Today, sonic sorcerers Death. Void. Terror. stream the entirety of their striking debut album, To the Great Monolith I. Set for international release on May 4th via Iron Bonehead Productions, hear Death. Void. Terror’s To the Great Monolith I in its entirety HERE.
NO ORIGIN. Received from the ominous, great monolith and expressed in pure sound. NO ORDER. The recordings presented by the entity Death. Void. Terror. transcend the conventions of “composition” and “performance” in modern music culture and instead reduce the creation to its essence, stripped of convolution and excess, until all that remains is a singularity of blackness, harvested from those who have engaged in its creation.
The recordings contained on To The Great Monolith I are not songs. This is not music that has been rehearsed, honed, and tailored to fit a preconceived notion of what is acceptable in humanist genre confines. Instead, the aim is to achieve the most pure expression of the “unconscious” and to confront the listener with authentic ritual experiences, captured directly as they were conducted by the practitioners involved. These are sounds completely hostile to man, an exploration of the surreal.
Like resonating cries of the void piercing through the air, as incandescent stone upon human skin. No origin. No order. Death. Void. Terror.
Stand at the precipice of the void and dive fully in exclusively HERE.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Death. Void. Terror.’s To the Great Monolith I
1. (——-) [24:16]
2. (—-) [16:46]
One-man Tunisian Progressive Death Metal band BROOD OF HATRED is streaming a new song from forthcoming album Identity Disorder. Check out “Ritual of Sacrifice”
Crime Records will release Identity Disorder on May 4. Another new song, “Feeding the Hunger,” is also streaming
After a four-year hiatus subsequent to release of debut album Skinless Agony, BROOD OF HATRED returns with a sophomore album in Identity Disorder that deftly balances progressive structure with downright catchy songwriting. Featuring sole member Muhammed Mêlki, the album is “a gift of chaos and disorder, songs of life and death.” It is “the heart and soul of my identity, given to those who believe.”
Identity Disorder Album Credits
Musician : Muhammed Mêlki on all tracks.
All Songs written by : Muhammed Mêlki.
Recorded by : Muhammed Mêlki in Tunisia/North Africa at Tagma studios.
Mixed & Mastered by : Maciej Dawidek in Gdansk (Poland) at Nova Studios.
Art & Layout by : Mounir Soussi.
Photography by : Omar Sfayhi.
Artist management by : zougari Management.
Brood Of Hatred is a Tunisian one-man concept, Death Metal Act founded in 2010 by Muhammed Mêlki. It is music with no specific genre boundaries or philosophies, but some haunting atmospheres guiding you through progressive journeys, as well as some unconventional writing inspired by the strange state of mind that characterises the concept.
Today, Swedish black metal horde GRÁ unchains their highly anticipated third album “Väsen” through Carnal Records on CD and digitally. LP will be out this fall.
GRÁ was founded in 2010 by Heljarmadr (Dark Funeral, Cursed 13, Domgård) and Dimman in Stockholm. In a time where many bands want to be compared with their idols, GRÁ walks a different path where exploration and breaking new grounds are the keystones. That is the greatest tribute to the past, to walk your own path and be a leader, not a follower of trends.
Upon two albums and numerous short releases, it is now time for the third album, “Väsen”. It is also time to follow up on the previously successful tours around Europe, starting with the Eradication Festival in Cardiff, Wales in May 2018.
“Väsen” marks a new era for GRÁ. Free from the concept of the previous releases, GRÁ returns with an album more varied than ever and with the will to explore outside the borders of the narrow-minded so called black metal scene where most seem to have forgotten to include the part that makes it BLACK. Shepherded by the inhumane, raspy voice, the opus “Väsen” offers the co-existence of momentous harmonies and horrisonant riffs, spasmodic appearances of ghastly keyboard textures, penetrating mid-paced drumming and vein vibrating basslines. Sustaining the ethos of the classic black metal forces, the Swedish entity plumps for unworldly songwriting structures, full of vim and vigor, at the same time unadulteratedly malignant.
“Väsen” is out through Swedish label Carnal Records on CD & digital formats from April 27, LP will be out this Fall 2018.
Upcoming Event:
JUNE 01, 2018, Belsepub, Gothenburg, Sweden
Väsen was recorded during 2017 and 2018 at “The Grey Studios”, Stockholm.
Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Heljarmadr Productions.
Cover artwork by Axel Torvenius (Art director of Machine Games, recently most known for the award winning video game Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus).
Band photos by Soile Siirtola.
Logo by Luciana Nedelea.
Rune symbol by AirikR.
Sleeve photo by Heljarmadr.
HATE ETERNAL are announcing new European tour dates this summer. The US death metal giants will kick off their rampage at the Backstage in München, Germany on July 23 and continue to devastate three more European countries until a final onslaught at the French Sylak Open Air in Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans on the 4th of August.
A list of all currently confirmed dates, presented by Deaf Forever, can be viewed below.
HATE ETERNAL
23 July 18 München (DE) Backstage (Free & Easy)
25 July 18 Tolmin (SI) Metal Days 2018
26 July 18 Wien (AT) Viper Room
27 July 18 Würzburg (DE) Posthalle
28 July 18 Steenwijk (NL) Stonehenge Festival 2018
29 July 18 Utrecht (NL) De Helling
04 Aug 18 Saint-Maurice-de-Gourdans (FR) Sylak Open Air 2018
HATE ETERNAL are touring in support if their latest album ‘Infernus’ (2015). The album is still available from the Season of Mist shop and streaming in here.
The spectacular artwork for ‘Infernus’ has been created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, SODOM). His cover painting can be viewed below.
Tracklist
01. Locust Swarm
02. The Stygian Deep
03. Pathogenic Apathy
04. La Tempestad
05. Infernus
06. The Chosen One
07. Zealot, Crusader of War
08. Order of the Arcane Scripture
09. Chaos Theory
10. O’ Majestic Being, Hear My Call
HATE ETERNAL is the brainchild of extreme metal luminary Erik Rutan, who created a charging death metal juggernaut. In the United States this style has been virtually synonymous with Florida and especially the Tampa Bay Area for a long time. More aggressive and technically complex than its Swedish counterpart, Floridian death metal grew out of thrash during the mid-1980’s and was founded by such as the legendary DEATH, OBITUARY, and MORBID ANGEL. While many of its early protagonists went on experimental paths, HATE ETERNAL remains true to the original formula, while continuously pushing the boundaries of this extreme style.
Founded in St. Petersburg, Florida in the year 1997, the band faithfully keeps the death metal spirit alive as their long-awaited sixth studio album ‘Infernus’ now uncompromisingly demonstrates. HATE ETERNAL’s first new full-length in four years doubles down on their patented, high-velocity assault of dizzying ferocity combined with wide-range dynamics, outstanding songwriting and skull-crushing brutality. HATE ETERNAL delivers extreme music at the highest level. There can be no doubt that ‘Infernus’ ranks among the very best death metal records of 2015!
Line-up
Erik Rutan: vocals, guitars
J.J. Hrubovcak: bass, backing vocals
Chason Westmoreland: drums (album recording)
Hannes Grossmann: drums (live, session)
RAVEN THRONE’s sixth album “I Miortvym Snicca Zolak” is only a week away from its release date. Dutch Label Non Serviam Records will be releasing the CDs in digipak format (first 50 orders come with a patch). The album is based on poems from the beginning of the 20th century.
PopMatters premieres the final track “Žyvoj kryvi žyvyja cielcy” (English: Living blood of living bodies) of the opus.
Remarked by the band : “Musically track “Žyvoj kryvi žyvyja cielcy” turned out to be quite uncharacteristic for the band. It contains progressive elements in combination with more traditional metal forms. The mood of music and full of tragedy images of Uladzimir Dudzitski’s poem create a complete and harmonious union.”
Emerged from the ancient city Polotsk in 2004, Belarusian band RAVEN THRONE is having a couple of LPs and an EP in its amassment. The short lived first line-up collapsed after a few shows, the guitarist Chernotur (aka Dzianis Lukianovich, Thy Wings) kept the flame alive with War Head, who joined the band as a bass player in 2005. Encountering several lineup changes, the main core of the band had been formed in the person of Chernotur and War Head since then. During 2005 and 2006 RAVEN THRONE was a studio project, until Ingwar Winterheart (aka Galdor) joined the band. The first records were made at that time.
