Today, Invictus Productions announces December 1st as the international release date for a brand-new EP from Italy’s Into Darkness, Cassini – Huygens, on 12″ vinyl format.
Formed in 2011, Italy’s Into Darkness have been a work in progress for the last decade-plus. Led by vocalist / guitarist Doomed Warrior from the very beginning, the band have a handful of demos, a couple splits, and now a couple EPs to their name; while all short-lengths, they’re certainly not lacking in quality. And while they’ve experienced a few hiatuses and just as many lineup shuffles, Into Darkness are now poised to make up for lost time Cassini – Huygens.
As suggested by its title, Cassini – Huygens is the latest cosmic tale from the increasingly space-obsessed Into Darkness. But lest one expect this EP to travel among tech-death starts, Doomed Warrior and her space-crew stick to staunchly old-school death metal in the vein of Asphyx, Pentacle, and early Soulburn, brimming with the thematic splendor of space rather than being entirely overrun by it. Totaling 27 minutes of music, the EP’s five tracks encompass a concept based on the Cassini-Huygens space mission to Saturn: an immersive journey in the most exciting interplanetary mission ever done. Blast off and lose thyself in the cosmic maelstrom of Into Darkness‘ Cassini – Huygens!
Stream the EP in its entirety here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Into Darkness (Italy)’s Cassini – Huygens 1. The Launch 2. Crossing the Asteroid Belt 3. Journey 4. Huygens Descent 5. Grand Finale
Today, Werewolf Records announces December 15th as the international release date for the highly anticipated third album of Finland’s Vargrav, The Nighthold, on CD and cassette tape formats. The vinyl LP version will follow next year.
From the dawn of the classic debut album, Netherstorm, in 2018, Finland’s Vargrav have almost single-handedly reinvigorated the oft-maligned symphonic black metal subgenre. Forged in fires from the ancients – founder V-Khaoz’s credentials are vast and stretch back decades – and stoking the embers last left by Obtained Enslavement and Norway’s Covenant and Odium, Vargrav‘s two albums to date stand as proud pillars of shimmering, classics-based obsidian.
As momentous as those two full-lengths have been, Vargrav arguably eclipse both with their third album, The Nighthold. With a lineup that now includes the notorious Graf Werwolf von Armageddon on vocals and Moonsorrow members Trollhorn of the Black Harvest on guitars/bass and Baron M. Tarwonen on drums, Vargrav‘s swirling, cosmic surge has never been more potent; their attack is both sharper and dreamier, crystal-clear and opaque simultaneously. That added clarity creates more immediacy as The Nighthold kicks in, for the aggression of old is kicked into overdrive here and the synths take on a truly orchestral aspect. It’s not for nothing that the album is a full hour in length: everything here sounds (and feels) HUGE, one massive velvety purple landscape of stained-glass visions as far as the third eye can see. And all 12 tracks are threaded together in a plausibly cinematic manner; while each is mighty in its own respective right, Vargrav sequence every song with artistic flair and high drama, concluding the immersive experience with a daresay-soulful guitar solo during the coda of “Creator of the True Real” that then segues into the nearly-10-minute big-screen instrumental “Ghostlands.” What film or filmic realm one enters into (or leaves) is entirely up to the listener…The Nighthold is boundless!
It is thus not unjust to liken this achievement to Covenant’s classic Nexus Polaris. The second era of Vargrav has hereby begun with The Nighthold!
In the meantime, hear the recently revealed track “Chalice of Silver and Blood” here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Vargrav (Finland)’s The Nighthold
1. Moonless Abyss of the Nighthold 2. Through the Woods of Breathing Shadows 3. Chalice of Silver and Blood 4. Thy Imperial Malice 5. Curse of the Plaguewood Lake 6. Encircle the Spectral Dimension 7. Triumph of the Nightbringer 8. Into the Shadow Crypts 9. The One Who Lurks Beyond the Starscape 10. A Dark Consecration 11. Creator of the True Real 12. Ghostlands
Today, Hells Headbangers announces December 15th as the international release date for a brand-new mini-album from Demoncy, Diabolica Blasphemiae, on CD and cassette tape formats. The 12″ vinyl version will follow next year.
For those who truly know black metal, Demoncy require no introduction: ever restless and always surprising, their name is legendary for stirring an infinitely deep cauldron of black magick that’s completely their own. One of the earliest black metal bands on American soil, Demoncy have gone through myriad lineups over the past 30-plus years, but they’ve always been guided by the vision of vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Ixithra. In their wake, they’ve left landmark recordings like Within the Sylvan Realms of Frost and Joined in Darkness, which were both originally recorded in the mid ’90s despite their eventual release year of 1999. Even latter-day records like 2015’s Empire of the Fallen Angel (Eternal Black Dominion), which saw Ixithra entirely revamp the band’s 2003 album in a manner most miasmic, prove the potency of Demoncy no matter when or how recordings crop up.
