Today, Primitive Reaction announces September 8th as the international release date for the highly anticipated second album of Finland’s Valravn, The Awakening, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
Like a bolt from the blue, Finland’s Valravn arrived fully formed with their first album, 2020’s Prey. Evincing a mastery beyond their short time as a band, Prey no doubt displayed characteristics of Finland’s now-world-renown black metal sound – cryogenic melody, raw ‘n’ rugged execution, an unapologetic assertion of traditionalism – but in other, more telling aspects, Valravn asserted their own identity counter to this prevailing paradigm: From the tranquil, tellingly autumnal acoustic opening and across comparable textures, the album burned with the intensity of a November coming fire.
Now, as the summer heat continues to blaze after the revelry of midsummer, Valravn return with a second full-length, The Awakening. Tellingly titled, The Awakening displays yet more sides to this still-unfolding entity. To be sure, Valravn’s poise and power are firmly accounted for here – you can still FEEL every note, so vital, virile, and vivid – and they’ve even added a bit of death metalled muscle, too, but the songwriting itself is where their second album truly takes flight. Sharp and yet never sterile, thanks to a production that’s on the right side of polished, there’s an acute balance of contrasts across The Awakening’s 44-minute runtime; each of the album’s eight songs features some twist of melancholy and militancy, of bursting color and bristling monochromatism, of stoic resignation and steadfast determination, of man-on-the-mountain spaciousness and stuck-in-the-catacombs claustrophobia. Concluding with the literally breathtaking “Charge of the Last Cavalry,” The Awakening consolidates all the strengths of its predecessor and indeed leads Valravn into a new charge for glory. The fires of Finnish black metal have yet to be vanquished!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Charge of the Last Cavalry” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Valravn (Finland)’s The Awakening 1. The Black Flame [5:20] 2. Kehän Murtama [4:59] 3. Liekki Tiemme Valaisee [5:17] 4. The Great Deceit [4:02] 5. The Insolent [7:57] 6. Sisyphean Torment [3:55] A Symphony of Horror [6:32] 8. Charge of the Last Cavalry [5:44]
Today, Spread Evil Productions announces September 8th as the international release date for the highly anticipated debut album of Finland’s The Watcher, Kaosaura.
The Watcher are a quintet whose membership includes a wealth of underground experience, with members concurrently hailing from Sacrificium Carmen, Riivaus, Rodent Epoch, Licht des Urteils, and many others. And while those hordes are exclusively within the realm of pure black metal, The Watcher‘s expression is a religious synthesis of black metal and death metal, malefic and muscular, with a lyrical approach that’s an outré fusion of Luciferianism and Buddhism.
Originally released digitally in 2019, The Watcher‘s first public recording, the full-length Kaosaura, now finds physical release via the auspices of Spread Evil. Encompassing nine songs in 38 minutes, The Watcher‘s debut album rips, races, and rages with a palpitating intensity. The nightsky melodicism of classic black metal features prominently in the quintet’s dynamic attack, which shifts speeds with deftness and drama. The robust heft of equally-classic death metal is given equal emphasis on Kaosaura, creating a unique headspace of laceration vs. levitation; the bass tone alone is absolutely ugly. More than anything, The Watcher here sound like an actual band, one whose physicality is fully felt and is more than able to be recreated live – simply, because they’re creating this religious fervor in real-time, together.
Fittingly and finally receiving physical release, The Watcher‘s Kaosaura comes highly recommended for maniacs of Vinterland, Aosoth, mid/late-2000s Deathspell Omega, Unanimated, or even Sweden’s Dawn.
In the meantime, stream Kaosaura in its entirety here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for The Watcher (Finland)’s Kaosaura 1. Introduction 2. Guru of Hate Yoga 3. Diva of Divinity 4. Scepticism of a Demonic Soul 5. Luciferian Nirvana 6. Alter Lux 7. Pratyeka Satanist 8. Cosmos Ablaze 9. Rebellion Geometry
Today, Hammer of Hate announces September 8th as the international release date for Sielunvihollinen‘s highly anticipated fifth album, Helvetinkone, on CD and vinyl LP formats.
