On June 14th internationally, Iron Bonehead Productions will release Ancient Guard‘s highly anticipated debut mini-album, Nightfall Enthroned, on CD and 12″ vinyl formats. And today, they stream the mini-album in its entirety. Hear Ancient Guard‘s Nightfall Enthroned in its entirety here:
Ancient Guard is a new creation of Nightwolf, renown for pagan black metal vanguard Runespell. As expected, his unmistakable mastery is all across Nightfall Enthroned, Ancient Guard‘s first public work. A surprisingly vast mini-album at four songs in 31 minutes, Nightfall Enthroned is immersive to the extreme and almost soothing in its continually cresting swell of sumptuous black metal mysticism. While Runespell‘s no-less-grandiose sound is oft given to bouts of bloodlust and battle rage, Ancient Guard is pure magisterial march & might as can be expected of such a moniker. And Nighttwolf’s knack for mesmerizing melodicism holds true here, as well, but if one could make distinctions in this regard, it’s that Nightfall Enthroned swirls about to a spacious-yet-thick foundation that’s equal parts stargazing wonder and weight-of-the-universe terror – an infinitely compelling canvas equally suited to adrift dreamers and austere realists alike. Followed by the acoustic lament “Eld,” the synth-heavy epic “A Moonscape Abyss” says exactly everything it needs to about Ancient Guard: awaken to Nightfall Enthroned!
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ancient Guard’s Nightfall Enthroned 1. Dominion of Primordial Darkness [11:40] 2. Sepulchral Damnation [9:04] 3. A Moonscape Abyss [7:29] 4. Eld [2:45]
Today, melodic black metallers BloodCross premiere the new track “Gravebound”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Gravebound, set for international release on July 5th via Personal Records. Hear BloodCross‘ title track “Gravebound” in its entirety here:
BloodCross are a Finnish heavy metal band formed in 2019 that rose from the ashes of black metallers Angelscourge and their lone album, Seraph Impaler. Based in Turku, BloodCross cast their gaze wider to the past and draw inspiration from such old gods as Necrophobic, Dissection, and even Yngwie Malmsteen.
BloodCross‘ first release was the demo Abyssal Blood in 2021, which featured three ear-piercing songs. At that point, the band had not yet fully introduced their influences from power metal to their already lethal and bloody cocktail of blackened melodic thrash metal.
However, that will all change with their full-length debut, Gravebound. Here, BloodCross boldly broaden their musical expression to soundscapes that are catchier, more melodic, and somehow also crushing soundscapes. Insanely fast at times but exuding a palatable precision, Gravebound is technical and relentless but never forsakes the art of songwriting, remaining mesmerizingly memorable every step of the way, building epic towers of icy, majesty melody and ripping, burn-the-touch intensity. Coupled with the crisp & gleaming production, one could possibly mistake BloodCross for a very young & hungry Children of Bodom, but the band’s late ’90s vibes extend further to such cult names as Swordmaster, Gates of Ishtar, Ablaze My Sorrow, Prophanity, and Raise Hell: in other words, this is melodic black metal par excellence.
Prepare for a new modern classic of meloblack with BloodCross‘ Gravebound!
Also hear the previously revealed “Warbeasts” HERE at Personal Records‘ Bandcamp. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Today, pan-international darkwave duo Nox stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Entity. Set for international release on June 7th via Neuropa Records, hear Nox‘s Entity in its entirety here:
Nox is a brand-new project between Inmesher (Rope Sect) and Lykaios (Hemelbestormer, Lhaäd, Rituals of the Dead Hand). While both men are known for post-punk and metal, respectively, Nox sees them taking their first steps into the wider electro scene, wielding a similar-yet-different darkness to their more-renown bands. Elements of synthwave, industrial, and dubstep are chopped & screwed to their (DARK) design.
