Steve Bruder Des Lichts

Hellfest Donates 1 Million Euro to Savage Lands

Watch the musician-run non-profit perform “Roots” with members of Sepultura, Napalm Death, Biohazard and more special guests
Donate Now!

Savage Lands are still buzzing after their performance on the main stage at Hellfest. Today, the musician-run 501(c) 3 non-profit is thrilled to announce that the festival is donating one million Euro to support their ongoing reforestation efforts in Costa Rica and Europe! 

“This is a historical move by Hellfest and a great signal to the music industry”, says musician-turned-activist Sylvain Demercastel, who founded Savage Lands with Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren. “Such an extraordinarily generous donation from a renowned festival is just another example of the many ways that the metal community supports each other”.

Hellfest’s donation is just one part of a five-year partnership. Savage Lands will continue to host a booth on the festival grounds. This year, Bill Hudson (I Am Morbid), members of Dimmu Borgir and other metalheads stopped by their booth to learn more about the green zones, nature sanctuaries and other biodiversity preservation projects that they are building in Costa Rica. The non-profit has protected 60,000 square feet of rain forest using 100% of the royalties from their music.

“As a non-profit, we depend on the support of our listeners, other organizations and fellow artists”, Sylvain says.

Many of their famous friends showed up to support Savage Lands at Hellfest. Sylvain was backed by familiar faces in Florian Pons (Loco Muerte) and Poun and Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A). Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) and Daniel de Jongh (Textures) joined for their entire set, which kicked off with “The Last Howl”, a fitting tribute to the endangered howler monkey. Chloe Trujillio hopped on for the blackened groove of “Black Rock Heart”, followed by Silje Wergeland (The Gathering) who sang along to the band’s new melancholic single “No Remedy”.

Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy) and Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) pledged their support via video. So did Maria Franz from Heilung, who are also partnering with Savage Lands. The Nordic collective are donating $1 for every ticket sold on their US tour to support the non-profit’s reforestation efforts.

As if that wasn’t enough starpower, for their grand finale, Savage Lands brought out Jesper Liveröd (Nasum) Alejandro Montoya (Cultura tres) Billy Graziadei (Biohazard) and Shane Embury (Napalm Death) for a bloody, screaming rendition of “Roots”.   

“I’ve known Andreas for such a long time,” says Shane Embury. “It was great sharing the stage with him and all of these wonderful musicians. Meeting and becoming friends with Sylvain and the rest of his band was a beautiful experience.

“Making true creative connections like this is so important” Shane continues. “That’s a big part of what draws me to Savage Lands. We are connected with every living thing on this planet and their organization is helping to preserve nature’s treasures. I’m happy to be a part of such a truly important cause”.  

Some of the artists who performed with Savage Lands at Hellfest have already committed to working on their upcoming album, which will be released by Season of Mist. In the meantime, Sylvain and Dirk are still looking for more festivals and other prominent members of the metal community to join the army of trees.

“Our goals are attainable” Sylvain says. “By converting the land that we purchase into nature sanctuaries, Savage Lands will help set a precedent for environmental activism. But we must act quickly. Ecosystems are still under attack. If we don’t, then there won’t be any wildlife left to save”.

Just listening to their music helps support Savage Lands. 100% of their song royalties fund the non-profit’s preservation efforts in Costa Rica.

Donations can also be made at https://savagelands.org/donation/

Tracks
1. “The Last Howl” (5:48) [WATCH]
2. “Black Rock Heart” (4:54) [WATCH]
3. “No Remedy” (4:24) [WATCH]

Artists occasionally support causes through donations to organizations. With SAVAGE LANDS, Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren teamed up with his guitar-wielding friend Sylvain Demercastel to create their own US 501(c)3 non-profit.

Savage Lands raises money for reforestation and the creation of sanctuaries free of human destruction in Costa Rica. Using their own royalties, donations and other fundraising efforts, the organization builds nature sanctuaries, establishes green zones and other land preservation projects. They partner with other non-profits, scientists and forest engineers, as well as Decibel Magazine and Season of Mist.   

Donate: https://savagelands.org/donation/

“If you want to make a difference, take action! Our greatest hope with Savage Lands is that it will inspire you to join us, and if you can, to start your own initiative to help preserve animals, forests, and our planet”, says Dirk.

