Our macabre prayers have been answered: Finnish death metal eidolons Abhorrence took over Amorphis drummer Jan Rechberger’s Moon Unit studio to record a new EP.” -Decibel magazine, May 2018
The rumours are true: underground death metal legends Abhorrence are back.
Svart Records is proud to present to you “Anthem for the Anthropocene,” the first track from Megalohydrothalassophobic, an all-new Abhorrence EP, all full of old-school Finnish death metal. The EP will be released by Svart Records on September 15th.
Hear Abhorrence’s “Anthem for the Anthropocene” in its entirety exclusively HERE.
They promised you they were still vulgar and still brutal. And 28 years later, they are. The lineup is the same as back in 1990, with the addition of drummer Waltteri Väyrynen, of Paradise Lost and Vallenfyre fame.
The old Abhorrence sound, reaching from death to doom to black and psychedelia, is all there on the EP. This time, the pioneers of death metal horror have dug their claws into the deep abyss of the ocean. True to their roots of nightmare and terror, Abhorrence brings you a vision of Lovecraftian horror in the age of the ecological catastrophe. The lyrics fuse together the deeply unsettling tales of H.P. Lovecraft with the thought-provoking philosophy of Timothy Morton, arguably the most important thinker of the anthropoce, the current catastrophical age of human existence.
The first premiere from the EP is the opening number “Anthem for the Anthropocene.” It is a brutal, hard-hitting black roller that cuts deep into the sick heart of humanity in the year 2018. Hear it in its entirety exclusively HERE.
“The stars will be right when the black stains all light” – “Anthem for the Anthropocene.”
Preorder info to be announced shortly.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Abhorrence’s Megalohydrothalassophobic
1. Intro – The Mesh
2. Anthem For The Anthropocene
3. The Four Billion Year Dream
4. Hyperobject Beneath The Waves
5. The End Has Already Happened
FIRTAN lineup 2018:
Phillip Thienger – guitars & vocals
Oliver König – bass
David Kempf – drums
C.S. – guitar
Today, extreme metal mavericks Firtan premiere the new track “Tag Verweil”. The track hails from the band’s highly anticipated second album, Okeanos, set for international release on July 13th via AOP Records. Hear Firtan’s “Tag Verweil” in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Firtan are one of Germany’s most uprising extreme metal acts, delivering their very own mixture of styles to fans all over Europe since 2010. Having supported Rotting Christ, Imperium Dekadenz, and Der Weg einer Freiheit and played festivals like Summer Breeze and Metaldays, their sound originates from black metal involving atmospheric and progressive elements alongside intense vocal performances and accentuating ambient sounds. Firtan known for their intensive live shows, which, to date, they have delivered to ten European countries.
Now, after two EPs and one full-length, Firtan hereby present their strongest work, Okeanos. Inspired by avant-garde intellectuals like Nietzsche and Lovecraft, Okeanos is a dazzling display of epic black metal grandeur, suffused with autumnal atmosphere and winding-yet-captivating compositions. But, although deeply rooted in black metal, the overt muscle Firtan display here – not to mention the panoramic approach to songwriting, daring and boundless – helps Okeanos elude easy categorization. It’s an immediately captivating experience, expanding the listener’s consciousness whilst whisking the listener away to worlds yet unexplored. And its soundfield is as robust as it is majestic, which is no surprise considering it was recorded at the esteemed studio Klangschmiede E with Markus Stock of The Vision Bleak/Empyrium. At six songs in 40 breathtaking minutes, Okeanos is the album by which Firtan enter into the elite.
Hear for yourself with the new track “Tag Verweil” exclusively HERE,
In the leadup to the album’s release, Firtan will be playing a number of shows/festivals over the coming months (dates after the jump). Cover art, by Denis Forkas (Behemoth, etc.) and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Firtan’s Okeanos
1. Seegang
2. Tag Verweil
3. Nacht Verweil
4. Purpur
5. Uferlos
6. Siebente, Letzte Einsamkeit
upcoming FIRTAN live appearances
15.06. Aaargh Festival (Uttenhofen/Allgäu)
07.07. Eresia Metalfest (Résia, IT)
22.07. Metaldays Slowenien (Tolmin, SLO)
24.08. Wolfszeit Festival (Crispendorf
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ have been the victim of Mexican plagiarizers ISON (not to be confused with the Swedish ISON). Not only did the band perform official tracks from IMPERIUM DEKADENZ under their own flag, they also planned to release IMPERIUM DEKADENZ’s entire full length “Meadows of Nostalgia” under the false name of “The Outsiders”. The Mexican exploiters did not even bother to re-record their theft, but were under the impression that a simple song name-change would do the trick.