Entity is the duo’s debut album, comprising eight songs across 43 minutes of shimmering, mysterious energy. With pulsing but never-overpowering beats, in service of atmosphere as much as songwriting, Nox dive headlong into a mirror world of subtly torched tones – some scavenging among the gravel, even despite being electronic, while others ascend into the ether on wings of mesmerizing melody – where the listener is guided through moonlit back streets, crumbling edifices of modernity, and a strange sense of futurism that feels apocalyptic and enticing in equal measure. Atop it all are the hauntingly soothing vocals of Inmesher, narrating that listener’s journey (or perhaps narrating the hitherto-unexplored regions of his soul) and creating a unique disconnect that separates Nox from so many treading the hard-electro boards; Entity definitely isn’t the usual retrowave / outrun worship. Underlining this crucial link to humanity is the duo’s cover of Placebo’s “The Bitter End,” which is dubstep in form but something sublime in content.
Trainspotters will already know of Neuropa’s work with the scene stalwarts Carpenter Brut, which serves as a handy reference here, but Nox is equally recommended to fans of Crystal Castles, ADULT., Kavinsky, Sixth June, Kontravoid, or even Nine Inch Nails. Entity is but their first steps on this path…where will it end?
Also see & hear the recently revealed video for “Once Now Gone” exclusively HERE, courtesy of InvisibleOranges.com. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Nox (Germany/Belgium)’s Entity 1. Black Nebula 2. Once Now Gone 3. Flesh and Bones 4. Escape the Light 5. Seven Days of Rain 6. The Bitter End (Dream Mix) 7. Broken Circle 8. The Triple Goddess
Today, Sepulchral Voice Records announces July 26th as the international release date for Mayhemic‘s highly anticipated debut album, Toba, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
Over 70,000 years ago, an event of horrific proportions brought earth’s life to the edge of existing. Known as the Toba eruption, a monstruous super-volcano spat forth brimstone and fire and put the world under the fangs of a massive volcanic winter. Here and now, writing the year 2024, we finally get the audiomantic equivalence to this catastrophe absolute.
As if the most glorious days of thrash metal never had ceased to exist, Chilean aggressors Mayhemic come up with a debut combining utmost power and speed, intertwined with incredible musicianship and songwriting of sheer brilliance.
The young quartet has pushed it hard since the beginning with numerous live shows – sharing stages with names like Marduk and Krisiun, among others – countless rehearsals, and an evolution which can be only labeled as stunning. From the well-produced and -structured No-Life demo up until the total speed mayhem and maniacal fury of the Mortuary Feast of Skeletons EP and the “Volcanic Blast” single, the time is now for Mayhemic‘s first full-length madness.
Comparisons do mostly suck, but for those unfamiliar with their earlier output, imagine the ravage of old Sodom, the speed kill of Merciless and old Sepultura, all combined with Kreator’s best moments of high-class thrash as on Pleasure to Kill till Extreme Aggression. Big words without doubt, but listen to Toba and the rest is self-explanatory.
If you need your dirty white high-tops, skinny jeans, and leather jackets as sharp as in the ’80s, this is the perfect soundtrack to bang your heads to Hell.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Triumph Portrait” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Mayhemic’s Toba 1. Kollarbone Crushed Neanderthal 2. Extinction & Mystery 3. Valley Of The Thundra 4. Triumph Portrait 5. Eschatological Symphony 6. Hazardous Prowler 7. Olduvai’s Lullaby 8. Toba
On July 30th internationally, W.T.C.Productions is proud to present True Black Dawn‘s highly anticipated third album, Of Thick-circling Shadows.
True Black Dawn are a cult band above all “cult” bands. Come the Colorless Dawn, that record marked the second (or even third) era of the band. See, back in 1992 when they first formed, True Black Dawn were simply “Black Dawn” years before a no-name American band threatened legal action. A handful of demos were released that decade before their classic debut album, Blood for Satan, arrived in 2001. A tense hiatus followed before a very strange three-way split Enochian Crescent and O came at the end of 2005, signaling a shift – or fucking with their audience, or the underground, or whoever – from the filthy & furious Finnish black metal of their preceding work to something almost industrialized and inhuman, wild and boundless and unorthodox no matter how you qualify it. Thus, when Come the Colorless Dawn surprisingly arrived, heralding the band’s official return after a couple teasing festival performances, True Black Dawn had largely drawn those two (challenging) poles together – and started on a new path equally powerful and poignant.
