MAYHEM

VLTIMAS: Dark Extreme Metal Band with Members of MORBID ANGEL, CRYPTOPSY and ex-MAYHEM Flex Their Legendary Might on New Album

VLTIMAS have been legends since the dawn of metal. Rune Eriksen took
hold of axe-wielding duties for the second coming of Mayhem. Flo Mounier
has been drumming for Cryptopsy since their earliest exhumations of the
Canadian underground. And who could forget David Vincent, the
larger-than-life vocalist for Morbid Angel.

Having already made history, some metalheads may have stroked their
beard and wondered if there could possibly be any new realms for this
band to conquer. After all, their debut was voted Album of the Year by
Zero Tolerance Magazine and BangerTV.  But on their new
album, VLTIMAS ascend to truly epic heights.

“EPIC”comes out March 15, 2024.

Watch the video for lead single “Miserere”:

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/VLTIMASEPIC 
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/vltimasepic 

VLTIMAS have been making grand declarations of war for more than 30
years, but “Miserere” isn’t just another offering at the altar of
madness. “I spread my misery, biblically evolved”, Vincent sings in a
baritone that’s so monstrous it could summon an army of the dead. The
drums speed ahead mercilessly, mowing down all onlookers under a barrage
of surgical blast beats, as riffs hail from all directions with enough
firepower to shatter bulletproof glass.

“The world throws us all trials and tribulations constantly,” says
VLTIMAS. “We use this angst as a weapon in our art to score the
apocalypse”.

Tracklist
1. Volens Discordant (1:02)
2. EPIC (4:35)
3. Miserere (3:51) [WATCH] [8]
4. Exercitus Irae (4:01)
5. Mephisto Manifesto (05:05)
6. Scorcher (03:21)
7. Invictus (5:30)
8. Nature’s Fangs (3:52)
9. Spoils of War (5:54)
_Total runtime_: 37:16
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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.”
————————-

LineupDavid 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

Cover art
Daniele Valeriani

Additional artwork and layout
Adrien Bousson

Biography
Chris Dick

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/vltimasepic 

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/VLTIMASEPIC 

Links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vltimas/1445457453 
Bandcamp: https://vltimas.bandcamp.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vltimas/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vltimas/ 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kz64zyv2xtkdhboztpdwa 
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vltimas?lang=en 

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12″ Vinyl Gatefold – Black
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Skull Gold
12″ Coloured Vinyl Gatefold – Dracula
12″ Picture Vinyl

  press release:
https://czpromotions.haulix.com/Media/Link?h=v9g4ejPM4FFT/aE82aIBDw==

Gaahls Wyrd announce tour with Mayhem and GosT and release album trailer

Norwegian extreme metal formation GAAHLS WYRD have announced the “GastiR – Ghosts Invited European Tour 2019”. The band will play a selected number of festivals during the Summer, before embarking on a European tour with MAYHEM and synthwave act GOST.

The journey will start on October 31st, in Nijmegen (NL) and continues through France, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, before the final curtain on November 30th in Stockholm (SE). The full list of tour dates can be found below.
The band has furthermore released an album teaser for their upcoming record, ‘GastiR – Ghosts Invited’.
GAAHLS WYRD – Festival dates
18 May 19 Hyvinkaa (FI) Steelfest
23 Jun 19 Varnai (LT) Kilkim Zaibu Festival
25 Jul 19 Tolmin (SL) Metaldays Tolmin
16 Aug 19 St Nolff (FR) Motocultor Festival
17 Aug 19 Dinkelsbuhl (DE) Summer Breeze Open Air

GAAHLS WYRD
With MAYHEM and GOST
31 Oct 19 Nijmegen (NL) Doornroosje
01 Nov 19 Leiden (NL) Gebr de Nobel
05 Nov 19 Paris (FR) La Machine Du Moulin Rouge
06 Nov 19 Rennes (FR) L’etage
07 Nov 19 Toulouse (FR) Metronum
10 Nov 19 Lyon (FR) CCO
12 Nov 19 Milan (IT) Magazzini Generali
14 Nov 19 Vienna (AT) Szene
15 Nov 19 Prague (CZ) Meet Factory
16 Nov 19 Berlin (DE) Astrat
17 Nov 19 France (FR) Tyrant Fest
19 Nov 19 Kassel (DE) Musik Theater 130 BPM
21 Nov 19 Mannheim (DE) MS Connextion Complex
22 Nov 19 Vosselaar (BE) Biebob
23 Nov 19 Oberhausen (DE) Turbinehalle
24 Nov 19 Copenhagen (DK) Pumpehuset
26 Nov 19 Tampere (FI) Pakkahuone
27 Nov 19 Helsinki (FI) Tavastia
29 Nov 19 Stockholm (SE) Fryshuset Klubben
30 Nov 19 Gothenburg (SE) Pustervik