Formed in 2011 initially as a solo project, over the course of four albums and a handful of splits, demos, and EPs, Sielunvihollinen have come to be standard-bearers of pure ‘n’ proud Finnish black metal. While neither shying away from the spotlight nor intentionally cultivating an air of mystery, Sielunvihollinen‘s catalog over the past decade has come to speak of itself – thoughtful songwriting, impassioned performances, a totality of form meeting content – and with their development into a full band unlike so many other black metal “projects,” they’ve also become a considerable force on the live front.
While they’ve no doubt been prolific in the number of EPs and splits they’ve released over that past decade-plus, Sielunvihollinen have fastidiously released a full-length every two years. Now, like clockwork, two years after the widely acclaimed Teloituskäsky comes their fifth album, Helvetinkone. Roughly translated into English as “Hell Machine,” Sielunvihollinen‘s latest full-length is indeed a hellish affair, but one not without the band’s characteristically poignant melodicism. Carrying forward that deadly precision of its full-length predecessor Helvetinkone cruises with a clarity of focus that simply heightens the heartstrings-pulling push of their anthemic songwriting. Indeed, the attack is squarely BLACK METAL – rough and rowdy at heart, “catchy” in the Finnish post-millennial tradition – but these eight ANTHEMS are ridiculously compact and contoured; not one single second is wasted, and the leads-forward emphasis has never been more striking. And whereas the aforementioned Teloituskäsky was Sielunvihollinen‘s cleanest-recorded work to date, it was a sea-change that only benefited the band’s increasingly compact nature; with Helvetinkone, it makes perfect sense, and lends a strangely sparkling character to their quintessential Finnish filth. Iron fists lined with velvet, and poised to punch you in the fucking face!
Once again presenting authentic ’90s classicism whilst trampling the graves of the present, Sielunvihollinen stand firm in the upper echelons of international black metal with Helvetinkone!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Alkemisti ja tuhoaja” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Sielunvihollinen’s Helvetinkone 1. Sinetti ja symboli [4:12] 2. Raivoni astalo [5:23] 3. Alkemisti ja tuhoaja [4:28] 4. Veitsenterällä [5:17] 5. Matkani päässä [4:45] 6. Helvetinkone [3:42] 7. Kun kaikki vihdoin kuihtuu pois [7:39] 8. Läpi harmaan kiven [4:58]
Belgian death metal crushers CARNATION are ready to show us their song ‘Maruta’! The track is a dark take on the Japanese Unit 731, also known as the Manshu Detachment 731. This unit routinely conducted tests on people who were dehumanized and internally referred to as “logs” (or Maruta, in Japanese). The music video can be viewed here:
‘Maruta’ is taken from the band’s newest album “Cursed Mortality”, which will be spread across the globe on the 3rd of November 2023 via Season of Mist.
Frontman Simon Duson comments: “We are back with the second single for our upcoming third album Cursed Mortality. To accentuate the diversity of the album, ‘Maruta’ feels like the perfect single to follow-up ‘Cursed Mortality’. This track is loaded with thrashy hooks, groovy beats, and punishing death metal riffs. Those who desire brutality, look no further. ‘Maruta’ is here to crush your skull!”
CARNATION crushed the stage with their appearance on the mighty Graspop (BE) and delivered a mindblowing performance which can be viewed on the Season of Mist channel HERE
CARNATION previously released their first (and title) track ‘Cursed Mortality’ in the form of an amazing music video.
The album can be pre-saved HERE. Pre-sales for the album will start at a later moment.
The surreal cover art for “Cursed Mortality” was created by the late, great Mariusz Lewandowski, whose dark and surreal vision perfectly captures the feel of this album. Lord of the Logos’ Christophe Szpajdel created a brand new logo and symbol to reflect this new era of CARNATION.
