DIKASTERION set release date for new AMOR FATI mini-album, reveal first track – features members of POSSESSION+++

Today, Amor Fati Productions announces September 1st as the international release date for a brand-new mini-album from Dikasterion, Chaos as a New World, on CD and 12″ vinyl formats.

Born from an evil alliance of North & South of Hellgium, Dikasterion began preaching His unholy gospel in 2018, following the ancient path opened by such entities as Barathrum, Archgoat, Beherit, and Holy Death. The band’s earliest attacks – a demo in 2018 and a 7″ EP the following year, courtesy of Amor Fati – featured a muscular & miasmic style of black metal, which is perhaps unsurprising given the appearance of erstwhile Possession drummer Pz. Kpfw. With a lineup shuffle that now sees the band returning to their original power-trio format, Dikasterion present a strange twist of ancient black metal energies on their first longer-length record, the Chaos as a New World mini-album.

“This new release is our return after few years finding our way,” state the band. “It represents our will to open people’s mind about the world and also a tale about our personal life. We wrote four songs with the same lineup we had back during the demo times and decided to cover ‘Armies of the Night from Stromtrooper,’ a catchy hymn that fits perfectly with the band’s energy. The last song (‘Death’s Serenade’) is the UFO of the album. It’s inspired by the ‘Schiarazula Marazula,’ a medieval song deeply attached to our personal history and childhood. It also fits perfectly with the other songs’ lyrics and the panic waves of these last years. Actually, the songs have been recorded since early 2021 and the release was supposed to be two years ago, straight after the pandemic…”

Encompassing seven tracks in a swift half-hour, Chaos as a New World charges forward in a manner most Bathorian, all dungeonic chord-clang and orkish rasp…at least initially. From there, Dikasterion turn the tables with triumphantly blown-out leads and songwriting that veers askew before going anthemic, perhaps best encapsulated in the aforementioned cover “Armies of the Night,” which the band here make their own. As Chaos of a New World plays on, the familiar and the foreign wage war against each other: BLACK METAL, in the very olde-world sense of it, this most definitely is, but the band’s note choices and production style suggest an auteur’s touch. Or, slash apart such fancy words and fully embrace the fact that black metal originally started as an unorthodox movement and that its early practitioners mostly wanted to herald Satan in a confrontational way – avant-garde wizards they were not. OR, perhaps Dikasterion here reside somewhere in between those “truths,” never quite offering the straightest/simplest line but doing so confrontationally – and gleefully, devilishly so. 

“Dikasterion want to remain as underground as possible – well, as much as we can be nowadays,” conclude the band. “That’s why we don’t have any social media page like Facebook or Instagram and it’s difficult to find information online. We’re attached to the ‘rules’ and spirit metal was supposed to fight for, 20-30 years ago, and want to keep the ‘original’ flame burning. We don’t want to pretend to something we were too young to be part of, but show people it’s still possible, that it still exists. We believe! We worship intensity, chaos; we are a straight punch in the face of those who think metal is cool and funny. So, join us to have a sip of whisky, a good kicking line, fuck the modern world, fuck all those bands losing their way, fuck the trends, the politically correct, and see you in Hell!”

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “New World Disorder” here:

Cover artwork, courtesy of Cinis, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Dikasterion’s Chaos of a New World
1. Intro
2. Perdition’s Call
3. New World Disorder
4. Armies Of The Night
5. Across The Line
6. Rites Of Conviction
7. Death’s Serenade

MORE INFO:
www.dikasterion.bandcamp.com

www.amor-fati-productions.de 
www.amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com

BAXAXAXA set release date for new THE SINISTER FLAME debut album, reveal first track

On September 1st internationally, The Sinister Flame is proud to present Baxaxaxa‘s second full-length album, De Vermis Mysteriis, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

De Vermis Mysteriis is a 42-minute journey that not only preserves that old flame Baxaxaxa lit with their esteemed 2021 debut album, Catacomb Cult, but delves much deeper inside their decades-old abyss. And so bearing zero connection to the modern world, the album throws you to a very dark, primordial place beyond time that is distinctively Baxaxaxa‘s own.

The seven tracks reek of death and obscurity with vicious vocals straight from beyond the grave, yet it feels genuinely fresh. From their trademark doomy and heavier passages to the more uptempo ones, Baxaxaxa‘s Ancient Black Metal is soaked in mysteries, magick, and utmost possession. The old evil is present in every note.