Learn more about Savage Lands
https://savagelands.org/

Stream
https://savagelands.fanlink.tv/NoRemedy

BLOOD FEAST stream new HELLS HEADBANGERS album

Blood Feast has been transformed yet again. Nearly five years in the making, with many twists and turns along the way, the band’s fourth album, Infinite Evolution, will see international release via Hells Headbangers on July 12th on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. And today, they stream the album in its entirety. Hear Blood Feast‘s Infinite Evolution in its entirety here:

Continuing on from 2017’s The Future State Of Wicked, the band keeps the thrash vicious, as one would expect. Yet, this time out, the boundaries are expanded. There have been changes in the ranks, as original guitarist Adam Tranquilli has now added lead vocal duties, and co-guitarist/producer CJ Scioscia has taken on more of the songwriting. Drummer Adam Kieffer remains (he came onboard for the band’s 2019 EP Chopped, Sliced & Diced), while bassist extraordinaire Mike LePond of Symphony X lent his impressive talents on the low end.

Songs such as “Outbreak,” “Never Will I Die,” and “Of Hell” retain the Blood Feast tradition of fast and furious. However, the limits are pushed out a bit further into a tech/prog direction on “Eye Of Glass” and album closer “The Chosen.” With a production straddling the line between modern and old school, Infinite Evolution shows diversity, yet without sacrificing the speed or heaviness.

With the lineup now solidified by the addition of Dave Kramer on bass, Blood Feast is itching to get these songs aired in public. New adventures await, and new frontiers are ready to be conquered. Infinite Evolution is the key to the journey.

 Also see & hear the previously revealed video for “Outbreak” HERE, also at Hells Headbangers‘ official YouTube channel. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Blood Feast’s Infinite Evolution
1. Crafting Carnage
2. Ravaging The Loins Of Mary
3. Never Will I Die
4. Of Hell
5. Eye of Glass
6. Outbreak
7. The Preacher
8. Evilution
9. The Chosen

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/bloodfeastlegions

www.hellsheadbangers.com
www.facebook.com/hellsheadbangers 

SETH Release Third Single “Insurrection”

From the crucible of France’s shadowed past, where the streets once echoed with the shrieks of the condemned, emerges an album that summons the spirit of insurrection and rebellion. SETH, the heralds of French black metal, return with their seventh full-length opus, La France des Maudits. This is no mere collection of songs; it is a revolutionary symphony that calls upon the echoes of fallen angels and the flame-lit guillotine.

SETH invokes the blood-stained history and mystic fall of a long-standing kingdom to create a soundtrack of defiance. Their latest creation, La France des Maudits, is an intricate tapestry of shadows, drenched in the wine of condemned men and the blood of saints. This black metal gospel speaks to the damned and the outcast, those who refuse to kneel before divine decay and instead, rise like wraiths in the night.

With tracks like Et Que Vive le Diable ! and  Dans le Cœur un Poignard, SETH carves out the anthems of resistance for a new age. These songs capture the raw, unyielding fury of a world on the brink of an apocalypse – a realm where the downtrodden rise in defiance against celestial oppression.

Be prepared, for their audacious crusade is not for the faint-hearted. The full album premieres here:

La France des Maudits is out July 14, on Bastille Day, through Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/sethlafrancesdesmaudits

Early praise for La France des Maudits

“With their seventh full-length release, SETH certainly stands as a flagship of the French black metal scene.” – Legacy Magazine

“Seth has never been a one-dimensional band, but this time there seems to be more happening than ever before.” – Rock Tribune

“So much to absorb as far as the visceral components of the record: somber, triumphant and soulful – a fists-clenched, eyes closed type of an album…”- Metal Bite

“The spirit of rebellion in SETH is accompanied by dark romance and a certain eerie melody.” – Metal.de

Tracklist
1. Paris des Maléfices (5:09)
2. Et Que Vive le Diable ! (5:35) [WATCH]
3. La Destruction des Reliques (5:51)
4. Dans le Cœur un Poignard (5:30) [WATCH]
5. Marianne (2:59)
6. Ivre du Sang des Saints (5:37)
7. Insurrection (7:33) [WATCH]
8. Le Vin du Condamné (8:06)
9. Initials B.B. (Serge Gainsbourg Cover) (Bonus Track) (3:49)
Total runtime: 46:22

In the solemn shadows of a lyrically resurrected Paris, where the whispers of revolution still haunt the cobblestones and the phantom caress of the guillotine’s blade lingers in the air, stands a band – not merely of musicians, but of modern Marats, Robespierres in leather and lace, anointed with the spirit of insurrection. SETH, the harbingers of a dark yet fervidly awaited dawn, are poised once more to unleash a tempest upon the sanctified silence of the contemporary music scene with their newest auditory uprising, La France des Maudits.

The history of black metal formation SETH and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut Les Blessures de L’Ame (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record.

The release of Les Blessures de L’Ame quickly gained international attention and SETH built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album Originators of the Northern Darkness alongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length The Excellence came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound.

