2026 is already here! A new year means new releases waiting for us in the coming weeks, but while that happens, we can still indulge in all the outstanding albums from last year. In 2025, so many bands released new material that it was hard for journalists to cover everything, with great new albums announced weekly and concerts taking place almost every weekend. As a fan of the darker genres of metal (black, avant-garde, doom, Gothic rock, industrial, you name it), I consistently discovered fresh music throughout 2025, especially in the second half of the year. Some legendary metal bands returned to the public eye, and emerging bands began to gain international recognition, releasing albums that could establish them as future big names in the dark side of metal music. With time limited, I’ve compiled a brief list of the most notable recent albums in these genres that deserve attention—these bands are set to impress in 2026. Consider this list a way to recognize those works we couldn’t cover at release, plus a few special mentions from established artists expected to issue new music or tour this year.
The 3rd and the Mortal at CANDELABRUM FESTIVAL (2025). Photo by Hector Sanchez
REMINA
In my opinion, REMINA is one of the most promising acts in the Gothic doom genre. Blending haunting atmospheres with energetic riffs. Heike Langhans (ex-DRACONIAN), Mike Lamb (SOJOURNER), and Shayne Roos showcase their dark metal expertise throughout “The Silver Sea,” an album that pairs melancholic vocals with electronic elements for a unique sound. Released on October 24th, 2025, via Ghostbird Records/Avantgarde Music, fans of Heike‘s work with DRACONIAN will find her new direction rewarding, making this album ideal for those seeking both somber moods and lively energy. “The Silver Sea” is the perfect soundtrack for those days when you are in the mood to fall into a depression but still want the energy to keep up with daily chores.
NOVEMBRE
NOVEMBRE, an Italian band well recognized in the Gothic metal scene, returned after a decade-long break with “Words of Indigo.” Released on November 7, 2025, via Peaceville Records, the album sticks to the genre’s signature sound: slow tempos, soft guitar layers, and a dynamic contrast between clean male vocals and intense growls, all working together to reveal hope within darkness. A distinctive trait of NOVEMBRE is their use of both Italian and English lyrics, leveraging the romantic nature of the Italian language as a core musical element. Additionally, “Words of Indigo” features Ann-Mari Edverdsen—formerly of THE 3rd AND THE MORTAL—who lends her angelic soprano voice to “House of Rain,” making it one of the album’s standout tracks.
1914
1914 is an emerging black metal band from Ukraine, recognized for integrating death metal aggression with the atmospheric qualities of doom metal and the endurance characteristic of black metal. The group’s thematic focus centers on World War I, reflected in their name, which references the conflict’s inception. Their artistry demonstrates resilience and a pursuit of justice, likely influenced by the current challenges facing their home country. 1914 released the album “Viribus Unitis” on November 14, 2025, through Napalm Records, garnering considerable attention. Given the recent release, further live performances and single releases are anticipated.
HIEROPHANY
Formerly known as BLACK HATE, HIEROPHANY is a Mexican black metal band defining itself as a LITURGIC MANIFESTO, and trust me, they deliver a sound as divine as it can get! Inspired by old-school black metal and liturgical chants, the band’s raw music complements their all-black stage attire, evoking a ghostly ambiance that recalls a scene from a horror movie. HIEROPHANY released ”Tenebrario” on December 12, 2025, through Serpent Sun Records. As a very recent release, I look forward to seeing how their promotional tour will shape up in 2026.
NOVEMBER’S DOOM
Already well-known in the doom metal realm, the Americans NOVEMBER’S DOOM released “Major Arcana” on September 19, 2025, via Prophecy Productions. This band is the perfect balance between the gentle pace of doom metal and the energetic speed from black metal, so if you like slowness, but still some stamina pump, you are in for a treat with NOVEMBER’S DOOM. They are set to perform at Brutal Assault Festival in August, so additional dates will likely follow throughout the year.
BLUT AUS NORD
BLUT AUS NORD might be one of the most mysterious bands in contemporary black metal. Originally started as a solo endeavor by the French musician Vindsval in the early 1990s, the project gradually developed into a band. Each album of this band explores existential themes through both its lyrics and music. BLUT AUS NORD have taken avant-garde and black metal to the next level with their latest release “Ethereal Horizons,” which saw the light of day on November 28, 2025, via Debemur Morti Productions. I’m not sure how to describe “Ethereal Horizons,” but the phrase used by the band, “a journey far, far away,” is a legit outline. “Ethereal Horizons” blends an atmospheric ambiance with relentless black metal energy at its core, guiding listeners on a journey across light-years of cosmic creation.