And so it goes with Of Thick-circling Shadows, an extrapolation / intensification of all that came before but with yet another subtle-yet-significant sonic shift: majestic, mesmerizing melody of a most purple-blue hue. It’s not disingenuous to suggest that True Black Dawn here are drawing together that elusive balance (or at least juxtaposition) of the “classic” and the “modern,” given the cold-metal contours they continue to icily erect which particularly imparts the latter. But that balance / juxtaposition isn’t solely relegated to ’90s melodicism / industrialized textures; across a bulk of Of Thick-circling Shadows, the intensity is pushed well into the blastbeaten red – truly, founding vocalist Wrath sounds like he’s being torn apart – while the subtlest dusting of synths tastefully heightens / deranges the vortextural violence circling that spidery, spiraling melodicism. Thus does the title make sense, at least within the album’s sonic aesthetics, while the psychedelically smeared artwork (courtesy of Jukka Siikala and Babalon Graphics) provides ample visual cues for what the listener is getting into when he enters these Thick-circling Shadows.
All this grimy grandeur is given palpitating, Technicolor clarity courtesy of Tore Stjerna’s mastering, making the streamlined orthodoxy of Come the Colorless Dawn both a conclusion to that era of the band and a springboard into a new one. Have True Black Dawn, some 30-plus years after their formation, delivered their masterwork with Of Thick-circling Shadows? Only time will tell…but the present is as dark and daunting as the album’s namesake.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new video “Algol” here:
Aforementioned cover artwork and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for True Black Dawn’s Of Thick-circling Shadows 1. Algol 2. The Depths of the Looking Glass 3. Night and Names 4. The Wind from the Red Cloud 5. Fish, Sin and Soma 6. Body-without-Soul 7. Worlds in the Mirror 8. Palace of Ash 9. Volaverunt 10. The End of Our Age
Darkness Shall Rise Productions is proud to present Aivvass‘ Spiritual Archives (Occult Rites I+II) collection on CD and cassette tape formats. Both EPs, Occult Rites I and Occult Rites II, shall be released separately on 12″ vinyl. The CD and tape versions will be released internationally on July 18th while the two vinyl EPs will be released on August 15th.
Permanently on the lookout for new blood, Darkness Shall Rise are delighted to proffer its latest discovery.
Having concocted their curious amalgam in secrecy for several years, Germany-based Aivvass come out of the shadows to reveal their aptly titled EPs Occult Rites I & II. Named after the non-corporeal being which Aleister Crowley claimed to have dictated his “Liber AL vel Legis,” it takes no wonder that the obscure band’s creations are profoundly steeped in Thelemic magick and occult lore.
Expertly oscillating between bludgeoning heaviness and acoustic serenity, the compositions of Aivvass take the listener on a stunning ride between polarities. Mellow neofolk accompanied by clean singing are effortlessly intertwined with down-tuned doom riffs and evocative growling of a bestial nature. The predominantly mid-paced songs, like the masterfully crafted “Lucifer” or “Witchcraft,” unfold a meditative quality by means of numerous repetitions of each arrangement. Adding to the atmospherically dense recordings are various samples including invocations by The Great Beast himself.
Fiends of the dark arts and aficionados of obscure sonic manifestation alike: COME TO THE SABBATH!
In the meantime, stream Spiritual Archives (Occult Rites I+II) in its entirety here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Aivvass’ Spiritual Archives
1. Aivvass 2. Satan 3. Baphomet 4. Lucifer 5. Crucifixion 6. Witchcraft 7. Cremation of Care 8. The Ghoul [Pentagram cover]
Darkness Shall Rise Productions is proud to present Ulvehunger‘s highly anticipated debut album, Retaliation, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. The CD and tape versions will be released on July 18th while the vinyl version will follow on August 15th.
When merited veterans of Norwegian death / black metal conspire to breathe life into a new entity, you know you are in for a real treat.