RAVEN THRONE had no drummer until 2011 and played under drum machine, but they released 03 magnificent albums till then. The band has become more active since 2014, started playing small and big festivals/gigs on regular basis. The current drummer Green Skin joined the band in 2015. The band shared stages with some prestigious local and international bands, including legendary Polish death metal troop VADER.
05th album “By the Path of the Forgotten” was released in 2016 via Possession Productions. The record was made by Chernotur and War Head as usual. In April 2016, the new line-up was renewed. Zergved Hellersatan (ex-KAIRA) became new vocalist. RAVEN THRONE supported ROTTING CHRIST on their Minsk gig during the world tour in December 2017.
Upcoming album “I Miortvym Snicca Zolak” will be out May 02nd via Non Serviam Records on digipak format. RAVEN THRONE invites you to an odyssey in the splendor of the Slavic nature, which is based on poems from the beginning of the 20th century. The bands from the east Slavic countries can invent the supreme atmosphere that darkens the music with deep melancholy and Raven Throne is the perfect example to illustrate this tendency. The 06 splendid tracks of the album are occupied with deep melodies, but powerful rhythms, exploring the darkest side of human emotions. Without sacrificing melodic and dynamic proficiency, their musical technicality comes out on top through the composition.
Magnificent visual artistry in the form of cover art was executed by the band’s vocalist War Head. RAVEN THRONE will be embarking on an European tour this year to promote this album.
Today, the enigmatic & nightmarish Vanhelga reveal a new lyric video for the track “Relationship in Pieces.” The song is the first track to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fifth album, Fredagsmys, which is set for international release on June 29th via Osmose Productions.
See & hear the lyric video for Vanhelga’s “Relationship in Pieces” HERE.
Vanhelga are constantly expanding their creativity without losing the classic melancholic sound from Sweden that makes them unique. The last few years, they’ve written and recorded 11 tracks that fully live up to their artistic vision. Fredagsmys is the most elaborate album from Vanhelga so far.
True to their own words, their fifth full-length – and first for Osmose – is the continuing exploration of the darker sides of reality and another experiment in how to find its purest expression: using sarcasm combined with overall schizophrenic mood changes between pitch-black hopelessness and cheerful euphoria, but still keeping a level of seriousness Vanhelga has come to be a force to be reckoned with.
Vanhelga was formed in Linköping, Sweden, in 2001 by 145188, who got together with likeminded musicians in order to finally breathe life into his vision, something he had not been able to do with any previous bands and musicians he had worked with. Since then, they are known for their atmospheric and captivating live performances, sharing the stage with, Psychonaut 4, Forgotten Tomb, Harakiri for the Sky, and Kall, among others.
Through music and lyrics, Vanhelga – which, translated from Swedish, means “Profane” – explores the darker side of humanity: the one that few will admit exists, but which nevertheless is a huge part of every individual’s existence.
Vanhelga’s music can doubtlessly be classed as black metal, but that would be too restrictive a definition. Their music is cold and sinister, but with melodies and melancholic moments that can draw you in and lull you into a false sense of security before you realize, too late, that you have been caught in an ominous web of sound that sends shivers down your spine.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Vanhelga’s Fredagsmys
1. Sömnparalys
2. Psykotisk självinsikt
3. Varde mörker
4. Ensam mot alla
5. Förpassad till misär
6. Två blir ett
7. Keep the window closed
8. RIP (Relationship in pieces)
9. Feels like breathing in sulfur
10. You are temporary
11. Fredagsmys
VANHELGA lineup 2018
145188 – vocals and guitars
J. Ejnarsson – lead guitars and backing vocals
R. Jönsson – bass
D. Franzén – drums
Atlanta (GA) – Boris Records has made its forthcoming vinyl reissue of Sealed Shut from influential Atlanta Death Dealers HAUNTING available for streaming on Bandcamp. The album is now available for pre-order as well. It is recommended that you dive right in at the following link: borisrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sealed-shut-pre-order
Sealed Shut will be released on May 8. Originally self-released by the band in a small run of cassettes in 2014, the vinyl version includes an added “Intro” track that never made it onto the original tape release. While HAUNTING is now disbanded, Scott Taysom has moved on to front CLOAK and Charlie Southern is kicking ass in SADISTIC RITUAL, VIMUR and ECTOVOID, while Blake and David are active in new projects.
