NATTVERD reveal second video from new SOULSELLER album

Today, Norwegian black metallers Nattverd reveal the new video “Det Stormer I Norge.” The track is the second to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated fourth album, I Helvetes Forakt, set for international release on May 26th via Soulseller Records. See & hear Nattverd‘s “Det Stormer I Norge” video in its entirety here:

Hailing from Bergen, Nattverd was initially started in the ’90s, but due to reasons beyond control, the band’s official formation was delayed until 2014. A few tracks were written during this period by founders Ormr (vocals, guitar) and Atyr (guitar), which later culminated in Nattverd‘s debut album, Vi vet gud Er En Løgner, in 2017. On this album, Ormr and Atyr recruited Serpentr on drums, and the record received great critical acclaim in the underground scene. A year later, they released the EP Skuggen, which featured Skjolden on guest drums, from Norway’s infamous Fester. Shortly after this EP, they wrote their second album, Styggdom, and recruited drummer Antichristian (ex-Tsjuder) and bassist Sveinr (Nordjevel, ex-Ragnarok). 

Thereafter, Nattverd scored a record deal with Osmose Productions, and eventually released Styggdom in 2020 through the label to high praise in the media. In 2021, they released their third album, Vandring – also through Osmose – and were signed by Flaming Arts Agency to take their music to the live arena. On this album, Aven joined the band on guitars, and after the album, they parted ways with drummer Antichristian. They were then joined by drummer Renton (ex-Urgehal, ex-Sarkom), which then led to the band recorded their fourth album in Caliban Studio Storsjøen.

Titled I Helvetes Forakt, Nattverd‘s fourth album is their first with new label home Soulseller Records, longtime fans of the band. Much as its cover art forecasts the contents ahead, I Helvetes Forakt effortlessly transports the listener to wintry, alluringly desolate landscapes, working as much atmospherically as they do aggressively. More than ever, Nattverd embody the cryogenic majesty of classic Norwegian black metal, conjured during the glorious 1990s but by no means tethered to that past. If anything, the quintet have their sights set on the distant future, patiently pushing their sound forward to icier heights (and depths) whilst maintaining their distinct poise and personality. And to punctuate the release of I Helvetes Forakt, Nattverd are confirmed to play Steelfest Open Air 2023.

Also hear the previously revealed “En Poesende Eim I Vinden” HERE, also at Soulseller‘s official YouTube channel. Preorder info for world can be found HERE while preorder for the Americas can be found HERE. Cover artwork, courtesy of Misanthropic-Art, and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Nattverd’s I Helvetes Forakt

1. Det Stormer I Norge
2. Vandring I Elver Av Blod
3. En Poesende Eim I Vinden
4. Oeyne I Natten
5. Forbannet Vaere
6. Helvete Kjenner Alt, Selv Naar Taaken Har Lagt Seg
7. En gammel Kriger Trosser Vind Og Vaer
8. Gudsforlatt
9. Elvedjuvet
10. I Moerke Skip Innover

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/nattverdofficial

www.soulsellerrecords.com 
www.facebook.com/soulsellerrecords

THANATOMASS stream LIVING TEMPLE debut album

Today, lawless black metallers Thanatomass stream the entirety of their highly anticipated debut album, Hades. Set for international release on May 12th via Living Temple Records, hear Thanatomass‘ Hades in its entirety here:

The origins of Thanatomass are shadowy, but their first public recording – 2018’s MMXV-MMXVI demo – reveals some hints as to that mystery. From there, the conflagration was lit; the power-trio continued to expound upon their lawless black metal ultraviolence, exploding with more eldritch energies and ever-more-ravenous devotion with each successive strike. The following year’s Darkest Conjurations EP saw Thanatomass link up with current conspirators Living Temple, becoming more barbaric and atmospheric simultaneously, which then reached a fever pitch with 2021’s Black Vitriol & Iron Fire EP. These two short-lengths evinced exceptionally more ideas and of course far more violence than records twice their length, and suitably etched the band’s name into the underground as one to watch…and be fearful of.

