Today, French death metal upstarts Skelethal reveal a video for the new track “Torrents of Putrid Viscosity.” The track hails from the band’s forthcoming split 7″ with comrades Cadaveric Fumes, which will see international release on November 23rd via Hells Headbangers.
See & hear Skelethal’s video for “Torrents of Putrid Viscosity” HERE.
Aptly titled Heirs of Hideous Secrecies, this split 7″ brings together two of France’s most uprising death metal hordes. Cadaveric Fumes are up first, and offer two utterly twisted tracks of death metal dread. Soundly grounded in archetypal late ’80s / early ’90s death, these feverish mavericks take the form down routes both cosmic and swampy, adventurous and classicist. And with a debut album still on the horizon, Cadaveric Fumes continue to tease with these short-length attacks – and all are uniformly godly. Skelethal are not to be outdone, of course, and offer their first new recordings since Of the Depths…, their massively critically acclaimed debut album for Hells Headbangers last year. Both tracks are 100% Skelethal, and prove that no matter how familiar the early ’90s Swedeath sound is, it takes a certain, extremely elusive X-factor to elevate oneself beyond the thousands of pretenders – and once again, they accomplish that here, and quickly. Curious to who the Heirs of Hideous Secrecies are? Look no further than Skelethal and Cadaveric Fumes!
A video for Skelethal’s “Torrents of Putrid Viscosity” can be seen & heard HERE
Preorder info to be announced shortly.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Heirs of Hideous Secrecies
1. Cadaveric Fumes – The Spectral Parade
2. Cadaveric Fumes – Necromancy Sublime
3. Skelethal – Emerging From the Ethereal Threshold
4. Skelethal – Torrents Of Putrefying Viscosity
The son of God is hammered and raised on the cross. The lash has spoken. The spear has pierced the veil of hope. The foundations of being are about to crumble, for Retribution has come.
Sektarism is proud to reveal its third opus magnus, Fils de Dieu, to be released on September 10th through End All Life Productions, with distribution by NoEvDia. Recorded in the tradition of live rituals the congregation is known for and graced by vivid visuals signed Den Sorah, Fils de Dieu is a work crafted in anger and tension.
Not an accomplishment of joy or pride, but a bitter testimony of our own weakness: the Apostles of Ignominy set here a new statement of intolerance in a world of meekness and materialism. None are worthy, except the ones who will harm themselves in humiliation.
Fils de Dieu is a slow and inexorable march to death, a dissonant lamentation over the failure of humanity. The weight of shame and decay in your heart. The taste of tears and vinegar in your mouth. A chant of despise, disillusion, and scorn.
The call of the Seventh Trumpet approaches. Who shall be able to bear it? Who will be deafened? Will you endure the same pain as he did, or thrive back in your pitiful comfort?
A.M.S.G.
In subsequent support of Fils de Dieu, Sektarism will embark upon the Lux in Tenebris tour across Europe and the UK later this month, alongside comrades Hetroertzen and LvxCaelis; dates after the jump. Full album stream to be launched the day of release.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Sektarism’s Fils de Dieu
1. Oderint Dum Metuant [10:27]
2. Sacrifice [33:54]
Lux in Tenebris European Tour 2018
September 27 – Paris, France @ Le Gibus Live
September 28 – London, UK @ The Black Heart
September 29 – Leiden, Netherlands @ Gebr. de Nobel
September 30 – Lille, France @ Midland
October 2 – Lyon, France @ Le Blogg
October 3 – Aarburg, Switzerland @ Musigburg
October 4 – Prague, Czech Republic @ Underdog’s
October 5 – Zwickau, Germany @ Club Seilerstrasse
October 6 – Innsbruck, Austria @ Livestage
For those of you in the Black metal scene who have been living in a cave since 1995 Xasthur was one of the most ground breaking Black metal acts on the American scene. In recent years Scott has re-invented Xasthur as a doom grass trio. This week we spoke to him about the old days and the future.
I am going to split this into two parts first dealing with the modern incarnation of Xasthur and then the old days
* You’ve talked in the past on how you moved into Doom grass as what you were doing with the original Xasthur just wasn’t working for you anymore. What made you wait so long to make the change?