Shortly after, the group recorded their third album Divine-X (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.

Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album Era-Decay (2004), two new members joined the ranks of SETH: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.

A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing The Howling Spirit (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Les Blessures de L’Ame in 2018, SETH exclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called 20 ans de Blasphème. The band’s new line-up features members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.

In the twilight year of 2021, within Paris’ shadow-ridden crypt, Studio Sainte Marthe, an album was birthed from SETH‘s tumultuous revelation, christened, La Morsure du Christ. Earning plaudits of wonder, it was no mere collection of hymns, but a solitary harbinger of deconstruction, a cataclysm of unseen proportions. Inspiration seeped from Notre-Dame de Paris—her skeletal frame ablaze in a 2019’s firestorm—an emblem of decaying faith for a godforsaken era. As heavy as the iron heart of a guillotine, La Morsure du Christ echoed through the chambers of 2021, reigning supreme in a multitude of international & French metal charts, as well as its inclusion on premier streaming platform playlists. Bold symphonies interwoven with razor-sharp lyricism and a sophisticated conceptual resonance that dared to envision black metal through a revolutionary lens.

Rooted deeply in the soil that once drank deeply of royal and commoner blood alike during the tumultuous fervour of the French Revolution, SETH presents their latest opus – a black metal gospel according to the damned and the outcast. An intricate tapestry of shadows and defiance emerges from the darkness of history’s recesses, swirling with the mists of apocalyptic visions and the ashes of fallen angels. La France des Maudits is a declaration of war, a call to arms for the souls still smouldering beneath the veneer of a world too long gripped in the cold hands of a moribund orthodoxy.

With the fractured bones of dead gods beneath their boots, SETH voyages through the forbidden and the occult, tracing the lines of ancient prophecies and the decadent whispers of La Grande Catin Écarlate, the scarlet woman of the apocalypse. Their songs, from Paris des Maléfices to Insurrection, resonate with the echoes of a Paris besieged not by armies, but by souls clamouring for liberation – a city where each stone tells a tale of defiance, where every shadow harbours the spirit of revolt.

Lyrically, La France des Maudits is dripping with the wine of condemned men and the blood of saints, narrating the epic saga of rebellion from the ashes of a fallen Notre-Dame. This is not the Paris of light, but of enlightening darkness, where the façades of grandeur crumble to reveal the raw flesh of true humanity, writhing in its eternal struggle against divine oppression. Here, in the very heart of darkness, SETH finds its muse among the cacophony of broken chains and shattered dogmas.Prepare to march beneath the banner unfurled by SETH, in the grand tradition of those unyielding souls who once stormed the Bastille and dared to dream of a world remade. La France des Maudits beckons – not to the gallows, but to glory.

Line-up
Saint Vincent – Vocals (Blacklodge)
Heimoth – Guitar (Sinsaenum)
Drakhian – Guitar (ex-Loudblast, Griffar)
Pierre Le Pape – Keys (Melted Space)
EsX – Bass (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack)
Alsvid – Drums (ex-Enthroned, ex-Ad Patres)

Recording Studio
Sainte Marthe Studio

Production Credits
Mixed, produced & mastered by Francis Caste

Biography
Sébastien Gamez

Cover Art
Andy Julia (Photography)

Stream & Order: 
https://orcd.co/sethlafrancesdesmaudits

Links/Follow Artist
Official Website: https://www.innomineseth.fr/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/innomineseth
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sethblackmetal
Bandcamp: http://innomineseth.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mZohnzbCiVv54VIEA6Wb7
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/56150
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/seth/1643927366
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/InNomineSethOfficial
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/innomineseth

Available Formats
Digital Download
CD Digipak
Limited CD Clamshell Box
12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Gold
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Blue & Black Marbled
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Red, White & Black Marbled
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Crystal Clear
12″ Liquid-Filled Vinyl Gatefold – Bood Red Liquid
Cassette

MAGES TERROR stream INVICTUS debut album – features members of PORTAL, VOMITOR, IMPETUOUS RITUAL, PUSTILENCE+++

On July 12th internationally, Invictus Productions will release Mages Terror‘s highly anticipated debut album, Damnations Sight, on CD and vinyl LP formats. And today, they stream the album in its entirety. Hear Mages Terror‘s Damnations Sight in its entirety here:

Mages Terror are built upon the fiery hunger of Illogium’s will to create a third psyche outside of Portal and Vomitor which would explore the devotion to the arts of thrashing ancient death and speed metal with the traditional essence. Elite levels of darkness and hate are fused with simplified, structured headbanging riffs, adorned with scathing vocals and a mix of shredding vs. haunting solos.

