June 7, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA – Czech black metal band CHERNAA has released their debut album, Empyrean Fire, today via Noizr Productions. The record is already receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike. “Chernaa’s ability to meld aggression and melody, all with a singular personality, is what sets them apart from the pack” – Metal Hammer (UK)“…excellently executed making the entire release something to truly behold” – CadaverGarden.com
CHERNAA is a black-metal band based in Prague, Czech Republic. The band has an international line-up, including musicians from the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Russia. The recording of the album Empyrean Fire took place at the Jaro Sound studio in Prague. The artwork for the release was created by Anna Levytska, known for her work with Blut aus Nord. “Three guys from the Czech Republic and a guy from Ukraine currently living in Prague, creating the instrumental base for the band, while the vocalist is from Russia, Krasnoyarsk, recording vocals from afar. We bring the post into your black. We dive into the void and bring the existential dread.”
June 7, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA – In conjunction with today’s release of their full-length debut “Conjure The Storm,” the extreme/melodic blackened death metal trio NEVALRA has unveiled a live performance-based music video for the album’s blistering “It Dies In Vain.” The clip can be seen here:
Says guitarist/vocalist Scott Eames, “NEVALRA is very pleased to present our monstrous music video for ‘It Dies In Vain’. We brought in Iron Elephant Studios from Baltimore to help us film and produce the visuals, and the band could not be more pleased with the collaboration and final result. ‘It Dies In Vain’ has become one of our favorite songs to perform and holds one of the most unique guitar solos on our new album ‘Conjure The Storm.’ This music video helps usher in a whole new era of NEVALRA.”
The follow-up to NEVALRA’s debut 2015 EP “The Black Flame,” “Conjure The Storm” – which features guest appearances by Andres Vargas (Thy Antichrist) and Mark Kloeppel (Misery Index, Scour) – was mixed and mastered by the legendary Dan Swano (Opeth, Dark Funeral, Dissection, Marduk).
The cover art was designed by Seth Siro Anton of Septicflesh, who has previously collaborated with the likes of Decapitated, Belphegor and Nile. The album is available now on CD, digital and limited-edition black vinyl. Pre-order here: https://m-theoryaudio.com/store.
NEVALRA will begin a world tour in support of “Conjure The Storm” on June 10, when the group kicks off a six-week European trek with Carach Angren, Thy Antichrist and Wolfheart in Frankfurt, Germany. The tour will see Eames doing double duty, as he also will be playing with Thy Antichrist. NEVALRA on tour with Carach Angren, Wolfheart, Thy Antichrist:
HEILUNG are now
releasing the third track taken from their upcoming album ‘Futha’, which will be
released on June 28, 2019. “Traust” is now streaming
HEILUNG comment: “‘Traust’ is probably
Heilung’s most positive song so far. Dominated by female voices it starts out
with, what is called ‘Leysigaldr’ in old Icelandic, a blessing to release a tied
warrior. Heilung performs that blessing actively on stage during the song. It
continues with nine blessings, taken from the old Icelandic poem “Grogaldr”.
Here, luck in battle, good words in speeches and yet another blessing of release
are summoned. The choir sings a younger Icelandic protection
spell.”
On the meaning of the album
title, HEILUNG comment: “The majority of full rune set
inscriptions start with ‘Futha’, and is known to us as the first four letters in
all runic alphabets. It is considered that our forefathers saw magic potential
in engraving the full rune line, but there is also great significance in the
beginnings. Science has no key for the meaning of only engraving the first
couple of letters yet, but there is, of course, a surplus of theories. One of
the theories we found inspiration in, is that ‘Futha’ holds the meaning of
fertility and female gender. As ‘Ofnir’ focused on war and masculine notions,
the great healing power of female wild strength is evoked in Futha. Those who
have been present at a birth or have seen lionesses hunting know the spirit, and
we welcome and embrace it in the sounds that were born during the creation of
‘Futha’.”
HEILUNG have previously announced a European
tour in October and November this year. The tour will kick off on October 22nd
in Warsaw (PL) and will end about a month later in Paris (FR). Find the full
list of tour dates below.
