September 5, 2018 – Los Angeles, CA – Renowned black metal outfit, turned mysterious “doomgrass” precentor Xasthur, has released a studio sessions EP titled Aestas Pretium MMXVIII, through their new label Prophecy Productions. Previously only available physically on the road during the band’s recent month long tour with Wino and Six Organs Of Admittance, the Aestas Pretium MMXVIII EP is now available to all, at digital streaming services.
The sessions EP arrives ahead of the band’s upcoming performance at the Shadow Woods IV Fest in Camp Hidden Valley, MD on September 13th. Full lineup and tickets are can be found at http://www.shadowwoodsmetalfest.com/.
Following that Festival appearance, Scott Conner, Chris Hernandez and Rachel Roomian (today known as Xasthur) will enter the studio in October to professionally record their first full-length together, as well as the first of many albums with Prophecy Productions.
Additionally, Xasthur are confirmed to perform at Prophecy Productions’ inaugural Prophecy Fest USA in Brooklyn, NY at Knitting Factory at 8PM on November 2nd.
Aestas Pretium MMXVIII Tracklisting:
Against Your Will
Question The Reflection
Indescribable
Western Spanish
You Lose
Xasthur is:
Scott Conner – guitar, bass, music, lyrics
Chris Hernandez – guitar, bass, vocals
Rachel Roomian – bass
Xasthur US Tour Dates 2018
Thu 9/13 – Camp Hidden Valley, MD – Shadow Woods IV Fest
Fri 11/2 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory (Prophecy Fest USA)
The album is already digitally available and can be listened to here!
The artwork can be viewed below together with the album details.
Track-list
1. World Of Plague (4:12)
2. Death To Planet Earth (4:25)
3. (Desolation) Death (3:48)
4. Kill Everything (3:38)
5. Ultimate Satan (6:01)
6. Past, Present, Dead (3:32)
7. Total Soul Rape (5:39)
8. Vile (4:04)
9. Outro (5:12)
Total: 40:31
CRAFT embodies the black metal virtue of raw spiritual energy expressed through violent, ripping guitar-work and unholy rhythms enhanced by demonic vocals. The Swedes have long enjoyed a massive cult status within underground circles, yet also gained strong acclaim and recognition by mainstream metal media and critics.
CRAFT were spawned by guitarist Joakim, who was joined by a friend on drums in late 1994. Lead guitarist John was added to the roster in 1996 but left in 1998 only to return about a year later. A demo entitled ‘Total Eclipse’ hit the world in 1999, which led to a first record deal. During the recording of their crushing debut ‘Total Soul Rape’ (2000), the Swedes were reinforced by vocalist Nox. This misanthropic album captured the ear of SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, who released sophomore opus ‘Terror Propaganda’ in 2002 on his own label. With their extremely dark music the group gained much acclaim by critics and fans alike. CRAFT continued to build and expand their typical hateful and destructive style by adding ‘Fuck the Universe’ (2005) and ‘Void’ (2011) to the list of their albums. Meanwhile bass player Alex had joined and with their completed line-up the band finally became a live entity in September 2014.
With their latest release ‘White Noise and Black Metal’, the Swedes return to strength after a long hiatus following the release of previous full-length, ‘Void’ (2011). The forthcoming album combines the vitriolic virtues of ‘Terror Propaganda’ (2002) with an updated songwriting that is as mature and intelligent as it is razor-sharp. The fast and furious of extreme metal contrasts with dark and depressive passages with added undertones of black ‘n’ roll.
Today, underground legends Profanatica reveal the new track “Prayer in Eclipse.” The track hails from the band’s forthcoming mini-album, Altar of the Virgin Whore, which will be released this coming November by Hells Headbangers on CD, 12″ vinyl, and cassette tape formats. The mini-album’s release coincides with a European tour alongside Watain and Rotting Christ (dates after the jump). Hear Profanatica’s “Prayer in Eclipse” in its entirety HERE.
