Today, doomed death metallers Wrektombpremiere the new track “Unexpected Encounters With Nature”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, Bovine Mockeries of Human Posturing, set for international release on April 5th via Personal Records. Hear Wrektomb‘s “Unexpected Encounters With Nature” in its entirety here:
The sarcophagus has cracked, releasing the sulfuric putrefaction of Wrektomb‘s first full-length recording after one EP, Bovine Mockeries of Human Posturing. Nick Krostoff and his faithful companion Vera Kätzin bring warnings from the next realm that oblivious and prideful humans must not overestimate their place in the cosmic hierarchy while Dieter Itis sets the cadence as this dire procession marches back into the earth from which it came.
With Krostoff as crypt-keeper, each song tells a gory and depraved tale: human deviants engaged in self-mutilation to feel something other than apathy and disdain. With crushing force, the Red Heifer, the Divine bovine, tramples temples and pulverizes the pride of arrogant, unsuspecting victims for their misplaced worship. Time travel through the multiverse is exploited by an impulse to sire linage across time and space. Modernity’s zeitgeist ruled by indoctrination with vapid values of the psychopath’s all-consuming black hole of derangement – unable to satiate the hunger for carnage and the carnal – culminating in a reflection on defeat, finding the meaning of life in the decomposition of the flesh: the height of human achievement in transforming into feed for the corvids and carrion-eaters of the sky.
At times an ornate marble mausoleum, at times a spartan gravel grave mound, meditate on the melodies of doom before they are once again lost to the underworld.
Hear the previously revealed “Gored Into Reality” HERE at Personal Records‘ Bandcamp. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Misanthropic-Art, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Wrektomb’s Bovine Mockeries of Human Posturing
1. Gored Into Reality [7:29] 2. Unexpected Encounters with Nature [9:10] 3. Quantumcreep [9:01] 4. Society Supported Psychopaths [6:15] 5. This Decay of Me [10:35]
Italian doom metal & dark wave maestros PONTE DEL DIAVOLO are set to embark on a captivating journey across Italy with the announcement of their Fire Blades From the Tomb release tour. The band is poised to bridge the gap between worlds, taking their unique blend of classic cultish doom metal infused with post-punk and dark wave to audiences across 11 unique dates in Italy, and one in Switzerland.
PONTE DEL DIAVOLO has already left a trail of anticipation for their upcoming album Fire Blades From the Tomb with the release of three singles so far. Demonewove a dark narrative inspired by esoteric themes and mysticism. They followed up with their second single Covenantwith dark and doomy bass lines that swarm like a sky full of thunderclouds. With Nocturnal Veil, the band casts a deadly spell with gloomy clarinets, clanking cymbals and whip-cracking riffs.
Fire Blades From The Tomb is out February 16, 2024 on Season of Mist.
“So proud to announce the first part of our Italian tour 🔥. It’s an honor to share the stage with so many great bands from the national and international scene (see details). We are looking forward to play in some of the most important music festivals in Italy as well, such as Frantic Fest, Molto Male Fest and Church of Crow Fest. See you out there!“
Fire Blades From the Tomb Tour 2024 – Part I: February 24 – Genoa, IT @ La Claque w/ Malombra March 1 – Turin, IT @ Ziggy Club w/ Shores of Null March 2 – Mantua, IT @ The Academy w/ Shores of Null, Die Sünde April 12 – Milan, IT @ Circolo Bellezza w/ Sacri Suoni April 13 – Liestal, CH @ A-Way w/ Black Oath April 26 – Rome, IT @ Traffic w/ Otus April 27 – Modena, IT @ NotteTempio May 5 – Pinerolo, IT @ Church of Crow Fest w/ Shape of despair, Dawn of winter May 17 – Vicenza, IT @ CSA Arcadia w/ October Tide May 18 – Bergamo, IT @ Molto Male Fest w/ Bongzilla, Raw Power, Hate e Merda June 1 – Erba, IT @ Centrale Rock Pub w/ Voland August 16 – Francavilla al Mare, IT @ Frantic Fest w/ Marduk, Darvaza, Undertakers
Track-list 1. Demone (5:00) [WATCH] 2. Covenant (6:56) [WATCH] 3. Red As The Sex Of She Who Lives In Death (6:20) 4. La Razza (8:03) 5. Nocturnal Veil (5:17) [LISTEN] 6. Zero (5:26) 7. The Weeping Song (5:33) Total: 42:35
PONTE DEL DIAVOLO bridges the gap between two separate worlds.