Alongside him is guitarist Rotten, hailing from the Brisbane death metal unit Pustilence, with his highly skilled virtuoso style of soloing, which offsets the atonal horror of the solo work by Illogium – a complementary guitar duo. Vocalist / bassist Stillborn, who also bleeds over from Pustilence, unleashes a scathing presence that commands over the dual fire. Drums are pounded by CY, who has graced bands in the past such as Mongrels Cross, Impetuous Ritual, and Consummation.

The year 2023 saw a demo under the guise of Vulgar Overlord, recorded via Tascam 4-track, rough and raw with a limited release of 80 red pro-cassettes (which quickly sold out). In November of the same year, with Aphotic Mote (of Portal) at the mixing helm, Mages Terror‘s debut full-length, Damnations Sight, was conjured, of which the results are stunning. Rich vintage and ripping guitar tones, huge drums, and nasty vocals are hammered down with conviction.

Invictus Productions have stepped up to release Mages Terror‘s Damnations Sight, marking a union of several years between the label and Australia’s heathen underground metal best.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Mages Terror’s Damnations Sight
1. Serpent Bat
2. Paramount Specter Dust
3. Fane of the Slug Gods
4. Ruthless Guild
5. Presage
6. The Vomited Harvest
7. Master in the Black Cavern
8. Demon Bell
9. Vulgar Overlord
10. Damnations Sight

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/magesterrorfront
magesterror.bandcamp.com

 www.invictusproductions.net

www.facebook.com/invictusproductions

Germany’s WARLUST premiere new track, set release date for new DYING VICTIMS album

On September 27th internationally, Dying Victims Productions is proud to present the highly anticipated third album of Germany’s Warlust, Sol Invictus In Umbrae Satanae, on CD and vinyl LP formats. And today, they premiere the new track “…Of Gallows & Absurdity.” Hear Warlust’s “…Of Gallows & Absurdity” in its entirety here:

Once one of the metal underground’s best-kept secrets, Warlust began their assault on the false in 2012. The title of their debut demo, 2014’s Unholy Attack, said everything it needed to: here was blackthrashing METAL, steeped in the spirits of old and with genuinely evil blood coursing through its veins. However, it was 2017’s Morbid Execution debut album where Warlust first truly took flight – on burning wings of flame! More intense, more epic, more heavy fucking metal, Morbid Execution carried on the noble work started by founding fathers Desaster in their homeland and Deströyer 666, Zemial, and Aura Noir abroad. Still, more swords were to be sharpened, and they were held aloft in glorious might on Warlust’s second album (and first for Dying Victims), 2020’s Unearthing Shattered Philosophies. Unshackling themselves from a strict(er) blackthrash template, the band’s songwriting blossomed on their sophomore assault alongside an increased understanding (and usage) of dynamics. Meanwhile, Warlust’s simultaneously cryogenic / burning-hot melodicism heighten comparisons to classic Dissection and Necrophobic and justifiably garnered a wealth of acclaim upon its release.

That noble trajectory continues, four years later, on Warlust’s Sol Invictus In Umbrae Satanae. That title serves as a clarion call for those who heed the call of Hell’s heavy metal – eternal, unyielding, suffused with strength and vigor in times of terror and triumph, melancholy and malevolence. Taking a wider view of Warlust’s discography, this third album follows logically from its predecessor, making for an equally-cutting counterpart compared to the rougher outlier of the debut. Thankfully, then, little has changed in the band’s arsenal – the narratives are epic but always urgent, the melodicism still surges and sways with maximum evil, muscular chops melded with blackest atmosphere – but if there’s one uptick to be said for Sol Invictus In Umbrae Satanae, it’s how HUGE the whole record sounds. Much of that can be attributed to the pronounced integration of marching mid-tempos as well as some tasteful clean tones, but from the brief intro to bristling opener “Serpent Crown” onward, Warlust exude both a tightness and clarity of execution that altogether spell “classy,” and all without any sacrifice of their original black/death fire. Put another way, with the palatably professional production pushing the album atop the uppermost echelon of nowadays evil metal, the Germans sound like they could command the biggest of stages, wielding their weapons of sonic sin with the composure and charisma befitting of total legends. But that legendry is still being written, and Sol Invictus In Umbrae Satanae is no doubt Warlust’s biggest & boldest script yet!  

