Another week, another descent into the best corners of heavy music. The May 22nd edition of Welcome to the Edge of the World arrives with a stacked slate of new releases spanning gothic rock, doom metal, stoner, doomgaze, funeral sludge, and progressive post-rock — plus a curated selection of new videos making the rounds.
Substack: https://monumentsinruin.substack.com
This week contains some terrific new albums in the gothic, post-punk, stoner, doom and post-rock genres. Tag on to that, some of our favorite recent video releases from forthcoming albums and we are set to jet! Let’s get into it.
New Album Releases …
Our Gods Need Blood by Rival Cults / Seeing Red Records
rock the damned death rock goth goth rock gothic gothic rock post-punk the cult Santa Barbara
Everyone needs a touch of goth stained death rock in their life, right? This is a fun album that touches the listener directly in the heart and takes a big bite. Blood soaked, riff’tastic and ready to post-party in the darkness.
Art and layout by Cole Barrington & Blue Eyed Horse
Fiber by DEAD REGISTER / AVR
rock doomgaze post-metal post-punk post-rock shoegaze Atlanta
Not a new release, per say but a terrific re-release, in case you missed it! I would not dare leave this band out f the discussion. This album is amazingly heavy, dynamic and soothing to the ear. When it comes to creating your own vibe and delivery in extremes, DEAD REGISTER make it happen. Highly recommended, if that was not clear enough already.
Ritual of the Cloven Hoof by Goddess / Majestic Mountain Records
metal doom doom metal stoner metal Stockholm
Take a moment to slow down, open the windows and let the world hear the blues soaked stoner jams of Goddess. They may even smell the THC dripping from your speakers as the bold vocals bellow out over a sonic sound bed that can carry our space craft into the beyond. Let us collectively seek out the worlds beyond with this as our soundtrack!
Artwork by Jonas/Artnorlen
Sympathypnotic Intercession by Maliciouz / Independent
metal doom metal funeral doom funeral sludge mojave desert one man band sludge California
Big sound, bold riffs, sludge soaked doom that will crack bricks, space our the listener and leave their foundation quivering. Terrific production and easily able to find a place in the home of anyone who likes snail paced, monstrous chords and lurching rhythms. Excellent work.
Le Sanglot by Impure Wilhelmina / Season of Mist
alternative metal post-hardcore post-rock progressive Switzerland
There is something inherently beautiful about listening to a great album in a language not spoken in ones native tongue. If you listen to my weekly podcast you already know I struggle t pronounce artists and titles frequently. It would be nice to be bilingual but it is not a necessity for my ear to enjoy the universal nature of music as a collective sequence. This album is both beautiful, dynamic and massively heavy at times. The mix is stellar and allows the ear to really sink into the movement. Another on my “Highly Praised” list for the month.
Cover Art: Giganto (giganto.ch)
New Video Drops …
Gin Lady - “I’m Your Friend” (Official Music Video) | Ripple Music - 2026
If you are down for a southern rock fix ala Allman Brothers vibes setting out from Swedish lands then this tune will hit you right in the heartstrings. What a beautiful tune. Well delivered and perfectly touches on the positive side of southern vibes that I call home.
Wildernesses - [dread.] (Official Video)
Another welcoming sound that my ear immediately adapted to. A touch outside of my typical genre listening yet some home perfectly suited for my enjoyment. A true test of an artist and their craft. The video is sequenced around a DIY lifestyle and that is another touching thing that my heart can appreciate. Can’t wait to dig further into this album on a rainy afternoon.
SEA SLEEPER - MANIFESTOR
Buckle up. This one is a blaster. Jam packed with technical skills and screamy vocals in your face. There is a heavy lean on mathematics here and that is a welcoming side, in my opinion. I’m totally onboard with blasting off but give me a touch of variety in the mix. Blast beats come and go as do the riffs. Prepare for mandatory stink face!
HOLYSTONE - Guided by Stones (Official Lyric Video)
Pulsating, heavy handed psychedelic rock is the name of this game and they deliver. Clean vocals rise over head nodding grooves and well executed riff that feel a touch awkward and dark. Seeing the “Australia alternative heavy and desert doom” tag fits perfectly.
BLOODHUNTER - Human Insecticide - Annihilator Cover (Official Music Video)
Not sure if we have featured a cover song in the Friday posts since we started Substack. If this is indeed the first, it is a welcomed thrash monstrosity that will break the ice nicely. If you are a fan of classic, late 80’ thrash then you likely know the name Annihilator and their amazing mastery of the craft. See also their excellent storytelling ability. If this is all new to you, sit back and let BLOODHUNTER welcome you to a world that may have moved on but the fire burns brightly in our hearts. This is a KILLER!
…is this the end?