The band comments:
“Hello everyone,
During our conquest with IMPERIUM DEKADENZ, we have seen and witnessed about everything that is imaginable – but what we have encountered now sinks brazenness to a new low.The lame plagiarizers of the Mexican band ISON are obviously trying to desperately built their ‘career’ by using OUR songs! This beggars believe, but this ‘band’ does not only try to play IMPERIUM DEKADENZ songs under false flag live, but they even released an album called ‘The Outsiders’, which features our original recordings! They now deleted their Facebook-Page and most of the YouTube videos, but they will not stop performing live. They are cheating on you and the whole metal-scene!
A warning to those shameless exploiters of of our creativity and liars, ISON: Don’t mess around with IMPERIUM DEKADENZ! Our label and lawyers are informed. Your time is up! We will make sure, your fraud will be exposed. To our supporters and everyone who believes in art: Please let them know your thoughts on theft of intellectual property! Spread the word!”
Thank you for your attention!
Horaz & Vespasian
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ
On previous news, critically acclaimed open world RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance has picked the title track of IMPERIUM DEKADENZ’ second album, ‘Dämmerung der Szenarien’ (2007) for its soundcheck under the new name “Thru the Fog of Time”.
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ drummer Vespasian comments: “We are extremely stoked to be part of the soundtrack of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which was developed by Warhorse Studios. It has given us a chance to have our music heard around the globe and we are thankful for all the kind praise that we have received for ‘Thru the Fog of Time’ that was written and recorded in 2007. Exciting times.”
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ live
26 Oct 18 Wien (AT) Escape
27 Oct 18 Klagenfurt (AT) Follow the Goat
17 Nov 18 Radolfzell (DE) s’Bockle
01 Dec 18 Tübingen (DE) Epplehaus
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ are playing live in support of their latest full-length, ‘Dis Manibvs’. The artwork of the band’s fifth album has been created by Francesco De Luca and can be viewed below.
Track-list
01. In Todesbanden
02. Only Fragments Of Light
03. Still I Rise
04. Dis Manibvs
05. Pantheon Spells
06. Vae Victis
07. Volcano
08. Somnia
09. Pure Nocturnal Rome
10. Seikilos
Vae victis! Woe to the vanquished! IMPERIUM DEKADENZ hail from Germany’s Black Forest, where the Roman Empire clashed, conquered, and finally fell against first Celtic and later Germanic tribes. Its impenetrable, murky, and mysterious fog ridden woods and harsh landscapes have given rise to a dark romanticism that even imbues the works of this band with deep roots in Nordic black metal.
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ have cultivated and advanced an atmospheric style of their own with their highly acclaimed third and fourth studio albums ‘Procella Vadens’ (2010) and ‘Meadows of Nostalgia’ (2013). The dark chasms and steep rises of the Black Forest mountains are echoed within the German duos’ majestic melodies, which are contrasted by interludes of often fragile acoustic parts.
With their new full-length ‘Dis Manibvs’ – a title derived from antique Roman grave markers translating from Latin as “To the Spirits of the Dead” and basically meaning “In Remembrance” – IMPERIUM DEKADENZ take a surprising step in their evolution by adding an expression that is probably best compared to DEAFHEAVEN and DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT. Probably even more astonishing is how well and organically the German veterans integrate this sound with seeming ease into their already existing style, which has also been likened to WINTERFYLLETH and AGALLOCH in its more epic moments and MGŁA or WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM during harsher parts – to drop but a few suitable names.
Founded in the year 2004, IMPERIUM DEKADENZ quickly gained a dedicated following with their debut ‘…und die Welt ward kalt und leer’ (2006) as well as its follow-up ‘Dämmerung der Szenarien’ (2007). Lyrically, IMPERIUM DEKADENZ clad metaphors of human transience, ashes, and shadows into an antique attire with a penchant for the Roman Empire, while declining to deal with genre typical political, religious or misanthropic themes.
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ break new ground with their forthcoming masterpiece ‘Dis Manibvs’, an album that has the potential to unite traditional as well as progressive black metal adherents together in well-deserved praise – which would mark an astonishing achievement in itself. Judge for yourself!
British death metal band Ravens Creed have completed their fourth album, entitled Get Killed or Try Dying, which is going to be released through Xtreem Music on August 2nd.
On this new album, Ravens Creed stick to their habitual style which blends death metal with crust hints and a nasty sound inspired in bands like Death Strike, Master, Venom, and Hellhammer, delivering 13 new tunes of sleazy bizarrism!
