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Formed in late 2015, New York's False Gods whip up a unique blend of sludge/doom metal mixed with melodic noise and down-trodden hardcore. Neurotopia marks the band’s sophomore full length and further fuses, while at the same time, expands upon their marriage of Doom and Hardcore.

Rock im Park 2001 is a live festival recording from Nuremberg, Germany, and captures a Limp Bizkit festival performance praised as “chaotic, frenzied-high energy.” DJ Lethal functions as the sound designer, shaping their sound on this recording. According to Lethal, "I try and bring new sounds, not just the regular chirping scratching sounds. It's all different stuff that you haven't heard before.

Format: CD (Vinyl Look-A-Like Compact Disc). This Vinyl Look-A-Like Compact Disc is yellow on both sides with an LP groove and record label design. Remastered in high res, it will play in any CD player. The packaging includes a Gatefold jacket, printed inner sleeve insert and an OBI side spine (French Import ediiton).

Göden, the spiritual successor of Death Doom legends Winter, returns with a new album out in May 2024

Göden is back, and on their latest album the sound is heavier than ever. Creator Stephen Flam is best known for his previous work with the band Winter, whose sludgy dirge earned a cult following for decades to come. Göden is the spiritual successor to Winter. One could say Celtic Frost is to Triptykon what Winter is to Göden. Their debut album, “Beyond Darkness” stood on its own in creating a distinctive world.

Now, four years later, they explore new sonic territories with their second album, “Vale of the Fallen”. While "Beyond Darkness" was a concept album that propelled listeners into space, whether inner or outer, “Vale of the Fallen” brings us back to twisted reality. Their more in-your-face approach should only intensify the experience-much like a walk through a post-apocalyptic landscape in the bleakest imaginable conditions.

Sound-wise, Stephen Flam's heavier-than-life riffs, Vas Kallas' sardonic delivery and Tony Pinnisi's keyboards create oppressive atmospheres atop Jason Frantz's powerful drumming, while in contrast Margaret Murphy’s violin weaves ghostly motifs. Like its predecessor, “Vale of the Fallen” features interludes which provide brief respites between some tracks, only to return to the crushing heaviness in yet another avalanche of sound.

This might be your favorite album of 2024.

Big riffs meet pounding beats with atmospheric passages that will lead you into a wild, heavy and psychedelic wonderland, while the bewitched chants by vocalist Kristien and guitarist Pieter’s harsh screams create a unique vocal contrast.

Marking 30 years of this genre-defining classic debut from the UK pioneers; released in 1991, Industrial still stands as a stunning concoction of walls of unrelenting heaviness & primal aggression. With a punishingly stark and brutal sound, punctuated with profound lyrical statements, Pitchshifter had found a highly effective cocktail of dissonance to build upon when they entered Lion Studios in Leeds, in September 1990, with the album coming together in a mere 72 hours. Upon the release of Industrial, the band swiftly found itself on support slots with acts such as Napalm Death & Paradise Lost, and had also notably caught the attention of highly revered Radio DJ John Peel, who invited Pitchshifter to perform for his prestigious Peel Sessions. Pitchshifter formed in Nottingham, UK, in 1989 by guitarist/programmer Johnny Carter & bassist/vocalist Mark Claydon, with Mark’s brother Jon later joining the fold following initial demo recordings. From their pioneering early days along with the other seminal industrial masters, Godflesh, Pitchshifter’s ascension throughout the 1990s culminated in the band becoming one of the UK’s biggest metal exports around the new millennium, with a spell at Geffen & MCA Records helping Pitchshifter’s profile grow enormously. Their Deviant (2000) album reached number 39 in the billboard 200, & this also led to the band embarking on major tours, as well as playing at the renowned Ozzfest. From their more raw & primitive metallic origins, Pitchshifter continued to expand their sound, experimenting with ideas such as drum and bass as they evolved.

A little more than a year after the acclaimed, massive Frozen Bloom, Olhava is back with a brand new studio album. Reborn explores yet another side of the relationship between man and nature. In a darker turn, the duo presents a more pessimistic and cautionary reflection on the environment in contrast to their previous albums.

Tiamat have been one of Sweden's oddities for the last two decades, ranging from synth-rock to gothic metal to death metal, there's something for pretty much any fan of dark music to enjoy. However, 2003's Prey marks something of a return to form, sounding something like a cross between Wildhoney and Skeleton Skeletron. Specifically, the album is fairly diverse, with a smattering of influences and styles, but the majority of the songs are gothic rock or gothic metal, with the remaining songs falling under either ballads or interludes. Johan Edlund employs the deep, crooning, clean baritone delivery he's used since A Deeper Kind of Slumber, and it works remarkably well, creating a suffocatingly depressive atmosphere with his deep tone and the desperate, almost hopeless quality of his voice. Occasionally, in lighter songs such as "Clovenhoof", and to a lesser extent, "Wings of Heaven", his croon takes more of a sultry tone, seductive rather than hopeless, although there's still a hint of desperation present. His performance is also aided by vocalist Sonja Brandt on the songs "Divided" and "Carry Your Cross and I'll Carry Mine". Her tone is light and clear, presenting a very innocent, sweet, and slightly sultry delivery, providing an interesting contrast to Edlund, and overall making an excellent addition to the album. The duet on "Divided" is especially good, with a short dialogue passage that's deliciously evil and hopeless. This album comes out in deluxe gatefold edition, in two colors (Gold / Red) 500 limited edition each.

