BONEHUNTER set release date for new HELLS HEADBANGERS album

Today, Hells Headbangers sets September 28th as the international release date for Bonehunter’s highly anticipated third album, Children of the Atom, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

If Bonehunter’s debut album, Evil Triumphs Again, became the first and last word on how to do Bathory worship – and becoming something of a mini-classic in the process, especially after their much-talked-about performance at Hells Headbangers’ Hells Headbash 2 in 2015 – and last year’s Sexual Panic Human Machine became the shocking sound of the band asserting their own identity with equally compelling results, then Children of the Atom is Bonehunter hitting a fucking fever pitch. It would not be untruthful to say that Children of the Atom is the perfect synthesis of Bonehunter’s first two albums: the dungeon-bred grit of the debut meeting the streamlined cruise of LP#2, without the faintest hint of self-consciousness nor repetitiousness. But – and this is absolutely crucial – the devilish charisma and unfuckwithable confidence with which the band roll out each anthem after another here bespeaks something else together. Simply, Children of the Atom is the new (and very now) sound of Bonehunter breaking into the bigtime.

After the stage-setting “Initiate the Sequence” intro, Children of the Atom literally EXPLODES from the speakers. Charging hard like the veritable post-apocalyptic Road Warriors that they are, Bonehunter truly make their self-proclaimed “Devil Metal Punk” a subgenre unto itself here. It’s one of those sounds that’s immediately familiar – again, earliest Bathory will always loom large – but with a wealth of era- and globe-spanning influences all freely fed into their engine, from ’80s Japanese metalpunk to the deepest South American blackthrash, what emerges on Children of the Atom is indeed a mutation like no other. And it’s absolutely ADDICTING: hooks upon hooks are doled out effortlessly, inciting possessed headbanging and air-guitaring, and all with a breathless abandon that’s a wild wonder to behold. Additionally, Bonehunter’s rhythmic arsenal has kicked it up a notch or five, as well, hitting speeds previously unapproachable for the band but here delivered with authority and elan. Not to mention that the production’s been roughened up again, bloody raw but belying a clarity of intent.

Featuring unforgettable cover art courtesy of the master Joe Petagno, Children of the Atom is the ultimate nuclear assault from Bonehunter! A statement from the band reads: “We envisioned an album that sounded like songs written by the synthetically-revived cadavers of Chris Witchhunter, HIDE, and Petrus Steele after blasting Sacrilege, Atomkraft, and Immortal in a military bunker through the heart of a nuclear winter. Läjä Äijälä, frontman of the infamous hardcore act Terveet Kädet, gave birth to the intro track ‘Initiate the Sequence.’ The only man who could be trusted to handle the album cover for Children of the Atom was the legendary artist behind Motörhead’s Snaggletooth, Joe Petagno. Hails to Hells Headbangers for helping to spread our noise, filth, and fury and to Läjä and Joe for their contributions! This is the ultimate Bonehunter album – turn up the evil!”

In the meantime, hear the new track “The Reek of Reaper’s Scythe” HERE

Additionally, Bonehunter will be joining labelmates Midnight on a North American tour later this year, in support of Children of the Atom; dates will be revealed in due time.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Bonehunter’s Children of the Atom
1. Initiate the Sequence
2. Demonic Nuclear Armament
3. Sex Messiah Android
4. Children of the Atom
5. The Reek of Reaper’s Scythe
6. Black Star Carcass
7. Spider’s Grave
8. Cybernetic Vampirism
9. Man of Steel
10. Devil Signal Burst

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/bonehuntermetal

WITCH KING set release date for BLOOD HARVEST debut, reveal first track

Today, Blood Harvest Records and Helter Skelter Productions set September 14th as the international release date for Witch King’s highly anticipated debut album, Voice of the Ossuary, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Hailing from Rhode Island, Witch King have been a prolific force in the American black/death underground. Since 2008, this power-trio have been patiently perfect their craft over a slew of demos, an EP, and a split album with the considerable likes of Bestial Mockery, Obeisance, and Manticore. The Witch King aesthetic has been firm from the beginning, but with Voice of the Ossuary, they take it to the darkest and most disgusting depths.

