In the realm of metal, March 2026 was a month of diverse and captivating releases, each offering a unique journey through the depths of darkness and the heights of melody. The month's offerings were a testament to the genre's ability to blend the extreme with the ethereal, the harsh with the haunting, and the fast with the furious. As an avid listener, I was enthralled by the sheer variety and the emotional depth each album brought to the table.
One of the standout releases was Belgium's Ethereal Darkness with their second album, Echoes. The album is a monolithic statement in melodic doom-death, weaving together enthralling and melancholic tapestries that ensnare the sadboi in its embrace. The opening 11-minute magnum opus sets the tone for the entire album, dunking the listener in the darkness and forcing them to love the negative emotions. Echoes is a large-scale dose of majestic, mighty, and miserable doom, and its impact as a grandiose mood piece is still being felt months later. In my opinion, Ethereal Darkness is about to get a lot more attention in the metalverse, and they deserve it. They have crafted a sumptuous feast for the ears and mind, and I can see myself spending a lot of time with this album over the next few months.
Another notable release was The Silver's Looking Glass of Hymnal Blue. Made up of members of Horrendous and Crypt Sermon, The Silver specializes in a blend of atmospheric Goth, post, black, and progressive influences. Their sophomore outing finds them honing their sound and tightening up how the various elements work together. The overall balance that the band finds here is what makes the album such a pleasure to drink in. There's a sense of grand melody and theatricality to the material, but this is still extreme music with jagged edges that can draw blood. Harsh and clean vocals collide as the music rises and falls in intensity, with creative ideas dotting the landscape. In my perspective, The Silver's welcome return suggests this project is here for the long haul.
Finally, Hellripper's Coronach was a thrilling return to the fray. The blackened speed maniacs roared back with their Venom-meets-Motorhead – Darkthone brand of lightning insanity. The thrashy fury and straight-ahead attitude spice the technically sharp guitar work, and the all-gas-no-brakes mentality drives things off a cliff into a funeral pyre. However, it isn't all just crash and burn here despite the vibrant punk energy undergirding the material. If lethargy creeps in or your mouth runs dry from a chronic deficit of Vitamin R, just take one to two doses of Coronach (by ear) and wait for Hellripper's restorative fix to kick in. In my view, Coronach is a cheap speed thrill for sale!
March 2026 was a month of diverse and captivating releases, each offering a unique journey through the depths of darkness and the heights of melody. The month's offerings were a testament to the genre's ability to blend the extreme with the ethereal, the harsh with the haunting, and the fast with the furious. As an avid listener, I was enthralled by the sheer variety and the emotional depth each album brought to the table. The releases from Ethereal Darkness, The Silver, and Hellripper were a reminder of the power of metal to evoke a wide range of emotions and to offer a unique listening experience.