Tracklist: 1.Herald of Demise (04:03) feat. Andy LaRocque) 2.Maruta (04:07) [WATCH HERE] 3.Metropolis (03:24) 4.Replicant (03:49) 5.Dutroux (03:48) 6.Submerged in Deafening Silence (04:26) 7.Cycle of Suffering (04:05) 8.Cursed Mortality (07:30) [WATCH HERE]
CARNATION live: 26-08-2023 Rock am Wehr – Jena (DE) 23-09-2023 STP Metal Weekend – St. Pölten (AU) 03-11-2023 Cultuurcentrum Zwaneberg – Heist-op-den-Berg (BE) 16-12-2023 Death Row – Izegem (BE)
For the last decade, CARNATION has been at the forefront of reviving old school death metal. There’s something to be said about the artfulness of taking something so primitive and walking that fine line between keeping its classic authenticity without sounding tired or dated. CARNATION has always teetered this line, injecting a fresh and contemporary approach without losing the genre’s time-honored traditions. However, the band’s third endeavor sees CARNATION erasing those boundaries entirely and abandoning any and all conventions as they traverse into daring new territory. ‘Cursed Mortality’ pulls the Belgian death dealers deeper into experimental new waters, taking risks as the band steps out of the shadows of its predecessors and comes into its own identity. ‘Cursed Mortality’s’ statement is clear: This is no longer simply a revival; this is CARNATION’s rebirth.
“We still play death metal and we still identify as such” explains frontman Simon Duson. “But we know that this is also our second decade performing it. And while it is very important for us to stay true to the old-school style, we know we had to open things up a bit and reach out to those who might be interested in extreme metal, but aren’t that much into the old aspect of it. It also feels fresher to us because we’ve decided to change our visual approach, with a new logo, a new look on stage and so on. In a way, it really feels like the beginning of a new chapter for CARNATION.”
Album number three is much more than just a new chapter, but rather feels like a sequel to an already storied career, punctuated by press accolades, an impressive history of live performances, and a lauded discography consisting of several EPs, splits, and two critically acclaimed full-length albums.
With the debut of its first EP in 2015, CARNATION quickly garnered the attention of fans, media, and most notably of all, record label Season of Mist, who quickly noticed the band’s potential and picked them up without hesitation. Upon forming this union, the band dropped its first full-length, ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ in 2018. Angry Metal Guy astutely noted that the Belgians’ debut album was “one of the best death metal debuts of the year, and CARNATION have earned their place as one of the most promising new bands in the genre” while Distorted Sound Magazine echoed these remarks, calling ‘Chapel of Abborhance’ “one of most brutalizing, well executed and, above all, fun, death metal releases of 2018” in its 9/10 review of the album.
CARNATION’s momentum only seemed to pick up from there. The band kept busy on the road, performing a variety of tours with their death metal brethren in Deserted Fear, Schirenc Plays, Pungent Stench, and Pestilence, while headlining stages in Japan and Brazil. Upon conquering the live circuit and laying waste to audiences across three different continents, the band unleashed its 2020 opus, ‘Where Death Lies,’ which broke them out from the underground with the kind of seismic force that most bands can only dream of. If the critics liked ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ ‘Where Death Lies’ was the moment they fell in love, enamored by Carnation’s relentless brutality and crushing precision.
While touring had been halted that year, CARNATION never stagnated nor waivered. The band’s tenacity paid off with their sophomore effort being named among one of the best records of the year by The Pit, Chicago Music Guide, Pandemonium Metal, and many more, while the single “Iron Discipline” was singled out by Loudwire as one of the best songs of 2020. Legacy outlet Kerrang! also took notice, ranking the band among the “50 Greatest Death Metal Bands Right Now,” cracking the top 20 picks.
While the Belgian slayers still stay true to their roots, they step outside of their comfort zone with more groove, melody, and progression, showcasing their versatility as musicians and clearly defining their own unique sound. ‘Cursed Mortality’ sounds darker, with passages of melancholic melodies that compliment the heaviness.
Most bands might feel anxious about making such dramatic changes, especially to incorporate clean vocals within such extreme music, CARNATION embraces the unknown and does not fall victim to fear or monotony. “As artists, it’s something natural,” explains Verstrepen about why the band has shifted direction. “Doing the same thing over and over again doesn’t inspire us. We love to create and we love to explore new paths. We knew some people wouldn’t like clean vocals in death metal, but we don’t want to think of that too much. We stand 100% behind our music and we really like what we did here. Some people will drop out, but there will definitely be others joining! As Lemmy would say, ‘You win some, you lose some.’”