HAUNTING appeared during an exciting period of maturation in the Atlanta metal scene. The band’s brief existence afforded only the sole offering of Sealed Shut. Though only four songs, it stands in the forefront among a small group of other highly-esteemed records that have been released within the last 35 years or so of Atlanta’s metal timeline.
HAUNTING’s very existence owes much to the once monstrously thriving warehouse and DIY scene in the city. HAUNTING is undeniably tied to its members’ earliest musical endeavors in other local favorites such as the now legendary death-dealers Living Decay, hardcore punks Paradox, and the still-active thrashers Sadistic Ritual. Sealed Shut is easily recognizable as an amalgamation, intentional or not, of that fevered adolescent energy and relentless drive with which those earlier bands had enthralled, what was at the time, a fatigued local scene. They helped cultivate new young devotees in droves and reenergized a previous generation of weary metalheads.
“A highly esteemed recording of true USDM.”
– Riff Relevant
“Short, sweet and especially savage, Sealed Shut remains an energised slab of prime death metal from a band whose members are still plying their particularly nasty trade via the thrash of Sadistic Ritual and via death-dealers, Living Decay.”
– Worship Metal
“Carving out four unique and relentless tracks, Haunting really had something going for it while trying to make their own style in death metal.”
– Metal Machine
Haunting is:
David Prae – Drums
Scott Taysom – Vocals, Guitar
Charlie Southern – Guitar
Blake Packard – Bass
IRON BONEHEAD PRODUCTIONS is proud to present EMBRACE OF THORNS’ highly anticipated fifth album, Scorn Aesthetics, on CD and vinyl LP format.
For nearly 20 years now, EMBRACE OF THORNS have built a prolific-yet-patient catalog that defies easy categorization. Deeply rooted in ancient black metal and death metal to be sure, these Greek iconoclasts’ sound nevertheless has often been “too black metal” for most death metallers and “too death metal” for most black metallers – likewise, they preempted the bestial metal by at least four years, and later on solidified songwriting finesse far “too clean” for most bestial worshipers – and sadly, wider acclaim in the underground has eluded them. For those KNOW, though, the name EMBRACE OF THORNS has come to mean a gold standard in black/death METAL, and while “acclaim” has never been in their lexicon, longtime supporters IRON BONEHEAD welcomes the band with the riveting Scorn Aesthetics.
Whereas earlier EMBRACE OF THORNS recordings – particularly their cult earliest albums, 2007’s …for I See Death in Their Eyes… and 2009’s classic Atonement Ritual – melded the swarming, gibbering chaos of bestial black metal with the molten muscle of the most sepulchral death metal, with 2014’s largely overlooked Darkness Impenetrable did the band cross a Rubicon, of sorts, into more streamlined and martial territory. It’s a move that might’ve alienated the more underground-dwelling of EMBRACE OF THORNS’ potential fanbase, but one that made their name ever more unique, and they continue that upward/onward trajectory with Scorn Aesthetics.
Encased in their most powerful and punishing production to date, which amplifies the band’s growing clarity without sacrificing an ounce of grit, Scorn Aesthetics sees EMBRACE OF THORNS firing on all cylinders…and then crushing them underfoot. Across the album’s generous-yet-concise 43 minutes, each of these seven tracks builds with patience and poise, but somehow elusively convey a sense of explosion, detonation, immolation. The effect is one of vortextural churn ‘n’ spun, slipstreaming the listener into a roiling, ceaselessly humid mass but offering no hope nor reprieve. More generally, Scorn Aesthetics is built upon walls of RIFFS – be they “death metal,” “black metal,” or just pure METAL – all coalescing into an occult fury, immediately engaging every step of the way and memorable to the very end.
Iron-willed and resolute, EMBRACE OF THORNS challenge convention and stagnation with Scorn Aesthetics. Prepare to be flattened, or step aside like a coward.
Today, Vrasubatlat cult Serum Dreg stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Lustful Vengeance. The album is set for international release today via Invictus Productions in conspiracy with Vrasubatlat: Invictus will be handling the CD version while Vrasubatlat will be handling the vinyl and cassette versions. Hear Serum Dreg’s Lustful Vengeance in its entirety exclusively HERE.
BLASPHEMIC. BLACK. HATEFUL. DEATH NOISE.
