hells headbangers

ABYSMAL LORD set release date for new HELLS HEADBANGERS album, reveal first track – touring next month

Today, Hells Headbangers sets August 16th as the international release date for Abysmal Lord‘s highly anticipated second album, Exaltation of the Infernal Cabal, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

It’s been four long years since Abysmal Lord‘s cult debut album for Hells Headbangers, Disciples of the Inferno. In that time, the bestial metal resurgence has hit maximum occupancy, and each new pretender to the throne sadly waters down the atavistic power the subgenre once held, neutering the cruel ‘n’ caustic counterpoint bestial metal offers to the increasingly safe “black metal” scene. Also during that time, while Abysmal Lord have only delivered one scant recording – a split 7″ with equally stout bestial comrades Crurifragium, released last year via Hells Headbangers – the Louisiana natives haven’t sat idly by, taking to many a stage across the United States and unleashing their war command upon more and newer audiences.

Now, when “bestial metal” is arguably on life support, do Abysmal Lord return with their filthiest ‘n’ foulest creation, Exaltation of the Infernal Cabal. Not once betraying their original aims, so rudely and righteously portrayed across their Storms of Unholy Black Mass debut EP in 2014, Abysmal Lord simply stick to what they do best – utilizing the classic bestial metal schematic of OTT explosion and forward propulsion and then malforming it into morbid, miasmic shapes, always angular and antagonizing at every crooked turn – and deliver it with a fury and conviction that’s startling to behold. While no great changes have been made to that iron-clad aesthetic, if anything, Exaltation of the Infernal Cabal explodes with (and amazingly maintains) an urgency that somehow manages to revitalize the bestial metal idiom whilst following it to the rotten, black/white/red letter. And that’s to say nothing of the absolutely unhinged and frankly bonkers guitar soloing on display here; Abysmal Lord are truly exploring the most depraved depths of black/death.

A statement from the band reads: “The Abomination is born once again. Hail AntiMother, from whose foul loins drips the pestilence of mankind’s ruin. Come fiends and witches, Races of Jehovah’s Despair. Witness the pomp and fanfare of the victory procession and lose your soul in the Exaltation. Another pact is made over desecrated graves and rusted steel.”

The throne is corrupt; there steps forward Abysmal Lord, to assume their rightful place. Behold their Exaltation of the Infernal Cabal and tremble before unspeakable doom. And the US shall tremble soon, as Abysmal Lord have a grip of tour dates next month (dates after the jump). In the meantime, hear the new track “Scythe of Damnation” here:

Cover and tracklisting follows:

Tracklisting for Abysmal Lord’s Exaltation of the Infernal Cabal
1. The Exalted Killing (intro)
2. Monolith of Vengeance
3. Races of Jehovah’s Despair
4. Scythe of Damnation
5. Exaltation of the Infernal Cabal
6. Holy Incest
7. Preparing the Throne
8. Nuclear Absolution
9. Scars of Heresy
10. Scourge of Christ
upcoming ABYSMAL LORD tour dates
August 9 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
August 10 – Chattanooga, TN @ Sluggo’s
August 11 – Lexington, KY @ Al’s Bar
August 12 – St. Louis, MO @ Sinkhole
August 13 – Chicago, IL @ Livewire
August 14 – Detroit, MI @ Outer Limits
August 15 – Toronto, ON @ The Grand Gerrard
August 16 – Ottawa, ON @ Cafe Dekcuf
August 17 – Montreal, QC @ Brasserie Beaubien
August 18 – Providence, RI @ Dusk
August 19 – Somerville, MA @ Once Lounge
August 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Lucky 13
August 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Century
August 22 – Montclair, NJ @ Meatlocker
August 23 – Silver Spring, MD @ Amy Tex Mex Bar & Grill
August 24 – Richmond, VA @ Wonderland
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SADOKIST set release date for new HELLS HEADBANGERS album, reveal first track