Profanatica need no introduction: pioneers of American black metal, masters of barbaric minimalism, desecrators of all that’s pure and clean – and iconoclasts to the very end. Ever since the band’s reformation/reinvigoration with 2007’s Profanatitas de Domonatia, full-length albums have been the preferred format for Paul Ledney and crew. However, going back the band’s beyond-classic Weeping in Heaven in 1991, it could be argued that Profanatica are at their most potent when doing EPs. And that’s precisely what Altar of the Virgin Whore is: 20 minutes of cruel ‘n’ crushing sonic defilement that bears all the bulldozing trademarks of the band post-reformation. No need for further fancy words here; this is simply and totally Profanatica, distilled to its short/sharp/shocked essence and rendered in the rudest and rawest form.
The release of Altar of the Virgin Whore shall be joined by long-awaited vinyl reissues of Profanatica’s first two albums, the aforementioned Profanatitas de Domonatia and 2010’s Disgusting Blasphemies Against God.
In the meantime, hear the new track “Prayer in Eclipse” HERE
Release date and preorder info for Altar of the Virgin Whore to be announced shortly.
Cover art, courtesy of underground legend Chris Moyen, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Profanatica’s Altar of the Virgin Whore
1. Conceived With Sin
2. Prayer in Eclipse
3. Altar of the Virgin Whore
4. Crucifixion Wounds
5. Thorn King
6. Sacred Code Broken
7. Fuck the Messiah
8. He Has Risen
November 2 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Byhaven Pumpehuset
November 3 – Leipzig, Germany @ Hellraiser
November 4 – Warsaw, Poland @ Progresja
November 6 – Prague, Czech Republic @ MeetFactory
November 7 – Budapest, Hungary @ Barba Negra Music Club, Budapest
November 9 – Munich, Germany @ Backstage
November 10 – Zug, Switzerland @ Chollerhalle
November 11 – Trezzo sull’Adda, Italy @ Live Club
November 12 – Colmar, France @ Le Grillen
November 14 – Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz 2
November 15 – Madrid, Spain @ Changó
November 16 – Limoges, France @ Centre Culturel John Lennon
November 17 – Paris, France @ Le Trabendo
November 18 – Oignies, France @ Tyrant Fest
November 20 – Saarbrücken, Germany @ Garage
November 21 – Mannheim, Germany @ Ms Connexion Complex
November 22 – Berlin, Germany @ Astra Kulturhaus
November 23 – Borgerhout, Belgium @ TRIX Centrum voor Muziek
November 24 – Bochum, Germany @ Matrix
November 25 – Nijmegen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
IRON BONEHEAD PRODUCTIONS is proud to present a special recording from TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, Recondemnation, on CD and vinyl LP formats. It shall be released on November 1st, in conjunction with the IRON BONEHEAD / Nuclear War Now!-curated Never Surrender Festival set to take place in Berlin on November 1-3. TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE will be giving an exclusive performance at this fest.
By now, Australia’s TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE require little to no introduction. In short, they are death metal necromancy of the highest order. Spitting in the face of other such facile attempts by normcore “metal” bands, Recondemnation is less a re-recording of 2013’s Condemnation debut album as it is an actual reimagining.
Descent and re-initiation: a corpse reborn through the womb of its own extinction. The veins cut and re-tethered, bloodthirst paralleled only by the emptiness… The beast rears its face once again, to sup and gnaw, and this is how the limbless move… The crypt is reopened, the dead Recondemned. Here, within, lies Recondemnation.
After “The Messiah Of Pigs” and “The Obsidian Flame (From My Depths)”, ARCHGOAT reveal, “The Luciferian Crown (Venom Of God)”, a praise to Samael, The Angel of Death and Temptation.
