Limbs - Like A Poet, Keen To The Rustle Of Leaves

Labels: Kuwago Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 02 Feb 2026

 Tracklist:

1. Ishtar

2. Centro de Gravedad

3. Sunrise, Parabellum

4. War of Jig-saw Pattern

5. La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

6. Song For Swans

7. Pag-aaral Sa Oras

I have two sofas in my living room (which, doubles as my music room currently). One is where I sit and the other is currently covered in records, tapes and other cool music-related things that I have received recently, I'm notoriously slow at merging new stuff with the rest of my collection, as I have over 1,400 records and nearly 300 tapes at this point. A large part of what needs merging came from Zegema Beach Records last week, which is where the link to this review comes in because I'm writing about a new 2026 ZBR release this evening.

The release I'm talking about is the fourth and final release from Filipino screamo/math/post-hardcore and Limbs. Like A Poet, Keen To The Rustle Of Leaves came out in early February on tape via ZBR, as well as on CD via Filipino label Kuwago Records and digitally via Limbs themselves. After this album, Limbs have elected to call it a day after ten years, so this acts as a legacy to their sound and their love of humanity.

We’re now at the other side of a forty-five day streak of rain (or something like that!), which accounts for almost every day so far this year! I wish I lived somewhere with a better climate. Grumble aside, my energy is better spent focusing on this new (and last) album from Limbs. Opener ‘Ishtar’ sounds absolutely huge! The volume of the instrumentation as it kicks into life is completely unexpected and when the vocals join in, things get even louder. Limbs aren’t just about high intensity though, as they soon throttle back to more post-hardcore/introspective territory, with some added mathcore thrown in. Their tempo slows as the song progresses, which suits their sound really well actually.

‘Centro de Gravedad’ builds on the foundation left by ‘Ishtar’ as Limbs go for something much longer. For a trio, they’re able to make such technical and engrossing noise as if it were easy. The atonal opening two-minutes of this second song illustrate that point before things get a lot faster, with ripping emoviolence taking hold. Percussive blasts, shattering bass, grinding yet melodic guitar and dual vocals of the hellish variety make up the first half, and then some! The latter half of more subdued, with some loverly bluesy bass lines and suspense-laden instumentation before everything gives way to more crazed mathcore.

Overanalysing music is a curse and it’s one that hangs over me, so I’m sorry if my writing is too much writing, I’ll try to cut it down some. ‘Sunrise, Parabellum’ is more concise in delivery but it’s still resplendent in what makes Limbs sound so epic. Raw yet brilliantly recorded, mixed and mastered chaos. The additional vocals performed by Angela, Nico, Terence and Therese of Kuwago Records towards the end show how tight their community is and are joyful to hear. 

This is such an immersive album. ‘War of Jig-saw Pattern’ could be interpreted in so many ways as a song-title but after such an expansive intro, you’re greeted with a very different approach from Limbs. One that sounds much rawer and more immediate that you might be expecting, almost as if Limbs embraced industrial audio-terror. I’m not degrading it so don’t throw any shade on me. It sounds brilliant!

‘La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo’ is instantly different, with the gentle guitar and up-front spoken-word poetry from Terence Repelente. It sounds very real and very visceral (in a subtle kind of way), even though I can’t speak or translate Filipino. It only lasts for a few minutes though as Limbs soon break back into their characteristic heaviness. It’s heaviness that has a great deal of impact as it’s bookended by more subtle, introspective musicianship and vocals. Ending with another flourish of sludgy post-hardcore/emoviolence, Limbs are determined to go out on a high.

Penultimate song ‘Song For Swans’ has a rare glimpse of Limbs using clean vocals in English, which is a surprise as far as intros go. In fact, the opening bars bring to mind folk music before the screamo that follows soon after. It’s characteristically fast as you’d expect, with additional panic chords and mathcore-tones thrown in; that is until brass/woodwind joins in towards the end. 

Limbs say album closer ‘Pag-aaral Sa Oras’ is an adaptation of the song of the same name by Kerima Tariman (also featuring additional vocals from YJ of FFPS Canada here) and it’s very much traditional in sound with percussion playing alongside soft acoustic guitar and choral singing. It builds in layers for the first half before stopping unexpectedly, giving way to more gentle acoustic music to close.

As goodbye albums go, this one is very strong. It’s very bittersweet that this is my first time hearing Limbs as well. I guess that sometimes the best ones just pass us by.