Today, Hells Headbangers sets August 30th as the international release date for Sadokist‘s highly anticipated second album, Necrodual Dimension Funeral Storms, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Sadokist formed in 2007 and have lurked deep in the fertile Finnish underground since 2007, brewing up demos that pronounced its foremost aims: the telltale Evil Sado Fuckin’ Metal in 2008 and 2010’s Horrors From Hell, with a split tape in between with comrades Black Angel fittingly titled Sadomatik Angel Attack. A couple more demos followed in 2012, and all this hard graft eventually culminated in the opus of obscurity now known as Thy Saviour’s Halo, Held by Horns, the band’scult-classic debt album from 2014. Deeply and reverently committed to their classic forebears – from the early Big Three of Teutonic thrash to the first explosions of filth from the ’80s South American underground, not to mention the almighty Bathory and Necrovore – Sadokist nevertheless exude an effervescent elan and caustic, careening charm that immediately put them well beyond mere “retro” retread. In fact, their youthful vibrancy put Thy Saviour’s Halo, Held by Horns over the hump of over-familiarity and into a realm populated by the likes of Nifelheim, Desaster, and Aura Noir, such is the strength of Sadokist‘s songwriting.

Now allied with longtime fans Hells Headbangers, Sadokist are prepared to unleash their second full-length nuclear detonation: Necrodual Dimension Funeral Storms. An intensification of Saviour’s Halo, Held by Horns in every way – more violence, more finesse, more speed, more ominousness, more of MORE – Necrodual Dimension Funeral Storms is a crude ‘n’ rude plunge deep into the depths of Satanic speed metal HELL. The album was recorded at the band’s rehearsal space and then finished at Megahammer’s home studio during 2017-2018; as such, it retains a touch of the caustic rawness of their debut album whilst exhibiting more clarity that thankfully doesn’t dampen their ever-burning fires. In fact, the pronounced up-ratcheting of execution brings their effervescent furiousness into greater focus, allowing these anthems to bring bountiful diabolism and a perverse joy to any listener infected with Sadokist‘ssalacious charm. Or, put another way: mandatory headbanging shall spill over into total and utter possession, and the effect shall be instantaneous as well as long-lasting.

Teetering on the edge of the abyss but exhibiting a mastery beyond compare, Sadokist shall lead you into Necrodual Dimension Funeral Storms. The first storm can be found with the new track “Beater of Children of God,” which can be heard here:

Cover and tracklisting follows:

Tracklisting for Sadokist’s Necrodual Dimension Funeral Storms
1. Intro – Nihil Return
2. Enter the Devil
3. Planet of Shit
4. Beater of Children of God
5. Intro – Death Erection
6. Driven by Disgust
7. I Will Fuck Tonight
8. Orgy ov Crime
9. Outro – Angel Lust
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/sadokistband  
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DENIAL OF GOD to release new EP via OSMOSE and HELLS HEADBANGERS

At long last, legendary black metallers Denial of God return with a special mini-album titled The Shapeless Mass! Set to be jointly released by Osmose Productions and Hells Headbangers on June 28th, The Shapeless Mass will be the long-running band’s first new recording since 2012’s Death and the Beyond. To say that it’s highly anticipated and very long overdue would be quite the understatement!

By now, Denial of God should need little introduction. Since that fateful year of 1991, the brothers Azter and Ustumallagam have perfected an idiosyncratic style of black metal that’s positively drenched in the supernatural and remains firm in their conviction of more classicist-styled songwriting. In fact, “black metal” might even be a misnomer; rather, BLACK HORROR METAL would be more accurate.

Nevertheless, as the years have gone on and they wisely parcel out their releases, each Denial of God record is special, and The Shapeless Mass is no exception. Arguably the band’s most violent and intense recording, The Shapeless Mass takes the listener down many horrific paths – and epic ones, too, as the four-song mini-album totals 26 minutes! First up is “The Shapeless Mass,” which will also feature on their upcoming third album, The Hallow Mass, and here tells the legend of the Golem of Prague. Next is “The Statues Are Watching,” re-recording of the title track from the 1995 debut vinyl 7″, now played with the power of the by-now-classic lineup of Ustumallagam, Azter, and Galheim but still remaining frighteningly close in spirit and feel to the original version. Honoring their roots, the band also deliver a reverential cover of Bathory’s “Call From the Grave,” but far more surprising is the cover of Exuma’s “Mama Loi, Papa Loi”: unusual, yes, but it still makes sense in the dark world of Denial of God and has been very much made their own here.

