You don’t hear of too many black metal acts coming out of Phoenix despite it being a great metal hub here in the USA for many years now. Alice Cooper lives there, as does the Metal God Rob Halford, Max from Sepultura, Dave Ellefson from Megadeth, The Gate Creeper guys and I believe Kerry King once owned a house there too.
So its good to hear that the city (the 4th largest in the US does actually host some BM bands – although it would be foolish for any of them to try to be “grim and frostbitten” if ya get me
The band was formed back in 2015 by main man Dan Stollings and released a bunch of Eps over the next 5 years if my memory serves me correctly. Apparently this will be the last release of just Dan and Frog magus (drummer) as there are plans to make the band a fully functional band and less of a “bedroom” project. In my mind this is the right move for these guys as whilst the BM scene is littered with bedroom projects nothing beats being into a band , going to see them live and seeing your favorite songs performed right in front of you. PLUS for the band its by far the best way to experiment and see what works with your audience, which parts to speed up (or slow down) which parts of a song to drop as the audience hates that section or whatever. Immediate feedback!
Apparently this was the first time for Ghost Horizons actually micced up an amp (as opposed to pugging directly into the mixing desk which gives the guitars a much more warm and active sound. The vocals were all done first take too – defintely givng this recording a more “live” feel if ya get me. This is the right move for these guys and I am looking forward to the day that we can check them out live
Here’s the album for you to check out – leave me a comment below and let me know what ya think of it:
Today, German ancient-days metalpunks Karloff premiere the new track “The Sound of Discipline“. The track is the third to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated debut album, The Appearing, set for international release on July 30th via Dying Victims Productions. Hear Karloff‘s “The Sound of Discipline” in its entirety here:
Hailing from Germany, Karloff formed in 2018 as a means for erstwhile Graveyard Ghoul member Tom Horrified to blow off some punk-oriented steam with a couple close comrades. Describing their sound as “raw obscure punk turns into blackness,” it didn’t take long for the band to record their first recording, Demo ’18, but it was the following Raw Nights mini-album a year later where Karloff kicked into high gear. Released to widespread acclaim by Dying Victims with the preceding demo tracks tacked on, Raw Nights strutted with sleazy confidence and an infectious sense of bash/crash/slash that struck deep into the heart of what makes the best of both punk and metal. But, the best was still come from Karloff…
At last, it arrives with their long-awaited debut album, The Appearing. If Karloff’s previous two short-lengths presented them as a more gutter-level Midnight, then The Appearing recasts the band in a totally new, altogether more unique light – and one that’s still brimming with that ever-special twist of olde-worlde evil. Rich and robust and ripplingly muscular, The Appearing struts like a cheetah with a heart full of napalm and flexes like nobody’s business. In fact, the lead-heavy stomp here harkens to ancient-days metalpunk like Carnivore, Best Wishes-era Cro-Mags, or even early Nasty Savage; equally, one could also point to the more modern likes of Iron Age, Shitfucker, and The Rival Mob. However, the creepiness Karloff hinted at earlier reaches a fever pitch across the tastefully-applied chorus FX, a subtle nod to post-punk that ably broadens the band’s reach without sacrificing their vision. More than all that, it’s the songwriting of The Appearing which renders it an intensely re-playable record: exciting, invigorating, and skillfully finding that balance between the seemingly epic and the swiftly concise.
Ghouls and ghosts, thugs and thieves: Karloff are calling upon you to witness The Appearing!
Also witness the previously revealed video “Hate Consumer” exclusively HERE, courtesy of NoCleanSinging.com, as well as the previously revealed track “A Violent Winter” exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever magazine. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Karloff (Germany)’s The Appearing 1. My Misanthropic Kingdom 2. The Sound of Discipline 3. Hate Consumer 4. Skeleton and Ashes 5. Nihilistik Reaction 6. Winterlude 7. Superior Presence of Cruelty 8. On the Old Ropes 9. A Violent Winter
On September 24th internationally, Antiq is proud to present Dawn of a Dark Age‘s highly anticipated seventh album, Le Forche Caudine, on digipack CD format.
Dawn of a Dark Age is the main project of the multi-instrumentalist Vittorio Sabelli, a classical and jazz musician who gave to the clarinet a leading role for the first time in black metal. Its dark timbre, together with fierce blastbeats and distorted guitars, allows exploration of new scenarios, from moments of pure madness to the most atmospheric dream-born soundscapes.
The last saga entitled The Six Elements (consisting of five CDs) has seen the collaboration of musicians from Selvans, Enisum, and Finland’s Graveborne, and has received excellent reviews in a lot of newspapers and webzines dedicated to extreme music. After last year’s La Tavola Osca, released by Antiq, Dawn of a Dark Age now pursues a new saga of the Samnites.