At long last, Thanatomass‘ first official full-length arises with Hades. Here, immediately, past and present are consumed by unquenchable fire, an absolute bloodlust that cannot be sated – a near-overwhelming display of ultraviolent physicality that takes on a supernatural aspect, so impossibly askew is their attack. With but a minute-long intro to set the stage and prepare the unsuspecting for the cosmic onslaught ahead, Hades kicks into contorting/spiraling form with the 10-minute epic “Templvm Carnalis / Vomit Ceremony,” which mainlines the OTT diabolism of Sarcofago’s INRI into the vortextural slipstream of classic Katharsis. But as the album plays on – and as the listener’s will is reflexively, irrevocably broken down, submission turning to hypnotism and eventually immolation – those sonic signposts are successively uprooted, and it’s brazenly displayed that Thanatomass are operating with a decidedly unique approach to songwriting. Still ultraviolent, sure, and arguably one of the most dangerous displays of such within nowadays’ underground, Hades presents clear & caustic ideas hammered to their logical conclusion only to birth yet more vulgar shapes that then contort and distort themselves into continually frightening contours…all with nary a pause for breath. But lest one think that Thanatomass are “chaotic” or “dissonant” or other such loaded descriptors, it must be stressed that their chops and execution are superlative: natural and “live,” as it should be, with no fake punch-ins and the like, honoring the ancient ways of heavy metal fire. And, just like their prior recordings but especially more so here, Thanatomass are undeniably a black METAL band, flying the flag of the first wave but prepared to burn any banners or standards as needed.

At seven songs across 44 minutes, with two songs topping eight minutes each and another two topping ten, Hades is a tower of ceremonial debauchery writ in shattered-glass sonics. That David Glomba provides stunning cover and interior artwork further underlines the magnitude of Thanatomass‘ debut album, and altogether stands as the momentous event it was destined to be. Submit to everlasting fire!

Also see & hear a recent Thanatomass live performance HERE. Preorder info can be found HERE at Living Temple‘s Bandcamp. Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Thanatomass’ Hades

1. Katabasis (Intromass) [1:04]
2. Templvm Carnalis / Vomit Ceremony [10:01]
3. Gravedance Sabbath [2:18]
4. Living Tombs Of Tartaros [8:31]
5. Sorcery Of Hades [8:52]
6. The Bone Nimbus [1:19]
7. Retromass (Morbid Ordinance Of Doom) [11:27]

MORE INFO:
lvxmorgenstern.org

www.living-temple.org 
www.facebook.com/livingtemplerecords 

GEIST OF OUACHITA set release date for SIGNAL REX debut album, reveal first track

Today, Signal Rex announces June 16th as the international release date for Geist of Ouachita‘s highly anticipated debut album, Imprisoned in the Graven Wood, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette formats.

One of the best new developments in American black metal, Geist of Ouachita is the work of one Roanake, who numbers nearly a dozen other projects the past three years, some of them even cross-continental. With Geist of Ouachita, the focus is on unremittingly grim yet alluringly melodic BLACK METAL: black metal from the ancient dungeons of the ’90s, and also black metal from the raw renaissance of the past decade – the latter, largely under the auspices of Signal Rex, who’ve made household names of Portugal’s most intimidating cults.

After a split with Eternal Tomb earlier this year courtesy of Signal Rex, Geist of Ouachita arrive with their full-length debut, Imprisoned in the Graven Wood. With ghastly and ghostly aplomb, Roanoke reaps a whirlwind of dungeonic hideousness tempered with an askew melodicism that makes the six-song/33-minute record strangely hummable. Such did France’s eternal Black Legions do so back in the mid ’90s, but Geist of Ouachita expand the narrative quality latent to such melodies and wind through them deceptively epic corridors. Similarly, Portugal’s own Black Circle provide an aesthetic foundation, but Roanoke continually evinces his own personality here in the remarkably varied songwriting, often underpinned by a subtle (and sensual) fog of synths, altogether making for an engaging listen even when faced with such a stratifying soundfield. Resistance is futile once one becomes Imprisoned in the Graven Wood!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “From a Tree I Hang in Chains” here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Geist of Ouachita’s Imprisoned in the Graven Wood
1. Vampyric Exhumation [5:22]
2. Awakening of Ancient Blood [4:58]
3. Lust of Ichor [4:55]
4. From a Tree I Hang in Chains [5:41]
5. A Vengeful Spirit Imbued by Hatred [4:52]
6. Imprisoned In the Graven Wood [6:15]


