Month: August 2019

UNAUSSPRECHLICHEN KULTEN set release date for new IRON BONEHEAD album, reveal first track

Iron Bonehead Productions sets October 18th as the international release date for Unaussprechlichen Kulten‘s highly anticipated fifth album, Teufelsbücher, on CD and vinyl LP formats. Also on the day of release shall Iron Bonehead reissue the band’s cult second album, 2008’s People of the Monolith, on vinyl LP format as well as a special compilation of their 7″ EPs and their live performance at last year’s inaugural Never Surrender Fest, curated by Iron Bonehead and Nuclear War Now!

For 20 years now, Unaussprechlichen Kulten have built a commanding canon of eldritch death metal DARKNESS. From their early demos to later splits and especially their preceding four full-lengths – not least of which, 2014’s Baphomet Pan Shub-Niggurath and 2017’s Keziah Lilith Medea (Chapter X), both released by Iron Bonehead to widespread critical acclaim – this Chilean cult have explored the furthest reaches of primordial dread and ancient mysticism, all through pure ‘n’ authentic Metal of Death. And now, a whole two decades after their formation, Unaussprechlichen Kulten continue to push themselves toward the beyond with the mesmerizing Teufelsbücher.

Although one can easily say that Teufelsbücher encompasses the signature Unaussprechlichen Kulten aesthetic – songwriting that slithers through the slime with a preternatural grace, execution that’s barbaric and crusted in mud and blood, production that plumbs the foulest ends of the sonic spectrum – uniquely, this fathomless fifth full-length is arguably the band’s densest and most dissonant work to date. Unleashing morbid fascination regarding superstition and witchcraft, Unaussprechlichen Kulten once again suffuse their increasingly angular ruminations with a thoroughly researched thematic grounding.

Teufelsbücher – literally, “The books of the Devil,” written in German – had their pinnacle since the end of Luther’s existence in 1545, until 1604. During that consolidation period of the amendment, with 39 original copies, they are in great deal the precursors from the great house of witches. The Devil acquires strength step by step, which will reach its zenith in the 16th and 17th centuries when Europe granted an enormous attention to the Devil. The Teufelsbücher sentenced sharply that every mortal committing a sin would inevitably fall under the powers of the lord of Hell. Written with the purpose of denouncing vices and sins back then, theologists and inquisitors wanted to contribute on this particular fight against evil writing treaties where nature, knowledge, cunning, and the power of Satan were questioned, and where means were established to fight spells, omens, charms, vane healers, the notorious art, etc. Through hundreds of pages, prodigious, fantastic, wonderful, and scary stories were included, as well. However, along with revealing their own perversion finally instead of warning men, they ended up causing fascination and unleashing morbid fascination regarding superstition and witchcraft.

With this quite-literally medieval foundation firmly in place, Unaussprechlichen Kulten proceed to plow through 42 minutes of exceptionally epic and challenging territory. Totaling six stout labyrinths of song, Teufelsbücher twists and turns in diabolically obscene / obscenely diabolical ways, retaining immediacy and urgency despite those daunting song lengths. No less feral and frightening than before, Unaussprechlichen Kulten bend the listener’s mind (and body) to their unholy will, slipstreaming with a devilishly nuanced grace paradoxically at odds with their blunt-force trauma. Of course, hallucinogenic tension reaches a fever pitch here on Teufelsbücher, as the powerless listener pleads for sweet release…only to find ever-more-treacherous territory, each barb more gnarled than the last.

Unaussprechlichen Kulten have built a nigh-unchallenged canon that takes all the urgency ‘n’ ugliness of classic death metal and upends it into the realm of high art. When, this late into their career, they could easily coast into crowd-pleasing catchiness, these revered Chileans take the path less travelled and speak ever stranger tongues: verily, Teufelsbücher.

Begin speaking their dense, dissonant language with the new track “Cranquiluria” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Unaussprechlichen Kulten’s Teufelsbücher
1. The Evil Out of Control
2. Keziah Lilith Medea
3. Cranquiluria
4. A Search and an Evocation
5. Flapping Membraneous Wings
6. Necromancy and Torment
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/Unaussprechlichen-Kulten-609345889079874

EHLDER set release date for NORDVIS debut – features member from LIK, ARMAGEDDA, and LÖNNDOM

Today, Nordvis Produktion announces October 4th as the international release date for Ehlder‘s striking debut album, Nordabetraktelse, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Although an otherwise-new entity, Ehlder‘s roots are nearly as old as the forests of their native Sweden: Ehlder is the latest creative face of the ever-prolific Graavehlder (formerly known as Graav), who’s co-guided such cult entities as Armagedda, Lönndom, and the recently resurrected LIK. As such, Nordabetraktelse bears Graavehlder’s unmistakable magick – ancient, solemn, almost monastic. Black metal on the surface, but only barely; beneath that foundation, in the dirt and gravel and of the earth, exist a woodland mysticism and mesmerizing songcraft beyond compare.

Put more directly and indirectly, as Graavehlder explains, what Lönndom awoke has been passed on into the spirit of Ehlder, instilling the idea that there’s always two ways to look upon a tree: you have the visible part above ground and then the part that isn’t visible, which you know to exist, so you have to acknowledge them both without deceiving yourself. Proudly pagan in outlook, Ehlder has thus been forming itself for many years through adversities, through ancestors, through time and the idea of what lies ahead. In his estimation, Graavehlder has only borrowed tunes and words that’ve already been written in one way or another, but it’s been interpreted into Ehlder and the band’s first public recording, Nordabetraktelse. This is the platform for Ehlder to release the animal within, to hail the fire, animals, spirits, brothers and sisters, pride, family, and heritage. This is the old reborn anew.