I think running out of ideas with black metal was happening and a big part of what made the change, it was becoming a struggle no matter what I did or threw in to it. With acoustic playing, I never run out of songs, riffs, lyrics and ideas, so I’m naturally going to go with what works best and what I’m feeling. I wanted to talk about reality in the music.
The old Xasthur was a blur
* Do you think many of your old fans understand what you are trying to achieve with Xasthur 2.0?
Some do and some don’t. I don’t think there’s anything lacking in the 2.0. The foundation is there, the music is technical and strange enough without all the effects getting in the way of that. The old xasthur was a blur, the new is not.
* How did you find Chris and Rachel? And what was the process of them joining the band? ( e.g. straight up auditions or organically happened? or? )
it was more organic or fell into place really. Chris found a way of learning maybe a dozen of the songs on his own time then he let me know about it, that he could handle doing this. After that, Chris and I went to a festival in Washington, met Rachel, we got along with her pretty well and found out she could play bass, after that she started playing with us.
I’m usually very surprised by the support and turn out in LA.
* You have done a couple of tours with the Doom grass Xasthur so far – what’s been the most fun place to play and why?
I enjoy playing most places, really. I enjoy Texas a lot, I like playing most of the big cities because people actually do show up in bigger numbers and listen more than they used to. I’m usually very surprised by the support and turn out in LA.
* My friend caught you guys recently in NYC and said you seemed really happy being out on the road, basically that it agrees with you. Do you think that’s true? If so what advice can you give our readers for staying sane on the road?
This is true. I don’t have much of a home life, there’s nothing here for me so I enjoy traveling on the road much more. It’s more of a direct way of conveying the music, either during, before or after the shows with people. My advice would be to be grateful for the chance to do it, to go to places you normally wouldn’t have the chance to go to, look at the positives in it, do it for the music, to say something and be heard with the chance. Look forward to playing better each night and play every show as if it were your last because not much music has any staying power these days.
Prophecy isn’t afraid to take chances on music that’s different
* How did you hook up with your new record company Prophecy Productions ? They seem to be a progressive minded company and are looking to make big in roads here in the USA
The old fashion way, they just contacted me one day on the phone, started talking about it, they showed interest for real. Prophecy isn’t afraid to take chances on music that’s different. So far, I get along with the staff pretty well.
* After Prophecy fest in NYC what can we expect next from you?
A lot. Later this year Xasthur will be recording a new proper album at a real studio, before and after that, there’s a few festivals coming up (shadow woods, prophecy and power of the riff) and then touring will be mandatory again.
Ok here are some questions about the old days
* I think you once said you made the switch from playing Death Metal to One man Black metal as you couldn’t find many like minded musicians in your area. Do you think that if you had stumbled on other musicians you liked your musical output would have been drastically different or much the same?
I think it would’ve been compromised, back then, if I had met other musicians. I think the productivity would’ve been slowed down. It used to be hard to find musicians that are for real in LA and it still is. I was getting nowhere trying to be in bands with people and vice versa, no one believes in anyone.
* Do you remember how you got into Black Metal? What was your “gateway” band? What appealed to you about Black metal more than Death Metal?
That is a good question. It might not have been a black metal band that made that transition for me, it might have been Thergothon.
It was taxing and it was difficult
* For me personally those first few Xasthur albums really pushed the boundaries of Black Metal – did you find creating that style of BM mentally and physically taxing on you or could you separate art from yourself?
It was taxing and it was difficult after a while to do things with my own style and approach but ALSO trying to keep it something new!
* Are there any Black metal bands that you find these days that are interesting?
Not really.
* Any final words?
Thanks for the interest and questions. Sorry I couldn’t make this more of a black metal interview but I’m burnt out on it, but I’m probably not the only one.
Xasthur play Prophecy fest in NYC November 3rd – see here for more info
HATE ETERNAL are now premiering the second crushing track of their forthcoming new album ‘Upon Desolate Sands’, which is slated for release on October 26th, 2018.