MORE INFO:
www.geistofouchita.bandcamp.com

www.signalrex.com
www.facebook.com/signalrex

NECROFIER shares third single of forthcoming album

Texan black metal outlaws NECROFIER will be releasing their second full-length ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ on June 2, 2023 via Season of Mist Underground Activists! 

In celebration, the band is now sharing the vicious new single “Forbidden Light of the Black Moon” along with a music video! The song and video can be found here:

The album was recorded at legendary Studio G in Brooklyn, NY by  6x Grammy nominated and 1x Latin Grammy nominated engineer, producer and musician Joel Hamilton (UNSANE, IGGY POP, TOM WAITS). The album will follow up the band’s debut record ‘Prophecies of Eternal Darkness’ which was released in October of 2021.

‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ is available for pre-order HERE and can be pre-saved on various streaming services HERE.

The cover artwork for ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ was created by Burney and can be found below along with the tracklist.

Track-list:
1. The Fall from Heaven (3:24) 
2. Total Southern Darkness (5:43) 
3. To the Wolves (3:54) [WATCH]
4. Forbidden Light of the Black Moon (5:20) [WATCH]
5. Destroying Angels (5:09) 
6. Whispers That Burn in the Dark (4:40) 
7. The All Seeing shadows (4:44) 
8. On Wings of Death We Burn the Sky (3:50) 
9. Call to the Beyond (4:29) 
10. Burnt by the Sacred Flame (6:00) [WATCH]
Total: 47:12

Deep within the scorching cauldron of Texas, the alchemists of Necrofier have brewed another potent dose of American black metal with their sophomore full-length, ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night.’ The Houston four-piece honors the time-tested virtues of traditional black and heavy metal, even taking an organic sonic approach, tapping seven-time Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton (Unsane, Tom Waits, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, etc.) to lend his magic touch for a natural sound. 

“The goal going into the new record was to start setting ourselves apart from our contemporaries,” explains Necrofier drummer Dobber Beverly. “One of those ways was changing what the record sounded like. Moving away from the clinical and sterile nature that most productions suffer from and back into a real room with real instruments and performances. Our friend and esteemed producer/engineer Joel Hamilton had expressed interest in venturing back into the metal world and offered to make the record with us at his facility, Studio G Brooklyn. With a full vintage Neve front end and a host of Telefunken and Neumann microphones we tracked a record the old way, mostly. The results will speak for themselves hopefully, as this record breathes and spits fire wherever it’s played.” 

“Joel is one of the world’s best engineers,” adds Necrofier guitarist and vocalist Bakka. “Dobber and Joel have become good friends since they recorded the last Oceans of Slumber album with him. After that, Joel wanted to record something heavy, so we made the trip to New York City to record in his legendary studio. It was an amazing experience in a great studio; besides having all the gear, he also created an environment where we challenged ourselves and brough everything up to the next level.” 

‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ doesn’t just simply pick off where Necrofier’s debut album left off, but displays a conscientious effort to double down on the elements that made ‘Prophecies of Eternal Darkness’ successful. The solos are more plentiful and intricate, the hooks are more anthemic, and the overall musicianship is bolder and more daring. Speaking of the band’s evolution, Bakka explains, “I think this collection of songs represents us very well. We have grown together as a band and it shows in the new songs. Also, for this record we flew to NYC and recorded all day long for 10 days straight. I love recording this way because it captures a certain magic. The whole band is immersed in the process and it’s all we would think, do, live and breathe during the process.” 