The Italian band proposes a Doom / Black metal sound with old-school roots, adding a modern and outside the box background. The female voice – with strong dark wave influences – is the lyric corpus of this strongly esoteric project. The solid presence of two bassists creates the massive foundation for the rhythmic guitar, everything marked by a raw and dynamic drumming.
Mystery of Mystery / Secret Live Session marked the quintet’s debut EP. It was recorded live and without editing at Dracma Studio with the producer L’Ossario in their home base of Turin in March 2020.“I” was released on the web by Iopan Records. It was soon followed by their second single, “The Wickedest Woman In the World”.
At the end of 2021, Ponte Del Diavolo recorded their second EP, Sancta Menstruis at Deepest Sea Studio in Turin with Danilo Battocchio. The first single, “The Unborn”, arrived in February 2022.
The band’s third EP, Ave Scintilla!, was also recorded in Turin. This time around, they reconvened at Dracma Studio with L’Ossario.
Now that they’ve signed with Season of Mist, Ponte Del Diavolo are ready to release their debut album. Fire Blades From the Tomb forges classic, cultish doom metal with modern bents of post-punk. Lead single and opening track “Demone” is whipped along by a boiled black bass line and dark-wave induced vocals.
Guest Musicians Andrea l’Abbate – Synth on ‘Covenant’. Lucynine – Theremin on ‘Covenant’. Vittorio Sabelli – Clarinet on ‘Covenant’, ‘Red as the sex of She who lives in death’ & ‘Nocturnal veil’. Davide Straccione – Vocals on ‘The weeping song’.
Today, Italian stoner-doom duo Witchsnake stream the entirety of their highly anticipated second album, Deathcult of the Snake. Set for international release on December 15th via Helter Skelter Productions (distributed & marketed by Regain Records), hear Witchsnake‘s Deathcult of the Snake in its entirety here:
Witchsnake are a still-new formation hailing from Italy, who may or may not contain members of other cult Italian bands. All we know – still – is that the band’s lineup consists of Al on “guitars, bass, possession” and Joe on “drums, weed.” Fittingly, Witchsnake‘s self-titled debut – originally released digitally last autumn, and then physically released by Helter Skelter this past summer – was a smoke-choked juggernaut of blackened-yet-bluesy STONER DOOM in the strictest, most traditional sense. Witchsnake was unique in that the album’s first three tracks were the newest, recorded in August 2022 and showcasing the band at their most towering and terrifying; the second half of the album was comprised of three tracks recorded a month earlier, which Witchsnake consider their original demo – jammier and mostly instrumental, they concluded the album in fitting style.
Now, Witchsnake reveal their most potent work yet in Deathcult of the Snake. Creepy and greasy, like biker doom taken to its sleaziest-yet-crushing extremes, the tone alone on LP#2 could peel paint off walls…and then soundly collapse those walls with their molten power. Whilst recognizably Witchsnake, there’s moments of Hawkwind at their heaviest and Monolith-era Amebix that are integrated across Deathcult of the Snake, rendering the latent blackness and shuddering stoner doom ever more unique and engaging. Likewise, the band can still step back and smoke with the best of them – the vapor trails seem to coil both higher and lower here, the sense of space simultaneously soothing and foreboding – and when the CRUSH comes, it really comes… But perhaps best of all are the vocals; while never omnipresent, when they do come in, they sound like the unsettling ruminations of a wizard-biker sage. Or, perhaps just gaze upon the stark cover art and you’ll be forewarned of the madness you’re about the embark upon: this is the Deathcult of the Snake!
Preorder info can be found HERE at Regain Records‘ Bandcamp. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Witchsnake (Italy)’s Deathcult of the Snake
1. Outlaw 2. The Iron Cross Burns 3. Inject The Venom 4. Black Star 5. Deathcult Of The Snake 6. Battlescars The Great Purifier 7. Laughing Among The Ruins
Today, Purity ThroughFire announces September 22nd as the international release date for a special album from Bergrizen, Orathania, on digipack CD format.
