Black Metal

RUNESPELL and FOREST MYTICISM to release split album thru IRON BONEHEAD

Today, Iron Bonehead Productions sets May 15th as the international release date for Wandering Forlorn, a special split album between Runespell and Forest Mysticism, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

A cross-generational meeting of two very old souls, Wandering Forlorn brings together two Australian hordes who’ve been following the voice of blood longer than most have been alive. Runespell mainman Nightwolf has been forging steel in the glare of burning churches since 2017. In feverish succession, his three albums for Iron Bonehead have poignantly presented pagan black metal in an authentically old yet refreshingly new hue, and with his three equally epic tracks here, Runespell shows that the fire is far from extinguished – in fact, its flames soar ever higher like spears hunting heaven. By comparison, Forest Mysticism put Down Under paganism on the map nearly 15 years ago and then retreated into the shadows in 2011, honor intact. Come 2018, the Hearken EP indeed hearkened the band’s rebirth, and the three stout-yet-sumptuous tracks here continue that noble trajectory. And aside from a single-track split last year, Wandering Forlorn marks the most extended Forest Mysticism recording since the no-less-considerable Hearken, a true fire of awakening.
Forest Mysticism
Past, present, and future…the ancients roam free across all. Wandering Forlorn are Runespell and Forest Mysticism, their creed of iron resilient and resounding.

In the meantime, hear a special teaser here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Wandering Forlorn Runespell:
1. Wolfwoods
2. Streams of Sorrow
3. Fated in Blood
  Forest Mysticism:
1. Summon
2. Rivers of Silver (II)
3. Ancient Tides of War
www.facebook.com/IronBoneheadProductions

ORDER OF ORIAS set release date for long-awaited new W.T.C. album

Today, W.T.C. Productions sets April 30h as the international release date for Order of Orias‘ long-awaited second album, Ablaze.

It’s been nine long years since Australia’s Order of Orias released their bold debut album, Inverse, for W.T.C. Since then, in 2015, only a split EP with Aosoth arrived: but while being “merely” one track, Order of Orias‘ contribution was a staggering 13-minute epic, suggesting further glories to come. But then, only silence followed. The band’s flame of creation had not been extinguished; it was merely simmering in the shadows…

At long last, Order of Orias step forth from those shadows with a stark ‘n’ strident second album, fittingly bearing the title Ablaze. Indeed, the Order here blaze with a fury, locking into a moody ‘n’ martial style of black metal which seamlessly moves from teeth-gnashingly tense violence to smoke-swirlingly hypnotic downtempo passages. Within, big open chords reverberate with haunting magnitude while gravel-throated vocalist A.S explores sepulchral depths of the spirit. Co-conspirator D.A’s riffing in particular explores bolder expanses of the aggression vs. atmosphere divide, working within that spectrum a sulfurous magick. As such, Ablaze is an album equally suited to stage and solitude, of external displays of hatred and internal ones of same.

While orthodox black metal has largely been a sleeping beast lo these many years, it sometimes falls to yesteryear’s mavericks to awaken and shake the firmaments – and that’s exactly what Order of Orias do with Ablaze. And with Nocturnal Graves’ Jarro Raphael on session drums and mastering by Order of Apollyon’s BST, they’re certainly in good company. The flame still burns!

First track premiere to be revealed shortly.

Cover art, courtesy of Fenomeno Design, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Order of Orias’ Ablaze
1. Blood To Dust
2. Gleaming Night
3. Raging Idols
4. Snares & Thorns
5. Crowned In Brass
6. Dawning Light
MORE INFO: www.facebook.com/orderoforias
www.w-t-c.org
www.facebook.com/W.T.C.Productions

THY DYING LIGHT reveal first track from PURITY THROUGH FIRE debut album – features members of ÚLFARR and NEFARIOUS DUSK+++

Today, UK black metal stronghold Thy Dying Light reveal the new track “Under the Horns.” The track is the first to be revealed from the band’s long-awaited debut album, Thy Dying Light, set for international release on April 11th via Purity Through Fire. Hear Thy Dying Light‘s “Under the Horns” in its entirety here:
Since 2016, Thy Dying Light have prolifically pursued their vision of uncompromising, antisocial UK black metal – or, under their own banner of Cumbrian Black Metal. Founded by vocalist/guitarist Hrafn – who counts among his activities the equally prolific Úlfarr as well as the equally long-running Nefarious Dusk – and more recently joined by guitarist & drummer Azrael (also of Nefarious Dusk), across three demos, four EPs, and just as many compilations have Thy Dying Light hatefully unleashed a torrent of traditional black metal fervor, including countless gigs bringing that violence to the stage.

