News: MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - September 2026 : MetalBite

MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - September 2026

September - Top 10

Welcome back to MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month! The end of the year deluge of albums is here and it's got us falling behind as we try to keep up with the tidal wave before the year-end lists start to creep in…no time to waste, gotta get back up to speed.

-Nate

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Skumstrike - Flawless Intrigue From Hell
Dying Victims Productions

Blackened speed metal is perhaps one of the most restrictive subgenres. If one chooses to play in the style, you've gotta be exceptional at one thing and be okay with having a pure, singular focus on that thing. Skumstrike understood the assignment - the drums are either fast skank beats or midpaced thrashy grooves, the vocals are a ragged, venomous snarl, and the riffs are heavily cribbed from the playbooks of Slayer and Abigail. If you're expecting anything other than that, prepare to be disappointed, but even as someone who's picky about this style, Flawless Intrigue From Hell goes down easily. The pacing is really good - they ordered the tracks so that you get a groovy break right about when your brain was going to tap out from the speed, and the meat and potatoes of the album - balls to the wall thrash - can rival the intensity of black/death even with some of the technical limitations of their punkish delivery. If you don't want to think too much and need some rippin' speed metal to crank really loud in the car, this is a solid option.
-Nate

Fluisteraars - Jacht Der Mysteriën
Eisenwald

Though Drudkh's recipe is, in theory, simple, very few bands are able to recreate what makes them such an alluring and captivating listen - you have to do a lot with a little. Fluisteraars have it down. Jacht Der Mysteriën locks you into a hypnotic trance, with the drums having a steady pocket while still being clearly human and organic. They'll ride one powerful musical sentence for a long time, but by elevating you to a place where time feels irrelevant, it's never boring. The vocals serve as a guide through the torrential blizzard - monochromatic, sure. But it's never monotonous, with the transitions so seamless and flowing you zone back in when you suddenly realize you're in a different movement. Since the earliest incarnations of the genre, atmospheric black metal has an ability to teleport you to a different world with only a few brush strokes - perhaps the magic is how they hook you in with an entrancing melody and let your mind fill in the gaps.

Side note - this is the band's sixth album, and it's only the first I'm hearing of them? Definitely time to change that. Wonderful stuff.
-Nate

Worldsucks - Scorn For The U.S.A.
Independent / Phameless Records

I discovered this band in 2022 when they were opening for a bunch of cool bands. I vividly remember that day because it was on the day that the corrupt supreme court overturned Roe v. Wade. They opened the show with something like "solidarity with all the women whose rights were taken away today." Right there I became a fan of these thrash punks, and I am so thrilled to review their first full length. They play a kind of aggressive metal punk with hints of powerviolence, it's the perfect vehicle for ideologically charged lyrics. As stated on their bandcamp: "The world sucks—but it doesn't have to." This perfectly sums up our stupid reality of corrupt oligarchs that make life miserable for the rest of humanity and that we could all collectively change that if we were to organize. Musically, this will please a large array of heavy music fans, from hardcore punk to thrash. The dash of powerviolence adds to the urgency of this music, abrupt tempo changes, fast blastbeats with a raw and crisp production, and lyrics proudly to the left. Songs like "Sky Over Gaza" tries to bring attention to the now three years of genocide: "No place to shelter Schools and hospitals bombed Architects of slaughter Receiving bipartisan applause This shit ain't complicated!" genocide is indeed not complicated and despite this, it gets approval from every elite. "You're Next" highlights the nonsense of nationalism and how no one is safe until all are free, from Gaza to Ndakina: "Politicians lie And politicians kill What they do over there They'll do to you Do you feel humanity? Or only for your nationality?" The album is a short punch in the face (positive) and will leave you angry, hopefully angry enough to try and make changes to the world.
-Raphael

The Ocean Collective - Solaris
Pelagic Records

I haven't kept up with this band's recent exploits, although I am a huge fan of everything up to and including Pelagial. As such, I'm not sure if the comparably lighter sound is a sudden diversion, or an ongoing, steady progression in sound. As it stands, Solaris has almost as much in common with Dream Theater as it does Cult of Luna at this point. Whether that is a good thing or not is a matter of personal taste, but I will say that the moments of monolithic power - those huge riffs that hit you like a truck made entirely of obsidian - are absent here, with more emphasis on weaving together gentler and more accessible textures. Perhaps the style shift corresponds with the change in vocalist after the departure of Loic Rossetti after 16 years? Maybe not - I had to double check that he didn't sing on this album, Enrico Tiberi is a bit less gravelly but still remarkably similar.

