The 100% Pure Antifascist Scrub – February 2026 Edition
Welcome back to The 100% Pure Antifascist Scrub! As a reminder, my goal with this monthly feature is to introduce you to the best of antifascist music from the prior month. Antifascist themes are not required. Rather I look for the bands/projects to be publicly antifascist. Look for the article on the first Friday of each month. Every release included here has been vetted by me through conversation with the band, looking at their socials, talking to people in the scene who know, and/or through a long reputation of consistency in this regard.
Let’s get ready to scrub the fash away!
Limbs – Like a Poet, Keen to the Rustle of Leaves (2/2/2026, Zegema Beach Records) [Emoviolence]
All I can say is that I am grateful that this trio from Manila in The Philippines gave us this album, apparently their last. It’s absolutely gutting and obliterating, mixing powerviolence, emo, screamo, and more. On their Bandcamp, they state: “Like A Poet, Keen To The Rustle Of Leaves” is a theory-fiction of the protracted people’s war—an apocalyptic score that ushers in the downfall of the ruling class, composed in a time of losses and rectification.” Solidarity!
Ablaze – Slow Death (2/6/2026, Self-Release) [Metalcore]
Slow Death plays a style of metalcore reminiscent of the early days of the genre, calling back to bands like Converge and Botch. Urgent and driving, the EP is a fantastic rush of adrenaline formulated during the pandemic, and reinvigorated here.
Bergtagen – In Forests Eternal (2/6/2026, Nebulae Artifacts + Realm & Ritual) [Atmospheric Dark Metal]
Originally active between 2006 and 2008, Bergtagen has been revived by founder Jon Rosenthal, along with Anthony W. This EP features two re-recorded (and more mature) versions of tracks from that earlier era, plus an Agalloch cover. New music is promised in the near future, which I hope proves to be true.
Diatrekhon Aster – Metroglodyte (2/6/2026, Fiadh Productions) [DSBM]
Bleak howls overlay a surprisingly expansive and well composed soundtrack, for a DSBM album. There are moments I feel this almost leans into progressive tendencies, while certainly remaining depressive. Metroglodyte certainly moves past the typical genre constraints.
Maximum Mana & Ornitier – Beacons (2/6/2026, Self-Release) [Drum & Bass]
While I will always primarily focus on heavy music, the point of this column is to share with you antifascist music, and this is definitely that. Both artists are friends who confirmed the fact, though I already knew it. This well done drum & bass release brings me back to my mid-’90s college rave days.
Repulsa – Head Towards the Sun (Single) (2/6/2026, Self-Release) [Black Metal]
New single by a one woman “space witch-core” project. The track is an absolutely feral repudiation of the growing fascism we are seeing in the US, as well as oppression in general. I’m hopeful there will be an album at some point.
Sylfvr – Waking up in a World Full of Light (2/6/2026, Self-Release) [Fantasy Ambient]
For those unfamiliar (fix this immediately), Sylfvr plays a style of ambient which is a little more percussion-heavy than most. Like all his work, the French artist fills this album with a warm analog sensibility that makes you feel like you are being embraced on a summer day. He is also Ornitier on the Drum & Bass release above.
Biological Fathers – S/T (2/8/2026, Zegema Beach Records) [Screamo]
Biological Fathers is a screamo supergroup featuring members of Frail Body, Eyelet, Crowning, New Grass, and Majorel. Coming in at about 6 minutes total, the EP is short, but trust me that this is still worth your time. Quality over quantity here.
Clout Funeral – For Pepper… (2/9/2026, Tomb Tree Tapes) [Screamo]
I absolutely love the pacing of this one. Skronky (complimentary) skramz is broken up with quiet, meditative, instrumental parts. The album breathes so well, and the aggression is all the more punchy for it.
Ashbringer – Subglacial (2/13/2026, Bölverk Collective) [Atmospheric Black Metal]
Another strong album by this staunchly antifascist Minnesota collective, which I review in full here.
Mordake – Stygian Pantheon (2/14/2026, Mystic Conquest) [Raw Black Metal]
Mordake is a duo from Ypsilanti, Michigan featuring the members of the similarly excellent raw black metal project Gossammer. With Mordake, the duo is a little sharper, a little colder. Well worth your time.