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Warlust (Germany)’s Sol Invictus In Umbrae Satanae
1. In Concord & Euphoria
2. Serpent Crown
3. Between Apeiron & Plague
4. Sol Invictus In Umbrae Satanae
5. Forgotten Cult Of Chronos
6. The Followless
7. …Of Gallows & Absurdity
8. Legio! Aeterna! Victrix!
9. Black Souls

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/warlust666

www.dying-victims.de 
www.facebook.com/dyingvictimsproductions 

DEATHLESS VOID set release date for IRON BONEHEAD debut album, reveal first track

Today, Iron Bonehead Productions announces September 20th as the international release date for Deathless Void‘s highly anticipated debut album, The Voluptuous Fire of Sin, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Hailing from the resurgent Dutch black metal scene, the then-mysterious Deathless Void made their public debut with a self-titled EP in early 2022, released by Iron Bonehead. Across its three-song / 15-minute runtime was a vacuum of violent, post-modern death energy. Their foundation was undoubtedly black metal, but their vision was not blinkered by the past; if anything, the jet-stream of crushing chaos across Deathless Void was futuristic, albeit a ruined vision of such. 

Reprising two of those EP tracks, The Voluptuous Fire of Sin becomes the penultimate first statement from Deathless Void. Much of that foundation is fortunately still in place – palpitating physicality mutated into cold, cutting, gleaming-yet-bloodstained steel – but the now-quartet have excised some of the noisier crags of that EP in favor of a more organic soundfield, which exceptionally amplifies the latent nightsky melodicism of their black metal. In terms of that EP, one could point to later Katharsis or Antaeus or especially turn-of-the-millennium Thorns as touchstones; on The Voluptuous Fire of Sin, there’s a palpably late ’90s feel in both songwriting and production, such that one could psychically slot the album among the No Fashion Records roster back then. Still, said EP whipped forth its own dread and delirium, and Deathless Void duly maximize that sensation here. The riffs and rhythms may attack in a somewhat-familiar manner, but coursing through their bloodstream is a haunting aspect that hovers both above and below, each texture daubed in nightmarishly psychedelic color – all emanating from BLACK. Not for nothing does the record (violently) begin with “Psychedelic Warfare” on to “Purple Triad,” with “The Ecstasy of Sin” able to be tasted when “Crossing the Threshold” until, finally, there’s a “Curse Upon You”… 

The start of THE END begins again: Deathless Void‘s The Voluptuous Fire of Sin!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Vortex Climax” here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Deathless Void’s The Voluptuous Fire of Sin
1. Psychedelic Warfare
2. Vortex Climax
3. The Shattered Realms Of Man Become The Abyss
4. The Ecstasy Of Sin
5. Iside
6. Burning Shapes Without Form
7. Crossing The Threshold
8. Purple Triad
9. Curse Upon You

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/Deathless-Void-103576735546776

www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

1349 Master the Darkness on First Single “Shadow Point” 🔥

Born from the frost-bitten landscapes of Norway, 1349 return to claim the throne of black metal supremacy with their blistering lead single, Shadow Point. This infernal offering, carved from the seething heart of their upcoming album The Wolf and The King, is proof of their unwavering dedication to the genre’s darkest depths.

Shadow Point revisits the infernal pathways 1349 has traversed, enhancing the aural ferocity with unrelenting groove and complex, headbanging riffs that echo the haunting chills of the abyss. This track captures the raw, unfiltered sound that has defined the band’s legacy – a sonic onslaught that commands respect and fear.

The Wolf and The King is a monument of black metal mastery, an eight-track odyssey recorded at Amper Tone in Oslo and New Constellation R.M.P. in Orlando, produced and mixed by the relentless duo Ravn and Jarrett Pritchard. This album does more than just push boundaries; it shatters them, exploring themes of transformation through destruction, liberation, and mind expansion.

Each track is a portal into realms where shadows reign, and chaos is the only order. From the menacing grooves of The God Devourer to the cataclysmic landscapes of Fatalist, every song is imbued with apocalyptic elegance. The previously released Ash of Ages‘ merges thrash influences with black metal intensity, while Inferior Pathways forms an indomitable backbone of unforgiving riffage and demonic rhythms.
Ash of Ages can still be ordered on a 12″ vinyl: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/1349AshofAges

Prepare for the aural assault – Shadow Point is just the beginning. Embrace the void and succumb to the relentless fury of 1349‘s blackened artistry.

Watch the hellish music video for Shadow Point, directed by Claudio Marino here:

The Wolf and The King is out October 4th via Season of Mist.

➤ Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/1349thewolfandtheking

In a union that promises to reshape the contours of black metal, Norwegian titans 1349 will be joining forces with the revered Kampfar for the highly anticipated 1349 & Kampfar – 2024 EU Co-Headline Tour. A ceremonial gathering of black metal’s most fervent apostles, ready to spread the gospel of Aural Hellfire and pagan might across Europe.