Now, only the wait remains for The Hallow Mass – even more epic horror awaits! First track from The Shapeless Mass to be revealed shortly. Preorder info can be found HERE and HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Denial of God’s The Shapeless Mass
1. The Shapeless Mass
2. The Statues Are Watching
3. Call From The Grave [Bathory cover]
4. Mama Loi, Papa Loi [Exuma cover]

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/denialofgod
https://www.osmoseproductions.com/

FUNERAL STORM set release date, reveal cover art for HELLS HEADBANGERS debut – features Varathron member

Today, Hells Headbangers sets May 31st as the international release date for Funeral Storm‘s highly anticipated debut album, Arcane Mysteries, on CD format; the vinyl LP version will follow later this year. Featuring members from Hellenic scene legends Varathron, Funeral Storm deliver truly ancient – and truly authentic – Greek black metal in the most classic early ’90s style, full of mysticism and might. 

Funeral Storm was formed in 2001 by Wampyrion Markhor Necrowolf under the name Raven Throne as a one-man-project. The name was later changed for legal reasons, and after several changes, the moniker Funeral Storm was chosen. Lyrical themes were set early on, and are heavily inspired by occultism, legends, myths, evil, mysteries, horror, and the Cthulhu mythos.

After several lineup changes and one live show, Wampyrion decided to stop any activities concerning the band until 2012, where he released a digital split with Mortuus Sum and a six-way split on tape format with Human Serpent, Thaer Os Valael, Opus Magorum, Silent Dominion, and Varg Order a year later under his label Abyssic Black Cult Records.

Funeral Storm were active again with the addition of members of Serpent Path. In 2016, Mercyful Hell Productions released a compilation with songs that cover most of the years of Funeral Storm that were never actually released. In the meantime, Wampyrion decided to change the sound of the band, now fully inspired by ’90s Greek black metal.

Nick Christogiannis of Deviser and Necroabyssious of Varathron/Katavasia/Zaratus then joined as fulltime members. With this lineup, Funeral Storm released a split in early 2017 with Celestial Rite entitled Funeral Rite with Eskarth of Agatus performing acoustic guitars and a solo on the song “Martyr Of The Lake.” Reaping international acclaim, Funeral Rite was released on 12″ vinyl and CD formats by Iron Bonehead, while Mercyful Hell released the tape format.

Since signing with Hells Headbangers, Funeral Storm added Arcania (Aherusia) on guitars while Christogiannis departed, and the band promptly set to work on their first full-length record. Ever aptly titled Arcane Mysteries, the album proudly and poignantly delivers 43 minutes of atmospheric tartaric black metal in the vein of the old Hellenic scene, inspired by sorcery, magic, and myths. Indeed, Funeral Storm are ancient souls, eschewing the nowadays trends of dissonant non-songwriting and cavernous obfuscation in favor of traditionally epic and dynamic songcraft, reverent to the old Hellenic gods whilst forging terrain all their own, all wrapped in a robust production that powerfully captures the trio’s overt physicality – and indeed, THAT classic pulse. Arcane Mysteries is truly a record that brims with a timeless atmosphere – truly, one of arcane mysteries – and safely avoids lazy “throwback status” due to the inclusion of scene veteran Necroabyssious on vocals and the era-authentic, ever-mystical synths, handled by both Wampyrion and Arcania. In short, it’s an album more than worthy of the legendary early ’90s wave of Greek black metal.

To further underline those classic ties, Arcane Mysteries features two special guests: Eskarth of fellow Hells Headbangers labelmates Agatus performed the solo and acoustic guitars on “Martyr of the Lake,” and The Magus of Necromantia / Prinicipality Of Hell composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered “Wandering Through The Abyss.” Completed by awe-inspiring cover artwork courtesy of Markus Vesper (Denial of God, Manilla Road, Attic), Funeral Storm triumphantly prove that the past is alive…in fact, more than ever!