Mastermind Erik Rutan comments: “For years I have wanted to add a heavier and darker element into Hate Eternal, and for years that vibe just never came to me. For this album the inspiration came and the heaviness followed. Using a lower tuning then our norm for a few songs on “Upon Desolate Sands” and going through some personal life experiences, helped create a depth of darkness and sense of despair to inspire me to write “Nothingness of Being”. I never have forced anything when it comes to the writing process, we just let the songs flow naturally and write and play what we feel. Crafting a couple of songs with a completely different tuning really helped direct a different path and direction for the writing process. This song amongst some of the more traditional chaotic tunes on the album helps really create a sense of dynamics in a dramatic way. Every song on this album has its own unique texture creating a vast landscape of musical expression and a multitude of emotions, pushing the envelope in every way we can!”
The spectacular artwork for ‘Upon Desolate Sands’ has been created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, ARCHSPIRE). Artwork and track-list can be viewed below.
Track-list
1. The Violent Fury (3:55)
2. What Lies Beyond (3:09)
3. Vengeance Striketh (4:39)
4. Nothingness of Being (5:02)
5. All Hope Destroyed (5:45)
6. Portal of Myriad (4:13)
7. Dark Age of Ruin (3:58)
8. Upon Desolate Sands (5:02)
9. For Whom We Have Lost (3:18)
Total playing time: 39:01
HATE ETERNAL faithfully keeps the death metal spirit alive as their long-awaited seventh studio album ‘Upon Desolate Sands’ now uncompromisingly demonstrates!
Founded in St. Petersburg, Florida in the year 1997, HATE ETERNAL is the brainchild of extreme metal luminary Erik Rutan, who created a charging death metal juggernaut. In the United States this style has been virtually synonymous with Florida and especially the Tampa Bay Area for a long time.
More aggressive and technically complex than its Swedish counterpart, Floridian death metal grew out of thrash during the mid-1980’s and was founded by such as the legendary DEATH, OBITUARY, and MORBID ANGEL. While many of its early protagonists went on experimental paths, HATE ETERNAL remains true to the original formula, while continuously pushing the boundaries of this extreme style.
HATE ETERNAL’s new full-length doubles down on their patented, high-velocity assault of dizzying ferocity combined with wide-range dynamics, outstanding songwriting and skull-crushing brutality. HATE ETERNAL delivers extreme music at the highest level. There can be no doubt that ‘Upon Desolate Sands’ will be regarded by many as the best death metal record of 2018!
Line-up
Erik Rutan – vocals, guitar
J.J. Hrubovcak – bass, vocals
Hannes Grossmann – drums
September 6, 2018 – Los Angeles, CA – Austrian atmospheric black metal project Karg will release a long awaited, new album, Dornenvögel, on November 16th with AOP Records.
Today, Karg is ready to unveil the record’s searing new single “Petrichor.”
The record is now available for pre-order at the links below.
“This song is about going to a place I always thought I’d go if there’d be nothing left at home for me worth staying. I always thought I’d go there, to leave it all behind. And so I did. But at least it was not about a farewell or leaving, but about a new chapter of life, or to say it in a quite pathetic way, a rebirth. This led to kinda mixed feelings. On the one hand you have this euphoric and exalted feelings, experiencing life in the back of beyond, thousands of kilometers away from all that trouble. And on the other hand, you must realize after a few days of euphory, that you can’t stay forever and have to leave for home a more soon than faraway day. The past, death and all these negative feelings will get you everywhere, in this case even at the end of this fucking world.” – J.J.
For the new record, Karg mastermind J.J. (vocalist of Harakiri For The Sky) recruited a flood of notable musicians as guests on the record, including members from Lunar Aurora, Downfall of Gaia, Ellende, Ancst, Amer, fut and Instant Karma to participate with guest vocals on the album.
Dornenvögel is the project’s most diverse album written to date. It’s a steady up and down of negative and melancholic feelings and short glimpses of hope, recited in a quite hysteric way. Every song is a separate, private “Dornenvogel” (which is a metaphor in this connection) to Karg, in which every song is a different chapter and collection of dramas, one followed by the other.
Karg was founded back in the summer of 2006 as a one-man project. Between 2010 and 2014 Karg was fully formed as a band to play gigs, formally in Germany, Austria and Central Europe. In the years leading to 2018, Karg was a one-man project and released two previous albums. Karg’s 6th studio album Dornenvögel marks the project’s rebirth as a live band for a few special dates in 2018 and 2019.