Another core facet of Necrofier’s allure is being a black metal band from Texas. “Where you live always helps shape someone,” says Bakka. “It helps shape our style and tone in ways, it’s hot most of the year, so as we burn, it gives us warmer tones and more of a heavy metal influence than when compared to our brothers from the North. Also, Texas has a style all of its own; everything is heavier, louder and we are always trying to outdo the rest of the world.” 

To that avail, Necrofier isn’t your typical black metal band, and so this isn’t your typical black metal record as there’s a healthy amount of traditional metal influences, particularly within the guitar work. While conceptually, the band doesn’t heavily rely on Satanic themes, exploring deeper human philosophies and the occult like burning for your dreams or spiraling out on a psychedelic trip and exploring the beyond. “While there isn’t overt satanic worship in the lyrics, I would still say that he is a friend of ours,” Bakka cheekily says. “There are Occult themes on this record, but at the same time, it does take a philosophical approach.” 

Further illustrating the influence of their environment, Necrofier also heavily explores one of Southern America’s most fabled myths. “The new record touches on selling your soul at the crossroads,” adds Bakka. “I like to take a different approach and touch on the elements of the esoteric world and dive into the forbidden or hidden that surrounds us in our lives every day.” 

As the Texan black metal outlaws saddle up for record two, they are leading the charge as one of the contemporary purveyors of black metal revivalism. ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ is certain to elicit a sense of nostalgia for those who dare to lay ears on this vicious new offering.  

Lineup:
Bakka – Vocals, Guitar
Semir Ozerkan – Guitars
Dobber Beverly – Drums
Mat Valentine – Bass

Guest Musicians:
Cammie Beverly (Oceans of Slumber) – Vocals on “The All Seeing Shadows” and “The Fall From Heaven”

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Necrofier 
https://twitter.com/necrofier 
https://www.instagram.com/necrofier/ 
https://necrofier.bandcamp.com

Producer/Sound Engineer/Mixing: Joel Hamilton at Studio G (New York)
Mastering: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/necrofierbsitsn
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NecrofierBSitSN

Formats:
Digital
Digipak
Vinyl in various colours

COFFIN MULCH set release date for MEMENTO MORI debut, reveal first track

In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that deliver the goods unaware of trends and hypes, on June 30th internationally, Memento Mori is proud to present Coffin Mulch‘s highly anticipated debut album, Spectral Intercession.

Hailing from Scotland, Coffin Mulch formed in 2018 and quickly set to work on their debut demo, Coffin Mulch, which was released a year later. Two years later came the Septic Funeral EP, both of which have garnered widespread acclaim in the death metal underground. Although undeniably a DEATH METAL band, the quartet come from a diverse musical background, having played in a variety of different bands throughout the years, but started Coffin Mulch to play old-school, heavy & pounding death metal influenced by late ’80s / early ’90s gods like Entombed, Autopsy, Massacre, Death, and Bolt Thrower. They’re all punks at heart, though, and the DIY ethic and aesthetic is just as important to them as the tunes.

And “tunes” they indeed have across their full-length debut, Spectral Intercession. With gutted tones just on the right side of raw and a horrifying intro to set the scene, Coffin Mulch lurch and crunch forward with ominous intent. Each of the album’s eight tracks offers ample proof of the potency of traditional, turn-of-the-’90s death metal – especially so, when it’s done with this much passion and intensity. Indeed, no matter the tempo employed (and quite often, the band stick to a headbanging gallop), Coffin Mulch make you feel every mangled riff, every ragged drum-hit, every tortured tonsil…the songwriting may be simple, but it’s not simplistic, and it’s their execution that truly puts over Spectral Intercession. Nevertheless, they’re not afraid to put a little twist here and there, whether it’s a fleeting (and subtly employed) guitar effect or an intentionally askew transition, and the rare guitar solo really hits with soul-searing aplomb. Or witness the eerie, climactic closer “Eternal Enslavement,” where a doomed morass opens up and swallows the listener whole.

