THY SEPULCHRAL MOON set release date for new SIGNAL REX compilation

On December 22nd, Signal Rex is proud to present a special collection from Thy Sepulchral Moon entitled Indignant Force of Malevolence on vinyl LP format. Already a cult name in the underground, this Canadian/South Korean entity has so far released two EPs in as many years – 2016’s Incantations Inciting Demise and 2017’s Contemptuous Retaliation Storm – and hereby collect on one format both those EPs as well as three unreleased demo tracks and two cover songs, Beherit’s “Sadomatic Rites” and NON’s “Total War.”

As suggested by their spectrum-spanning choice of covers, Thy Sepulchral Moon are not your trendy, identikit “bestial” black metal band. While certainly grounded in the earliest nuclear vomits of the idiom, there’s an especially tweaked and torturedly experimental sensibility at work across their canon. The pulse is primitive and unabashedly mechanistic – cold, lifeless, DEAD – and a swarm of gasmasked voices speak ill tidings from nearly every direction; the layering of sewer-drenched sound is similarly indebted to the foulest depths of the gabber-gore underground. Altogether, it makes for a uniquely ritualistic sound that portends total and utter oblivion. Meet that oblivion head on with Indignant Force of Malevolence!

Take the first step into that oblivion with the track “Insides Disrupt”

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Thy Sepulchral Moon’s Indignant Force of Great Malevolence
1. Intro + Spell 1
2. Spell 2
3. Spell 3
4. Spell 4
5. Spell 5
6. Send a plume of Choking
7. Dislocated from advance
8. Insides Disrupt
9. Sadomatic Rites (Beherit cover)
10. Total War (NON cover)
11. Murk Demo Version (Bonus Track)
12. Spell I – Rain as Funerary Attendants Reh Demo
13. Spell II – Translocate Misstep Reh Demo

Tracks 1-5 from Incantations Inciting Demise
Tracks 6-10 from Contemptuous Retaliation Storm
Tracks 11-13 are exclusive to this compilation

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/thy6sepulchral6moon6

ANGUIS DEI set release date for SVART debut EP, reveal first track

Today, Svart Records sets November 24th as the international release date for Anguis Dei’s highly anticipated debut EP, Ad Portas Serpentium.

Anguis Dei represents True Satanik Black Metal. It represents the extremity of hellish orchestral black metal: harsh, majestic, and spectral soundscape based on Satanism, demonology, and the true primordial black metal tradition.

The formation of this sect occurred back in MMXIV anno bastardi. Since then, its devotees have been the following four entities: Adeptus Juno – hæretical strings & darkestrations (Juno Bloodlust); Adeptus Summum Algor – blasting rituals (Adversam, Juno Bloodlust, Natassievila, etc); Adeptus Hakuja – serpentine strings (Hakuja, Cataplexy, etc); and Adeptus U.:È.:Œ.: – séance & magitation (Arkha Sva, Avsolutized…, Ahpdegma, etc). Now, in early Novembre MMXIV, Anguis Dei’s first EP Ad Portas Serpentium shall proudly be unleashed by Svart Records. It shall feature the following three sonic ceremonies on the circular laminas. I. “Maythorns Over Uroboros,” II. “Angela Krudeliis Ambitiosa Nokturniis,” III. “Origin ~ The Lionel.” And, in addition, Ad Portas Serpentium shall shortly be followed by the first full-length entitled Angeist.

Anguis Dei is an audible form of black magick for Satan and Satanists rather than other flooding commercialised music products. It shall provide something invisible affecting your invisible world. Prepare for entering the gates and taking a dark journey into the malign realms of Satanik Magick.

