“Those who flee the hammer, shall abide the forge”
Death Ordinance is set in a future ravaged by 30 years of war, global societies have collapsed into anarchic warfare between tribal bands. Following nuclear warfare and EMP’s, remnants of technology are repurposed solely for conflict. Regression becomes progress as oppression and power struggle with natural law and imminent extinction.
What remains of humanity struggles in the vestiges, the final lineage impotent and malformed, for the scraps of a dying world. The album documents the twilight of existence through three movements the onset as “Consecrating Fire” and concluding with “Desert of Ash”.
Each song is deliberate with serving a purpose compositionally as well as with the lyrical narrative.
“Senses heightened, survival preceeds morality…”
Track list:
Consecrating Fire
Storming Upon Knaves
Harbinger
Ruination
The Yoke
Iron Harvest
Lupine Epoch
Righteous Upsurgence
Desert of Ash
Death Ordinance was recorded by V.V. in early 2017 and mixed and mastered by C. Sinclair in the Temple of Sol. Artwork for the album was done by Mistanthropic-Art.
ORDOXE make their Horror Pain Gore Death Productions debut with new album Towards Eternity. Formed in 1989, ORDOXE hail from Quebec (Canada) and perform melodic Black Metal with elements of Thrash, Death and Doom Metal. Towards Eternity is the fourth album in the ORDOXE catalog and delivers a fierce, judicious mix of dark arts, bliss, grim moods and evil ambiences.
For fans of BEHEMOTH, CRADLE OF FILTH, DARK FUNERAL, DESTROYER 666, DISSECTION, ENTHRONED, GOD DETHRONED, NAGLFAR, ROTTING CHRIST, and SATYRICON.
Track List:
1. We Are Eternal
2. The Auspicious One
3. Trépas I
4. Your Sorrow, My Sorrow
5. Sword Of Damocles
6. Soyez Illuminés
7. A Passage In Time
8. Trépas II
9. The Essence Of Life
10. Trépas III
The brand new Neige et Noirceur ALBUM “Verglapolis” will take you into the coldest and most desolate part of your essence.
Every track is a continuous flow between the most oppressive and cold black metal and melodies that seem to come from unknown and repetitive realities.
Slow-motion rhythms and haunting vocal melodies seemed to be emanated from some bleak cavernous subterranean chambers and create unique hypnotic atmospheres. Waves of disorienting sampling come and go, dotted with dragging beats and the harrowing integration of a choir’s howl.
This is pure despair just like the winter that cyclically holds us in.
1. Le monde est une foret noire
2. L’hiver de force
3. Nordet – Les premieres neiges
4. Pluie verglacante et brouillard de glace
5. Energie noire
6. Ruines electriques
New North Carolina/New Jersey Black Metal studio project, DECREPIT THRONE has released debut album Traitor’s Grave. Guitarist/multi-instrumentalist and North Carolinian Gregory Maupin joins New Jersey vocalist Ron Kaiser (BLASPHEMOUS) in offering seven iniquitous tracks of blackened fury wth influences inclusive of DISSECTION, DRUDKH, EMPEROR, DEATH, CELTIC FROST, and many others.
Maupin started DECREPIT THRONE after his last band mysteriously and abruptly came to an end. The focus is making dark music, rather than the drama in which so many local musicians drown themselves. Vocalist Ron Kaiser was kind enough to perform and write lyrics for DECREPIT THRONE.
The CD version of Traitor’s Grave will be available on April 10.
Hot on the heels of this week’s previous announcement of four special package shows featuring GORGUTS alongside FALLUJAH, HAVOK, REVOCATION and opener VENOM PRISON, the acclaimed Canadian death metal pioneers are revealing more European dates in summer. The band will perform at Brutal Assault (CZ), Ieper Festival (BE), Vagos Metal Fest (PT), and Summer Breeze (DE) as well as tour in support of CONVERGE with HAVOC and REVOCATION in August.