This is still worth a listen for the band's well-established fanbase, and maybe i'm just a grouchy old fart who prefers the old sound and refuses to evolve with the band - but as solid as this s, I can't help but feel it's missing a certain "je ne sais quois"
-Nate

Meurtrier - Messe De Fer
Jawbreaker Records

Québec city's cultural exports are of varied quality and impact. The infamous "radio poubelle" (garbage radio) spews right-wing nonsense daily and their black metal scene is, let's say, far from socialist (except the national type). Enter newcomer speed metal band Meurtrier, with "one objective: to resurrect the fierce spirit of classic heavy and speed metal through a distinctly French-Canadian lens." They open, wasting no time with an epic solo that is technical, melodic and fast, which perfectly represents what you'll get on the rest of the album. Mastering crazy fast drumming, guitars and bass lines, they are as much comfortable when slowing down. They prove this everywhere but especially on the great song "Exil" , the record's only ballad (not the thing I usually enjoy with my speed metal but this one works). The slower parts only enhance and highlight the incredible speed on Messe De Fer. Expect a lot of high pitched "aaaaaaaaaah", galloping melodies, groovy bass lines and pure speed. Excellent debut from a promising new band.
-Raphael

Witchburner - Black Raging Flames
Diabolic Might Records

Sometimes good things take time, like the new album by German black-thrashers Witchburner. 13(!) years after their last full-length, they torture us with "Black Raging Flames". You can still hear their German origin (also according to my friend Felix who is more knowledgeable in the genre). Speed, thrash and sometimes black metal to make a great experience. They arre technically nuanced, with lots of little surprises to be found.

Musically this is a cool throwback into the 80s, quoting bands such as Destruction, Sodom, Kreator and it is in good company with the latest Cruel Force, Exumer or Witching Hour.
-Michael

Cartilage - Operating Altar
Everlasting Spew

If you like straightforward Cali deathgrind a la Exhumed and Impaled, this will be an easy thumbs up, but Cartilage also has a few more colors on the easel. The focus on sickly high croaks, more versatility in the drumming and a melodic undercurrent to accompany the treble-heavy production give this a distinct, but no less gore-soaked flavour.
-Nate

METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH

Space Chaser - Razorblade Bay

10: Space Chaser - Razorblade Bay
Testimony Records

I had some doubts that these German thrashers would survive the departure of their vocalist Siggi in 2023 - he was quite unique and an important part of the band. Leo Schacht's vocals are very (and I mean VERY) different from Siggi had. For some, it might take some time to get used to. I had some struggles with them at the beginning, because they are rougher and deeper than any of their previous work.

Otherwise this is really cool melodic thrash. It's occasionally mid-tempo, with gloomy atmosphere and casual gang shouts ("We Are The Night") with consistently fantastic guitar solos. Even if you need some time to adjust, if you like Municipal Waste, (old) Dust Bolt or Gama Bomb you'll be fine. The production is great, and overall I have next to no complaints about the fourth album from this group.
-Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10

Hanging Garden - Dream Death

9: Hanging Garden - Dream Death
Transcending Obscurity

While the production can feel a bit starchy, it only adds to the pleasant surprise when elegant, colorful riffwork flows out of its tapestry. The riffs on this are one part Neuraxis, one part Augury and a touch of mid-era Decrepit Birth. The songwriting reminds me of Stone Healer (who put out my AOTY in 2021) in that they merge corners of extreme metal that have no business flowing together this well. I do think getting a session/live drummer for this would have really taken it to the next level, but the programming isn't a major deterrent once you get locked into the peaks and valleys of the guitarwork, which constantly demand your attention. They draw you back into a journey that is equally as chaotic as it is gorgeously cathartic.
-Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 8.6/10

Krallice - Scour Order

8: Krallice - Scour Order
Profound Lore

Is this even metal anymore? Krallice have been operating in the margins of black metal for some time, and pull many elements of their sound from the sub-genre, but the way in which they mangle it into something altogether singular that sounds unlike metal made by anyone else, certainly begs the question. Composed for the highly-respected Roadburn Festival, Scour Order is the band's fifteenth full-length, and as ever, Colin Marston and his colleagues are responsible for something that almost defies description, in its dizzying, maddening maelstrom of poly-harmonic and contrapuntal guitar lines, eminently compelling despite the lack of hooks. Krallice have so many ideas, that they occasionally seem to be rushing to cram them into the individual songs, but there are enough stretches, such as the brilliant and rather Voivodian "Grievous Corrector", on which they allow themselves the indulgence to stretch out and breathe, injecting lush and dazzling melody (and some incredible drumming), to enable their music to ascend to a more rarefied level. Another highlight is "Unceasing Path", which is absolutely savage, pained vocals skimming like a stone across endlessly discordant tremolo that practically becomes psychedelic, before it slows to a doomy crawl, Autopsy, had they been raised on a diet of raw black metal and noisecore. "Indecipherable Deities" is brain-melting, with some elastic, almost jazz fusion bass-work lurking behind the guitar lines, lines which are not quite harmonising or playing the same melody, thereby creating a shape-shifting feel which is delightfully unpredictable, not unlike the soaring prog of the final title track, which delivers a sky-scraping conclusion to a fascinating record. It is metal, but not as we know it.
-Benjamin

MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10

Critical Defiance - Rivers Of Blood

7: Critical Defiance - Rivers Of Blood
Dying Victims Records

Viva la revolucion!

Starting with a tender intro of Greek goddesses playing harps the you can already feel the "Red Omen", and uncompromisingly brutal thrash follows in the next half an hour. "Innate To Kill" is a breathtaking lesson in violence that enables you to block out the new "thrash" releases by legacy bands like Exodus, Sodom or Kreator. This is what thrash metal was originally meant to be.

While this band was always solid this is their pinnacle so far, and you can tell they're hitting their peak - pound for pound they smoke the bands they likely look up to. Now the world needs another Mayhemic release so my thirst for superb thrash metal can stay quenched. These Chileans are back with a vengeance with their fourth studio album Rivers Of Blood, and it's as brutally furious as the title suggests.
-Michael

Chilean self-described violent thrash metal powerhouse Critical Defiance offers pure thrash with a blackened edge, reminiscent of an era when thrash became more, with blast beats, tremolo riffing and an absolutely savage vocal performance. "Rivers Of Blood" is slower but it adds to the heaviness and "Valparaíso" opens with a folky melody before launching in a dizzying whirlwind of technical riffing. They then pause a bit with acoustic guitars to then finish you off with a technical solo. The added acoustic guitars sprinkled throughout with the violent thrash gives a real south American character to the entire album and the short length makes for an endlessly replayable experience.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10

Sněť - V Bažinách Vědomí

6: Sněť - V Bažinách Vědomí
Me Saco Un Ojo Records / Dark Descent

Not much has changed in comparison to their debut album Mokvání V Okovech, but with this band that's good news. This will still satisfy all your dark, OSDM related desires. Dragging riffs, sick vocals, hellish pummeling drums and vibes that reach from the sickest Autopsy parts to Slayer riffs. Some slower melodies creep in, even some spoken word parts in "Ve Stínu Slunce".

V Bažinách Vědomí is like a slimy snail creeping down your throat after you were forced to swallow it. The superbly titled "Nekončící Koloběh Snění A Probouzení" has a great midpaced groove, starting off a little bit like a slam song but quickly evolving into some sick Autopsy/ Death-worship for a cool twist. And of course, there's furious, brutal tracks with pummeling drums ("Apokalyptický Smaragd Budoucí Doby" or "Dřevěný Kůl"). A little bit of everything to make this highly recommended to any OSDM fan!
-Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 9/10

Vulgar Mephitis - From Dust

5: Vulgar Mephitis - From Dust
Willowtip

Anything Willowtip puts out is an automatic listen for me, but I was initially curious as to why a band with a relatively small following got their seal of approval…and then I got about two minutes in. While we all wait eagerly for Disentomb to put out something new, this is about as good of a replacement as you get. They take the approach of writing a linear stream of snaking riffs, pinch harmonics and off-kilter slams that never repeat. The jarring shifts and intricate guitar work leave you unable to predict what's next, but eagerly anticipating something skull crushing. Disgorge isn't a bad comparable either, with the music mostly absent of melody aside from garnishes of an ominous, alien synth.

This isn't a common style for bands to attempt, and it's even less often that they're able to toe the line between technical mastery and pummeling brutality either. Hands down the best 2026 album in this style.
-Nate

MetalBite's Rating: 9/10

Epitaphe - III

4: Epitaphe - III
Aesthetic Death

A soft and dreamy guitar picking opens the album with subtle percussions and then "Windswept" opens with the full force of death metal, crushing the listener with blast beats and heavy riffs. The song is 16 minutes long, so expect plenty of surprises; jazzy breaks, soft cleans over beautiful guitars that are straight out of Opeth's "My Arms, Your Hearse". And then, the sublime saxophone comes in to add to the dark jazz atmospheres. And it's back to heavy riffs, à la "Deliverance" mixed with that sax. As a big Rivers of Nihil and Opeth fan, this song alone was able to sell me on this band. The next song is 14 minutes long and takes its time to build up from beautiful acoustic instrumental to crushing cavernous death/doom. This album is almost an hour long and is definitionally progressive and I don't know how else to say it, very French! The beautiful prog rock epic "Transient" offers a nice break before the crushing death/doom of "Liminal" with its atmospheric saxophone. Incredibly rewarding album that gets better at each listen. recorded and mixed by James LEONARD at Mémoire Mécanique Studio and Pentachrome Wave Studio, mastered by Greg CHANDLER at Priory Recording Studios, the album sounds rich and organic and with an amazing cover artwork by Petri ALA-MAUNUS, this will end up on many AOTY lists.
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 9.3/10

