finnish black metal

EXCUSE set release date for SHADOW KINGDOM debut album

Today, Shadow Kingdom Records sets August 2nd as the international release date for the highly anticipated debut album of Finland’s Excuse, Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos, on CD and vinyl LP formats. 

One of Finland’s hottest newcomers, Excuse began to make a name for themselves with their EP Goddess Injustice. Released to critical acclaim in 2016 by Shadow Kingdom, Goddess Injustice largely introduced the fierce foursome to the international metal underground – with a nuclear-powered bang! A finely honed missile of speed metal majesty, Excuse‘s sound on that EP in many ways recalled the classic Canadian gods Sacrifice and Razor, but there were hints of greater glories to come. And at last, they’ve arrived with the presciently titled Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos.

Whereas Goddess Injustice suggested some darkly melodic leanings, Excuse‘s first full-length expands that arsenal considerably. Here, the six songs comprising Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos stretch out to epic lengths – one even hitting double digits, the climactic 10-minute closer “Watchtower of the Trans-Dimensional Pathway” – and take the listener on a wild, winding ride. The evil ‘n’ sleazy surge on which Excuse made their name still exists, but has now been finessed into a wholly more dynamic beast, able to reflect haunting moodiness and spacey horror alike. Suitably, co-guitarist Oskar Lindström’s vocals have a conspicuous amount of echo placed upon them, suggesting the inter-dimensional struggles of a narrator literally lost in space. Likewise, fellow guitarist Anselmi Ahopalo’s leads take center stage here and weave an almost storytelling aspect, much in the way that classic heavy metal songwriting should, evoking both triumph and tragedy but remaining equally hummable throughout. Completing the totality is album’s production, which locates the perfect balance between grit and gleam.

So many young bands blow their proverbial wad during the demo/EP days and peter out by the time their debut album comes. Not so for Excuse, who have been able to transform their earlier youthful energy into enviably advanced maturity with Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos. Behold these Prophets‘ coming!

The first herald of that coming is  “Sworn to the Crimson Oath”

Covert art and tracklisting below:

Tracklisting for Excuse (Finland)’s Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos
1. Black Crystal Visions
2. Blade of Antichrist
3. Prophets From the Occultic Cosmos
4. Goddess Injustice
5. Sworn to the Crimson Oath
6. Watchtower of the Trans-Dimensional Pathway
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/excuseofficial

VARGRAV set release date for new WEREWOLF album, reveal first tracks

Today, Werewolf Records, in conspiracy with Hells Headbangers, sets April 26th as the international release date for Vargrav‘s highly anticipated second album, Reign in Supreme Darkness, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Hailing from Finland, the root of Vargrav originated during starless nights in late 2015. Working in clandestine solitude, sole creator V-Khaoz – a prolific veteran of the Finnish black metal underground, dating back to the late ’90s – soon shaped the initial vision of Vargrav‘s debut album and submitted it, in demo form, to various labels. During the the summer of 2016, Werewolf Records was immediately chosen to be the most suitable collaborator with which to work, and the sinister glow of the black flame began to burn brighter…

Alas, at the dawn of 2018 came Vargrav‘s debut album, Netherstorm, and it indeed took the underground by storm, garnering rave reviews across the world. Not surprising, this, as the album offered a boundlessly fresh perspective by honoring the ancient past: specifically, the oft-unjustly-derided “symphonic black metal” subgenre, which back in simpler, more idealistic times was simply BLACK METAL. No matter what appellation you put it, Netherstorm radiated a spellbinding magick that was impossible to deny. The past was alive, with Vargrav lighting the way…

And now, V-Khaoz returns to quickly eclipse that feat with Vargrav‘s second album, Reign in Supreme Darkness. Ever aptly titled, Reign in Supreme Darkness is essentially an intensification and consolidation of Netherstorm‘s most enduring traits, expanding the band’s lexicon by basically speaking it more boldly than before. Still a swarming, densely layered maelstrom of medieval majesty and moonlit madness, here Vargrav heightens the drama that’s latently laid at the band’s core, focusing the attack into more finessed form, and stripping away some of its predecessor’s more blizzard-blown excesses. In their stead arrives a more dynamic approach to songwriting, varying tempos while maximizing movement, and an overall more mournful and mysterious aspect to the prominent layers of synth.

