Month: May 2020

TAAKE and DEATHCULT to release split EP thru EDGED CIRCLE – first track revealed

Today, Edged Circle Productions announces July 10th as the international release date for Jaertegn, a special split 10″ EP between Taake and Deathcult.

Indeed, Jaertegn is a momentous occasion, bringing together two of Norwegian black metal’s foremost torchbearers, all of it recorded, forged, and perfected within the darkest halls of the seven silver mountains of Bergen. By now, the infamous Taake should require no introduction. Here, they present the brand-new track “Slagmark,” moodily melodic and draped in the atmosphere of the ancients, alongside a reverential cover of Darkthrone’s “Ravnajuv” as a show of Norse solidarity and pride. For their part, Deathcult likewise deliver the goods, raising the same sterling banner they have across their two cult full-lengths. The new track “Der Würger” keeps its church-burning fire firmly within the ’90s, while a ribald cover of Beherit’s “Black Arts” closes things out with hideous, haunting finality. Truly, these two mighty hordes show a relentless devotion to the black arts.

Together, Jaertegn proves that the past is alive, and that Taake and Deathcult are Norwegian black metal’s present!

In the meantime, hear Deathcult‘s brand-new track “Der Würger” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Taake and Deathcult’s Jaertegn
1. Taake – Slagmark
2. Taake – Ravnajuv [Darkthrone cover
3. Deathcult – Black Arts [Beherit cover]
4. Deathcult – Der Würger
MORE INFO:
www.edgedcircleproductions.com
www.facebook.com/edgedcircleproductions

NEBULAR CARCOMA to release GODLESS NORTH’s classic first demo on vinyl for the first time

Today, Nebular Carcoma announces July 2nd as the international release date for Godless North‘s classic first demo, Dark Rites of the Mystic Order, on vinyl LP format.

For those who dwelled in the ’90s black metal underground, Godless North should need no introduction. Hailing from the frozen wastes of Canada and guided by the iron fist of mainman Othalaz, Godless North quickly perfected a grim ‘n’ ghoulish sort of black metal that ran parallel to the contemporaneous paradigms in the Polish and French scenes, as well as the earliest (and best) conjurings from the larger Scandinavian scene. But unlike so much black metal hailing from North America during the ’90s, Godless North put their own murderous, deliriously unbalanced spin on such, which would further be corroborated by the extracurricular activities of Othalaz at the time.

And while Godless North would release a cult-classic split 7″ with Nargaroth, Apolokia, and Decayed in 2001 on the late/great Sombre Records – to say nothing of their monumental debut album, Summon the Age of Supremacy, on Judas Iscariot’s sorely missed Breath of Night that same year – it was the band’s debut demo in 1998, Dark Rites of the Mystic Order, which truly breathed the breath of night and set in motion events of a most mystical (and murderous) nature. Utterly raw yet righteously executed, dangerously physical yet emitting an otherworldly atmosphere, pure and proud but equally bound to devilish unorthodoxy: Dark Rites of the Mystic Order is undoubtedly is a relic of the times, ancient and medieval and UGLY, its filth ‘n’ fury directed inward as much as it is outward. Many won’t understand it in 2020, because the nowadays “black metal underground” is far removed from the clandestine aura of the underground in the late ’90s, whose effects would be far felt in the next millennium – but Godless North‘s first recorded statement still stands exceptionally tall, cold and alone and forever so.

Fully sanctioned by the band, Nebular Carcoma will release Dark Rites of the Mystic Order on vinyl for the first time ever, now featuring brand-new cover art and an unreleased cover of Burzum’s Dunkelheit.” Long live Godless North…in death!

In the meantime, hear the old track “Everlasting Winter Winds” here:
Aforementioned cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Godless North’s Dark Rites of the Mystic Order 1. Intro
2. Northern Hordes
3. Wolf’s Kin
4. Everlasting Winter Winds
5. Warmoon (Outro)
6. Dunkelheit (Burzum cover)
www.nebularcarcoma.com
www.lunarapparitions.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/nebularcarcoma 
www.soundcloud.com/nebularcarcoma 

Necronomicon release drum playthrough for “From Ashes Into Flesh”