For 15 years now, Bergrizen have been standard-bearers for the new wave of Ukrainian black metal which honors the old. The work of one Myrd’raal, Bergrizen have released five studio albums and even a live album, nearly all of which have been released in some manner by Purity ThroughFire.
Now, some six years since that last studio album, Bergrizen prepare a unique full-length as a precursor to their next album. Titled Orathania, the record marks a new approach to creation for the band. Otherworldly to the max, Bergrizen‘s approach here is largely based on alternately stirring/soothing ambient with a touch of dark folk and fierce-yet-fleeting moments of black metal. Almost entirely instrumental with some blackened ululations, Orathania inhabits its own world and wholly transports the listener into this magical realm; it will take you on a journey through picturesque landscapes and ancient spirits, as every song represents the ethnocultural regions of Ukraine – the album title itself, actually, means the poetic name of Ukraine. The music was composed by the band’s drummer, except for some of the tracks that were taken from the archive of traditional Ukrainian music; Myrd’raal together with the guest musicians Olgerd (Kroda) and Ogrim (ex-Bergrizen guitarist, Wolftomb) also contributed to the album’s creation.
While we wait for the next regular Bergrizen album to be released by Purity ThroughFire, it should be noted that Orathania is more than just a stopgap recording: it is dedicated to their motherland Ukraine and the whole Ukrainian nation, which is unprecedently fighting for freedom.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Tavria Grace + River Ros’ Rocks” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Bergrizen’s Orathania 1. To the Coasts of Bessarabia 2. River Ros Rocks 3.1. Bukovina Landscapes 3.2. Carpathian Shield of Galicia 3.3. On the Way to Khust 4. Tavria Grace 5. Siveria Magic 6. The Winds of the Mines 7. Khortytsia the Heart of Power 8. Spring in Podil 9. Sloboda Ukraine in Winter 10.Polissya Forests and Volhynia Swamps
Today, Italian doom lords Bottomless premiere the new track “By the Sword of the Archangel”. The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated second album, The Banishing, set for international release on August 25th via Dying Victims Productions. Hear Bottomless‘ “By the Sword of the Archangel” in its entirety here:
Hailing from Italy, Bottomless was formed in 2016 by the hands of vocalist/guitarist Giorgio Trombino and drummer David Lucido; bassist Sara Bianchin joined shortly after. Collectively, the band possesses a wealth of experience across other prior and present bands, including Messa, Assumption, Becerus, Shrieking Demons, Morbo, and many more. Five years later, in 2021 and preceded by a trio of digital singles, Bottomless released their self-titled debut album: a clear affirmation of the power-trio’s commitment to traditional doom metal yet with a slightly ‘70s edge, bluesy and hard rocking.
Now, two years later, Bottomless return with their second full-length. Appropriately titled The Banishing, the band take bold steps into new territories here, retaining their rootsy doom sound but moving it toward the epic and sometimes evil and most definitely dark. The relatively-dramatic shift reflects a focus on themes of magic, death, remembrance, and sorrow, most poignantly displayed across such tracks as “Guardians of Silence,” “By the Sword of the Archangel,” and the acoustic ballad “Drawn Into Yesterdays.” Even more so than the first album, The Banishing is a doom metal record for doom maniacs, reflecting emotional atmospheres reminiscent of classic Candlemass, Solitude Aeternus, the UK’s Solstice, and Manilla Road’s slower moments whilst firmly residing on a foundation of ‘80s doom ala Pentagram, Trouble, and especially Black Sabbath; one could say that Bottomless are even approaching the latter’s cult years with Tony Martin on the mic. And like the best vintage doom, whether it’s entrenched in the ‘70s or ‘80s, The Banishing is richly wrapped in an authentically analog production, all recorded, mixed, and mastered on tape in a few sessions.
Bottomless are truly hitting their stride now. The Banishing is for all those heavy rockin’ castaways who are living backwards, banished from the modern world and still looking to carve their own individual path into the realm of slow, somber heavy metal.
