Month: September 2021

ALDA reveal second track from new EISENWALD album

Today, Cascadian sonic architects Alda reveal the new track “Drawn Astray.” The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fourth album,  A Distant Fire, set for international release on October 8th via Eisenwald. Hear Alda‘s “Drawn Astray” here:

Originating from the forested hills of western Washington State, Alda have crafted a distinct blend of black metal, folk, and post-rock for over 12 years, releasing three albums between 2009 and 2015, playing selective live shows in North America, and embarking on their first European Tour in 2018. Throughout their existence, Alda have maintained a stable lineup of the same four members, being Jace and Stephanie Bruton, Tim Brown, and Michael Korchonnoff. This stability has allowed the band to manage a singular focus in maintaining their established sound, while simultaneously developing and augmenting their music with each passing release.

On A Distant Fire, Alda demonstrates a keen sense for engaging songwriting and a use of melody that is sure to enthrall listeners familiar with their work as well as individuals who are new to their sound. Thematically, the album tells a story about facing a dire and uncertain future, of nights illuminated by distant blazes and days obscured by ash and smoke. The songs fuse elements of the aforementioned genres with an ease that allows these songs to develop organically and presents listeners with an enticing sonic experience. The immersive qualities of the album are emphasized by the band’s epic compositions, both in length and musical development throughout the songs.

Written between 2017 and 2019, A Distant Fire was recorded and engineered during 2020 by Jake Superchi (UADA, Ceremonial Castings), who provides these songs with an appropriately warm and accessible production job that complements the band’s music and compositions admirably. Finally, mastering was done by the renowned Mell Dettmer at Studio Soli (Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, Earth, Elder).

The cover and whole insert artwork was painted by Second Nature Artwork – Craig Strother.

Overall, A Distant Fire represents a noticeable growth and transformation in Alda‘s songwriting and musical performance, while staying true to the spirit and intentions that have informed their music during their 14 years as a band.

Hear the previously revealed “Stonebreaker” across all major digital platforms HERE. Pre-save link for the album can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Alda’s A Distant Fire
1. First Light [3:18]
2. Stonebreaker [8:28]
3. Drawn Astray [10:19]
4. Forlorn Peaks [9:40]
5. Loo-Wit [2:11]
6. A Distant Fire [16:37]

MORE INFO: www.facebook.com/aldacascadia

www.eisenton.de
www.facebook.com/eisenwaldofficial
www.youtube.com/eisenwaldofficial
www.twitter.com/EisenwaldHammer
www.instagram.com/eisenwald.official

UNCTORIS set release date for IRON BONEHEAD debut, reveal first track

Today, Iron Bonehead Productions announces November 19th as the international release date for Unctoris‘ highly anticipated debut album, Shout Demise, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Formed in 2003, Italy’s Unctoris have long been an outsider band for true outsiders. Their releases over those many years are sparse and sporadic, but they’ve justifiably earned an infamous reputation in their homeland for being real maniacs; ask any seasoned underground black/death band who’ve had the rare opportunity to play with Unctoris. But, extracurricular actions or none, it’s their music which has unsettled and stratified with total compunction: weird & wild black/death METAL malformed beyond belief, where one never quite knows what’s coming next…or whether the current riff is gonna hammer away into infinity. Verily, Unctoris make musick for themselves only.

Poignant, pus-filled proof can be found with their LONG-awaited debut album, Shout Demise. Much like the record’s quizzical title itself, Unctoris‘ multi-tentacled attack here makes total sense because it makes NO SENSE by systematically destroying those senses with brittle and bitter shards of the crudest black metal and most ancient death metal and even undigested doom. It’s simultaneously tension-inducing and massively mesmerizing, as endless catacombs of sound are explored and then defiled with devilish intent. Naturally, domestic legends like Mortuary Drape and even Death SS are touchstones, but more so are the cult likes of Morbid Upheaval and Goatfire. We can also mention the mind-mangling likes of Canada’s Lust, early Lugubrum, and current labelmates Malgöth and Tyrannic – but really, Shout Demise is wholly its own insane experience.