HEILUNG festivals 21 Jun 19 Copenhagen (DK) Copenhell Festival 2019 29 Jun 19 Helsinki (FI) Tuska 2019 09 Aug 19 Jaromer (CZ) Brutal Assault 17 Aug 19 Borre (NO) Midgardsblot 2019 07 Sep 19 Selb (DE) Mediaval Festival 2019 19 Oct 19 Hameln (DE) Autumn Moon Festival 2019 (Exact date TBA) 18 Feb 20 York (UK) Descended from Odin Festival (Exact date TBA)
HEILUNG European tour 22 Oct 19 Palladium (PL) Warschau (tickets) 24 Oct 19 Berlin (DE) Admiralspalast (tickets) 26 Oct 19 Essen (DE) Colosseum Theater (tickets) 28 Oct 19 Munich (DE) Circus Krone (tickets) 30 Oct 19 Prague (CZ) Hybernia (tickets) 01 Nov 19 Halle (DE) Händelhalle (tickets) 03 Nov 19 Vienna (AT) Der Globe (tickets) 05 Nov 19 Zurich (CH) Volkshaus (tickets) 07 Nov 19 Kiel (DE) Kieler Schloss (tickets) 10 Nov 19 London (UK) Roundhouse (tickets) 14 Nov 19 Utrecht (NL) Tivoli Vredenburg (tickets) 17 Nov 19 Brussels (BE) AB (tickets) 20 Nov 19 Paris (FR) Elysée Montmartre (tickets) 06 Dec 19 Lviv (UA) Lviv State Circus (tickets) 08 Dec 19 Kyiv (UA) Center of Culture and Arts NAU (tickets)
“Ofnir” was a very masculine album. To create it, HEILUNG took a big part of the lyrics from preserved rune inscriptions on weapons and armour. “Futha” is the counterpart, the balance point, the feminine side. Here, the lyrics originate from old Icelandic poetry, in which the holy women chant magic spells and offer their blessings. Hence, female voices are more prominent on “Futha”.
HEILUNG means “healing” in the German language and this also describes the core of the band’s sound. The listener is supposed to be left at ease and in a relaxed state after a magical musical journey that is at times turbulent.
HEILUNG reach far back in time to the Northern European iron age and Viking period to create their sound experience. The band utilises many means in their songs: from running water via human bones, reconstructed swords and shields up to ancient frame drums as well as bronze rings.
When HEILUNG self-released ‘Ofnir’ in 2015, the Danish band could hardly have anticipated the breakthrough success of their debut album. Spectacular live shows, strong critical acclaim, and a massive underground buzz added to the constantly high demand for this full-length are the reason why their new label Season of Mist did not hesitate to re-issue ‘Ofnir’ in several collector’s edition formats. HEILUNG‘s live album, ‘LIFA’ (2017) was released in parallel.
The word “Futha” is taken from an artefact, that is still controversially discussed. Big names in runology like Düwel and Heizmann can agree neither on the deciphering nor the meaning of the description.…The word is engraved in a gold bracteate from Skåne (SE), which was produced around 500-530 AD. It was discovered in 1831 and these medals or coins were divided into different categories by the Swedish archaeologist Oscar Montelius. The bracteate in question is a so-called C-bracteate named Schonen II-C (Schonen is the German Name of Skåne) with a horse and a face. The rune inscription is between the hind-legs of the horse. Interesting to mention here is the fact that the majority of full rune set inscriptions start with “futh“, which also is the first three letters in all runic alphabets. It is considered that our forefathers saw magic potential in engraving the full rune line, but there is also great significance in the beginnings. Science has no key for the meaning of only engraving the first couple of letters yet, but there is a surplus of theories. This brings us to a runic staff found in Bergen, which was given the rather unpoetic archaeological classification B011. It carries the inscription: “felleg er fuþ sin bylli Fuþorglbasm”, which means: “Lovely is the cunt, may the cock fill it up”. Also interesting is that the Högstena amulet, which we use in the song “Galgaldr”, has an alternative deciphering of the word “futh“, which in this context means “cunt”. All this leaves us with two hints: magic potential and the female genitalia. The great healing power of the female wild strength is evoked in “Futha”. Those who have been present at a birth or seen a lioness hunting, know the spirit. The spirit of the “wilde Weiber” (German), the wild wise women. “Futha” endeavours to connect to a time before the female was degraded to a birth-machine and carrier of eternal inherited guilt.