At long last, Thy Dying Light deliver their debut album, fittingly self-titled. No more but definitely no less, Thy Dying Light encapsulates with chilling perfection the duo’s devilish and dangerous style of black metal. Hammering and more hateful than ever, here do Thy Dying Light create ten terrorizing tracks that span a surprising amount of variety given how strictured their traditional stylings are. References can of course be made to classic Craft, Khold, and most especially ’90s Darkthrone and Gorgoroth, but Thy Dying Light indeed beams with an obsidian glow all their own. Malevolently melodic, hellishly headbanging, inhumane in intent but defiantly human in execution, Thy Dying Light fully strike with sadist glee – fucking feel the fist of Satan!

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Thy Dying Light’s Thy Dying Light
1. Under the Horns
2. Cold In Death
3. Impaler
4. Black Death
5. The Rise of Evil
6. Ritual Altar
7. Fist of Satan
8. Temple of Flesh
9. Thy Dying Light
10. Death Knell
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/thydinglight
www.purity-through-fire.com

Mesmerizing black metallers Häxanu premiere new track

Today, mesmerizing black metallers Häxanu premiere the new track “Materia Prima” . The track hails from the band’s striking debut album, Snare of All Salvation, set for international release on April 1st via Amor Fati Productions.
Hear Häxanu‘s “Materia Prima” in its entirety here:
A bolt from the blue, blinding in its obsidian glare, Häxanu‘s first public recording comes courtesy of the extremely prolific Alex Poole, who’s known far & wide for his long-running Chaos Moon as well as Krieg, Skáphe, Ringarė, and Guðveiki among many others. Here joined by vocalist/lyricist L.C., under the Häxanu banner does Poole explore a stargazing surge that’s equal parts violent hysteria and shimmering mysticism, ghostly synths glazing a twisting maw of terror. As such, Snare of All Salvation is undeniably black metal bearing Poole’s distinctive touch, but the stark-yet-subtle layers across these six tracks suggest deeper pools of understanding, grandly culminating in the album’s literally massive 17-minute closing title track…

For Häxanu, a larger thematic indeed informs the band’s debut record. Snare of Salvation is a comparison of the study of alchemy to primal humanity’s attempts to build and ascend the Tower of Babel. The Neoplatonic concept of the great chain of being establishes a hierarchical structure of all matter and life. Alchemy was an explicit pursuit to violate that order – via transmutation of lower metals to higher metals, seeking eternal life, etc – and in a sense, overcome God. In other words, alchemy is an iteration of the lessons not learned from Eden, Babel, and elsewhere: humanity is inevitably punished by its inability to restrain ambition. Kafka once wrote, “If it had been possible to build the Tower of Babel without ascending it, the work would have been permitted.”

Here does Häxanu provide the foundation. Choose to ascend or descend at will, for the Snare of All Salvation infinitely resounds regardless of path undertaken.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Häxanu’s Snare of All Salvation 1. The Pale 2. Materia Prima
3. Sulfur, Salt, Mercury
4. Smaragdina
5. Anima Mundi
6. Snare of All Salvation
www.amor-fati-productions.de 
www.amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/amorfatiprod

BYTHOS set release date for TERRATUR debut, reveal first track – features members of BEHEXEN, HORNA+++

From Finland comes a brand-new alliance who creates their musical black art under the name of Bythos! Bythos has made a pact with the infamous Terratur Possessions and will bring forth their debut album bearing the title The Womb of Zero, to be released April 24th internationally. 