The musical style of Karg is a furious, hysteric mixture of atmospheric black metal and post-rock, with influences also from grunge, shoegaze and post-punk. Lyrically, Karg was always about the more melancholic side of life, such as broken relationships, lost love, estrangement, drug abuse, loss or suicidal thoughts and depression. In contrast to many other bands Karg’s lyrics are as equally important as its music.
Dornenvögel Tracklisting:
1. Drangsal
2. La tristesse durera toujours
3. Petrichor
4. L’apelle du vide
5. Meine Freiheit war ihr Tod
6. F 19.5
7. Heimat bist du tiefster Winter
8. Advent
Karg Tour Dates:
Nov 24, 2018 – Salzburg, Austria – Dome of Rock 2018 (w/Mantar, Skeletonwitch & more)
Apr 20-21, 2019 – Munich, Germany – Dark Easter Metal Meeting 2019
September 5, 2018 – Los Angeles, CA – Renowned black metal outfit, turned mysterious “doomgrass” precentor Xasthur, has released a studio sessions EP titled Aestas Pretium MMXVIII, through their new label Prophecy Productions. Previously only available physically on the road during the band’s recent month long tour with Wino and Six Organs Of Admittance, the Aestas Pretium MMXVIII EP is now available to all, at digital streaming services.
The sessions EP arrives ahead of the band’s upcoming performance at the Shadow Woods IV Fest in Camp Hidden Valley, MD on September 13th. Full lineup and tickets are can be found at http://www.shadowwoodsmetalfest.com/.
Following that Festival appearance, Scott Conner, Chris Hernandez and Rachel Roomian (today known as Xasthur) will enter the studio in October to professionally record their first full-length together, as well as the first of many albums with Prophecy Productions.
Additionally, Xasthur are confirmed to perform at Prophecy Productions’ inaugural Prophecy Fest USA in Brooklyn, NY at Knitting Factory at 8PM on November 2nd.
Aestas Pretium MMXVIII Tracklisting:
Against Your Will
Question The Reflection
Indescribable
Western Spanish
You Lose
Xasthur is:
Scott Conner – guitar, bass, music, lyrics
Chris Hernandez – guitar, bass, vocals
Rachel Roomian – bass
Xasthur US Tour Dates 2018
Thu 9/13 – Camp Hidden Valley, MD – Shadow Woods IV Fest
Fri 11/2 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory (Prophecy Fest USA)
The album is already digitally available and can be listened to here!
The artwork can be viewed below together with the album details.
Track-list
1. World Of Plague (4:12)
2. Death To Planet Earth (4:25)
3. (Desolation) Death (3:48)
4. Kill Everything (3:38)
5. Ultimate Satan (6:01)
6. Past, Present, Dead (3:32)
7. Total Soul Rape (5:39)
8. Vile (4:04)
9. Outro (5:12)
Total: 40:31
CRAFT embodies the black metal virtue of raw spiritual energy expressed through violent, ripping guitar-work and unholy rhythms enhanced by demonic vocals. The Swedes have long enjoyed a massive cult status within underground circles, yet also gained strong acclaim and recognition by mainstream metal media and critics.
CRAFT were spawned by guitarist Joakim, who was joined by a friend on drums in late 1994. Lead guitarist John was added to the roster in 1996 but left in 1998 only to return about a year later. A demo entitled ‘Total Eclipse’ hit the world in 1999, which led to a first record deal. During the recording of their crushing debut ‘Total Soul Rape’ (2000), the Swedes were reinforced by vocalist Nox. This misanthropic album captured the ear of SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, who released sophomore opus ‘Terror Propaganda’ in 2002 on his own label. With their extremely dark music the group gained much acclaim by critics and fans alike. CRAFT continued to build and expand their typical hateful and destructive style by adding ‘Fuck the Universe’ (2005) and ‘Void’ (2011) to the list of their albums. Meanwhile bass player Alex had joined and with their completed line-up the band finally became a live entity in September 2014.
