A blasphemous display of Canadian Raw Black Metal will be unearthed by the ritualistic horde NOCTURNAL PRAYER.
Emerging into the night once more, after ‘Intercontinental Death Conspiracy,’ split LP, NOCTURNAL PRAYER brings forth a repulsive gathering of seven tracks of black cancerous sounds. ‘MUTILATION ON THE BED OF WINTER’ is a total departure from any remnants of light and purity, and serves as a ritual of absolute death and human agony. The preparation to unleash nocuous songs of peril will be laid unto the world with this piece of otherworldly possession. A devastating forthcoming of requiems that fulfill those with the desires of consuming black metal filth that conveys the remnant souls of old school black metal. It is eternally devoted to punishment, genocide, and depravity to all who exist on the mortal plane. NOCTURNAL PRAYER remains true to the exaltation of true darkness and suffering.
NOCTURNAL PRAYER returns on LP format, with ‘MUTILATION ON THE BED OF WINTER’ unleashed by Inferna Profundus Records in early 2022
In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage death metal, on January 24th, 2022, Memento Mori is proud to present Ravenous Death‘s highly anticipated second album, Visions From the Netherworld.
Hailing from the vast death metal hotbed of Mexico, Ravenous Death feature current members of such other bands as Remains, Demonic Manifestation, and Death’s Forsaken. The band’s embryo was brought forth in 2016 during the recording of Remains’ third album in Mexico City, when vocalist/guitar player Miguel Angel and drummer Esteban Salcedo toyed with the idea of creating a death metal band influenced by Vomitory, Torture Division, and the likes. Later on, both musicians shared their vision with lead guitarist Enrique Fray, and the three of them agreed to push the idea forward and carry it out as a side-project due to the commitments they all had with their main bands. Soon after, Enrique and Miguel Angel began writing songs for the newborn abomination, and the three members decided to name the band after a Vomitory song titled “The Ravenous Dead.”
Fast forward to October 2016, and the recording of Ravenous Death‘s debut demo/EP, Ominous Deathcult, is finalized (although not released as a Bandcamp download until March 2017), including five songs chock full of rotting maliciousness that show great poise in combining blasting brutality, crushing heaviness, somber ambience, and fierce intensity, with the lyrical themes revolving around death, occultism, blasphemy, and other classic topics of the olden Metal of Death. On May 13th, 2017, the band make their first live performance in the city of Guadalajara. For this occasion, two new members were recruited – namely, bass player Alejandro Mendez and guitarist Diego Gomez – leaving Miguel Angel on vocal duties alone. After the excellent crowd response, both Alejandro and Diego join the band as official members.
Emboldened by this patient momentum, and featuring new vocalist Victor Mercado, Ravenous Death at last released their debut album, Chapters of an Evil Transition, in 2019 courtesy of Memento Mori. Aptly titled, Chapters of an Evil Transition indeed displayed the band’s transition into an evil death metal juggernaut. The album found great favor among the death metal faithful, for it absolutely bled the molten-yet-mildewed essence of ’90s Metal of Death.
Now Ravenous Death are back to fuck fashion and especially fickle tastes with the longer and stronger Visions From the Netherworld. Not for nothing is the album titled as such: Visions From the Netherworld is an epic 63 minutes, and conveys a moodiness perfectly suited to these slicing ‘n’ sluicing songs. The atmosphere is hideous, EVIL as ever but without any cloying “cavernous” touches; the production is professional and powerful, skillfully balancing gleam and grime; the leads are more prominent, and blackened to a crisp; and the songwriting itself twists and turns and twists some more, opening infinite labyrinths but always with a (crooked) direction in sight. Whereas the previous full-length displayed trace elements of Mexican forebears Shub Niggurath as well as Sadistic Intent, Seance, old Grave, ’90s Immolation, ’90s Vader, Finland’s Demigod, and of course Vomitory, here do Ravenous Death strike upon new-yet-old ground that can only be qualified as OMINOUS ROTTEN DEATH METAL. And as its epic length suggests, Visions From the Netherworld is indeed a concept album as always; the cover art, once again by the masterful Mörtuus, represents all the twisted visions that the band have about Hell, the underworld, and punishment, etc.
