A Debut Worth Betting On
Most weeks the top of this list goes to a name you already know. Not this one. The record I’ve had on repeat is a debut from a Denver band most of you have never heard of, and it’s outranking a Napalm release and a death metal institution to get there. Good problem to have.
#1 — Entropist — The Vision (Independent) | Progressive / Technical Death Metal
Denver’s Entropist drop their debut full-length, and it’s the most exciting thing on this list by a wide margin. Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist) produced it, and you can hear that lineage in how the record moves: cinematic sweep and technical detail that never tips into showing off. Metal needs more bands working the progressive and technical space who actually have something interesting to say, and these guys do. The album cover is sick too. Start to finish, this is the one to beat.
#2 — Speedslut — Cimbrian Rites (Listenable Records) | Speed Metal
Danish speed metal with zero interest in reinventing anything, just leather, velocity, and riffs sharp enough to draw blood. Sometimes that’s the entire point.
#3 — Amberian Dawn — Temptation’s Gates (Napalm Records) | Symphonic Power Metal
Finland’s long-running symphonic outfit doing exactly what they do, big Nightwish-school theatrics for anyone who wants an orchestra behind their metal. Polished, reliable, unbothered by trends.
#4 — Solystalgia — Solystalgia (Nameless Grave Records) | Death / Doom Metal
A debut with funeral doom in its bones, slow and patient and crushing. For when you want the riffs to take their time burying you.
#5 — Nunslaughter — Satanic Chaos Legions (BLKIIBLK) | Death Metal
Almost forty years deep and the Cleveland blasphemers still sound like a bar fight, fourteen tracks of death-thrash-punk filth that get in and get out. No notes.
Five records, one Friday, and a debut sitting on top. Go listen.