In the heat of Summer, the heaviest of music arises. This past month boasted some truly top-tier, exceptional records, ranging from Latin America to Asia and East Europe.
Bronze Tier: Metal Album of the Month – June 2025
Sin Deliverance
Universe of Nightmares
Released via Lacerated Enemy Records
Based in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
Dripping in hellish excess, Sin Deliverance strives to overcome everyone standing in the modern deathcore scene. Their second full-length album, Universe of Nightmares, is more symphonic, brutal, technical, and blackened than anything your earholes have witnessed. Seriously, this album is insanity – but also will throw in a classical piano bridge mid-song.
FFO: Lorna Shore, Brand of Sacrifice, Angelmaker
‘Universe of Nightmares’ available on Bandcamp and CD
Silver Tier: Metal Album of the Month – June 2025
Sigh
I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV
Released via Peaceville Records
Based in Tokyo, Japan
With thirty five years under their belt as one of the most experimental Japanese metal acts (trust me, there’s plenty), frontman Mirai Kawashima, vocalist / saxophonist Dr. Mikannibal, and guitarist / bassist Nozomu Wakai re-record the 2007 infamously avant-garde masterwork – originally titled Hangman’s Hymn – Musikalische Exequien. A certainly different lineup than the original edition, the extensive list of musicians here include drummer Mike Heller (Abigail Williams, Fear Factory) and vocal features from Frédéric Leclercq (Kreator), as well as mastering by Lasse Lammert (Alestorm, Wind Rose). From jazzy and symphonic uproars to blackened speed metal, this colossally dense record is inevitably to be lauded as most notable by metalhead nerds aplenty this year, deservedly so.
FFO: Dimmu Borgir, Shining, Thy Catafalque
Gold Tier: Metal Album of the Month – June 2025
Joliette
Pérdidas Variables
Released via Persistent Vision Records
Based in Mexico City, Mexico
Screamo? Post-hardcore? Whatever you want to call it, Joliette has the power to turn heads – with infectious and unifying agony. While screaming in Spanish, vocalist Gastón Prado’s emotions are the elephant in the room. His raspy pleas are both comforting and abusive, to the tune of unnerving music. Across the tracklisting, moods shift from hypnotic to rage to distraught, perfectly. Pérdidas Variables is an instant high that I hope all can experience.
FFO: Envy, Chat Pile, Touché Amoré
‘Pérdidas Variables‘ available on Bandcamp and vinyl
Honorable Mentions
Mora Prokaza
Crawling Through Time
Released via Dark Terror Temple
Based in Minsk, Belarus
Alike their experimental and underground previous releases, this EP exudes genre-melting bliss of black metal, Eastern European folk, and trap. Mora Prokaza is a hidden gem that absolutely needs more praise.
‘Crawling Through Time’ available on Bandcamp and CD
Aeon Winds
An Ode to the Mountains
Released via Folter Records
Based in Bratislava, Slovakia
Dedicated to the Carpathian Mountains and dark Slovakian folklore, symphonic and atmospheric black metal echoes out with Tolkien impact. On their fourth album, Aeon Winds collaborates with Dødheimsgard, Dordeduh, and other group members, as well as mixing / mastering by Putrid (Ordinul Negru).
‘A Ode to the Mountains’ available on Bandcamp, vinyl, and CD