If you are a false, do not entry Unctoris‘ Shout Demise!

Entry (or do not) with the brand-new track “Come Stabilire se ci Sei Ancora” here:

cover and tracklisting as follows:

Tracklisting for Unctoris’ Shout Demise
1. Come Stabilire se ci Sei Ancora
2. Cercherò il Passaggio di Ritorno o Sarò Cancellato
3. Violet Velvet
4. Non Tornare
5. Rites Of Grey Isolation
6. Sideral Sojourn
7. Is an Anechoic Chamber

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/unctoris

www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

IN APHELION set release date for EDGED CIRCLE debut EP – features members of NECROPHOBIC

Today, Edged Circle Productions announces November 5th as the international release date for In Aphelion‘s highly anticipated debut EP, Luciferian Age, on CD format. The 12″ vinyl version will follow in February 2022.

A veritable treasure trove of Swedish black/death royalty, In Aphelion are a power-trio originally formed in 2020 by longtime Necrophobic guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt on vocals, guitar, and bass with prolific drummer Marco Prij. In 2021, with the advent of their debut demo, fellow Necrophobic guitarist Johan Bergebäck joined, making the unholy trinity complete. An impossibly auspicious first start, In Aphelion‘s first demo – despite being limited to a mere 50 copies – landed the band a deal with Edged Circle, now resulting in a teaser-length first EP and a grandiose hour-long debut album, set for March 2022.

Indeed, while the spectre of classic blackened death metal for which Sweden is known looms large over In Aphelion, it must be stressed that these gentlemen are THE grand architects of that incredibly influential and ever-enduring sound. And not ones to rest on their laurels, with In Aphelion do both Ramstedt and Bergebäck unfurl new vistas of the imagination whilst respectably remaining within that noble tradition. Simply put, this is timeless HEAVY METAL might painted in purple-blue hues but beaming with brilliant colors beyond.

Point proof is In Aphelion‘s first official EP, Luciferian Age. Here, two tracks – opener “Draugr” and the title track – are carried over from their forthcoming full-length, Moribund, and joined by the exclusive tracks “Wrath of a False God” and a cover of Kreator’s “Pleasure to Kill.” Totaling 23 minutes, Luciferian Age is a swift-yet-expansive sojourn into the In Aphelion soundworld. “Draugr” storms with a martial grandiosity, rallying the righteous before a darkly beautiful finale. The successive title track weaves a sinister march rife with devastating dynamics and an anthemic, arena-ready nature. The exclusive “Wrath of a False God” is a speedy yet shape-shifting gem of oldest obsidian, taking the listener on a climactic journey that’s worth the price alone. And proudly displaying In Aphelion‘s roots is the closing cover of Kreator’s classic “Pleasure to Kill,” reverential and ripping. The icing on the cake is the grippingly powerful mix & mastering by Unleashed’s Frederik Folkare.

Indeed, even being “merely” an EP makes Luciferian Age so much mightier than most other nowadays records: In Aphelion are prepared for a triumphant takeover with their forthcoming Moribund!

First track premiere to be revealed shortly. In the meantime, hear the previously revealed demo track “Let the Beast Run Wild” here:

cover and tracklisting as follows :

Tracklisting for In Aphelion’s Luciferian Age
1. Draugr [7:50]
2. Luciferian Age [4:40]
3. Wrath of a False God [6:28]
4. Pleasure to Kill (Kreator cover) [3:56]

IN APHELION lineup
Sebastian Ramstedt – vocals & lead guitars
Johan Bergebäck – rhythm guitars
Marco Prij – drums

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/inaphelion
www.edgedcircleproductions.com

DUNGEON STEEL set release date for SIGNAL REX debut mini-album – features members of WAMPYRIC RITES+++

On November 5th internationally, Signal Rex is proud to present Dungeon Steel‘s striking debut mini-album, Bloodlust, on CD formats. The 10″ vinyl version will follow later.