You can stream and purchase the album digitally via bandcamp below:-

Limbs - https://www.facebook.com/limbs1991

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/limbs / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/limbs

I believe that Kuwago Record have sold out of their CD copies, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Kuwago Records - https://www.facebook.com/kuwagorecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://bsky.app/profile/zegemabeachrecords.bsky.social

Mt. Dagger - Nothing Personal. Just Misery.

Labels: Dingleberry Records/Pasidaryk Pats Records/Pike Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jan 2026

Tracklist: 

1. Inertia

2. Hellscape

3. Excision

4. Farce

5. Bloodsport

6. False Prophet

7. Terminal Velocity

8. Medic

9. Suburbia

10. Misanthrope

I have a framed print of the cover art from the album Gravity by Crowns&Thieves hanging on my wall. I asked the artist for it specially when I moved into my own place. I'm mentioning this because one of the band's ex-members plays in Berlin's Mt. Dagger, alongside musicians from countless other bands including Julith Krishun, Throwers and Pleite amongst others. 

Mt. Dagger released a demo back in 2023, containing three songs that would eventually help to make up their debut album, Nothing Personal. Just Misery. It was released on 300 copies of 180g ultra clear/black marble vinyl via Pike Records, Dingleberry Records and Pasidaryk Pats Records in January. 

Last week was hectic work-wise and this week’s shaping up to be just the same. You would think that I’d want to settle down with some easy-listening but you’d be wrong! The crusty, metallic hardcore of Mt. Dagger should be all I need and it’s thanks to Axel of Pike Records that I know of them. Opening Nothing Personal, Just Misery, ‘Inertia’ goes from almost Spaghetti Western-style guitar to graduating darkness before Mt. Dagger’s metallic hardcore takes hold properly. Its tempo is pretty frenetic, yet there are some elements that surprise too. The instrumentation brings to mind Totem Skin, while the vocal delivery leans toward a heavier version of Refused (at least to my ears).

I’m not trying to pigeonhole Mt. Dagger this early but sometimes it is worth laying down a boundary or two. ‘Hellscape’ rages harder with a crustier tone punching through the metallic guitars, as the percussion and bass really pile on the low-end heft. The vocals at times sound blackened. I like the fact that the first trio of songs get shorter and grow with intensity, as ‘Excision’ shows. There’s great chemistry between band members here, as this recording already sounds very complete.

The ringing feedback that kicks off ‘Farce’ tells you that you’re in for something lengthier, but there’s no sludge or doom present here; instead, Mt. Dagger move in a more off-kilter direction, which adds another layer to their already engrossing sound. Reading down the track listing and coming across a song called ‘Bloodsport’, I thought for a second that it could be a cover of the song by Sleep Token, until I realised that here it’s one word as opposed to two. What it actually is, is a song filled with scathing hardcore and classy melody.

The rumbling bass of ‘False Prophet’ takes no prisoners as it bleeds into utter driving heaviness. It’s one of those songs that goes by in a shot, leaving you wondering if you had even listened to it at all! The fact that Mt. Dagger have the sense of humour to call their longest song ‘Terminal Velocity’ isn’t lost on me. That being said though, it doesn’t hang around itself. There are plenty of tempo shifts and percussive transitions to keep you busy throughout.

Things get more urgent on ‘Medic’, as the band’s muscles are truly flexed with their most grooving, hardcore-punk laden song. Don’t let my description fool you though, as this sub two-minute song is still in keeping with the rest of the album. The focus that Mt. Dagger keep throughout this record is amazing to witness as ‘Suburbia’ takes over. The building ambience/atmosphere translates well as the full band hits the high gear. I’m a huge fan of their murkier, dank hardcore if I’m honest. It just hits differently, especially when those sweet cymbal chimes ring out. 

Closing with ‘Misanthrope’, Mt. Dagger go out on a high. One last deep-dive into chaos; exemplified by their precision tempo shifts. Nothing Personal. Just Misery. goes super hard right from the start. Mt. Dagger have laid down an early marker for metallic hardcore in 2026 and honestly, it’s gonna be hard to match. 