There’s no shortage of “old school” death metal records these days, but it’s rare to find one with such personality that’s unselfconscious and not belabored. Coffin Mulch find that sweet spot with Spectral Intercession!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Into the Blood” here:

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Coffin Mulch’s Spectral Intercession
1. Spectral Intercession
2. Into the Blood
3. Mental Suicide
4. In the Grip of Death
5. Fall of Gaia
6. Gateway to the Unseen
7. Infernal Mass
8. Eternal Enslavement

 MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/coffinmulch

www.memento-mori.es

SERPENT CORPSE set release date for TEMPLE OF MYSTERY debut, reveal first track

Today, Temple of Mystery Records announces July 5th as the international release date for Serpent Corpse‘s striking debut album, Blood Sabbath, on CD and vinyl LP formats

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!

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Nemesis” here:

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

Preorder info

https://serpentcorpse.bandcamp.com/album/blood-sabbath (EU/Asia/North America)
https://templeofmystery.ca/product-category/serpent-corpse/ (Asia/North America only)

MORE INFO:
www.serpentcorpse.bandcamp.com

www.templeofmystery.ca

GRAFVITNIR set release date for new SHADOW album, reveal first track

Today, Shadow Records (distributed & marketed by Regain Records) announces June 30th as the international release date for Grafvitnir‘s highly anticipated ninth album, Into the Outer Wilderness, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

By now, Grafvitnir require no introduction. Since their fiery birth in 2007 and successive NâHásh debut album in 2012, this still-mysterious Swedish formation have dependably – and provocatively – stoked the fires of ancient black metal, becoming veritable royalty by the end of the decade. From that fiery beginning, Grafvitnir‘s aesthetic has been firm and unyielding: exquisitely and restlessly melodic, its sulfurous fire paradoxically as cryogenic as it comes, medieval in atmosphere and literally bewitching in feel and fury. To suggest that the band harken back to a time when Dissection sired countless clones – but, crucially, each one of them as satisfying and significant as the next – is to underline the gravitas of Grafvitnir‘s particular vision of black metal: a steadfast and enduring classicism that’s timeless then, now, and forever into the future.

And so it goes with Grafvitnir‘s ninth album, Into the Outer Wilderness. No compromise, no quarter: this is Grafvitnir further distilled into 43 minutes of menace and majesty. But the title Into the Outer Wilderness is telling, as the duo here evoke that sensation of plunging into a clandestine world of witchcraft and sacred rites, spun into a delirium through somehow shimmering and even sparkling melodicism. And yet, for however organic their productions have always sounded – rough and raw, sure, but most importantly, human – there’s conspicuously more grit here on Into the Outer Wilderness as well as clarity, making for a unique entry into Grafvitnir‘s nigh-untouchable catalog. Elsewhere, it’s righteously ripping songwriting as only these Swedes can deliver, entrancing and enervating as ever; there is only one Grafvitnir then, now, and especially forever. Venture forth Into the Outer Wilderness!

Begin venturing with the brand-new track “Through the Witchcraft Door” here:

. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Grafvitnir’s Into the Outer Wilderness
1. Conjuring the Serpent Flames (Intro)
2. Into the Outer Wilderness
3. Venomous Incantations
4. Lycanthropic Litany
5. Där köldvindar skriker av hat
6. From a Thousand Ages Lost
7. Through the Witchcraft Door
8. Urtidens becksvarta arv
9. Seekers of Fire


MORE INFO:
www.grafvitnir.bandcamp.com 

www.shadowrecords.se
www.regainrecords.se
www.facebook.com/shadowrecords.se

MIDDEN stream ETERNAL DEATH debut demo – features members of TARE+++

On May 5th internationally, Eternal Death is proud to present the debut demo of Midden, Demo 2023, on cassette tape format. And today, they stream of their demo in its entirety. Hear Midden‘s Demo 2023 in its entirety here:

Midden are a new entity hailing from the West Coast of the United States. They feature within their ranks guitarist Draak, whose prior bands include Tare, who released a tape via Eternal Death in 2014, during the early days of the label. 