A Better Dystopia, die neue Platte von MONSTER MAGNET, lädt den Hörer direkt in die Gedankenwelt der Psychedelic-Rock Legende Dave Wyndorf ein und überzeugt mit einer psychotischen Auswahl aus Proto-Metal und späten Psych Songs, die breitbeinigem Hardrock mehr als nur Tribut zollen. Die exzellente und gleichermaßen obskure Songauswahl huldigt einigen bekannten All-Time-Favorites in neuem MONSTER MAGNET Gewandt und lässt vertraute Melodien neuen Spirit atmen. Das erste Cover-Album markiert eine weitere absolute Glanzleistung der Band und präsentiert Wyndorf’s Stimmkraft, die den Songs einen zweifelsohne, unnachahmlichen Stempel verleiht, in absoluter Höchstform,. Das Sound-Korsett von A Better Dystopia wurde von den Musikern Phil Caivano, Bob Pantela, Garrett Sweeney und Alec Morton geschnürt: Ein Feuer aus Vintage und Old School, brennenden Fuzz-Leads und stampfenden Bässen und Drums, ausgelöst durch den expressiven Stil der Formation, der in der modernen Musik fast verloren gegangen ist. Im Album Opener "The Diamond Mine" rezitiert Dave Wyndorf einen klassischen Monolog Dave Diamonds' - einem amerikanischen Radio-DJ, dessen Sendungen in den späten 60ern und frühen 70er Jahren vielen Psychedelic- und Acid-Rock-Bands zu steigender Bekanntheit verholfen haben.Mit den Anfangsakkorden das Hawkind-Klassikers “Born To Go” beginnt der eigentliche Trip der MONSTER MAGNET Platte. Tracks, wie das herausragende “Mr Destroyer” (Poo-Bah) rühmen sich durch wabernde Riffs und wirbelnde Vocal-Parts und führen mit beinah visionärer Wirkkraft die perfekte Mischung aus Hard Rock und Psychedelic herbei. Das fiebrig klingende “Motorcycle (Straight To Hell)” (Table Scraps) atmet die pure Punk Wildheit der alten Schule und Zeilen wie "I'm gonna drive it straight to HELL!" erinnern an eine stilistische Kreuzung aus Iggy Pop und Motörhead. Die tosende Version des Hardrock Klassikers “Learning To Die” (Dust) und die ausdrucksstarke Interpretation des Stooges-trifft-auf-Goth-Epos “Solid Gold Hell” (The Scientists) ziehen den Hörer vollends in die Tiefen des flackendernden Kaninchenbaus. Das Album schließt mit der explosiven Coverversion von Morgens “Welcome To The Void”, die in bissig und gleichermaßen ungezwungenere Manier dazu einlädt, die halluzinogene Fahrt immer wieder neu zu starten. Mit A Better Dystopia lassen MONSTER MAGNET den Hörer in einer anderen Zeit und einem anderen Raum erwachen, der trotzdessen eindeutig den klassifizierenden Magneten-Stempel an jeder Ecke widerspiegelt.

Pelagic re-issuing LSM's classic sophomore album Asexual Anger - a collection of massive riffs delivered with so much raw ferocity that Metal Sucks called it the `heaviest thing in metal'. Asexual Anger is simply a rare beast of a record.Merging contemporary post metal with the intricate grooves of Meshuggah and Intronaut and a healthy dose of filthy Southern sludge in the vein of Eye Hate God or Crowbar, LOVE SEX MACHINE crafted an idiosyncratic sound of their own over 10 years ago already. Throughout these eight tracks LOVE SEX MACHINE show tremendous dedication to their riff craft, reducing the guitar work to its absolute gut-wrenching essence. Slow but menacing, the subdued anger and restraint are tangible throughout the album, never losing tension or intensity. They thrive off of pounding the crash ride relentlessly while playing around with nifty syncopated kick drum accentuation to create the heaviest grooves ever. They're churning out face-melting riffs that will make the corners of your mouth drop as your face takes on a nasty smirk. They give you sore neck muscles and if that sounds like a stupid cliché, just listen to Asexual Anger from the beginning to the end and see how you feel when you're done. LOVE SEX MACHINE is a ritualistic, commanding and overpowering experience. It's punk, it's dissent, it's rebellion against all decorum, it's spits and scratches, it offends you and fucks with your limits and makes you question what is correct or allowed and what is not. Contrast, tension, contradiction, war of the senses_ you are feeling repulsed and intoxicated at the same time, mesmerized and offended, and yet or because of that the experience is beautiful and humane. And this is where we see the true grandeur of LOVE SEX MACHINE emerge.FFO Meshuggah, Intronaut, Amenra, LLNN, Sumac, Herod, Eye Hate God, Crowbar...Classic black vinyl

Göden, the spiritual successor of Death Doom legends Winter, returns with a new album out in May 2024

Göden is back, and on their latest album the sound is heavier than ever. Creator Stephen Flam is best known for his previous work with the band Winter, whose sludgy dirge earned a cult following for decades to come. Göden is the spiritual successor to Winter. One could say Celtic Frost is to Triptykon what Winter is to Göden. Their debut album, “Beyond Darkness” stood on its own in creating a distinctive world.

Now, four years later, they explore new sonic territories with their second album, “Vale of the Fallen”. While "Beyond Darkness" was a concept album that propelled listeners into space, whether inner or outer, “Vale of the Fallen” brings us back to twisted reality. Their more in-your-face approach should only intensify the experience-much like a walk through a post-apocalyptic landscape in the bleakest imaginable conditions.

Sound-wise, Stephen Flam's heavier-than-life riffs, Vas Kallas' sardonic delivery and Tony Pinnisi's keyboards create oppressive atmospheres atop Jason Frantz's powerful drumming, while in contrast Margaret Murphy’s violin weaves ghostly motifs. Like its predecessor, “Vale of the Fallen” features interludes which provide brief respites between some tracks, only to return to the crushing heaviness in yet another avalanche of sound.