Wasting no time whatsoever – no ceremony, no hope, no fun – Witch King blast into Voice of the Ossuary with primeval abandon. Theirs is an ancient sound, bucking nowadays trends, and returning to the foul recesses of classic blackgrind, informed by early Blood, Archgoat, Naked Whipper, and of course, the almighty Blasphemy. But whereas so much parallel “bestial metal” crams in non-sequitur riffs and transitions – or simply forgets them altogether, just plowing through one riff monochromatically – Witch King actually possess songwriting, and unfurl one flowing fountain of filth after another. These songs gnaw at your very being, but they remain in the subconscious long after play has commenced. And that’s not to mention the pure physicality of Voice of the Ossuary: all muscle, no fat, total 3D crush.

Hark! Hear the Voice of the Ossuary, for it is Witch King’s, and there’s nothing but absolute dread and doom on the horizon… Hear for yourself with the new track “Savage Conquest Upon Holy Lands” HERE

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Witch King’s Voice of the Ossuary
1. Rejection Of The Light
2. Void Emissary
3. Apocalypse Tribe
4. Voice Of The Ossuary
5. Savage Conquest Upon Holy Lands
6. Jehovah Grinder
7. Howling Beyond The Veil
8. Mocking the Seraphim
9. Final Annihilation
10. Astral Desecration

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/witchkingmetal

BLACK FUNERAL set release date for new IRON BONEHEAD mini-album, reveal first track

Today, Iron Bonehead Productions sets September 28th as the international release date for a new mini-album from the legendary Black Funeral, The Dust and Darkness, on CD and 12″ vinyl formats.

Formed in 1993, Black Funeral are one of the founders of American black metal. The band’s first two albums, 1995’s Vampyr – Throne of the Beast and 1997’s Empire of Blood, are widely considered black metal classics, and are among the earliest releases on the cult Full Moon Productions label. Since the beginning, the band has been guided by the boundless vision of one Michael Ford (AKA Akhtya Nachttoter), who has concurrently garnered international respect as a leading author on Luciferianism and occultism. And although many lineups have come and gone since those pioneering first two lineups, Black Funeral found its strongest formation yet with 2016’s Ankou and the Death Fire. Released to widespread acclaim by Iron Bonehead, the album saw the inclusion of Drowning the Light mastermind Azgorh Drakenhof handling guitar, bass, and keyboards. As such, musically, Akkou and the Death Fire was a purely black metal record brimming with medieval majesty and malnourished misery, a blackflame both bright and bleary, all laced with Ford’s characteristically chilling ambient soundscapes. In many ways, it was a reinvigoration of the classic Black Funeral sound, and that forward momentum continues unabated with The Dust and Darkness.

Recorded 2017 in Australia and the United States, The Dust and Darkness is a recalling and vampyric sonic ritual of Hittite, Hurrian, Canaanite, and ancient Syrian Underworld offerings and necromancy. The title “Dankuis Daganzipas” is the Hittite Underworld, “The Dark Earth,” and is the dwelling place of spirits and chthonic deities who desired blood as their primary offering besides incense and libations. The Lady of the Underworld, Allani, is the ancient Hurrian goddess who is a type of psychopomp as a solar deity who guides the dead into the Underworld. Allani is identical to the Mesopotamian Ereskigal. The god “Chemosh of the Dust and Darkness” is an epithet for an Ugaritic deity of the Underworld who is similar to both Baal of Peor (Belphegor) and Nergal. His name was associated with elements of the underworld and “Bird of Prey.” As such, the four songs comprising The Dust and Darkness sonically surge with grim abandon and majestic melancholy, unflinching in their familiarity but only because this is the Black Funeral whose name is legendry within the darkest depths of the black metal underground. It is altogether 17 minutes of invocation and seduction, exacted by deft hands well versed in the blackest of magick. Here, there is only The Dust and Darkness…

Step forward into that dust & darkness with the new track “Dankuis Daganzipas (Dark Earth)” HERE