Naturally for Eternal Death, Midden play harsh & raw black metal in the purest manner: no hope, no light. The band’s first public recording, Demo 2023 features six songs within 28 minutes of cold & cruel obsidian. True to their word, Midden is an ode to the remnants of the human blight. It looks both inward and outward, infatuated with the destruction of self and the crumbling of the scourge that is collective humankind. Demo 2023 swiftly accomplishes that, with sounds at once hammering and desolate, spiraling out of control into the abyss and austerely navigating its orbit. True ancient-days BLACK METAL, not for trendy ears – herald the beginning of Midden!

Preorder info can be found HERE at Eternal Death‘s Bandcamp. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Midden’s Demo 2023
1. III
2. IV
3. VII
4. VIII
5. XI
6. V

www.eternal-death.com
eternaldeath.bandcamp.com

CRAFT announce string of tour dates for 2023

Swedish black metal masters CRAFT have announced a new string of festival dates for May and June 2023. The announcement includes appearances at the prestigious Ascension Festival in Reykjavik Iceland and a small Mexican run! A full list of confirmed shows can be found below.

CRAFT comment: “This week, from May 4-7th, CRAFT will cross the pond to deliver darkness and chaos in Mexico for the very first time. We expect nothing but sheer dedication from what we hear is some of the best crowds in the world. This may also be the first time we play something from the new album being recorded this summer…
 
Attendance is mandatory, cabrónes!“
CRAFT‘s latest release “White Noise and Black Metal” can be found via the official Season of Mist YouTube channel HERE.

CRAFT Festivals 2023
19 May 23 Reykjavik (IS) Ascension Festival
17 Jun 23 Grod Rycerski w Byczynie (PL) Black Silesia Festival
30 Jun 23 Friesack (DE) Under The Black Sun Festival
21 Jul 23 Volyne (CZ) Etaf Festival

CRAFT Mexico
04 May 23 Monterrey (MX) Café Iguana
05 May 23 Guadalajara (MX) Foro Independencia
06 May 23 CDMX (MX) HDX Circus Bar
07 May 23 León (MX) Rock Station

CRAFT will be playing in support of their latest album “White Noise and Black Metal”. The amazing cover, which has been created by renowned Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak, can be viewed together with the album details below.

Track-list
1. The Cosmic Sphere Falls (4:56)
2. Again (4:15)
3. Undone (6:39)
4. Tragedy of Pointless Games (6:27)
5. Darkness Falls (4:50)
6. Crimson (4:49)
7. Shadow (5:40)
8. White Noise (4:42)
Total: 42:18

By dry definition, white noise denotes a random signal having equal intensity at different frequencies, giving it a constant power spectral density. It has been commonly employed in electronic music and denotes for instance the sound of a non-existent radio station, while searching through the spectrum for a signal. For black metal it denotes the yin to the yang of the will to shape forms and patterns of melodies and rhythms and as such has a constant presence.

CRAFT have chosen their title as a perfect description of this symbiotic relationship into which the seeming contrast and contradiction of black and white enters. With ‘White Noise and Black Metal’, the Swedes return to strength after a long hiatus following the release of previous full-length, ‘Void’ (2011). The forthcoming album combines the vitriolic virtues of ‘Terror Propaganda’ (2002) with an updated songwriting that is as mature and intelligent as it is razor-sharp. The fast and furious of extreme metal contrasts with dark and depressive passages with added undertones of black ‘n’ roll

CRAFT embodies the black metal virtue of raw spiritual energy expressed through violent, ripping guitar-work and unholy rhythms enhanced by demonic vocals. The Swedes have long enjoyed a massive cult status within underground circles, yet also gained strong acclaim and recognition by mainstream metal media and critics.

CRAFT were spawned by guitarist Joakim, who was joined by a friend on drums in late 1994. Lead guitarist John was added to the roster in 1996 but left in 1998 only to return about a year later. A demo entitled ‘Total Eclipse’ hit the world in 1999, which led to a first record deal. During the recording of their crushing debut ‘Total Soul Rape’ (2000), the Swedes were reinforced by vocalist Nox. This misanthropic album captured the ear of SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, who released sophomore opus ‘Terror Propaganda’ in 2002 on his own label. With their extremely dark music the group gained much acclaim by critics and fans alike. CRAFT continued to build and expand their typical hateful and destructive style by adding ‘Fuck the Universe’ (2005) and ‘Void’ (2011) to the list of their albums. Meanwhile bass player Alex had joined and with their completed line-up the band finally became a live entity in September 2014. 