Fear the return!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Above the Stellar Gateway” here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Baxaxaxa’s De Vermis Mysteriis
1. Seed of Golgotha
2. De Vermis Mysteriis
3. Kiss of Shame
4. Awaken, The Old Thing in the Ground
5. Above the Stellar Gateway
6. Decarnation Monument
7. Necrolatry Libation

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/UNGOD-Baxaxaxa-1037290856315377

www.thesinisterflame.com
www.facebook.com/thesinisterflame

FINSTERFORST set release date for new AOP RECORDS mini-album, reveal first track


Today, AOP Records announces September 8th as the international release date for a special mini-album from Finsterforst, Jenseits, on digipack CD and 12″ vinyl formats.

Founded in 2004, Finsterforst have released five albums and two EPs thus far. Starting as a folk metal act with heavy usage of accordion, the German band have evolved their sound to an epic, cinematic mix of post-black metal, traditional black metal, and folk metal featuring an enormous range of different singing styles and always-heavy riffing. The quintet calls this sound Black Forest Metal, referencing their roots in the Black Forest region.

During the Covid pandemic, Finsterforst asked their fans to help fund a new mini-album with only one song clocking in at almost 40 minutes. The fans came to help, and Jenseits was born. Arguably the band’s boldest statement to date, Jenseits is definitely not made for streaming, but those who enter this ominous but soon-awe-inspiring forest of sound will be infinitely rewarded: their characteristic Black Forest Metal here unfolds with a mesmerizing majesty that takes many, MANY twists and turns, but always with superlative songwriting acumen. Although the mini-album is broken up into four parts, Jenseits is undeniably an immersive experience that requires attention to its totality, and the 3D production itself renders that experience incredibly cinematic – again, arguably the band’s most cinematic to date.

With Jenseits, Finsterforst continue to go their own way of creating mind-bending art that will stand the test of time – and long may it continue!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new excerpt/track “Kapitel I: Freiheit here:

Cover artwork, courtesy of Yaroslav Gerzhedovich, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Finsterforst’s Jenseits
1. Kapitel I – Freiheit [8:31]
2. Kapitel II – Dualitaet [9:17]
3. Kapitel III – Reflexionen [5:32]
4. Kapitel IV – Katharsis [15:49]

MORE INFO:
www.finsterforst.de 

www.aoprecords.de

PORTA NIGRA reveal third track from new SOULSELLER album

Today, avant-garde extreme metallers Porta Nigra reveal the new track “Es ist Krieg.” The track is the third to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fourth album, Weltende, set for international release on July 28th via Soulseller Records. Hear Porta Nigra‘s “Es ist Krieg” in its entirety here:

Since their formation in 2010, Germany’s Porta Nigra have achieved the status of being one purveyors of the avant-garde within extreme metal. Starting with their sinister and opium-infused debut of 2012’s Fin de Siècle to the martial and militant mock of the Prussian empire in 2015’s Kaiserschnitt to the more straightforward but no-less-theatrical black metal opus Schöpfungswut in 2020, the band have cemented their leading position within the vanguard scene of German extreme metal.

Bringing the past into the present with bold and belligerent strokes, Porta Nigra return with Weltende, recasting the eclectic expression of their first two albums in a new, brilliant light. Immediately, the shapeshifting-yet-signature sound of the band is established – austere but restless, spacious but suffocating – and vocalist André Meyrink incredibly dynamic throat leads the charge with stentorian flair. But as much of a rush as Weltende is from that very beginning – and truly, Porta Nigra can rush and race with the best of them – the band’s fourth full-length soon blossoms like a deadly flower into myriad dread shapes, all breathtaking to behold. No sonic stone is left uncovered here: black metal, death metal, doom, thrash, and various connecting points in between. But, above all, Porta Nigra keep the grandiose edge that’s unified all their work, however varied, and Weltende vividly illustrates a deep lyrical focus.

As Meyrink explains, “This album transports the very aspects of war and what war causes to you mentally quite perfect. It is shocking, fanatic, dramatic, and depressing in equal measure and almost devoured me. Definitely no easy-listening stuff, but an album that grows and grows like the horrors of martial destruction.” 