The first realm can be entered with the new track “Maythorns Over Uroboros”

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Anguis Dei’s Ad Portas Serpentium album cover artwork

Tracklisting for Anguis Dei’s Ad Portas Serpentium
1. Maythorns Over Uroboros
2. Angela Krudeliis Ambitiosa Nokturniis
3. Origin
4. The Lionel

www.svartrecords.com
www.facebook.com/svartrecords
www.youtube.com/svartrecords
www.twitter.com/svartrecords

American black metal cult WORM stream IRON BONEHEAD debut

Today, American black metal cult Worm stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Evocation of the Black Marsh. Now set for international release on November 3rd via Iron Bonehead Productions, hear Worm’s Evocation of the Black Marsh in its entirety HERE.

Hailing from the swampy recesses of Florida, Worm is the work of one mysterious Fantomslaughter. To date, he’s done two rare demos, The Deep Dark Earth Underlines All (2014) and Nights in Hell (2016), but now as a duo alongside one Equimanthorn, Worm present the fullest distillation of their foul ‘n’ fetid aesthetic in Evocation of the Black Marsh.

Ever aptly titled, Evocation of the Black Marsh comprises eight hymns to the spiritual swamp lurking in every listener. With titles like “Evil in the Mire,” “Altar of Black Sludge,” and especially “The Slime Weeps” and “Swamp Ghoul,” it would be fair to assume that Worm would worship at the altar of Varathron’s classic His Majesty at the Swamp. However, while faint traces of those Greek gods can be detected, across the 42-minute LP is a clanging, blown-out appropriation of early Goatlord and Mortuary Drape, but strewn with a screws-loose personality that hails unorthodoxy endlessly. It’s a harsh and unsettling listener, but done with the authenticity and purity of black metal’s earliest, pre-tabloid days – and where else would something harsh and unsettling end but at the swamp?

Submerge into the slime and prepare for a true Evocation of the Black Marsh.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Worm (USA)’s Evocation of the Black Marsh
1. Altar Of Black Sludge
2. Winged Beast Of The Phantom Crypt
3. Gravemouth
4. Evil In The Mire
5. Evocation Of The Black Marsh
6. Swamp Ghoul
7. Rotting Semblance
8. The Slime Weeps

www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

Auðn premiere third track taken from new album

AUÐN have released the third stunning track taken from their forthcoming album, ‘Farvegir Fyrndar’, which is scheduled for release on November 10th.

The song “Veröld Hulin” is now streaming at the link below, which may be published immediately.

AUÐN comment: “The title of the opening track of our new album, ‘Veröld Hulin’ roughly translates as ‘Hidden World’. It marks the beginning of the journey that takes you through ‘Farvegir Fyrndar’. We welcome you to join on along the way as release of our album draws near.”

The artwork of ‘Farvegir Fyrndar’ was created by Víðir Mýrmann Þrastarson and can be viewed below.

Track list
1. Veröld Hulin (6:24)
2. Lífvana Jörð (4:06)
3. Haldreipi Hugans (8:04)
4. Prísund (4:03)
5. Ljósaslæður (6:37)
6. Blóðrauð Sól (4:27)
7. Eilífar Nætur (5:42)
8. Skuggar (5:14)
9. Í Hálmstráið Held (5:20)

Total playing time: 49:57

AUÐN have previously announced a European tour also joined by label mates THE GREAT OLD ONES in support of GHAALS WYRD. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.

AUÐN
+The Great Old Ones +Ghaals WYRD
01 Dec 17 Bochum (DE) Matrix
02 Dec 17 Vosselaar (BE) Biebob
03 Dec 17 Paris (FR) Petit Bain
04 Dec 17 Toulouse (FR) Metronum
05 Dec 17 Madrid (ES) Chango
06 Dec 17 Barcelona (ES) boveda
07 Dec 17 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod
08 Dec 17 Milan (IT) Circolo Svolta
09 Dec 17 Bologna (IT) Alcemica Music Club
10 Dec 17 Zürich (CH) Werk 21
12 Dec 17 München (DE) Backstage
13 Dec 17 Wroclaw (PL) Firlej
14 Dec 17 Erfurt (DE) From Hell
15 Dec 17 Berlin (DE) De Mortem Et Diabolum

AUÐN Festivals
16 Dec 17 Eindhoven (NL) Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2017
09 Mar 18 Reykjavík (IS) Gamla Bíó (Oration MMXVIII)
30 Mar 18 Oslo (NO) Inferno Festival 2018

For all its beauty, Iceland can be a sinister place where furious elements rage teaching fear but also inspiring human creativity. Hailing from the village of Hveragerði in the south of the volcanic island, AUÐN are the latest offspring from the burgeoning black metal scene in this land of ice and snow to set their dark sails for foreign shores.