Ulvehunger‘s Retaliation – the outcome of a joint effort by L.J. Balvaz (Balvaz, Cadaver, Disgusting) and K.B. Fletcher (Disgusting) together with none other than the equally legendary Frost (Satyricon, 1349) and Anders Odden (Cadaver, Order, Satyricon live) – has Norwegian death / black metal written all over it.
Tracks like “Desecrator,” “Consumed by Hate,” or “Rise From the Shadows” convince with memorable riffs that are razor-sharp and remorselessly attacking yet melodious and melancholic at the same time. Pushed ahead by Frost’s unmistakable drumming and L.J. Balvaz’s scornful sermons, Retaliation is a dynamic, ravenous beast of an album.
Retaliaton was recorded in Tomb Studio (Order, Witch Club Satan) and produced by Anders Odden, with mastering by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony.
Ulvehunger, despite being steeped in the tradition of classic outputs by compatriots Carpathian Forest, Darkthrone, or Gorgoroth, deliver without being a carbon-copy of said bands. Ulvehunger have managed to create a worthy addition to the endless list of masterpieces from Norway no adherent of the genre can afford to miss out on.
In the meantime, stream Retaliation in its entirety here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Ulvehunger’s Retaliation
1. Desecrator 2. Sacrifice 3. Leave Them In Disgrace 4. Consumed By Hate 5. Castle Of Blood 6. Forces Of Doom 7. Declaration Of War 8. Rise From The Shadows 9. The Mighty Pentagram 10. Covenant Of Pestilence
In the ever-evolving saga of extreme metal, few bands have stirred as much respect as VLTIMAS. Comprising legends David Vincent (Morbid Angel), Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (Mayhem, Aura Noir) and Ype TVS (Dodecahedron), this supergroup has carved a niche for themselves that breaks all boundaries of extreme metal. Their latest album, EPIC, showcases their dark, overpowering artistry, filled with tracks that push limits. Released March 15 on Season of Mist, VLTIMAS are now set on lighting up stages across Europe.
“Epic Prophecy for Europe” 2024 Tour Dates: 26 September: Bucharest, ROM @ Metal Gates Warm-Up Party 27 September: Sofia, BUL @ Mixtapes 28 September: Vienna, AUT @ Szene Wein 30 September: Graz, AUT @ Explosiv 1 October: Ostrava, CZE @ Barrak 3 October: Budapest, HUN @ A38 4 October: Venice, ITA @ Revolver 5 October: Rome, ITA @ Traffic 6 October: Milan, ITA @ Slaughter 8 October: Leipzig, GER @ Hellraiser 9 October: Luzern, SUI @ Schuur 10 October: Mannheim, GER @ MS Connexion 12 October: Manchester, UK @ Academy 3 13 October: Bristol, UK @ Thekla 14 October: Dublin, EI @ The Academy 15 October: Belfast, EI @ Limelight 2 18 October: Sheffield, UK @ Corporation 20 October: London, UK @ Underworld 24 October: Herford, GER @ Kulturwerk
In their latest offering, EPIC, VLTIMAS craft a masterpiece that is both a ferocious onslaught and an intricate work of art. With songs like Miserere and Scorcher, EPIC lives up to its name, delivering a maelstrom of relentless riffs, thunderous drumming, and Vincent’s iconic growls that showcase the band’s ability to meld their legendary talents into something uniquely powerful. The album’s production, handled by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Arda Recorders, captures the raw energy and sophistication of their sound, making EPIC an immersive experience.