This might be your favorite album of 2024.

Originally released in July of 2021, “The Dark Parade” marked the influential San Francisco crossover thrash metal act Mordred’s first full-length release in over 25 years. The record was the follow-up to the group's 2020 comeback EP “Volition,” and their first full-length since 1994's “The Next Room.” Due to overwhelming demand with the first vinyl pressing quickly selling out, M-Theory Audio has reissued a second pressing which will be available on limited-edition (300 copies) colored vinyl (black with red splatter). Mordred was formed in 1984 as the burgeoning Bay Area thrash scene was beginning its rise to global prominence. While mosh-inducing thrash formed the basic blueprint of their sound, Mordred stood out as a unique presence thanks to their integration of funk, alternative and hip-hop influences. The group was one of the first metal bands to explore those diversities, but as the dexterous bass performance of Art Liboon and innovative turntable work from band collaborator Aaron “DJ Pause” Vaughn provided a new spin on the thrash metal genre, Mordred retained their metallic bark thanks to groove-laden shred from guitarists Danny White and James Sanguinetti and energetic shout-along choruses spearheaded by vocalist Scott Holderby. That combination of thrash metal and exploratory funk powered three full-lengths on Noise Records between 1989 and 1994, from their revered debut “Fool's Game,” to their even more eclectic sophomore follow-up “In This Life,” through their final – until now – record, “The Next Room.” “The Dark Parade” is Mordred's first album in over twenty-five years, and first since their 2013 reunion. Their new album features five-sixths of the personnel from the group's acclaimed 1991 record “In This Life,” plus new drummer Jeff Gomes (formerly of Fungo Mungo and Mirv). The new record showcases the band's revitalized energy and classic sound, and their varied influences allow their music to sound as fresh now as it did during the group's initial decade of existence.

After showcases at Roadburn Redux (2021) and Eurosonic (January 2022), already 4 (!) repressings of debut album Unfold the God Man within just a year of its release, and big gigs at Alcatraz Festival and supporting Amenra, we can safely say that there is massive buzz around this band. Psychonaut literally came from out of nowhere -Mechelen, Belgium, to be precise- but their sophomore album Unfold The God Man made waves in the post- and progressive metal scenes: an intricate concept album tackling philosophical and existential themes and ultimately exploring mankind's re-ascension to a higher level of consciousness, the nearly 70-minute-long Unfold The God Man contained material from over 3 years of incessant writing, arranging and recording. This spring, Psychonaut released a new split album with Oslo's Sa^ver, titled Emerald. The band premiered an in-studio play-through of their 16-minutes contribution The Great Realisation, a track about the start of both an individual and a collective awakening, at this year's digital edition of Roadburn Festival April - a full-on assault on the senses brimming with ingenuity, from the creative drumming to the amazingly talented Stefan de Graef's idionsyncratic guitar playing, all the way to the use of didgeridoos and tribal percussion, The Great Realisation showcased truly world class musicianship and songwriting abilities. Ferocious Fellowman, an EP originally released in 2016, is the band's 2nd release, tucked between 2014's debut album "24 Trips Around The Sun" and 2020's "Unfold The God Man". Long sold out and sought after, it was about time for a reissue of this seminal release, which paved the way for Unfold The God Man. Influenced by 70's bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd but also drawing inspiration from contemporary heavy artists like Tool or Amenra, the three-piece made themselves a solid name across the European underground with a raw and compelling live show, which merges their wall of sound with intense visual landscapes and moody lighting design. Contrast and variation are the two main anchors on which they base their musical and visual ideas, and watching the band perform live makes you wonder how they manage to pull of this immensely orchestral, polyphonic sound with just 3 players: Psychonaut are an absolute sight to behold on stage. Single Coloured Pastel-Turquoise Vinyl!

Straight out of Paris, Spheres will be offering up their next canvas of progressive metal in the form of their second full-length “Helios” on September 23rd. The album follows their highly praised 2019 debut “Iono”, which the band supported across Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and their home country of France.

“Helios” sees a fresh lineup with founding member and album producer Jonathan Lino. The recording quintet is now inviting fans on a new spiritual journey featuring a multitude of contrasts and textures. From the sharp riffs, soaring melodies, through the clear singing to the growl while passing by ambiences and oscillating between dream and frenzy... everything is made to jostle the audience and invite them to take part in the journey.

Recommended for fans of Opeth, Tool, Mastodon, Gojira, and Devin Townsend, Spheres‘ forthcoming album “Helios” is available for pre-order now on Limited Edition Luminescent Vinyl LP.

Dutch experimental raw death metal absurdity Cryptae return with their second full-length deformity, Capsule, their most aberrant, delirious and labyrinthine (master)piece of anti-music yet. Conceived through a deconstructed and radicalized approach of "less is more", this new chapter of conceptualized insanity sees the deranged duo of drummer/vocalist Rene Aquarius and guitarist/bassist Kees Peerdeman starve and disassemble death metal from within, as they explore a cryptic concept revolving around marine life and its abysses teeming with absurd and marvelous life forms. The staple high contrast minimalist/maximalist experimental approach of Cryptae in deteriorating the familiar fabric of death metal and finding new and insane ways to dismount and reassemble the genre through delirious aural experiments, this time reaches truly extraordinary and implausible new dimensions of the absurd. Entire strings of death metal's DNA are removed and replaced with components from other genres in a deranged and playful act of stylistic disfiguration, yielding deformities unending and essentially crippling the genre into an incomprehensible, skeletal mutation. A violently malformed and enigmatic abstraction arises from this delusion, through the forced abortion and abolition of all musical canons and decency, triggering a marvelous rebirth through conceptual annihilation and spasmodic nonconformity which is set to challenge and destabilize our perception of extreme metal at the deepest levels. A glitched and distorted sonic fractal of demented improvisation drives Cryptae's crippled and deconstructed raw death metal experiment, as primitive raw (post)-punk, repetitive and bludgeoning industrial, schizoid no-wave, and jazz-derived free-form backward moving meters and compositional oddities all do their part in completing a musical jigsaw of rare genius and hideous inventiveness.