And so it goes with Diabolica Blasphemiae, Demoncy‘s first new recording in nearly a decade. With Ixithra currently handling vocals and bass, joining him here are the incredibly prolific VJS (Nightbringer, Sargeist, Adaestuo) on guitar and Vorthrus (Cerebral Rot, Crurifragium) on drums. Serpentine in its flow and mesmerizing in its effect, Demoncy‘s latest mini-album is a vile, virile display of the band’s eternal aesthetic, sounding very much like it could’ve come out during the mid ’90s yet retaining a freshness of approach that defies deja vu. Gutted in its low-end throb whilst exhibiting an ethereal aspect, Diabolica Blasphemiae explores above as it is below, sending forth sine waves of obsidian energy both punishing and pleasurable: primeval black metal magick harnessed with a true auteur’s touch. Same as it ever was, then, but still so surprising after all these years – there is only one Demoncy.
In the meantime, hear the recently revealed title track “Diabolica Blasphemiae” here:
Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Nestor Avalos, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Demoncy’s Diabolica Blasphemiae 1. Satanas Vult [2:23] 2. Diabolica Blasphemiae [5:58] 3. Sepulcrum Spectra [5:15] 4. Malum Incarnatus Est [6:58] 5. Consummatum Est [1:54]
On November 23rd internationally, Sepulchral Productions is proud to present Sombre Héritage‘s highly anticipated second album, Inter Duo Mundi.
Three years after a debut album that drew a lot of attention, Sombre Héritage strikes hard with its sophomore album, which sees its mastermind Exu propel his epic black metal towards new heights. Inter Duo Mundi offers a relentless barrage of incisive and melodic riffs, each one more memorable that the last, complemented by an ice-cold yet powerful production. A must for fans of melodic black metal!
First track premiere to be revealed shortly. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Sombre Héritage’s Inter Duo Mundi. 1. Inter Duo Mundi – Initium 2. Alces Alces 3. Chasse Éperdue 4. Délire Onirique 5. Enchevêtré 6. Tiraillé 7. Insolence 8. Inter Duo Mundi – Exitus
Today, Purity ThroughFire announces December 21st as the international release date for Avskräde‘s highly anticipated second album, Undergång, on CD, vinyl LP, and A5 digipack formats.
In December 2021, Avskräde emerged from storms of old with their debut full-length for Purity ThroughFire, Det stora tunga sjuka. Hailing from Sweden, the duo dutifully reinvigorated ancient Scandinavian black metal, both from Norway as well as their native land. No more but definitely no less, Det stora tunga sjuka was traditional BLACK METAL Exclusively: pure freezing fire, nasty and rustic and primitive but not without nuance.
And so it goes, a full two years later, with Avskräde‘s Undergång. Whereas the duo’s debut reminded of Darkthrone’s “Peaceville trilogy” and Malicious-era Gorgoroth, here on their second album do they kick up the nastiness and let the (freezing) filth flow freely, nodding to such underrated Darkthrone tomes as Total Death or even Ravishing Grimness. Indeed is Avskräde‘s grimness ravishing across Undergang, but compared to successive disciples as early Craft and Armagedda, the duo incorporate a slight bit more melody into proceedings – at times haunting, others anxious, but always hammered with cruel efficiency. And if there’s one phrase to characterize Avskräde at this point, it’s “cruelly efficient”; their songwriting is stripped to the fucking bone, but every note and hit is fucking RIGHT, and their live-in-the-rehearsal-room execution is blanching in its tightness. And once again, the album maintains a richly Grieghallen-esque production for maximum authenticity. Winter is looming, so hasten its arrival with Undergång!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Må du brinna” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Avskräde’s Undergång 1. Må du brinna 2. När bönerna tystnat 3. Mänsklighetens avskräde 4. Av lågornas hunger förtäras 5. Natten nalkas 6. Naturens borg 7. Forskarlen 8. Ty du skall ner i jorden skrämmas 9. Mörker du majestätiska 10. Ångest 11. Fri
Today, Polish black metallers Teufelsberg stream the entirety of their highly anticipated second album, Pakt mit dem Teufel. Set for international release on October 31st via Signal Rex, hear Teufelsberg‘s Pakt mit dem Teufel in its entirety here:
Since their ascent from time’s abyss in with the public debut with the 2020 demo Ancient Darkness Triumphant, Poland’s Teufelsberg have stood against the modern world – and namely, the modern “black metal underground.” Using their noble Polish roots as an unshakable aesthetic foundation, the horde lit fires for the olden days with each successive recording, culminating in both a covenant with Signal Rex and their debut album, Ordre du Diable, during the early half of 2022.