Hailing from Ecuador’s rising black metal underground and including members of the insanely prolific Wampyric Rites, the duo of Dungeon Steel wield lawless blackened speed metal on their debut public recording, Bloodlust. Aptly titled, Bloodlust is both clandestine medieval rituals and sword-swinging bravado made flesh. First came the cassette version during the sweltering summer of 2021, selling out within a week, and now as autumn soon stretches its cold grip upon the land, so does Bloodlust arrive on CD and 10″ vinyl formats. Feverish and fun in a most devilish manner, Dungeon Steel kick out the dungeon-metal jams that strictly hail influences from the ’80s. The names of very earliest Bathory, Sodom, and Running Wild are invoked, as well as any number of lost New Renaissance cults – but hearing is definitely believing, so drink deeply of this Bloodlust or remain a sober square!

In the meantime, stream the entirety of Dungeon Steel‘s Bloodlust here:

New CD/vinyl cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Dungeon Steel’s Bloodlust
1. Dungeon Steel
2. Kommand Wolf
3. Heavy Metal Tyrant
4. Knight’s Head
5. Midnight Nightmares
6. Emperor of the Crypts

www.signalrex.com
www.facebook.com/signalrex

MINNESJORD and TEUFELSBERG to release split album thru SIGNAL REX, reveal first tracks

On October 31st internationally, Signal Rex is proud to present a special split album between Minnesjord and TEUFELSBERG on vinyl LP format only.

Bringing together two of Signal Rex‘s newest but most imposing hordes, Minnesjord and TEUFELSBERG here present uncompromising black metal in utter defiance of nowadays’ “scene.” Hailing from the raw underground hotbed of Portugal, Minnesjord unleash four filthy screeds of pummeling minimalism. Undoubtedly, the spectre of Ildjarn’s pioneering works looms large still, but the duo wrangle an undeniable nastiness from the innermost gutters of their souls. Plus, the prominent, often-chorused anti-melodies favorably nod to old deathrock, further giving Minnesjord a dirty direction to explore, which is to say nothing of the hypnotic monster that is the nearly-nine-minute “Mavórcio.”

MINNESJORD band photo
MINNESJORD

Much as Minnesjord have released one tape through the auspices of Signal Rex‘s brother label Harvest of Death, so far, Poland’s TEUFELSBERG have likewise released one demo through Signal Rex. Its title, Ancient Darkness Triumphant, says everything it needs to about this cult: proudly praising the elder ways of black metal militancy as it was reflected in the Polish underground during the glorious ’90s. TEUFELSBERG continue that noble march here on this split LP, disregarding – and spitting disgust towards – modern iterations of “black metal.” Cold, hateful, and unholy, their three tracks here are simply BLACK METAL because they don’t need to be anything else; not everything goes, and so it goes with Teuefelsberg. The duo build their own dead Christ commune, and here fortify it further.

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Opróbrio” from Minnesjord here:

and the brand-new track “Moloch Worshippers” from TEUFELSBERG here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Minnesjord / Teufelsberg split LP
1. MINNESJORD – Armígero
2. MINNESJORD – Opróbrio
3. MINNESJORD – Mavórcio
4. MINNESJORD – Vitupério
5. TEUFELSBERG – Intro
6. TEUFELSBERG – Moloch Worshipers
7. TEUFELSBERG – Cultes des Morts
8. TEUFELSBERG – Retaliation of the Evil Ones

www.signalrex.com
www.facebook.com/signalrex

DICKLESS TRACY: Slovene deathgrinders debuts “Faydark Forest” single; Album ‘Grave New World’ nears release date

Slovene deathgrind mongers Dickless Tracy shares “Faydark Forest,” the third single from the upcoming Grave New World full-length. The album comes on CD and digital formats on 15th September 2021 through Monsterbilly Records. Special cover art for the single was crafted by Slovenian artist Jurij Mikuletič of Psycho-art. He actually also created a separate sketch for every song off of the upcoming album (sketches are featured in the booklet).

