Dødmoon - Demø MMXXV

Labels: Signal Rex

Formats: CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 05 Nov 2025

Tracklist:

1. Reaped by The Dark Light

2. Victorious Signs of Arcane Madness

3. Hail of Hellfire

Having spent much of today with my laptop stuck in a loop at work, I came to the realisation that I too am stuck in a loop at home. I have a review (not this one, obviously) in the works, but my brain just isn't braining. Not knowing if I have some form of undiagnosed ADHD, I have decided to try and do a hard-reset with some truly epic Finnish black metal.

I seem to have a knack for covering pretty obscure black metal of late (by that I mean in the last week or so), as Dødmoon come with no information aside from a bandcamp page and a Metal Archives page. No members, no history, just mystery. The band's debut demo was released in November 2025, before Portuguese label Signal Rex picked it up for both a CD, and tape release.

Right from the off, Dødmoon serve up barbaric rawness on ‘Reaped by the Dark Light’. The percussion is pretty central to that raw sound, while the guitars buzz away underneath as rasping distorted vocals add to the bleak atmosphere. That said, the guitars are allowed space a times, where they provide a thin veil of melody. 

After the up-tempo approach of the demo opener, ‘Victorious Signs of Arcane Madness’ shows a slower, more off-kilter side to Dødmoon’s sound. It’s still raw but there are subtle avant-garde flourishes too. That’s what’s so great about Finland’s heavy music community; they’re able to inject so much personality into what they produce. 

Demo closer ‘Hail of Hellfire’ again offers something unique and unlike what came before it. Paying close attention to the guitar work reveals a catchy and consistent pattern before the music takes a more intense turn. From the mid-point onwards, it gets louder and weirder, thanks to the pummelling drums and screeching solos. The hauntingly melodic/metallic ending fades out at just the right pace for you to regain some breath.

With that, it’s all over. This demo acts as a glimpse into what Dødmoon could offer with future releases. Calling it just a black metal release does it a disservice too. Its layers and swirling artistry make it infectious. I for one am excited to hear more from this band.

You can stream and purchase the demo digitally from Dødmoon via bandcamp below:-

Both CD and tape copies can be purchased from Signal Rex here:-

https://www.signalrex.com/store/releases

Dødmoon Metal Archives - https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Dødmoon

Signal Rex Instagram - @signalrex

Asarhaddon - Witherloup

Labels: Self-Released/Vendetta Records

Formats: Digital/Vinyl

Release Date: 21 Dec 2025

Tracklist:

1. Witherloup

I don't normally review single songs anymore, purely because I don't feel it's a good use of time (unless I'm premiering them as well); however, when a band and label put this much effort into one, it's hard to ignore. The band I'm talking about is German black metal duo Asarhaddon and the label is Vendetta Records. Together, they released the single Witherloup as a glorious single-sided/screen-printed 10" record. 

Asarhaddon formed in 2014 and to date they have released four EPs, two full-lengths and four singles. Aside from profiles on bandcamp, Ampwall and YouTube, I can't provide much more information about them unfortunately. 

I get the impression that this is much more than just a black metal song. Asarhaddon’s two protagonists Christian Kircher (drums) and Christian Koss (guitar/bass/lyrics) are joined by a trio of guests here including Nova, and Floor Vandenbrande (both providing vocals), Frederic Ruckert (hurdy gurdy/piano) and Florian Ehrenberg (second guitar solo). After a gentle atmospheric intro, Asarhaddon burst into black metal of the cinematic/melodic variety. The German vocals are right at home alongside the extreme percussion/guitar work, while the melody from the hurdy gurdy begins to usher you away from said extremity, into the arms of siren-like clean female vocals. 

The one constant throughout this expansive song is the driving percussion, which keeps the momentum high. The latter-half follows the same formula as first-half, which is definitely no bad thing. The additional hurdy gurdy, guitar solo and those enchanting clean vocals are layered in such a way that they are very much at one with everything else here. Witherloup is masterful. Whatever you think black metal is (or should be), is irrelevant. Asarhaddon deliver their own take on the sub-genre with such grace and musical poise, that you forget that boundaries exist.

The detail and thought that both Asarhaddon, and Vendetta Records have put into this release is phenomenal. I think releasing singles on physical formats should be normalised. That’s just my opinion though, as I know it would be a costly venture for any band/label.

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

Unfortunately, it's not available on Ampwall currently but a lot of their previous discography is, so head there if you want to purchase their music without being subjected to bandcamp's fees. They've made some of their singles free on Ampwall as well - https://ampwall.com/Asarhaddon.

Vendetta Records Instagram - @vendettarecs

Rainmaking/Senza - Split 12"

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 24 Aug 2026

Tracklist:

1. Rainmaking - Gush

2. Senza - Purging Stone

3. Senza - Spare Not the Flock

This review might round out September for me, but then again it might not. It's been a month of "slightly" better writing momentum, which I'm happy about. Keeping up my regular focus on the 2026 releases from Zegema Beach Records has helped and one day I'll be able to revisit the discography series I started! Before that days comes though, here's the brand new split release featuring Rainmaking and Senza, who are both from Oregon, U.S.A.

Released as a single-sided 12", on two different variants of 125 copies each and with a glorious etched b-side, it contains one song from Rainmaking and two from Senza. The skramz lords keep on giving in 2026, so don't write those EOY lists just yet!

I really need to spend some time organising my record collection so it includes all of my recent arrivals, but I don’t think my back can take it. It’s far more productive to be writing about something instead. Starting this split off, Rainmaking contribute a quite expansive post-hardcore/screamo song in the form of ‘Gush’. Instrumentally, it’s dramatic and off-kilter, almost mathy. The vocals are somewhat buried amongst the instrumentation, which is by choice I think. Honestly, it still sounds great and the dynamic allows the full band to flourish musically. 

Senza deliver a more striking version of screamo with their opener ‘Purging Stone’, which is essentially emo-violence at its core. Faster percussive tempos, high-pitched screams, melodic instrumental passages and chunkier riffs make a more urgent impression. ‘Spare Not the Flock’ is no easy let up either, as Senza pick up right where they left off. They inject more mathiness into their second song, which is really engrossing. Hearing it alongside the heavier, metalcore-inspired riffs just works really well.

This is one of those splits where you hit play and then ask “what the hell just happened?” as it ends. Both Rainmaking and Senza smash it, which is the most important thing really. I said it earlier; don’t be writing those EOY lists yet, as this may well be up there.

You can stream the split and get it as a name-your-price download below:-

You can buy physical copies of the split from Zegema Beach Records below:-

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/rainza

Zegema Beach Records U.S.A - https://persistentvisionrecords.com/products/senza-rainmaking-split-12

Rainmaking Instagram - @rainmaking.biz

Senza Instagram - @senza.pnw

Zegema Beach Records Instagram - @zegema_beach