Guitarist/songwriter Tobias (AKA Gilles de Rais) delves deeper: “With Weltende, we did again what we prefer the most – time travelling. Our destination of choice was the troubled period before the dawn of the monstrous sin of the 20th century – the Great War. An art called expressionism gave hints of the abyss that the European continent and its citizens would get thrown into. Especially authors like Georg Heym, Jakob van Hoddis, Georg Trakl, or Gottfried Benn would paint in their poems with drastic metaphors of war, death, and decay a picture of a moribund world overpopulated by lunatic and doomed souls. Many of those young men would not grow old and never be able to live a life beyond their apocalyptic visions. This album, for which we respectfully borrowed a handful of ideas, is dedicated to them and their legacy.”

Also hear the previously revealed “Die himmlische Revolution” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine, as well as the previously revealed “Götterblut” HERE, also at Soulseller‘s official YouTube channel. Preorder info for world can be found HERE while preorder info for the Americas can found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Käthe Kollwitz, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Porta Nigra’s Weltende
1. Es ist Krieg
2. Götterblut
3. Völkerbrand
4. Verlorene Paradiese
5. Bestienschlund
6. Die himmlische Revolution
7. Weltende
8. Triebgeschwärme
9. Hora Mortis

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/portanigraband

www.soulsellerrecords.com 
www.facebook.com/soulsellerrecords

THE RITE premiere new track – features members of DENIAL OF GOD, BLACK OATH+++

Today, morbid metallers The Rite premiere the new track “The Fathomless Dark”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated second album, The Astral Gloom, set for international release on August 11th via Iron Bonehead Productions. Hear The Rite‘s “The Fathomless Dark” in its entirety here:

The Rite was formed in autumn 2017 when A.th (Black Oath) and Ustumallagam (Denial of God) joined forces to create a band that exclusively plays morbid black metal, praising complete and utmost darkness. Their influences range from iconic bands such as Mercyful Fate, Death SS, Celtic Frost, Samael, Goatlord, Ripper, and others, as well as occult literature. The music walks a fine line between slow and dreary parts and fast and merciless attacks, but by and large, it falls into the black/doom 
category. 

The recording of The Rite‘s five-track mini-album, The Brocken Fires, was finished in August 2018 and originally released on tape by Unholy Domain Records in October 2018. In August 2019, the mini-album was then released on CD and 12″ vinyl formats by Iron Bonehead and successively received a great response from the underground scene. 

In July 2019, The Rite performed their debut show at Denmark’s Metal Magic Festival. In the autumn of that year, the band performed their second show, this time in Italy. Around the same time, The Rite entered the studio again to record their debut album, Liturgy of the Black, which contained 10 tracks of morbid black metal, including a cover of Ripper. The album was released in June 2020 by Iron Bonehead, showing The Rite creating an atmosphere of darkness and the occult rather than focusing on speed or technicality. The music, written by A.th, this time incorporated both guitar solos and keyboards while staying true to The Rite‘s original path of mainly slow and heavy black metal. The lyrics, penned by Ustumallagam, covered various intriguing subjects such as pure devil worship, devotion to the dark, strange rituals, and the afterlife, and the man’s characteristically creepy annunciation brought those subjects to undead life with drama and intensity.

Around the turn of 2020 to 2021, The Rite returned to the studio to record new tracks for two upcoming releases. Some of the tracks were included on a split CD with Coven of Impurity, released by Cursed Recordings (A.th’s label), and one track was featured on a split 7″ EP with Bezwering, released on Headkick Music (Ustumallagam’s label) in May 2022, after facing cursed delays. The split CD with Coven of Impurity sold out quickly, and most of the copies of the split 7″ with Bezwering were sold within a few days. 

In 2022, The Rite‘s lineup underwent some changes. The original drummer, P. Guts, was replaced by someone else who the band parted ways with just days before their third show at Winter Metal Magic in Denmark. War D. (Morbus Grave) stepped in at the last moment and saved the day, and has been with the band ever since. A second guitar player was found in M. Desecrator (VomitVulva, Funest), making The Rite a five-piece band, even stronger in their live performances. 

