Month: February 2024

MERRIMACK Release Third Single “Under the Aimless Spheres”

Prepare to delve into the abyss of existential turmoil as MERRIMACK unveils their haunting third single, Under the Aimless Spheres. A visceral exploration of existential angst and spiritual dissolution, the track echoing the band’s enigmatic mastery and captivating lyrical depth.

The lyrics, laden with poetic intensity, evoke a journey through the tormented landscapes of the soul. “We hope in her loins for the assumption, The oath is palavered at her breast,” beckons a cryptic exploration of faith and disillusionment, while “Far from the south of descend, We must confront our gravities” challenges the listener to confront the weight of their existence.

With each verse, MERRIMACK navigates the contours of existential despair, casting light on the ferments of stone and the sighs of the earth. Under the Aimless Spheres serves as a poignant approach to the human condition, where the sacred and profane converge in a tumultuous dance of divine contempt and mortal longing.

‘Of Grace and Gravity’ is out March 8, 2024 on Season of Mist: Underground Activists.

Pre-order:https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/MerrimackGraceGravity

Track-list
1. Sulphurean Synods (6:42) [WATCH]
2. Sublunar Despondency (7:07)
3. Dead and Distant Clamors (5:35) [LISTEN]
4. Wounds that Heal (6:44)
5. Starving Crowns (8:05)
6. Under the Aimless Spheres (7:01) [LISTEN]
7. Embalmer’s Wine (6:59)
Total: 48:13

MERRIMACK are back with their new album ‘Of Grace and Gravity’. Their third release for Season of Mist arrives after the re-print of their long sold-out debut ‘Ashes of Purification’, which followed the sizeable impact that their last album, ‘Omegaphilia’, had on the Black Metal Scene.

MERRIMACK can be categorised as extreme traditionalists that are driven by a burning desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. The band was founded by guitarist Perversifier a.k.a. Amfortas in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise or turn the style into a self-parody. Introduced by a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words.

Although MERRIMACK decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’, the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time. With the following albums, ‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009), MERRIMACK closed ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.

After recording ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666) again, MERRIMACK embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze as well as Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada. With their previous album, ‘Omegaphilia’, MERRIMACK were breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre. While ignoring epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, the French focused on razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements.

The ensemble now presents their latest album ‘Of Grace and Gravity’, an aural journey where grotesque assemblies of roosters and goats languish at the foot of heavens. Wallowing guitars and hypnotized passages of blasting drums collide with gravity-bound atoms in oblivious occlusion. MERRIMACK, in their enigmatic mastery, expose the futility of belief in occult ministries and slashes at the mask of the sky. The listener, questioned in their faith of the shadows and occult idols. Dare believe in the sulfurous whispers echoing through this blackened masterpiece.

Line-up
Perversifier – Guitars
A.K. – Guitars
Blastum – Drums
Vestal – Vocals
Daethorn – Bass

Recording Studio
Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris, France

Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Francis Caste

Artwork Artist
Belial Necroarts – Front cover
Opposition Artworks – Inner illustrations
Adrien Bousson – Layout

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/MerrimackGraceGravity

Links:
Bandcamp: https://merrimack.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merrimackofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrimack666/
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/99176
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XWKabUW6Y9pm9vyNGlrhV
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3642745
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/merrimack/41660594
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000QKG2N8

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Transparent Clear
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – White
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Transparent w/ Black Splatters

DUINDWALER premiere new track – features HELLEVAERDER member

Today, Dutch black metallers Duindwaler premiere the new track “Vaderlands vuur”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, In het Heemskerks duin, set for international release on March 21st:  Void Wanderer Productions and War Productions will handle the digipack CD and digital versions while Zwaertgevegt will handle the cassette tape version. Hear Duindwaler‘s “Vaderlands vuur” in its entirety here:

Embark on a harrowing journey into the abyss with In het Heemskerks duin, the full-length debut offering from Dutch black metal entity Duindwaler. An enigmatic force in the realm of black metal, this album transcends the boundaries of sonic extremity, casting a shroud of darkness that engulfs the listener in an otherworldly experience. Draped in the haunting atmosphere characteristic of black metal, In het Heemskerks duin is a sonic tapestry that weaves together blistering tremolo-picked guitars, playful basslines, thunderous blastbeats, and anguished vocals. The relentless assault of sound is punctuated by its overall harshness and the lack of intros.