The cover artwork and tracklist of ‘GastiR – Ghosts Invited’ can be found below.
Tracklist:
1. Ek Erilar (05:34)
2. From The Spear (04:37)
3. Ghosts Invited (04:23)
4. Carving The Voices (07:26)
5. Veiztu Hve (06:41)
6. The Speech And The Self (05:02)
7. Through And Past And Past  (02:59)
8. Within The Voice Of Existence (05:25)
Total: 0:42:07
Since rising to prominence with his first band Trelldom, legendary singer, front man, artist and composer, Gaahl, has been one of Norway’s most talked about and respected extreme metal musicians. His work with Trelldom, Gorgoroth and God Seed has been widely regarded as some of the best the black metal scene has had to offer.

Gaahls passion and dedication to his art has earned him followers far and beyond the realms of the metal community, becoming a household name in the art scene and a he has become a well-respected alternative thinker.

In 2015 the charismatic singer assembled some of Norway’s finest metal musicians under the new moniker Gaahls WYRD. The band consisted of Ole Walaunet (The Batallion, God Seed, Grimfist), Frode Kilvik (Krakow, Aeternus), Sir (Trelldom, Djerv, God Seed) and Bård Kolstad (Leprous, Borknagar).

The band’s first show was an appearance at the one-off festival BlekkMetal, held in Bergen, Norway the same year. The show was recorded for the live EP “Nov. 15”, released by the band in 2017. The EP was celebrated during the bands two European runs “Vardøger 2017” and “Vardøger” 2018. Bård Kolstad was replaced by Kevin Kvåle (Horizon Ablaze) in the 2nd half of 2017 and Kårstad stepped out of the band after the first leg of the “Vardøger” tour.

In mid 2018 the band teamed up with producer Iver Sandøy (Enslaved, Emmerhoff & the Melancholy Babies) to record their first full-length album “GastiR – Ghosts Invited”, set to be released by Season of Mist (World) and Indie Recordings (Norway) on May 31st.  

The highly anticipated debut album from Gaahls WYRD will see the band chart territories within the extreme metal genre no one has ever walked before.
http://gaahlswyrd.com
https://www.facebook.com/gaahlswyrd
https://www.instagram.com/gaahlswyrd

Tour artwork / merch design: Vatavu Victor 

Line-up
Gaahl (Kristian Espedal)  – vocals
Lust Kilman (Ole Walaunet) – guitars
Eld (Frode Kilvik) – Bass
Spektre (Kevin Kvåle) – Drums

VLTIMAS release lyric video for “Diabolus Est Sanguis”

Three-piece extreme metal formation VLTIMAS are now premiering a new lyric video for the song “Diabolus Est Sanguis”. The track is taken from the  forthcoming debut album ‘Something Wicked Marches In’. The band, consisting of David Vincent (ex-MORBID ANGEL), Rune Blasphemer Eriksen (ex-MAYHEM, AURA NOIR) and Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY), will release their brand new offering on March 29, 2019 via Season of Mist.
VLTIMAS have previously revealed the cover of ‘Something Wicked Marches In’ which has been created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew M. Bielak (GHOST, PARADISE LOST, BÖLZER, ZHRINE) and can be viewed together with the track-list below.
Track-list
1. Something Wicked Marches In (4:28)
2. Praevalidus (3:39)
3. Total Destroy! (2:57)
4. Monolilith (5:25)
5. Truth And Consequence (3:42)
6. Last Ones Alive Win Nothing (5:29)
7. Everlasting (3:40)
8. Diabolus Est Sanguis (3:27)
9. Marching On (5:34)
Total: 0:38:21
VLTIMAS live
23 Jun 19 Clisson (FR) Hellfest 2019
28 Jun 19 Oslo (NO) Tons of Rock 2019 (Exact date TBA)
02 Aug 19 Wacken (DE) Wacken Open Air 2019 (Exact date TBA)
After some years of absence from the black metal scene, guitarist Rune Eriksen (AURA NOIR, EARTH ELECTRIC, ex-MAYHEM), decides to venture back into the aural landscapes he’s widely known for. Having played with one of Norway’s leading extreme metal bands for years, Eriksen seeks to coalesce classic, cold Scandinavian riffing with an air of darkness and the signature force of death metal.
 