Also hear the previously revealed “Stand in the Dimming Light” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Critical Defiance’s Misconception 1. Let Them Burn 2. The Great Unknown 3. Guardians Of Silence 4. Stand In The Dimming Light 5. By The Sword Of The Archangel 6. Illusion Sun 7. Drawn Into Yesterday 8. Dark Waters
On August 25th internationally, Personal Records is proud to present Of Darkness‘ highly anticipated second album, Missa Tridentia, on CD format.
A cult band even among an already-cult scene, Of Darkness are an experimental funeral doom band hailing from Barcelona. While exuding the characteristic traits of the subgenre – sepulchral tones, glacial pace, suffocating atmosphere – the Spaniards look beyond mere metal for idiosyncratic deployment of other such musics as ambient, industrial, and especially classical. Intensely atmospheric and deeper than the abyss, their sound is the perfect landscape for the members’ extreme nihilistic beliefs. And although those members concurrently play in such distinguished bands as Teitanblood, Balmog, and Graveyard among many others, in thought and deed is Of Darkness entirely its own entity.
Of Darkness was born in 2003 and released their first demo, Death, a few months after. In 2004, the entities behind the band started working on a new work, The Empty Eye, which was released in 2005. Around that time, several labels showed interest in both records: Goatowarex Records and Xtreem Music. None of those deals came to a good end, so the band stayed on hold for a few years until Psychedelic Lotus Order (the new guise/ruse of infamous rip-off Goatowarex) and Black Mass Records decided to give a second chance to both records, re-releasing them on limited vinyl and CD in 2009/2010. In 2012, in conspiracy with Black Mass Records again, Of Darkness released Scorpiace, a split tape with legendary Galician drone / ambient / industrial act Like Drone Razors Through Flesh Sphere, which was re-released (including another very long track) later on CD by Gradual Hate Records in 2015. Perhaps most indicative of the band’s unique take on funeral doom was the release of Tribute to Krzysztof Penderecki – Passio et Mors Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Lucam. More or less their debut album, the 43-minute record indeed interpreted two compositions of modern classical master (and master of tension & terror) Penderecki, complete with a cover that mirrored those of Deutsche Grammaphone’s long-running line of classical records.
Fittingly for their cult nature, Of Darkness have never been an active band in a traditional way; it’s just an on/off project that appears every once in a while, so many people thought and still think the band is on hold or even inactive – which, in a way, is true. During the infamous lockdown, the trio decided to prepare new material, which was composed, recorded, arranged, and mixed in three days: as usual for Of Darkness since they never rehearse, and rather just improvise in the studio while recording. Nevertheless, what has emerged – the seven-song/43-minute Missa Tridentia – is a monumental album that sounds anything but improvised. Solemn and spacious, much like an ancient cathedral, Of Darkness‘ second album slowly unfolds, each minute moving ominously but with portent, almost soothingly, as textures flicker with recognition but then fade away, and on and on and on again. The whole work is threaded together as one massive composition, and therein lies the genius of Of Darkness: taking far more cues from classical than funeral doom, one could view these separate movements as suites of a larger orchestral work, and indeed do they incorporate orchestration that arguably plays a great role than the usual metal-oriented instrumentation. At times, there’s a diabolical disconnect – and successive dissonance – between both elements, as if they’re each playing of their own accord; but then, like slowly undulating wisps of smoke, a certain sense of order arises, haunting and hypnotizing. It’s incredibly avant-garde without being belabored or overbearingly performative about it. It’s also unlike most “funeral doom” records past and especially present. Of Darkness challenge even the bravest listeners with Missa Tridentia.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Requiem Aeternam” here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Of Darkness’ Missa Tridentia
1. Adjutorium Nostrum In Nomine Domini 2. Requiem Aeternam 3. Dies Irae 4. Deus Qui Humanae Substantiae 5 Eis Requien, Eis réquiem Sempiternam 6. Requiescant In Pace 7. Ite Missa Est
Today, Helter Skelter Productions (distributed & marketed by Regain Records) announces July 31st as the international release date for Old Ghoul’s striking debut EP, self-titled Old Ghoul, on 12” vinyl format.