With their second full-length, ‘Farvegir Fyrndar’ (literally meaning “Ancient Riverbeds” – with a long tail of untranslatable subtext), AUÐN continue their fast ascent. Unlike the majority of their blackened brethren from the country’s capital Reykjavik, this young band does not base its sound more or less on DEATHSPELL OMEGA worship, but rather reaches back to a more classic second generation black metal approach for inspiration.

AUÐN deliver haunting melodies and beautifully frozen atmospheres – as opposed to the jarring and caustic blunt force trauma that has brought this remote place in the Northern Atlantic to the black metal forefront of late

Founded in the bleak winter of 2010, AUÐN’s talent was quick to be recognised. The band got invited to Iceland’s main metal event, the Eistnaflug Festival and won the local Wacken Metal Battle contest in 2016, while making it to the top 3 at the main event. Performances at the prestigious Inferno and Roadburn Festivals followed in 2017.

With ‘Farvegir Fyrndar’, AUÐN not only demonstrate the impressive progress of their songwriting skills but also deliver a clear definition of their very own black sound. Warning: this album grows with every spin and will take a long time to even come close to any limit!

Line-up
Aðalsteinn Magnússon – guitar
Andri Björn Birgisson – guitar
Hjalti Sveinsson – vocals
Hjálmar Gylfason – bass
Sigurður Kjartan Pálsson – drums

www.facebook.com/audnofficial

Vreid sign to Season of Mist

Season of Mist are proud to announce the signing of VREID. The Norwegian black’n’roll veterans will release their highly anticipated next album through Season of Mist.

VREID comment: “We are extremely pleased to get signed by Season of Mist. Like us, they have been around for years, and we have a strong relationship to their people and admiration for their work. We are well on our way with our new album, and are very proud to have Season of Mist as a partner when we will launch the upcoming beast. Our march continues.”

VREID were formed in 2004. The Norwegian metal brigade rose from the ashes of WINDIR after the tragic perishing of the “Sognametal” legends with the declared mission of exploring new musical paths.

The Norsemen proved true to their words and have delivered 7 albums and one DVD, which each received high praise from critics and fans alike. VREID chose a course of constant evolution that is marked by thematically denoted phases regarding their often historically inspired lyrics.

This became particularly clear with albums number 3 and 4, ‘I Krig’ and ‘Milorg’, which both revolved around concepts dealing with resistance and liberation of Norway during World War II. With their following three records, VREID returned to their Norse roots, of which particularly their latest full-length, ‘Sólverv’ received highest critical acclaim.
VREID have hammered out their success partly by being a heavily touring band. The four-piece performed more than 500 shows in 25 countries so far. Their everlasting march to conquer new territories has led the Norwegians to headline tours in Europe, North America, Japan, and India.

Currently, the veterans are working on new material and will record their eighth opus this autumn. Composer and mastermind, Hváll has already announced that “…it will be one hell of an album. After more than 20 years of playing together our spirit is stronger than ever and we can hardly wait to get in studio again to give birth to our new creations”.

VREID’s style is often referred to as “black’n’roll” and Metal Hammer UK described their music as “a unique time travel in metal” as elements of 70’s rock, 80’s classic metal, and Norwegian black metal are all clearly audible.”

VREID will release their forthcoming album in 2018 via Season of Mist.

Line-up
Sture: vocals, guitars
Hváll: bass
Steingrim: drums
Strom: guitars

www.vreid.no
www.facebook.com/vreidofficial

Rotten Sound announce new shows

ROTTEN SOUND have been added on short notice to the billing of the upcoming premiere grind-event Bloodshed Fest at the Dynamo in Eindhoven, the Netherlands on October 27nd!