High Roller Records, picture vinyl, ltd 500, lyric sheet, poster, numbered

"The Force" is the second studio album by English thrash metal pioneers Onslaught, originally released in 1986. More successful than their previous album, "Power From Hell", The Force is considered a thrash metal classic by fans and critics. Fast paced drumming, a huge variety of riffs from tremolo picked insanity to chugging heaviness, and a vocal performance that truly gives the genre a good name! Influencing bands such as Exodus, Slayer and Metallica, Onslaught played a big part in defining the death metal genre!

On The Healer, the new full length from the Northwest-based trio of guitarist and vocalist Aaron Turner (ISIS, Old Man Gloom) bassist Brian Cook (Russian Circles, Botch) and drummer Nick Yacyshyn (Baptists) the group deepens its multi-faceted exploration into the parallel experiences of creation and destruction. Over the course of 4 tracks in 76 minutes, SUMAC present a sequence of shifting movements which undergo a constant process of expansion, contraction, corruption and regrowth.This musical methodology reflects the thematic nature of the record - narratives of experiential wounding as gateways to empowerment and evolution, both individual and collective. The group"s interpolation of melody, drone, improvisation, and complex riffing becomes a transmogrifying act embodying the depth of human experience. In its highest aspiration it mirrors our ability to endure mortal and spiritual challenges, through which we may emerge with an increased capacity for understanding, empathy, love of self and others. Dismal though the subterranean pits of The Healer may at first appear, from them can be felt the unwavering determination to embrace life, acknowledge interdependence, and honor the gift of existence.

On The Healer, the new full length from the Northwest-based trio of guitarist and vocalist Aaron Turner (ISIS, Old Man Gloom) bassist Brian Cook (Russian Circles, Botch) and drummer Nick Yacyshyn (Baptists) the group deepens its multi-faceted exploration into the parallel experiences of creation and destruction. Over the course of 4 tracks in 76 minutes, SUMAC present a sequence of shifting movements which undergo a constant process of expansion, contraction, corruption and regrowth.This musical methodology reflects the thematic nature of the record - narratives of experiential wounding as gateways to empowerment and evolution, both individual and collective. The group"s interpolation of melody, drone, improvisation, and complex riffing becomes a transmogrifying act embodying the depth of human experience. In its highest aspiration it mirrors our ability to endure mortal and spiritual challenges, through which we may emerge with an increased capacity for understanding, empathy, love of self and others. Dismal though the subterranean pits of The Healer may at first appear, from them can be felt the unwavering determination to embrace life, acknowledge interdependence, and honor the gift of existence.

Ghost is the name of a devil worshipping ministry, that in order to spread their unholy gospels and, furthermore, trick mankind into believing that the end is ultimately a good thing, have decided to use the ever so popular rock music medium as a way to achieve their ends. Standing motionless and anonymous beneath the painted faces, hoods and robes which their sect demand, the six nameless ghouls of Ghost deliver litanies of sexually pulsating heavy rock music and romantic lyrics, that glorify and glamorise the disgusting and sacrilegious, with the simple intention to communicate a message of pure evil via the most effective device they can find - entertainment. In May 2010 Ghost were contracted to a UK based gramophone company called Rise Above Ltd, who swore an oath stating that they will assist the group in the task of spreading their musical blasphemies through formats such as Compact Discs, Long Playing Vinyl Records and Digital Downloading. The first full length Ghost album ‘Opus Eponymous’ will be released in October 2010 and it is understood and agreed that Rise Above Ltd will invest money in areas such as magazine advertising and retail marketing and will employ the services of music publicity specialists in order to expose the music of Ghost to the wider public. Specific attention will be paid to targeting people (research suggests these are most likely to be adolescents) who have a void in their life, perhaps caused by some form of emotional trauma or upset, that can be filled by the music and philosophies of Ghost. In time, these easily manipulated children will come to share the views and goals of the Ghost sect and can prepare their own plans for the downfall of humanity....

A special item for the fans of one of the best and most important bands of the second wave of Black metal! Limited and hand-numbered shaped picture disc in clear PVC sleeve including inlay, with 2 songs from the album "Thy Mighty Contract". Side A: Fgmenth, Thy GiftSide B: Exiled Archangels

"Overlorde was founded as an original act with the goal of obtaining a record contract. We always felt our music belonged on a bigger stage as opposed to the clubs of New Jersey and New York. Fortunately, the NJ metal scene was one of the most vibrant in the world though we didn't necessarily realize it at the time. What started out in concept as a 4-song cassette demo turned into a self-released 5-song vinyl EP" - Mark "M.E." EdwardsOriginally released in 1987, the Overlorde EP is now considered as a classic '80s underground US metal release and over the years there was a huge demand in the underground metal scene for a proper re-release. In Mark "M.E." Edwards' words, "Ever since Overlorde reunited in 2000, fans have asked when the EP would be re-issued. We wanted to get a full-length follow-up to "Return of the Snow Giant" out first. With the release of "Awaken the Fury", that cleared the way. We think the EP sounds great and hope you will agree it was worth the wait!"Officially re-released for the first time with a new mastering by Alan Douches and 3 bonus tracks, the vinyl versions also include a 4-page insert with detailed liner notes by Mark "M.E." Edwards, lyrics and photos. The Overlorde EP is also available for the first time on CD format, including a 20-page booklet with all the information mentioned above. 1. Snow Giant2. The Masque of the Red Death3. Overlorde4. The Longest Day5. Time Machine6. The Joust (Instrumental) (bonus track)7. Home at Last (bonus track)8. Quest of Peril (bonus track)