This new slab of Angelslaying Black Metal features :
01. Intrantation
02. Jesus Christ Father of Lies
03. Jezebels Black Mass Orgy
04. Messiah of Pigs
05. Darkness has Returned
06. Sorcery and Doom
07. Star of Darkness and Abyss
08. The Obsidian Flame (From My Depths)
09. The Luciferian Crown (Venom Of God)
10. I Am Lucifer’s Temple
Illustrations were drawn by legendary Chris Moyen and the layout was crafted by Kontamination Design.
Following the recent reissue campaign, Nuclear War Now! Productions is honored to present the first official release of a rarely heard 1989 rehearsal recording, Blood Upon the Soundspace.
This crude open-air mic recording captures the unvarnished vigor of Blasphemy in a way that the contemporaneous studio recordings cannot. The rehearsal took place in Blasphemy’s practice space sometime following the release of the Blood Upon the Altar demo as the Desecraters were writing material that would later appear on the 1990 debut LP, Fallen Angel of Doom. Four of the five tracks feature songs that would be recorded for the album, with “War Command” being the only exception.
The live performance of these tracks in the band’s rehearsal space is devastating and showcases a side of Blasphemy that many have never previously heard. The unified front of the instrumentation—the blunt force of Black Winds’ bass assault, the wicked precision of Black Priest’s rhythm guitar, Black Hearts’ furious drumming—is undeniably powerful. Black Winds’ raw vocals, raspier than on the studio recordings, drive the intensity of the performance, while Caller’s renegade solos are characteristically unhinged and frantic.
The band only produced a handful of these rehearsal tapes for distribution to close associates. This version of the recording is taken from a tape Black Winds sent to Metalion (Slayer Magazine) in May of 1989—one of the only known extant copies—and is newly mastered by James Plotkin to enhance the audio where possible. (Note that the first track, “Darkness Prevails,” is noticeably more distorted than the rest of the recording.) To maintain the authenticity of this release, the cover features original artwork created in 1988 by Black Priest and screenshots taken from a video recording at the Blasphemy rehearsal space during the same era
This November, Prophecy Productions invites fans to attend the inaugural Prophecy Fest USA, presented by Stardust NYC and Invisible Oranges. Taking place in Brooklyn, NY at Knitting Factory on November 2nd & 3rd, the Fest will showcase the label’s recent North American signings, as well as special guests and the triumphant return of French blackgaze legends, Alcest, playing Kodama in its entirety – possibly for the last time. Today, the label has revealed the complete lineup and set times for the festival, as found below.
In conjunction with Prophecy Fest USA, the label will be distributing a free 2018 2CD compilation to ticket holders upon entry to the festival. The compilation is limited edition, unavailable to stream or purchase, and features a wide array of artists (worldwide) seasoned and newly signed from the label’s roster.
Additionally, Prophecy Productions has created a special digital compilation, Dusk In America 2018, that showcases the label’s North American based acts. It’s available to stream for free via Bandcamp and/or to purchase at your own price. Check it out now at https://prophecy-de.bandcamp.com/album/dusk-in-america.
SÓLSTAFIR are about to kick off their Australian tour in support of ENSLAVED tonight at the Rosemount Hotel in Perth. The band will perform 3 more shows in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. A full list of confirmed shows can be found below.
In previous news, SÓLSTAFIR have added more dates to their already announced European tour in support of their latest release ‘Berdreyminn’ this December. Their massive road-trip will kick off at Poland’s B90 in Gdansk on November 20, and run through 17 more countries before the final curtain falls at the Voodoo Lounge in Dublin, Ireland on the 22nd of December.
