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