The Finnish grind-veterans will also perform at the Loches En Grind 8 the next day and have been confirmed for It’s A Gorgegrind Birthday Pt. III at the Kranhalle, Munich, Germany on December 8th.

27 Oct 17 Eindhoven (NL) Dynamo (Bloodshed Fest)
28 Oct 17 Loches (FR) Loches En Grind 8
08 Dec 17 München (DE) Kranhalle (Goregrind Birthday Pt. III)

ROTTEN SOUND have previously released a power-driven live video that shows the band tearing their stage apart and whipping the audience into a frenzy.

The track “Trashmonger” has been taken from the Finnish grind kings’ latest album ‘Abuse to Suffer’.

Artwork and track-list can be viewed below.

Tracklisting
1. Lazy Asses
2. Intellect
3. Fear of Shadows
4. Trashmonger
5. Crooked
6. Time for the Fix
7. Slave to the Rats
8. Brainwashed
9. Cannon Fodder
10. Yellow Pain
11. Machine
12. The Clerk
13. Caged
14. Retaliation
15. Inhumane Treatment
16. Extortion and Blackmail

ROTTEN SOUND are back and angrier than ever. Grindcore is not for the faint of heart and these Finns do not subscribe to the idea of compromise. ‘Abuse to Suffer’ remains true to the band’s resilient roots, while not falling into the traps of chewing endlessly on an old formula gone stale or not daring to add an element of surprise when fitting the style. What sets ROTTEN SOUND apart from other protagonists in the field is an obvious intelligence that shows in their to-the-point songwriting, arrangements, and subtle inclusion of choice death metal elements in their massive sound.

ROTTEN SOUND were conceived in the city of Vaasa, Finland by guitarist Mika Aalto in 1993, who was soon joined by vocalist Keijo Niinimaa. This duo remains in place as the only original members – yet drummer Sami Latva and Kristian Toivainen on bass have meanwhile been steady members for many years as well. The Finns can proudly look back at an impressive catalogue of six highly acclaimed studio albums, seven EPs, three split singles, a single and a live DVD. Furthermore ROTTEN SOUND hit the stages of major metal and hardcore oriented festivals and toured in regular intervals alongside such renowned acts as NASUM, PHOBIA, DISFEAR, CARCASS, MUNICIPAL WASTE, EXHUMED, NAPALM DEATH, and PIG DESTROYER among many others.

With ‘Abuse to Suffer’, ROTTEN SOUND are hammering out an album that equally acknowledges the band’s celebrated past as well as breaking into some new harsh ground that keeps the fire burning.

Line-up
Mika Aalto: guitars
Sami Latva: drums
Kristian Toivainen: bass
Keijo Niinimaa: vocals

www.rottensound.com
www.facebook.com/RottenSoundOfficial

ACID WITCH reveal first track from new HELLS HEADBANGERS album

Today, the ever-singular Acid Witch reveal the new song “Mutilation Mansion.” The song hails from the band’s massively anticipated third album, Evil Sound Screamers, which will see digital release on Halloween via Hells Headbangers; the CD and vinyl LP formats shall be released by Hells Headbangers in the new year.

Although their catalog is relatively sparse, Acid Witch should need no introduction. It’s been seven long years since the release of their classic second album, Stoned. That album, released to overwhelming international acclaim by Hells Headbangers, saw Acid Witch take the bewitching formula of their Witchtanic Hallucinations debut to greater, more entrancing lengths, swirling about a heady (and headfucking) brew of gutted doom-death riffage and spooky synth embellishments. And most of all, Stoned was as catchy as it was crushing. The attitude and charisma of founders Slasher Dave and Shagrat simply could not be denied: Stoned was simply something special.