“Futha” was three years in the making and was finished for production and print at midwinter, the very darkest day of the solar year, the 21st in the 12th month at 21:00.
Any attempt to link the band with or bring their music into a modern political or religious context is pointless, since HEILUNG try to connect their listeners with a time before the coming of Christianity and modern political ideologies.
Line-up Kai Uwe Faust Christopher Juul Maria Franz
Today, Iron Bonehead Productions sets August 23rd as the
international release date for Hagzissa‘s striking debut
album, They Ride Along, on CD and vinyl LP
formats.
Hagzissa are an Austrian black metal band
founded in 2016 by B. Moser of the enigmatic Kringa. Having been a rough concept
for many years, even dating back to the days before Kringa, the process of
Hagzissa‘s awakening has not only been a heart- and
mind-consuming one, but also deeply personal. However, since the very beginning,
it has been clear that this journey would not start as a solo effort, and thus
did B. seek suitable comrades to flesh out his vision.
Eventually, a
working Hagzissa lineup coalesced and a first recording
undertaken. It manifested itself as Promo 2017, which was actually
recorded the year before but spread only to the band’s closest contacts. Duly
impressed by the band’s olde-worlde black metal, Iron Bonehead
released Promo 2017 on cassette tape, and momentum surged
toward a full-length recording.
Alas, after establishing themselves as a
formidable live entity, this now-solidified lineup of Hagzissa
– L. Pachinger on drums (also of Kringa), C. Rastelli on bass, M. Morast on
guitar, and B. Moser solely concentrating on vocals – delivers their debut
album, They Ride Along. Indeed, the album is aptly (and enigmatically)
titled, for here do Hagzissa walk a path of ancient wickedness.
Theirs is a black metal that’s both older than time itself yet exceedingly fresh
in its feral, wild ways; to call it “obscure” would be an understatement, but
one need only look at the band’s visual presentation to see that
Hagzissa are on their own, horrid wavelength. In fact, despite
Austria’s potent yet oft-overlooked contributions to the international language
of black metal, one could favorably liken They Ride Along to any
handful of ’90s iconoclasts hailing from the Czech Republic and Poland or the
gutted ‘n garish horrors released by the late, great Nazgul’s Eyrie
Productions.
Open the imagination and submit to animalistic abandon. Here
do Hagzissa command They Ride Along. Begin riding
along with the new track “Irrsinnsdimensionen (A Bath Amidst the Wells)”
Cover and tracklisting as follows:
Tracklisting for Hagzissa’s They Ride
Along 1. Die Pforte (A
Speech Above the Moor) 2. Irrsinnsdimensionen (A Bath Amidst the Wells) 3.
Moonshine Glance (An Iron Seed In Sour Soil) 4. Searing Effigy 5. They
Ride Along On the Howling Winds! 6. The Nightshade Wilderness 7. Atavist
Kama Aconite Trance 8. There, Draw a Circle!
HAGZISSA
lineup 2019 Herzog B. v. Moser-Wampula – vocals and concept M.M.,
Junker vom Morast – strings and additional throat Magister C.Rastelli – bass
and distortion The White Pawn – drums and
cymbals
Czech/Ukranian/Russian Post Black Metal band Chernaa have a new album out June 9th and this week I talked to them about their record deal, meaning of the band name and juggling band members from 3 different countries – check it out
How did the record deal with Noizr come about?
Noizr founder Dmytro and me (Nexus) met around six years ago and since then we’ve hung out a lot and worked together (I was helping him with Noizr occasionally). On February 2019 I was doing some work in Hertz studio in Poland (the temple of the Polish black metal, the place where were recordings of Behemoth, Vader, Decapitated and Hate born) and during my stay in Poland I made a few calls with Dmytro and we agreed on a good deal between Chernaa and Noizr. Generally, guys from Noizr are really responsive, disposed and competent in their field, so we’re really happy to work with them. – Nexus
You guys are listed as a Czech Republic/Ukraine/Russian band – how does that work?