1349 & Kampfar Co-Headline – 2024 EU Tour:
01 October: Leipzig, DE @ Anker
02 October: Berlin, DE @ SO36
03 October: Aarhus, DK @ Voxhall
04 October: Gothenburg, SE @ Filmstudion
05 October: Stockholm, SE @ Kolletkivet Livet
07 October: Helsinki, FI @ Aaniwalli
08 October: Tallinn, EE @ Helitehas
09 October: Riga, LV @ Melna Piektdiena
10 October: Warsaw, PL @ Proxima
11 October: Kraków, PL @ Kamienna 12
12 October: Vienna, AT @ Vienna Metal Meeting
13 October: Budapest, HU @ Barba Negra
15 October: Prague, CZ @ Futurum
16 October: Munich, DE @ Backstage
17 October: Milano, IT @ Slaughter Club
18 October: Colmar, FR @ Le Grillen
19 October: Aarburg, CH @ Musigburg
20 October: Oignies, FR @ Tyrant Fest
22 October: Weiher, DE @ Live Music Hall
23 October: Paris, FR @ Le Petit Bain
24 October: Bochum, DE @ Zeche
25 October: Amstelveen, NL @ P60
26 October: Maastricht, NL @ Samhain Festival

Tracklist
1. The God Devourer (5:10)
2. Ash of Ages (5:27) [LISTEN]
3. Shadow Point (3:40) [WATCH]
4. Inferior Pathways (4:28)
5. Inner Portal (5:08)
6. The Vessel and The Storm (5:15)
7. Obscura (3:44)
8. Fatalist (5:51)
Total runtime: 39:01

1349 is not like other bands. It’s not a group of friends who decided to make music together. 1349 is a band formed with a unified vision and specific purpose: To maintain the legacy of black metal.

“I didn’t like the direction that black metal took in the mid part of the ’90s,” 1349 vocalist and mastermind Ravn recalls. “It started losing everything that I liked about black metal—the grimness, the eeriness, the primal emotions that captivated me and brought me into that sphere. You had all these synthesizer-based bands dressing up in pirate shirts and looking like goths. It ruined something that I truly hold close to my heart.”

In 1997, Ravn formed 1349 and recruited bassist Seidemann and, now former, guitarist Tjalve to help him pursue the vision of recapturing the original spirit of black metal. The longstanding lineup of Ravn, Seidemann, guitarist Archaon, and drummer Frost (also of Satyricon) has been in place since 2001. “I found people that felt the same way as me,” Ravn says of his bandmates. “We wanted to bring back the trademark of Norwegian black metal, as it was presented in the early 90s. Every time we release an album, that’s the inspiration and the backdrop.”

The Wolf and the King is the latest sortie in that crusade.1349’s eighth album sees the Oslo-based band harnessing the primordial energy of black metal’s decade-defining second wave and channeling it through ancient mysteries and the relentless global chaos of the 2020s.

The album title comes from a classic alchemical allegory: A wolf devours a king. Then the wolf is devoured by flames, and a new king rises from the ashes. “When I first heard about alchemy when I was young, it was people turning metal into gold,” Ravn says. “Further down the road, through various literatures and magical practices, I realized that what you’re turning into gold is metaphorical. It’s about personal development, basically. You want to be the best you can be, and that’s what we try to do as well. We try to top ourselves, to kill our egos in order to grow as persons. If you don’t do that, you will die. You will not rise from the ashes.”

Lead single “Ash of Ages” combines thrash with extreme metal flourishes and a proper doomsday theme. “The song is based on a story I read about a layer of ash that covered the Earth 12,000 years ago,” Ravn explains. “This layer of ash comes from a meteorite that struck the Earth during the Ice Age. It melted a lot of the ice, which is where the Great Flood came from. The Great Flood is in the Bible, but it was written about in every ancient culture. The theory is that it washed away a lot of other ancient cultures that held a higher intelligence level than those that were found after the flood. So, it possibly set human civilization back many thousands of years.”

Released as a one-sided maxi-12” with a flipside etching by Jordan Barlow—who did all the artwork for The Wolf and the King (as well as the band’s 2019 album, The Infernal Pathway)—“Ash of Ages” is also a warning to check your ego. “To think that you’re important, that you’re anything but an ant down there, is futile,” Ravn points out. “In the end, everything will be washed away, and nothing will be left.”

“Shadow Point” comes complete with a video and revisits the sonic domain of The Infernal Pathway with a classic headbanger groove. “This one references the Star of Algol, or ‘the Demon Star,’” Ravn offers. “It’s actually two stars that revolve around each other, and the small one is devouring the big one. Human beings have seen this star from early ages, and it has had many names over the years. It’s a known part of the magical world, so I wanted to include it in a song.”