Unmindful of “pressure” and other external forces, Acid Witch stayed busy enough in the interim, teasing out a split 7″ with the legendary Nunslaughter and a special covers EP where they gave their own, inimitable renditions of hair metal classics from ’80s horror movies. That latter element, in an evilly crowd-pleasing way, can be immediately felt on Evil Sound Screamers – or, perhaps, Acid Witch had always had their own starpower all along. Either way, one listen through Evil Sound Screamers and it’s awesomely apparent that the band have raised the stakes yet again. Essentially, this is the sound of Acid Witch mastering their own, unique brand of metal and delivering a landmark record for the ages.

The foremost manifestation of that mastery is the truly mindfucking layering of synth here. Slasher Dave has always possessed an authentically classic-horror approach to synths, but through his own selfsame solo-project, he’s developed that aspect in a manner truly befitting the beloved horror canon of the ’70s and ’80s. Here on Evil Sound Screamers, those synths don’t so much take a lead role as unite every thread across the record, flitting in and out of perception like a fever dream (or an LSD nightmare) and otherwise torquing all the gutsfucking riffs that now stomp ‘n’ sway with a rousingly anthemic quality. They are authentically analog synthesizers, too, just like the beloved sound design of those classic horror movies. Additionally, the acute placement of samples further threads everything together in a manner most filmic. And that’s to say nothing of the production here, which finds a hazy, crazy balance between murky and 3D.

Before you know it, the 38 minutes of Evil Sound Screamers is up and you’re immediately pressing “play” again and again. Now more than ever, there’s really no other band out there quite like Acid Witch: Evil Sound Screamers is their magnum opus, and long may their reign continue. This is the season of the Witch!

Release date for the CD and vinyl formats to be announced shortly, as well as preorder info. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Acid Witch’s Evil Sound Screamers
1. Scare Tape
2. Mr. Beistle
3. I Hate Halloween
4. Cheap Gore
5. Nain Rouge (The Red Dwarf)
6. Enter At Your Own Risk
7. Mutilation Mansion
8. Hardrock Halloween
9. Nightmares In A Damaged Brain
10. An Evil Sound Screaming

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/Acid-Witch-146053698843172

Finnish black metal veterans Baptism announce new live dates

BAPTISM have announced a string of new shows in Europe and North America.

The Finnish black metal veterans will even cross the Atlantic again to perform at the prestigious Messe Des Morts VII Festival in Montreal, Canada on November 24th. In the year of the band’s 20th anniversary (1998-2018), BAPTISM will perform at the iconic Maryland Deathfest next May.

In Europe, the Finns will wreck pitch-black havoc on stages in four countries during December. For a list of all currently confirmed shows, please see below.

BAPTISM comment: “We are excited to hit the road again at the end of this year with The Devil Fire Tour. We will return to many places where we have not been in many years. We are also very glad to come to Canada again to an amazing festival with a great line-up. This is your opportunity to see us in great shape, in a proper dark place in front of an excellent crowd and perfect atmosphere. Don’t miss our show as we are not touring often, which makes all our live shows a quite unique experience. See you on the road!”

BAPTISM
24 Nov 17 Montreal (CA) Messe Des Morts VII Festival
13 Dec 17 Paris (FR) Glazart
14 Dec 17 Roeselare (BE) De Verlichte Geest
15 Dec 17 Eindhoven (NL) Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2017
16 Dec 17 Berlin (DE) Nuke Club (De Mortem Et Diabolum)
17 Dec 17 Erfurt (DE) Club From Hell
26 May 18 Baltimore (US) Maryland Deathfest

BAPTISM will be performing in support of their latest full-length ‘V: The Devil’s Fire’.

Artwork and track-list of ‘V: The Devil’s Fire’ can be viewed below.

1. Natus Ex Ignis
2. Satananda
3. The Sacrament Of Blood And Ash
4. Devil’s Fire
5. Abyss
6. Cold Eternity
7. Malignant Shadows
8. Buried With Him

What you hear is what you get. BAPTISM deliver another album that is firmly rooted in Finnish black metal orthodoxy. Again their raw and unbound musical fierceness is counterbalanced by epic melodies buried underneath a shredding onslaught and majestic atmospheres. Yet despite staying true to course there is neither a feeling of stagnation nor of senseless nostalgia. BAPTISM excel in keeping true to their course, while appearing fresh and raising the stakes with their fifth full-length.

