If you didn't know, as far as I'm concerned, Harrowed is one of the few "unofficial" bands of this blog. By that, I mean they have been here from the very beginning and really capture the kind of stuff that I am into. It doesn't hurt that everything they put out is virtually flawless. This "single" Dark Collective just came out with 2 songs and as suspected, I am blown away by how good this band is. They are like the 'Slayer' of blackened hardcore, it's banger after banger with them. Mandatory listen.
Harrowed - Dark Collective
CONVICTED - SOARING REALITY OF NATURES DEMISE
CONVICTED out of Gothenburg, Sweden play filthy stenchcore with a metallic d-beat vibe. Soaring Reality of Natures Demise dropped March 13, 2026 with eight tracks of raw, politically charged aggression. The quartet - Eli on vocals, Ivar on guitar, Eskhil on bass, and Walter on drums - rip through 24 minutes of relentless crust punk. Recorded in the freezing cold of an industrial area from January to February 2026. Available on limited CD at shows.
FFO: Deviated Instinct, Asocial, Nausea
Battsbury - CONTROHCORE
Battsbury from Rome, Italy play atmospheric alternative hardcore with post-hardcore dynamics. CONTROHCORE released August 12, 2024 with eight Italian-language tracks of moody, introspective heaviness. The duo - Luca on baritone guitar/vocals and Claudio on drums/vocals - blend melodic tension with crushing weight across 25 minutes. The heavy baritone tones drive brooding, emotionally charged songs. Very very interesting and this sounds amazing for a demo/debut.
FFO: La Quiete, Raein, Øjne, Oathbreaker
Milkmaid - Self Titled
Milkmaid out of Calgary, Alberta play crushing sludge & doom. Their self-titled release dropped March 8, 2026 with five tracks of heavy, oppressive brutality. The three-piece - Jade McLellan on bass/vocals, Marissa Ruggles on guitar, and Meghana Iyer on drums - deliver nearly 18 minutes of slow, grinding punishment. Dark atmosphere, tortured vocals, and massive riffs throughout.
FFO: Body Void, Khanate, Burning Witch, Sunrot
THE SLASHER - SPITE
THE SLASHER out of Colorado Springs, Colorado play blackened negative hardcore with war metal intensity. SPITE dropped March 13, 2026 with four tracks of venomous aggression and hateful fury. Raw black metal meets crushing hardcore brutality and misanthropic vocals. Pure nihilism and rage channeled through relentless riffs and blasting drums. This is the first release from the band and they're already pushing some extreme boundaries. I love this smothering sound they have.
FFO: Full Of Hell, Vermin Womb, Hexis
STRAGGLER - Without a Country
STRAGGLER out of Oakland, California play frantic powerviolence with fastcore intensity. Without a Country dropped March 13, 2026 with three tracks of blazing aggression and crushing breakdowns. Combining fast/slow dynamics, guttural vocals, and unhinged fury - the band tears through it in under five minutes of pure chaos. This is the third release from the band and they keep getting heavier and faster.
FFO: ACxDC, Scalp, Infest, Man Is The Bastard
Strzyyga - Nocturnal Famishment
Strzyyga out of Kansas City, Missouri play blackened crust with raw black metal fury. Nocturnal Famishment dropped March 6, 2026 with six tracks of hissing, primeval hatred. D-beat rhythms collide with lo-fi black metal tremolo and grim atmosphere throughout. The trio - Blasphoghol, Ahriman, and Hammerlich - spew over 14 minutes of nocturnal aggression.
FFO: Young and in the Way, Ancst, Vestiges
My Condolences
My Condolences are a Northern Kentucky two-piece (Jordan on Baritone guitar & vocals with Corey on drums) that play sludgy d-beat hardcore with doomed-out screamo heaviness. Their debut The Pressure Builds dropped August 1, 2020 with eight tracks of crushing desparation and metallic aggression. They tear through nearly 21 minutes of slow, grinding punishment. D-beat rhythms meet sludge metal with a smothering weight and bleak atmosphere. This was released through The Ghost is Clear Records on a 45 rpm 12" lathe cut which is sold out. Live at Healer in Indianapolis 10/07/22, a cassette release, came out August 3, 2023 on Tomb Tree Tapes (also sold out) with five live tracks captured at Healer in Indianapolis. And if you're local, you can check them out on April 18th at DSGN Collective in Cincinnati playing with Lordship for the Sealer record release. Also, My Condolences features members of Flesh Mother, Scenario, Clouded, Burn Victim, Suffocate Faster & Suicide Pact. I'm really looking forward to hearing more stuff from these dudes.
FFO: Eyehategod, Torch Runner, Loma Prieta, Celeste
Porcupine - Martyrdom
Porcupine out of Chicago/Pittsburgh play blackened chaotic hardcore with powerviolence ferocity. Martyrdom dropped February 27, 2026 with three re-mixed and re-mastered tracks originally released as a split with Griphook. Fast, chaotic blasts meet dark, metallic riffing and frantic intensity. The band tears through this in just over five minutes of pure aggression.
FFO: Jesus Piece, Cult Leader, Portrayal of Guilt
DeathFeeder - Unleashing Ruin
DeathFeeder from Newcastle, Australia play old school Swedish death metal. Unleashing Ruin dropped February 25, 2026 with four tracks of grinding, buzzsaw-toned brutality. Classic BOSS HM-2 chainsaw worship done right with crushing riffs and relentless aggression. Features members and ex-members of The Amenta, Lord Kaos, and Manticore.
FFO: Entombed, Gatecreeper, LIK
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