Enclosed in era-authentic mastering courtesy of Loïc Fontaine at Krucyator Studio, France, Ravenous Death have eclipsed their momentous debut with their Visions From the Netherworld!
Behold the first vision with the brand-new track “Gore Vault Dismemberment” here:
Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ravenous Death’s Visions From the Netherworld 1. Intro – Trail of Horrors 2. Caverns of Freezing Torture 3. Plethora of Blood 4. Kingdom of Æternal Flames 5. Gore Vault Dismemberment 6. Hydra Dungeon 7. Path of the Spawn Dogs 8. Burnt Children of Moloch 9. Serpents of Wretchedness 10. Portals to Non-Existence 11. The Ascending Chasm
Connecticut symphonic death metal band VIRUS OF IDEALS have released a stunning cover of the classic CRADLE OF FILTH track “Nymphetamine Fix”. The song is available on all digital streaming outlets including Spotify and Bandcamp.
The band comments:
” ‘Nymphetamine Fix’ is obviously a classic, but the main reason we chose to cover this song is because it fits our style perfectly: it has a balanced mix of screaming and clean vocals with strong keyboards and orchestrations. This song was a challenge to record because there are way more layers of vocals, orchestrations, and guitars than we are used to. Fortunately, our drummer Brian (Westbrook (Lich King)) is also a producer with a fantastic ear; we were able to stay very faithful to the original due largely to his direction. We know our debut album is long overdue (our EP is 5 years old), but we are still making progress despite numerous setbacks over the years. We were planning to cover this song anyways, but we thought it would make the wait a bit easier for our fans to have something new to listen to in the meantime.”
On January 14th, 2022 internationally, Personal Records is proud to present Nullification‘s striking debut album, Kingdoms to Hovel.
Formed in May 2021, Nullification‘s brand of death metal is sure to bring destructive breakneck music to old-school listeners with their exciting debut album. Founded by Jayson Gonzales in his hometown of Bay, Laguna, Philippines, he initially wrote the materials for the album before he was later joined by Andrei Alemania on drums, Rozel Leaño on vocals and bass, and Jonathan Miranda on lead guitars — all current members of Desolator (Philippines) and Formless Oedon. The band finished writing, recording, and production of their debut album in June of the same year.
After its ominous intro, immediately upon pressing “play” to Kingdoms to Hovel, the listener will be transported back to glorious times — ancient days done with ancient ways. Nullification‘s attack is pure and true Metal of Death brewed in the cauldron of olde, with their foremost influences of Mercyless, Benediction, Demolition Hammer, Ripping Corpse, Morbid Angel, early Cynic, and Asphyx ringing loud and clear. However, the quartet are no mere plagiarists, and proudly contribute to this hallowed lineage with righteously ripping songwriting that’s straightforward and fucking EVIL and a possessed & poisoned style of execution that literally sounds DANGEROUS. Everything comes at you at once, and there’s NO ESCAPE. Sealing the coffin is the devastating production: palpably physical, and the perfect balance between clear ‘n’ cutting and raw ‘n’ bloody.
Mark our words: one will not find a death metal record in 2022 that sounds as authentically 1992 as Nullification‘s Kingdoms to Hovel.
Hear for yourself with the brand-new track “Deliverance from Chaos” here:
. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Nullification’s Kingdoms to Hovel 1. Intro to Annihilation 2. The Sledgehammer 3. Calamity from the Skies 4. Kingdoms Reduced to Hovel 5. Deliverance from Chaos 6. Negated Fields 7. Inside the Surreal 8. Everything… and Everyone (Nullified) 9. I, the Nullifier
Today, Invictus Productions announces November 26th as the international release date for a reissue of the debut demo of the UK’s Necromaniac, Morbid Metal, on cassette tape format.