‘V: The Devil’s Fire’ is the result of a long evolution and the acquired craftsmanship of veterans in the field. Needless to mention that the visual trappings of their genre are not being neglected either as expressed by corpsepaint, hoods, and spikes. Nor has the Satanic mysticism on the lyrical side gone missing. The development of BAPTISM can be best explained through different periods:

Era I: BAPTISM were formed by vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Lord S. and Demoniun on drums in the Finnish town of Ylöjärvi in 1998. As early as the summer of the same year, the first and now extremely rare demo ‘Satanic Rituals’ was released. A second demo entitled ‘Sons of Ruin & Terror’ followed in the year 2000. The band was joined by Slaughterer on bass in 2001 and this line-up unleashed first full-length ‘The Beherial Midnight’ (2002), as well as sophomore album ‘Wisdom & Hate’ (2003). Afterwards, Lord S. relocated his centre of activity to Kuopio and his former allies left the band.

Era II: BAPTISM quickly reformed in Kuopio, when Lord S. met Spellgoth and SG.7 joined the band before taking on duties as live guitarist and singing clean vocals. The EP ‘Black Ceremony’ as well as a split 7″ with Uncreation’s Dawn followed in 2004. Local musicians Kobalt on drums as well as SDS and Cinatas were added to the group, which performed their first live ritual in Kouvola, Finland. More live appearances materialised in their home country after the release of a third full-length entitled ‘Morbid Wings of Sathanas’ (2005). On the following EP ‘Evil Mysteries’ (2006), Lord . was responsible for playing all instruments.

Era III: BAPTISM experienced another change of line-up when their mastermind returned to western Finland by moving to Tampere. Cinatas handed his duties over to M, who became the band’s third bassist. The black metal outfit began to perform internationally in 2007. LRH became session drummer for the next album ‘Grim Arts Of Melancholy’ (2008), while TG took over as lead guitarist from SDS. The EP ‘Chalice of Death’ (2010) was recorded and released amidst rituals all over Europe and led to a mini tour in Russia. In the meantime Syphon became the fourth bass player for the Finns.

Era IV: BAPTISM unleashed their next full-length ‘As the Darkness Enters’ in 2012 for which the men from the north toured during the following year including a first ritual in the USA. A number of reissues of earlier material followed in 2014 as demand for these cult releases had reached new heights. This was emphasised by the rarities compilation album ‘Gloria Tibi Satana’, which was released early 2015.

Era V: BAPTISM sign a new record deal with Season of Mist. The new album ‘V: The Devil’s Fire’ is finished and ready to be released on the 22nd of July 2016.

The new era for BAPTISM is now beginning. Get ready for a black blizzard from the north to bring frost and darkness in the middle of this summer!

Line-up
Lord S.: vocals, guitar, songwriting
SG.7: guitar
TG: lead guitar
Syphon: bass
LRH: drums

Guest appearances
Antti Boman (DEMILICH) on “Buried With Him”
Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN) on “The Sacrament Of Blood And Ash”
Mynni Luukkainen (HORNA) on “Satananda”

www.facebook.com/baptismofficial

DROPZONE set release date for long-awaited OSMOSE debut – features members of HIM, Gandalf and Divine Decay

Osmose Productions announces December 29th as the international release date for Dropzone’s LONG-awaited debut album, Rape Killing Murder.

Some morning in the summer of 1996, Björn was sitting at the restaurant Roskapankki in Kallio, Helsinki with Mr. Jukka Suksi, the guitar-playing guru from The Flaming Sideburns. They had enjoyed a hard day’s night in Kallio with some other members from The Flaming Sideburns as well as members from the eternally wonderful Thee Ultra Bimboos.

