The first half of January 2026 has brought a solid wave of fresh extreme metal energy, especially in black metal and its intersections with doom, death, and atmospheric styles. With the new year kicking off, there's buzz around recent drops that lean raw, psychedelic, or ritualistic—perfect for those craving something newly unearthed. I've pulled together 5 standout recommendations: a mix of truly recent January 2026 releases and late-2025 gems still generating strong discussion and fresh acclaim in early 2026.
The Ruins of Beverast – Tempelschlaf
- Release: 2026 (recently reviewed January 2026)
- Country: Germany (Aachen)
- Subgenre tags: Psychedelic black metal, doom-infused, ritualistic
- Sound/style summary: A sparser, more restrained evolution of their signature doomy psychedelic black metal—slimmed-down arrangements maintain hypnotic structures with atmospheric depth and occult vibes, less bombastic but intensely immersive.
- Highlights: Praised in recent reviews (e.g.