Formed in 2011, London’s Necromaniac at last emerged from the slime of time eternal in 2015 with the five-song Morbid Metal demo. With members possessing a wealth of underground experience spanning the last couple decades – not to mention that those members hail from such countries as Spain, Greece, Poland, and most recently Sweden, altogether adding a more exotic flavor elusive to most UK bands – it’s not surprising that the band’s first recording was such a firestorm of ancient energy. Very much “old” but very much far from trite “retro” posturing, Morbid Metal was – and still is – everything its title promises, whipping forth a fury faintly/variously reminiscent of classic Nifelheim, Germany’s Poison, Hungary’s Tormentor, Root, and Invictus alumni Vomitor. Hideous, haunting, and most definitely fucking METAL!
As such, Necromaniac will be delivering their debut album through Invictus in the coming year, and this new edition of Morbid Metal serves as a (re)introduction to their sinister ways. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
In the meantime, stream Morbid Metal in its entirety here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Necromaniac (UK)’s Morbid Metal 1. Into the Darkest of Realms 2. Cosmic Onslaught 3. Armies of Concrete Rot 4. Underneath the Crucifix 5. Cursed by the Revenant
Today, Sepulchral Productions announces December 2nd as the international release date for the highly anticipated new mini-album of Canada’s Ossuaire, Triumvirat.
The heirs of the world’s Origin’s venom resurface with a concept glorifying the journey of the “Chantre Ardent,” the golden-faced idol who guided a hundred chosen ones to the gates of the Great Rome so they could purge the holy land of its Christianity. With Triumvirat, Ossuaire heralds the supremacy of the Snake and its victory through tragedy during 30 minutes of pure intensity and vehemence. With triumphant melodies supported by commanding chants and a high-caliber, impactful production, Ossuaire steps up to a new level and consolidates its place among the scene while issuing a serious warning about the undeniable quality of Québécois black metal.
Ossuaire will be performing at this year’s Messe Des Morts festival, set to take place November 25-27 in Montreal. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ossuaire (Canada)’s Triumvirat 1. À l’Aube de l’Impur 2. La Sainte Purge 3. Triumvirat 4. Ignipotentis 5. Cénotaphe
The Belgian blackened death metal stalwarts of GOAT TORMENT are now premiering a a new drum play-through for the track ‘Disorder And Disruption’. The song is taken from their freshly released full length ‘Forked Tongues‘, which was released on October 29, 2021. Check out drummer Torturer’s take on the track here:
‘Forked Tongues’ can be listened to in full HERE. The cover artwork, which was created by Olivier Lomer (EMPTINESS), and further album details can be found below.
The black metal crusaders in GOAT TORMENT return with ‘Forked Tongues,’ their first new album/release in over 6 years. A blast furnace of primal satanic fury, delivering a savage onslaught!
GOAT TORMENT was formed in 2008 by Kwel and K.J. with the intention to create music as a weapon of mass destruction and to annihilate everything which the so-called society stands for. For a start Kwel was supposed to play bass and K.J. would handle the vocals. But they didn’t find a guitarist who fitted with the ideology on a serious level. Thus Kwel decided to handle all the guitar parts and K.J.. started to play bass. After some months of research, the band recruited drummer Perversor. Then the band released a 4-track demo tape, released in 2009 through Terrorghoul Productions from Austria. The reactions were tremendous and bigger labels contacted the band interested to release the future offerings of GOAT TORMENT.
At this point, the band shared stages all over Europe with bands such as Grave Miasma, Hell Militia, Enthroned, Black Crucifixion, Black Witchery, The Devil’s blood…to name but a few. At the beginning of 2010 GOAT TORMENT had to part ways with drummer Perversor due to musical differences. During the early days of April 2010 a new burning entity was found: S. claimed the throne behind the battery. The Death wielding Trinity of GOAT TORMENT was complete. New songs were written, gigs were played and blood was shed.