he final decade of the last millennium was a significant period for the birth of Finnish extreme metal. In the late 1980s, speed metal found its way into the country, and was immediately followed by thrash metal. Afterwards, death and black metal bands started to pop up in every nook and cranny. Some of those rose to an international fame, while others stayed in the shadows waiting for their turn. Through the years, Svart Records has already brought to light many lost treasures of the Finnish metal scene. This June it will be the turn of Thromdarr from Riihimäki and their old tapes excavated from the band’s archives.

The story of Thromdarr reaches back to 1989, when the band’s guitarist Mika Kyöstilä formed Nymphomaniac, a precursor to Thromdarr, together with Ari “Ave“ Auvinen. When the band went through a lineup change, they changed their name to Necrobiosis and eventually to Thromdarr in 1991. According to the band, they entered the scene with the punk attitude of learning by doing. They followed the steps of their idols and started to make fast and heavy metal in the vein of Sodom, Destruction, Kreator, Slayer, Possessed, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Sepultura, Obituary, Pestilence and Death.

When the demos and recordings started to pile up, the musical taste of the band members started to evolve into a more brutal direction.

-“We played the demo to our friends with great excitement and were often told we sound more like black metal than death metal. We didn’t mind this since we had already embarked on that direction and had face paint on the first band photos. We developed the name Thromdarr ourselves and it was supposed to sound phonetically like thunder”, the band’s frontman Kyöstilä recounts.

Early on in their career, Thromdarr had already played with many renowned metal acts, such as Barathrum, Sentenced, Archgoat and Demigod. The band took a couple of cassette pressings of their first studio demo As a Wind Cries and ended up selling 500 copies.

On their later demos, Thromdarr made more experimental material from the black metal canvas. On the other hand, going through a lineup change led to the band losing its driving force, the recording pace slowing down and the little live activity falling behind partying. In the end of the millennium, the band became active again and signed a contract with Solistitium Records, releasing their debut album NorthStorm Arrives in 1998

Svart Records has now compiled Thromdarr’s early demos into a single package. Kyöstilä and Svart’s producer Olli Hänninen have barely touched the original soundscape, instead remastering the demos the way they were originally made with all their faults and successes.

-“The tapes haven’t been remixed afterwards. Instead, they sound as primitive as when they were originally released. The material has also been copied from original recordings. Pick up a beer and listen to old school metal!”, Kyöstilä urges.

Svart Records will release Thromdarr’s Midwinter Frost – Complete demo tapes 1990-1997 double LP compilation and CD on the 17th of June 2022.

Cult Black Metal band The Deathtrip have scrawled their ghostly sigils on blood-contract with Svart Records (EU) and Profound Lore (North America) for their sophomore album Demon Solar Totem, the follow-up to 2014's debut, Deep Drone Master. Featuring the long-due return of Kvohst (Ex-Dodheimsgard/Code) on lyrics/vocals joining the cold, hypnotic riffs of Host (Thine), the primal drumming of Storm (Ex-My Dying Bride, Blasphemer) and introducing the bass playing of Thomas Eriksen (Mork), The Deathtrip offer tickets to primeval possession and open portals to other dimensions. Demon Solar Totem captures the spirit of ancient Darkthrone, Thorns and Beherit imbued with old-English occultism and the chanting of sacred sound formulas. Otherworld Black Metal eeriness for a deep dive into spectral realms, Demon Solar Totem will be released on November the 15th 2019.

This is the story of the “lost” album. Shortly after The Small Hours had three tracks included on the Mods May Day '79 album, we went back into the recording studio to record an album of our own. Most of the songs were recorded in one take in London. At least one was recorded as a jam session while waiting for the sound engineer to adjust his settings. This gave the album the raw energy and drive of a live performance. We had everything: great songs, strong band dynamics and a large and enthusiastic live following. The only ingredient missing at the time was a record contract. So the tapes were mothballed and life moved on… until some 43 years later Carol Isaacs found a copy of the tape in the back of a cupboard. Carol sent it to Dizzy Detour, who in turn passed it to his genius sound engineer, James Perret. With 21st century technology, James was able to do a total remix of the sound adding double/ triple tracking, delay and echo. The result is an astonishing “virtual reality” of what the band would have sounded like live. As Neil Thompson would say, we had "Ingredient X”. A meld of the individual members of the band into a complete sound. The sound that was held together by a great drummer, the late Iain Shedden. As the saying goes," All things come to those who wait”. Thanks to Carol, Dizzy and James Perret, the wait is over.

Svart Records proudly present the Black- and Doom Metal pioneers Unholy’s compilation of early material – Demology out on July 19th



“Unholy are arguably the most original, avant-garde, definitive, and important Finnish extreme metal band. The paths they have walked have always been lonely and unknown, entering to the deepest celestial forests and psychic graveyards, and the treasures found there dark and exquisite. This compilation consists of their three legendary demos, of which Trip to Depressive Autumn is the best recording ever done in Finland, of any genre or style”. - Albert Witchfinder, Reverend Bizarre



Svart Records is set to release the compilation album “Demology” by Finnish avant-garde death doom metal band Unholy. Including their early demo recordings "The Procession of Black Doom" (1990), "Demo 11.90" (1990) and "Trip to Depressive Autumn" (1992), this is the first time these demos are in the same package with exclusive liner notes.