Björn had played a show the night before with Gandalf at the legendary Tavastia Club for a Finnish beverages company called Koff, so the beer was surely flowing on behalf of the major Finnish brewery. After Tavastia, Björn had ran into the aforementioned rockers at a now-defunct dive bar called Rock Café Maestro with whom he ended up after all bars had closed in the city at a rowdy apartment in Kallio Rock City.

And you might know – or hopefully not – how these mornings are after some marathon drinking shite session: you just need to follow it up somewhere to keep the madness going – or keep the demons away from crawling under your skin. It was one such night.

And then at Roskapankki, Björn got this sudden urge to play some good old D-beat hardcore metal punk rock. So what can one do when an urge like this occurs? Of course, to call MD-Studio in Munkkiniemi to reserve time to record some shit with legendary Finnish producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, most notably known for his work with The 69 Eyes, Apocalyptica, HIM, Lordi, Moonspell, and Sentenced among others. What a great idea! Let’s have another beer!

One problem, though: there’s no members in the band! And no songs! But why let minor hiccups such as these hinder Björn from booking a few days of studio time a few weeks ahead. What a great idea! Let us have another beer!

On the spot, Björn decides to call a few old friends of his who he thought could pull this off: namely Gas (also known from Kyyria, HIM, Valvontakomissio, Hallatar, and Ääritila among others), Jari (Gandalf, The Scourger, Demonztrator) and Pale (Hybrid Children, Divine Decay, Alaska Evil). So after a few beers at Roskapankki, Björn had a band! Let’s drink another!

The name Dropzone came from some American action movie full of clichés. Well, screw the film, but the name felt good for a band. Cheers for that! Dropzone has one or two rehearsals where these songs about to be recorded are born before going into studio.

So sometime in late summer or early autumn of 1996, Dropzone enters MD-Studio to record these eight songs in eight hours. As fate would have it, the band got to use only five-and-a-half hours of those, as Gas was late – or was it because the band had to do two trips to their rehearsal place instead of one to fit all their equipment in Gas’ tiny red VW Golf? Normally, the studio sessions at MD-Studio would take place in two continuous days, but this time, they had some other bookings, so the band had to postpone their work for next week. That was a relief because that would give the band more time to write lyrics – or drink more beer.

So, the songs on Rape Killing Murder were recorded straight live on tape, except for the lead guitars and vocal overdubs. It’s straight, no-frills metal-influenced hardcore punk rock in the vein of Discharge, Extreme Noise Terror, The Exploited, Varukers, G.B.H., Riistetyt, and Anti Cimex as well as other punk-influenced musically violent acts such as Slayer, Entombed, Carnage, and Wolfpack.

Some copies of this recording were sent out to various magazines in late 1996, it getting some rave reviews and some other interesting offers, but as the band consists of a lazy and whimsical cunt such as Björn, nothing else really happened after the recording but a TV recording of the song “Enslaved Forever” as well as a gig at the now-defunct night club Teatro later on in the evening.

This recording would probably have never seen the light of day officially if it hadn’t been for Pale, who in other matters provided Herve at Osmose Productions a link to Dropzone’s Soundcloud page, urging his old label boss with Divine Decay to check it out. In just a matter of days – if not hours – Pale got some truly ecstatic messages from France: let’s release Rape Killing Murder on physical vinyl and CD!

So here we are, Dropzone soon releasing a recording made already 21 years ago – finally. But as they say, better late than never…

There have been talks about doing new songs and also gigging with the official release of Rape Killing Murder happening, but so far, nothing has been put into fruition just yet. Only that it won’t take another 21 years from now to see that eventually happening. This is just the calm before the storm…

That aforementioned TV recording of “Enslaved Forever” can be viewed HERE.

First track to be announced shortly, but Dropzone takes no responsibility of any harm that might occur to your stereo system with Rape Killing Murder!

