Armory - Echoes of the Astrolith

Artist: Armory

Album: Echoes of the Astrolith
Year: 2026
Genre: Speed Metal
Web: https://www.armory.se / https://armory417.bandcamp.com / https://www.facebook.com/armory
Country: Sweden
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Return of the True Godz

2. Interceptor Squadron

3. Cosmic Dreams

4. Frequencies of Terror

5. Omens  

6. Sanity Disposed

7. The Final Invention

8. Spaceworkz  

9. Astrolith (Rising)

10. Pillars of Fire

Witness: -[*]-
God damn, this is old-school goodness! Not a perfect album, but I will take it anytime I am in a speed metal mood. These guys have been active since 2012, but this is my first experience with them, and the old fukker in me is liking it.

Sölicitör - Enemy In Mirrors [2025]

Artist: Sölicitör

Album: Enemy In Mirrors
Year: 2025
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal

Web: https://youtu.be/CZeSLTL9zS0 / https://www.facebook.com/solicitor.speedmetal
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. The Descent

2. Paralysis

3. Iron Wolves of War

4. Spellbound Mist

5. We Who Remain

6. Fallen Angel

7. Crimson Battle Beast

8. Enemy in Mirrors

9. Black Magick & the Devil's Hand Pt I

10. Black Magick & the Devil's Hand Pt II

Witness: -[*]-
I really liked the band's previous album, but it took me a bit to warm up to this one; now that I have, I am liking it as well. They are building on their songwriting chops and created a more mature-sounding album, and I think they got a better production as well.

Menace - Wheel of Spikes [2026]

Artist: Menace 

Album: Wheel of Spikes
Year: 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/JEKKxU-bJmg / https://metalonmetalrecords.bandcamp.com/menace
Country: Italy
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Wheel of Spikes  

2. Satanizer  

3. Backhander  

4. Argento Vivo  

5. Shades of Evil  

6. The Haunted Disguise  

7. Burnin' Ash  

8. Death Never Lies  

9. Per Aspera ad Inferi  

10. The Unmerciful

Witness: -[*]-
From the album cover to the band photo, it is plain to see that there is some serious Judas Priest worship going on with this band. From my perspective, that isn't a bad thing because I dig the retro vibe they have conjured up with these tracks. 

Riot City - Electric Elite [2022]

Artist: Riot City

Album: Electric Elite
Year: 2022
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://riotcityofficial.bandcamp.com / https://www.pulltheplugpatches.com/riot-city
Country: Canada
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Eye of the Jaguar

2. Beyond the Stars

3. Tyrant

4. Ghost of Reality

5. Return of the Force

6. Paris Nights

7. Lucky Diamond

8. Severed Ties

Witness: -[*]-
Anyone who comes to this blog regularly and reads my ramblings in these posts should know that, along with death metal, I still love old-school sounding heavy/speed metal, and I think these guys are one of the better modern bands worshipping the style, with 2 solid albums under their belts. Killer soaring vocals and guitars!

Aggressive Perfector - Come Creeping Fiends [2026]

Artist: Aggressive Perfector

Album: Come Creeping Fiends
Year: 2026
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal / Heavy Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/z2gGG0z7y0Y / https://aggressiveperfector.bandcamp.com
Country: United Kingdom
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Dead Undead

2. Strange Companion

3. Fiend in You

4. Like a Beast

5. Obscene Cult

6. Denied by the Reaper

7. Harlot's Spell

8. Return of the Axe

9. Gallows' Eve

Witness: -[*]-
I like this one quite a bit, but wish it were a bit grittier and heavier at times. It doesn't matter, as I get older and farther away from my favored times in the 1980s, I'm a sucker for albums like this. These guys are competently repurposing riffs from back in the day, everything from Iron Maiden to a twist on the Detroit Rock City riff from Kiss, and it works.

Cruel Force - Haneda [2026]

Artist: Cruel Force

Album: Haneda
Year: 2026
Genre: Black Metal / Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://burningleathermx.com/Cruel_Force / https://cruelforce.bandcamp.com
Country: Germany
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. The Cross

2. Whips-A-Swinging

3. Savage Gods

4. Sword of Iron

5. Crystal Skull

6. Warlords

7. Black Talon

8. Titan’s Awakening

9. Haneda

Witness: -[*]-
Killer old-school speed metal from Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. On this album, Cruel Force has captured the essence of what this style should sound like. The drum and guitar sound is perfectly captured in the recording and works to transport the listener back to the 80's heyday of speed metal. This is recommended for any true fan of the genre.