SÓLSTAFIR Australian tour
+ENSLAVED
29 Aug 18 Perth (AU) Rosemount Hotel
30 Aug 18 Sydney (AU) Factory Theatre
31 Aug 18 Brisbane (AU) The Zoo
01 Sep 18 Melbourne (AU) Max Watts
SÓLSTAFIR European tour
20 Nov 18 Gdansk (PL) B90
21 Nov 18 Warsaw (PL) Progresja
22 Nov 18 Vilnius (LT) Loftas
23 Nov 18 Riga (LV) Melna Vilnius
24 Nov 18 Tallinn (EE) Tapper
29 Nov 18 Gothenburg (SE) Sticky Fingers
30 Nov 18 Oslo (NO) Vulkan Arena
01 Dec 18 Copenhagen (DK) Lille Vega
02 Dec 18 Leipzig (DE) Taubchenthal
03 Dec 18 Stuttgart (DE) Im Wizeman
04 Dec 18 Winterthur (CH) Salzhaus
05 Dec 18 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod
06 Dec 18 Biarritz (FR) Atabal
07 Dec 18 Madrid (ES) Madrid Is The Dark Festival
08 Dec 18 Lisbon (PT) Under The Doom
09 Dec 18 Porto (PT) Hard Club
11 Dec 18 Cognac (FR) West Rock
12 Dec 18 Audincourt (FR) Le Moloco
13 Dec 18 Lille (FR) Aeronef
14 Dec 18 Eindhoven (NL) Eindhoven Metal Meeting
15 Dec 18 Istanbul (TR) Garajistanbul
16 Dec 18 Athens (GR) Fuzz Club
SÓLSTAFIR UK/Ireland tour
17 Dec 18 Bristol (UK) The Fleece
18 Dec 18 Birmingham (UK) Hare & Hounds
19 Dec 18 Manchester (UK) Deaf Institute
20 Dec 18 Glasgow (UK) Classic Grand
21 Dec 18 Belfast (UK) Limelight 2
22 Dec 18 Dublin (IR) Voodoo Lounge
The band will be touring in support of the Icelander’s latest album, ‘Berdreyminn’ which is streaming in full here.
Artwork and further information can be found below.
Music will always be inspired by the environment in which it is created. With its incredible array of highly diverse landscapes ranging from white glaciers via volcanic bizarreness, moss-green bubble-fields, deep fjords, and frost-cracked mountains to black beaches, Iceland has shaped a host of astonishingly original and fiercely individual bands such as SIGUR RÓS, BJÖRK, and SÓLSTAFIR.
SÓLSTAFIR embody the ever-turning wheel of seasons with their shifting light, darkness, and colours, extreme Northern climate, the stark contrasts, the closeness of beauty and deadly forces of nature, the impressive sceneries that have the bones of ancient gods enshrined in them like hardly any other band in every aspect of their existence.
SÓLSTAFIR are not like any other band. Their latest album, ‘Berdreyminn’ underscores this statement. As its title “a dreamer of forthcoming events” aptly describes, the four Icelanders have taken their already impressive evolution one step further. The band has continued to amalgamate haunting melodies, psychedelic phases, as well as strong undercurrents of classic rock and hard rock with echoes of their metal past. Yet SÓLSTAFIR’s focus is not on style but pure emotion. ‘Berdreyminn’ is eclectic by a conscious choice to make feelings audible and transform taste as well as texture to sound. Genre borders are not broken but simply ignored. Musical influences are gathered from a wide range of sources, re-arranged, and woven into new patterns. Melancholy, longing, anger, joy, pleasure, pain, and other emotions are fulling this album.
Despite leaning clearly towards an expression that can be described as rock today, SÓLSTAFIR have their roots in metal as their debut full-length ‘Í Blóði og Anda’ (2002), which translates as “In Blood and Spirit” still witnesses. Instead of today’s Icelandic gravel throated siren chants, frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason spat forth vitriolic crusty vocals and all strings were forged with black metal. Already their next albums ‘Masterpiece of Bitterness’ (2005) and ‘Köld’ (2009) marked stations of a continuous evolution. SÓLSTAFIR went further along their solitary path and obviously left any categorising box with the ground-breaking follow-ups ‘Svartir Sandar’ (2011) and ‘Ótta’ (2014), which received high critical acclaim and attracted new fans in equal measure, while managing the difficult feat of keeping most of their earlier following too.