Musically, Bythos combines cold melodies and versatile riffs, creating rich and numinous landscapes which encounters powerful and vicious liturgies. The music supports the lyrical theme of the songs well, and the moods range from oppressive despair to ecstatic praise of the dark gods. The theme of the album is an interdimensional view of the underworld and its deities, emphasizing strongly on the spiritual evolution to liberate the imprisoned powers, and make one with the outer darkness.

The resetting of the divine plans through destruction and rise above limitations of life. Beauty in destruction, destruction in beauty. A sonic interpretation of what once was and our constant path of devolution towards the Luciferian dawn.

Hear the first sounds of that Luciferian dawn with the brand-new track “When Gold Turns Into Lead”
Preorder info can be found HERE.
Cover art, courtesy of Kristiina Lehto, and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Bythos’ The Womb of Zero
1. Black Labyrinth
2. When Gold Turns into Lead
3. Sorath the Opposer
4. Omega Dragon
5. Call of the Burning Blood
6. Hymn to Lucifer
7. Legacy of Naahmah
8. Destroyer of Illusions
9. Luciferian Dawn
BYTHOS lineup
M.S. – vocals (Behexen/ex-Sargeist)
M.L. – guitars/bass (Behexen, Ajattara, Horna)
L.R. – drums (Horna)
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/bythosofficial
www.terraturpossessions.com 
www.facebook.com/TerraturPossessions

FUNERALOPOLIS set release date for MEMENTO MORI debut, reveal first track

In their endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage death metal, on April 27th, Memento Mori is proud to present Funeralopolis‘ striking debut album, …of Deceit and Utter Madness.

Hailing from Switzerland, Funeralopolis was awoken under the name Human Waste in 2006. With vocalist Void joining the band in 2009, they changed the name to Funeralopolis. Void left the band shortly after, but the name stayed. They started recording the first demo, titled …of Death, with a slightly different lineup (guitar-desecrator Thuri also took on vocals) under horrible circumstances in only 48 hours, including mixing and mastering. The tape was released as a co-release between Dark Descent Records and Skeleton Plague. Several years and beers later, the recording of the …of Prevailing Chaos EP took place at Hidden Stash Studios, with a slightly different lineup. It was summoned in 2013.

Funeralopolis didn’t have any lineup changes since 2011, and have been around since a decade now. Over the years, they’ve shared the stage with bands like Mystifier, Dead Congregation, Excruciation, Diocletian, Bölzer, Sadistic Intent, and many more. That stage experience certainly plays into the band’s long-awaited debut album, …of Deceit and Utter Madness. With a gutsfucking guitar tone at the fore and utterly vile bass beneath, Funeralopolis crush chest cavities (and dreams) with a crusty sort of death metal that violently vacillates between lumbering, world-eating doom and ragged, almost-punkish gallops. Indeed, the spectre of domestic legends Hellhammer looms large here, but the band are undoubtedly most influenced by death metal from the late ’80s and early ’90s; such names invoked include Autopsy, Darkthrone (EARLY era), Asphyx, Sadistic Intent, Nihilist, Necrovore, Obituary, Incantation, and Blasphemy. However, other bands like Sodom, Cianide, Sarcofago, Winter, Candlemass, Doom, Carnivore, and many, many more also had a big impact on Funeralopolis. In fact, one could say that the bubbling mass of …of Deceit and Utter Madness is a veritable love letter to all these noble influences.

Fittingly, …of Deceit and Utter Madness is graced with alluring cover art courtesy of Mark Cooper, and maximum heaviness is ensured by Ted Tringo’s mastering job. Funeralopolis open up the earth and present your mass grave!

