Unspeakable Cults on KDVS

02/18/2026

Embodied Torment continues work on their second full-length.

01/03/2026

Here lies the remains of 2025.
The ground is still warm from the crossing.

WRETCHED RITES MMXXVI has been inscribed.

The sigil is carved.
The pact is sealed.

November 14th and 15th 2026
Harlow’s, Sacramento

This is the continuation, not the sequel.
Those who stood inside the first rites know what survived. Those who did not will learn.

The gates are opening.

01/01/2026

12/31/2025

The Malefactor returned to KDVS last Friday night for a special year-end Best of 2025 show. See the full playlist here and listen to the entire two hour rundown under Friday Night Metal on the schedule at kdvs(dot)org.

2025 TOP TWELVE:

12. Abominator - The Fire Brethren
11. Warmoon Lord - Sacrosanct Daemonopathy
10. Putridity - Morbid Ataraxia
9. Chamber of Mirrors - Tales of Blood
8. Volahn - Pool Vuh
7. VoidCeremony - Abditum
6. Kveldstimer - The Cursed Oak
5. Valdur - Guilded Abyss
4. Havukruunu - Tavastland
3. Proscription - Desolate Divine
2. Brazen Horde - Behold! The Ashen Cross
1. Teitanblood - From The Visceral Abyss

Every year there are countless albums released, both true metal and false. There are too many honorable mentions to list here, but a number were also named on Friday's episode.

Here also are a few of The Malefactor's top EPs of the year:

Omnicidal Instinct - Catharsis in Blight
Summoning Hellgates - Spear of Conquest
Bloodstone - Ecstasy of Battle
Myth Carver - Twist of Fate
Tetragrammacide - Cyber-Tantric Paradigm of Radical Sri-Vidya

One never knows when the Cults shall gather once more, but the only way to find out is to keep tuning in to Friday Night Metal on KDVS and support True Metal on the radio.

12/26/2025

Lo! And there was need of The Malefactor on this final eve of Friday Night Metal, and he would ride forth to the aid of all who keep the faith of True Metal.

Join us tonight on KDVS 90.3 FM at 8 PM Pacific for a roundup of the top releases of the year as selected for the Unspeakable Cults. Stream worldwide via kdvs(dot)org.

Illustration by Albrecht Dürer.

12/07/2025

In the absence of Unspeakable Analysis for the time being, here is a repost of some of the thoughts that inspired the series.

10/23/2025

07/02/2025

Upcoming live desecration: US Black Metal legends Profanatica return on Tuesday, July 8th with Knoll, Unidad Trauma, and Infernal Steel.

Cafe Colonial
3520 Stockton Blvd Sacramento CA
7 PM Tuesday, July 8th
All Ages

06/26/2025

Mandatory show tomorrow in Sacramento: the legendary Morbid Saint with support from Deathgrave, Deiphage, and Trencher.

Friday June 27th
The Starlet Room, 2708 J St in Sacramento
Doors at 7 PM, all ages

06/20/2025

JUNE 13TH, 2025: Last week, The Malefactor delivered a final ritual for Unspeakable Cults at the close of this second aeon for the show. A number of fresh tracks helped open the way before we reflected on a range of favorites from throughout the history of the show, reaching back to the dawn of days.

Drawn and Quartered and Sigorspéd gave us two of the preview tracks while Pseudogod and While Heaven Wept exemplified some of those favorites from yesteryear. The full playlist is here and you can listen to the full two hours by navigating to Friday Night Metal on the programming schedule at kdvs(dot)org.

You can keep up with future Malefactor endeavors by following and stay tuned for another upcoming musical project which will be releasing material in the coming months.

Farewell, for now.

06/12/2025

An Era Ends

The hour has arrived that the powers of The Malefactor are needed elsewhere. The time and energy that fuels the program is going into further work on my own musical projects. It's been a pleasure coming back to KDVS for this second run of Unspeakable Cults as part of the Friday Night Metal crew for the past four years, and I believe that this recent stretch is the best run of programming that I've done for the station.

You may hear from me again in the future. I ask you to give a warm welcome to DJ Abrupt Cut and DJ Tzompantli as they step into regular co-hosting on Friday Night Metal going forward. The Pirate will return on occasion as time permits, and The Blasphemer will continue to host Raise the Dead on Friday nights at the toll of midnight. HAIL THE UNDERGROUND // METAL LIVES ON KDVS

If you want to know what I'll be working on, follow my main band Embodied Torment and keep your eyes peeled for a new black metal project that I'm collaborating on with a well-known friend of the show. The coming year will be a busy one for the ol' Malefactor. Salute!