Exactly one year later, the band entered the infamous Blackout Studio in Brussels (BE) to record some tracks for two upcoming releases: A 7” split EP with The Beast which was released at the beginning of 2012 and later that year another 7” EP , called “Into The Mouth of the Serpent”. Directly after the split EP was released, Kwel an S. decided to part ways with K.J.. due to different views about their future. In that moment GT decided to go on as a duet recruiting session members for live-shows.
The band returned to Blackout Studio in the fall of 2012 to record their first full-length album ‘Dominande Tenebrae’ ,which was released in February 2013 by Amor Fati Productions from Germany. After a year of a few European shows, the band had their first live appearance on American soil (Maryland Deathfest XII). The band had plans to go on as a four piece, but that didn’t work out because of different views. A South American tour was planned for August 2014 with the Belgian maniacs of ENTHRONED, but the two bands were forced to cancel one month before due to the irresponsible promoter.
In September 2014, S. decided to leave the band, due to other personal priorities and having no time anymore for drumming. It didn’t take long for Kwel to find somebody to take over the hammers. A new era began and Torturer (Mor Dagor, Bethlehem, ex-Belphegor) joined GOAT TORMENT as a new full member, so the duo was complete again. The band returned to Blackout Multimedia Studio in the beginning of 2015 to record their second full-length album.
In the summer of 2015, ‘Sermons To Death’ was released by Amor Fati Productions. The band toured the US West Coast in October 2015, accompanied by Saroth and Vagus Nox as live members. Shortly after, Vagus Nox joined forces to write new material. At the end of 2020, the third studio album ‘Forked Tongues’ had been completed.
The new offering delivers ultraheavy darkening passages that only serve to temper the relentless blasting speed. ‘Forked Tongues’ is musical punishment writ large, and sounds as if forged in the crucible of hell!
Recording Studio: Drums at MMP Studio, Duisburg (DE). Vocals at Blackout Studio, Brussel (BE). Guitars and Bass at Goat Torment’s Lair (BE) Mixing and Mastering: Jérémie Bézier (EMPTINESS) at Blackout Studio, Brussel (BE)
Purity ThroughFire is proud to present Úlfarr‘s highly anticipated second mini-album, The Ruins of Human Failure, on CD, A5 digipack, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. The CD and tape versions shall be released on December 12th while the vinyl will follow in summer 2022.
Since 2011, Úlfarr have stood for uncompromising, antisocial UK black metal – or, under their own banner of Cumbrian Black Metal. Helmed by Dominus, AKA Hrafn – who counts the equally prolific Thy Dying Light amongst his activities, as well as fellow labelmates Nefarious Dusk and Morte Lune – Úlfarr released a couple demos its first few years and then a split album with comrades Hrafnblóð. Another demo followed in 2014, followed by, uniquely, two live albums. Then, in 2019 did the band’s debut mini-album at last arrive, bearing the all-too-fitting title Hate & Terror – The Rise Of Pure Evil. Swift and scything, Úlfarr stoked the flames of traditional black metal in the vein of classic Craft, Darkthrone, Mayhem, One Head One Tail, and Death Cult.
Now, after two more years of silence, Úlfarr return to stoke those flames again with The Ruins of Human Failure. Another apt title, The Ruins of Human Failure encompasses a four-part title track that spits venom and vitriol for miles around, dumping further fuel on the bonfire of humanity. No more and no less, Úlfarr hold tight to their sound and hone in one dark, dismal energies inspired by the desolate landscapes of their homeland, the unrelentingly bleak climate, and a shared disdain towards humanity in the overpopulated wastelands of modern Britain. At times more primitive than its predecessor and more headbanging at others, you don’t so much as listen to The Ruins of Human Failure as FEEL it – and it still hates you, too.