GORGUTS
Festivals
09 Aug 17 Jaromer (CZ) Brutal Assault
11 Aug 17 Ieper (BE) Ieper Festival
13 Aug 17 Vagos (PT) Vagos Metal Fest
18 Aug 17 Dinkelsbühl (DE) Summer Breeze
GORGUTS
+Converge +Havok +Revocation
20 Aug 17 Wrocław (PL) Zaklęte Rewiry
21 Aug 17 Bratislava (SK) Majestic Music Club
22 Aug 17 Wien (AT) Arena
23 Aug 17 München (DE) Backstage Halle
24 Aug 17 Aarau (CH) Kiff
25 Aug 17 Paris (FR) Trabendo
GORGUTS will be performing in support of their previous albums as well as their critically highly acclaimed latest EP ‘Pleiades’ Dust’,
The artwork of the EP that contains only its epic title track was created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew M. Bielak and can be viewed below.
Canada’s long-running and much loved craftsmen of technical death metal are returning with a 33-minute song. Entitled ‘Pleiades’ Dust’ this complex, image evoking, and masterly arranged eponymous track fills an entire EP. Expect the unexpected, when it comes to GORGUTS.
In an age of a postulated clash of cultures, mastermind Luc Lemay delivers a piece of music that is conceptually and lyrically based on the “House of Wisdom”, a medieval library based in Baghdad and at the heart of the Golden Age of Islam with its many scientific breakthroughs in various fields of learning. As Luc comments: “It is a story about curiosity, beautiful minds and sadly, about how man destroys great discoveries and achievements.” Musically there is more narrative feeling as each section is introduced in such a way that every riff has the space to evolve like a character in a story.
The stunning cover art created to reflect this concept has been specially created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew M. Bielak (MAYHEM, GHOST, ZHRINE et. al.).
Few extreme bands can boast the pedigree of GORGUTS. During their early days as part of death metal’s first wave, they created a legacy of legendary releases including their debut album ‘Considered Dead’ (1991) and its more experimental and technical follow-up ‘Erosion of Sanity’ (1993). After a hiatus of five years, Luc Lemay returned with a new line-up, which released the highly acclaimed and seminal third full-length ‘Obscura’ (1998). By then GORGUTS had been busy at expanding and redefining the language of death metal. With a new line-up that left Lemay as the sole original member, the next milestone album was released under the title ‘From Wisdom to Hate’ (2001).
Yet again the band went into hibernation, while their musical legacy continued to inspire and thrive as their native Quebec became a focus for technical death metal with acts such as CRYPTOPSY, NEURAXIS, and BEYOND CREATION to name but a few following in their footsteps. After more than a decade of silence, mastermind Luc Lemay unleashed ‘Colored Sands’ (2013) with an all-star line-up including Colin Marston (BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS), Kevin Hufnagel (DYSRHYTHMIA), and John Longstreath (ORIGIN, SKINLESS), who has in the meantime been replaced by Patrice Hamelin (QUO VADIS, BENEATH THE MASSACRE).
Line-up
Luc Lemay: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Kevin Hufnagel: Rhythm & Lead Guitar
Colin Marston: Bass
Patrice Hamelin: Drums
BEYOND CREATION are announcing a string of European dates for this summer. The Canadian masters of progressive technical death metal will be supported by Swiss brothers in spirit, VIRVUM. The tour kicks off with a show at the prestigious Hellfest in Clisson France on June 18th and continues through 11 countries on the continent before its grand finale at the UK Tech Fest at the Newark Showground in Winthorpe on the 9th of July.
Please see below for a list of all confirmed dates.
BEYOND CREATION
18 Jun 17 Clisson (FR) Hellfest
BEYOND CREATION
+Virvum
20 Jun 17 Aarau (CH) Kiff
21 Jun 17 Bologna (IT) Alchemica Music Club
22 Jun 17 Ljubljana (SI) Orto Bar
24 Jun 17 Tuzla (BA) Club Palma
25 Jun 17 Sofia (BG) Live & Loud
26 Jun 17 Cluj (RO) Napoca The Shelter
27 Jun 17 Kosice (SK) Colloseum
28 Jun 17 Budapest (HU) Dürer Kert
29 Jun 17 Wien (AT) Viper Room
30 Jun 17 München (DE) Feierwerk
02 Jul 17 Utrecht (NL) dB’s
Feel the onrush of sweeping arpeggios, crushing waves of fretless bass, complex rhythmical patterns and erupting scales peppered with jazzy feeling and masterful execution under the mark of ‘Earthborn Evolution’, which names the sophomore full-length of BEYOND CREATION. The French part of Canada is home to a vibrant culture of technical Death Metal fostered by outstanding acts such as GORGUTS, CRYPTOPSY, MARTYR, and NEURAXIS. This illustrious family tree has produced many sprouts in the past, yet none of them are as brilliant as Quebec’s new amazing scion: BEYOND CREATION! Founded in the Olympic city of Montreal in the year 2005, the band worked hard to gain technical expertise before putting out their only demo in 2010. The immediate buzz resonated within and beyond technical Death Metal circles and was followed up by a self-release of “The Aura” (2011), which was re-issued by Season of Mist in 2013. With their debut album, BEYOND CREATION delivered a ferocious blend of technicality, melody, and brutality aided by fang-filled growls, which was interwoven with beautiful progressive interludes. Yet this was just the beginning as ‘Earthborn Evolution’ proves beyond doubt. Their next step now catapults the Canadians into the top league of their genre, right among such giants as ATHEIST, DEATH or early CYNIC. Prepare for the lightning evolution of the progressive technical death metal revolution!
