Search "giant steps" 118 Items

Robb Weir, Tygers of Pan Tang founder and keeper of the flame, was at a cross roads. He had tried to keep the Tygers alive with differing lineups but now he was in the position of seeing his hopes dissolve completely as the band were unable to find just the right vocalist. He was determined to give it one more chance and the band cast around for a new front man. He knew that this was possibly his last chance. Enter Jack Meille, resident of Florence and possessor of a set of pipes that could notonly do justice to the Tygers back catalogue, but crucially, create the hard rock melodies essential to the band’s sound for the future.There was always something about that original release though that bothered the band: the sleeve. It was felt that it didn’t do the band justice. Step in Andy Pilkington, responsible for the last two Tygers albums’ covers. He was asked to create a cover that would sit happily alongside the quality seen in other Tygersalbum sleeves. They also felt that the sound required a new mix and called upon the services of trusted friend and producer Marco Angioni to add the necessary sheen to an already fine sounding album. A bonus track, “Don’t Say Rock’n’Roll Is Gonna Die” has also been added to the re-issue. 1. Rock Candy2. Cry Sweet Freedom3. Live For The Day4. Let It Burn5. If You See Kay6. Hot Blooded7. Devils Find A Fool8. Winners and Losers9. Cruisin’10. Bury The Hatchet11. Dark Rider12. Don’t Say R’n’R Is Gonna Die (bonus track)

LORD AMONG THE GIANTS…This is the solo project from EMPEROR's Trym, featuring cinematic soundscapes telling an epic Viking story.Trym Torson who is widely known as the drummer on landmark albums of Norwegian Black Metal like EMPEROR`s Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk or ENSLAVED's Vikingligr veldi and Frost moved into uncharted waters by composing music inspired by his longstanding passion for cinematic soundscapes and ambient music.THRYMR doesn`t have much in common with Black Metal; instead, the 8 tracks that make up the debut album Saga Of The North are not to be missed if you are into dark sounds which tell their own stories and journeys. Side A:1. Landsbyen2. Trusselen3. Slaget4. GravferdSide B:5. Sorgen6. Minner7. Vandringen8. Håpet

LORD AMONG THE GIANTS…This is the solo project from EMPEROR's Trym, featuring cinematic soundscapes telling an epic Viking story.Trym Torson who is widely known as the drummer on landmark albums of Norwegian Black Metal like EMPEROR`s Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk or ENSLAVED's Vikingligr veldi and Frost moved into uncharted waters by composing music inspired by his longstanding passion for cinematic soundscapes and ambient music.THRYMR doesn`t have much in common with Black Metal; instead, the 8 tracks that make up the debut album Saga Of The North are not to be missed if you are into dark sounds which tell their own stories and journeys. Side A:1. Landsbyen2. Trusselen3. Slaget4. GravferdSide B:5. Sorgen6. Minner7. Vandringen8. Håpet

LORD AMONG THE GIANTS…This is the solo project from EMPEROR's Trym, featuring cinematic soundscapes telling an epic Viking story.Trym Torson who is widely known as the drummer on landmark albums of Norwegian Black Metal like EMPEROR`s Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk or ENSLAVED's Vikingligr veldi and Frost moved into uncharted waters by composing music inspired by his longstanding passion for cinematic soundscapes and ambient music.THRYMR doesn`t have much in common with Black Metal; instead, the 8 tracks that make up the debut album Saga Of The North are not to be missed if you are into dark sounds which tell their own stories and journeys. Side A:1. Landsbyen2. Trusselen3. Slaget4. GravferdSide B:5. Sorgen6. Minner7. Vandringen8. Håpet

STEEL INFERNO has been, slowly but surely, cementing their name in the European speed metal scene in the last decade. Since the band’s formation in 2012, the quintet released three studio albums, each one stepping a bit forward in terms of popularity and intensity: “Aesthetics of Decay” in 2016, “…And the Earth Stood Still” in 2020 and “Evil Reign” In 2022.The latter, which was Steel Inferno debut at From The Vaults, took the band in a slightly different direction. If the Steel Inferno’s early material was akin to European metal like early Accept and Judas Priest, the material in that record was closer to some of the earliest US power metal bands such as Helstar and Jag Panzer – all mixed with a fundamental inspiration from early thrash and speed metal.With this new-found approach, the band toured like crazy to support “Evil Reign”, until the time came to record new songs again. Angioni Studios was booked, speed riffs, solos were recorded, thunderous rhythms were taped and raging vocal takes were taped. The result is Steel Inferno’s new album, titled “Rush Of Power”. A thunderous monster of a record, which will hit you like a hurricane, adrenaline-pumping and will leaving craving for the next speed metal fix. “Rush Of Power” adds more speed, as well as complexity, to the Steel Inferno arsenal, while retaining a sense of creating good melodies. 1. The Abyss2. Cut Down By The Chainsaw3. Hunt The Rush4. Power Games5. Electrocuter6. Cathedral Run7. The Blitz8. Attack9. Coven In The Dark