Now CRAFT are ready to take a giant step in their career with the extremely strong, ‘White Noise and Black Metal’. This is misanthropic Swedish black metal honed to perfection.

www.facebook.com/craftblackmetal
www.instagram.com/craftblackmetal
https://craftofficial.bandcamp.com

Current line-up
Joakim: guitars, electronics
Nox: vocals
John Doe: guitars
Alex: bass

ROTTEN UK reveal first track from new HELLS HEADBANGERS album – features MIDNIGHT’s Athenar

Today, dark metalpunk mavericks Rotten UK reveal the new track “Decolonization.” The track is the first to be revealed from the band’s highly anticipated second album, Age of Chaos, which should see release this summer via Hells Headbangers on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. Featuring Midnight’s Athenar, hear Rotten UK‘s “Decolonization” in its entirety here:

When Rotten UK made their long-awaited full-length debut, That Is Not Dead, in 2016, it seemed like quite the surprise coming from HELLS HEADBANGERS. Although pure punk rock is a rarity the label, the form Rotten UK played on that celebrated debut – and proceeded to uniquely twist to their own design, with power and personality, across its 14 anthemic tracks – is actually a variety that inspired many early speed metal and thrash bands: commonly known as UK82, this subgenre was indeed a strain of early ’80s UK punk that synthesized the anthemic Oi! style before it with the nascent harder/faster style pioneered by the likes of Discharge, The Exploited, and GBH. But UK82 wasn’t the only thing lurking in Rotten UK‘s cauldron; other stated influences included early Finnish legends like Kaaos and Riistetyt as well as England’s Disorder and Broken Bones. Of course, trainspotters will know frontman James von Sinn from Japanese-style metalpunks Blüdwülf.

And, in many ways, von Sinn carries on that cult band’s too-long-dormant legacy with Rotten UK‘s back-from-the-dead second album, Age of Chaos. Although some seven years separate the two albums, Age of Chaos carries forward the sound of its predecessor with renewed vigor and a wider ‘n’ wilder palette. Not for nothing does the 46-minute album comprise a full 15 songs: exhibiting both staggering variety and finely honed focus, Rotten UK‘s second full-length sweeps across throttling metalpunk, hammering anarcho-punk, and even early goth, as it evolved from punk and into deathrock, with effortless aplomb. Thus, one will find influences from the aforementioned Broken Bones but also Amebix, Rudimentary Peni, and even Hellhammer, all rendered in Rotten UK‘s engaging ‘n’ enigmatic style. The Exploited play a prominent influence, too, both their paradigmatic thrashing style as well as their goth-tinged classic Horror Epics; other early goth touchstones here include UK Decay, Screaming Dead, and the early works of Christian Death and T.S.O.L. But even with these spidery dynamics integrated, Rotten UK‘s second album surges with a heaviness only hinted at earlier, with the crush coming from a firm UKHC foundation of early Sacrilege, English Dogs, Onslaught, Warfare, and especially later Anti-Cimex. And while the songwriting is superlative, the production of Age of Chaos is both authentically vintage and remarkably clear & cutting, courtesy of recording at Vanik’s Mercinary Studios. The Midnight link continues with guest vocals by mainman Athenar on a track and guest vocals by Ho99o9’s Eaddy on both a track and a bonus track.

Completing the totality of this momentous record, Age of Chaos features stunning cover artwork courtesy of THE legendary Frank Frazetta, officially licensed from his family. Songs of revenge, revolution, and the Apocalypse, with magic and the occult swirling all about – Rotten UK return into an Age of Chaos!

Release date, aforementioned cover art, and tracklisting for Age of Chaos to be revealed shortly. For more info, consult the links below.

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/rotten.uk

www.hellsheadbangers.com