Titled Le Forche Caudine, the new album concept is based on the battle of the Caudine Forks, and unfolds the event in music. Sometimes exploring the figurative music through soundscape and atmosphere, Dawn of a Dark Age‘s new album is more direct, more brutal, and also more folk, having the jazz part only some places. Consisting of two long tracks for a total of 39 minutes, it is more black metal-oriented, with some narration parts, and once again for the occasion, vocalist Emmanuele Prandoni joins the project, also performing the drums.
Antiq is a label dedicated to the fully coherent concept of making music through sound, image, video, and attitude. They have been putting their entire existence into it since 2009. Over the years, Antiq have been identified as producers of not only perfectly coherent lyrics and themes through music, but also conceptual art and, of course, the manufacturing of beautiful objects. The label tries as much as it can to work with French creators, and if possible, with the smallest and most serious structures.
In the meantime, see & hear a special album trailer here:
Cover artwork, courtesy of Joanna Maeyens, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Dawn of a Dark Age’s Le Forche Caudine 1. Le Forche Caudine (321 a.C. – 2021 d.C.) Act I [21:42] 2. Le Forche Caudine (321 a.C. – 2021 d.C.) Act II [16:56]
Today, Finnish black metal elite Marras stream the entirety of their highly anticipated second album, Endtime Sermon. Set for international release on July 9th via Spread Evil Productions, hear Marras‘ Endtime Sermon in its entirety here:
It was but the autumn of 2019 when Marras burst from the void, fully formed, with their widely celebrated debut album, Where Light Comes to Die. Although a then-brand-new entity, the black metal this Finnish formation conjured forth exuded an ageless wisdom – which is not surprising given that the Marras‘ members hail several highly respected bands.
Now, as this cursed epoch continues on, Marras swiftly return with their second album, Endtime Sermon. Indeed aptly titled, Endtime Sermon sonically encapsulates the haunted (and haunting) sensations of these incredibly dark days: mania, depression, hopelessness, fear, longing, DEATH. That the expanded sextet can take these varied-yet-related sensations and brew them into black metal of a most quintessentially Finnish aspect and make each track a new-yet-unified experience is something special, and further proof that the Marras of Where Light Comes to Die was no fluke. If anything, Endtime Sermon spans delirious violence and stoic mysticism with equal aplomb, all joined together by a through-thread of the (darkly) cinematic, but the message remains the same: there still is no light, and these are the endtimes whether we accept the fact or choose to ignore it.
There will be ignoring Marras upon the release of Endtime Sermon. Heed their wisdom, or perish unenlightened.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Marras’ Endtime Sermon
1. Shadows Upon the Sacred Land 2. (1st Prophecy) Anointing Of The Sick 3. Endtime Sermon 4. From The Last Battleground 5. Gathered To Rule 6. (2nd Prophecy) Last Judgement 7. My Cold Grave 8. (3rd Prophecy) Pestilence 9. As Nights Get Darker 10. (4th Prophecy) Viaticum 11. From The Soot of Goahti
Werewolf records can do no wrong in my book (ok well maybe not Rubber Witch) but everything they do is a “must purchase” in my world. I love the fact that Werewolf partners here in the USA with Hells headbangers for their releases as its pretty much a “shut up and take my money” when they announce a new release these days. Of course I only by vinyl so why this release comes out on August 13th we are gonna have to wait till the end of the year for the LP version. (still waiting for that Warmoon Lord LP preorder link guys!)
Anyways enough of my rambling here is the info on Chambers of Unlight:
Today, Werewolf Records sets August 13th as the international release date for Chamber of Unlight‘s highly anticipated debut album, Realm of the Night, on CD format. The vinyl LP version will follow later this year.