Drummer Ivan Cepanec states on the single:
“The song itself speaks about the inner struggles, and the lyrics were written by guitarist/vocalist Tomi. Music-wise, it is our tribute to evil-sounding, twisted death metal in the vein of legendary New York bands Suffocation, Immolation, and Incantation, and the middle part features a clear nod to the all-time class-sick Morbid Angel track, ‘Immortal Rites.’
 
“It was the first song we wrote for this album, dating back in early 2015. It was also the first song we used to play live before recording the album. Play it loud! So be it!”

Hear/download the maxi-single, Dawn of the Living Dead, issued last month exclusively on Dickless Tracy’s Bandcamp, RIGHT HERE.

Dickless Tracy started as a pure grindcore band with just one aim – play fast, aggressive and extreme music! Their early sound was in the vein of early Napalm Death, Terrorizer, Blood, and the likes, but throughout the ages, they developed as a grinding death metal – incorporating crushing death metal with crusty parts and doom ‘n’ gloom into the chaos of grind. The Brežice mongers have played a couple of prestigious (metal) festivals such as Metaldays (Metalcamp), Fuck The Commerce, and Exit Festival and shared the stage with the like of Incantation, Funerus, Impaled Nazarene, Suffocation, Sinister, Benediction, Napalm Death, Holy Moses, Exhumed, and Cephalic Carnage.

The band named themselves after a wordplay in the film The Hard Way (starring Michael J. Fox and James Woods), and although the name Dickless Tracy brings many different and mostly unserious meanings to it, they built everything with it, so they never wanted to change it. Call it a “no compromise” attitude of sorts.

The line-up has been changing thru the years, but the core members since the beginning have been brothers Tomi (vocals, guitars) and Ivan Cepanec (drums). But since 2015, their 3-piece line-up has been completed with the addition of the bassist Jernej Rejc, whose contributions to their sound and the songs on the new album, Grave New World, have been phenomenal — even in Hell.

The forthcoming full-length, Grave New World, presents 9 new songs, one re-recorded number, and one never released single. Thematically, this opus brings up death in different forms, mainly the causes of death: consumerism, war, religion, and humans’ influence on the environment. At the same time, the album has a Lovecraftian-themed number, “Deathless,” and a mandatory violent death song, “The Curse of Michael Myers.” The cover art, drawn traditionally by hand, using inks/fineliners on heavy art paper, depicts the condition of a contemporary human being who is alive but dead inside in the streams of modern materialistic life, and right now, unwarily awaiting for the final exit.

The album release party show (ft. death metal horde Ensanguinate as the supporting act) takes place on 08th October 2021 (Friday) at Klub Gromka in AKC Metelkova mesto, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Track Listing:
01. Deathless
02. Dawn of the Living Dead
03. Pathetic Descendant of Apes
04. The Apostles of Terror
05. Grave New World
06. Morphing Into Maelstrom
07. Devoured From the Inside
08. Faydark Forest
09. Dissection of the Mind
10. The Curse of Michael Myers
11. The Darkside

Credits:
All songs and music written by Dickless Tracy.
All instruments and vocals performed by Dickless Tracy.
Produced by Dickless Tracy and Andrej Čuk.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrej Čuk in Negligence Studio and Defenders Of The Riff Studio between March and July 2019.
Drums engineered by Žiga Zmazek.

Album cover by Alen Grijaković (Opposition Artworks).
Inside sketches by Jurij Mikuletič at Psycho-Art.
Cover manipulation, CD and booklet layout by Tina Ahačič.
Band Photo by Ana Tepeš Photography.

