Transcending Obscurity Records Release 2026 Label Sampler

Transcending Obscurity Records issued:

As is the tradition for us, we’ve started this year with our new label sampler. It’s always free-for-download with the proceeds going towards our animal sanctuary having around 40 rescued cats and dogs now (I hope I can get them some new toys and maybe a treehouse after this!). The artwork is made by Nekromold and we’ve come up with a couple of colour options too just in case.

Find the label sampler, here.

You’ll find more familiar bands on the label sampler this time around because quite a few of them have come up with new material but the overall quality remains the same and the essence undiluted. A few bold bands have been given prominence and I’m sure the songs on the label sampler will grow on the listeners because several of them are rather intricate or just weird/interesting. At this rate, we’ll probably never end up being a big “commercial” label but I can live with that.

Compilation info:

We are truly privileged to enter another year working with both known bands returning to release their new albums with us as well as fledgling ones showing promise. The 2026 label sampler is a free-for-download compilation with all fresh songs, mostly off albums that are likely to come out in the same year. As can be expected, there’s plenty of diversity and it should be an interesting year for the label.

The artwork by Nekromold is a reflection of our messy times, where art and music are getting infested by AI, with some gnarly Warhammer 40k influence thrown in for good measure.

The proceeds from this goes towards the upkeep of the Transcending Obscurity-run animal sanctuary having over 40 rescued cats and dogs, and others outside being fed and taken care of on a daily basis.

Track listing:

ENDSPACE (Canada) – Sixth Transmission (Sci-fi Black Metal)
VEILBURNER (US) – Vitriolic Hiss (Avantgarde Black/Death Metal)
FEBRUUS (Sweden) – Measures of Escalation (Progressive Death Metal)
DEVENIAL VERDICT (Finland) – Elysium (Death Metal)
HAXPROCESS (US) – The Divinity of the Self (Death Metal)
THE SCALAR PROCESS (France) – Far From the Flesh (Progressive/Atmospheric Death Metal)
VIANDE (France) – Cercuiel de vase (Death Metal)
RITUAL FOG (US) – Enraptured (Death/Thrash Metal)
NINTH REALM (US) – Rituals in Thar’amath (Death/Thrash Metal)
DEFECT DESIGNER (Norway) – Repeated Aversive Stimuli Inducer (Progressive Death Metal)
CUTTERRED FLESH (Czech Republic) – The Colour Out of Space (Brutal Death Metal)
CHAOS MOTION (France) – Neurotic Contortion Abuse (Dissonant/Technical Death Metal)
DYSGNOSTIC (Denmark) – The Black Sun (Dissonant Death Metal)
ELITIST (Denmark) – Enforced Malnourishment (Dissonant Death Metal)
CARBON TOMB (Denmark) – A Hidden Creature (Dissonant Death Metal)
GOREWORM (Canada) – The Enthralling Grave (Technical Death Metal)
DISSECT THE MASSES (US) – Flesh Mechanics (Death Metal)
XENOSIS (US) – Prolapsed Twin Entombment (Progressive Death Metal)
HANGING GARDEN (US) – Dreamwoven (Progressive Death Metal)
DECIPHER (Greece) – Return to Naught (Black Metal)
APOLAUSTIC (Switzerland) – Shining Amidst the Lights (Black/Death Metal)
VERDUN (France) – Funeral of the Cosmic Knight (Blackened Sludge Metal)
MUERTO (Mexico) – Serpentine Echoes (Black Metal)
BESOTTEN (US) – Mist of Decay (Death/Doom Metal)
ABYSSAL RIFT (US) – The Enlightenment (There Was Never Will) (Death/Doom Metal)
DEATH OBVIOUS (Finland) – Sipirja (Avantgarde Black/Death/Doom Metal)