You can stream and purchase the album digitally from Mt. Dagger below:-

Mt. Dagger - https://www.instagram.com/mt.dagger/

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Pasidaryk Pats Records - https://pasidarykpatsrecords.lt/pasidaryk-pats-records-817/mt-dagger-nothing-personal-just-misery-lp

Pike Records - https://www.pikerecords.com/product/mt-dagger-nothing-personal-just-misery-lp/

Dingleberry Records - https://www.facebook.com/profile

Pasidaryk Pats Records - https://www.instagram.com/pasidaryk_pats_records/

Pike Records - https://www.facebook.com/pikercrds

Arcanum Sanctum - Pax EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 16 Jan 2026

Tracklist:

1. A Different Form of Life

2. Wake Up

3. Resistance

4. Song of Hope

Russian melodic death metal band Arcanum Sanctum released their latest EP Pax in January. Arcanum Sanctum first formed as a duo in 2004 and since then they have grown their ranks, releasing a demo and three significant full-lengths in the process. I am a little confused by the size of the band currently as the promo pic I've seen contains four members, the promo e-mail I've been sent lists five and their bandcamp page goes one further still. What I do know though is that this EP was mastered by none other than Dan Swanö of Unisound (and Edge of Sanity fame, amongst others).

Arcanum Sanctum describe their music as being melodic death metal with a Soviet sci-fi movie soundtrack approach. I’m not exactly sure how that’s going to translate when I hit play but the EP cover art certainly backs up their bio. The keyboard tones that kick off EP opener ‘A Different Form of Life’ bring forth an upbeat feel that exists throughout the song, even spilling over to the drums, bass and guitars. The vocals, while harsh as expected, fit really well amongst all of this and I must say, the instrumentation is excellent.

‘Wake Up’ delivers something a little more familiar sounding in terms of the band’s melodic death metal approach, but catchiness isn’t far away and before long your enveloped by Arcanum Sanctum’s warming soundtrack once again. I’m blown away by how good this EP sounds. I was a little bit wary about this being on the cheesier end of the spectrum but it’s way more genuine and engrossing, so there’s no need to be wary at all.

The transition from ‘Wake Up’ to ‘Resistance’ keeps the momentum high, leading to more upbeat tempos and melodies. You could call this extreme metal for people who don’t like extreme metal and that would be true to a degree, but it would also be doing Arcanum Sanctum a huge disservice. At risk of sounding like I was paid to write this review (I wasn’t!), I can’t get enough of it.

EP closer ‘Song of Hope’ is the longest song here and also, as the title suggests, one that spreads an important message during difficult times. Musical maturity spills over in the form of exquisite lead guitar and subtle keyboard strokes early on, before a bit of introspection leads to classy soloing and well crafted variation later on.

Every once in a while (and it’s becoming less frequent) a band shoots across my bow that really stands out. Don’t get me wrong, all of the music I choose to write about here is written about because I personally enjoy it (otherwise, what’s the point?), but Arcanum Sanctum just hit different. It’s like they’re on another plain (or planet, if you will). Definitely give this your time.

You can stream and purchase Pax digitally via bandcamp below:-

Arcanum Sanctum - https://www.facebook.com/arcanumsanctum

Gravess - losing everything that makes life beautiful

Labels: Severed Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 21 Jan 2026

Tracklist: 

1. title track

2. one day it will come.

3. borrowed time and borrowed eyes and borrowed world with which to sorrow it.

4. 2023

5. deconstruction patterns

I always planned to start reviewing Zegema Beach’s 2026 releases as soon as they appeared, because if I continued with my original plan it would be three months before I got to them (given the pace of my current output!). Welcome Gravess to the blog, a screamo band from Florida. I guess you could call it an EP but it's on an LP and it's their first release in just over two years. ZBR worked with Severed Records on it as well.

I was supposed to be enjoying a work-free week this week, but things conspired against me and I’ve had to delay it for a while. Instead, I’m looking forward to when I can take the time off (hopefully in a few weeks) and I’m trying to end January on a high, which is where Gravess come in. Another new name to me but one that’s amongst many so far this year and I’m here for it. 

Opening losing everything that makes life beautiful, ‘title track’ is brimming with pent up anger and genuine emotion. The vocals hit so hard in both tone and register, while the percussion and guitars provide a more subtle/melodic backdrop. It’s heavy when it needs to be and gentle when it doesn’t. ’one day it will come.’ is a completely pure example of post-hardcore in this modern age. Instrumentation leads the way, interspersed by spoken-word passages and intense screams. Absolutely epic! I don’t think you could ask for anything more.

In the well-healed tradition of long screamo song-titles, ‘borrowed time and borrowed eyes and borrowed world with which to sorrow it.’ is one to add to the list. It actually has a punkier rhythm to it initially before stopping on a dime, switching tempos entirely and becoming an off-kilter beast all of its own. The feedback that it ends with flows into ‘2023’, which reignites the old-school approach that Gravess take throughout this record. When I say old-school though, I’m only really talking about the mid-2000s, though that era feels like a long time ago now. Gravess harness it and make it real in the same way that I Promised The World do.