SÓLSTAFIR have set sails to new horizons with ‘Berdreyminn’. Yet the Icelanders brought their home with them and the silhouette of their vessels remains easily recognisable. Welcome aboard on a new adventurous musical journey into uncharted territories.
BEYOND CREATION are now premiering the second crushing track, in the form of a lyric video, taken from their forthcoming new album ‘Algorythm’! The album is slated for release on October 12th, 2018.
The Canadian masters of progressive technical death metal are streaming the title track “Algorythm”
BEYOND CREATION comment: “This song really offers a powerful and unique vibe. Mixing tapping, overlapping rhythmics, epic solos and heavy voices. The progressive / fusion approach through the middle section really shows how textured and dynamic this whole album is!”
BEYOND CREATION have previously announced a European tour with GOROD, ENTHEOS and BROUGHT BY PAIN this November. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.
BEYOND CREATION
With GOROD, ENTHEOS and BROUGHT BY PAIN
02 Nov 18 Hamburg (DE) Headcrash
03 Nov 18 Hannover (DE) Faust
04 Nov 18 Berlin (DE) Musik & Frieden
05 Nov 18 Prague (CZ) Nova Chmelnice
06 Nov 18 Vienna (AT) Viper Room
07 Nov 18 Munich (DE) Feierwerk
08 Nov 18 Ljubljana (SL) Orto Bar
09 Nov 18 Retorbido (IT) Dagda Club
10 Nov 18 Venice (IT) Revolver
11 Nov 18 Kiff (CH) Aarau
12 Nov 18 Grenoble (FR) L’Amperage
13 Nov 18 Barcelona (ES) Upload Club
14 Nov 18 Madrid (ES) Caracol
15 Nov 18 Porto (PT) Hard Club
16 Nov 18 Donosti (ES) CC Larratxo
17 Nov 18 Angouleme (FR) La Nef
18 Nov 18 Paris (FR) Petit Bain
19 Nov 18 Manchester (UK) Satan’s Hollow
20 Nov 18 Glasgow (UK) Audio
21 Nov 18 Dublin (IE) Voodoo Lounge
22 Nov 18 London (UK) Underworld
23 Nov 18 Birmingham (UK) Asylum2
24 Nov 18 Drachten (NL) Iduna
25 Nov 18 Oberhausen (DE) Kulttempel
BEYOND CREATION have previously revealed the artwork for ‘Algorythm’, which can be viewed together with the album details below.
Track-list
1. Disenthrall (1:44)
2. Entre Suffrage Et Mirage (4:20)
3. Surface’s Echoes (6:54)
4. Ethereal Kingdom (5:19)
5. Algorythm (7:40)
6. À Travers Le Temps Et L’Oubli (1:48)
7. In Adversity (3:19)
8. The Inversion (7:26)
9. Binomial Structures (6:32)
10. The Afterlife (5:37)
Bonus tracks
11. Surface’s Echoes (Instr) (6:53)
12. The Afterlife (Instr) (5:37)
Total playing time: 1:03:09
Feel the onrush of sweeping arpeggios, crushing waves of fretless bass, complex rhythmical patterns and erupting scales peppered with jazzy feeling and masterful execution under the mark of ‘Algorythm’, which names the third full-length of BEYOND CREATION.
The French part of Canada is home to a vibrant culture of technical Death Metal fostered by outstanding acts such as GORGUTS, CRYPTOPSY, MARTYR, and NEURAXIS. This illustrious family tree has produced many sprouts in the past, yet none of them are as brilliant as Quebec’s amazing scion: BEYOND CREATION!
BEYOND CREATION saw the light of day in 2005 in Montreal, Canada but it wasn’t until 2010 that the band was ready to hit the stage with their original line-up consisting of Simon Girard, Kevin Chatré, Guyot Bégin-Benoît and Dominic ‘Forest’ Lapointe. A year later, the band self-released their debut full-length album ‘The Aura’ (2011), which quickly became a highlight in the genre. Since then, BEYOND CREATION has been known as the progressive, innovative and exciting new metal sound of their homeland, Quebec.