STEEL INFERNO has been, slowly but surely, cementing their name in the European speed metal scene in the last decade. Since the band’s formation in 2012, the quintet released three studio albums, each one stepping a bit forward in terms of popularity and intensity: “Aesthetics of Decay” in 2016, “…And the Earth Stood Still” in 2020 and “Evil Reign” In 2022.The latter, which was Steel Inferno debut at From The Vaults, took the band in a slightly different direction. If the Steel Inferno’s early material was akin to European metal like early Accept and Judas Priest, the material in that record was closer to some of the earliest US power metal bands such as Helstar and Jag Panzer – all mixed with a fundamental inspiration from early thrash and speed metal.With this new-found approach, the band toured like crazy to support “Evil Reign”, until the time came to record new songs again. Angioni Studios was booked, speed riffs, solos were recorded, thunderous rhythms were taped and raging vocal takes were taped. The result is Steel Inferno’s new album, titled “Rush Of Power”. A thunderous monster of a record, which will hit you like a hurricane, adrenaline-pumping and will leaving craving for the next speed metal fix. “Rush Of Power” adds more speed, as well as complexity, to the Steel Inferno arsenal, while retaining a sense of creating good melodies. 1. The Abyss2. Cut Down By The Chainsaw3. Hunt The Rush4. Power Games5. Electrocuter6. Cathedral Run7. The Blitz8. Attack9. Coven In The Dark

Helter Skelter Productions (distributed & marketed by Regain Records) announces a partnership with cult kings Beastmaker for an extensive reissue campaign of the band's many (and crucial) EP releases. In lieu of this announcement, Beastmaker also confirm that they have returned from their self-imposed hiatus and will be recording new music and playing shows again - as always, on their own terms.Formed in 2014, Beastmaker began with a flurry of activity and only intensified that activity over the next five years. Following two demos and an EP, the power-trio then released two albums - Lusus Naturae (2016) and Inside the Skull (2017) - through Lee Dorrian's esteemed Rise Above Records. Naturally, that pairing proved fruitful, for Beastmaker were indeed cut from a doomed cloth, but Beastmaker founder Trevor Church (who'd soon form the equally prolific Haunt) showed he had so much more to his vision than sticking within scene boundaries. Thereafter, between 2017 and 2019, the band released a staggering 11 EPs before breaking up, with another EP - Body and Soul - released posthumously in 2020.Now, longtime fans Helter Skelter Productions step forward to reissue this goldmine of Beastmaker godliness. The reissue campaign will include Body and Soul joined with the bonus material on the Who Is This? compilation, thereby making it a full-length, and which will be released on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats. Then, EP. 1 and EP. 2 will be joined together on CD and tape formats, followed by the pairings of EP. 3 and EP. 4, EP. 5 and EP. 6, EP. 7 and EP. 8, and finally EP. 9 and EP. 10: thus, full-length releases for all, and each on vinyl and tape formats. All ten of these EPs will also be available on a special 5xCD boxset. This reissue campaign is tentatively slated to start in April and then conclude by November; release dates and preorder info to be revealed in time.A statement from Church reads as follows: "I'm very excited to announce that the EP collection from Beastmaker will see a new pressing from Helter Skelter / Regain Records. This collection of work shows the artistic vision of horror I had writing in my home studio during 2015-2018. I was watching so many old horror movies during these times to inspire the song craftsmanship. Mario Bava always a huge inspiration in my music. The imagery of poster lobby cards also played a part of the writing process during these times. I've booked a festival for 2024, and Beastmaker will rise from the coffin once again. Thanks to all the fans that have supported us during our hiatus. We are not gone! Rather, we have descended further underground waiting for the right time." 1. Body and Soul2. Global Domination3. Ritual4. Lady of the Water5. Night of the Devil6. Who is This7. Why Can´t you See8. Cataclysm9. Fortune Thief10. Time Wizard

Taken from the ‘No Prayer on the Road’ tour, this setlist was recorded at the iconic Wembley Arena on 17the December 1990.This tour marked the arrival of a new guitarist, Janick Gers, who replaced Adrian Smith. Following their large-scale stages used during the 1980s, the band opted for a less complicated production for this tour, with bassist Steve Harris commenting: ‘We thought Seventh Son... the show was just a bit hard to control. I mean, the real Eddie and the backdrops I thought were amazing, but the giant icebergs and stuff were a bit cheesy, I think, and we just wanted to keep all that out and turn it into a gig like a massive club performance again, which we really managed to do. And having Janick in the band kicked everyone more than necessary up the arse, too, because, being new, he was so enthusiastic about everything. I think he made us open our eyes a bit and see things in a new way.’