Combining strengths, Eriksen brings in veterans of the extreme, David Vincent of legendary death metal formation MORBID ANGEL, as well as acclaimed drummer Flo Mounier from CRYPTOPSY. The three-piece have completed the work on their debut album, which is slated for release early 2019 via Season of Mist. The new death metal powerhouse will be known under the moniker of VLTIMAS.
 
The foundation for VLTIMAS was laid when Rune, after collecting a handful of riffs, presented drummer Flo Mounier with the idea of forming a band together. For the two musicians, having composed and recorded numerous songs together in the past, the musical chemistry was already tried and tested. However, one thing was still missing. This extraordinary musical project needed an extraordinary voice and Eriksen got in touch with David Vincent, with whom he had been in contact for years, to finalize the line-up.
 
Vincent had just exited Morbid Angel and was ready for a new chapter in his long spanning career. Everything fell into place, and VLTIMAS came into being.
 
During the Noize Factory sessions (Georgetown, USA), the musicians started writing a substantial amount of music. The sessions proved to be a fruitful endeavor and the first ideas and song skeletons were later fleshed out by Rune at his home studio in Portugal, then finalized when Flo Mounier and Eriksen returned to Texas, in order to put the final touches to the material at David’s home studio. In a more controlled surrounding the songs started to unveil themselves and the studio was booked.
 
The band entered Orgone Studios in Woburn, England in May 2018 with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano. Here, the three-piece recorded nine crushing tracks that will appear on the full-length debut album.
 
The new record offers a vast array of influences, but most notably the distinguished symbioses of these three respected and talented musicians. A dark and sinister ambiance meets a majestic and a commanding death metal energy.

https://www.facebook.com/VLTIMAS

Line-up:
David Vincent – Vocals
Rune Blasphemer Eriksen – Guitars
Flo Mounier – Drums – guitars

Mayhem re-issue “Grand Declaration of War (2000)”

Black metal legends MAYHEM are announcing the re-release of ‘Grand Declaration of War (2000), which is completely remastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano at the Orgone Studios (UK). The album is slated for release on December 7th, 2018.

To get a taste of the new offering in comparison of the original 2000 version, please check out the special made video.

The cover of ‘Grand Declaration of War (2018)’ has been created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew M. Bielak (GHOST, PARADISE LOST, BÖLZER, ZHRINE) and can be viewed together with the track-list below.

Tracklist
1. A Grand Declaration of War (4:15)
2. In the Lies Where upon you lay (6:01)
3. A Time to Die (1:49)
4. View From Nihil; Pt. 1 (3:05)
5. View From Nihil; Pt. 2 (1:17)
6. A Bloodsword And A Colder Sun, Pt. 1 (0:34)
7. A Bloodsword And A Colder Sun, Pt. 2 (4:28)
8. Crystalized Pain In Deconstruction (4:11)
9. Completion In Science Of Agony, Pt. 1 (9:47)
10. To Daimonion (3:27)
11. Untitled I (4:54)
12. Untitled II (0:07)
13. Completion In Science Of Agony, Pt. 2 (2:15)
Total: 46:10

In 2018, “Grand Declaration of War” was remastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano in the Orgone Studios (UK). He comments on the remaster:

“It was a challenging remix to do, starting with the now obsolete format it was recorded in (ADAT). When we got the tapes, they were sent to a tape transfer specialist here in the UK and they were in a tape incubator for a couple of days to ensure the the tapes weren’t destroyed when played back on the ADAT deck (tape doesn’t age well if not stored correctly). Although the overall recording of GDoW was done to a very high standard, the main two things that bugged me was the drum sound and the overall crispiness/digital thin-sound of it (ADAT’s don’t sound very good IMO). The biggest challenge (you guessed it) was the drums.

Hellhammer recorded on an early Roland Vdrum kit with real cymbals. Back then those clicky, super compressed drum sounds were cool, but I think most of us agree these days that it’s an unnatural sound and the samples themselves weren’t that good. I had to split each tom hit into a separate track, which was very time consuming. I literally had to go pretty much though every drum hit to make sure the new samples were triggering correctly and believe me, there are A LOT of drum hits on this album. My goal was to make it sound more like a real kit. After much work and refining, Hellhammer came to visit me at my studio for a few days where we went through every drum track to ensure it was accurate to his performance.

