We’re started the year inebriated and blackened, from the Polish to Singaporean metal scenes. Every month, there is an overwhelming amount of heavy, extreme, and beautiful metal albums released from every region of the world.
We’ve curated the most notable records dropping in January…
Bronze Tier: Metal Album of the Month – January 2025
Maw
The Humble Collapse
Released via Argonauta Records
Based in Kraków, Poland
Across land and sea, the Palm desert sound has migrated all the way from Southern California to Eastern Europe. While very much so influenced by the early stoner rock / doom metal sound, Maw also dabbles in synth and atmosphere, on a King Crimson or recent Blood Incantation level. I’m hoping to hear these two styles merge more cohesively in future material, but for now, The Humble Collapse is the perfect accompaniment to your warm, mellow high.
FFO: Kyuss, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Sleep
Silver Tier: Metal Album of the Month – January 2025
Rudra
Antithesis
Released via Awakening Records
Based in Singapore
Carrying the Singaporean death / black / folk metal torch since the 90’s, Rudra arrives at their eleventh full-length album, with nonetheless invigorated, raw aggression. As impactful as mortar, the tracklisting is pointed and offensive, from opener “Annihilate Diversity” to closing piece “Massacre Duality.” While soaked in bitter vigor, Antithesis still breaks free from the noise with their unique Vedic metal sound and lyrical themes inspired by the Sanskrit text Dashashloki.
FFO: Al-Namrood, Melechesh, Venom
Gold Tier: Metal Album of the Month – January 2025
Patriarkh
Prophet Ilja
Released via Napalm Records
Based in Białystok, Podlaskie, Poland
There’s few musical moments that evoke a religious experience for me personally – Sunn O)))‘s “Alice,” Nine Inch Nails‘ “A Warm Place,” Type O Negative‘s “Wolf Moon.” Branching off from the Eastern Orthodox Church black metal Batushka project, founding member Барфоломей (Bartłomiej Krysiuk) heralds the new Patriarkh flag, using grandiose black and doom metal to bring forth, quite literally, a religious experience.
FFO: Behemoth, Gaerea, Rotting Christ
Honorable Mentions
Tria Prima
Three Primes of Alchemy
Self-released
Based in Zhytomyr, Ukraine
Ukrainian experimental / extreme metallers unite for this supergroup of Ruslan Hrytsiuta (Mankind Wrath), Serhii D.D. Bondar (Cosmic Jaguar), and Yury Sinitsky (Violent Omen) – summoning a demonic, gothic, thrashy, doomy, death metal three-track EP worthy of the underworld.
Available on Bandcamp with bonus Asphyx cover
Belle Morte
Pearl Hunting
Released via WormHoleDeath
Based in Minsk, Belarus
While the core of this symphonic metal group resides in Belarus, their sophomoric release brings together musicians from Ukraine, Poland, Mongolia, Indonesia, Peru, Japan, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, and Finland for an extremely commendable genre-fusion collaboration. Open your expectations for the likes of Celtic music and Japanese folklore to bouzouki, morin khuur, duduk, harp, pan pipes, ocarina, gamelan, lute, hurdy-gurdy, oud, saz, shamisen, etc.
Watch the “Exorcism” music video featuring Ulziisaikhan Khoroldamba