Canadian blackened death metal masters NECRONOMICON have released a drum playthrough for the song “From Ashes Into Flesh”. Watch the video
The track is taken from the band’s latest record, ‘UNUS,’ which was released in October 2019. Listen to the album here or order it in the Season of Mist shop.
The album cover and the tracklist of ‘UNUS’ can be found below. The cover art has been created by Simon Bossert.
Tracklist
1. From Ashes Into Flesh  (04:23)
2. Infinitum Continuum (05:27)
3. Paradise Lost (04:55)
4. The Price of a Soul (01:56)
5. Singularis Dominus (04:50)
6. The Thousand Masks (03:20)
7. Ascending The throne of Baator (04:54)
8. Fhtagn (01:59)
9. Cursed MMXIX  (04:13)
10. Vox Draconis (04:13)
Total playing time: 0:40:10
Line-up
Rob the Witch: Guitar/vocals
Divider: drums

www.facebook.com/NecronomiconMetal
https://www.instagram.com/necronomicon_ca

Mysterious black metal cult Akolyth stream their debut album

Today, mysterious black metal cult Akolyth stream their highly anticipated self-titled debut album . Set for international release on May 29th via Amor Fati Productions, hear Akolyth‘s Akolyth in its entirety here:
Fierce, sombre, ritualistic: Akolyth‘s self-titled debut full-length is nothing less than a taped pledge to the entity which dwells beyond. Drawing inspiration from the aggressiveness and coldness of early ’90s black metal, Akolyth combines pounding drumming with harsh guitars and a hopeless-yet-ritualistic atmosphere. The twisted, invoking vocals chant of forbidden rites, devotion, and self-sacrifice to open pathways to the Beyond and truly become one with the Nightside.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Opus Magnum Studios in Brussels, Akolyth‘s production is forceful and vibrant, but still raw and untamed – a call into a hidden realm between the realities.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Akolyth’s Akolyth
1. A Work Of Ages [9:01]
2. The Night, The Fog [9:09]
3. What Dwells Between Fractured Worlds [9:19]
4. To Become His Doorway [9:18]
www.amor-fati-productions.de 
www.amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/amorfatiprod

BLACK ALTAR reveal new track from forthcoming split album with KIRKEBRANN, to be released by ODIUM

Today, Odium Records reveals a video clip of the Black Altar song “Deus Inversus,” taken from the forthcoming split album between Black Altar and Kirkebrann. This split album will be released on June 30th on digipack CD and different vinyl LP formats. Hear Black Altar‘s brand-new “Deus Inversus” in its entirety here:
Says Black Altar founder Shadow of the track, “The song was written by the guitarist and myself. I am very happy with it both in terms of music and lyrics. On the musical side, because it is quite diverse, it has extremely fast blasts played by Lars Broddesson, as well as slow monumental fragments, a very fast and long solo played by our guitarist Thomas, Latin choirs sung by me, Alexandros from Macabre Omen and singer Lilly Kim. From the lyrical side, this is one of the most occult lyrics I have written. Simply put, ‘Deus Inversus’ means to me that Everything is Everything. God is also the Devil, the Original Consciousness that emerged from Chaos on the basis of adversity. That is why the Devil is God’s second face.”

Featuring two veterans of the black metal underground, Deus Inversus will include seven total compositions, all new and exclusive to this release. For Black Altar‘s half, such esteemed musicians as Lars Broddesson (Funeral Mist, ex-Marduk), Mauser (ex-Vader), and Alexandros (Macabre Omen) took part in the recording session – led, of course, by Black Altar founder Shadow.
Mauser was also responsible for Black Altar‘s production, while Kirkebrann‘s production was handled by Morfeus (ex-Limbonic Art).

Preorder info for the digipack CD and two vinyl versions (black limited to 250 copies / diehard marble, with patch & sticker, limited to 50 copies) can be found HERE.
Cover art, by Nestor Avalos, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Black Altar & Kirkebrann’s Deus Inversus -Black Altar- 1. Deus Inversus
2. Ancient Warlust
3. Outro
  -Kirkebrann-
4. BegrensaBevissthet
5. Faux Pas
6. Et Nederlag
7. UfødteKlarhet

More info:

www.facebook.com/blackaltar
www.facebook.com/kirkebrann
www.odiumrex.com
www.facebook.com/odiumrex

America’s CARDIAC ARREST set release date for new MEMENTO MORI / BORIS album, reveal first track

In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage death metal, on July 27th, Memento Mori is proud to present the highly anticipated seventh album of American death metal stalwarts Cardiac Arrest, The Day That Death Prevailed. Memento Mori will handle the CD version, while Boris Records shall release the vinyl version on September 11th.