Line-up
Simon Girard: vocals, 8-string guitars
Kevin Chartré: 8-string guitars
Dominic ‘Forest’ Lapointe: 6-string fretless bass
Philippe Boucher: drums
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)
Melodic Death/Thrash quartet DEAD ASYLUM will release sophomore album Death Always Wins on June 2. On the follow-up to 2013 debut General Carnage, the Vancouver, Canada band has sharpened the songwriting to a fine point and bolstered its established muscular attack with a harder rhythmic punch and an even deadlier arsenal of riffs!
With an unexpected combination of thrash and melodeath elements reminiscent of the Gothenburg Sound (AT THE GATES, ARCH ENEMY, et al), DEAD ASYLUM’s Death Always Wins is one killer listen! The songs on Death Always Wins range from thrashy headbangers, to technical compositions, and chantable, heavy metal anthems. While it might seem like their sound covers the spectrum of metal, everything is tied together by brutal dual vocals and melodic leads. Lyrical themes include revolution and political uprising, the apocalypse, and—as the band name alludes—twisted facets of the human psyche. The band’s famously intense live shows are about to get fiercer when the new material is left beaten and bloodied on the stage!
Death Always Wins was tracked at Jam Factory Studios in Port Coquitlam, BC; recorded and edited by Roger Mowat; and mix/mastered by Chris Holmes. Pierre-Alain (3mmi Design) was responsible for the album art.
Track List:
1. Defiance
2. Death Always Wins
3. Between Me and the Grave
4. Bury the Living
5. Forgotten Sacrifice
6. Bred to Die
7. Welcome
8. Inmate 666
Dead Asylum is:
Mike Lister – Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Roger Mowat – Vocals/Bass
Eric Morrison – Lead Guitar
Samantha Landa – Drums
Drummer Samantha Landa in many ways defines DEAD ASYLUM’s unbridled energy and inability to ever just stand still. Landa performed with Brazilian Thrashers and Napalm Records artist NERVOSA for three months throughout North America and Europe in 2016, including on a tour package that also featured DESTRUCTION, FLOTSAM & JETSAM, and ENFORCER. And all the while ran her online business from the road! Previously, Landa even served as a Pool Girl on the annual 70000 Tons of Metal cruise.
DEAD ASYLUM will hit the road this summer for an August/September U.S. tour. Stay tuned for details.
DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT are now revealing details of their forthcoming fourth album. The new masterpiece of the German rising black stars is entitled ‘Finisterre’, and will be in stores on August 25th.
The band furthermore release the cover art by Max Löffler and track-list of ‘Finisterre’, which can both be viewed below.
DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT explaining the album’s details in a first studio report where the band talks about the drum and stdio recording process. The video can be viewed here:
DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT comment: “This album and its production process was one of the biggest challenges of our lives so far. Due to the fact that we took the whole production in our own hands, we had full control over everything but of course it was also hard work to achieve our vision and the sound we were looking for. However, now we’re very proud of what we’ve created and happy to share these insights from the recording sessions with you! The first part covers the drum recordings and shows the life in the studio.”
Tracklist
1. Aufbruch
2. Ein letzter Tanz
3. Skepsis Part I
4. Skepsis Part II
5. Finisterre
DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT previously announced a European headlining tour supported by French brothers in spirit, REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER and the recently added INTER ARMA.