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Black Funeral’s The Dust and Darkness
1. Dankuis Daganzipas (Dark Earth)
2. Alanni Goddess of the Underworld
3. Chemosh of the Dust and Darkness
4. Mistress of the Pit

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/akhtya

Cuban Black Metal Band Skjult “Progenies Ov Light” Album Review

Progenies Ov Light is the second release from cuban act Skjult. In the old day I used to avoid “one man acts” (outside of Burzum of course!) as they were usually pretty one dimensional and uninspired.
Skjult main man Conspirator has out done himself with this release, this album has more more urgency and savagery than debut release “within the flesh”

I don’t know very much (if anything at all about the Black metal scene in Cuba but this album makes me want to know more, fuck it – this album makes me want to book a trip down there just to check out the scene in Havana. A good friend of mine is a long time tattoo artist and him and his wife take frequent trips to Cuba to help the struggling artists in the Tattoo scene down there. Due to necessity and limited resources the tattoo artists come up with very inventive ways to ply their trade. I cannot even fathom what a Black metal group in Havana has to go through to make music happen (note Conspirator was also in the Cuban BM group Heretik)

This is good shit and only $10 for the CD – pick up a copy here:

Discogs

Bandcamp

Track-list:

01. Into The Void
02. Immolation Rites
03. Summoning The Eternal Black Flames Of Death
04. Glorious Night
05. Hail Blasphemous Hated (The Lord Is Upon Us)
06. A Crown Of Horns
07. Dawn Of An Era Ov Light
08. Baptized By The Unholy Goat [bonus track]

The first 4 songs of Skjult were written in the June 2015 during the recording sessions of the first material of Conspirator´s main project called Heretik. So, June 2015 is probably the foundation date. Within The Flesh was completed and recorded in July-August 2015 and released in April 2016. Then re-released. This new edition included an instrumental (Over the Darkest Mist), a new song (The Void) and Darkthrone cover and was released in August 2016. From this date until August 2017 Skjult has been working on new material which will be included in the second full length under the title “Progenies ov Light”.

Line-up:

Conspirator – everything

For more info:
http://www.facebook.com/skjultkuba

Abbath announces new European tour dates in September

Following their European festivals performances this summer, ABBATH have announced extra tour dates in September with Danish metallers BAEST. The tour sees the Norwegian band play a selected number of club shows in the Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia and Hungary. The tour also includes an appearance at the MEH SUFF! Festival in Zürich, Switzerland.

A list of all currently confirmed dates including festivals can be viewed below.

ABBATH festival dates
22 Jul 18 Colony (IT) Colony Open Air
10 Aug 18 Villena (ES) Leyendas Del Rock
19 Aug 18 Saint-Nolff (FR) Motocultor Festival
25 Aug 18 Crispendorf (DE) Wolfzeit Festival
08 Sep 18 Zürich (CH) Meh Suff Fest

ABBATH club shows
with BAEST
05 Sep 18 Leiden (NL) Gebr. Nobel – tickets
06 Sep 18 Essen (DE) Turock – tickets
07 Sep 18 Mannheim (DE) MC Connexion – tickets
09 Sep 18 Ljubljana (SL) Kino Siska – tickets
10 Sep 18 Budapest (HU) A38 – tickets

ABBATH will be touring in support of their chart-storming eponymous debut album. Artwork and track-list of ‘Abbath’ can be viewed below.

01. To War!
02. Winterbane
03. Ashes of the Damned
04. Ocean of Wounds
05. Count the Dead
06. Fenrir Hunts
07. Root of the Mountain
08. Endless
09. Nebular Ravens Winter [bonus]

When Abbath announced that he had left IMMORTAL, it sent massive shockwaves through the metal scene. The iconic frontman had long become the “face” of the Norwegian black scene, his image synonymous with this style.