Shot through with menace and a snaky groove, album opener “The God Devourer” will also have a video. “The lyrics are based on the alchemical principle of devouring all that you feel is in your way of becoming a better human,” Ravn says. “It sets the ominous tone for the whole album.”

Recorded at Amper Tone in Oslo, Norway, and New Constellation R.M.P. in Orlando, Florida, The Wolf and the King was produced and mixed by Ravn and Jarrett Pritchard (Eulogy, Pulchra Morte), the band’s long-standing sonic wizard who also worked on their previous two albums. The lyrics were written by the band’s longtime wordsmith, Svartalv, who has been working with 1349 for twenty years.

Jordan Barlow’s elaborate artwork for The Wolf and the King reflects the album’s chronological position in 1349’s discography. “This is our eighth album, and the artwork and lyrics are filled with references to this number of infinity,” Ravn explains. “You can basically go on a quest finding references to the number in the artwork.”

All told, The Wolf and the King is the exalted output of the joint force that is 1349. “We all work together to make the best black metal possible every time we release an album,” Ravn says. “This is our common goal. We’re a band on a mission.”
Line-up
Archaon – Guitars
Frost – Drums
Ravn – Vocals
Seidemann – Bass

Recording Studio
Amper Tone (Oslo, Norway) & NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P. (Orlando, USA)

Production Credits
Produced by Jarrett Prichard & Ravn
Mixed by Jaerrett Prichard & Ravn at NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P.
Mastered by Jaerrett Prichard at NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P.

Biography
J. Bennett

Cover Art
Jordan Barlow

Pre-order & Pre-save:https://orcd.co/1349thewolfandtheking

Links/Follow Artist:
Official Website: http://www.legion1349.com/
Bandcamp: http://1349som.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1349official
Instagram: http://instagram.com/1349official
Twitter: http://twitter.com/1349official
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/1349auralhellfire
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/150xbiJGnTy1tSBZ9EFKnT
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/10673
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/1349/79664050
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/22185
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/1349/e/B001LHI2SI/

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD ​Digipak
​12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold – Clear
12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold – Clear & Black
12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold – Gold & Black
12″ Colored Vinyl Gatefold – Transparent Red & Black

Germany’s SERVANT set release date for new AOP RECORDS album, reveal first track

Today, AOP Records announces September 20th as the international release date of the highly anticipated third album of Germany’s Servant, Death Devil Magick, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

German black metal band Servant have been celebrating their melodic-yet-furious black metal across the underground and beyond since 2021. Their two well-received full-lengths, 2021’s Blessed by The Light of a Thousand Stars and last year’s Aetas Ascensus, shook ground within the metal scene. Now, Servant are set to release their third full-length, Death Devil Magick, via new label home AOP Records.

Death Devil Magick was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered between October 2024 and May 2024. Without lacking in their musical trademarks, Servant continue to evolve on their new record. Melodic guitars combine with furious drums, and powerful basslines go with keys and mighty grooves. On Death Devil Magick, the vocals are clearer than on the previous two albums, giving the words the required power in meaning. All this is put in a powerful soundscape which is aggressive yet very dynamic and tidied up.

The lyrical topics are inspired by poets and philosophers like Charles Baudelaire and Friedrich Nietzsche, but also paintings by Franz von Stuck from the era of symbolism, for example, can be mentioned here. The lyrics discuss conflicts of emotions, beliefs, addiction, and depths of human nature. Death Devil Magick invites the listener to step into the gallery of nine microcosms and witness lust, despair, magick, and ecstasy. 

Moreover, Servant are going to tour Europe as part of the Scherbentour 2024 together with labelmates Ellende and GROZA to spread magick, lust, and ecstasy. Dates follow further below.

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Litany” here:

Cover artwork, courtesy of Misanthropic Art Illustrations, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Servant (Germany)’s Death Devil Magick
1. Void
2. Temple
3. Sin
4. Devil
5. Hope
6. Fury
7. Death
8. Litany
9. Magick

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/servantmagick 

www.aoprecords.de
www.facebook.com/aoprecords

FIRTAN set release date for new AOP RECORDS album, reveal first video featuring ELLENDE member

Today, AOP Records announces September 13th as the international release date for Firtan‘s highly anticipated fourth album, Ethos, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

For nearly 15 years now, Firtan have been a relentless force in the German extreme metal scene, captivating audiences with their dynamic performances across Europe. Inspired by the raw energy of the ’90s black metal scene, their sound has evolved into a unique, more progressive entity, shedding eclectic influences for a multifaceted and innovative approach.

