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Personnel:
Agni – Vocals
Yaga – Guitar, Electronic elements
Mazvis – Guitar
Sime – Bass guitar
Titas – Drums
Release Date: August 28, 2026
Record Label: Napalm Records
Lithuanian metal band Black Spikes return with Ydos, their second full-length album. Following their 2020 debut, the band takes a darker and more conceptual direction on this release, exploring different sides of human vice, with each track dedicated to one.
It is clear from the very first listen to Ydos that Black Spikes do not care about carrying a certain label or fitting into a certain category, or anything of the sort. All they care about is stunning their audience with exciting music, rich with twists and turns. From a cinematic intro to music that alternates between earth-shattering heaviness and emotion-evoking calm, Black Spikes offer an album that will surely leave a mark on its listeners.
If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.
“DULKĖS” stands out as one of my favorite tracks and makes for a perfect ending to the album. Just like the cinematic opening sets the mood for what follows, “DULKĖS” has a strong outro feel, bringing together the band’s heavy side and darker, calmer moments at their best.
Despite having the same formula of calm atmospheric sections versus extreme, heavy sections throughout the album, each song on Ydos still has its own musical identity. This uniqueness is a direct result of the richness of the album in terms of the stylistic elements used. The band uses their multi-colored musical canvas to paint different shades of emotion and different shades of aggression through versatile, razor-sharp guitars and a relentless rhythmic pulse from the drums.
Many artists have great ideas for concept albums, but not many portray them in a way that engages listeners as well as Black Spikes do on Ydos. The two-minute intro sets the scene perfectly, preparing the listener for what the band has to tell through their music. The theme itself is striking and deep, and it is presented in a way that reflects that depth through exceptional music and great production.
An album about human vices, but the biggest vice would be skipping it. Ydos is well-made and beautifully presented, capturing the mind and enriching the listener with music that moves between calm and heavy, while drawing from a wide range of influences.
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Night walks – great background music for the creatures of the night
Sitting in Nature – great themes to sit with in nature
Thinking in bed – Provides companionship after a long day
Long drives – but keep eyes on the road
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