In late 2012, the band had Philippe Boucher (Ex-FIRST FRAGMENT, INCADESCENSE, CHTHE’ILIST, DÉCOMBRES) take Guyot’s place on drums and things started moving at a faster pace in 2013, when they joined Season of Mist, re-releasing ‘The Aura’ and touring North America and Japan. In 2014, BEYOND CREATION released their second masterpiece ‘Earthborn Evolution’.
After the addition of Hugo Doyon-Karout (BROUGHT BY PAIN, EQUIPOISE, CONFLUX) on bass, the band focused on touring as much as possible on the ‘Earthborn Evolution’ album cycle compiling 3 North American tours, 3 European tours, countless shows in Canada, appearances in Mexico, Colombia and Dubaï, sharing the stage with heavy weights like ARCH ENEMY, HATE ETERNAL, MISERY INDEX, DYING FETUS, PSYCROPTIC and OBSCURA. They also took part in multiple large-scale music festivals such as Hellfest (FR), 70 000 Tons of Metal (US), UK Tech-Fest, Montebello Rockfest (CA), Heavy MTL (CA) and Damnation Fest (UK).
In 2018, BEYOND CREATION recorded their highly-anticipated third album ‘Algorythm’ at The Grid Studio in home land Canada, which is set for release on October 12th, 2018. With the new album, BEYOND CREATION delivers a ferocious blend of technicality, melody, and brutality aided by fang-filled growls, which is interwoven with beautiful progressive interludes. Prepare for the lightning evolution of the progressive technical death metal revolution!
Current line-up
Simon Girard: Vocals & Guitars
Kevin Chartré: Guitars & Back Vocals
Hugo Doyon-Karout: Bass
Philippe Boucher: Drums
Impious Swedish black metal force BLOOD OF SERPENTS are less than a month away from unveiling their sophomore full length, aptly entitled “Sulphur Sovereign”. The album is scheduled for release via Dutch label Non Serviam Records on September 25, 2018.
As the second excerpt from the album, the band have released the track “In Darkness, Brotherhood” on all major digital outlets.
The band offers the following statement on this track:
“”In Darkness, Brotherhood” is an anthemic track about finding strength through unity against a theistic creed. While not strictly satanic, the track decries all organized religion and calls for an anti-theistic world where men rule without make-belief gods. Non Serviam!”
The advance streaming of the second single “In Darkness, Brotherhood”, can be heard here:
Forged in 2012 by the guitarists Fredrik Nilsson and Kristian Roupe, black metal force BLOOD OF SERPENTS hail from the deep forests of Småland, Sweden. Spawning two mini releases and one critically acclaimed full length within the six years of existence, BLOOD OF SERPENTS are proud to present their second album, “Sulphur Sovereign”, after years of writing, line-up changes and adversity.
“Sulphur Sovereign” is the first offering to feature the drummer Christoffer Andersson and the vocalist Thomas Clifford (Throne of Heresy, Abscession). With the newly recruited assets, the band has taken a decided step into a supreme black metal direction, going at full speed with forceful vocals that rip and roar with equal measure. Mixed with dark melodic guitar works and crushing riffs, Sulphur Sovereign is a full on black metal attack interspersed with atmospheric pieces and haunting melodic parts.
Containing ten tracks of genuine Swedish black metal, Blood of Serpents are finally ready to set free the beast — known as Sulphur Sovereign — upon the world. This is a defining moment for the band who has found their true sound in the sphere of accursed black metal.
The album is produced by Lars Broddesson (ex-Marduk) and mixed and mastered by Magnus Devo Andersson (Marduk). Amazing Gustave Doré inspired artwork was executed by Khaos Diktator.
“Sulphur Sovereign” will be out worldwide on September 25, 2018 through NON SERVIAM RECORDS on digipak CD and digital format.