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Dropzone’s Rape Killing Murder
1. Persecuted in Existence
2. Enslaved Forever
3. The Bloodbath of Innocence
4. The Blood Runs in Streams
5. Testify The Misery
6. Manhunt
7. War’s no Fairytale
8. Grande Finale

DROPZONE are:
Pale – bass
Jaska – vocals
Björn – guitars, drums
Gas – vocals, guitars, drums

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/dropzonehc

Sólstafir release video for “Hula” in advance of European autumn tour

SÓLSTAFIR are premiering a new video in advance of the second leg of their 2017 European tour in support of their latest full-length ‘Berdreyminn’.

The clip features impressive Ingmar Bergman aesthetics for the track “Hula” and telling a deep story. Check it below

SÓLSTAFIR comment: “When we were on the road in 2013, we came across this place, Hill of Crosses in Lithuania. At the time, we just knew that we would have to shoot a video there one day. We developed a good working relationship with Vesa and Harri back in 2015 with the ‘Miðaftann’ video, and since they are both living in Finland, it seemed a good idea to send them over with the boat from Finland with the camera and help us fulfill this dream of ours.”

Video director Harri Haataja adds: “This time we set out to do video for SÓLSTAFIR outside of Iceland. Aðalbjörn Tryggvason had this beautiful location at Hill of Crosses in mind and we thought that it would fit perfectly for this clip. We also found a couple of other great locations suitable for the story and aesthetic that we had in mind for our video.”

Video credits
Director: Harri Haataja
Cinematography: Vesa Ranta, Harri Haataja
Editing: Aapo Lahtela, Harri Haataja, Vesa Ranta
Camera assistant: Aapo Lahtela
Lighting: Aapo Lahtela
Actors: Eeva-Maria Kauniskangas, Aðalbjörn Tryggvason, and Rauli Marjala

SÓLSTAFIR are roughly a month away from embarking on the second leg of their 2017 European tour. The enigmatic Icelandic rockers will be joined by MYRKUR and Icelandic label mates ÁRSTÍÐIR.

SÓLSTAFIR
13 Nov 17 Helsinki (FI) Tavastia Bar
14 Nov 17 Moscow (RU) Volta
15 Nov 17 St. Peterburg (RU) Club Zal

SÓLSTAFIR tour
+MYRKUR +ÁRSTÍÐIR
17 Nov 17 London (UK) Heaven
18 Nov 17 Leeuwarden (NL) Neushoorn
19 Nov 17 Lille (FR) Maison Folie Beaulieu
20 Nov 17 Paris (FR) Alhambra
21 Nov 17 Rennes (FR) Antipode MJC
23 Nov 17 Bilbao (ES) Santana27
24 Nov 17 Madrid (ES) Caracol
25 Nov 17 Barcelona (ES) Razzmatazz2
26 Nov 17 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod (without Myrkur)
27 Nov 17 Aarau (CH) Kiff
28 Nov 17 Milano (IT) Circolo Magnolia
29 Nov 17 München (DE) Theaterfabrik
30 Nov 17 Salzburg (AT) Rockhouse
01 Dec 17 Bologna (IT) Locomotiv
02 Dec 17 Zagreb (HR) Cultura Factory
04 Dec 17 Belgrade (RS) Dom Omladine
05 Dec 17 Bucuresti (RO) Quantic Club
06 Dec 17 Cluj-Napoca (RO) Form Space
07 Dec 17 Budapest (HU) A38
08 Dec 17 Wien (AT) Arena
10 Dec 17 Krakow (PL) Kwadrat
11 Dec 17 Praha (CZ) Roxy
12 Dec 17 Berlin (DE) Heimathafen
13 Dec 17 Köln (DE) Kantine
14 Dec 17 Osnabrück (DE) Rosenhof (without Myrkur)
15 Dec 17 Rotterdam (NL) maasSilo
16 Dec 17 Bruxelles (BE) VK
17 Dec 17 Hamburg (DE) Gruenspan
18 Dec 17 København (DK) Pumpehuset
19 Dec 17 Oslo (NO) Parkteateret
20 Dec 17 Stockholm (SE) Debaser Strand

www.solstafir.net
www.facebook.com/solstafirice