In the heat of Summer, the heaviest of music arises. This past month boasted some truly top-tier, exceptional records, ranging from all over Latin America and Europe.
Bronze Tier: Metal Album of the Month – July 2025
Everlight
Claroscuro
Self-released
Based in Mexico City, Mexico
In the most modern way, Everlight sounds like a celebration of early 2000’s radio metal. It’s tastefully nostalgic, in an arguably comforting way. Some of the remixes are a bit underbaked, but the acoustic / saxophone version of “Indivisible” should be a Tiny Desk viral video. Most importantly, “Extraños” and “Stronger” are one of the catchiest tracks yet this year, hands down.
FFO: Evanescence, Of Mice & Men, Volumes
Silver Tier: Metal Album of the Month – July 2025
Mawiza
ÜL
Released via Season of Mist
Based in Mapuche Nation, Chile
Boasting Mapuche culture and folk metal heaven, Mawiza chant, groove, and crescendo across their second album. Mastered by Alan Douches (Whitechapel, Rivers of Nihil), ÜL feels equally close to nature as it is brick-heavy. The Awka Mondaka-led four-piece is wrapping up a regional tour with blackened djent act Ater before heading to the Bavarian festival Summer Breeze (headlined by Gojira) and then Dynamo festival (also, headlined by Gojira) in the Netherlands. Oh, and Joe from Gojira is featured on the closing track of this album, and it’s perfect.
FFO: The Hu, Alien Weaponry, Soulfly
‘ÜL‘ available on Bandcamp, CD, & vinyl
Gold Tier: Metal Album of the Month – July 2025
Impureza
Alcázares
Released via Season of Mist
Based in Orléans, Centre-Val de Loire, France
A much-needed Spanish flamenco guitar fusion with death metal, Impureza brings a dynamic sound that is as cut-throat as the new album’s Reconquista concept. Extreme on the level of Fleshgod Apocalypse, this French act utilizes orchestration and additional percussion for a genuinely heightened duality. With mastering by Jacob Hansen (Katatoia, Aborted) Alcázares is the stylistic mindfuck of the year; bravo.
FFO: Beyond Creation, Rotting Christ, Nile
‘Alcázares’ available on Bandcamp, CD, & vinyl
Honorable Mentions
Beheaded
Għadam
Released via Agonia Records
Based in Fgura, South Eastern Region, Malta
Like the tension and anxiety of a Robert Eggers or Ari Aster film, Beheaded’s blackened death metal is burdensome, yet moving. Growls and riffs of fictional heaviness are inspired by Maltese folklore and horror author Anton Grasso atop, unnerving Cattle Decapitation-like intensity.
‘Għadam’ available on Bandcamp, CD, cassette, & vinyl
Dephosphorus
Planetoktonos
Released via Selfmadegod Temple
Based in Athens, Attica, Greece
This band is like nothing before; it’s atmospheric, yet frantic blackened grindcore that feels alien, and powerful. For those seeking more of that overstimulation high alike Blood Incantation or Blut Aus Nord, this Planetoktonos record is unbelievable, mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate, Thou).
‘Planetoktonos‘ available on Bandcamp, CD, & vinyl
Clairvoyance
Chasm of Immurement
Released via Carbonized Records
Based in Warsaw, Masovia, Poland
This album is truly extreme death metal; you may need a couple breaks, but you’ll keep coming back for more, with a feature by Derrick Vella (Tomb Mold) as well as mixing and mastering done by Piotr Polak (Patriarkh, Vader)… and cover artist Paolo Girardi continues to be quite sphincter-oriented (alike his recent work for The Black Dahlia Murder).
‘Chasm of Immurement‘ available on Bandcamp, vinyl, and CD