In the meantime, hear the new track “Hymn & Hearse” HERE
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ravens Creed’s Get Killed or Try Dying
1. Intro – Unrelenting Supremacy
2. Dead Bird on Winchester Street
3. Death on a Rival
4. Get Killed or Try Dying
5. Hymn & Hearse
6. Off with their Legs
7. Treacherous Rector
8. Rats Beneath Our Feet
9. Remember the Hammer
10. Sound of Sirens
11. When a Deaf Man Goes Blind
12. The Trauma of Being Hunted
13. Outro
Today, upstart death metal cult Deathwards stream the entirety of their debut demo, Towards Death. Set for international release on June 8th via Invictus Productions, hear Deathwards’ Towards Death in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Deathwards formed in 2017, comprising veterans of the metal underground, and within five months had recorded their very first demo, Towards Death. As aptly titled as their moniker, Deathwards’ Towards Death is a timeless, trend-bucking slab of thrashing Metal of Death. Across the five furious-yet-finessed songs here, the band conjoin the primal essence of ’80s Slayer, Slaughter Lord, Van Drunen-era Pestilence, and Voivod’s early work, but tweak it with a more technical aspect ala Sindrome, Sadus, and Obliveon, etc. It’s a classic-yet-fresh blend between influences and authentic ideas, instead of mere copycat-ism or rote rehashing of older, better ideas. Altogether, including a reverential cover of Infernal Majesty’s “Overlord,” Deathwards’ opening salvo is as furious as it is catchy, iron-clad in its approach yet bespeaking more development to come.
And Towards Death is but the start: already, Deathwards are preparing new material for their imminent debut album, also to be released by Invictus. Prepare to go Towards Death! Embark upon the full march exclusively HERE.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Deathwards’ Towards Death
1. In Death I Become
2. The Hierarchist
3. Epitaph from the Underworld
4. Impending Prophecies
5. Overlord (Infernal Majesty cover)
DEATHWARDS lineup 2018
Hellavenger – vocals
Extravasation – lead guitar
The Usurper – rhythm guitar
The Magus – bass
The Penance – drums
Today, Hells Headbangers sets July 27th as the international release date for Invocation Spells’ highly anticipated fourth album, Spread Cruelty in the Abyss, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.
There’s simply no stopping Invocation Spells. One of the hottest bands in the shit-hot Chilean black/death scene, this diabolical duo continues to unleash one punishing slab of filth ‘n’ fury after another, each one more concise and crushing than the next. Spread Cruelty in the Abyss follows hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed The Flame of Hate, released internationally last year by Hells Headbangers. Like that predecessor, Spread Cruelty in the Abyss wastes absolutely no time in igniting a sulfurous conflagration from the first few notes…except this time, it’s more quickly apparent how daresay catchy Invocation Spells have become.
Lest anyone accuse the band of softening or selling out, be aware that Spread Cruelty in the Abyssis simply and 100% Invocation Spells through and through: no compromise, and no quarter. Like The Flame of Hate before it and Descendent the Black Throne before that, Spreads Cruelty in the Abyss possesses a special magick that eludes easy “blackthrash” categorization – namely, through an acute balance between the bestial and more classically speed metal tropes – but the molten, even martial pulse the duo develop further here turns these more deliberately hypnotic spells of possession into veritable anthems of minimalism, spilling poison and black blood in equal measure, and even more endlessly headbanging than before. And with this unselfconscious, even-more-pronounced emphasis on “catchiness” comes an even swifter and stricter sense of economy: Spread Cruelty in the Abyss clangs ‘n’ bangs with absolute authority in a mere 26 minutes. Get in, get out, get fucked.
And just like they have with their songwriting nous, Invocation Spells have all about perfected their production style, once again locating that ever-so-sweet middle-ground between fuck-off raw and clear/cutting, with each incensed-yet-impassioned note ringing out through the humid haze before mangling the mind with quintessentially Chilean diabolism. And now, North America will be able to witness that diabolism in the flesh, as Invocation Spells will be heading out on an 11-date tour alongside fellow Hells Headbangers speed metallers Outline; the CD and tape versions of Spread Cruelty in the Abyss will be available for early sale during the tour (dates after the jump). This summer’s gonna be a hot one, then, so no better time to Spread Cruelty in the Abyss!