Secret Sorcery – The Nine Kingdoms of the Undying (2/13/2026, Fiadh Productions) [Dark Ambient/Black Metal]
This latest release by solo artist Ziri is stunningly good, even for someone who has been a fan for a while now. She does an exceptional job of blending ambient synth with some black metal sensibilities.
Death of Youth – Nothing Is The Same Anymore (2/16/2026, Engineer Records (UK), Cat’s Claw Records (UK – Cassette Tape Only), Sell The Heart Records (US), Remorse Records (France), Dancing Rabbit Records (Germany), Vina Records (Italy), and Pasidaryk Pat Records (Lithuania)) [Melodic Hardcore Punk]
This is exactly the type of punk record which deserves the kind of crowd-sourced label support shown above. I always take it as a promising sign when I see that sort of thing, and I’m not disappointed here. They remind me a bit of country-mates Svalbard. (complimentary).
Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – Let Us Not Speak Of Them But Look And Pass On (2/20/2026, Redscroll Records) [Sludge Metal]
Tectonically heavy. An absolute slab of weaponized granite. This is a truly essential album. There are some parts which groove slightly, reminding me of The Curse That Is by Graves at Sea. Check out IGoM‘s review here!
Dwellnought – Monolith of Ephemerality (2/20/2026, Caligari Records) [Sludge Metal]
I love having a truly harrowing sludge record hanging around the back of my brain for my cells to chew on. For me, Primitive Man‘s Caustic is probably the prime example, but this beast is currently the resident nightmare back there. Whoa!
Sunlight Altar – Twilight Altar (2/20/2026, Fiadh Productions) [Dark Folk]
This is a stunningly beautiful album created by Joost Vervoort of the antifascist black metal band Terzij de Horde and guitarist/producer Jayant Makhan.
The Recreant – The Code Is V… Outlive the Code (2/20/2026, Fiadh Productions) [Crust]
The Recreant is a new project by one of my favorite modern guitarists/composers, Alicia Cordisco, and I don’t know how I could love it any more. Scream with me: “I will be the voice of dissent!” Righteously belligerent, riffy crust.
Trespasser – יְהִי אוֹר (2/20/2026, Fucking Kill Records/Pest Productions) [Black Metal]
Aggressive black metal from this Swedish RABM project, which aims to (paraphrasing from the Bandcamp here): be a war cry for humanity to overthrow the market gods. This album is absolutely brimming with “call to arms” energy.
Unmother – State Dependent Memory (2/20/2026, Fiadh Productions) [Black Metal]
An absolutely stellar black metal record from this UK trio. There’s a ton of psychedelic weirdness (complimentary) woven into this aural fabric. One of the very rare releases which remind me of Oranssi Pazuzu.
Vibora – Egin Ez Dugun Guztia (2/20/2026, Zegema Beach Records/BCore) [Screamo]
Screamo from Spain, which takes its time evolving, but grows into an masterpiece of emotional catharsis. Dual vocals battle side by side over the torrential waves of riffs and rhythms. In short, this kicks ass!
Cemetery Reign – Confined to Time (2/26/2026, Carbonized Records) [Death Metal]
To be honest, old school death metal bands have a tough time impressing me these days. However, Cemetery Reign have done just that! The riffs pop, the rhythms have serious rumble, and the vocals add some life to the undeath. This is far above average death metal.
Dornenbahn – Dornenbahn (2/27/2026, Fiadh Productions/Aës Løcüs) [Black Metal]
This is a tension-filled journey through taut black metal with some synth elements interwoven throughout. The tape will apparently feature the phrase “nazi scum fuck off” printed on it. J. Füchslin is clear on where they stand.
Manuel – Parasite (2/27/2026, Wormholdeath Records) [Prog Metal]
Even the prog metallers are getting into the antifascist action! Intricate guitar work, some Latin percussion, and socially conscious lyrics blend on this EP. Well worth a listen. It sucked me in, and this is not normally my style.
Our Wits – Let Me Join You (2/27/2026, Self-Release) [Post-Hardcore]
A friend called this “Midwest emo meets pop punk.” I hear some pop punk in a couple of places, but I’m not actually clear on what the former genre is. Regardless, I like this. A lot!!! The band shares a drummer with Massa Nera and includes a membership link for the Wobblies on their Instagram. Badass!