With Hedonist (the vocalist), we were communicating via the internet and managed to record the whole album, despite the 6000 Km between us, which was, by the way, a rare and amazing experience. Nexus speaks both Russian and Czech, so it wasn’t a problem. Hedonist also speaks English, as the rest of the band does. – Solipsist
The only requirement we had for the vox was that it would be a high pitched shriek
How did you all meet?
When I first moved to Prague I was introduced to Solipsist. At the time, they were looking for a guitar player with his prog-metal band, which I joined. Then after nearly 3 years, we joined another post-rock band together and Nexus was the one who mixed and mastered our full-length album. The band, unfortunately, fell apart soon after, but we stayed in touch with Nexus and decided to create a new band. We started to hang out a lot and write music at Nexuses place. And at that time my friend told me that he knows a drummer who was skilled enough to play the drums for a post-black metal band, so we hit him up and he agreed to play with us. At that point, we just needed to find vocals. The only requirement we had for the vox was that it would be a high pitched shriek, rather than those lower pitched types of vocals. We were looking all over the Czech internet, without any response though. That is when my Russian friend came in (he lives in Prague as well) and he wanted to help with finding a vocalist since his birth town in Russia offered many talented people, that like black metal. And so he found us vocalist, Hedonist the Poisoned, from Krasnoyarsk. – Solipsist, Utsuro
Have any of the band visited the USA before – if so did they like it?
None of us has been to the US yet, but hopefully, we can change that in the future. We all like travelling and we would like to visit some exotic destinations as well. Utsuro just returned from his trip to Japan. Our journey as a band has just begun and we hope, that our music will allow us to visit many beautiful places. – Nihilist
if you put that together with metal friendly themes that we like (like nihilism, existentialism etc) it works the best for us
How did you guys get into Black Metal? What bands have been your biggest influences?
Everyone of us has a rich history with metal music. I would say that all of our members are open to different subgenres of metal. What I think everyone prefers about black metal, is the fact that it focuses more on the song structure as a story. It’s not really about bragging that you can play technically, it is not about showing your shred off. It is more about focusing on how it sounds together, rather than everyone shredding at the same time. It is about sacrificing your own playing for the sake of the bigger picture – the atmosphere of the song, or the story that it has to unveil. It is also like that in post-rock, which we like and if you put that together with metal friendly themes that we like (like nihilism, existentialism etc) it works the best for us. Metal music nowadays also seems very rhythmically based. Some of us grew tired of that, and that’s why we would prefer a wall-of-sound genre. With all this being said, post-black metal seemed like the right choice for us. Now let us get to some concrete influences. From the second wave of black, I’d say old Darkthrone for the raw/frostbitten riffs and high pitched vocals, Burzum for the sheer black metal energy and rpg feel to it. From the third wave of black metal, I’d say all the melodic stuff, like Lantlos, Alcest, Deafheaven, Russian and Ukrainian bands like Drudkh and Sivyj Yar, Ultar and so on. We often listen to a lot of heavy black metal
(Yellow Eyes, Krallice, Mgla, Deathspell Omega, Akhlys…) and we get inspired by the heaviness and possibly write our material more melody drenched. – Solipsist
What is pink powder about?
At the moment, when the text of this track was born, I was experiencing a strong emotional pain and longing. A man who has exhausted in himself all the vital and emotional forces, seeking peace and humility from within. This song is about the internal pain of a tired man. – Hedonist
this transient awareness of the nothingness that triggers emotional responses that are too mysterious and profound
What does the band name mean?
The name “Chernaa (tʃeərnɑː)” symbolises the feeling that life is meaningless and that we are utterly insignificant when compared to the size of universe. Like the beauty of gazing vacantly into the black void and being detached from all other worries in life. As soon as the melancholy becomes the basic disposition of man, it reflects a world that has lost its firm order and human life is at the very edge of incurable disease. And it is this transient awareness of the nothingness that triggers emotional responses that are too mysterious and profound and which we are trying to capture with our music. – Utsuro
What can we expect from Chernaa for the rest of 2019?
