Six in the Inbox this week, straight from the Bandcamp feed. And for once the first item needs no introduction, just a double take.
AVRAK — AVRAK
Norway · Heavy Metal · Peaceville
The new band of Ted Skjellum. Yes, that Ted Skjellum: Nocturno Culto, one half of Darkthrone. Founded in 2023 with guitarist Anders Hegna, who also handles the vocals because Ted declared from day one he would not. Per the label, a hook-laden, doom-laced heavy rock and metal debut with Terje Kråbøl on drums, out 9 October. Darkthrone men do not form side bands lightly. This goes to the front of the listening pile.
Manes — To Burn Is To Shine
Norway · Avant-garde Metal · Avantgarde Music
Announced for 27 November: the sixth album from the Trondheim shapeshifters, their first in eight years. Seven tracks about psychological collapse and social decay, with fire as the connecting image, and a guest list pulled from half the Norwegian underground (Djevel, Vemod, Whoredom Rife, Atrox). The single Stones in Your Pockets (Nearly Swimming) is up now. Eight years of silence, ended on the label that understands bands like this. Norwegian avant-garde never really sleeps.
Hippotraktor — Annihilist
Belgium · Progressive Post-Metal · Self-released
Mechelen’s progressive post-metal engine, out since 2 October. Belgian heaviness usually gets filed under the Kortrijk and Gent schools. Hippotraktor builds its own lane: groove-heavy, modern, precise. Proud to see this on the feed, and prouder that it needs no label to land.
Urzirkel — In Silbernen Sprachen
Germany · Atmospheric Black Metal · Vendetta Records
Three quarters of Toadeater under a new banner, out 9 October on Vendetta. Northern German black metal sung in silver tongues, built per the band on hymns of earth, blood and divine ruin. German-language black metal keeps proving our native-language thesis: the mother tongue cuts deeper.
Détresse — Misères
Canada · Atmospheric Black Metal · Vendetta Records
The second Vendetta release of the same day, tagged métal noir québécois: the Québec school of black metal that treats misery as craft. Out 9 October. One label dropping two atmospheric black metal records on one Friday is either confidence or a dare. I am listening to both.
Rhynn — King Of Nothing
Avant-garde Metal · Avantgarde Music
The second Avantgarde Music announcement for 27 November, next to Manes. Tagged across black, death and doom, which from this label usually means the bins are about to fail again. No country given, no history offered. Sometimes the Inbox is exactly this: a name, a date, and curiosity.
Heard something we missed? One reader, one album: send it in. And if a band is reading this: the Inbox invitation stands. Maidenhead came in through that door. Trivan came in through the mail. You could be next.