Old Ghoul is the new work of the insanely prolific Chad Davis, most renowned for the legendary Hour of 13. And much like that widely celebrated doom vehicle, his new Old Ghoul sticks to a dark, doomed-out route that’s as haunting as it is heavy. With a mere three songs in 15 minutes, the band’s self-titled debut EP gets in and gets out, doing its job of spooking the fuck outta you and letting the mystery linger after the record’s over…which isn’t long, as these three bangers swagger with a slo-burn intensity that just begs for repeat spins! And much like more recent Hour of 13 material, Old Ghoul definitely bears a distinct deathrock touch along with the tried-and-true doom ones, making Old Ghoul an auspicious start – and one to dig deeper graves!
In the meantime, stream the entirety of Old Ghoul here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Old Ghoul’s Old Ghoul
1. The Crypt of Night 2. The Devils At Brocken 3. The End of All That Remains
Today, Helter Skelter Productions (distributed & marketed by Regain Records) announces July 28th as the international release date for En La Niebla‘s striking debut album, El Limbo de Los Callados, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
Hailing from the rising Argentinian stoner scene – from which labelmates Mephistofeles, Fulanno, Sahara, The Crooked Whispers, and Serpent Cobra sprang – En La Niebla are a power-trio carrying forward their country’s prevailing paradigm. Uniquely in light of their no-less-distinguished contemporaries, the band sing entirely in their native tongue, lending a foreign-yet-familiar element that makes their diabolism hit that much harder.
Released digitally during the final days of 2022, El Limbo de Los Callados confidently introduces En La Niebla‘s moody, bluesy style of stoner doom. Short but definitely very sweet, the album’s five tracks in nearly a half-hour plod with a downtrodden swagger, but frequently dip into (very slightly) quieter moments that almost seem jammy. The bluesy licks then hypnotize with hazy majesty as the volume & intensity continue to dip, heightening the tension (and darkness) before the BIG diabolic crush of traditional doom riff. Simple-yet-sublime pleasures, and with personality to spare: En La Niebla begin their journey into the beyond with El Limbo de Los Callados.
In the meantime, stream the entirety of El Limbo de Los Callados here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for En La Niebla’s El Limbo de Los Callados
1. El Sendero del Druida [3:10] 2. Evocando el Ritual [5:54] 3. Cabras Negras [6:36] 4. Las Brujas [7:16] 5. El Limbo de Los Callados [6:30]
Today, Osmose Productions and 20 Buck Spin announce May 26th as the international release date for Mournful Congregation‘s The Exuviae of Gods – Part II on CD, vinyl, and cassette tape formats. Osmose will handle the record’s release in Europe while 20 Buck Spin will handle its release for North and South America and Australia.
Mournful Congregation are back with a wall of sound of funeral doom, the band’s trademark since 1993. After rearing their doom-laden head from the primordial waters in 2022 with the release of The Exuviae of Gods – Part I, Mournful Congregation continue the parting of the waters with The Exuviae of Gods – Part II: two brand-new compositions, plus a brand-new re-recording of 1995’s “Heads Bowed,” featured on their second demo tape. Continuing the thematics presented on Part I, artwork is once again handled by Karmazid, bringing the monadic into the dyadic, thus perfecting the natural order of primordial principles…
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “The Forbidden Absym” here:
Preorder info for the Osmose version can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover artwork and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Mournful Congregation’s The Exuviae of Gods – Part II
1. Heads Bowed [12:25] 2. The Forbidden Abysm [8:47] 3. The Paling Crest [18:39]
Season of Mist are proud to announce the re-signing of HOODED MENACE. The Death Doom outfit will release their next full-length via the label. HOODED MENACE‘s previous album ‘The Tritonus Bell’ was released on August 27, 2021 and can be listened to via various digital platforms HERE. HOODED MENACE comment: “We’re looking forward to work with Season of Mist for more Hooded Menace music! This is the first time for us to re-sign to any label, so that says a lot, I suppose. Since we are not playing live anymore, but went back to being a “studio band” only – just like Hooded Menace was meant to be in the beginning – we’ve decided to part ways with Teemu Hannonen (rhythm guitar) in good spirits and continue as a three-piece.“
Line-up Harri Kuokkanen – Vocals Lasse Pyykkö – Guitars, bass Pekka Koskelo – Drums