The bass guitar pretty much didn’t exist on this album! After bringing it it forward and beefed it up, I was surprised to hear some very cool bass lines that I’ve never noticed before. The recorded guitar sounds were killer actually, they were just a little thin and crispy so I gave them more “body” and a bit more “warmth” without hindering Rune’s quantum precision. I was told by Rune that Maniac didn’t want any changes to his voice and I totally respect that. I painstakingly compared the original album vocal effects and levels to preserve it as close as I could. I ended up mastering the album to analogue tape to get a bit more warmth, depth and bottom end. I hope you all enjoy this new mix of this legendary album!”

On further news, MAYHEM are releasing a unique box, containing not only both LP versions of ‘Grand Declaration of War’, but also the 12″ LP’s of ‘Chimera’ (2004) & ‘Ordo ad Chao (2007)’, the 10″ EP of ‘Wolf’s Liar Abyss’ (1997), and two 10″ EP’s containing never released bonus tracks all bound together in a very special leather box.

www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial
www.thetruemayhem.com

Mix & Master (2018)
Jaime Gomez Arellano, Orgone Studios (UK)

Line-up GDOW (2000)
Maniac – vocals
Necrobutcher – bass
Hellhammer – drums
Blasphemer – guitars

Shop: http://smarturl.it/MayhemGDOW2018
Artwork: www.graphic-noise.com/zbigniew-m-bielak

Formats
CD Digipak
LP Gatefold in various colours
Cassette


Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen’s (ex-MAYHEM, AURA NOIR) Earth Electric premiere new album in full

EARTH ELECTRIC are now premiering their complete debut album, ‘Vol.1: Solar’, which will hit the streets on Friday, May 12th.

The Norwegian-Portuguese rockers lead by mastermind guitarist Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen (ex-MAYHEM, ex-AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR) are exclusively streaming ‘Vol.1: Solar’

The artwork of ‘Vol.1: Solar’, which has been created by renowned Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu, can be viewed below

Track-list
01. Mountains & Conquerors (3:08)
02. The Endless Road (3:45)
03. Meditate. Mediate (3:58)
04. The Great Vast (4:31)
05. Set Sail (Towards the Sun) (1:55)
06. Solar (5:25)
07. Sabbatical Moons (4:51)
08. Earthrise (5:06)
09. Sweet Soul Gathering (2:32)

EARTH ELECTRIC are the new exciting brainchild of Rune “Blasphemer” Eriksen. The Norwegian mastermind is known and praised for his stylistically diverse output within a mostly metal framework, which includes highly acclaimed compositions for MAYHEM, AURA NOIR, AVA INFERI, and TWILIGHT OF THE GODS.

With their debut album ‘Vol.1: Solar’, EARTH ELECTRIC turn out to be a quite different beast again. Eriksen is drawing heavily from classic rock influences including such giants as DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH, and PINK FLOYD. Those roots are rather hinted at than clearly visible and the Nordic track-smith has always made sure to hammer them into an individual shape of his own twisted liking.

EARTH ELECTRIC were formed by Rune Eriksen in cooperation with AVA INFERI vocalist Carmen Simões in early spring 2014, who graced the project with her ethereal soprano, which has also been enlisted by MOONSPELL on several recordings and live productions. The couple’s renewed cooperation was based on a mutual desire to explore today’s opportunities of creating energetic and extrovert rock. The duo enlisted the help of their friends Luigi “Gee” Anzalone from DRAGONFORCE and DORO band member Luca Princiotta and recorded a 3-track demo, entitled “2014” at Ultrasound Studio, Portugal in September 2014.

After completing the demo, the two core members decided to turn into a heavier and slightly more progressive direction, while the overall concept became more ethereal. EARTH ELECTRIC added GROG and NEOPLASMAH bassist Alexandre Ribeiro and Ricardo Martins, who also drums for JIBÓIA and PAPAYA to their line-up. The London based keyboarder Daniel Knight from the progressive UK rock band MESSENGER completed the crew for the recordings.

‘Vol.1: Solar’ was mainly recorded at Orgone Studio under the direction of acclaimed producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR, PRIMORDIAL), who also signed responsible for mix and mastering in late summer 2016. Now EARTH ELECTRIC are ready to rock the world with their stunning debut. Rock on!

Line-up
Carmen Susana Simões: vocals
Rune Eriksen: guitars, vocals, FX
Alexandre Ribeiro: bass, FX
Ricardo Martins: drums & percussion, vocals
Daniel Knight: keyboards (studio)

www.facebook.com/earthelectricband
www.earthelectric.net
http://twitter.com/EarthEband