Indeed, a personal metamorphosis is always a risk, but one that historically has paid off. The first records of bands like Black Sabbath, Carcass, Death, or even Bathory sound nothing like the mid-late era offerings of those very same artists, and yet, those records that strayed off the beaten path are regarded as some of the most seminal albums in the history of metal. Playing it safe sounds easy, but it isn’t always a part of a legend’s origin story. And CARNATION isn’t here to play by the rules; the band is ready to take a leap of faith and redefine an era.
CARNATION Lineup: Simon Duson: Vocals Jonathan Verstrepen: Lead Guitar Bert Vervoort: Rhythm Guitar Yarne Heylen: Bass Guitar Vincent Verstrepen: Drums Recording studio: Project Zero Studio
Today, Hells Headbangers announces the signing of Sweden’s Mutation. The first fruit of this union shall be the band’s highly anticipated debut album, which will see release through the label early next year.
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden’s Mutation were formed around 2019 as an idea between drummer S.N and guitarist K.L due to their mutual worship of the earlier years of raw death metal. Eventually, guitarist S.Q and bassist S.B joined the band in 2022, and Mutation were finally able to create a demo. Released digitally in mid-May, their Demo ’23 absolutely scorches with utterly feral intensity and authentically ancient atmosphere. “The era between ’85-’88 is our key inspiration, and we intend to keep the flame of old burning,” says S.N.
About Mutation‘s signing with Hells Headbangers for their eventual debut album, S.N continues: “We’re really satisfied about signing to HHR, and we’d like to give a big thanks to Gene Palubicki of Perdition Temple, who introduced us. We’re currently working on our debut album filled with unadulterated raw death metal in its purest form.”
More Mutation news to be revealed shortly, but a 7″ vinyl reissue of Demo ’23 is an immediate possibility. For more info, consult the links below.
Today, Canadian death metallers Serpent Corpse stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Blood Sabbath. Set for international release on July 5th via Temple of Mystery Records, hear Serpent Corpse‘s Blood Sabbath in its entirety here:
Hailing from the ever-rising Montreal death metal scene, Serpent Corpse are at once foreign and familiar. Blood Sabbath, their full-length debut following a demo in 2021, on first glance feels resolutely old school: straightforward songwriting, analog production, little flash but full fire. And indeed, Serpent Corpse do show noble influence from the very early ’90s – foremost among them, the world-eating enormity of classic Bolt Thrower and vigorous D-beating of early Entombed – but along with another set of tweaked influences and, more so, a maniacal manner in which to pursue them, the Canadian quartet prove that the idea of traditional all-caps DEATH METAL is undying and infinite. The further one steps into the ichor of Blood Sabbath, the more those tweaks take shape – Darkthrone during their death metal days, Seance skewing death ‘n’ roll, the DM-in-glue of classic Cianide, or especially Autopsy’s transition into Abscess – and the more the exemplary songwriting truly begins to shine…or ROT, as it were! For this nine-song/39-minute album sounds as slimy as it does headbanging – and those singed ‘n’ seared leads are the definition of haunting! Coupled with powerfully clear annunciation from vocalist/guitarist Andrew Haddad and mesmerizing cover art courtesy of Lucas Korte, Serpent Corpse deliver one of the most essential death metal debuts of recent memory. A festering death awaits!
Preorder info can be found further below. Serpent Corpse will be playing an album-release party on July 15th at La Sotterenea in Montreal; event info can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Serpent Corpse’s Blood Sabbath 1. Spell Of The Eternal Serpent 2. Electric Eye 3. Nemesis 4. Let The Rats Feed 5. Land Of Rot And Misfortune 6. Crucifxion Shrine 7. Swallowed Whole By The Abyss 8. Dreams of Crows 9. Blood Sabbath
Today, Spread Evil Productions announces September 1st as the international release date for the highly anticipated debut album of Belial’s Throne, Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls.
Belial’s Throne is an international project based primarily in Ireland. It was formed in May 2016 by Bartosz Dziukiewicz AKA King of Shadows. Quickly the project was powered by Rafał Garbaciak, AKA Ragaart, who played bass, handled recordings, fully composed the outro and designed cover art. Chris Grestas Ulverhead, AKA “C,” takes over on vocals, and with this lineup, Belial’s Throne released their debut four-track EP, Pavor Nocturnus, which was release in August 2020.