We’re currently extensively working on the new material, which is halfly done, hope to finish the next album within a year. There’s a lot of new ideas and we’re pushing our development, to make the next record more miscellaneous, complex and surely more professional. Fans could look forward to genre diversity, there will be shoegaze, prog and post-metal influences as well as heavier black metal and black-death songs. At the same time, we’re rehearsing a lot and hope to start actively performing and touring from the second half of 2019. We’re also open to any booking offers. – Nexus
The purpose behind what we do is to document and share an expressive interpretation of strong and dark emotions like depression, anger and melancholy
Any final words?
The purpose behind what we do is to document and share an expressive interpretation of strong and dark emotions like depression, anger and melancholy. While not all people can exhaust their negative emotions through a grim artform, there always might people who do, same as us. And if someone happens to be one of those people, then we would be glad if you discover our music. – Solipsist
Today, Finnish black metal elite Malum stream the entirety of their highly anticipated third album,Legion. Set for international release on May 31st via Purity ThroughFire, hear Malum‘s Legion in its entirety here:
An ever-growing force in the forever-fertile Finnish black metal underground, Malum have become a Satanic power in their own right since their formation in 2013. From there, the band have committed a prolific stream of atrocities, including two celebrated albums – 2015’s Crowned with the Serpent Sun and 2017’s Night of the Luciferian Light – three EPs, and three split recordings, alongside such comrades as Lathspell, Insane Vesper, Sacrificium Carmen, and Sarkrista. The latter two bands joined with Malum for the spiritually aligned split LP Trinity of Luciferian Illumination, which was released by Purity ThroughFire in late 2018.
Now joining the esteemed ranks of Purity ThroughFire following the preview Terror Rehearsal earlier this year, Malum are prepared to make their grandest statement yet with Legion. Titularly elegant in its simplicity, Legion storms forward from its very first seconds with that paradigmatic “freezing fire” so crucial to classic Finnish black metal. But whereas so many past but especially present have sought to dilute or “diversify” the intrinsic power of that idiom – and FAILED, obviously – Malum proudly hold high the torch of traditional black metal values, striding to the head of the flagging pack to lead Finnish black metal back to its former glory.
However, labor under no assumption that such is shorthand for rehashed ideas and general go-nowhere inertia. Naturally, Malum‘s Finnishness is immediately felt, but within those chosen boundaries do the band conjure new spells, new manners of communication, keeping the magick and language alive by imaginatively working within those proud parameters. What results is a deceptively anthemic 38 minutes that show Malum can move dynamically from spiraling speed to ominous march, always exhibiting a passion that’s blanching (and inspiring) to behold. Also witness the band move into more mystical realms with such tracks as “Luciferian Legion.”
Adorned with unforgettable artwork courtesy of R. Ärling, Malum have truly arrived with Legion! Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Malum’s Legion 1. The Sun
Devouring Dragon / Manifest Malum 2. Sexual Demon 3. Days of Slaughter and
Destruction 4. Blessed by the Devil’s Blood 5. Luciferian Legion 6.
Ajattoman Viisauden Loisteessa
Today, Shadow Kingdom Records sets August 2nd as the international release date for the highly anticipated debut album of Finland’s Excuse, Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
One of Finland’s hottest newcomers, Excuse began to make a name for themselves with their EP Goddess Injustice. Released to critical acclaim in 2016 by Shadow Kingdom, Goddess Injustice largely introduced the fierce foursome to the international metal underground – with a nuclear-powered bang! A finely honed missile of speed metal majesty, Excuse‘s sound on that EP in many ways recalled the classic Canadian gods Sacrifice and Razor, but there were hints of greater glories to come. And at last, they’ve arrived with the presciently titled Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos.
