Columbian black metal duo Inquisition has been blazing new trails since 1988. Originally working in the thrash metal vein in their native country, the band would soon relocate to the United States and turn their focus to creating some of the earliest second wave black metal. That is a course that they have stayed ever since. The band has honed and refined their evil attack with each of their ten albums, leading them to their current status as one of the world’s most respected black metal units.

In 2012, Inquisition signed with the highly prestigious underground metal label Season of Mist and released the critically acclaimed fan favorite Obscure Verses for the Multiverse. Now, we’re getting our first glimpse of the highly anticipated follow up. Inquisition’s eleventh album, Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith, will be released via Season of Mist on August 26, 2016.

Though they hail from The Netherlands, Carach Angren deliver their unique brand of symphonic black metal in multiple languages including French, English, German, and Dutch. The use of these multiple tongues allows the band to more authentically tell the complex stories of their trademark concept albums.

The name Carach Angren means “iron jaws” in the Elvish language of Sindarin, and is the name of a fortified pass into North-Western Mordor in The Lord of the Rings novels. The band consists of only three full time members, but often boasts 8 or more musicians in its touring lineup.

This week’s Black Metal Friday track is taken from Carach Angren’s third full-length studio album, 2012’s Where the Corpses Sink Forever.

Bay area thrash legends Death Angel are set to return with their eighth studio album on May 27th, 2016. The Evil Divide is the follow up to 2013’s The Dream Calls for Blood and contains some of the heaviest material of the band’s nearly 35 year career.

The album’s lead single is entitled “Hatred United/United Hate” and is a scorching piece of classic thrash. The song kicks so much ass that I knew from my first listen that I just had to share it with you all ASAP! So, here it is, this week’s Massive Metal Monday track “Hatred United/United Hate.”

Check out the official video here below.

Vreid is the Norwegian word for “wrath,” which makes it a fitting moniker for the band of the same name. Hailing from Sogndal in Norway, Vreid was born out of the ashes of the band Windir.

In January of 2004, Windir leader Valfar (Terje Bakken) was caught in a sudden snowstorm and died of hypothermia at the age of 25. The remaining members of the band decided to carry on under a different name, but retained Windir’s brand of black and roll steeped in Norwegian folklore.

To date, Vreid has released seven records. This week’s Black Metal Friday featured song is the title track of their third album, the 2007 masterpiece I Krig. Check out this video of Vried performing “I Krig” live in 2010 from the DVD Vreid Goddammit.

New York’s Anthrax is considered a part of “The Big 4” of thrash metal (along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth) for a very good reason. They were among the very first purveyors of the genre and even if they can’t take credit for inventing it, they have certainly had a huge hand in refining the form. Through 35 years and numerous lineup changes this quintuplet has been responsible for some of the most iconic thrash songs ever recorded.

Anthrax has recently released its eleventh album via Nuclear Blast Records. The disc is titled For All Kings and it is their strongest offering in years. It is also the first Anthrax record to include the contributions of former Shadows Fall guitarist Jonathan Donais.