The monolithically heavy, uniquely mercurial UK quartet Sugar Horse are proud to announce their new album Grand Scheme Of Things, to be released 4th October via Pelagic Records. Darting wildly between dark/light, pain/bliss and sacred/profane, the band originating from Bristol offers a different perspective on Post Metal! On Grand Scheme Of Things, Sugar Horse comment: "This album was intended to be a sideways step. A move away from the kind of thing that is expected of us_ if anything is at all. What I mean by that, is the songs are more direct. They take a much shorter amount of time to "get to the point". We also wanted to make this one noticeably "less Metal". While we love being a bit boneheaded and confrontational, we definitely wanted to explore the more melodic, song-based side of the band's sound. Normally you'd see shortened song structures and more singing and think "Oh these guys are going for gold_.they wanna get on the radio and make millions of bloodstained pounds." Well_you're very much entitled to think that if you wish, but it felt like more of a songwriting challenge than anything else to be honest. We've done the whole drawn out, endless Space Rock thing a good few times now and it would've been easy to rest on those laurels. Do something we're comfortable with. Alas, that is not really the point of this band. We'd much prefer to make it difficult and take the long route."

New album from Connecticut metal/hardcore outfit Boundaries via 3dot Recordings, the label owned and ran by iconic progressive metal band Periphery.

'Death Is Little More' is the band's fourth studio album - their most aggressive and complete body of work to date, including featured guest vocals by giants of the global contemporary heavy rock scene - Lochie Keogh from Alpha Wolf (au), Marcus Vik from Aviana (se) and Matt Honeycutt from Kublai Khan TX (us).

Limited edition of 300 copies, only available at HHV!

Bombworks Records is proud to reissue on vinyl the 2005 Metal Blade Records album Winter Solstice - The Fall of Rome. Limited to just 300 copies worldwide, this first-ever vinyl release comes in stunning Sunflare color vinyl that looks amazing. Originally released in 2005 on Metal Blade Records, The Fall of Rome stands out in the metalcore scene for a couple of reasons. First, vocalist Matt Tarpey delivers a genuinely pained scream that virtually never let's up, adding a raw intensity to the music. Second, the production has a grainy and biting edge, eschewing the overly polished sound common in many metalcore albums. The Fall of Rome is as metalcore as it gets-harsh, claustrophobic, ferocious, and extremely dense, with no trace of musical subtlety. While the lyrics subtly promote Christianity, much like many bands on Solid State/Tooth & Nail, the music itself is as skull-crushing as that of Hatebreed, Throwdown, Deadsoil, Brick Bath, or Rotten Sound. The riffs draw heavily from the Melodic-Death/Gothenburg style, adding a melodic yet brutal edge to the sound. The 2024 Bombworks Records vinyl reissue includes a 12x12 full-color lyrics insert and has been meticulously mastered for vinyl by Rob Colwell (Sleeping Giant, Blessed by a Broken Heart, Iwrestledabearonce, In This Moment). Limited to just 300 Sunflare Vinyl units worldwide, this molten metal classic is a must-have. Grab your copy while you can!

Prepare to be captivated by the sheer brilliance of Believer's masterpiece, 'Sanity Obscure,' as Bombworks Records unveils a striking reissue on Blood Red Splatter vinyl. This exclusive edition, limited to just 300 copies, stands as a coveted treasure for dedicated aficionados of technical thrash metal. Immerse yourself in the epic sonic tapestry of Believer, officially licensed and presented with a meticulously crafted 12x12 full-color lyrics and picture insert, all enclosed within a deluxe package. Derived from the original 1990 release on R.E.X. Records and Roadrunner Records, this reissue mirrors the essence of the album but takes the experience to new heights with the allure of Blood Red Splatter vinyl. The album cover exudes sophistication, featuring exclusive information and images that add to it's overall allure. Believer, the unparalleled maestros of technical thrash, pioneered the realms of thrash orchestral and symphonic metal, leaving an indelible mark on the metal landscape. Their influence has resonated across stages in the USA and Europe alongside giants such as Bolt Thrower and Sacrifice. Teaming up with Cynic and Pestilence, Believer played a pivotal role in Roadrunner Records' progressive metal/thrash campaign, 'The Breed Beyond.' 'Sanity Obscure' transcends the boundaries of a mere album; it is a journey into the soul of metal itself. Witness Believer's artistic prowess as they intricately cover U2's 'Like A Song,' transforming it into a sonic masterpiece that defies genre limitations. The reissue further features an anti-pollution anthem titled 'Nonpoint,' a testament to Believer's socio-conscious artistry and the inspiration behind the name of another acclaimed band, Nonpoint. Believer's 'Sanity Obscure' isn't just an album; it is an unstoppable force, a cultural artifact, and a sonic testament to the limitless potential of metal. This Blood Red Splatter vinyl edition is a rare and illustrious gem, destined to be the centerpiece in the collections of devoted metal enthusiasts. Don't miss the chance to own this extraordinary piece of metal history - seize it now before this limited treasure becomes a relic of the past! The vinyl is remastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound.