Now the Norwegian giant has returned with his new band ABBATH and a crushing debut album of the same name. The opening triplet “To War”, “Winter Bane”, and “Ashes of the Damned” unleashes all the fury of a Nordic blizzard at full force. Yet the following “Ocean of Wounds” proves that his new band is equally at home in writing anthemic mid-tempo hymns. Abbath’s characteristic riffing shines clearly through it all: heavy, harsh, and yet catchy and melodic with a touch of epic BATHORY, MOTÖRHEAD, and even KISS.

‘Abbath’ impresses from start to finish. This is exactly the album that all fans of this particular Bergen brand of black metal have been hoping for. Hold on tight or get blown away. ABBATH are here now and ready to conquer the world!

Line-up
Abbath: guitar & vocals
Creature: drums

www.facebook.com/abbathband
www.abbath.net

TEMPLE DESECRATION stream IRON BONEHEAD debut

Today, black/death mavericks Temple Desecration stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos. Set for international release on July 13th via Iron Bonehead Productions, hear Temple Desecration’s Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos in its entirety exclusively HERE.

Since Temple Desecration’s beginnings in 2011, this mysterious Polish cult have been a study in refined ugliness. Prizing quality over quantity, each release has been exacting, yet executed with animalistic abandon. It began in 2012 with the very-aptly-titled Abhorrent Rites demo – which Iron Bonehead later released on 12″ vinyl, in 2015 – and carried forward to the dread expanses of the Communion Perished EP in 2014. There, at just two songs in a swift 13 minutes, Temple Desecration indeed desecrated by-now-passe “bestial metal” conventions into something angular and truly overwhelming, incensed by the form’s latent power but focusing it into an ever-roiling maelstrom that was worlds away – and suggested, even, other worlds.

With the stage thus set, a whole four years later, Temple Desecration return to maximize that enviable potential with their first full-length, Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos. Massive in every measure, Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos is indeed a whirlwind, but any chaos extant in the band’s sound has been excised for locked-in, monged-out hypnosis. It’s a tradeoff that works in spades, as Temple Desecration’s vile, virulent pulse becomes more patient and yet more mesmerizing, eventually devouring the listener whole – or at least sucking said listener into a black hole, many worlds away. The more expanded song structures first explored on Communion Perished are here finessed even further, building new pillars of pustulent terror and crushingly physical tension: at five songs in 38 minutes, the sheer density and solar weight of Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos feels far more expansive than its compact runtime suggests.

These advancements aside, Temple Desecration have also managed to make their mangling of the bestial idiom more ritualistic, more ceremonial. That pulse may still be tethered to black/death traditionalism – it is METAL, after all – but the way this cult warps their riffs into slithering sensations of sound elevates Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos above the mongrel hordes listlessly flying that “bestial metal” banner. In short, there is transcendentalism coursing through every minute of the album, and Temple Desecration have hereby unlocked its boundless enormity.

Gaze into its cover art – faintly, deeply, whichever – and begin to contemplate the enormity of Temple Desecration. For these Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos stretch beyond The Beyond…

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Temple Desecration’s Whirlwinds of Fathomless Chaos
1. Nameless Hordes
2. Entering the Void
3. Dominion of Darkness
4. Covenant
5. Blood Offering

www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

PALE DIVINE set release date for long-awaited new SHADOW KINGDOM album, reveal first track

Today, Shadow Kingdom Records sets November 23rd as the international release date for Pale Divine’s highly anticipated fifth album, Pale Divine, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

For nearly 25 years now, Pale Divine have been perfecting the proto-doom sound – rooted in the ’70s, particularly Pentagram and Ozzy-era Black Sabbath but also Sir Lord Baltimore, Leafhound, and even very early Judas Priest – but predating so many cloying pretenders ever since. Not for them is this just another trendy bandwagon to jump on; Pale Divine truly LIVE this music. The public’s tastes may be fickle, but diehards know and love the name Pale Divine. And for very good reason: albums like 2001’s Thunder Perfect Mind and 2004’s Eternity Revealed are considered classics of the genre, carrying the torch of ’80s forebears like Saint Vitus and Trouble, and keeping that flame burning whatever the cost.