Formed in the bowels of Chicago way back in 1997, Cardiac Arrest should need no introduction to ardent fans of rotting and blood-drenched death metal, for these grave-dwellers have been carving out aural nightmares of perishing and grime for decades now. Consisting of four individuals with an unearthly interest in all that’s absurd, morbid, gruesome, and unhealthy, the band’s been consistently getting heavier and more vile with every album they spat out via previous labels such as Razorback Recordings and Ibex Moon Records, honoring timeless death metal of the most grinding and putrid ilk with genuineness and a no-nonsense approach, yet adding enough personality to be in a forever-rotting league of their very own.

Now, more than half a dozen albums deep into their 23-year career, Cardiac Arrest have again have delivered a masterstroke that bands a third of their age would be jealous to release: The Day That Death Prevailed. Much like they did with their previous album for Memento Mori, 2018’s acclaimed A Parallel Dimension of Despair, Cardiac Arrest stick to their guns, but come out with those guns fully blazing! Tastes may change, but these U.S. diehards continue to stay true to the iron-clad ethos of genuine, all-caps DEATH METAL; if anything, they get better with age. Indeed, the title The Day That Death Prevailed is fitting, for their rigorously fine-tuned form of death metal squarely harkens to older, purer days – when true songwriting was valued most, and the disgusting chops to back it up. Cardiac Arrest do both here, gutsfucking the listener with a fiercely focused mix of headbanging gallops and well-timed bouts of blasting, a streamlined, shit-heavy steamroller that’s as catchy as the clap; hooks and grooves and generally memorable nastiness are all sliced and sluiced across The Day That Death Prevailed with absolute ease. But lest one think “catchy” means “soft,” think again: these Chicago miscreants are ever committed to horror in the most classic sense, just like aesthetic forebears Grave, Master, Benediction, Obituary, Cianide, Malevolent Creation, and of course, the Floridian masters Death and Massacre. This deep into their catalog, though, and it’s about damn time Cardiac Arrest are included in the (un)hallowed ranks, right?

With suitably stark cover art courtesy of Eric Rot and another crushing mastering job by Javier Felez at Moontower Studios, The Day That Death Prevailed once again proves that old age doesn’t soften the diehard one bit – it just kicks them into Cardiac Arrest!

Get kicking with the brand-new track “Naegleric Outbreak” here:

Cover and tracklisting as follows:

Tracklisting for Cardiac Arrest (U.S.)’s The Day That Death Prevailed 1. Thrive on the Fear
2. Naegleric Outbreak
3. Birth of Hideki
4. Plague Ridden Destiny
5. A Call for Violence
6. Eradicate the Masses
7. Endless Dread
8. Sodomite
9. Up from Oblivion
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/CardiacArrestDeathMetal
www.memento-mori.es
www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label
www.boris-records.com

PROSANCTUS INFERI set release date for new NUCLEAR WAR NOW! album, reveal first track

Today, Nuclear War Now! Productions sets August 15th as the international release date for Prosanctus Inferi‘s highly anticipated third album, Hypnotic Blood Art, on vinyl LP and cassette tape formats.

For 15 years, Ohio’s Prosanctus Inferi has unassumingly amassed an impressive catalog of deviant black/death metal. Their sound is distinctive and warped, as are the accompanying conceptual explorations and aesthetic visions. On Prosanctus Inferi’s third full-length, Hypnotic Blood Art, the band has further refined its approach, painstakingly sculpting the songs, chiseling details and carving away superfluous material.

In the early days, Prosanctus Inferi was a duo consisting of guitarist/vocalist Jake Kohn and drummer Steve Mercer, who was later replaced by Antichristus until his death in 2010. Since then, Kohn has remained the only consistent member. For the last full-length, 2013’s Noctambulous Jaws Within Sempiternal Night, Prosanctus Inferi operated as a three-piece, but this new album finds them active once more as a duo, with Kohn accompanied by drummer Jeremy Spears, who has been in the band since 2010.

With each release, Prosanctus Inferi has tightened and focused its sound, perfecting its pummeling power. On Hypnotic Blood Art, Kohn sheds some of the technicality and velocity of his prior performances in favor of a heavier sound, reflecting, in many ways, a return to the band’s foundations. The instrumentation on Hypnotic Blood Art is tightly coiled, anxious. The riffs are taut and lean, their potential fully realized through the kinetic force of the percussion. As with all of Prosanctus Inferi’s recordings, eccentric flourishes abound throughout Hypnotic Blood Art, adding dimension and distinction to the work.