In the meantime, hear the previously revealed track “Origins of Utter Darkness” here:
Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Funeral Storm’s Arcane Mysteries
1. Invocation Of The Great Red Dragon
2. Ego Sum Filius Draconis
3. The Martyr of the Lake
4. Wandering Through the Abyss
5. Necromancer
6. Necromancer Part 2
7. Funeral Storm
8. Origins Of Utter Darkness
9. From The Great Deep Of The Primordial Waters of Creation
10. Flowers Of My Youth

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/funeralstorm666
www.hellsheadbangers.com
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EMBALMER to release special album on HELLS HEADBANGERS – new studio album coming later this year

Today, Hells Headbangers sets April 26th as the international release date for a a special live album from legendary American death metallers Embalmer, Embalmed Alive, on CD format.

By now, Embalmer should need no introduction. Spawned in the golden year of 1990, they would spend the next number of years releasing cult demo after cult demo, spreading their pestilence across the burgeoning death metal underground of the early ’90s. Come 1995, however, Embalmer would release the classic There Was Blood Everywhere EP on Relapse and would forever etch their name into legendry.

The ensuing years would see Embalmer break up and then re-form and more recordings, with ever-shifting lineups, all before their glorious comeback in 2016 with Emanations from the Crypt, courtesy of longtime fans Hells Headbangers. Massively critically acclaimed, Emanations from the Crypt displayed a ravenous ‘n’ revitalized Embalmer, prepared to make up for lost time with a filth and fury that simply couldn’t be denied.

Embalmer has always been known as a ferocious live band, delivering devastating performances to stages for nearly 30 years. During that time, a lot of great musicians have contributed to Embalmer‘s legacy of sickness & brutality, with drummer Roy Stewart remaining as the band’s founding patriarch. In the 1990s, many live bootlegs were recorded and traded over the years, which today have been replaced with YouTube clips. Although Embalmer love the rawness of these recordings, the band decided to enter Brainchild Studios in 2017 to record a high-quality live release for all the fans, old and new. Contained here on Embalmed Alive are 15 tracks spanning Embalmer‘s entire career. This recording is meant to be a representation of a typical headlining setlist. Also included are studio-quality versions of two songs from 1992 (“Taxidermist” and “Projectile Vomit”) that never got a proper official release. All tracks on Embalmed Alive were recorded live all the way through, with no studio magic, triggers, or edits. Be on the lookout for a brand-new Embalmer studio album later this year on Hells Headbangers!

In the meantime, hear the special live version of “I Am The Embalmer here:
Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Embalmer’s Embalmed Alive
1. May The Wounds Bleed Forever
2. I Am The Embalmer
3. Bone Box
4. Taxidermist
5. Morbid Confessions
6. There Was Blood Everywhere
7. Emanations From The Crypt
8. Projectile Vomit
9. The Coroner’s Report
10. The Necro Filing Cabinet
11. Procession Of Bones
12. They Can Smell Our Blood
13. Dead Female Stalker
14. Rotten Body Fluids
15. The Casket Calls


EMBALMER on this release
Dylan Gordon – lead guitar
Joe Wunderle – bass
Roy Stewart – drums
Paul Gorefiend – vokills
Don Wolff – lead guitar

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/embalmerofficial
www.hellsheadbangers.com
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NUNSLAUGHTER founder returns with NIGHNACHT – sets release date for HELLS HEADBANGERS debut EP, reveals first track

Today, Hells Headbangers sets April 26th as the international release date for Nighnacht‘s surprise debut EP, Christophila, on 7″ vinyl format.

Although an otherwise brand-new and unknown name, Nighnacht is the new project of Don of the Dead, vocalist and founder of the legendary Nunslaughter. While that band prepares their long-awaited next studio recordings – including a new full-length for Hells Headbangers, before the end of 2019 – Nighnacht steps forward to bring a new-yet-familiar take on the Devil’s metal. Put the needle on Christophilia and it’s immediately apparent that Don of the Dead is still ruling supreme and still fully committed to the simple-but-profound pleasures of punkish, rocking death metal, but here with more than a bit of blackened sizzle. Compact and cantankerous, the five songs comprising Nighnacht‘s opening salvo slash ‘n’ bash through 12 minutes of orgiastic mayhem that could only come from Don of the Dead!
 