Tracklist 1. Volens Discordant (1:02) 2. EPIC (4:35) 3. Miserere (3:51) [WATCH] 4. Exercitus Irae (4:01) 5. Mephisto Manifesto (05:05) 6. Scorcher (03:21) [WATCH] 7. Invictus (5:30) [LISTEN] 8. Nature’s Fangs (3:52) 9. Spoils of War (5:54) Total runtime: 37:16
Extreme metal powerhouse VLTIMAS (pronounced ‘uhl-tuh-mas’) assault metaldom once more with their highly-anticipated sophomore album, EPIC, through Season of Mist. Featuring Norwegian guitarist Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, Aura Noir), American vocalist David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), and Canadian drummer Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), the multinational quintet, rounded out by Dutch bassist Ype TVS (ex-Dodecahedron) and Portuguese guitarist João Duarte (Corpus Christii), continue to venture down their path. Moored by strength and integrity, VLTIMAS fortified their signature with wicked invention, as applauded by Decibel Magazine, BangerTV, Louder, and many others, on their debut, Something Wicked Marches In (2019). Singles “Miserere,” “Scorcher,” and “Invictus” showcase a band of musicians at the top of their game, united in their pursuit of oneness. “We wrote every bit of EPIC together at my ranch in Dime Box, Texas,” offers Vincent. “The writing sessions were as organic as they could be. There were times when, at the end of the night, Rune would take his guitar and play something ridiculous. Flo would play something even more ridiculous on top of it. I’d say to the guys, ‘I need to capture this.’ So, the magic [of VLTIMAS] is being in the same room together, discussing, playing, and recording music and everything else we’re doing together. We have unbelievable camaraderie.”
While the members of VLTIMAS are not atavists, their preferred creative methods are time-tested and battle-hardened. Technology has its place, but the group thrive when they’re together, not separated by the world. Eriksen, renowned as a riff innovator, is more effective when he’s got a highly capable sideman like Vincent or Mounier, whose drumming in Cryptopsy and his celebrated instructional Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD has proven to be a no-limits player, by his side. Whether it’s the moody, angular attack of “Miserere,” the wicked groove of “Mephisto Manifesto,” or the dark fury of “Nature’s Fangs,” the chemistry and enterprise of VLTIMAS is undeniable.
“The main goal [of VLTIMAS] is to be real,” Eriksen reveals. “To channel the very moment, to let true inspiration out. I don’t believe I ever set myself a goal on what an album should or needs to sound like before I or we write it because that means I have to compromise during the process. For EPIC, we focused on more direct songs, trimming the fat, as opposed to Something Wicked Marches In, which had a progressive and ‘playful’ flair.”
VLTIMAS was a profane concept—a constellation of riffs against a modest frame—when formed by Eriksen in 2015. After departing Mayhem in 2008 and putting his gothic doom outfit Ava Inferi to rest in 2013, the Norwegian’s fingers still itched with infernal fury. VLTIMAS was his vent, and when Mounier and Vincent joined, he finally had the cadre of professionals to make it a reality. Together, they devised complementary schemes and themes rooted in rightness. In a world gone mad, VLTIMAS had a vision. On Something Wicked Marches In, they commanded attention with metaphors about the apocalypse, the ancient goddess Lilith, and truth. Lyrically, EPIC spears into the very nucleus of strength through Vincent’s brio of double entendre and clever wordsmithing. The songs are designed to be heard, read, and interpreted—there are no shortcuts.
“Everything we’re doing and messaging is about strength and honor,” says Vincent. “These are the fundamentals that I incorporate into my life, which I believe in. I want to share with others, hoping they’ll incorporate strength and honor into their lives. I wouldn’t say I like spelling lyrics out. I use a lot of double meanings on purpose because I want to inspire the listener to think. I’m not a short attention span guy, and I don’t appreciate it. EPIC is holistic and meant to be experienced that way.”
EPIC was recorded by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Grave Miasma) with engineer Jonathan Mazzeo (First Fragment, Sickening) at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal. VLTIMAS tracked the album throughout May 2023. Arellano also handled the mix and master. Like everything the band does, the main goal was to be honest. The maxim of no sample replacement or re-amping—EPIC was captured on outboard gear—was adhered to and enjoyed by the team. The result is a sonic expression that sounds like nothing else. From the crushing title track to the epic musicality of closer “Spoils of War,” EPIC is an absolute beast.
“Stress, long walks, too much alcohol, yet very focused once in the recording mode,” Eriksen says of the sessions. “We booked a month, but somehow, that flew by instantly. We worked up until the very end. I even added a few solos at my local Soundscape Studio in Almada, Portugal. Art unfolds, and once you think you are done, there’s always another idea popping up.”