Whereas Goddess Injustice suggested some darkly melodic leanings, Excuse‘s first full-length expands that arsenal considerably. Here, the six songs comprising Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos stretch out to epic lengths – one even hitting double digits, the climactic 10-minute closer “Watchtower of the Trans-Dimensional Pathway” – and take the listener on a wild, winding ride. The evil ‘n’ sleazy surge on which Excuse made their name still exists, but has now been finessed into a wholly more dynamic beast, able to reflect haunting moodiness and spacey horror alike. Suitably, co-guitarist Oskar Lindström’s vocals have a conspicuous amount of echo placed upon them, suggesting the inter-dimensional struggles of a narrator literally lost in space. Likewise, fellow guitarist Anselmi Ahopalo’s leads take center stage here and weave an almost storytelling aspect, much in the way that classic heavy metal songwriting should, evoking both triumph and tragedy but remaining equally hummable throughout. Completing the totality is album’s production, which locates the perfect balance between grit and gleam.
So many young bands blow their proverbial wad during the demo/EP days and peter out by the time their debut album comes. Not so for Excuse, who have been able to transform their earlier youthful energy into enviably advanced maturity with Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos. Behold these Prophets‘ coming!
The first herald of that coming is “Sworn to the Crimson Oath”
Covert art and tracklisting below:
Tracklisting
for Excuse (Finland)’s Prophets From the Occultic
Cosmos 1. Black Crystal Visions 2. Blade of
Antichrist 3. Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos 4. Goddess Injustice 5.
Sworn to the Crimson Oath 6. Watchtower of the Trans-Dimensional
Pathway
Today, Norma Evangelium Diaboli announces May 24th as the international release date for Deathspell Omega‘s highly anticipated seventh album, The Furnaces of Palingenesia.
The Furnaces of Palingenesia is Janus in the midst of the 9th circle of Hell; a prophetic abomination recorded on gear ante anno 1984 vomiting 2084 in the shadows of the horns.
A special video for “Ad Arma! Ad Arma!” can be seen & heard here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for
Deathspell Omega’s The Furnaces of
Palingenesia 1. Neither
Meaning nor Justice 2. The Fires of Frustration 3. Ad Arma! Ad Arma! 4.
Splinters from Your Mother’s Spine 5. Imitatio Dei 6. 1523 7.
Sacrificial Theopathy 8. Standing on the Work of Slaves 9. Renegade
Ashes 10. Absolutist Regeneration 11. You Cannot Even Find the
Ruins…
ENTHRONED release third track “Vapula Omega” from upcoming new album
Cult black metal band ENTHRONED have released the third and final track from their upcoming record ‘Cold Black Suns’. The song “Vapula Omega” is streaming here:
ENTHRONED release third track “Vapula Omega” from upcoming new album
The band comments: “Stone by stone we reveal the temple that is “Cold Black
Suns”. “Vapula Omega”, the third facet of the prism, is the scrying mirror that
shows the face one does not want to see within our modern culture, where labour
and careers are being worshipped as the icons of old. With this one, we want to
show that Satanism and demonology also have their place in our contemporary
culture.”
ENTHRONED will celebrate the release of
‘Cold Black Suns’ on Thronefest in Belgium in June. Find all confirmed tour
dates below. ENTHRONED 02 Jun 19 Kharkiv (UA) Art
Plant Mechanica 08 Jun 19 Kuurne (BE) Throne Fest 2019 (Exact date tba) 20
Jul 19 Volyne (CZ) ETEF
The cover artwork and tracklist of ‘Cold Black Suns’
have been revealed, both can be found below. The album cover was created by
Neraath.
ENTHRONED is surely a name black metal fans are no strangers to. Over the course of the last 25 years, they have pushed the boundaries of black metal and the deepness of the Left Hand Path philosophy further within. The quintet has channelled that dedication into their newest record. ‘Cold Black Suns’ is a dark and crushing black metal album where cold riffing, blood chilling atmospheres, and ritualistic drumming are keys to forging their most mature and accomplished opus to date.
The band, who crawled out of the black lands of Belgium in 1993, inked their first contract less than a year after its formation, and recorded debut album ‘Prophecies of Pagan Fire,’ which is now considered an all-time classic in the genre.
By then known as The Blackened Horde to fans and the scene at large, ENTHRONED recruited guitarist Nornagest and within 2 years entered Hautregard Studios to give birth to their second album. After the recording, tragedy struck and founding member and drummer Cernunnos (1997) took his own life.