At the core of Firtan‘s music stands an increasingly aggressive and frenetic sound characterized by powerful guitars and intense, visceral vocals. The haunting presence of the acoustic and electric violin weaves through their compositions with melancholic, experimental, and evocative tones. The incorporation of other acoustic instruments, such as the dulcimer, as well as analogue synthesizers, adds layers of depth. This blend creates a unique tension and complexity, enhancing the band’s intricate riffing and unexpected musical shifts.

With three albums and two EPs to their name, Firtan‘s discography showcases a clear and audible progression. Now, they unveil their fourth album, Ethos, once again through AOP Records. A work that promises to be their deepest, rawest, and heaviest yet, Ethos delves into serious existential themes in an abstract manner, contrasting decline and opportunity within an ambivalent context. This juxtaposition is reflected in the music itself, confronting listeners with the harshness and sonic tension between harmony and dissonance, revealing the meaning and emptiness of existence.

Ethos follows Firtan‘s critically acclaimed Marter from 2022, and stands as a testament to the vibrant dynamics within the German black metal scene. The album will feature guest performances from J.J. (Harakiri for the Sky, Karg) and L.G. (Ellende). Expect to be immersed in a world where melody and chaos collide, where unapologetic riffing and haunting melodies guide you through the shadows of the human condition.

In the meantime, see & hear the brand-new video “Wermut hoch am Firmament” featuring guest vocals from Ellende‘s L.G here:

Following the release of Ethos, Firtan will embark upon a tour with Bucovina, Sojourner, Finsterforst, and Countless Skies. Full list of dates as well as poster art follow after the jump. Cover artwork, courtesy of Nona Limmen, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Firtan’s Ethos
1. Hrenga (feat. guest vocals of J.J. [Harakiri For The Sky / Karg])
2. Zores
3. Contra Vermes
4. Arkanum
5. Wermut hoch am Firmament (feat. guest vocals of L.G. [Ellende])
6. Moloch
7. Ruakh
8. Komm herbei, schwarze Nacht
9. Wenn sich mir einst alle Ringe schließen

September 26 – München, Germany @ Backstage Halle*
September 27 – Erfurt, Germany @ From Hell*
September 28 – Fensch Viking Fest, France @ Complexe de Bétange*
September 29 – Berlin, Germany @ Orwohaus Halle*
September 30 – Hamburg, Germany @ Logo*
October 1 – Oberhausen, Germany @ Resonanzwerk*
October 2 – Arnhem, Netherlands @ Willemeen*
October 3 – Manchester, UK @ Rebellion*
October 4 – London, UK @ The Underworld*
October 6 – Nantes, France @ Le Ferrailleur**
October 8 – Lyon, France @ Rock’n’Eat**
October 10 – Timisoara, Romania @ M2**
October 11 – Vienna Metal Meeting Warmup, Austria @ Viper Room**
October 12 – Praha, Czech Republic @ Storm Club**
October 13 – Krakow, Poland @ Zascianek,**

(*with Finsterforst | **with Sojourner)

Tickets: https://linktr.ee/firtan_tickets

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/firtanofficial 

www.aoprecords.de
www.facebook.com/aoprecords

INSINERATEHYMN sign with MEMENTO MORI, prepare third album

In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage death metal, Memento Mori are extremely thrilled to announce a new signing: Insineratehymn, from the United States.Hailing from Los Angeles, Insineratehymn have managed to position themselves in the taste of underground extreme metal fans with their powerful death metal clearly influenced by classic bands, giving a masterclass in ’90s death metal, from the spiraling vortexes of early Tampa to the sewage to come from New York, through to eerie emanations from Europe and the dissonance at the dawn of the new millennium. Naturally, the band bend those classic tropes in a variety of ways, all of which bespeak their own identity. Scuzzy, slicing, clanging, angular, brutal beatdown, ignorant stomp, or just straightforward killshot: no weapon is left aside. Simply, Insineratehymn are death metal for death metal maniacs, by death metal maniacs who understand and appreciate the rich-yet-codified history of the genre. Handy references to be made include Sadistic Intent, Monstrosity, Suffocation, Grave, Edge of Sanity, Demigod, Sentenced – and of course, Deicide, who provided their namesake.

Insineratehymn‘s third full-length is due for release on October 21st, 2024. Memento Mori will release the CD version while Rotted Life will take care of the vinyl and tape versions. Further details to follow in the coming months. For more info, consult the links below.

MORE INFO:

www.facebook.com/insineratehymnofficial
insineratehymn.bandcamp.com

www.memento-mori.es
www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label