Chamber of Unlight began as the solo work of multi-instrumentalist Necrosis. The man stands as a prolific veteran of Finland’s esteemed extreme metal landscape; during the past 20 years, his credits include Deathchain, Ajattara, Shade Empire, and Trollheims Grott. Joined by drummer Kassara – himself an equally prolific Finnish veteran whose credits likewise include Deathchain and Trollheims Grott but also Horna, Bythos, Forgotten Horror, Striges, and Black Death Ritual among others – Chamber of Unlight released their self-titled debut demo in 2017. Immediately, the eldritch essence of ’90s Finnish black metal was felt, and the storm was only brewing…
Now, four years later, Chamber of Unlight reveal their stand-to-attention debut full-length, Realm of the Night. Here, the duo see the arrival of guitarist Leper, and along with the live lineup which includes fellow guitarist VnoM and bassist Infection, their membership becomes a veritable goldmine of Finnish underground metal excellence. However, Realm of the Night is undeniably a BLACK METAL work, and one whose essence is still steeped in the ancients whilst emitting a refreshing air of modernity. The attack is tight yet ghoulish, the song constructions winding but ever pulsing forward. The synth work is subtle but mesmerizing, giving a grand (and diabolical) aspect to Chamber of Unlight only previously hinted at. The production possesses that ever-elusive balance between grime and gleam, keeping proceedings proudly grounded in black metal but not masking the band’s consummate professionalism. All told, Realm of the Night favorably harkens to the lost classics of the late ’90s, particularly those released by Necropolis Records or No Fashion – which, in a paradoxical twist, gives both band and record their refreshing air of modernity.
The past isn’t alive because it never died; it’s been coursing through the blood of Chamber of Unlight for decades now. At long last, their magickal energies are harnessed and reside in the Realm of the Night.
Feel the first magick of the brand-new track “Revelations of Dark Crafts” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Chamber of Unlight’s Realm of the Night 1. Prooemium [1:36] 2. Crowns of Divinity [4:02] 3. Revelations of Dark Crafts [5:02] 4. On The Path of Thy Shadow [5:12] 5. From Grey Tombs [5:32] 6. Summoning the Spirit of The Dead [5:12] 7. Slumber [6:36] 8. Uncelestial Light (The Chamber) [5:57]
Today, Bitter Loss Records announces September 3rd as the international release date for Dead Soul Alliance’s highly anticipated debut album, Behind the Scenes, on CD format. The cassette tape version will be released by Dawning Septic Productions.
Hailing from Canada, Dead Soul Alliance was begun in summer 2010 by founding member W.D. to explore brutal, old-school death metal of the ‘90s. In winter 2011, a home-studio recording consisting of all-original material would become Dead Soul Alliance’s self-titled debut demo. This was later independently released in fall 2011 both digitally and on CD – the latter long sold out – and has been circulated worldwide since.
In late 2012 and with new material, Dead Soul Alliance decided to go into the studio and record new songs. Alex, a local drummer who would handle the drum position for the recording, W.D. began his session tracks in later 2012 to early 2013. After this, W.D. would lay down the tracks for the rest of the instruments & vocals in winter/spring 2013. Titled Proud to Die, the mini-album and was first released digitally and later on CD in September 2013. With a bigger and overall better production, this recording was well received within the metal community with some great reviews and was also a part of a few Canadian metal compilations.
In 2016, Dead Soul Alliance now had a new revised band logo design, which gave it a more individualized presentation and were also now working with Shawn from local band Deamon on the drum position. The newly-written song material was rehearsed during this time for the next mini-album, Slaves to the Apocalypse. Then in June 2016, the new recording began with Shawn entering the studio for his drum tracks, and later in September 2016, the rest of the recording would commence with W.D. taking care of all instruments and vocals.
With new illustrated artwork designed for the cover, making it a true conceptual release, combined with Shawn’s drumming style, Slaves to the Apocalypse pushed things to an overall further extreme while still retaining the band’s old-school death metal roots. With some great reviews and a lot of positive feedback overall, the release was well received by fans, webzine, and metal blogs worldwide. Slaves to the Apocalypse was released digitally in March 2017 and was released later on CD in September 2017. Then, later in August 2019, a limited-edition tape was released by Dawning Septic Productions in Canada.
Later in September 2017, Dead Soul Alliance’s demo from 2011 was revisited and remixed & remastered, bringing it up to a better sound quality and was re-released digitally on Bandcamp.
In winter 2020, new writing began for Dead Soul Alliance’s long-awaited debut album, Behind the Scenes. Working now with E.H. on the drums, his brutal skills would lay down the foundations for this sacrificial offering of death. He would then record in spring 2020, with W.D. then laying down his tracks for all instruments & vocals in summer 2020. The result of this first full-length would be a combination of an unremittingly heavy, eerie, and brutal impact, thus creating a further refinement – a new chapter, if you will – to the ongoing story of Dead Soul Alliance. Featuring artwork by Mörtuus-Art and nine new tracks of old-school brutality, each one as throttling & thrilling as the last, Dead Soul Alliance dive deeper into the rabbit hole with the aptly titled Behind the Scenes, questioning the truth of existence and reality itself. Highly recommended for fans of Grave, Cianide, Benediction, Unleashed, and Asphyx!