Keeping those fires blazing brightly and blacker than ever, Teufelsberg return their second full-length strike, Pakt mit dem Teufel. As cold and grim as ever, the band here spelunk among corridors rich in the treasures of pre-internet black metal, integrating not only their ancient Polish idiom but also contemporaneous Nordic and Hellenic ones. In a sense, there’s a sense of deja vu…initially, as the deeper one dives among Teufelsberg‘s treasures, the more those jewels shimmer in a manner uniquely the band’s own. As ever, the horde’s raw-yet-clear tones and attendant execution are superlative for their defiance against prevailing trends, and the full might of their mysticism is surely felt every second of this six-song/38-minute album.
“Pakt mit dem Teufel was signed in blood somewhere in Poland during the full moon in 2022,” the band declare. “Teufelsberg continues to follow the path of Unholy Black Metal. The funeral bell carries its song bathed in moonlight. It calls impure souls to the top of the Devil’s Mountain, calls to make a pact and worship HIM.”
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Teufelsberg’s Pakt mit dem Teufel 1. Hunger etter synd 2. Der ruf des Mephistopheles 3. Gospel of Diabolical Freedom 4. La Beauté du Diable 5. Noc Walpurgii, Lucyfera Dar! 6. Wpiekłowstąpienie (in Herrlichkeit inmitten der Flammen)
Today, Signal Rex announces December 8th as the international release date for Geistaz’ika‘s highly anticipated second album, Midnatsbøn ved Djævelens Port, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.
Hailing from Denmark’s revitalized (and rising) black metal underground, the shadowy entity known as Geistaz’ika revealed their first public recording, Trolddomsejd i skovens dybe kedel, at the very end of 2018, but only digitally. So impressed by its windswept wonder, Signal Rex eagerly stepped forward to release this debut album unto the worldwide stage less than a year later.
Five years on from that fresh breath of old air, Geistaz’ika return with their second album, Midnatsbøn ved Djævelens Port. Continuing the windswept wonder of its not-inconsiderable predecessor, Midnatsbøn ved Djævelens Port lays bare an even-more-poignant landscape of mysticism and melancholy. Here, Geistaz’ika put pronounced emphasis on delicate acoustics, amplifying their already dynamic sound, still recalling the likes of both the Norwegian Perished and Hades but also early Isvind, Helheim, and Ulver. But to reference such immortal names only underlines the authentically ancient ground upon which Geistaz’ika walk, and they duly back up such bravura with their most windingly epic songwriting yet; two tracks on Midnatsbøn ved Djævelens Port top 10 minutes each, with the closing “Fortabt Moribund” just eking past 20 minutes. Uniquely, the band even incorporate the “singing” saw into their foggy atmospheres, which are already dense with a swirling blanket of choirs. Fittingly, the production across the album carries the aura of classic Nordic black metal circa 1995 – otherworldly to the extreme, but nevertheless the work of actual humans (and actual bass guitar can be heard, too) – with the mastering courtesy of Henri Sorvali and Trollhouse Audio no doubt helping. Not so much a rejection of the modern “black metal” scene as it simply ignores the last 25 years of such, Geistaz’ika continue creating their own solemn, sensorial world with Midnatsbøn ved Djævelens Port. To celebrate this new album’s release, Trolddomsejd i skovens dybe kedel is concurrently being reissued by Signal Rex.
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Med Korstegn og Grådkvalt Fadervor” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Geistaz’ika’s Midnatsbøn ved Djævelens Port 1. Mareredet Hyrdetime [1:40] 2. Bestænkt af Syndens Vievand [13:17] 3. Med Korstegn og Grådkvalt Fadervor [9:01] 4. Asken fra Hendes Brænden [4:27] 5. Fortabt Moribund [20:04]
Today, black/death sophisticates Deathcode Society reveal the new video “Scolopendra.” The track is the first to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated second album, Unightenment, set for international release on November 24th via Osmose Productions. See & hear Deathcode Society‘s “Scolopendra” video in its entirety here:
The pale light that shines in a kingdom of darkness could be just another deadly lure…
After a debut album showing the will to re-ignite the flame of a sophisticated and emphatic approach of extreme metal, yet still deeply rooted in the second wave of Scandinavian black metal, Deathcode Society are back with Unlightenment, a merciless dive into the aphotic zone, as the cover artwork by Kjell Age Melland shows.