Pre-Order:
https://monsterbillyrecords.com/product/dickless-tracy-grave-new-world-cd-album

For More Info:
— DICKLESS TRACY —
http://www.facebook.com/dicklesstracygrind
https://www.instagram.com/dicklesstracygrind
http://www.dicklesstracy.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tM2dhosBBGTE1Ty3eazfw

— MONSTERBILLY RECORDS —
http://www.monsterbillyrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/monsterbillyrecords

HIDEOUS DEATH set release date for INVICTUS debut demo, reveal first track

Today, Invictus Productions announces October 1st as the international release date for Hideous Death‘s striking debut demo, Remnants of Archaic Evil, on cassette tape format.

Hailing from Norway, Hideous Death are a new entity with an old spirit – VERY old. True abominations of desolation, the band’s righteously raw attack harkens to eldritch ’80s sensibilities like Death, Slayer, Possessed, and very earliest Morbid Angel. Familiar, yes, but filthy and furious!

Formed at the beginning of 2021, Hideous Death took shape when guitarist The Archfiend “put together a bunch of songs based on riffs I’d had in my head for for a while that didn’t fit me and [drummer] The Horrifier’s other band, during a few days of inspiration – a message from Hell, perhaps?” Indeed, and it bears the all-too-fitting title Remnants of Archaic Evil. The band’s first recording is short and sweet – four songs in 16 minutes – and while firmly in the rabid deathrash tradition, subtle sensations of epicness and especially a sense of melody, without sacrificing the requisite aggression, crop up and prove that Hideous Death are well on their way to further slaying.

“Basically, creating songs that can stick in your head and that are straight-to-the point both musically, lyrically, and visually,” The Archfiend concludes. “Not ironically retro or ‘tongue in cheek,’ but a very genuine homage of sorts to something that has been a huge part of our lives for many years – underground metal.” Behold Hideous Death‘s Remnants of Archaic Evil!

Begin beholding with the brand-new title track “Remnants of Archaic Evil” here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Hideous Death’s Remnants of Archaic Evil
1. Desolate Plains of Hell
2. Master of Damnation Fires
3. Thundering Doom
4. Remnants of Archaic Evil

www.invictusproductions.net

CARACH ANGREN announce European tour with Septicflesh

The Dutch masters of horror CARACH ANGREN are proud to announce new European tour dates together with SEPTICFLESH. The band will kick off their extensive road trip at the Patronaat in Haarlem (NL) on March 3rd, and continue all month to hit 18 more countries before a final haunting at the Hellraiser venue in Leipzig on the 9th of April. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below. 
  Ardek comments on the tour: “We will embark on a co-headline tour with Septicflesh and finally present our latest monstrous album “Franckensteina Strataemontanus” alive!“

CARACH ANGREN European tour
+Septicflesh
03/03/2022 Patronaat, Haarlem (NL)
04/03/2022 Biebob, Vosselaar (BE)
05/03/2022 O2 Institute, Birmingham (UK)
06/03/2022 Cathouse, Glassgow (UK)
07/03/2022 Academy 3, Manchester (UK)
08/03/2022 Voodoo Lounge, Dublin (IE)
09/03/2022 The Fleece, Bristol (UK)
10/03/2022 Islington Assembly Hall, London (UK)
11/03/2022 L’alhambra, Paris (FR)
12/03/2022 Le Rex, Toulouse (FR)
13/03/2022 Boveda, Barcelona (ES)
14/03/2022 Caracol, Madrid (ES)
15/03/2022 Rock School Barbey, Bordeaux (FR)
16/03/2022 Ninkasi Kao, Lyon (FR)
17/03/2022 Z7, Pratteln (CH)
18/03/2022 Faust, Hannover (DE)
19/03/2022 Templet, Lyngby (DK)
21/03/2022 John Dee, Oslo (NO)