And though it’s been six long years since Pale Divine’s last album, 2012’s Shadow Kingdom-released Painted Windows Black, the power-trio sound more energized than ever on Pale Divine. A veritable tour de force of everything that’s been brewing in the band’s cauldron lo these many years, Pale Divine explodes with thunder and swagger at every turn: from epic metal excursions to bluesy rockers, groove behemoths to graveyard laments, psychedelic swirl to straight-up crush, this album literally has it ALL! Naturally, actual honest-to-goodness songwriting takes center stage here, and Pale Divine possess the panache to pull it all of with style and grace, effortlessly and unselfconsciously so. At the forefront, as ever, are the always soulful vocals of guitarist Greg Diener, who brings pathos and poignancy to such heartrending topics as “Chemical Decline,” “Bleeding Soul,” “So Low,” and “Curse the Shadows.” Which is to say nothing of the production on Pale Divine, which has that rich warmth and as-true-as-it-gets analog sound that further underline the timelessness Pale Divine have made their stock-in-trade since the beginning.

The more things change, the more they stay the same sometimes, and there stands Pale Divine, tall and proud. In 2018, you’re not gonna find a better, more rockin’ and more pure DOOM album than Pale Divine! Hear for yourself with the new track “Spinning Wheel” HERE

. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Pale Divine’s Pale Divine
1. Spinning Wheel
2. Bleeding Soul
3. Chemical Decline
4. So Low
5. Curse the Shadows
6. Shades of Blue
7. Silver Tongues
8. Ship of Fools

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/serpentspath
www.shadowkingdomrecords.com
www.facebook.com/shadowkingdomrecords

Italian death metal band Godless Enthropia “Tetracyclic Dominion” album review

I should probably not be reviewing this album as my views on most modern death metal are pretty well known to most of our readers by now. But in case its your first time here – to sum it up I feel that there isn’t much fresh in modern death metal outside of a few great bands like Blood Incantation and Beyond Creation most of it is derivative and has been done before better but the earlier pioneers of the genre.

However with all that out of the way I would not be doing this blog or the band justice if I didn’t give this album a fair chance.

So what do ya think Alex?

Well I gotta say as much as I kinda despise a lot of modern death metal – this is a a great fucking album. While the guys are more than technically competent they do not play technicality for techniques sake alone. They do not play the none more brutal game either.There is a lot of variety between songs and there are a lot of twists and turns in the songs that will keep ya coming back time and time again for repeat listens

Would I buy this album if I saw it in a record store? Probably not – however does this album give me hope for the future of the Death metal genre? yes! absolutely

Check it out below

Track-list:
01. Al-Qalyah
02. Mother Of Cain
03. Into The Asylum
04. Witch Burning Princess
05. Unpredictable Dementia (Mechanical Disease)
06. Erase, Delete, Annihilate
07. Dysphemic Phænomenons
08. Third Eye, Cauterized
09. Solecism I
10. Cause Of Disease (Sprouts Of New Hate)
11. Palace Of Fornication
12. Adynaton
13. Solecism II
14. The Heights Of Eidos (Mother Of Cain Part II)

Length – 59:37

http://godlessenthropia.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/godlessenthropia

Formed in Summer 2012 by Claudio Colla, Simone Cottura and Stefano Momo, Godless Enthropia released their first EP, “Dystopian Metaphors”, in Winter 2013, together with the music video “Sister Beheading”. In 2014 singer Davide joins Claudio and Simone in the band, giving life to “Politics of Fornication”, released in Autumn 2014. Meanwhile, Wael Ben Halima is welcomed in the band as a guitarist.