The band went on to record the album using Cernunnos’s drum tracks from rehearsal recordings which were recorded by long time friend Da Cardoen, from the Belgian band ASPHYXIA. ‘Towards the Skullthrone of Satan’ was thus born. Since then, ENTHRONED went on to tour the world and have released a total of 10 full-lengths, one live album, and a hearty handful of splits and EPs.
Now, as the band celebrates 26 years as one of black metal’s premier outfits, they are ready to unleash number 11 onto the masses. ‘Cold Black Suns’ is an icy, brutal offering from the band that will see a worldwide release on June 7, 2019 via Season of Mist, making it their debut to the label. This is the band’s first album in five years, following up 2014’s critically acclaimed ‘Sovereigns.’
‘Cold Black Suns’ is one of 2019’s most anticipated releases and is certain to hold up to the hype that surrounds it, delivering an evolved and crushing offering from Belgium’s own black metal legends. Line-up: Nornagest: Vocals Neraath: Guitars, noise and effects Shāgāl: Guitars Norgaath: Bass Menthor: Drums
Cover artwork: Neraath
Recording studio: Pike Studio, Amarante/Portugal
Producer / sound engineer: Carlos Ribeiro
Mixing studio and engineer: Blackout Studio, Brussels/Belgium. Mixed by Jeremie Bezier
Mastering studio and engineer: Orgone Studio, Bedfordshire, UK. Mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano
EVIL ANGEL premiere new track at NoCleanSinging.com
Today, reanimated blackthrash cult Evil Angel premiere the new track “Sacrificial Slaughter” The track hails from the band’s long-awaited second album, Unholy Evil Metal, set for international release on May 31st via Hells Headbangers.
Hear Evil Angel‘s “Sacrificial Slaughter” in its entirety here.
Formed during the dark days of 1998 in Lahti, Finland, Evil Angel finally burst upon the international metal underground in 2002 with the Dark Forces of Hell demo. For the next number of years, the band would continue to perfect its outbreak-of-evil style of blackthrashing metal across more demos, splits, and the aptly titled Metal Onslaught EP. That last-named record was crucial in pointing the direction forward for Evil Angel: each new recording brought them down into deeper depths of primitivism whilst underlining their connection to the unyielding strength of true METAL.
The culmination of this devolution/refinement came in the form of Evil Angel‘s even-more-aptly titled debut album, Unholy Fight for Metal. Here, the quintet stoked the ancient hellfires of early South American darkness, recalling the bestial rush/crush of early Sarcofago, Vulcano, and Sepultura while simultaneously upping the pure metal catchiness of their attack. The album became something of a mini-classic in the underground upon its release in 2007. The band followed it up a year later with a split 7″ with Spawn of Satan via Hells Headbangers and then quietly went on hiatus.
At long last, however, Evil Angel return with nearly the same lineup, ready to reclaim their throne and continue that unholy fight with their long-awaited second album, Unholy Evil Metal. Once again aptly titled, Unholy Evil Metal lays it all on the line about what Evil Angel are all about: UNHOLY EVIL METAL! Picking up exactly where they left off with Unholy Fight for Metal, the all-new Unholy Evil Metal dials back the bestiality a bit but roughens up true, old heavy metal with unapologetic ugliness – and of course, evil. In fact, just a cursory reading of some of the album’s song titles – “Bestial Necromancer,” “Nuclear Hammer,” “Sacrificial Slaughter,” and “Christ Decays” among them – spells in no uncertain terms how unholy (and EVIL) Evil Angel‘s metal is.
Some bands break up or go on hiatus, only to return as hollowed shells of what they once were. In the case of Evil Angel, being buried by time and dust only made them more resolute: Unholy Evil Metal lives again, more virile and vicious than ever! Feel the next thrust of that virile viciousness with the new track “Sacrificial Slaughter” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Evil Angel’s Unholy Evil
Metal 1. Necro Black Mass 2. Christ Decays 3.
UGH! 4. Nuclear Hammer 5. Legions of Armageddon 6. Sacrificial
Slaughter 7. Bestial Necromancer 8. Crawling From The Grave 9. Ritual
Sacrifice