Take the first step into that grave with the brand-new track “House of West”
Aforementioned cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Funeralopolis’ …of Deceit and Utter Madness 1. Intro
2. Crawling Caskets
3. House of West
4. Witchcraft Horror
5. Devouring Crypts of Darkness
6. Downfall
7. …of Deceit and Utter Madness
8. The Envenomed King
9. Into Unknown Kadath
10. Endzeit Burial
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/Funeralopolisofdeath
www.funeralopolis.bandcamp.com
www.memento-mori.es
www.facebook.com/memento.mori.label

BLASPHAMAGAGOATACHRIST set release date for NUCLEAR WAR NOW! debut album, reveal first track: features members of BLASPHEMY, GOATPENIS, and ANTICHRIST

Today, Nuclear War Now! Productions sets April 27th as the international release date for Blasphamagoatachrist‘s highly anticipated debut album, Bastardizing the Purity, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

In 2018, Blasphamagoatachrist was first summoned by the gods of war to continue the siege that its members had separately waged previously in such notorious hordes as Blasphemy, Goatpenis, and Antichrist (Canada). With its debut demo, Black Metal Warfare, the band laid to rest any skepticism that may have arisen prematurely in response to the thought of another black metal “supergroup” managing to bear the flame that its members’ main projects had first lit decades earlier.  

Blasphamagoatachrist now triumphantly returns with its debut full-length, Bastardizing the Purity, which further solidifies this cult as an entity of its own and one worthy of its members’ collective pedigree. As the demo did two years earlier, Bastardizing the Purity serves as a present-day example of the ferocity with which early-to-mid 1990s bestial black metal emasculated the more impotent varieties of output demonstrated by most contemporaries. Each irreverent hymn is propelled by the combined tactical strikes of Sabbaoth (bass) and Tyrant Virrugus (guitars), while Incinerator of Lacerated Angels and Coffin Destruction (drums) carpet bombs the battlefield, and Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds (vocals) commands the relentless annihilation from above. The final outcome of this 11-track onslaught is one that establishes Blasphamagoatachrist independently above and beyond the list of pretenders to the throne of today’s bestial black metal scene.

In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Death Alchemy” here:
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Blasphamagoatachrist’s Bastardizing the Purity 1. Intro (50 Cal. Demonic Chant) 2. Bastardizing the Purity
3. Black Nuclear Shadows
4. Abysmal Commands
5. Intro (Weapons of Fire and Steel)
6. The Final Blood Orgy
7. Death Alchemy
8. Genocide Evocation
9. Intro (Apocalyptic Battlefields)
10. Fire Demons of Blokula
11. Evil Revelation
www.nwnprod.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Nuclear-War-Now-Productions/114864651994141

Pete Helmkamp’s ABHOMINE stream new OSMOSE / HELLS HEADBANGERS album

Today, Pete Helmkamp’s Abhomine stream the entirety of its highly anticipated second album, Proselyte Parasite Plague. Set for international release on February 28th as a joint release between Osmose Productions and Hells Headbangers, hear Abhomine‘s Proselyte Parasite Plague in its entirety here:
In 2016, Pete Helmkamp released his debut solo project, Abhomine’s Larvae Offal Swine. Philosophically, Larvae Offal Swine is a composition of social, artistic, and existential modes which reflect our reality. Musically, Abhomine creates a heaving, grinding mass (hypnosis) of gnarliness and abject sonic cruelty: the intrepid and enlightened listener plunges willfully into its mental wreckage and violence. Helmkamp is known as an underground legend for his bands Order From Chaos, Angelcorpse, Revenge, Kerasphorus, Terror Organ, and Feldgrau.

In 2020, Pete Helmkamp will release his second Abhomine album, titled Proselyte Parasite Plague, in affiliation with Cazz Grant, known for his bands Crucifier and Grand Belial’s Key. Together, they conjure a scathing, frightening oracle that transcends today’s musical standards. At the forefront is Helmkamp’s unmistakable iron/fire throat, furious hypnagogic guitar, and brute bass attack. Grant delivers a shrieking black murk on vocals and indomitable drums. Abhomine’s Proselyte Parasite Plague is a rearrangement of the paradox which grips the subconscious. Helmkamp’s second creation unshackles the traditional norms of black and death metal with shapeshifting riffs ushered in by ruthless drumming.

