Mossweaver will be the beautifully hand-crafted survival tool for any nature-loving metaller.

The juggernaut vocals, powerful drums and frenetic stringwork all come together in one glorious way to create a cold, calculated atmosphere rich with head-banging ferocity and pensive moments to get lost in.

Over three tracks Aberration convey a palpable hellscape of vivid crawling terror and show a vast imagination in their nuanced songwriting, perfect for any metal head to dream darkly in under their audial blanket of unseen nightmares.

It is abject terror driven into your soul with every harsh tremolo, every blast beating onslaught and every insidious fear-building atmosphere.

Duncan Wilkins, vocalist, lyricist and the super nice guy behind the enigmatic slasher villain The Void took time out of slaying to have a chat about music and his passion for horror.

A few tweaks here and there will do wonders and may allow Serpents Oath to shed their skin to reveal their own voice.

Saint Desecration goes down as one of Azarath’s most exciting and destructive albums to date.

It’s raw, dirty, beer bottle smashing grindcore with some spirited fun thrown in. Grab this and wind up your neighbours during lockdown.

Ægo Templo, simply put, is breathtaking and there are no more words needed.

It’s grim metal to scream proudly from the tip of the highest peek as molten fire rains down as a backdrop to your own personal soundtrack.

Like Ferox, The Bodycount Continues is a fun and frenzied album steeped in nostalgic smiles for any fan of the horror genre.

Endarkenment is a thrill-ride of unexpected twists and classic Nathrakh all combined to unleash a thoroughly devastating, inspiring and thought-provoking album. We may have to go through a horrifying age of endarkenment to reach any glimmer of enlightenment, but one thing is for sure Anaal Nathrakh will continue to be the soundtrack to the apocalypse.

Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism is an uncompromising album that features past, present and future sounds from a band who never let their game slip.

Limbo tears away the hopelessness of being and reveals inner peace through six flawless and punishing tracks through Gaerea’s own unmatched way.

Imagine the uncaged lovechild of Anaal Nathrakh and Fukpig swimming gleefully in a pool of crimson.

Naglfar’s comeback is triumphant and one thing from this terrible year to smile about.

In these times of fear, isolation and ultimately facing one’s possible end, the world’s morbidity has forced us to challenge ourselves, to dig into our own psyche and reveal ourselves. In this state or torment we cant help but stare into death’s hollow black eyes with a new found respect.

Mories glorifies misery and has made it an art form, compacting endless terrifying soundscapes with lashings of primal bruising rage.

鬼 continues to haunt the scene with a rainbow-dipped brush stained with hues of despair, painting a smile onto faces that can truly make you grin ear to ear as darker colours drip away, fading and forgotten.

Vile Nilotic Rites is everything a fan would want in a modern Nile album and so much more. A flawless death metal album from the old legends that will possibly go down as one of the genre’s best!

The keyword to take away from True North is ‘diverse’. It is a free-flowing, tidy and very special release, with any juxtaposed elements making for a marriage made in heaven. True North is Borknagar celebrating who they are and preparing for a spiritual walk into the future. Quintessential Borknagar, and a must-buy for 2019.