For those hoping that ‘deconstruction patterns’ will be the destructive ending to this record are in luck, as it delivers in every aspect. It’s the shortest yet possibly the most impactful because of it. There’s just something about this release that reaches another level. Gravess are excellent, but they don’t need me to tell them that.

You can stream the release and purchase it as a name-your-price download from Gravess below:-

12" LP copies can be purchased from the links below:-

Severed Records - https://severedrecordss.bigcartel.com/product/gravess-losing-everything-that-makes-life-beautiful

Zegema Beach Records USA - https://zbrusa.com/products/gravess

Gravess Instagram - @gravess._

Severed Records Instagram - @severedrecords_

Zegema Beach Records Instagram - @zegema_beach

HyperioN - Cybergenesis

Labels: Fighter Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 15 Jan 2026

Tracklist:

1. Deafening

2. Rewire, Rebuild

3. Yet We Still Fight

4. The Shackles of Chronitus

5. Blood Over Chrome

6. Grain of Sand

7. Rhizome Rider

8. The Whole of Time

After starting the year with four releases from North America/Canada, I felt I couldn't feature another until I had covered one from a different continent. The first one on my list was the most recent album from Italian heavy metal band HyperioN. Cybergenesis was released just last week via Spanish traditional/heavy metal label Fighter Records (an offshoot of Xtreem Music) and is HyperioN's third full-length since their formation in 2015.

Before settling down to write this review, I made the mistake of reading a “report” from a user on Metal Archives, who is complaining about the choice of genre that HyperioN have been categorised under on the site. I mean, yes they share the same name as a power metal band that existed in Italy in the 90s, but their bandcamp page bio describes them as traditional heavy metal. I know the distinction between the two genres is somewhat blurred, but does it really matter? Can’t we just be allowed to enjoy music for what it is?

Not so important questions aside, this is quintessential Italian heavy metal. ‘Deafening’ opens up the album with a strong Iron Maiden vibe, soaring melodic vocals, galloping musicianship and some dramatic elements too. It’s really uplifting so far. ‘Rewire, Rebuild’ promises so much from the guitar prowess that’s evident early on and there’s some off-kilter/subtle thrash-like trickery going on throughout, but HyperioN are reluctant to truly unleash anything heavier.

Heaviness isn’t their approach though. They prefer to stick to the tried, tested and effective European heavy metal path. ‘Yet We Still Fight’ continues to hammer that point home, though the lead guitar solos are pretty bloody epic and there are gang-chants/semi-clean vocals thrown in at this juncture. The whole thing with the heavy metal revival in recent years is that you know what you’re going to get. ‘The Shackles of Chronitus’ is a perfect case in point, as it’s a retreat back to a mid-tempo, if slightly meandering, heavy metal song as opposed to something more neck snapping.

That being said, HyperioN don’t write uber long songs. ‘Blood Over Chrome’ is a prime example of how enthusiasm and pace can remove the illusion of needless rock operas. I’ve never been a fan of them. They’re the reason I’ve shied away from trad heavy metal over the years. Being guilty of being selective is a me problem, especially when ‘Grain of Sand’ sounds as good as it does! As I’ve alluded to already, it’s a product of the country it was birthed in but that doesn’t hold it back. 

Penultimate song ‘Rhizome Rider’ keeps the heavy metal flowing in almost uncontrollable fashion. It’s kinda like a Spaghetti Western song (excuse the unfortunate pun) written for the modern day. Apologies HyperioN, I don’t mean for that to sound disrespectful. Album closer ‘The Whole of Time’ is much more theatrical, as it’s near seven-minute playing time suggests. In truth though, it’s just a lengthier take on what they’ve been doing throughout the album as a whole; playing solid heavy metal in their own way. 

It’s not usually what I lean towards but I really do appreciate it for what it is. I certainly wouldn’t label it solely as power metal, as that would be doing HyperioN a huge disservice. Cybergenesis is a really strong album, putting European traditional heavy metal at the forefront of where it should be in 2026.

You can stream Cybergenesis digitally and purchase digital download/cd copies, and other merch via their bandcamp page below:-

CD copies can also be purchased here - https://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.list.index.php?special=fighterrecords

HyperioN - https://www.facebook.com/hyperionbandheavy

Fighter Records - https://www.facebook.com/fighter.records