Hear for yourself with the album’s opening track, “Ruins of Cemetery,” HERE
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Invocation Spells’ Spread Cruelty in the Abyss
1. Ruins Of Cemetery
2. Rotting Sacrifice
3. Victims Of Doom
4. Torment Of Obssessor
5. Old Rites
6. Spread Cruelty
7. Obscure And Evil
8. From The Graves
June 22 – San Diego, CA
June 23 – Los Angeles, CA – L.A. StrikeFest @ Regent Theatre
June 24 – San Francisco, CA
June 25 – Reno, NV @ Shea’s Tavern
June 28 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class
June 29 – Baltimore, MD @ Wheaton Lounge
June 30 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
July 4 – New York, NY @ Pista Bandas Unidas
July 6 – Houston, TX @ The Concert Pub North
July 7 – San Antonio, TX
July 8 – New Orleans, LA @ Santos Bar
Continuing its longstanding mission to propagate the most unrelenting manifestations of bestial black metal, on June 14th, Nuclear War Now! Productions presents Black Metal Warfare, the highly-anticipated first tactical strike from Blasphamagoatachrist.
Consisting of members from the revered cults of Blasphemy, Goatpenis, and Canada’s Antichrist, Blasphamagoatachrist boasts several decades of collective experience in aural combat, which it brings to bear in this inaugural demo. However, unlike many so-called “supergroups,” who often suffer from a lack of cohesive vision and execution in their ranks, this unit has instead harnessed the individual strengths of each constituent and has combined them into a singularly focused entity that transcends the sum of its parts.
As implied by the choice of moniker, Blasphamagoatachrist has chosen the most direct path in its nihilistic mission, thus forsaking any false adornments that might dilute its potency. There is no curtain of indiscernible noise behind which the instruments are obscured, as is sometimes the case in this style of black metal. Led by the lethal riffs and occasional solos of Virrigus Apocalli, which deliver the pinpoint ballistic strikes from above, the devastating bass of Sabbaoth and battery of T. Antichrist simultaneously decimate the battlefield below. Immersed in the fray, the war commands are performed by none other than Nocturnal Grave Desecrater and Black Winds, whose delivery remains as powerful as ever.
These seven tracks of nuclear assault metal represent the best in the tradition of bestial black metal and portend ominous things to come in the future from these mercenaries, who appear to have now only skimmed the surface of their unquenchable bloodlust. Hear for yourself the first two opening strikes, “Ze Blasphamagoatachrist Machine” and “Tyrannic Empire,” HERE .
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Blasphamagoatachrist’s Black Metal Warfare
1. Ze Blasphamagoatachrist Machine
2. Tyrannic Empire
3. Blasphamagoatachrist
4. Black Metal Warfare
5. Fire Demons of Blokula
6. The Final Blood Orgy
7. Ravens Soaring Over Ross Bay
CRAFT are unleashing the third crushing track taken from their forthcoming new album, ‘White Noise and Black Metal’, which will hit stores on June 22nd, 2018.
The Swedish black metal underground veterans are now streaming “Again”
Guitarist Joakim comments: “‘Again’ will serve as the third and final preview before ‘White Noise and Black Metal’ lands in a few weeks. With some distance put between us and the creative process, I experience in this track some kind of musical continuation of the ‘Fuck the Universe’ spirit. The groove is strong in this one. Here’s one of my personal favorite tracks of the album!”
CRAFT have previously released the amazing cover of ”White Noise and Black Metal”, which has been created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak and can be viewed together with the album details below.
Track-list
1. The Cosmic Sphere Falls (4:56)
2. Again (4:15)
3. Undone (6:39)
4. Tragedy of Pointless Games (6:27)
5. Darkness Falls (4:50)
6. Crimson (4:49)
7. Shadow (5:40)
8. White Noise (4:42)
Total: 42:18
By dry definition, white noise denotes a random signal having equal intensity at different frequencies, giving it a constant power spectral density. It has been commonly employed in electronic music and denotes for instance the sound of a non-existent radio station, while searching through the spectrum for a signal. For black metal it denotes the yin to the yang of the will to shape forms and patterns of melodies and rhythms and as such has a constant presence.
CRAFT have chosen their title as a perfect description of this symbiotic relationship into which the seeming contrast and contradiction of black and white enters. With ‘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.
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.
Now CRAFT are ready to take a giant step in their career with the extremely strong, ‘White Noise and Black Metal’. This is misanthropic Swedish black metal honed to perfection.