22/03/2022 Valand, Gothenburg (SE)
23/03/2022 Slaktkyrkan, Stockholm (SE)
25/03/2022 Yo-Talo, Tampere (FI)
26/03/2022 On the Rocks, Helsinki (FI)
27/03/2022 Club Tapper, Tallinn (EE)
28/03/2022 Melna Piektdiena, Riga (LV)
29/03/2022 Proxima, Warsaw (PL)
30/03/2022 Pralnia, Wroclaw (PL)
31/03/2022 Kronensaal, Hamburg (DE)
01/04/2022 Turbinehalle 2, Oberhausen (DE)
02/04/2022 L.A, Cham (DE)
03/04/2022 Explosiv, Graz (AT)
04/04/2022 Barba Negra, Budapest (HU)
05/04/2022 Orto Bar, Ljubljana (SI)
06/04/2022 Im Wizemann, Stuttgart (DE)
07/04/2022 Backstage Halle, Munich (DE)
08/04/2022 Masters Of Rock Cafe, Zlin (CZ)
09/04/2022 Hellraiser, Leipzig (DE)

CARACH ANGREN will be haunting Europe in support of their latest album ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus’, which can be listened to in full HERE. The cover artwork, which is created by Stefan Heilemann, and track-list of can be be viewed below

Track list:
1. Here in German Woodland (01:35)
2. Scourged Ghoul Undead (05:38)
3. Franckensteina Strataemontanus (03:03) (WATCH)
4. The Necromancer (04:08)
5. Sewn for Solitude (03:52)
6. Operation Compass (06:00) (WATCH)
7. Monster (03:33) (WATCH)
8. Der Vampir von Nürnberg (06:00) (WATCH)
9. Skull with a Forked Tongue (05:56)
10. Like a Conscious Parasite I Roam (08:16)

Bonus
11. Frederick’s Experiments (02:40)
Total playing time: 50:41

The Dutch masters of horror are back with their most flamboyant album so far. On ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus’, CARACH ANGREN resurrect the gruesome story of troubled soul ‘Conrad Dippel’; the inspiration of Mary Shelly’s novel ‘Frankenstein’.

CARACH ANGREN have extended all the sonic colours on their established palette to dazzling effect. Their trademark whipping guitars are weaving harsh melodies and sinister soundscapes, which are beautifully contrasted by opulent keyboards and majestic orchestrations. That Till Lindemann (RAMMSTEIN) and Peter Tägtgren (PAIN) have called upon the composition talent of Clemens “Ardek” Wijers is a telling sign of his outstanding mastery of the craft. Another signatory counterpoint is provided by Seregor’s fierce rasping and shrieking vocals. Adding to the impact, Namtar has become a relentless driving force with his hart hitting yet intricate drumming. Each track on this album is a highlight on its own, while combined ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus ‘ simply shines.

CARACH ANGREN set out to tell ghost-stories with a set of paranormal cases recorded on the demo ‘The Chase Vault Tragedy’ (2004). This was soon followed by the official release of the ‘Ethereal Veiled Existence’ EP (2005) as a prelude to the haunting ‘Lammendam’ (2008). The Dutch had a clear vision of combining a dark baroque style of metal with horror based lyrical concepts. Their sophomore full-length ‘Death Came through a Phantom Ship’ (2010) witnessed the band setting sail to bring their eccentric and capturing live performances to audiences and festivals all over Europe. In the wake of third album ‘Where the Corpses Sink Forever’ (2012), the haunting had reached the Americas and started to spread rapidly. This record added a serious side to the lyrics of CARACH ANGREN. While firmly remaining in the horror genre, their tales revolve around the evils of war. This mature streak was taken a step further with the fourth full-length ‘This Is No Fairytale’, which is on the surface a darker variation of the “Hansel and Gretel” story from the Brothers Grimm collection, but also deals with the too real topic of child abuse in a dysfunctional family. With ‘Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten’ (2017), the band returned to pure story telling with episodes that are centred on a girl playing a little too long with her Ouija board.

Now, CARACH ANGREN return with the monster ‘Franckensteina Strataemontanus’, where the Dutch have pushed their unashamedly theatrical style to a new intense height. You do not believe us yet? Press play and have your soul transferred with this new elixir of life!

www.facebook.com/carachangren
ww.instagram.com/carachangrenofficial
www.carach-angren.nl