is perfect. I found myself reaching for this album on quick car trips more than anything else the past month, and now I just keep coming back to it because I can't get the choruses out of my head. This is as close to prog death is going to get to having pop hooks and I am HERE for it.

The lyrics and concept behind this album are great as well (something I rarely say), and it adds an extra memorable touch to the earworm sections.
-Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.6/10

Ancient Death - Ego Dissolution

3: Ancient Death - Ego Dissolution
Profound Lore Records

Right at the beginning you can tell this album is going to be special, it sounds super old school but then the groove hits and already it sounds modern. Continuing the modern vibe is the bright sounding guitars of the technical solo and then everything slows down a bit and becomes quieter bringing a tranquil almost warm atmosphere before punching you in the face with a blast beat, turning the death metal back on 11. "Breathe - Transcend (Into the Glowing Streams of Forever)" is a song that takes its time to establish a thick gloomy atmosphere even adding the delicate clean singing of Jasmine Alexander. Cleans in death metal, especially OSDM, is an interesting choice but here it adds a lot of character. She once again uses her delicate cleans on "Echoing Chambers Within The Dismal Mind", contrasting beautifully with her truly savage growls. Other notable mentions is the rhythm section, tasty drum fills and groovy bass lines are everywhere, for a first album, this is quite the achievement. Creating death metal that sounds truly unique, mixing atmospheres and touches of melody in an otherwise raw package.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.8/10

Allegaeon - The Ossuary Lens

2: Allegaeon - The Ossuary Lens
Metal Blade Records

Allegaeon has constantly been one of my favorite bands since their 2010 debut Fragments Of Form And Function. Their signature blend of technical melodic death metal always hit the bullseye of my musical taste. In 2015, when Ezra Haynes decided to call it quits with the band, I was sad to see him go but the band quickly announced Riley McShane would take vocal duty and for the next three albums, Allegaeon continued evolving, adding more and more progressive elements in their overall sound, Riley adding more varied vocals to their sound, I really loved his cleans, it added a new melodic dimension to the music. So, in 2022, when he announced he was stepping down after the masterpiece that was Damnum, I was again really sad but then they announced Ezra Haynes was coming back and I was super intrigued, would they go back to the sound they had for their first three album or continue on their newest expansion of sounds and influences? The album begins with a short classical guitar introduction that quickly transitions to a classic Allegaeon banger, full of melodic hooks and technical solos. "Driftwood" begins with their traditional technical guitar wizardry and then, the glorious chorus hits, with Ezra's powerful and extremely catchy cleans, showing us that they are still embracing their newer sound. The rest of the album is classic Allegaeon bangers after bangers that shows that Ezra continued evolving as a vocalist and musically, they still give us little bonuses like classical guitars sprinkled in two other songs and the triumphant "Wake Circling Above", a song that begins with a notably slower tempo and features a clean vocal chorus sung by Michael Stancel, who's been playing guitars in the band since 2014 and holy hell, we need to continue hearing him sing, what a voice! I'm not sure I like it as much as Damnum, the Opeth influences are much less present but still, I would put it pretty high in their already pretty flawless discography.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 9/10

Messa - The Spin

1: Messa - The Spin
Metal Blade Records

I'm at a loss for words to accurately describe the rich musical and emotional experience that is The Spin by Italian psych doom band Messa. Starting with retro synths accelerating, with Sara's siren voice soon taking center stage, "Void Meridian" begins this album showcasing the band's ability to blend sounds and textures ranging from post-punk to bluesy doom with a chorus that gives me chills every time. The low rumble of a heavy doom riff is contrasted by the pure light that is Sara's angelic voice. Makes me feel things inside! Carrying on, "Fire On The Roof" reveals the pure musical genius of the band, using a buildup structure, it takes its time to establish a smooth atmosphere before a big musical release in the form of a catchy riff paired with the grandiose voice of Sara singing: fireeeeee ooon theeee roooooof in both an emotional and just incredibly catchy way. Speaking of emotions, "Immolation" begins with Sara softly signing with a piano culminating with an impressive guitar solo. "The Dress" uses a similar build up structure taking its time to establish that smooth atmosphere before releasing that tension with a heavy riff and that divine voice, I swear the notes this woman can reach will pierce your soul and touch your heart. Speaking of smooth atmospheres, they throw in a complete jazz break, with trumpets courtesy of Michele Tedesco, giving so much personality to the song before, yet again, a full release of tension with the final riff and guitar solo. "Thicker Blood" ends the album on the highest note possible, the longest song on the album, clocking in at 8 minutes and 45 seconds, it takes its time to slowly build up alternating slow and heavy doom riffs with minimalistic sections of Sara's voice and slowly becoming faster, even throwing in fast double kick drums in short bursts. Then, the final section begins, a mid-paced, repeating riff with such a mesmerizing groove. After a few minutes, out of nowhere, Sara lets out a few black metal screams before the music becomes slower and slower and comes to a complete halt thus ending this masterpiece. It's difficult to truly explain when an album just has "it", Messa has always been special, thinking outside the box and incorporating all sorts of influences but on The Spin, they refined their sound, making the album shorter, incorporating a good dose of gothic rock, making it more "accessible" and making each song on the album single worthy while still being a cohesive package, flowing seamlessly. Another noteworthy thing would be the massive boost in production, having signed to Metal Blade Records, they got a well-deserved boost in financial means and it shows. Although it's kind of early to be speaking of the AOTY contender, I know for a fact Messa is going to finish high on the list.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 9.8/10