Unholy emerged from the eastern Finnish town of Imatra in the late '80s. After changing their name from Armageddon to Holy Hell and eventually to Unholy, their mission was simple; to create harder, heavier, and slower music than their idols Black Sabbath and Celtic Frost. The lyrical themes and ideas for the songs came from Satanism, mysticism, anti-Christianity, mushroom trips, and shamanism among others. Finnish deep ecologist Pentti Linkola also inspired the band and their music. Some of the songs came up naturally by jamming riffs and others entirely by improvisation.



While the first two demos already made Unholy a force to be reckoned with, the release of “Trip to Depressive Autumn” caught the attention of the underground metal scene and various labels. The band was hungry for a recording contract, and it finally came into realization when Lethal Records released their debut album “From the Shadows” in 1993.

Svart Records proudly present the Black- and Doom Metal pioneers Unholy’s compilation of early material – Demology out on July 19th



“Unholy are arguably the most original, avant-garde, definitive, and important Finnish extreme metal band. The paths they have walked have always been lonely and unknown, entering to the deepest celestial forests and psychic graveyards, and the treasures found there dark and exquisite. This compilation consists of their three legendary demos, of which Trip to Depressive Autumn is the best recording ever done in Finland, of any genre or style”. - Albert Witchfinder, Reverend Bizarre



Svart Records is set to release the compilation album “Demology” by Finnish avant-garde death doom metal band Unholy. Including their early demo recordings "The Procession of Black Doom" (1990), "Demo 11.90" (1990) and "Trip to Depressive Autumn" (1992), this is the first time these demos are in the same package with exclusive liner notes.



Unholy emerged from the eastern Finnish town of Imatra in the late '80s. After changing their name from Armageddon to Holy Hell and eventually to Unholy, their mission was simple; to create harder, heavier, and slower music than their idols Black Sabbath and Celtic Frost. The lyrical themes and ideas for the songs came from Satanism, mysticism, anti-Christianity, mushroom trips, and shamanism among others. Finnish deep ecologist Pentti Linkola also inspired the band and their music. Some of the songs came up naturally by jamming riffs and others entirely by improvisation.



While the first two demos already made Unholy a force to be reckoned with, the release of “Trip to Depressive Autumn” caught the attention of the underground metal scene and various labels. The band was hungry for a recording contract, and it finally came into realization when Lethal Records released their debut album “From the Shadows” in 1993.

Sicarius – whose moniker means contract killer or assassin in Latin – draw influence from and pay homage to classic black metal bands, yet the quintet also injects a modern, high-velocity sense of immediacy into their bludgeoning and bloodthirsty extreme metal assault. The group – whose sonic nihilism has been praised by Metal Hammer as “USBM with serious forward thrust” – was founded five years ago in Southern California, where they have since performed extensively alongside such genre heavyweights as Carach Angren, Master, Uada, 1349, Goatwhore and Vader.

“We are a Sludge/Doom band from Sydney, Australia. We have been on the local Australian Doom scene for a couple of years and released an EP at the end of 2019 called the Blackwitch EP and we are about to release our new album The Fire Above. Our influences are varied but include Sleep, The Melvins, EyeHateGod, Electric Wizard and Black Sabbath. We have been getting attention at our live shows for being really loud!!! “Long, hypnotic, simple yet textured seven minute songs. A sonic scream into the abyss and a sacrifice of the innocents at the alter of the almighty bong. The record sounds like a weighted blanket, a comforting fire on a frozen night, a shot of heroin to shut out the voices, a knife in the throat of those who have wronged you, the tender touch of a lover who had plans for you which were not negotiated in the verbal contract of consent.

Cult Black Metal band The Deathtrip have scrawled their ghostly sigils on blood-contract with Svart Records (EU) and Profound Lore (North America) for their sophomore album Demon Solar Totem, the follow-up to 2014's debut, Deep Drone Master. Featuring the long-due return of Kvohst (Ex-Dodheimsgard/Code) on lyrics/vocals joining the cold, hypnotic riffs of Host (Thine), the primal drumming of Storm (Ex-My Dying Bride, Blasphemer) and introducing the bass playing of Thomas Eriksen (Mork), The Deathtrip offer tickets to primeval possession and open portals to other dimensions. Demon Solar Totem captures the spirit of ancient Darkthrone, Thorns and Beherit imbued with old-English occultism and the chanting of sacred sound formulas. Otherworld Black Metal eeriness for a deep dive into spectral realms, Demon Solar Totem will be released on November the 15th 2019.

An official reissue of the 2017 double album by Caligula’s Horse, originally issued on Inside/Out Records.

Caligula’s Horse are among the vanguard of the new generation of progressive rock artists. The Australian band has been often compared to the likes of Opeth, Haken and Porcupine Tree, and original copies of In Bloom on vinyl have already reached high prices on the collector’s market. The Svart reissue comes with a gatefold jacket and the 1000 copy pressing is split into two color variants, the more serene clear vinyl option and the more expressive blue and green marble edition.

SISSY SPACEK began in 1999 as a Blur / Grind duo consisting of John Wiese (SUNNO)), Bastard Noise) and Corydon Ronnau. Since then they have taken countless detours, pushing the extremes of sound in all possible directions on close to 50 releases. On their newest 7", "CONTRETEMPS" via PPM, they return to full on grind-core reflecting on material of their recent live outings and line up. Now as a 4 piece with Jesse Jackson (noise guitar), Charlie Mumma (drums), Corydon Ronnau (vocals), and John Wiese (bass) SISSY SPACEK tear through 10 songs of blasting noise. Limited to 500 copies. Cover art by Ace Farren Ford (Los Angeles Free Music Society).