The album’s production is a sonic descent into the abyss, with a raw and unpolished sound that captures the primal energy of the music. The guitar tones cut through the mix like icy winds, while the drums reverberate like thunder, creating an immersive auditory experience that transports the listener to desolate, otherworldly landscapes.

In het Heemskerks duin stands as a testament to Duindwaler‘s unwavering commitment to the black metal aesthetic, pushing the boundaries of the genre while remaining true to its roots. With each track, the wanderer invites the audience to confront the shadows within and embrace the cathartic release that can only be found within the dark, tumultuous realms of black metal. Brace yourself for a journey into the heart of obscurity, where the dunes of Heemskerk awaits to envelop you in its chilling embrace.

Hear the previously revealed title track “In het Heemskerks duin” exclusively HERE, courtesy of ZwareMetalen.com. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of A.A.W.R., and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Duindwaler’s In het Heemskerks duin
1. Vaderlands vuur [7:52]
2. Razende wind [4:37]
3. In het Heemskerks duin [6:45]
4. Het duister bestormd [5:18]
5. Alle rust verdwenen [5:31]
6. Schim in de duinen [6:06]

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/duindwaler 
www.duindwaler.bandcamp.com 

www.voidwanderer.com
www.facebook.com/voidwandererprod 
www.voidwandererproductions.bandcamp.com 

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO Announce European Fire Blades From the Tomb Tour

Italian doom metal & dark wave maestros PONTE DEL DIAVOLO are set to embark on a captivating journey across Italy with the announcement of their Fire Blades From the Tomb release tour. The band is poised to bridge the gap between worlds, taking their unique blend of classic cultish doom metal infused with post-punk and dark wave to audiences across 11 unique dates in Italy, and one in Switzerland.

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO has already left a trail of anticipation for their upcoming album Fire Blades From the Tomb with the release of three singles so far. Demone wove a dark narrative inspired by esoteric themes and mysticism. They followed up with their second single Covenant with dark and doomy bass lines that swarm like a sky full of thunderclouds. With Nocturnal Veil, the band casts a deadly spell with gloomy clarinets, clanking cymbals and whip-cracking riffs.

Fire Blades From The Tomb is out February 16, 2024 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/PonteFireBlades
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/firebladesfromthetombpresave

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO states:

“So proud to announce the first part of our Italian tour 🔥. It’s an honor to share the stage with so many great bands from the national and international scene (see details). We are looking forward to play in some of the most important music festivals in Italy as well, such as Frantic Fest, Molto Male Fest and Church of Crow Fest. See you out there!“

Fire Blades From the Tomb Tour 2024 – Part I:
February 24 – Genoa, IT @ La Claque w/ Malombra
March 1 – Turin, IT @ Ziggy Club w/ Shores of Null
March 2 – Mantua, IT @ The Academy w/ Shores of Null, Die Sünde
April 12 – Milan, IT @ Circolo Bellezza w/ Sacri Suoni
April 13 – Liestal, CH @ A-Way w/ Black Oath
April 26 – Rome, IT @ Traffic w/ Otus
April 27 – Modena, IT @ NotteTempio
May 5  – Pinerolo, IT @ Church of Crow Fest w/ Shape of despair, Dawn of winter
May 17 – Vicenza, IT @ CSA Arcadia w/ October Tide
May 18 – Bergamo, IT @ Molto Male Fest w/ Bongzilla, Raw Power, Hate e Merda
June 1 – Erba, IT @ Centrale Rock Pub w/ Voland
August 16 – Francavilla al Mare, IT @ Frantic Fest w/ Marduk, Darvaza, Undertakers

Track-list
1. Demone (5:00) [WATCH]
2. Covenant (6:56) [WATCH]
3. Red As The Sex Of She Who Lives In Death (6:20)
4. La Razza (8:03)
5. Nocturnal Veil (5:17) [LISTEN]
6. Zero (5:26)
7. The Weeping Song (5:33)
Total: 42:35

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO bridges the gap between two separate worlds.