Despite being busy with both Denial of God and Black Oath, The Rite began working intensely on the follow-up to Liturgy of the Black. After some initial rehearsals, their second album was recorded in December 2022. Titled The Astral Gloom, The Rite‘s new album contains another 10 tracks, proving as dark and dynamic as ever, with creepier excursions into quieter territory and an even more heightened atmospheric element without losing any heaviness – thus, the title The Astral Gloom is more than fitting. That heaviness is provocatively played to the hilt with this two-guitar lineup, and the lead parts evoke a macabre majesty only hinted at before. Once again, The Rite choose a unique cover – this time, the Lollipops’ “Naked When You Come,” an eerie psychedelic pop song from 1966 – and they truly make it their own.

With this new lineup bolstered and better than ever, The Rite seek to take their morbid metal to the stage more often and promote The Astral Gloom as fully as possible. The black bells toll more ominously than ever, the veil between worlds begins to open…step forth into The Astral Gloom!

Also hear the previously revealed “Nosophoros” HERE at Iron Bonehead‘s Soundcloud. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for The Rite’s The Astral Gloom
1. Intro – The Evocation
2. The Spirit of Mendes
3. The Fathomless Dark
4. Under A Lunar Spell
5. Walpurgis Night
6. The Astral Gloom
7. Nosophoros
8. Naked When You Come
9. The Valley of Megiddo
10. Outro – Sheol

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/The-Rite-band-page-219647875291113

RUNESEPELL premiere new track – features members of NAZXUL, TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS+++

Today, Australian black metal vanguard Runespell premiere the new track “Vigridr Fields” . The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fifth album, Shores of Nastrond, set for international release on August 11th via Iron Bonehead Productions. Hear Runespell‘s “Vigridr Fields” in its entirety here:

By now, Runespell should require little introduction. Since this Australian entity’s public unveiling in 2017 with the Aeons of Ancient Blood demo – released by Iron Bonehead, as well as all successive recordings – Runespell has sharpened its sword and quickly, with three albums arriving like clockwork every year: Unhallowed Blood Oath (2017), Order of Vengeance (2018), and Voice of Opprobrium (2019). Although 2020 didn’t see the release of a full-length, a split album with the reanimated Forest Mysticism tided over the bloodthirsty until the arrival of fourth LP Verses in Regicide in 2021, arguably Runespell‘s best-produced and -executed album to date.

That is, until the arrival of Shores of Nastrond: Runespell‘s fifth full-length, and first as a full lineup. While last year’s Sentinels of Time mini-album spiritually concluded the first era of Runespell, it’s readily apparent that that Shores of Nastrond marks a distinct second era, although one thankfully not too far removed from the iron and blood that came before. Joining founder Nightwolf here are drum titan Basilysk – whose vast resume includes the likes of Nazxul, Temple Nightside, and Pestilential Shadows among many others – and keyboardist Irrwycht, who concurrently numbers such bands as Grabunhold and Baxaxaxa. Together, the trio conjure that same mystical & mesmerizing soundworld that’s made the Runespell name such a force in the underground, but there’s a concerted clarity here – be it songwriting or sound, texture figuring more prominently in both – that makes the album’s six component epics hit HARD, even with the solemnity of Sentinels of Time continuing here. Indeed, that supremely epic mini-album served as a bridge between the band’s two eras: not just with said solemnity explored further on Shores of Nastrond, but also the stirring acoustic segments, which are more generously integrated into the whole of Runespell‘s sound. Simply put, this is pagan black metal perfection, from an entity that seemingly already perfected it. These Shores of Nastrond crest and crash with blood-fire-death!

Also hear the previously revealed “Mirrors of the Dead” HERE at Iron Bonehead‘s Soundcloud. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Runespell’s Shores of Nastrond
1. Mirrors of the Dead [8:25]
2. Elemental Fires [6:38]
3. Spectres of War [9:08]
4. Unfurled Night [3:07]
5. Shores of Nastrond [10:58]
6. Vigridr Fields [7:52]

MORE INFO:
www.instagram.com/runespellofficial

Sweden’s ATONEMENT reveal third track from upcoming DYING VICTIMS debut album

Today, Swedish deathrashers Atonement reveal the new track “Death Merchant.” The track is the third to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Sadistic Invaders, set for international release on July 28th via Dying Victims Productions. Hear Atonement‘s “Death Merchants” in its entirety here:

One of the most literally explosive young bands in the nowadays metal underground, Atonement are a trio of Swedes whose average age was 16 years old when they released their debut demo, Merciless Blasphemy, in 2021. Despite such youth, Atonement proved that they are steeped in the ancient essence of thrashing death metal circa 1987. Bubbling forth from their cauldron of nastiness were the likes of early Destruction, Sepultura, Possessed, Death, Sweden’s Morbid, Germany’s Poison, and Chile’s Pentagram, and thus was Merciless Blasphemy aptly titled, for each of the demo’s five songs whipped forth a filth & fury quite unlike anything else around.