MAWIZA
I’ll cheat a little bit this time; MAWIZA released their last album in July, so slightly outside the time frame of this article. Nonetheless, MAWIZA is a band worth cheating because they might be one of the most enigmatic acts you will come across in a long time! Imagine a setting where powerful groove metal fuses with guttural vocals delivered in Mapuzugun, the language of the Mapuche Nation. In the background, you hear flute melodies reminiscent of birdsong, accompanied by gentle male voices that evoke a spiritual atmosphere. Those are the elements in MAWIZA, a band blending their Native culture with extreme metal. Hailing from the depths of Abya Yala (also known as Latin America), MAWIZA released the album ÜI (Chant) on July 18, 2025, via Season of Mist, and it features 9 unearthly songs, finalizing this masterpiece with “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan,” a collaboration with Joe Duplantier (GOJIRA’s vocals), and a choir from their community. Together, they sing “Kimpayaymi tami ekuwael / Here you will learn to respect every form of life.” Such a chilling yet powerful statement. MAWIZA is set to perform in Chile in January and Midgardsblot Festival (Norway) in August, so hopefully, they will treat the rest of the world with their majestic music on tour.
MØRKET
MØRKET is a Finnish band whose character I’m not sure how to categorize; all I know is that they hooked me up with their bizarre personality. Using black metal as the main background music, juxtaposing it with punk rock, and having an image that resembles an indie band, they certainly deceive you with all these layers! To top it all off, they sing in Finnish and Swedish, so you are expected to have a good yet bizarre time while listening to them! (Unless you are fluent in these two languages) MØRKET released their last album, ”Del III: Dödsångestens fågelsång,” on October 3, 2025, via KHY Suomen Musiikki, and I would recommend it to any open-minded metalhead who is not afraid of music boundaries.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
NINE INCH NAILS
NINE INCH NAILS (NIN) oversaw the film TRON: ARES’ soundtrack this year, and even though it was a commissioned work, it can technically be considered a NIN album of its own. Issued on September 19, 2025, through Interscope Records, Walt Disney Records, and The Null Corporation, the release features 24 tracks that exemplify the trademark intense style associated with NINE INCH NAILS. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy this album when I first heard it. Since it’s mostly made up of instrumental pieces, it felt like it went on forever. However, I could still feel NIN there, on every synthesizer beat, with a few songs where Trent Reznor’s vocals pop up here and there. Besides this work, NIN were on tour in the USA last year, and with more live dates coming up, a new album might materialize any time in 2026.
THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL
Although this mythical band reunited for a handful of shows in 2025, they haven’t released new material or confirmed plans to do so. Nonetheless, as they will be on the road this year for some shows, we are eagerly waiting to see if they come up with new music. I, for one, am anxiously waiting for new material, hoping they will recreate in new tracks the serene sound they are known for.
BESEECH
As a metalhead who grew up in the early 2000s listening to Gothic metal, I freaked out when I learned BESEECH reunited last year! Well known in the Gothic rock scene, they embody a sound of melodic guitars intertwined with sweet female vocals and clean male voices. They had a discreet success in the 2000s until 2016, when they split up. On October 23, 2025, they re-released their already famous ABBA cover “Gimme gimme gimme” via Nuclear Blast. In all honesty, they couldn’t come back in a better fashion, because, well, who doesn’t love a catchy bop rebranded into metal music? Recently, BESSECH confirmed on their social media channels that they will have a comeback in 2026, so fingers crossed, both a tour and new music are fast approaching!
CHARON
Nobody saw this coming, but it happened: CHARON reunited for a Finnish tour in 2025! The combination of Juha Pekka Leppäluotto‘s grungy voice and some sweet yet deep sonic tunes made CHARON a reference name in Gothic rock until they split in 2011. The band will perform at ALLAS LIVE in Helsinki on August 14, 2026, and may debut new music alongside their latest single, “Fall of Angels.”
Written by Hector Sanchez