Lyrically and conceptually, Kohn also harkens back to the band’s earlier days, with a focus on medieval and renaissance conceptions of Hell and damnation—topics that figured prominently on the demo recordings. This album is, therefore, the culmination of the band’s work thus far, the fulfillment of its potential, and, yet, still offers stylistic innovation and development for one of the most intriguing and dynamic American bands of the last two decades.
  In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Dark Scarp of Hell” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Prosanctus Inferi’s Hypnotic Blood Art 1. Dark Scarp of Hell
2. Pulpit Sycophants
3. Sheol Below
4. Hypnotic Blood Art
5. Blood Synod
6. Torture Enraped
7. Bellicose Spiritual Violence
8. Void Called as Black Bonds
9. Geist Enthralled
10. Washed in the Blood
11. The Fearful Pit
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/prosanctusinferi
www.nwnprod.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Nuclear-War-Now-Productions/114864651994141

HERXHEIM set release date for  NUCLEAR WAR NOW! debut, reveal first track – features HOWLS OF EBB member

Today, Nuclear War Now! Productions sets July 30th as the international release date for Herxheim‘s highly anticipated debut album, Incised Arrival, on vinyl LP format.

A direct descendant of the Cultivating Throne of Fur demo (2019), Incised Arrival unravels further into a heavier and more concise form of its near-relative. In this 37-minute display of gut-punching raw power, wicked melodies slither in and out of slow-to-mid-paced and faster compositions where nothing is forced or superfluous.

The sound of the album is quite natural, but wild: one foot rooted circa ’86-’93, the other hammers chest right to the present. The guitars scream and scratch machine-like, while Brungard (ex-Howls of Ebb) offers a treacherous, powerful vocal performance. The howling resonance of keyboards, combined with brutal drum and bass guitar play, gel into this single unit of hammered deliverance.

Lyrically, Brungard explains, “This album thematically follows the demo. It centers around the human condition; each song is a ‘Mephistic Fable,’ tales of warning and wrath.” The prowess and vigor of these six songs deliver the message well: this is indeed Mephistic Black Doom Metal for the wretched soul.

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Chateaux Delirium” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Herxheim’s Incised Arrival 1. Wanton of Idols
2. Lesson Crescent
3. Branded by Pentagram
4. Chateaux Delirium
5. Eve’s Rampike
6. Warrior Master Lore

 MORE INFO:
www.herxheim-ofhell.com
www.nwnprod.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Nuclear-War-Now-Productions/114864651994141

Septicflesh announce DVD release of Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX

Greek symphonic death metal masters SEPTICFLESH are now announcing the release of the ‘Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX’ show on Blu-ray DVD! The full concert was taped in February 2019, during a sold out show at the ‘Metropolitan Theater’ in Mexico City. The unforgettable night was the largest production of its kind at the venue, which included the band and over 100 musicians from the ‘Symphonic Experience Orchestra’,  the ‘Enharmonía Vocalis Choir’ and the ‘National University of Mexico Children’s and Youth Choir’. 

The Blu-ray DVD is set for worldwide release on July 31st, 2020 via Season of Mist and pre-orders are available HERE. A little taste of what’s to come can be found in the official teaser here:
SEPTICFLESH comment on the release: “On the 2nd of February 2019, a historic for Septicflesh show took place in Mexico City at a fully packed Metropolitan Theater. For the first time and with the help of over 100 musicians, our songs were performed live in their full symphonic glory. The whole show was recorded and now it is time to present it to all our fans in a DVD/Blu Ray 5.1 entitled Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX that will be released from Season of Mist. We are grateful to all people that made this experience possible and success
SEPTICFLESH are furthermore reveialing the cover artwork and track-list of Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX.
Track-list
1. Intro
2. Portrait of a Headless Man
3. Martyr
4. Prototype
5. The Pyramid God
6. The Enemy of Truth
7. Communion
8. The Vampire from Nazareth
9. Dogma of Prometheus
10. Lovecraft’s Death
11. Dante’s Inferno
12. Persepolis
13. A Great Mass of Death
14. Anubis
15. Dark Art 
SEPTICFLESH are painting an apocalyptic vision and make full use of their impressive musical palette consisting of death metal and orchestral colours on their tenth full-length, ‘Codex Omega’. 