Ch'ahom - Anthropic Rites Of Sublimation

3: Ch'ahom - Anthropic Rites Of Sublimation
20 Buck Spin

Before going into this album, I did a quick browse through to see what people thought of it and to my dismay, they were talking about "war metal" which, to me, usually sounds like unlistenable noise. So, I pressed play and oh boy, I was not expecting this! Tribal rhythms and atmospheric pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican percussion introduce us to this crazy and dissonant ritualistic mix of raw black and death metal with complex progressive song structures. Yes, it gets chaotic but in a controlled and hyper precise way, to my prog/tech death fanboy's ass absolute delight! It's an onslaught of riff after riff and blastbeats, with a focus on groovy tribal breaks. With technical solos sprinkled throughout, we even get tasteful bass lines, and the drumming is incredible, diverse and highly technical. The tribal percussion and rhythmed cut through the dense extreme metal and their contrasting nature only enhanced each other. The album is short, only five songs and 29 minutes but with the last song being a prog epic of 11 minutes. A superb album that will please a large array of metal fans!
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 9.5/10

Sardonic Witchery - Hells Thorns Attack

2: Sardonic Witchery - Hells Thorns Attack
Firecum Records

A very mature, yet focused effort from Sardonic Witchery. Every song is like a hammer on an anvil forging pure fury. Lots of old Slayer can be found on "Hell's Thorns Attack". Many riffs sound a lot like "Show No Mercy" or "Hell Awaits", and some more traditional metal creeps into some of the songs (ex: "Ego Sum Rex Ignis Aeternus".)

This is the most energetic Sardonic Witchery has ever felt - maybe the new member gave them a shot in the arm. The smooth keyboards and Priest riffs on "Cult Of A Thousand Horns" are deadly and it probably fits great into their live set. "Raped By Horrendous Night" is a real banger with a catchy mid-tempo part. And the closer "Dark Moon Slaughter" is just.. wow. The whole track is just a wild ride through metal history.
-Michael

MetalBite's Rating: 9.5/10

Sigh - Goh-Ka

1: Sigh - Goh-Ka
Peaceville Records

The fact that I've never heard of this band before is a real sacrilege! Being a massive fan of everything weird and avant-garde, this Japanese band is tailor made for me. Better late than never, I guess. The album opens with "Kuso-shi 1, 2, and 3" that act as a good summary of what the next hour will bring you. Video game style synthesizers, epic orchestration and traditional Japanese instruments all blend with the metal parts seamlessly, creating a weird but completely coherent blend of modern and old before a clean vocal chorus. An epic prog solo and opera style vocals over blastbeats are but a few of many other highlights on this 9-minute song. To give an idea of how rich the sound is, you will hear an incredible variety of traditional instruments played by main man Mirai Kawashima which includes: Flute, Shinobue, Shakuhachi, Koto, Hichiriki, Taishōgoto, Sheng, Hulusi, Shruti Box, add proggy keyboards, all kind of weird synths, plus ridiculously catchy chorus and savage black metal and voilà, my new favorite band! "Unputenpu" is a prog metal masterpiece, with its upbeat tempo, ridiculously catchy chorus (it will be engraved in your head for days) and incredible musicianship, with none other than Mikael Åkerfeldt providing a great solo. Japan's Opeth and Ihsahn would be a good comparison. "Jinmenjushin" is a savage prog black banger and "Jigoku-Zoshi 2: Tokatsujigoku" is heavy in an epic black metal fashion while balancing complex prog elements. The final "Kuso-shi 8 and 9 / Mettaijakujo" is an epic prog final, clocking in at 11:24 minutes it combines all the avant garde flavors of the album with the thousand influences and different sounds and instruments with the imaginative extreme prog I adore. Overall, what an incredible journey, it's kin to an amazing anime, with action and emotional depth but in sonic form. It is one their 36 years career best in my opinion and is a must for any avant garde and prog fan!
-Raphael

MetalBite's Rating: 9.7/10