Month: January 2018

Nightmarer unveil first track and details of forthcoming album debut

NIGHTMARER are unleashing the first crushing track taken from their forthcoming debut full-length, ‘Cacophony of Terror’, which is slated for release on March 23rd, 2018.

NIGHTMARER comment: “Our premiere track, ‘Skinner’ is the first song that we wrote for this album and it offers a mere glimpse into the abyss which is ‘Cacophony of Terror’. This record tells a story of paranoia and self-destruction with no light at the end of the tunnel. ‘Skinner’ weighs heavy in bleak hopelessness, but it’s only a prelude of things far worse to come…”

NIGHTMARER are furthermore releasing the cover-art and album details of ‘Cacophony of Terror’, which can be viewed below.

Track-list
1. The Descent (1:36)
2. Stahlwald (3:31)
3. Skinner (4:38)
4. Bleach (3:59)
5. Cave Digger (3:25)
6. Fetisch (4:46)
7. Tidal Waves of Terror (3:23)
8. Ceremony of Control (4:48)
9. Death (4:52)
10. Swansong (1:27)
Total playing time: 35:23

Chaos comes crashing in waves. Patterns emerge out of swirling energy. Darkness coalesces out of fragments into bizarre forms and strange angled shapes. What reads like a list of entries into H.P. Lovecraft’s dictionary of horrors is the nightmarish musical vision offered by NIGHTMARER on their debut album, ‘Cacophony of Terror’.

Seemingly out of nowhere, NIGHTMARER hit the extreme metal underground with their first EP, ‘Chasm’ in early 2016. This furious whirlwind of low end dissonance, devastating heaviness and majestic walls of sound took the scene by storm and the first 10″ vinyl pressing almost sold out while still on pre-order.

Conceived in 2014 by former members of bands such as GIGAN, THE OCEAN and WAR FROM A HARLOTS MOUTH, this international trio derives only the most extreme elements of their previous musical outlets and takes those into another hellish dimension.

Carving their distinctly personal and unique path into the dark matter that DEATHSPELL OMEGA, DODECAHEDRON, and ULSECT have ventured to explore, NIGHTMARER are now set to release one of the darkest and crushing albums of 2018. Enter this ‘Cacophony of Terror’ in search of extreme sonic pleasures at your own peril!

www.facebook.com/nightmarercult
www.instagram.com/nightmarercult
www.nightmarer.com

Current line-up
John Collett: vocals
Simon Hawemann: guitars
Paul Seidel: drums

Recording line-up
John Collett: vocals
Simon Hawemann: guitars
Paul Seidel: drums
S. Braunschmidt: bass (studio only)

SUMMON set release date for IRON BONEHEAD debut album, reveal first track

Iron Bonehead Productions sets April 20th as the international release date for the highly anticipated debut album of Portugal’s Summon, Parazv Il Zilittv, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Summon emerged in late 2016 as a gathering between N. and R. in which they decided to follow a sonority that transcends their soul and where they could give it a more cavernous feel, with an intensity of deep agony. Shortly thereafter, N. decides to move forward with composite themes, and then they decide to call J. to seal the covenant of a deadly entity. The lyrics are handled by N. in which he invokes all the blackness and splendor of death, the burden of enduring and wandering in a world of human flesh, and the infinite thirst for mass slaughter converting mankind into a cloak of bones.

What thusly emerged was Summon’s debut EP, Aesthetics of Demise, which was released by Iron Bonehead during the summer of 2017 to widespread critical acclaim. A swirling, sulfurous mass of molten death-doom, Aesthetics of Demise was aptly titled, but on the fuller and more fleshed-out Parazv Il Zilittv, the trio both dive deeper into the murk and emerge into clearer dimensions. By no means do Summon here abandon their expertly crafted monolith of death-doom, but they largely (and wisely) leave behind the obfuscating murk which has become so de rigueur (read: TRENDY) in the millennial metal underground. Instead, each passage patiently unfolds and establishes its intended texture, terrorizing the mind and body with oppressive physical/spiritual weight – even (and especially) when stripped back to foggy, tension-inducing mist. The consequently linear songwriting soon works its sepulchral magick, as lurching ‘n’ lumbering riffs are stretched into hammering trances, sending undulating waves of absolute ritualism deep into the listener’s core. Which is all to say nothing of the production on Parazv Il Zilittv, which somehow manages to make Summon sound creepier despite the clearer and more cutting recording style.

With Aesthetics of Demise, Summon proved that their smashed-psyche sorcery transcended the usual “sepulchral death metal” tropes. Now, with Parazv Il Zilittv, they prove that that sorcery is potent enough to simultaneously open and close the crypt of time eternal. How far will you step in/out? Take the first step with the album’s title track HERE

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Summon (Portugal)’s Parazv Il Zilittv
1. Whisper of the Black Moon
2. Howling Graves
3. Cvlt of Abomination
4. Shapes of Darkness Transcending
5. Below Death Splenddovr
6. Parazv Il Zilittv
7. Impetvovs Sacrifice of thy Womb
8. In Odorem Mortis
9. …from Beyond

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/Summonband

Shining stream complete new album

SHINING are now unleashing their complete forthcoming album, ‘X – Varg Utan Flock’, which is scheduled for release on January 5th.

Niklas Kvarforth comments: “The time has finally come to invite you to my most destructive nightmare yet, enjoy!”

The artwork of ‘X – Varg Utan Flock’, which has been created by Kevin Rolly is shown below.