VLTIMAS brought Italian artist Daniele Valeriani (Mayhem, Unanimated) to visualize EPIC. The aesthetic, as illuminated by music and message, was iconic boldness. The three-eagle head crest with three different crowns, accompanied by transfigured symbols of the Passion and the “impossible triangle,” projects effortlessly. In EPIC, the group will dominate. There’s no escape from “Miserere,” “Mephisto Manifesto,” “Scorcher,” and “Invictus.” Together, they thrust, by resolve and inventiveness, VLTIMAS into the uppermost echelons of extreme metal.
“[EPIC is] old meets contemporary, a symbiosis of all the great things we love about extreme metal,” offers Eriksen. “All combined into one album.”
“I want to be as emotional and honest [with VLTIMAS],” Vincent adds. “I want to tell stories; I want to have the themes that appeal to me; I want to have some messaging that someone can take away, in this case, strength. EPIC is strength.”
Lineup David Vincent – Vocals Rune Blasphemer Eriksen – Guitars Flo Mounier – Drums Ype TVS – Bass João Duarte – Guitars
Recording studio ARDA Recorders
Producer Jamie Gomez Arellano
Sound engineer Jonathan Mazzeo
Mixing and mastering engineer Jaime Gomez Arellano
Mixing and mastering studio Arda Recorders, Orgone Studio
Available Formats: Digital Download CD Digipak 12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black 12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Gold & Black Marbled 12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Transparent Red & Black Marbled 12″ Picture Vinyl
Rising from the pillars of their Hellenic heritage, the sovereign kings of black metal, ROTTING CHRIST, invite you to partake in a monumental crusade across Europe. Hot on the heels of their enthralling 14th studio album Pro Xristou, the Greek metal legends unveil their spellbinding 2024 EU Tour dates, commencing this autumn.
“Dear Metal brothers & sisters, we can proudly announce that we celebrate our 35 years of existence with the release of our new album Pro Xristou & some special shows on European soils this Autumn. Together with the Scandinavian Pagan Metal Kings Borknagar and French diabolical horde Seth we promise to perform a hell of a show every night! Thanks for your attention and look forward to seeing you all in the battle field!” Says Sakis, on behalf of ROTTING CHRIST
With the spellbinding essence of their latest opus, Pro Xristou, the Greek forebearers ROTTING CHRIST will share stages with Norway’s progressive black metal giants Borknagar, whose profound musical narratives have sculpted their undisputed place within the genre. Alongside them, France’s SETH will bring their own brand of fervent intensity and atmospheric ferocity to the mix. Together, they stand as a triad set to invigorate and bewitch audiences across the continent.
“Sharing the stage for a whole month with thy mighty Rotting Christ is thrilling ! This will be our 3rd European tour in over 25 years and definitely the biggest journey that we’ve ever had ! We can’t think of any better band on Season of Mist roster to promote La France des Maudits!” Says SETH.
SETH will be releasing the full-length album La France des Maudits on Bastille Day, July 14th, on Season of Mist.
You can catch both titans of Black Metal ROTTING CHRIST & SETH, as well as Borknagar playing on the the dates below.
Rotting Christ 2024 EU Tour w/ Borknagar & Seth:
28 September: Warsaw, PL @ Proxima 29 September: Krakow, PL @ Hyde Park 1 October: Gdansk, PL @ Drizzly Grizzly 2 October: Leipzig, DE @ Hellraiser 3 October: Heidelberg, DE @ Halle02 4 October: Ostwald, FR @ Le Point d’Eau 5 October: Seyssinet Pariset, FR @ l’ilyade 6 October: Torino, IT @ Audiodrome Live Club 7 October: Bologna, IT @ Locomotiv 8 October: Nuremburg, DE @ Hirsch 9 October: Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli Pandora 10 October: Bochum, DE @ Matrix 11 October: Wasquehal, FR @ The Black Lab 12 October: Limoges, FR @ CCM John Lennon 13 October: Montpellier, FR @ Rockstore 15 October: Villava, ES @ Totem 16 October: Ponferrada, ES @ La Vaca 17 October: Porto, PT @ Hard Club 18 October: Lisbon, PT @ Under the Doom Festival 19 October: Madrid, ES @ Changó 20 October: Seville, ES @ Custom 22 October: Murcia, ES @ Gamma 23 October: L’Hospitalet, ES @ Salamandra 24 October: Toulouse, FR @ La Cabane 25 October: La Mézière, FR @ Samain Fest (Salle Cassiopée) 26 October: Sint Niklaas, BE @ De Casino 27 October: Maastricht, NL @ Samhain Festival *without Seth
Tickets will be available shortly on Rotting Christ’s bandsintown page.