After about half a year, permanent drummer Boban, AKA “B,” joins the lineup, and the remixed and remastered version of Pavor Nocturnus with live drums is released. The EP appears as the One Year Anniversary Edition on CD through Diabolic Art and is also released on cassette tape through Rotten Records. Between 2021 and 2023, with changes in the lineup, Belial’s Throne began working on their first full-length recording. Due to health issues and personal disturbances, vocalist Chris is replaced by Szymon Skiba, AKA Golghotha.
At long last, that debut album is here, bearing the title Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls. Soundly eclipsing its no-less-considerable predecessor, this first Belial’s Throne album absolutely burns with the spirit of the ’90s – particularly the latter half of that decade, where the melodic BM idiom truly took flight and delivered many a classic. Spirited yet never belabored, Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls features sympatico songwriting that surges and swooshes and even stomps with an authentically vintage feel. Atmosphere, aggression, and of course melodic (RIPPING) riffing work in evil harmony here, chilling the soul with their ever-insistent and -uncoiling attack but rendered in rich, analog tones courtesy of an astute mix & master by Shauny Cads at Last Light Records Studio.
Those who still heed the noble call of ’90s Necrophobic, Sacramentum, Naglfar, or even the super-cult likes of Midvinter, Prophanity, and Cardinal Sin are hereby commanded to take hold of the dragon wings of Belial’s Throne‘sForgotten Land of the Lost Souls!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Void” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Belial’s Throne’s Forgotten Land of the Lost Souls 1. Forgotten Land Of The Lost Souls 2. Void 3. Ascension Ritual 4. Pit Of Dead Realm 5. Halls Of Silent Kingdom 6. Rejoin At Dusk 7. Last Time We Meet 8. Outro
Today, Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records announce August 31st as the international release date for Reverence to Paroxysm‘s highly anticipated debut album, Lux Morte, on vinyl LP and CD formats, respectively.
Forming in 2020 and with a split and live album already under their belts, Mexico City’s Reverence to Paroxysm are now unveiling their debut album, Lux Morte. Taking a viciously old-school approach with disgusting riffs contorting upon pulverizing drums, this macabre descent into decay shall grip you from the very earliest moments. Gurgling vocals spew eldritch slime upon the meaty instrumentals, with thick bass-lines giving a chunky low end to the sound. Taking all of the most morbidly revolting elements of underground death metal, Reverence to Paroxysm bludgeon their way into your skull with fleshy hammer blows. The talents of frontman Antimo Buonnano, previously from death/grind legends Disgorge among many others, brings a veteran element to the band, injecting their abhorrent legacy into his latest involvements. The slower moments will drag you through the sepulchral dirt while more upbeat assaults thrash the meat from the bone like a bladed whip of sonic poison. The gloomy dynamics, visceral hooks, and brutal execution will mercilessly execute all in their path, and you would be a fool not to submit to Reverence to Paroxysm…
Eerie soundscapes entwine with putrescent primitive pounding, giving a rancid and yet atmospheric listen. The more you delve into this record, the more subtle nuances you will find scattered throughout, which add texture and detail while falling into the monstrously cataclysmic feel of the entire piece very naturally. Although an odiously primal energy is draped across this entire record, there are some very cleverly placed and unusual riffs that give a very unique and interesting feel to things as they cut through thundering bass or the razor-sharp cymbal work. The sparse vocals perfectly play off of the instrumental parts to give the band this dense, foggy, and oppressive sound. If you are of the school of death metal lover who needs subterranean riffing, crackling bass, bone-splintering drums, and disgusting -but-varied vocals, then waste no time in checking out Lux Morte. So proceed with caution and succumb to the fetid, decaying world that is presented and be soaked in the rotten tapestry Reverence to Paroxysm have woven for you and prepare to be crushed by it. [text by Jørgen Sven Kirby, Nattskog webzine]
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Necropacity” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Reverence to Paroxysm’s Lux Morte 1. Astray Descent [8:20] 2. AD Putrefactio [5:55] 3. Burial Absolute [7:07] 4. Necropacity [7:20] 5. Portals To Dark Misery [6:46] 6. Care Data Vermibus [9:22]