Track-list
1. Svart Ostoppbar Eld (7:11)
2. Gyllene Portarnas Bro (6:39)
3. Jag Är Din Fiende (7:05)
4. Han Som Lurar Inom (8:03)
5. Tolvtusenfyrtioett (2:53)
6. Mot Aokigahara (9:33)
Total playing time: 41:24
Niklas Kvarforth is not the first artist struggling with mental illness and related issues. The erratic Swede is also not the first musician whose inner demons are part of the creative genius. Yet in the world of metal, his band SHINING remains as a unique and outstanding act in terms of talent and musical excellence.

Never shy about his personal afflictions, Niklas Kvarforth is once again baring his tortured soul with ‘X – Varg Utan Flock’. His anger, his confusion, his pain, and his torment are all becoming tangible on the tenth album in the band’s long history. For a point of reference, the legendary ‘V – Halmstad’ release probably offers the most appropriate comparison. Yet all the influences SHINING fused into their previous masterpiece, ‘IX – Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends’ (2015) are also still present. Eclectic influences from progressive rock, jazz, classical music, and even faint traces of pop have left their mark.

In addition to the broad musical spectrum on display, Niklas Kvarforth’s deeply emotional laments emerging from the dark depths of his twisted mind go beyond the usual scale of metal bands in their great vocal scope and variety.

Founded in 1996 by Kvarforth, SHINING self-released ‘Submit to Self-Destruction’ in 1998 and spawned the term “suicidal black metal” with this debut 7″. A couple years after first full-length, ‘I – Within Deep Dark Chambers’ (2000) and sophomore album, ‘II – Livets Ändhållplats’ (2001) had cut deep marks into the underground scene, Niklas replaced his whole crew, which started a continuous cycle of line-up changes. With MAYHEM drummer Hellhammer on board, ‘III – Angst’ (2003) and ‘IV – The Eerie Cold’ (2005) began to gather major press attention. At the same time, SHINING focused on bringing their vision and often controversially received live performances to Europe. Yet Kvarforth’s mental health led to cancellations, physical and psychological fights within the band, and finally a break-up. Not content to let things rest after his breakdown, the restless singer returned with new members and the acclaimed masterpiece, ‘V – Halmstad’ in 2007. By then SHINING had reached headliner status and toured with other great acts such as SATYRICON and MAYHEM. Several line-up changes later, the Swede recorded two albums in one session: ‘VI – Klagopsalmer’ was released in 2009, to be followed by ‘VII – Född Förlorare’ two years later. The band also received their first gold disc for the single ‘Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel’ in Sweden. After rotating more musicians in and out, SHINING returned with ‘Redefining Darkness’ (2012) and a less aggressive, yet more sinister sound. Before signing to Season of Mist, the band released the project ‘8 ½ – Feberdrömmar I Vaket Tillstånd’, which featured six of Kvarforth’s favourite vocalists. In August 2014, SHINING entered Andy LaRocque’s Sonic Train Studios to record their ninth album, ‘IX – Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends’ as the sum of Niklas Kvarforth’s musical evolution and experience. More line-up changes and breakdowns followed.

Yet Niklas Kvarforth clawed his way up from the depths once more and returned to Andy LaRocque and Sonic Train Studios to record another album. The result, ‘X – Varg Utan Flock’ is a musical masterpiece far beyond simple genre limitations and a shining tribute to the achievement that a troubled mind is capable of when driven by a passionate will to excel and overcome. Listen with respect.

www.shiningasylum.com
www.facebook.com/shiningofficial

Recording line-up
Niklas Kvarforth: vocals
Marcus Hammarström: bass
Peter Huss: guitar
Euge Valovirta: guitar
Jarle Byberg: drums

Current line-up
Niklas Kvarforth: vocals
Marcus Hammarström: bass
Peter Huss: guitar

Guest musicians
Andy La Rocque: guitar solo on “Jag Är Din Fiende”
Olli Ahvenlahti: piano on “Tolvtusenfyrtioett”

Speed metal cult Speedclaw reveal a new video for “Beast in the Mist.”

Today, speed metal cult Speedclaw reveal a new video for “Beast in the Mist.” The track is the title song to the band’s highly anticipated new mini-album, Beast in the Mist, which is now set for international release on April 20th via Shadow Kingdom Records. See & hear Speedclaw’s “Beast in the Mist” in its entirety HERE.

Following hot on the heels of their debut EP, Iron Speed – which Shadow Kingdom released on cassette to widespread critical acclaim earlier in 2017 – now Speedclaw strike while the iron’s white hot with Beast in the Mist! Taking all the electricity and excitement of that debut short-length, this new short-length sees this Croatian force of nature increasing their power and professionalism in equal, no-less-devastating measures. Just like that first record, Speedclaw still embody all the energy of the early ’80s, when the NWOBHM was in full steam and speed metal was in its early days, and take their hooks and heaviness even higher into the night. Here, no doubt bolstered by the rich ‘n’ robust production, these four maniacs more patiently ply their bolder and more epic songwriting whilst not losing an ounce of engaging immediacy; if anything, they’re going even harder and faster for the throat. Then again, Beast in the Mist plays out its drama in a darker manner, letting Speedclaw dig their nails in deeply and differently than Iron Speed. But make no mistake: Speedclaw are their own masters, and totally heavy metal to the bone! Beware the Beast in the Mist!

Preorder info can be found at Shadow Kingdom’s Bandcamp HERE, where both the title track and the previously revealed “Rising of the Claw” can be heard.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Speedclaw’s Beast in the Mist
1. Prelude
2. Beast in the Mist
3. Faster Than Hell
4. Rising of the Claw
5. Aggression Strikes
6. Evil That You See

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/speedclawrijeka