Turkey’s BURIAL INVOCATION now streaming “Abiogenesis” in its entirety

Abiogenesis, the newest release from Turkey’s BURIAL INVOCATION, is now available via Dark Descent Records. To mark the long-awaited return of BURIAL INVOCATION, Dark Descent Records is streaming Abiogenesis in full. Listen to one of 2018’s most critically-acclaimed releases

Abiogensis is available on vinyl, CD and digital formats. Order the album at the following locations:
darkdescentrecords.com/store
darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/burialinvocation
www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords

“Whatever your thoughts are on death metal as a genre, there’s no questioning the brutality, weight and rhythmic technicality of this massive sounding record.”
– Metal Forces Magazine [9/10]

“There are moments on Abiogenesis that are bar-raising career-defining brilliance. There are others that fall into the category of exemplary death metal. Does Abiogenesis reinvent death metal? No. Of course not. What it does do is pour all the elements that make the genre great into a giant crucible, smelt that shit down and tip that liquid fire straight into your gaping gullet.” – Toilet Ov Hell [4.77/5]

1.Revival 09:54
2.Abiogenesis 12:10
3.Visions of the Hereafter 08:11
4.Phantasmagoric Transcendence 08:27
5.Tenebrous Horizons 02:37

BURIAL INVOCATION exploded onto the underground scene when their debut EP Rituals of the Grotesque, released in early 2010. Coincidentally, this was the first release under the newly-formed Dark Descent Records banner. The initial pressing of this CD sold out quickly as the band’s brand of doomy, crypt-dwelling death metal was infectious as it was blistering.

Mixing elements of Finnish death metal among other influences, BURIAL INVOCATION followed up the debut EP the next year on the well-received split 7″ with Japan’s Anatomia. This split, also released on Dark Descent Records, quickly sold out. The band eventually followed these releases with some memorable live appearances including the initial version of Copenhagen’s legendary Kill Town Death Fest.

In the years since, the band was inactive as members pursued other projects and interests. There were rumblings from the band including small European tour runs and we were largely left to wonder what happened to BURIAL INVOCATION?

In 2017, the fires were lit once more as the band were said to be working on a new album. Once again under the Dark Descent Records banner (vinyl via long-time ally Me Saco Un Ojo), Abiogenesis sees this Turkish crew reign once more. No longer will we be left wondering…Burial Invocation has returned and the wait has been well worth it.

Finnish Black metal act Cavus “The New Era” Album review

There has to be something in the water in Finland.. or perhaps something in the snow? Despite having a population of a little over 5 million (that’s less than half the population of New York City) this small country produces legendary Black Metal band after legendary Black metal band, Beherit,Satanic Warmaster, Horna, Behexen , Archgoat and the list just goes on and on.

Cavus has been around for a little over 10 years now with an ep and debut album under their belt. The debut came out on Listenable Records from memory. I know they went through some line up changes but we finally have a new album from them. If you are a fan of raw, uncompromising Black metal in the vein of the 2nd wave of Norwegian bands like Gorgoroth than ya gotta check out Cavus – you will love them. Fucking savage. Jump on the hate train and pick up this album You will not be sorry

Tracklisting
1.The New Era 02:50
2.Killtech 03:37
3.Divine Power 05:22
4. I Watch You Die 03:14
5. Morphine 04:14
6.Calling The Flames 03:44
7.The Strength Of Hatred 05:14
8.Presence Of Existence 03:44
9.Come To Me Shadows 03:57
10.There Will Be Blood 04:23
running time : 40:24

Grab a copy here:
Bandcamp
Discogs

bio
Cavus was formed around the year 2007 by the founding fathers guitarist J.K and drummer T.T.T in their hometown of Porvoo, Finland. They gave birth to this creature of hatred and devilry to serve them, loyally and unquestioning, through times of violent intoxication and depths of depravity. By the joining of vocalist W, bassist A.R.G and second guitarist B.P, the lineup was complete and a truly devastatingly destructive force.

The first offspring of this alliance was a self titled EP, consisting of four hymns in the honour of plague and pestilence, that was released in 2009. After live performances with bands like Mayhem, Behexen and Sólstafir in the autumn of 2009, Cavus signed a worldwide recording contract with French record label Listenable Records. Recordings for a debut album “Fester And Putrefy” started in February 2010, and released by Listenable Records September 27th in the EU and during October in the USA and February 2011 in South America.

The release was followed by an european tour together with Gorgoroth. 2012 the band started to work with a new album but during the process vocalist W decided to leave the band. Therefore the album process was delayed. Late 2015 B.P decided to take over the vocals and the album was completed.