In the meantime, hear the new track “Christophilia”
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Nighnacht’s Christophilia
1. Vultures Feed on Me
2. Christophilia
3. Abudcted Raped and Eaten
4. Crippled Traitor
5. Agony
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DEIPHAGO set release date for new HELLS HEADBANGERS album, reveal second track – also announce European tour dates

Today, Hells Headbangers sets April 30th – Walpurgisnacht – as the international release date for Deiphago‘s highly anticipated fifth album, I, The Devil, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. The album precludes a full European tour to celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary (dates after the jump).

Deiphago are arguably the most violent band on the planet, as well as one of the most envelope-pushing. Over the course of four albums – 2006’s Satanik Eon, 2009’s Filipino Antichrist, 2012’s Satan Alpha Omega, and 2015’s Into the Eye of Satan, the latter three all released by Hells Headbangers – and with a history spanning 30 years, this power-trio have challenged the norms of black metal, death metal, even extreme metal in general, resulting in a catalog that’s unchallenged and untouchable. Quite simply, Deiphago are without peer, and I, The Devil underlines this fact with no uncertainty.

Always pushing themselves, Deiphago teamed up with producer Kurt Ballou (Converge) to record I, The Devil, with mastering handled by Brad Boatright (Audiosiege), and the legendary Joe Petago returns to do the album’s cover art. Featuring eight songs in 40 minutes, I, The Devil sees Deiphago taking their ever-singular “Experimental Hyper-speed Satanic Bestial Metal” down avenues both more violent and more angular. No other nowadays metal band sounds this extreme – extreme violence, extreme progressiveness, extreme EXTREMITY – and I, The Devil shall prove, once again, that Deiphago are truly in a league all their own. If the Colin Marston-produced predecessor Into the Eye of Satan displayed a band aiming for the most atonal and challenging ends of the black/death spectrum, then I, The Devil will prove that Deiphago have crossed their Rubicon – and they’ve left everyone behind, cowering in their conservatism.

Says founding vocalist/bassist V.666, “This album is a celebration of our 30 years of existence, a cultivation of all our experiences since the band started in 1989. We have worked hard on this album, and it is the best music we have ever released, filled with dark moods and reeking of destruction. We present to you the essence of pure black metal as it was meant to be like in the early ’90s, when bands didn’t sound the same. This is our magnum opus that will be revered right next to the groundbreaking black metal albums of the early ’90s.”

Continuing, V.666 promises, “This will surpass everything not just in the bestial black/death genre, but the whole black metal scene as a whole. This album stands on its own as diverse and unconventional, filled with monstrous dissonances and intolerable cacophony. It is perfecting the uncontrolled chaos. Kurt Ballou has done a great job as producer, engineer, and mixer, capturing our evil intensity. Normal people will not understand the music, as we have put such a high standard over all the typical trends of today. Beware the release of I, The Devil.”

No empty words here: I, The Devil is twisted, violent genius and avant-garde obliteration simultaneously. It is NOT for normcore metalheads, weekend warriors, or “diehards only” posers; it reverberates with the righteously unorthodox, those who dare to seek beyond the borders of the “sheep in wolf’s clothing” conservatism endemic to underground metal, or simply metal in general. There Deiphago stand, crushing those very borders, and any who would stand in their way. Behold I, The Devil and await the sweet kiss of utter annihilation

In the meantime, hear the new track “11:4:6” HERE

Also hear the previously revealed “Deus Alienus (God of the Other Side)” HERE

Aforementioned cover art, by Joe Petagno (Motorhead), and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Deiphago’s I, The Devil
1. Intro: Decimation
2. Quantum Death
3. Neuro-Satanic Circuit
4. 11:4:6
5. Deus Alienus
6. Chaos Protocols
7. Anti-Cosmic Trigger
8. I, The Devil


30th Anniversary European Tour
17/05/2019    STEELFEST, Finland    
20/05/2019    Gineve, Switzerland
21/05/2019    Paris, France
24/05/2019    Mlada Boleslav
25/05/2019    Gliwice, Poland    
29/05/2019    Berlin, Germany
30/05/2019    Hamburg, Germany
31/05/2019    Oberhausen, Germany
01/06/2019    Deinze, Belgium
05/06/2019    Lyon, France
06/06/2019    Firenze, Italy
07/06/2019    Parma, Italy
08/06/2019    THRONE FEST, Belgium
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/deiphago