Dive into the legacy of the last Pagan kings with Pro Xristou—an album drenched in ancient wisdom and robust anthems, exemplified by sonic monuments like The Apostate and Like Father, Like Son. Through melodious symphonies and fierce, unyielding harshness, the album stands as a blackened testament to unquenchable Pagan might, resonating with the echoes of Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic myths.
1. Pro Xristou (Προ Χριστού) (1:29) 2. The Apostate (5:01) [WATCH] 3. Like Father, Like Son (4:35) [WATCH] 4. The Sixth Day (3:56) 5. La Lettera Del Diavolo (4:01) 6. The Farewell (6:15) [WATCH] 7. Pix Lax Dax (4:33) 8. Pretty World, Pretty Dies (4:51) [WATCH] 9. Yggdrasil (5:04) 10. Saoirse (6:17) [WATCH] 11. Primal Resurrection (Bonus Track) (5:32) – Only Deluxe Editions! 12. All For One (Bonus Track) (3:37) – Only Deluxe Editions! Total runtime: 55:17
Praise for Pro Xristou
“With their unique sound and bitingly abrasive lyrical content, Rotting Christ have returned with another soon-to-be classic opus […]” – Metal Injection (9/10)
“With Pro Xristou, Greece’s premier extreme metal band have just crafted their most accessible – and perhaps most magnificent – album yet.” – Metal Hammer UK (4.5/5)
“The album will be immediately adored by fans, while allowing newcomers to discover their most majestic side.” – Acta Infernalis (90/100)
“Their brand of blackened metal has changed a lot over years, mostly to being melodic, a little Gothic, and even having a tribal feel to some of their songs. “Pro Xristou” embraces these same components but presents them in a much more catchy way…” – Metal Temple (9/10)
“Pro Xristou” is not an album that will surprise us; on the contrary, it will seem familiar. Yet, the album is poised to be a memorable entry in Rotting Christ’s distinguished career.” – Metal War (9/10)
“One thing is for sure after all this: ROTTING CHRIST will never let us down!” – The Gallery (8/10)
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,300 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.
Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push boundaries.
But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.
In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristou. Pro Xristou (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.
Today, Norwegian black metallers Gjendød reveal the new track “Skumringsliv.” The track is the first to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fifth album, Livskramper, set for international release on June 28th via Osmose Productions. Hear Gjendød‘s “Skumringsliv” in its entirety here:
After four quite different-sounding albums as a duo, the Trondheim- based black metal band Gjendød has now returned with their fifth full-length.
It comes as no surprise that Livskramper also follows that path of constant changes, this time a 90-degree turn, very well helped by the new drummer TK, who’s most-listened previous work might be the Trøndertun session by Thorns. TK is another injection of mad supremacy into the spine of the band.
A fine and varied black metal album which includes a spectrum of feelings, from sheer passiveness to outraged despair, every second of the album is a life cramp. All draped in the crushing sound recorded in the infamous NordStern studios. A narcissistic scolding album of life, aggressively roared and whispered in dialect.
Preorder link can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Theodor Kittelsen, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Gjendød’s Livskramper
1. Å ule mot feil måne 2. Livskramper 3. Gendød 4. Skumringsliv 5. Byttingen 6. Under dekke 7. Død manns skygge 8. I nattens land