DIY as always, The Ruins of Human Failure was recorded entirely by Dominus, with drums programmed by Azrael, who also handles mixing & mastering here. No hope, and NO CONTACT! Úlfarr plays CUMBRIAN BLACK METAL exclusively!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “The Ruins of Human Failure Pt. 1” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Úlfarr’s The Ruins of Human Failure 1. The Ruins of Human Failure pt. 1 2. The Ruins of Human Failure pt. 2 3. The Ruins of Human Failure pt. 3 4. The Ruins of Human Failure pt. 4 5. Forgotten By Time 6. Cold in Death
On December 21st internationally, Signal Rex is proud to present Hollow Woods‘ highly anticipated debut album, Cold Winds Cleave the Earth, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
After 2019’s well-received Endless Trails demo via Signal Rex, Hollow Woods strike with a full-length debut fittingly titled Cold Winds Cleave the Earth. While hailing from Finland, this mysterious entity largely eschew their homeland’s reigning black metal idiom, instead taking influence from Ukraine (Roman Saenko’s projects), Norway (early Ulver, equally early Gorgoroth), and especially Russia (the Blazebirth Hall collective). In other words, pure & proud BLACK METAL, nevertheless done with personality and charisma.
Cold Winds Cleave the Earth boldly and brazenly displays Hollow Woods‘ full potential across its six-song/39-minute duration. Epic but never belabored, physical but finessed, straightforward but never simplistic: no gimmicks, just hateful black metal. Hollow Woods are always working within the framework of devotion to the primal world and nature mysticism; both can be felt, subtly but assured, across the entirety of Cold Winds Cleave the Earth. The artwork and inspiration for the album’s theme stems from Finnish linguist and ethnographer Kai Donner (1888-1935), taken during his expeditions to Siberia.
So pure, so cold, so boundless within its boundaries: Hollow Woods present a new grim majesty with Cold Winds Cleave the Earth.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Evergreen Vigil” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Hollow Woods’ Cold Winds Cleave the Earth 1. Cold Winds Cleave the Earth 2. A Frozen Glance 3. Evergreen Vigil 4. Transcendent Echoes 5. Glacial Hell 6. To the Shrouded Shores
Today, Hells Headbangers announces the signing of Lament in Winter’s Night. The first fruit of this union shall be the band’s striking debut album, At the Gates of the Eternal Storm, on CD format – the vinyl LP version will be reissued by Altare Productions – which will see release in early 2022.
Hailing from the ever-fertile Australian black metal underground, Lament in Winter’s Night is the work of one The Seer, who has a vast array of other projects lurking in his cobwebbed soul. Of them, Lament in Winter’s Night is the most prominent and prolific and, since the beginning of 2019, has seen feverish activity from The Seer, culminating in the debut album At the Gates of the Eternal Storm in 2020.
Originally released by Drowning the Light’s esteemed Dark Adversary label, At the Gates of the Eternal Storm is a grand and grim summation of the noble Lament in Winter’s Night aesthetic thus far. Scurrying and scrying, The Seer’s attack here is hideous yet human, betraying a wounded-soul sensibility that explodes to the fore from his achingly sad riffing. From the nearly bass-less recording to his ghoulish echoes into the abyss, Lament in Winter’s Night create a unique disconnect here – strangely ethereal on one hand, vicious and violent on the other, with elements deployed in perversely inverse manners – but it bears underlining that this is all done in the name of proud ‘n’ pure BLACK METAL. At the Gates of the Eternal Storm is nothing if not a black metal record could’ve hailed from the darkest recesses of the ’90s.
Now widely available again on CD, At the Gates of the Eternal Storm precedes a brand-new Lament in Winter’s Night album forthcoming from Hells Headbangers on CD and vinyl (the cassette version will be handled by The Seer’s Atrocity Altar label). The dungeons are calling!
Release date for At the Gates of the Eternal Storm will be announced shortly. The album can be streamed in its entirety here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Lament in Winter’s Night’s At the Gates of the Eternal Storm 1. What Hatred Stirs On These Nights [8:48] 2. The Pale Yoke Of Bravery [7:58] 3. As The Ages Fade Before Me [7:22] 4. Winternight’s Yearning [8:36] 5. As Creation Reclaims My Blood [8:43] 6. Dreams Of Those Passing Nights [2:22]