For the last three decades, Helmkamp and Grant have been pioneers in the black/death underground genre. They have remained firm in their convictions and declarations. With Abhomine’s Proselyte Parasite Plague, listeners will bear witness to Helmkamp’s ominous prophetic foreshadowing while rejoicing in the trenches as the shells fall.

Preorder info can be found HERE as well as HERE.
Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Abhomine’s Proselyte Parasite Plague
1. Heresy Pulpit
2. Infidel and Unclean
3. Gogamgoz
4. Blacklist
5. Saracen
6. Progeny Devoid
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/Abhomine-487162971453007
www.osmoseproductions.com
www.facebook.com/Osmose-Productions-192865300755575
www.hellsheadbangers.com
www.facebook.com/hellsheadbangers 

Norwegian black metallers Enepsigos premiere new track

Today, Norwegian black metallers Enepsigos premiere the new track “Confess” . The track hails from the band’s highly anticipated second album, Wrath of Wraths, set for international release on March 27th via Osmose Productions.
Hear Enepsigos‘ “Confess” in its entirety here:
Despite Enepsigos‘ 2017 debut album, Plague of Plagues, having been enthusiastically welcomed by fans of traditional black metal, the band itself always felt that the album did not really go far enough in establishing what Enepsigos, and its music, was all about. But now, with Osmose Productions set to release Enepsigos‘ sophomore album, Wrath of Wraths, on March 27th inernationally, all that is about to change. Because, according to the band, Wrath of Wraths is “a manifestation of what Enepsigos really is, and will be. Dark, disgusting, twisted, ritualistic, and violent.”

. The first taste can be found with the previously revealed “Cups Of Anger,” which can be heard HERE as well as HERE.

With intro and interludes by Alexander Wolf and V.I.T.H.R, vocals, guitars, and bass for Wrath of Wraths were recorded at the Bergegarda Studios in Norway, while drums were recorded at the Beastcave Studios in Italy. Mixed and mastered by Tore Stjerna at the Necromorbus Studios in Sweden, and with artwork by Benjamin Vierling and additional inlay artwork by Nestor Avalos, tracklisting for Wrath of Wraths is as follows:
Tracklisting for Enepsigos’ Wrath of Wraths
1. Shields Of Faith
2. Confess
3. Seventh Seal
4. The Whore Is The Temple
5. Cups Of Anger
6 Water And Flesh

Wrath of Wraths will be available on CD, digipack, black and limited-edition white vinyl, and digital formats, and is now available to pre-order from the following:
all CD, LP and merch: http://bit.ly/enepsigos-shop

BANDCAMP: http://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/wrath-of-wraths

release page: http://osmoseproductions-label.com/enepsigos-wrath-of-wraths

band page: http://osmoseproductions-label.com/bands/enepsigos

PRESAVE on platforms (Spotify, Deezer, Itunes): http://backl.ink/117810532
Formed in 2016 by V.I.T.H.R – otherwise known as Doedsadmiral, founder and frontman of bands such as Nordjevel, Svartfelder, and Doedsvangr – and drummer Thorns – known for his work with Blut Aus Nord, Deathrow, Fides Inversa, Frostmoon Eclipse, and Darvaza – the band parted company with bassist Straff upon completion of the debut album and were consequently joined by Rituul on bass and guitars, and it is with this lineup that Wrath of Wraths was recorded.

  Originally conceived as a studio project, and demonstrating a brutality and darkness imbued with ritualistic undertones, Enepsigos recently inked a deal with the Flaming Arts Agency to bring the band’s sound, which is unashamedly rooted in early (and some would say “true”) black metal traditions, to live audiences.

For more info, consult the links below.
www.osmoseproductions.com
www.facebook.com/Osmose-Productions-192865300755575

Sólstafir enter studio for 7th full length!

SÓLSTAFIR have now entered the studio for the recording of their seventh full length, which will be released later this year via Season of Mist. The recordings take place at the mighty Sundlaugin Studio (Iceland), where ‘Svartir Sandar’, ‘Ótta’ and ‘Berdreyminn’ were also recorded by producer Birgir Jón Birgisson (Sigur Rós, Alcest, Damien Rice). 