Current line-up
Joakim: guitars, electronics
Nox: vocals
John Doe: guitars
Alex: bass
Recording line-up
Joakim: guitars, electronics
Nox: vocals
John Doe: guitars
Alex: bass
Daniel Moilanen: session drums
Recording: Studio Gröndahl, Stockholm, Sweden and self-recording
Producer: Karl Daniel Lidén for drums and Joakim for everything else
Mix & mastering: Karl Daniel Lidén at Tri-Lamb Studios
Cover art: Zbigniew M. Bielak
Today, Invictus Productions, in conspiracy with Dark Descent Records, sets September 7th as the international release date for Malthusian’s highly anticipated debut album, Across Deaths. Dark Descent will handle the album’s North American release, while Invictus will handle the rest of the world.
Since their fateful first demo, MMXIII, in 2013, Ireland’s Malthusian have been a study in strident refinement and maverick poise. No move is ever out of place, nor any possibility unexplored; chaos may be waiting in the wings, but it is resisted and never fully/remotely sought. The hydra-headed quartet started on enviably firm footing from the very beginning – trace elements of bestial black metal, morbid death metal, and languorous doom, all mangled and minced with poetic ease – but what sprouted from that first demo and especially the subsequent Below the Hengiform EP two years later was something extraordinary indeed. This was black/death/doom ART taken to hallucinatory extremes…and Malthusian were only just beginning.
True, Across Deaths will be a “beginning” for many listeners otherwise new to Malthusian, but for those already well versed in the band’s vortextural musings, the album-length format opens their world even wider. Peer inside and the visions of bottomless doom are writ large; obscene forms writhe and resist, each psychological tendril twisting to ever-beckoning infinity. That Malthusian can harness these sensations should be no surprise – both short-length predecessors seemed massive at the time (and still are) – but the sheer fact (not to mention the sheer audacity) that a band can so effortlessly take angular, largely atonal DEATH METAL and make it a seemingly cinematic experience should compel naysayers to finally investigate this malodorous of artforms. Naturally, for however adventurous their visions continue to be, Malthusian above all believe in the alternately damning/redemptive powers of heavy metal: diversity of expression comes from within, not without.
Further verbiage is simply wasted – the experience is all. No time like the present, then, to travel Across Deaths with Malthusian. Begin the perilous journey with the new track “Remnant Fauna” HERE
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Malthusian’s Across Deaths
1. Remnant Fauna
2. Across the Expanse of Nothing
3. Sublunar Hex
4. Primal Attunement – The Gloom Epoch
5. Telluric Tongues (Roaring Into the Earth)
Seattle based death metal overlord DRAWN AND QUARTERED began life under the moniker of Plague Bearer (which is currently a side project of the guitarist Kelly) in 1992. A year after the creation, Plague Bearer started to breath fire under the formidable name Drawn and Quartered. It will be injudicious to play down their prolific career — consisting six acclaimed full lengths and numerous EPs and demos — by only considering the absence of wide-ranging recognition of their niche musical landscape. Unconventional and grotesque structured song-writings have earned them an invincible and invulnerable position in the death metal underground. Drawn and Quartered has always pushed the boundaries of traditional death metal by infusing technically complex riffs and at the same time retaining the dreadful and raw environs with dexterity, a hallmark that is highly unnoticeable among the torchbearers of modern death metal acts who only gives priority to metamorphose themselves in a sea of technical showboating.
Balefully titled upcoming opus “The One Who Lurks” sees no discernible turnaround in the already established signature sound. However, it surely sees the long serving death metal trio to vengefully and ravenously hone the level of ferocity and profanity in an unadulterated way. The eight tracks, containing maelstrom of bizarre riffs, repulsive vocals, and cavernous drumming, individually act as an entryway to unfurl the lurking terror that is maliciously aiming to flay its victim alive.
Upon re-issuing Drawn and Quartered’s “Feeding Hell’s Furnace” (on tape) and ”Hail Infernal Darkness” (on vinyl), French label Krucyator Productions will present the highly anticipated seventh full length “The One Who Lurks” on July 27, 2018.
Gabriel T Byrne has executed The hideous artwork of this album. The Tucson, Arizona based artist has limned the cover of every Drawn and Quartered full lengths.The label owner Loic F. (Autokrator, N.K.V.D.) has undertaken the duty of the layout, mixing, mastering and the production.
Drawn and Quartered is confirmed to perform in this year’s Asakusa Deathfest, Japan. They will also perform in other local and international gigs to support the forthcoming album.
TRACT-LIST:
1. Nefarious Rites
2. Ravage The Cadaver
3. Horned Shadows Rise
4. Deliverance to the Worms
5. Temples of Arcane Devotion
6. Carnal Transmigration
7. The One Who Lurks
8. Portals of Communion