Just as timeless as Netherstorm, if not more so, Vargrav once again evokes the visionary works of old Obtained Enslavement, Dimmu Borgir, Abigor, Limbonic Art, and especially early Emperor. And once again, another classic of symphonic black metal graces the purple-velvet landscape of our imagination, and it bears the justifiably arrogant title of Reign in Supreme Darkness.

Werewolf Records is a Luciferian metal temple founded in 1998. The wolfish cry from the Carelian battlegrounds, Werewolf Records releases black metal and other dark arts motivated exclusively by theistic Satanist views of the founder Werwolf. In this age when black metal’s worth is questionable, idealism and rigor are the exception when they should be the highest law. We uphold the law of the Wolf – the destruction of the weak and the false so that the original vitality of the dark magic art can continue to grow and create the foundations for an empire. Black metal is Will and Power. We deal with material that inspires us on our journey towards our own kingdom – a kingdom that is not yours, but bears a resemblance to the one there could be for you. Now in conspiracy with Hells Headbangers, the temple of Werewolf Records shall wage its war farther and wider than ever, with no spiritual surrender.

In the meantime, hear the new Vargrav tracks “In Streams From Great Mysteries” HERE and “As the Shadows Grow Silent” here:
Preorder info for Reign in Supreme Darkness can be found HERE at Werewolf Records‘ Bandcamp.

Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Vargrav (Finland)’s Reign in Supreme Darkness
1. Intro – Et In Profundis Mysteriis
2. The Glory of Eternal Night
3. Dark Space Dominion
4. In Streams From Great Mysteries
5. As the Shadows Grow Silent
6. Crowned By Demonstorms
7. Godless Pandemonium
8. Arcane Stargazer

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/vargravofficial
www.facebook.com/werewolf.rex
www.hellsheadbangers.com
www.facebook.com/hellsheadbangers

Satanism, crimes, violence, and suicides: a new book tells the untold story of Finnish black metal

The Devil’s Cradle: The Story of Finnish Black Metal is the definitive history of one of the most uncompromising music scenes in the world: Finnish black metal. Based on over 50 interviews conducted by Helsinki-based journalist Tero Ikäheimonen between 2014 and 2017, the book unravels the story of Finnish black metal from the late 1980s to modern times.

“Countless of books have been written about black metal over the years, but every time, the Finnish scene has remained merely a side note,” says Ikäheimonen. “It’s an atrocity, since Finland has created some of the world’s most renown underground black metal since the beginning; I wanted to fix that. This book is made for the maniacs all over the world.”

To be released by Svart Publishing on November 1st, The Devil’s Cradle features such bands as Beherit, Impaled Nazarene, Barathrum, Archgoat, Azazel, Diaboli, Darkwoods My Betrothed, Horna, Vornat, Thy Serpent, Wanderer, Urn, Black Dawn, …And Oceans, Musta Surma, Alghazanth, Azaghal, Warloghe, Behexen, Clandestine Blaze, Satanic Warmaster, Ride for Revenge, Goatmoon, IC Rex, Charnel Winds, Cosmic Church, Saturnian Mist, Rienaus, and Abyssion among others.

“It was important for me to base the book on the experiences of true underground spirits – black metal musicians, zine authors, and tape traders,” Ikäheimonen says. “Many stories are told for the first time. I wanted to focus on the music, but not forget the darker side of black metal – all the violence, death, and destruction that have ravaged the Finnish scene. It was crucial to include the spiritual and psychological side of black metal, too. Satanism with all its different notions and the occult are present throughout the book.”

The Devil’s Cradle was first published in Finnish in September 2016 by Svart Publishing (titled Pirunkehto). The English translation features all the original content and two additional chapters. This edition will encompass 500+ pages and be presented in a hard cover. Chapter excerpts will be periodically revealed HERE.

MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/The-Devils-Cradle-406077333070793