With expectations understandably high, Atonement took their time crafting the penultimate debut album, and two years later it arrives in the form of Sadistic Invaders. Yet another aptly titled recording, Sadistic Invaders carries forward that filth & fury of its short-length predecessor and amazingly ups the nastiness to hellish levels. Again, even with the band not yet in their 20s, Atonement are dead-ringers for juiced-up and jackhammering deathrash of a most mid-‘80s vintage, and the ten songs they devilishly dole out across the 37-minute album are somehow more crazed and compact than on said demo. And whereas that demo’s ultra-rawness emitted an air of the otherworldly, here on Sadistic Invaders do the trio impart a thicker and fuller-bodied aspect, retaining a respectable rawness but not at the expense of their superlative chops; while it’s always full speed ahead for Atonement, they manage to twist the ceremonial knife in different and sometimes-impossible ways, elevating the album above the masses still searching for Endless Pain. Dizzying yet addicting, Sadistic Invaders hits with the power and precision of a nuclear strike.

And yet, it’s still early days for Atonement, so who knows how far they’ll venture into the lungs of Hell? Sadistic Invaders provides the first full-length clues, and is highly recommended for maniacs of Deathhammer, Division Speed, and Norway’s late/great Condor.
 
Hear the previously revealed “Await the Command” exclusively HERE, courtesy of MetalBite.com, as well as the previously revealed “Hellish Delight” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Atonement (Sweden)’s Sadistic Invaders
1. Hellish Delight
2. Await The Command
3. Fatal Militia
4. Axe Of Death
5. Evil Disaster
6. Lust For Sin
7. Unholy Sorcery
8. Death Merchant
9. Evil Minds
10. Sadistic Invader

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/atonementband

www.dying-victims.de 

PUKEWRAITH stream BLOOD HARVEST vinyl reissue – features members of GUTVOID, FUMES, SOUL DEVOURMENT+++

On July 14th, Blood Harvest Records will release Pukewraith‘s highly anticipated debut album, Banquet of Scum, on vinyl LP format. And today, they stream the reissue in its entirety. Hear Pukewraith‘s Banquet of Scum vinyl reissue in its entirety here:

Sporting one of the best monikers around, Pukewraith is a solo-project of Brendan Dean, erstwhile vocalist/guitarist of Blood Harvest titans Gutvoid as well as a handful of other bands that currently includes Fumes, Soul Devourment, Wexler’s Prime, Alucard, and Simulcra. Obviously, the man is super-busy as well as -talented, and while those talents run the metallic gamut (with an obvious affection for death metal), Pukewraith is naturally his most traditionally gore-soaked work. The last couple years have seen an EP, split, and single, and finally the band’s first full-length, Banquet of Scum.

Released late last year on CD, Pukewraith‘s Banquet of Scum is now finally finding a fitting vinyl release courtesy of Blood Harvest. While there’s undoubtedly some links shared with his stellar work in Gutvoid – namely, the all-consuming sense of devourment, be it physical or spiritual – here does Dean hit with a straightforward pulse ‘n’ crush not unlike early Grave, Hypocrisy, and Sinister, all tempered with well-timed downtempo breakdowns and a bevy of mind-melted solos. And while Gutvoid‘s muse lately has been trending toward the cosmos, Pukewraith fittingly stick to the sewers, plumbing the depths of gore and depravity with relish and, daresay, fun; not for nothing is the album titled Banquet of Scum. Cruise with the Gravesmasher and begin feasting again – or for the first time – with Blood Harvest‘s new vinyl edition, which includes an exclusive bonus track!

Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Pukewraith’s Banquet of Scum
1. Grime Fiend
2. 110 Crushed
3. Fleshmaster
4. Mire Stench
5. Cyclone Of Maggots
6. Cruisin With The Gravesmasher
7. Mucklord
8. Sunbound 2097

MORE INFO:
www.pukewraith.bandcamp.com

www.bloodharvest.se
www.facebook.com/bloodharvest

ASCENDENCY stream new ME SACO UN OJO / DARK DESCENT mini-album

Today, Danish black/death cult Ascendency stream the entirety of their highly anticipated new mini-album, A Manifest of Imperious Destiny. Set for international release on July 14th via Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records on 12″ vinyl and CD formats, respectively, hear Ascendency‘s A Manifest of Imperious Destiny in its entirety here:

Prepare for the ultimate black/death metal assault by Denmark’s Ascendency… Following a punishing demo in 2019 and their equally merciless 2020 MLP, they now return with another tome of destruction. Four new tracks span an unforgiving half-hour of desecration.

While Denmark has offered some of the best contemporary death metal in the last decade or so, Ascendency are quite a unique beast within this. Their much darker, venomous black metal influences create disquiet with uncomfortable atmospherics that still retain that brutality, just with a much-more-unhinged twist. These new pieces showcase what the band has incubated in the last three years, which is feral and harrowing musical extremity with a sepulchral atmosphere and tremendous musicianship to boot. Reverberating howls and guitars send a chill through the ossuary while drums hammer through remaining skulls with ease.

While Ascendency clearly revel in delivering punishment, they do so with intricate and carefully constructed songs that contain more than enough nuance to really sink your teeth into. Melodic-yet-bestial riffs charge atop devastating percussion with demonic vocals while never straying too far from the cacophony of fury remains the heart of this untamed sound. The subtleties tie in with bludgeoning violence effortlessly and leave us with a truly potent, memorable, and distinguished record. Atmosphere and malice, when they coexist in such a manner, become an unstoppable beast, so prepare for annihilation if you seek out this mystical-yet-malignant gem of underground might. Delve into oblivion with these new offerings of unfaltering triumph and might. [text by Jørgen Sven Kirby, Nattskog webzine]

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Ascendency’s A Manifest of Imperious Destiny
1. The Triumph of Draconian Might [7:05]
2. Victory – in all its Ephemeral Glory [5:41]
3. Domitor Invictus [5:50]
4. A Manifest of Imperious Destiny [9:30]

MORE INFO:
prophesiedascendency.bandcamp.com

www.mesacounojo.com
www.mesacounojo.bandcamp.com

www.darkdescentrecords.com
www.darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com

Finland’s VALRAVN set release date for new PRIMITIVE REACTION album, reveal first track

Today, Primitive Reaction announces September 8th as the international release date for the highly anticipated second album of Finland’s Valravn, The Awakening, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Like a bolt from the blue, Finland’s Valravn arrived fully formed with their first album, 2020’s Prey. Evincing a mastery beyond their short time as a band, Prey no doubt displayed characteristics of Finland’s now-world-renown black metal sound – cryogenic melody, raw ‘n’ rugged execution, an unapologetic assertion of traditionalism – but in other, more telling aspects, Valravn asserted their own identity counter to this prevailing paradigm: From the tranquil, tellingly autumnal acoustic opening and across comparable textures, the album burned with the intensity of a November coming fire.

Now, as the summer heat continues to blaze after the revelry of midsummer, Valravn return with a second full-length, The Awakening. Tellingly titled, The Awakening displays yet more sides to this still-unfolding entity. To be sure, Valravn’s poise and power are firmly accounted for here – you can still FEEL every note, so vital, virile, and vivid – and they’ve even added a bit of death metalled muscle, too, but the songwriting itself is where their second album truly takes flight. Sharp and yet never sterile, thanks to a production that’s on the right side of polished, there’s an acute balance of contrasts across The Awakening’s 44-minute runtime; each of the album’s eight songs features some twist of melancholy and militancy, of bursting color and bristling monochromatism, of stoic resignation and steadfast determination, of man-on-the-mountain spaciousness and stuck-in-the-catacombs claustrophobia. Concluding with the literally breathtaking “Charge of the Last Cavalry,” The Awakening consolidates all the strengths of its predecessor and indeed leads Valravn into a new charge for glory. The fires of Finnish black metal have yet to be vanquished!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Charge of the Last Cavalry” here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Valravn (Finland)’s The Awakening
1. The Black Flame [5:20]
2. Kehän Murtama [4:59]
3. Liekki Tiemme Valaisee [5:17]
4. The Great Deceit [4:02]
5. The Insolent    [7:57]
6. Sisyphean Torment [3:55]
A Symphony of Horror [6:32]
8. Charge of the Last Cavalry [5:44]

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/valravnfin