The debut LP of Serum Dreg focuses on worship of sex, hedonism, and ritualistic chaos executed through the most traditional means possible. Lustful Vengeance carries the torch of primitive black/death metal, once again pushing the boundaries of Vrasubatlat’s grasp but this time out of the unorthodox and into the realm of ancestral aural hate. Serum Dreg’s debut LP carries with it the demented fixation of the Vrasubatlat philosophy while managing to dredge in familiar waters of primeval warfare.
FORNICATE. ASPHYXIATE. DEATH TO TRINITY.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Serum Dreg’s Lustful Vengeance
1. Rotten Pillar / Lustful Vengeance
2. Edifice of Hatred
3. Holy Disease
4. Death Ritual
5. Impure Ceremony
6. Blasphemic Black Death Noise
NOCTURNAL GRAVES are releasing the third crushing track taken from their forthcoming new album, ‘Titan’, which will hit the stores on May 18th, 2018.
NOCTURNAL GRAVES comment: “Souls Tribulation” is about crossing the borders into the depths of insanity, of chaos in order to find wisdom in Darkness.
Beware Titan, Hail Satan!”
NOCTURNAL GRAVES have previously revealed the cover and details of ‘Titan’, which can be viewed below.
Track-list
1. Resistance (6:44)
2. Roar of the Wild (3:41)
3. Ecdysis, Shedding Weak Flesh (6:13)
4. Souls Tribulation (3:42)
5. And Hell Followed Them (4:15)
6. Bow before None (6:07)
7. Silence the Martyrs (3:34)
8. Titan (5:27)
Total playing time: 39:43
Remember the famous blues legend about aspiring musicians meeting the devil at the crossroads, who offers artistic greatness in return for the souls of the eager seekers of fame? Well, a similar story can probably be told about NOCTURNAL GRAVES. Just exchange “fame” with “true old school spirit” and re-locate the fateful meeting to the very point where black, death, and thrash metal grow in and out of each other – with each of these sub-genres being expressed in their earlier incarnations.
At exactly those crossroads you will find ‘Titan’. The third full-length of the Australian veterans unashamedly celebrates the testosterone-driven raw aggression of the darker side of the ‘80s metal scene. Each riff hits home hard with as much passion as precision. NOCTURNAL GRAVES obviously love what they are doing and this shines through every brutal note. Song by song this band keep the flame burning and their uncompromising conviction as well as execution sets ‘Titan’ apart from random nostalgia and makes the album fully relevant within the contemporary metal setting.
NOCTURNAL GRAVES were originally formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2004. Two well received demos, ‘Profanation of Innocence’ and ‘Deathstorm’ followed in the same year. Quickly scoring a record deal, the band officially released the ‘Necromancer’ 7″ vinyl in 2006 before unleashing their cult debut full-length, ‘Satan’s Cross’ the following year, which was re-issued with the stunning cover art by renowned painter Paolo Girardi (INQUISITION, MANILLA ROAD, HIEROPHANT) in 2017.
When the Australians first hit Europe in 2009, they celebrated the event with ‘The Gravespirit Sessions’ split. Former DESTRÖYER 666 and RAZOR OF OCCAM guitarist Shrapnel, as well as drummer L.W., joined in 2012.
NOCTURNAL GRAVES widely extended their international fanbase with the release of sophomore album ‘…From the Bloodline of Cain’ (2014), which resulted in an invitation to the 2016 edition of Maryland Deathfest and more shows in the US. The band supported the tour with a limited 7″ EP ‘Sharpen the Knives / Lead us to the Endless Fire’.
Now, NOCTURNAL GRAVES are getting ready to conquer the world with their highly anticipated forthcoming third full-length. ‘Titan’ is in every sense as big as the album’s name implies. Prepare for impact!
Production: Nocturnal Graves
Engineer: Jarro Raphael at I-HQ Recordings, Australia
Mix: Jarro Raphael
Mastering: Tony “Jack the Bear” Mantz and Tom Beard at Deluxe Mastering
Recording line-up
Decaylust: lead guitars, vocals
Shrapnel: lead guitars
J.R.: drums, rhythm guitars, bass, lead vocals
Current line-up
R. Prain: bass, vocals
Shrapnel: guitars
Decaylust: guitars
J.R.: drums