Vocalist Nikita Kamprad comments: “We’re stoked to have INTER ARMA as another special guest joining our album release tour this fall. All the way from the US they will enrich each night with their unique soundscape and thus complete this killer package. We can’t wait, do not miss it!”
DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT Festivals
29 Jul 17 Albi Carmaux (FR) Xtreme Fest
09 Aug 17 Fortress Josefov (CZ) Brutal Assault Open Air
16 Aug 17 Dinkelsbühl (DE) Summer Breeze Open Air
22 Sep 17 Hamburg (DE) Hamburg Metal Dayz
DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT
+IINTER ARMA +REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER
21 Sep 17 Münster (DE) Gleis 22
23 Sep 17 Köln (DE) Underground
24 Sep 17 Rotterdam (NL) Baroeg
25 Sep 17 Nijmegen (NL) Merleyn
26 Sep 17 Esch-sur-Alzette (LU) Kulturfabrik
27 Sep 17 Wiesbaden (DE) Schlachthof
28 Sep 17 Stuttgart (DE) Keller Klub
29 Sep 17 Puget Sur Argens (FR) Le Rat’s
30 Sep 17 Barcelona (ES) Razzmatazz 3
01 Oct 17 Madrid (ES) Sala Caracol
02 Oct 17 Nantes (FR) Le Ferrailleur
03 Oct 17 Paris (FR) Le Petit Bain
04 Oct 17 Strasbourg (FR) La Laiterie
05 Oct 17 Lyon (FR) O’Totem
06 Oct 17 Zürich (CH) Werk 21
07 Oct 17 München (DE) Kranhalle
08 Oct 17 Salzburg (AT) Rockhouse
10 Oct 17 Budapest (HU) Dürer Kert
11 Oct 17 Wien (AT) Arena
12 Oct 17 Ceské Budejovice (CZ) MC Fabrika
13 Oct 17 Leipzig (DE) UT Connewitz
14 Oct 17 Berlin (DE) Lido
The musical puzzle that adds up to become DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT turns into something more complex – yet also clearer defined on the band’s fourth studio album, ‘Finisterre’. The original pieces are still in play: the aggressive German directness akin to ENDSTILLE and a penchant for brooding melancholy as embodied by IMPERIUM DEKADENZ. Spiralling psychedelic moments comparable to DEAFHEAVEN and WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM also find their place – as well as a knack for majestic melodies that shows parallels in Swedish black metal spearheaded by MARDUK and DARK FUNERAL.
Yet while DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT are clearly progressing along the lines laid out by their previous acclaimed effort, ‘Stellar’, the band has found a way to make these pieces fit more seamlessly. ‘Finisterre’ flows together into a coherent picture that stresses the Germans’ unique approach and sound. This album marks the point where DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT turn their various influences into a work entirely of their own expression despite never trying to cover up their roots. This impressive maturity has been reached through several stages.
Founded in 2009 by guitarist Nikita Kamprad and vocalist Tobias Jaschinsky, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT garnered early attention with their self-released debut ‘Der Weg einer Freiheit’ (2009), which quickly sold out and was re-issued with new drum tracks a year later. Following the ‘Agonie’ EP (2011), their second album ‘Unstille’ (2012) already cored international acclaim. In the aftermath of this record, co-founding member Tobias left and main songwriter Nikita Kamprad took over his vocal duties.
The frontman was first heard on third full-length ‘Stellar’ (2015), which saw DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT gaining traction across the pond as well as expanding their European base. Having performed along such diverse acts as WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, NEAERA, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, AMENRA, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, and DOWNFALL OF GAIA as well as playing prestigious festivals such as Graspop, Hellfest, Resurrection, Roadburn, Summer Breeze, and Wacken has honed the band’s songwriting skills to razor-sharp precision.
‘Finisterre’ clearly stands at the apex (for now) of the steep climb that the DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT have taken. This German star is finally shining in full black.
As a one woman act all instruments for this album were recorded simultaneously . What’s cool about this record is she uses some pretty out there instruments, stuff I have not heard before in Black metal , like the waterphone
Check out some tracks here: May the Wind Carry Your Ashes to the Four Corners of the Earth
Black Spell
A Long Forgotten Tale
You can catch Rachel on tour with Xasthur this spring – tour dates below