From their alpha EP ‘Temple of the Lost Race’ that was released one year after their founding in 1990, the Greek musicians have pushed the limits of the metal genre and continued to explore new sonic path with every following release from their debut album ‘Mystic Places of Dawn’ (1994) to the stunning ‘Sumerian Daemons’ (2003), which have in the meantime all been re-issued by Season of Mist.

Yet SEPTICFLESH had clearly come into their own sound when they unleashed their celebrated comeback album after a five-year hiatus that re-charged their artistic batteries. ‘Communion’ (2008) offered a well-balanced amalgamation of metal elements that were freely drawn from the darker side of the genre including death, black, and gothic metal with epic orchestral arrangements. This symphonic excellence was based on guitarist Christos Antoniou bringing to bear the fruits of his academic studies of classical composition, which he passed with honours and distinction.

With a clear musical compass to navigate, SEPTICFLESH continued to explore their sound and the compositional possibilities of this new-found metal continent. ‘The Great Mass’ (2011) and ‘Titan’ (2014) saw the Greeks evolving at fast speed and at the same time gathering adherents as well as critical praise in ever growing numbers. Extended touring on both sides of the Atlantic and performances at about every important festival further consolidated the bands burgeoning status.

Although the biblical omega marks the end, SEPTICFLESH on the contrary reached their current peak with ‘Codex Omega’ (2017), an album that clearly witnesses the Greek visionaries having come to maturity and expert craftsmanship in every sense.

www.facebook.com/septicfleshband
www.septicflesh.com

Line-up
Seth Siro Anton: vocals, bass
Christos Antoniou: guitar, orchestration 
Sotiris Anunnaki V: clear vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar
Kerim “Krimh” Lechner: drums

VSPOLOKH set release date for new PURITY THROUGH FIRE album, reveal first track

Today, Purity Through Fire sets June 21st as the international release date for Vspolokh‘s long-awaited second album, Помре, on CD and A5 digipack formats.

Formed back in 2004, what Vspolokh lack in quantity of recordings, they ably make up for in quality of vision. In the ever-vast field of Russian black metal, Vspolokh stand strong, maintaining the triumphant-yet-tragic element so endemic to the best quarters of that scene whilst just as equally evincing a patiently plied style of songcraft that’s consistent with their judiciously spare discography.

Purity Through Fire released Vspolokh‘s debut album, Печаль о прошлом, in 2010 and then two well-regarded splits in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Alas, silence ensued, but now arrives the timely return of Vspolokh with Помре. Thankfully, no great changes have been made to their rigorous aesthetic – strident physicality but never overly exerted, a subtly hummable melodicism that never wanders near the saccharine, a view toward epic constructions without any bloat – but what sets this record apart from Vspolokh‘s not-inconsiderable catalog is the variety of textures the quartet explore here. Naturally, the hues of Помре emanate from the darkness, but one can also find glimmers of nostalgia, bittersweetness, and even hope, ruined as it is, coursing through the album’s deeply engaging 57 minutes. Altogether, it’s the austere ‘n’ noble sound of paradigmatic Russian black metal, but given a tastefully unique twist.

It’s worth noting the influence of Ural mythological heritage within the Vspolokh world, which is manifested not only in the lyrics of some songs, but also in the band’s visual design, reflecting local archetypes. Thus, Vspolokh brand their music Ural Chthonic black metal, and this is clear because a number of characters in the Ural mythology have a chthonic nature. The title of Помре may allude to the statement of one Ural literary-heritage researcher: “In mainstream literature, the anti-hero dies – but in the Ural one, everyone dies.”

High adventure and deep contemplation await those who set sail with Vspolokh‘s Помре.

Begin adventuring & contemplating with the brand-new track “Чрьнътопь” here:

Cover and tracklisting as follows :

Tracklisting for Vspolokh’s Помре
1. Вонъзивъши Мрътвыи Корении Въ ЛѢсъную Твьрдь…
2. В Загробье
3. Помре
4. Туман и Пепел
5. Плачь и Ръидание и Стенаниѥ Многь…
6. На Серых Равнинах
7. ТьлѢниѥм Мрьтвъ Азъ въ Бездънъ…
8. Чрьнътопь
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/vspolokh
www.purity-through-fire.com