Inhuman were formed in December 1992 in Silves (Algarve), one of the oldest and most historic cities in Portugal. Celebrating almost a 30 year career, the band just recorded their most ambitious work, with producer Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Angelus Apatrida, Ava Inferi) at the controls of this remarkable production. The new album is called “contra”: a strong and suggestive title for a band that never stopped believing and fighting for his place in the Heavy Metal scene. It will be released in November 2020 by Alma Mater Records(led by Fernando Ribeiro from Moonspell, who was bewitched by the brilliant proposal of the band). Received with enthusiasm by fans and critics since “Strange Desire” (1996), which was followed by the 1998 seminal “Foreshadow”, Inhuman always stood out from the majority for their ability to combine their influences (Paradise Lost, Anathema) with their unique musical characteristics, which distinguish them. “contra” will be one of the best albums of the year for Portuguese Metal and marks the band's strong return to studio albums. Welcome back Inhuman!

An official reissue of the 2017 double album by Caligula’s Horse, originally issued on Inside/Out Records.

Caligula’s Horse are among the vanguard of the new generation of progressive rock artists. The Australian band has been often compared to the likes of Opeth, Haken and Porcupine Tree, and original copies of In Bloom on vinyl have already reached high prices on the collector’s market. The Svart reissue comes with a gatefold jacket and the 1000 copy pressing is split into two color variants, the more serene clear vinyl option and the more expressive blue and green marble edition.

Maraton break boundaries between genres, creating progressive alternative rock with roaring bass, massive guitars and exceptional vocals. Described as "shamelessly melodic", the band experiments with sounds and creates music that can be described as a dynamic journey through sensory impressions. Thematically, lines are drawn between the emotional and the philosophical, and the songs are based on human receptivity to new impressions and developments. Maraton released their debut album "Meta" in 2019, with great success and very good reviews internationally. At the time of writing, the debut has almost 3 million plays on Spotify alone, and despite the pandemic and little opportunity for concerts, the band's fan base is constantly growing. The band has been praised for their fantastic and energetic live performances with such claims as: "Bergersen's falsetto delivery is simply amazing" and "With a voice driven by power and clarity, I was left with goosebumps in places you did not know you could get goosebumps " - Heavymetal.no. Maraton has previously played at festivals such as Roskilde Festival in Denmark, By:larm- and the Trondheim Rocks festival in Norway, and after the debut album they went on an extensive European tour with Leprous. By combining and experimenting with different genres, the band creates a distinct and iconic soundscape that is characterized by technical drumming performed with mechanical precision, earthquake-awakening bass, shimmering guitars and almost sacred vocals. Despite this strange and wonderful mix, the songs present themselves as surprisingly catchy, but at the same time timeless, and as something that should be enjoyed and absorbed through more than one listening.

Limited to 2200 copies worldwide. RSD First Release.
For RSD 2023, a limited edition reissue of the bands’ best-selling album, for the first time on vinyl. Pressed on blue/grey swirl vinyl with additional pictures and liner notes.

After more than three years of almost total silence cinematic black noise black metal merchant Caina returns with a deeply personal, chaotic and terrifying album entitled “Gentle Illness”, which is penned for a 01st Nov 2019 release via Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings. With lyrical themes ranging from the UK's lack of mental health provision to extraterrestrial psychics via demonic possession and the metaphysics of suicide, “Gentle Illness” is a comprehensive guide to the very real and very personal disintegration of its creator.

Stjärnfält is a musical project led by M. Originally from Australia, at some point the mysterious multi-instrumentalist relocated to Sweden, where he still lives to this day. Lapporten is the project sophomore album and follows two years after the debut Ascension. These four, atmospheric, trancey tracks are a detail of M.'s travels through northern Sweden, and attempt to capture it's contradicting nature of isolation and expanse; bleakness and beauty.

Re-issue of Kolborn's debut album “First Enslavement” - now on limited edition vinyl and CD with all-new remastered sound!! Denmark, 2002. The world was suffering a heavy hangover of Carcass “Heartwork” grooves and “One Kill Wonder”, by The Haunted, was still in the works. Nobody - even the few ones that were lucky enough to grab one of the copies of their “Blessed By Beyond” demo a few years earlier - was expecting the kind of evolution Kolborn presented in their debut album “First Enslavement”. Equal parts brutality and groove, wrapped up in all-rounded technical flawless approach by the band and a clinical production by Jacob Bredahl (Exmortem, Koroded, Hatesphere, Leng T’Che). Firing all-cylinders, the band, led by guitarist Henrik “Heinz” Jacobsen (also of Hatesphere) entered the scene by storm, with the album receiving overwhelming reviews for its musical diversity and brutal groove with a Scandinavian touch of melody. Martin Leth Andersen, vocalist in “First Enslavement”, recalls: “We prepared ourselves mentally by partying all by ourselves in Køng, drinking cheap, warm beer from the almost functioning fridge and having pissing contests in the manure behind the rehearsal quarters”. The result is, to put it simple, the definition of thrash/death metal made with groove in Denmark.