  

Cruel Force - Dawn of the Axe [2023]

Artist: Cruel Force

Album: Dawn of the Axe
Year: 2023
Genre: Black Metal / Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://cruelforce.bigcartel.com/cruel force / https://www.instagram.com/cruelforceofficial
Country: Germany
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Azrael's Dawn

2. At the Dawn of the Axe

3. Night of Thunder

4. Death Rides the Sky

5. Devil's Dungeon

6. Watchtower of Abra

7. Across the Styx

8. Power Surge

9. Realm of Sands

Witness: -[*]-

Cruel Force - The Rise of Satanic Might [2010] (Reissue 2012)

Artist: Cruel Force

Album: The Rise of Satanic Might
Year: 2010
Genre: Black Metal / Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/WZqaxv1sEOQ / https://www.facebook.com/CruelForce
Country: Germany
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Witches Curse

2. Satanic Might

3. Forces of Hades

4. Leather and Metal

5. Necromansy (Bathory cover)

6. Deathstrike

7. Victim of Hellfire

8. Queen of Heresy

9. March for the Pentagram

Witness: -[*]-

Spitfire - Trinity [2024]

Artist: Spitfire

Album: Trinity
Year: 2024
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: http://spitfire.band / https://www.facebook.com/spitfirespeedmetal / TDC Link
Country: Germany
Quality: 192 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Destroyer of Worlds

2. Trinity  

3. Bending Reality

4. Downfall of Existence  

5. Crystal Collapse  

6. Pointless Ways  

7. Creations of God  

8. The Endless Run  

9. Mankind into Dust  

10. Death to All...

Witness: -[*]-

Graveripper - From Welkin to Tundra [2025]

Artist: Graveripper

Album: From Welkin to Tundra
Year: 2025
Genre: Black Metal / Thrash Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/YnbcpCFCaIg / https://graveripper.bandcamp.com
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Welkin, Now Tundra

2. Bring upon Pain

3. Hexenhammer

4. Death's Cold Embrace

5. Sanctioned Slaughter

6. Hounds from Hell

7. New Gods, New Masters

8. ...and Now It's Dark

9. Bullet Laden Crown

10. Burning Barren Plains

Witness: -[*]-
I first came across this band a couple of years back and really enjoyed their 2023 album Seasons Dreaming Death, but I can confidently say that this is a far superior album. It is chock-full of killer, aggressive riffs and blackened vocals that make for a vicious and entertaining listening experience. 

Rawfoil - Where Malice Converges [2025]

Artist: Rawfoil

Album: Where Malice Converges
Year: 2025
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://www.facebook.com/Rawfoil / https://rawfoil.bandcamp.com
Country: Italy
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Arrogance  

2. Come What May  

3. D-FENS  

4. Dawn of a New World  

5. Only the Dead Can't Be Wrong  

6. Workaholism  

7. Dragged Down  

8. The Eagle in the Serpent Shadow

Witness: -[*]-

Evilcult - Triumph of Evil [2025]

Artist: Evilcult

Album: Triumph of Evil
Year: 2025
Genre: Speed Metal / Black Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://www.facebook.com/evilcult666 / https://www.instagram.com/evilcult666
Country: Brazil
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Diabolical Alchemist  

2. Midnight Ritual  

3. Triumph of Evil  

4. Satanic Revolution  

5. Waves of Agony  

6. The Abyss  

7. Warrior of Doom  

8. Nosferatu  

9. Endless Night

Witness: -[*]-
Evilcult delivers another authentic homage to old school blackened speed metal with the follow-up to their 2023 album, The Devil Is Always Looking for Souls. This new album seems to be a bit more diverse & refined in style and substance, and I am liking it. 

Tyrants - Baptized in Blood [2025]

Artist: Tyrants

Album: Baptized in Blood
Year: 2025
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/Xa2lf6elsEo / https://tyrants2.bandcamp.com
Country: Colombia
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Baptized in Blood

2. Execution

3. Rise Your Fist

4. Slaves of Sophistry (S.O.S)

5. Sacred Lies

6. Nameless

7. Blood on My Hands

8. New World Order

9. Toxic Harvest

10. Divine Disgrace

Witness: -[*]-
Here is another cool speed thrash release in 2025 from a Colombian band. This isn't as raw and gritty as I would typically prefer from this genre, but very entertaining for me nonetheless.  