The Italian band proposes a Doom / Black metal sound with old-school roots, adding a modern and outside the box background. The female voice – with strong dark wave influences – is the lyric corpus of this strongly esoteric project. The solid presence of two bassists creates the massive foundation for the rhythmic guitar, everything marked by a raw and dynamic drumming.

Mystery of Mystery / Secret Live Session marked the quintet’s debut EP. It was recorded live and without editing at Dracma Studio with the producer L’Ossario in their home base of Turin in March 2020. “I” was released on the web by Iopan Records. It was soon followed by their second single, “The Wickedest Woman In the World”.

At the end of 2021, Ponte Del Diavolo recorded their second EP, Sancta Menstruis at Deepest Sea Studio in Turin with Danilo Battocchio. The first single,  “The Unborn”, arrived in February 2022.

The band’s third EP, Ave Scintilla!, was also recorded in Turin. This time around, they reconvened at Dracma Studio with L’Ossario.

Now that they’ve signed with Season of Mist, Ponte Del Diavolo are ready to release their debut album. Fire Blades From the Tomb  forges classic, cultish doom metal with modern bents of post-punk. Lead single and opening track “Demone” is whipped along by a boiled black bass line and dark-wave induced vocals.

Prepare to cross over into the Italian dark arts.

Line-up
Elena Camusso (as Erba Del Diavolo) – Vocals
Alessio Caruso (as Krhura) – Bass
Andrea l’Abbate (as Kratom) – Bass
Stefano Franchina (as Segale Cornuta) – Drums
Rocco Scuzzarella (as Nerium) – Guitars

Guest Musicians
Andrea l’Abbate – Synth on ‘Covenant’.
Lucynine – Theremin on ‘Covenant’.
Vittorio Sabelli – Clarinet on ‘Covenant’, ‘Red as the sex of She who lives in death’ & ‘Nocturnal veil’.
Davide Straccione – Vocals on ‘The weeping song’.

Recording Studio
Deepest Sea Studio

Producer & Sound Engineer
Danilo Battocchio

Mixing & Mastering Studio / Engineer
Lunatech Sounds / Dimitris Douvras

Cover Art
Laura Nardelli

Press-kit:https://presskit.season-of-mist.com/Ponte_Del_Diavolo/
Login: presskit  
Password: Presskitofmist

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/firebladesfromthetombpresave​​​​

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/PonteFireBlades

Links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ponte-del-diavolo/1639072320
Bandcamp: https://pontedeldiavolo666.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PontedelDiavolo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pontedeldiavoloband/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4mAfr0B2wgIFbVBUAv9btD
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pontedeldiavolo3847

Available Formats:
Digital Download
Deluxe CD Digipak
12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Gold & Black Marbled

HOLLOW WOODS stream new SIGNAL REX album

Today, Finnish black metallers Hollow Woods stream the entirety of their highly anticipated second album, Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants. Set for international release on February 2nd via Signal Rex, hear Hollow Woods‘ Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants in its entirety here:

In many ways, Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants is a natural continuation of Hollow Woods‘ debut album, Cold Winds Cleave the Earth, from 2021. Familiar elements – pure & proud BLACK METAL, done with personality and charisma – are recast in more varied ways. The production across the album is a bit more airy compared to that debut, but still far from overly polished. Likewise, overt aggression is dialed down a bit to make room for more epic passages, where acoustic guitar gives support to powerful clean vocals. As no doubt presaged by the album’s title, lyrical themes here deal with nature mysticism, atavism, and specifically slash-and-burn as a metaphor of personal growth unburdened by the past. For the first time, select passages of lyrics are published as ciphers for the song’s themes. To usher in Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants, Hollow Woods will be performing at the Howls of Winter fest in Estonia during February 2024.

 Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Hollow Woods’ Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants
1. Ancient Graves
2. Beneath the Dying Tower
3. Night Burns Through
4. Halls of Idle Breath
5. Interlude / Among Ruins
6. Burial Fires
7. Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants

MORE INFO
www.hollowwoods.bandcamp.com

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

www.signalrex.bandcamp.com

DÖDSRIT premiere new track

Today, hiking metalpunk horde Dödsrit premiere the new track “Celestial Will”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fourth album, Nocturnal Will, set for international release on March 22nd via Wolves of Hades. Hear Dödsrit‘s “Celestial Will” in its entirety here:

Shrouded in Gyllbergen’s mist, and the sentient essence of the nocturnal fire burning within, Dödsrit hereby unveils its fourth beckoning, entitled Nocturnal Will.
 
With six hymns, Dödsrit purvey triumphant atmosphere, archaic strength, and mournful rejoice where every note reverberates with the weight of devotion and suffering.
 
Restless and visceral, these unhallowed tomes beckon the mournful chants from its resonant harmonious introduction to the victorious dagger in the very core of the cosmos under the celestial will of heroic bloodshed.
 
Utterly dynamic and organic, Nocturnal Will carries the elements of a record to be beheld through the ages. From feral wailing vocals, coupled with intricate guitar work – blazing with catchy-yet-somber melodic leads and acoustic lines – to the unrelenting rhythmic, percussive assault, a symbiotic maelstrom of sound is created with captivating and harrowing virtues.
 
Written in blood and fire, Nocturnal Will carries the nostalgia and grief of olden days into a new Aeon, with a will and command, a genuine fervor that shines beyond the burning ember and the smothering ash.

 Also hear the previously revealed “Nocturnal Fire” HERE at Wolves of Hades‘ Bandcamp. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Burney, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Dödsrit’s Nocturnal Will

1. Irjala [10:37]
2. Nocturnal Fire [8:03]
3. Ember and Ash [0:45]
4. Utmed Gyllbergens Stig [4:33]
5. As Death Comes Reaping [10:45]
6. Celestial Will [8:29]

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/DODSRIT

www.wolvesofhades.myshopify.com

LITOSTH stream new PERSONAL RECORDS album – features members of MYSTERIIS, PATRIA+++

Today, Brazilian dark metallers Litosth stream the entirety of their highly anticipated third album, Cesariana. Set for international release on February 2nd via Personal Records, hear Litosth‘s Cesariana in its entirety here:

Litosth is the physical manifestation of the visions of Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Maicon Ristow and bassist Wendel Siota. Founded in 2016, Litosth channel a torrent of feelings and life principles in the form of music, which definitely does not respect any type of barrier or limitation. 

Formed by members of the most prominent black metal bands in Latin America (Patria, Mysteriis, Swords at Hymns, Dark Celebration, I Gather your Grief), Litosth bring a new approach and a breath of fresh air with their unique way of creating music. Following two albums – 2019’s Crossed Parallels of Self Refraction and 2022’s Farther From the Sun – Litosth are now set to release their third full-length, Cesariana. Armed with absolutely top-notch production, Cesariana sees the duo go even deeper in their quest, delivering a mix of almost unthinkable influences. The basis is melodic black metal of a most ’90s vintage, but threading inside and out this visceral work are everything from dark pop from the ’80s, epic classical music, and a wide swath of other metals – doom and dark metal, especially. Cesariana is thus a work that feels boundless and brave, all the while exhibiting a focus that’s exceptionally concise given that breadth.

But, lest one think Litosth are betraying their black metal roots, think again: Cesariana contains a massive amount of melodic black metal grandeur, cosmic and symphonic in equal measure, sheathed in a soundfield that allows all atmospheric undercurrents to vividly convey the band’s vision. That theme sees Cesariana as a resilience manifesto, written in eight songs that celebrate the tragedy and the curse about the fact of being alive, even against one’s will. It is a cry not of agony, but of revolt – against the establishment, and against the magic formula for happiness. And it was never just music…

Behold one of the new year’s boldest and biggest-sounding records with Litosth‘s Cesariana!

Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover artwork and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Litosth’s Cesariana

1. In Waves
2. Whipping Bottles
3. Time Doesn’t Heal
4. The Clay Messiah
5. A Ofensa
6. The Argonaut
7. Caesarean
8. The Vaccum Extractor Paradigm

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/litosthofficial 

www.personal-records.com
personal-records.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/personalrecords666
Instagram.com/personalrecords666