After 10 years, atmospheric triprock band The Gathering will release a new album! ‘Beautiful Distortion’ is a typical eclectic The Gathering album, although it may be their ‘most dynamic and melodic’ album to date. The Gathering’s signature electronic rock sound is topped with warm Nordic vocals and beautiful vocal lines by vocalist Silje Wergeland. Producer Attie Bauw, who also produced The Gathering’s ‘Home’ and ‘How to Measure a Planet?’, collaborated with them on their 11th full length studio album. The band started writing and rehearsing for this album already several years ago. Over the last year and a half they could not make music together or travel due to Covid-19. There was a lot of online contact between Norway (Silje) and the Netherlands (rest). Which was a challenge, but turned out well. Although it took a bit longer than expected. The band recorded in studio Arnold Muhren in Volendam (Netherlands) and all vocals were recorded in Bergen Lydstudio (Norway). All band members contributed a lot to the creative process, both individually and together, whenever possible. That resulted in a lot of diversity in the songs. And in the end, all the songs came together beautifully. Producer Attie Bauw managed to help create a diverse yet coherent and warm album.

Acid Drinkers ware formed at 21 September 1986 by Tomasz “Titus” Pukacki (vocal, bass) and Robert “Litza” Friedrich (guitar, vocal). Very soon the line-up was completed with Darek “Popcorn” Popowicz (guitar) and Piotr “Chomik” Kulik (drums). Chomik was later replaced by Maciej “Ślimak” Starosta. In this line-up the band started to work on their first compositions: “Barmy Army”, “Del rocca” or “I Mean Acid”. Less than a month after the band started, Titus was called to the army and he left his friends for almost two years. During that time Litza and Popcorn decided to reactivate Slavoy, and after a short time Popcorn was offered to join Wilczy Pająk (Wolf Spider), and Litza to Turbo.

When he came back from the army, Titus tried to reactivate his first band Los Desperados. The attempts didn’t really work out, and after a meeting with Popcorn he chose to reactivate Acid Drinkers instead. Litza and Ślimak came back, too. Their live debut took place on Wyspa Słodowa, Wrocław, at 26 August 1989. After that show the news about a great new metal band started to spread around Poland and more and more people got familiar with the name Acid Drinkers. Very quickly they were offered a recording deal and their career started to roll. In this line-up they recorded such classic albums as “Are You A Rebel?”, “Vile Vicious Vision” or their most popular album “Infernal Connection”.

Towards the end of 1998 Litza decided to leave the band. He was replaced by Przemysław “Perła” Wejmann, a singing guitarist and the leader of Guess why. With Perła, the Acidos recorded three albums: “Amazing Atomic Activity”, “Broken Head” and “Acidofilia”. In the beginning of 2003 Perła left the band. His decision was a result of misunderstandings and contradictory conceptions concerning musical questions.

It took about a month to decide that the new guitarist would be Tomek “Lipa” Lipnicki, known from Illusion. Together with Lipa the band recorded the well received album “Rock Is not enough”. Over a year later, Lipa left for his new project Lipali. The guitar was taken over by Aleksander “Olass” Mendyk from None. The new musician quickly won himself the hearts of Acidos maniacs and plays with the guys up to this day. At the moment the band gigs a lot and is planning to record another full-length album.

Acid Drinkers are to this day the best and the most spectacular thrash metal band in Poland. During their long and eventful career they played over 500 concerts, including still well remembered gigs at Jarocin festival, Metalmania, Węgorzewo, Przystanek Woodstock or Odjazdy. They supported such metal giants as Deep Purple, Megadeth, Bruce Dickinson, Sepultura, Paradise Lost or Slayer. Their albums feature guest performances of Polish artists as Edyta Bartosiewicz, Kazik Staszewski, Tomek Lipnicki, Patrycja Kosiarkiewicz or Grzegorz Skawiński.

Acid Drinkers won the Fryderyk award (the Polish equivalent of the Grammy award) in 1998, 2000 and 2004 for the “Best Hard & Heavy Act”. In 1998 they also won the Złoty Bączek, an award given by the TV Channel 2 in the “Best Band” category. Together with Hey, Kazik Staszewski, Edyta Bartosiewicz and O.N.A. they were acclaimed the best five Polish bands of the 90s in a poll published in Tylko Rock, the most important rock magazine in Poland.

The wretched birth of mysterious chilean death-doom enigma Miasma OF Occvlt Limbs is an experience to behold, and an abomination entirely unto its own. The band's death-devoured debut full-length album titled Occvlta Caerimonia Putridvm was silently digitally released on Bandcamp by sole mastermind Myiasis in early 2023 going virtually ignored, as sadly happens all too often to South American extreme metal, notoriously to the contrary a perpetual source of marvel and wonder when it comes to the most unique and obscure crafts of dark and deviant extreme music. With no exception to this tradition Occvlta Caerimonia Putridvm immediately self-identified itself as an unmistakable gem of Chilean extreme metal, unfolding a foul masterclass of utterly horrific and putrescent drone-infused death-doom. A crypt-born abomination of immense subsonic death metal dripping with filth and riddled with decay. Death-obsessed and reeking in putrefaction, Occvlta Caerimonia Putridvm sees Miasma of Occvlt Limbs slow down the meters of Incantation's putrid death metal even further, reaching the abysmal dimensions of Disembowelment where space is consequently created by the arbitrary stretching of tempos and the songs turn into a widescreen panoramic canvas primed for experimentation. It is in this state of slow-crawling, agonizing filth that Miasma of Occvlt Limbs reaches the zenith of its death-scared triumph, as visions of rotting sepulchers and decaying remains are conjured with horrendous mastery. And as the listener is subjected to this foul descent into the catacombs, the agony slows further, seemingly never-ending, as light fades from above and the scent of death becomes as thick as magma. In this twilight zone of benthic decaying horror, Miasma of Occvlt Limbs touches the depths and surrealism of Sunn O))) as marked drone and funeral doom segments hold the listener even longer frozen in terror as the nightmare unfolds seemingly without end, making Occvlta Caerimonia Putridvm without a doubt one of the most underrated, enigmatic and evocative pieces of necrotic death-doom conceived (and then criminally overlooked) in 2023.