For updates on the recordings, follow SÓLSTAFIR‘s Facebook page or Instagram!

Vocalist Aðalbjörn Tryggvason comments on the recording: “This time around we wrote most of the songs on guitars instead of pianos and organs as we have done a lot in the past. Therefore some songs are pretty heavy, even some are fast, faster than we have been for years”

SÓLSTAFIR have recently released a stunning new video for the track “Bláfjall”, taken from their latest released full-length ‘Berdreyminn’. Watch the emotionally charged video here:
SÓLSTAFIR‘s previous album ‘Berdreyminn’ was released in 2017. The cover artwork and track-list can be found below, together with the album info. 
Track-list 1. Silfur-Refur (6:54)
2. Ísafold (4:59)
3. Hula (7:07)
4. Nárós (7:23)
5. Hvít Sæng (7:22)
6. Dýrafjörður (7:32)
7. Ambátt (8:08)
8. Bláfjall (8:00)
Music will always be inspired by the environment in which it is created. With its incredible array of highly diverse landscapes ranging from white glaciers via volcanic bizarreness, moss-green bubble-fields, deep fjords, and frost-cracked mountains to black beaches, Iceland has shaped a host of astonishingly original and fiercely individual bands such as SIGUR RÓS, BJÖRK, and SÓLSTAFIR.
 
SÓLSTAFIR embody the ever-turning wheel of seasons with their shifting light, darkness, and colours, extreme Northern climate, the stark contrasts, the closeness of beauty and deadly forces of nature, the impressive sceneries that have the bones of ancient gods enshrined in them like hardly any other band in every aspect of their existence.
 
SÓLSTAFIR are not like any other band. Their latest album, ‘Berdreyminn’ underscores this statement. As its title “a dreamer of forthcoming events” aptly describes, the four Icelanders have taken their already impressive evolution one step further. The band has continued to amalgamate haunting melodies, psychedelic phases, as well as strong undercurrents of classic rock and hard rock with echoes of their metal past. Yet SÓLSTAFIR‘s focus is not on style but pure emotion. ‘Berdreyminn’ is eclectic by a conscious choice to make feelings audible and transform taste as well as texture to sound. Genre borders are not broken but simply ignored. Musical influences are gathered from a wide range of sources, re-arranged, and woven into new patterns.  Melancholy, longing, anger, joy, pleasure, pain, and other emotions are fulling this album. 
 
Despite leaning clearly towards an expression that can be described as rock today, SÓLSTAFIR have their roots in metal as their debut full-length ‘Í Blóði og Anda’ (2002), which translates as “In Blood and Spirit” still witnesses. Instead of today’s Icelandic gravel throated siren chants, frontman Aðalbjörn Tryggvason spat forth vitriolic crusty vocals and all strings were forged with black metal. Already their next albums ‘Masterpiece of Bitterness’ (2005) and ‘Köld’ (2009) marked stations of a continuous evolution. SÓLSTAFIR went further along their solitary path and obviously left any categorising box with the ground-breaking follow-ups ‘Svartir Sandar’ (2011) and ‘Ótta’ (2014), which received high critical acclaim and attracted new fans in equal measure, while managing the difficult feat of keeping most of their earlier following too.
 
SÓLSTAFIR have set sails to new horizons with ‘Berdreyminn’. Yet the Icelanders brought their home with them and the silhouette of their vessels remains easily recognisable. Welcome aboard on a new adventurous musical journey into uncharted territories. 

Line-up
Aðalbjörn Tryggvason: guitar, vocals
Svavar Austmann: bass
Sæþór Maríus Sæþórsson: guitar
Hallgrímur Jón Hallgrímsson: drums, backing vocals
 
Guest musicians
Brass, strings, and piano across the tracks
 
Recording: Sundlaugin Studio (IS), Birgir Jón Birgisson & Jaime Gomez Arellano
 
Mixing: Orgone Studio (UK), Jaime Gomez Arellano
 
Mastering: Sterling Mastering (US), Ted Jensen
 
Cover art: Adam Burke
 
www.solstafir.net
www.facebook.com/solstafirice