Epic and eerie, the seven songs explore the depth of the human mind through a restless and tempestuous music melting together a brutal metal instrumentation with orchestral arrangements, choirs, synths, and concrete samples.
With lyrics bathed in dark surrealism – two of them being rendering of poems by Andrew Joron and René Daumal – Unlightenment is a musical journey through the Other Side and this gloomy maze where psychosis, murderous urges and mystical obsessions endlessly wander.
Preorder info can be found HERE. Presave link can be found HERE. Aforementioned cover artwork and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Deathcode Society’s Unenlightenment
1. Scolopendra 5:56 2. Shards 7:29 3. La nuée 6:10 4. Scales 8:20 5. Mazed Interior 6:10 6. À la néante 10:13 7. Narcosis 7:51
Icelandic black metal ensemble HELFRÓ are back with their sophomore album Tálgröf – a project inspired by the dark manifestations of the human mind. The sickness of humankind is explored through intense rhythmic passages, fusing the extremities of traditional death metal together with sombre, introspective lyrical convictions.
On the second single ‘Ildi Óhreins Anda’, meaning Oxygen for the Unclean Spirit in English, a melodic, chugging groove is set while shrieking vocals howl away on humanity’s exceptional ability to deceive. The track ultimately culminates in Tálgröf‘s most destructive sounding drums & supersonic tremolo-picked guitar.
“The lyrics for this song revolve specifically about lying. How lying to others can benefit your cause and help throw people off the trail as you plan to do them harm, and how lying is a right that the manipulator should exercise whenever they can,” says Ragnar. “Lying is the foundation of their success, the oxygen that they breathe to survive.”
Watch the visualizer video for ‘Ildi Óhreins Anda’, created by Jeffrey V. Daniels here:
Formed amidst the haunting landscapes of Iceland, HELFRÓ is a formidable force in the world of blackened death metal. With their relentless aggression, atmospheric soundscapes, and compelling songwriting, they have carved their own path in the metal scene.
The journey of HELFRÓ began when guitarist and songwriter Ragnar Sverrisson sought to bring his musical visions to life, Drawing inspiration from the bleakness of Icelandic winters, the mysticism of nature, and the chaos of the human experience. HELFRÓ‘s debut album, aptly titled “Helfró“, was released in 2020, marking the band’s official entry into the world of extreme metal. With a relentless barrage of blast beats, crushing riffs, and haunting melodies, the album showcased their ability to seamlessly blend aggression and atmosphere.
Evolving with the advent of the sophomore album, Tálgröf, listeners can expect even more ferocity as HELFRÓ dives deeper into death metal territory while not straying to far from the signature ice-cold climactic tremolo riffing notable of their previous work. Characterized by its ferocity, the new album also carries introspective and thought-provoking themes, reflecting the band members’ willingness to explore the depths of the human experience. HELFRÓ is destined to leave an impact on the realm of extreme music, captivating audiences with their unique brand of Icelandic metal.
Today, medieval black metallers One of Nine stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Eternal Sorcery. Set for international release on October 27th via Wolves of Hades, hear One of Nine‘s Eternal Sorcery in its entirety here:
Listen. Here is One of Nine An image Shrouded in Unlight. A sound Enchanted by the Mother of Strangling Doom. One of Nine Unfaced, and unlit. They present here their efforts, a collection of tales. An offering to the perilous realm and the Great Tyrant of Utumno! Eternal Sorcery! Eternal Sorcery! Eternal Sorcery!
Eight pummeling hymns of dark majesty, with every note echoing the burden of piety to the Black Foe of the World.
No remorse will be found in the wailing vocals, coupled with intricate guitar work – blazing with catchy-yet-somber melodic leads and acoustic lines.
And no rest will be felt in the rhythmic, percussive assault – a symbiotic swirling of song and sorcery.
Come and see! As they journey through sonorous blood and fire, as they carry the glorious spark of olden days into unknown eons, with an iron will and a fervor that shines beyond the pathetic perimeters of time and space, into a vortex of Black Medieval Sorrow!
Eternal Sorcery will drag the pitiable listener from the windless Sundering Sea to the Forgotten South of the World, beyond the borders of the sun-lit lands, to that final realm, where the dark nets of enshrouding gloom drape eternal.
They are One of Nine! This is Eternal Sorcery!
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for One of Nine’s Eternal Sorcery
1. Lurkers of the Half-Light 2. The Silence of Heaven 3. Dark Magic River 4. Mother of Shadows 5. Moonlit Sacrifice 6. God Chain 7. Wrathful Rebirth 8. A Hunter Rides The Night