With their latest release ‘White Noise and Black Metal’, the Swedes return to strength after a long hiatus following the release of previous full-length, ‘Void’ (2011). The forthcoming album combines the vitriolic virtues of ‘Terror Propaganda’ (2002) with an updated songwriting that is as mature and intelligent as it is razor-sharp. The fast and furious of extreme metal contrasts with dark and depressive passages with added undertones of black ‘n’ roll.
Today, underground legends Profanatica reveal the new track “Prayer in Eclipse.” The track hails from the band’s forthcoming mini-album, Altar of the Virgin Whore, which will be released this coming November by Hells Headbangers on CD, 12″ vinyl, and cassette tape formats. The mini-album’s release coincides with a European tour alongside Watain and Rotting Christ (dates after the jump). Hear Profanatica’s “Prayer in Eclipse” in its entirety HERE.
Profanatica need no introduction: pioneers of American black metal, masters of barbaric minimalism, desecrators of all that’s pure and clean – and iconoclasts to the very end. Ever since the band’s reformation/reinvigoration with 2007’s Profanatitas de Domonatia, full-length albums have been the preferred format for Paul Ledney and crew. However, going back the band’s beyond-classic Weeping in Heaven in 1991, it could be argued that Profanatica are at their most potent when doing EPs. And that’s precisely what Altar of the Virgin Whore is: 20 minutes of cruel ‘n’ crushing sonic defilement that bears all the bulldozing trademarks of the band post-reformation. No need for further fancy words here; this is simply and totally Profanatica, distilled to its short/sharp/shocked essence and rendered in the rudest and rawest form.
The release of Altar of the Virgin Whore shall be joined by long-awaited vinyl reissues of Profanatica’s first two albums, the aforementioned Profanatitas de Domonatia and 2010’s Disgusting Blasphemies Against God.
In the meantime, hear the new track “Prayer in Eclipse” HERE
Release date and preorder info for Altar of the Virgin Whore to be announced shortly.
Cover art, courtesy of underground legend Chris Moyen, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Profanatica’s Altar of the Virgin Whore
1. Conceived With Sin
2. Prayer in Eclipse
3. Altar of the Virgin Whore
4. Crucifixion Wounds
5. Thorn King
6. Sacred Code Broken
7. Fuck the Messiah
8. He Has Risen
November 2 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Byhaven Pumpehuset
November 3 – Leipzig, Germany @ Hellraiser
November 4 – Warsaw, Poland @ Progresja
November 6 – Prague, Czech Republic @ MeetFactory
November 7 – Budapest, Hungary @ Barba Negra Music Club, Budapest
November 9 – Munich, Germany @ Backstage
November 10 – Zug, Switzerland @ Chollerhalle
November 11 – Trezzo sull’Adda, Italy @ Live Club
November 12 – Colmar, France @ Le Grillen
November 14 – Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz 2
November 15 – Madrid, Spain @ Changó
November 16 – Limoges, France @ Centre Culturel John Lennon
November 17 – Paris, France @ Le Trabendo
November 18 – Oignies, France @ Tyrant Fest
November 20 – Saarbrücken, Germany @ Garage
November 21 – Mannheim, Germany @ Ms Connexion Complex
November 22 – Berlin, Germany @ Astra Kulturhaus
November 23 – Borgerhout, Belgium @ TRIX Centrum voor Muziek
November 24 – Bochum, Germany @ Matrix
November 25 – Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
IRON BONEHEAD PRODUCTIONS is proud to present a special recording from TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, Recondemnation, on CD and vinyl LP formats. It shall be released on November 1st, in conjunction with the IRON BONEHEAD / Nuclear War Now!-curated Never Surrender Festival set to take place in Berlin on November 1-3. TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE will be giving an exclusive performance at this fest.
By now, Australia’s TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE require little to no introduction. In short, they are death metal necromancy of the highest order. Spitting in the face of other such facile attempts by normcore “metal” bands, Recondemnation is less a re-recording of 2013’s Condemnation debut album as it is an actual reimagining.
Descent and re-initiation: a corpse reborn through the womb of its own extinction. The veins cut and re-tethered, bloodthirst paralleled only by the emptiness… The beast rears its face once again, to sup and gnaw, and this is how the limbless move… The crypt is reopened, the dead Recondemned. Here, within, lies Recondemnation.