First track premiere to be revealed shortly. Preorder info can be found HERE. 
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ehlder’s Nordabetraktelse
1. Stridskall
2. Ändlös
3. Döden I En Döende Kropp
4. Hedningadrapa
5. Gammelmod
6. Tagen
7. Varerytm I Varganord
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/ehlder

Esoteric reveal album title and cover artwork for ‘A Pyrrhic Existence’

UK Doomsters ESOTERIC have unveiled the cover artwork and track list of their new album ‘A Pyrrhic Existence’. The record is set for worldwide release  on November 8, via Season of Mist. The long-awaited follow up to 2011’s ‘Paragon of Dissonance’ was recorded earlier this year at vocalist/guitarist Greg Chandler’s Priory Recording Studios in Birmingham.

Regarding the new record, the band comments: “‘A Pyrrhic Existence’ is an album that deals with some of the darkest sides of the human psyche and the harsh realities of existence.  The concepts of the lyrics deal with death, suffering, tragedy, lies and the breakdown of the human psyche.  The title is a reference as to how existence can be perceived as something that inflicts so much devastation on the survivor, that it becomes tantamount to defeat. The music is a progression from previous albums, and is of an extremely psychedelic and experimental nature.  It can be likened to a vicarious journey through the twisted passages of the broken mind.”
The artwork and tracklist of ‘A Pyrrhic Existence’ can be found below. The cover artwork was created by Lisa Schubert.
Tracklist

CD1            
1. Descent (27:39)
2. Rotting in Dereliction (15:51)
3. Antim Yatra (04:40)
Total: 0:48:10

CD2
4. Consuming Lies (15:16)
5. Culmination (19:03)
6. Sick and Tired (15:46)
Total: 0:50:05
ESOTERIC live
07 Dec 19 Madrid (ES) Madrid is the Dark Festival
For nearly thirty years ESOTERIC have been pushing the limits of sonic intensity. From the mind-bending darkness of their 90’s double albums ‘Epistemological Despondency’ and ‘The Pernicious Enigma’, to the expansive epics found on their recent opuses ‘The Maniacal Vale’ and ‘Paragon of Dissonance’, they have never compromised their initial aim – to unleash aural mayhem on unsuspecting listeners. Late 2019 sees the release of their most accomplished work to date, ‘A Pyrrhic Existence’.
 
Begun in the post-industrial decay of Birmingham in 1992, the band initially took influence from personal excursions into inner space, contemporary death metal, and their own warped take on 70’s progressive and psychedelic music. The early years saw them perform live infrequently, often to perplexed (and sometimes hostile) audiences. The prevailing ethos in the underground, and indeed heavy music in general in the early 90’s was one of speed. Along with a few of their contemporaries scattered across the globe, ESOTERIC eschewed this in favour of slow building intensity, extended and multi-layered compositions, and free form noise breaks. A foreboding and pervasive sense of unease permeated the early recordings – this was truly dark music. Throughout the 90’s the band remained very much in the underground, perfecting their craft, unmoved by trends or the expectations of the fickle masses.

Albums such as ‘The Pernicious Enigma’ and ‘Metamorphogenesis’ saw them develop and refine their sound, evolving naturally, never appearing contrived. Problems finding dedicated members meant decreased activity in the late 90’s – finding a suitable drummer proved particularly difficult.

2003 saw the band rejuvenated. With the line-up complete for the first time in years, and signing to Season of Mist for the release of their fourth album ‘Subconscious Dissolution into to Continuum’, they performed their first live shows since 1997. The growing interest in the style of music ESOTERIC had been peddling without compromise since 1992 meant more opportunities to perform on stage, something the band has relished. ESOTERIC has developed into a formidable and respected live act, playing tours and festivals throughout Europe and beyond, sharing stages with bands and artists including AHAB, ALCEST, SWALLOW THE SUN, MAYHEM, EMPOREROR  and festivals such as Brutal Assault, SWR Barroselas, Hell’s Pleasure, Damnation Festival, Madrid is The Dark, and many more.

Released in 2008, ‘The Maniacal Vale’ proved to be the bands most ambitious and successful album to date, simultaneously honouring the chaos of the earlier releases whilst expanding into territory that at first glance may seem at odds with the bands ethos, yet has always lurked within their compositions – namely, a sense a melody and grandeur. Having been hinted at on previous albums, this side of the band was fully realized. This was followed in 2011 by ‘Paragon of Dissonance’, an album equal to its predecessor in compositional scope and ambition.

2019 will see the release of the bands seventh opus, ‘A Pyrrhic Existence’, 98 minutes of new material that once again expands on the bands sound, yet retains elements of all their preceding works. It is a culmination of 27 years of uncompromising dedication to their craft – detailed and layered compositions and a high level of musicianship, foreboding production, and equal measures of utter darkness and melodic diversity. The current line up consists of Gordon Bicknell (Guitar since 1992), Mark Bodossian (Bass since 2003), Greg Chandler (Guitar and vocals since 1992), Joe Fletcher (Drums since 2007), and Jim Nolan (Guitar since 2009).

www.facebook.com/esotericukofficial
www.instagram.com/esoteric_uk
www.esotericuk.net
www.esotericuk.bandcamp.com

Line-up
Greg Chandler: Vocals, Guitars
Mark Bodossian: Bass, synths
Joe Fletcher: Drums
Jim Nolan: Guitars
Gordon Bicknell: Guitars

Cover art: Lisa Schubert