Helstar - The Devil's Masquerade [2025]

Artist: Helstar

Album: The Devil's Masquerade
Year: 2025
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/xuAo-iwCL2E / https://massacre-records.com/helstar / TDC Link
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Adventus (Intro)

2. The Devil's Masquerade

3. Stygian Miracles

4. Carcass for a King

5. The Staff of Truth

6. Seek Out Your Sins

7. The Haunting Mirror

8. The Black Wall

9.  Suerte de muleta

10. I Am the Way

Witness: -[*]-
After the 80s, I hadn't listened to much of Helstar's later material until a few months back, when our friend Bongripper dropped in here and promoted this disc in the chatbox. He actually said that he doesn't listen to this style of metal much anymore, but if he were going to, this would be one of the albums he would take the time for. That is all it took to get me to listen to this one, and I really enjoyed it, so much so that I went back and listened to their 2016 album, and I am liking it as well. It is also awesome to see that Larry Barragán and James Rivera are still together after all of these years. 

Helstar - Vampiro [2016]

Artist: Helstar

Album: Vampiro
Year: 2016
Genre: Heavy Metal / Power Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://www.facebook.com/Helstar.Metal / https://www.value-merch.de/HELSTAR
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Awaken unto Darkness

2. Blood Lust

3. To Dust You Will Become

4. Off with His Head

5. From the Pulpit to the Pit

6. To Their Death Beds They Fell

7. Malediction

8. Repent in Fire

9. Abolish the Sun

10. Black Cathedral

11. Dreamless Sleep

Witness: -[*]-
I was a big fan of this band back in the 80s, but as my tastes changed at the end of that decade, I lost them after Nosferatu in '89. I haven't listened to much of their newer material until this year, and now I am here to say that this album is very good, along with their newest album too. 

Necrólisis - Templo De Fraude [2025]

Artist: Necrólisis

Album: Templo De Fraude
Year: 2025
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/1TGYqAuPlQo / https://necrolisis.bandcamp.com
Country: Costa Rica
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Sacrilegio y muerte  

2. Templo de fraude  

3. Cuando la lengua traiciona  

4. Rebelión en el Magreb  

5. Aguarda la muerte  

6. Dejalos arder  

7. Pacto de las sombras  

8. Terror y violencia  

9. Devastador metal

Witness: -[*]-

I'm kinda liking this one. It can be a bit long and repetitive at times, but there are some good concepts and talent on display here from this 3-piece as well.

Prepared To Kill - Legions of Violence [2025]

Artist: Prepared To Kill 

Album: Legions of Violence
Year: 2025
Genre: Speed Metal / Thrash Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/nSNvMDOK0e4 / https://www.instagram.com/prepared_to_kill
Country: Brazil
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Atomic Blast (Intro)  

2. Sick and Insane  

3. Ice Heart  

4. Thrash Metal Invasion  

5. Welcome to My Mind (Intro)  

6. My World (The First Act)  

7. Pairadice

8. Vietcongs Never Die  

9. The First Murderer  

10. Church of the Evil Souls  

11. Legions of Violence  

12. The Last Beer  

13. Like a Shadow (In the Dark)

Witness: -[*]-
It seems that this band has been active since 1998, or at least a few members have, but they've only released a couple of demos and a single up to now. This is their debut LP after 27 years, and just like I was saying on that Lethal Shöck post last week, there has been some killer classic-sounding thrashy speed metal this year. To me, and maybe it won't be liked by some, but this album has more of a rocking metal sound, not overly heavy, but highly appealing for my tastes. 

Lethal Shöck - Storm of Death and Fire [2025]

Artist: Lethal Shöck

Album: Storm of Death and Fire
Year: 2025
Genre: Heavy Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/k7tafC74LMU / https://lethalshock.bandcamp.com
Country: United States
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Die in the Night  

2. Witchmaster's Torch  

3. Turn Up the Satan  

4. Bastards (Never Die)  

5. Unchain the Dark  

6. No Hope / Metal Priest  

7. Virgin Blood  

8. Inferior View  

9. Storm of Death and Fire

Witness: -[*]-
Damn, there has been quite a resurgence of old-school sounding thrash and speed metal this year. Much of it sounds really good, and I am digging it. Lethal Shöck from Chicago throws their hat into the ring with an authentic take on the retro style.

Speedslut - Ferocity of Steel (EP) [2025]

Artist: Speedslut

Album: Ferocity of Steel
Year: 2025
Genre: Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/9U8rBgDEHLw / https://speedslutband.com/
Country: Denmark
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Ferocity of Steel  

2. Bastardized  

3. Burn 'Em

Witness: -[*]-
Total old-school!

Crüzer - Look to the Skies (EP) [2025]

Artist: Crüzer

Album: Look to the Skies
Year: 2025
Genre: Thrash Metal / Speed Metal
Web: https://youtu.be/bvTh1eWEJZ0 / https://cruzermuzik.carrd.co/
Country: Canada
Quality: 320 Kbps

Tracklist:
1. Look to the Skies

2. Born to Rise

3. Raging Fire

4. (I Need) Thrash

5. Pit Vyper

Witness: -[*]-