Dive into that rabbit hole with the brand-new tracks “Mental Comatose” and “Behold Forever Darkness”
Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Dead Soul Alliance’s Behind the Scenes 1. Behind the Scenes 2. Screams for the Asylum 3. Mental Comatose 4. Behold Forever Darkness 5. Catastrophic Chaos 6. Equilibrium Dead 7. Ancient Rulers of Greed 8. Upon their Return 9. Perpetual Recycled Existence
Today, Hells Headbangers announcesAugust 20th as the international release date for Bonehunter‘s highly anticipated fourth album, Dark Blood Reincarnation System, on CD and cassette tape formats. The vinyl LP version will follow later this year.
Since their formation in 2011, Finland’s Bonehunter have been a subtly steady work in progress. A devout power-trio since the very beginning, the band began their ascent to greatness with a clutch of demos and splits, culminating in their now-classic debut album for Hells Headbangers, Evil Triumphs Again, in 2015. If that debut LP was the first and last word on Bathory worship, Bonehunter took the charisma of that record and asserted a strange & twisted identity with 2017’s Sexual Panic Human Machine follow-up. By then, their blackened metalpunk was pumping on full-throttle, but it was Children of the Atom the following year where they hit a fever pitch: arguably, the most ripping & addicting pitch-black speed metal of the decade.
And whereas that album showed subtle traces of classic Japanese Burning Spirits-style punk, on Dark Blood Reincarnation System do Bonehunter burst through the doors of greatness – and tear them off their fucking hinges! Immediately and irrevocably, the guitar leads across Bonehunter‘s fourth full-length bristle with an electricity that’s amazing to behold, Burning Spirits-indebted or not; call them “anthemic” or even “hummable,” it’s not difficult to imagine these instantly ingraining tunes being sung back in full force from a crowd of maniacs high on heavy metal blood. Equally, the trio have sharpened their songwriting chops to an insanely focused degree, moving at many speeds and across many dynamics – relatively speaking, of course, for this is still BLACKENED SPEED METAL after all – but always sounding like the same band. And perhaps most remarkable is the production across Dark Blood Reincarnation System: the perfect balance of grit and gleam, blood and thunder, power and poise. But again, perhaps this is just form meeting content…and THOSE LEADS!
Reading into its title, Dark Blood Reincarnation System could very well spell the story of Bonehunter itself: evolution vs. revolution, revolution vs. reinvention, each record different but from the same band. Graced with appropriately lurid cover art courtesy of Acid Witch & Shitfucker‘s Shagrat, Dark Blood Reincarnation System is the new modern classic from Finland’s filth bears of Hades – Bonehunter!
Hear for yourself with the brand-new track “Black Magic M16” here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Bonehunter’s Dark Blood Reincarnation System 1. World of Darkness 2. Black Magic M16 3. Parasite Eve 4. Altered Beast 5. Devil Power Soldier 6. Chromium Death Mechanoid 7. Gashadokuro 8. Virgin Devil Princess 9. Nightmare Angel 2099 10. Dark Blood Reincarnation System
Australian blackened death metal outfit EARTH ROT are now announcing a brand new Australian tour together with extreme metal act THE AMENTA. A full list of confirmed shows can be found below and tickets are on sale HERE.
EARTH ROT Australian tour +The Amenta Sept 10, 2021 @ Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide Sept 11, 2021 @ Max Watt’s, Melbourne Sept 17, 2021 @ The Zoo, Brisbane Sept 18, 2021 @ Crowbar, Sydney Sept 19, 2021 @ The Basement, Canberra
EARTH ROT previously released a brand new live video for the track ‘Unraveling Vapour of Sanity’ which is taken from the band’s latest release ‘Black Tides Of Obscurity’ which you can see here:
EARTH ROT will be touring in support of their latest release ‘Black Tides of Obscurity’ which was released on March 6, 2020 and can be listened to in full HERE.
Track-list 1. Dread Rebirth (5:57) (WATCH HERE) 2. New Horns (4:14) 3. Towards A Godless Shrine (5:39) 4. Unparalleled Gateways To Higher Obliteration (5:16) 5. Ancestral Vengeance (4:21) 6. The Cape Of Storms (4:03) 7. Serpent’s Ocean (4:31) 8. Mind Killer (3:29) (WATCH HERE) 9. Unravelling Vapour Of Sanity (5:14) 10. Out In The Cold (2:43) Total 0:45:27
More info on the album and additional assets can be found HERE! For more EARTH ROT updates, check their Facebook, Website or Instagram.
Line-up Jared Bridgeman – Lead Vocals / Bass Guitar Tom Waterhouse – Guitar / Backing Vocals Colin Dickie – Guitar Daniel Maloney – Drums
