Lost in the Riffstorm 2025: Part 2

Metalcatto

We keep trying to catch up in the little time we have left. This time, I bring more hostile stuff, because I believe this wasn’t the strongest year in terms of pointless brutality (sad!), but that doesn’t mean we weren’t going to find some gems laying around. Which is why we’re going to talk about some good old aggressive Metal now and more!

Depravity – Bestial Possession: I’ve been a fan of Depravity for a while, so it’s great to see the band reaching its fullest potential on Bestial Possession. Yes, many bands try to be the heaviest outfit on the planet, but very few can achieve this level of consistency and entertainment. Some of the riffs here are tighter than the DMZ. If you’re a fan of Brutal Death Metal, you won’t necessarily be surprised, but you’ll absolutely appreciate how this album refuses to bore. It knows how to balance its ruthless nature. It’s that step between De Profundis and Cattle Decapitation (just embrace the loudness). So if you haven’t tried Depravity yet, it’s about time you prepare yourself for an onslaught easily competing for the most violent album of the year.

Kalaveraztekah – Nikan Axkan: Now this was a surprise. The things you find when you scout the deep underground… Kalaveraztekah is a mix of Death Metal and Aztec Folk that doesn’t bastardize the latter. It blends the styles in a way that complements those brutal riffs beautifully. And yet, the music has a playfulness that’s become rare in the genre. In fact, I’d dare say the creativity of this album brings me back to bands like Hell:On—where the folk elements enhance the Metal instead of serving as simple decoration. The band shines when the music gets more proggy. If anything, that’s what I want to see Kalaveraztekah explore in the future: go even wilder as they already do toward the end of the album. However, if something new is what you long for, Nikan Axkan is exactly that—an album that doesn’t sound like anything else.

Bianca – Bianca: I’ve got you here, right? Not everything we’re reviewing today is nonsensical violence—there’s room for haunting mysteries too. That’s what Bianca offers: a harrowing mix of Goth and Death/Black Metal that bends the rules between subgenres. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a cold, pitch-black night. It’s an experience that reminds us that even the most oversaturated niches can still evolve. All the common tropes of these styles are combined in a way that feels fresh and almost unsettling. Yes, the album lingers a bit too long, but those gorgeous clean vocal moments mixed with melodic aggression create something special. It’s like Cradle of Filth without the exploitation. What else do you need to get on board?

There you go! Another batch of great albums we almost missed. Stay tuned—more are coming!