Unveiling the Ultimate Vinyl Reissue: Woe of Tyrants - Threnody! Attention Metalheads and Vinyl Enthusiasts! Prepare yourselves for a relentless onslaught of musical fury as Brutal Planet Records proudly presents the long-awaited reissue of Woe of Tyrants' monumental album, "Threnody," now available in a limited edition orange vinyl pressing! Originally unleashed upon the world in 2010 by Metal Blade Records, "Threnody" has since solidified it's status as a timeless masterpiece of the metal genre. But that's not all! This exclusive reissue, limited to just 300 units, comes packed with a stunning 12x12 lyrics insert, making it an essential addition to any discerning collector's arsenal. What sets Woe of Tyrants apart from the pack, you ask? Well, brace yourselves, because these titans of metal dwell in the realm of Drop D flat tuning - a staggering 4 steps higher than the norm! This unique tuning unleashes a sonic assault where guitars reign supreme, showcasing unparalleled precision and unrivaled shredding prowess. Prepare to be blown away by the sheer virtuosity of their musicianship! But that's just the tip of the molten iceberg. "Threnody" delivers a relentless barrage of speed, technicality, and thrashy mayhem, accompanied by atmospheric keyboards that add a haunting depth to the sonic landscape. From blistering blast beats to lightning-fast solos and spine-tingling bass drops, every track is a testament to the band's unwavering dedication to the craft. Led by lower/mid-range vocals that exude raw power and intensity, Woe of Tyrants will transport you to a realm where metal reigns supreme. So, if you crave the adrenaline rush of speed metal, the intricacy of technical mastery, and the sheer adrenaline-pumping energy of a live show, look no further than "Threnody." This limited run vinyl reissue, meticulously mastered for vinyl by the esteemed Rob Colwell, is not just an album - it's a sonic journey, a testament to the enduring power of metal music. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of metal history. Pick up your copy of Woe of Tyrants' "Threnody" today, and unleash the fury within!

"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)

'Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (2nd Spell)' is GEHENNA's first full-length album which was originally released in 1995.They kept their characteristic sound intact, yet stepped each and every element of their sound up a notch or two. The highly melodic sound which has over the years become one of the band's trademarks, presents itself refined with subtle details. For the first time, GEHENNA dare to incorporate fast-paced passages into their songs too.Considering the high compositional level of the album, one is simply awe-struck by the band's enormous development within only 2 years since GEHENNA's inception. 'Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (2nd Spell)' is a symphonic Black Metal masterpiece and a highlight of the genre.The songs were completely new remastered by Patrick W. Engel at the Temple of Disharmony to ensure the best possible sound for this timeless Black Metal classic.This release will include a huge 20-page 12” booklet including an in-depth interview (divided into 4 parts, this is part 3) with all 5 original bandmembers and many never seen before pictures.An A2 poster will be added to every vinyl too and a download-code. SIDE A:1. Lord Of Flies2. Shairak Kinnummh3. Vinterriket4. A Witch Is Born5. Through The Veils Of DarknessSIDE B:1. The Mystical Play Of Shadows2. The Eyes Of The Sun3. A Myth…4. Dark Poems Author

'Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (2nd Spell)' is GEHENNA's first full-length album which was originally released in 1995.They kept their characteristic sound intact, yet stepped each and every element of their sound up a notch or two. The highly melodic sound which has over the years become one of the band's trademarks, presents itself refined with subtle details. For the first time, GEHENNA dare to incorporate fast-paced passages into their songs too.Considering the high compositional level of the album, one is simply awe-struck by the band's enormous development within only 2 years since GEHENNA's inception. 'Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (2nd Spell)' is a symphonic Black Metal masterpiece and a highlight of the genre.The songs were completely new remastered by Patrick W. Engel at the Temple of Disharmony to ensure the best possible sound for this timeless Black Metal classic.This release will include a huge 20-page 12” booklet including an in-depth interview (divided into 4 parts, this is part 3) with all 5 original bandmembers and many never seen before pictures.An A2 poster will be added to every vinyl too and a download-code. SIDE A:1. Lord Of Flies2. Shairak Kinnummh3. Vinterriket4. A Witch Is Born5. Through The Veils Of DarknessSIDE B:1. The Mystical Play Of Shadows2. The Eyes Of The Sun3. A Myth…4. Dark Poems Author

PSYCHLONA's fourth album "Warped Vision" is an exemplary exercise of practiced veterans creating a masterpiece. The album's foundations are laid down by riff-focused heaviness and breakouts combined with a multitude of chilled vibes. What makes "Warped Vision" stick out from a host of similar recordings is the precision with which each hook hits home and sticks, a dynamic balance of rough edges and catchy melodies. The city of Bradford in West Yorkshire is neither particularly arid nor situated in a hot climate. But although hailing from the former industrial heartlands of rainy Northern England, PSYCHLONA have developed a particularly British brand of desert rock. Some hot summer days in 2016 inspired local musicians to fry up some sonic ideas from sunny California of decades past and to blend in the raw energy of UK punk, a dash of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and spoonfuls of classic English 60s and 70s psychedelia. When the experiment exceeded their own expectations, PSYCHLONA were born. In November 2018, when English towns turn bleak and cold, their sun-drenched debut album "Mojo Rising" made ears prick up and set them firmly on the path for the prolific following years. The hardworking Englishmen released their sophomore full-length "Venus Skytrip" in August 2020, an album received rave reviews across the heavy rock underground, and which landed PSYCHLONA their first number one on the Doom Charts. It also reserved them spots high up on several important end-of-year lists. Gathering momentum, the British stoner rockers unveiled their third album "Palo Verde" two years later in August 2022 and immediately scored a second 10/10 review in Powerplay Magazine UK. Now, PSYCHLONA are ready to take the next big step. Welcoming two new members aboard the band has added a new dynamic both in writing and recording. The gentle alterations brought about by their fresh input have turned "Warped Vision" into what is clearly the most complete and thrilling album of the psychedelic desert rockers so far. With "Warped Vision", PSYCHLONA have hit the jackpot, and they are generously offering up rounds for everyone. Cheers! 1. Jasmine2. Let's Go3. Smoke4. Cut Loose5. Topanga6. Kaleidoscope7. Split8. Magic Carpet

HELLS HEADBANGERS is proud to present SKELETHAL's highly anticipated third album, Within Corrosive Continuums.Formed in 2012, SKELETHAL have been at the forefront of the now-fertile French death metal scene. While many of the band's primary influences have been Swedish - Entombed, Carnage, and Dismember - over the past decade, the quartet have finessed that style of death metal into one that feels classic rather than simply "old." Call it intrinsically understanding what makes death metal DEATH METAL or simply possessing the songwriting nous to add to such a hallowed canon rather than merely milking, but SKELETHAL have proven to be contenders to the throne. First full-length evidence was 2017's Of the Depths..., followed by 2020's Unveiling the Threshold, which saw a lineup change and bold steps beyond Swedeath (and both released by HELLS HEADBANGERS), and now arrives LP#3 to all but assure that ascent to the throne.Tellingly titled Within Corrosive Continuums, SKELETHAL's third album equally encapsulates their past and builds upon it in noble ways. While it's predecessor saw a slight uptick in clarity, here do SKELETHAL carry forward that clarity with a conspicuous dirtying-up of tone. The production's as powerful as ever, so it could be argued that that rediscovered grit & grime come more in the band's execution - or, more accurately, the songwriting itself. Within Corrosive Continuums immediately sounds like the same band who unleashed those prior two (celebrated) LPs, but SKELETHAL flex a bit differently here, opening up a number of (still-death metal) influences and transforming them into riffs and rhythms that ever so slightly more adventurous, all without (crucially) losing their characteristic directness. As such, the bulk of these largely-five-minute-long songs feel twice as fast, so feverish is the band's intensity, but dread-draped hooks and CRUSHING heaviness still rule the day. Put another way, SKELETHAL take on textures that are more personal and somber, but keep the expression resolutely death metal. Simply witness the 13-minute closing juggernaut, appropriately enough the title track: hearing is believing, and SKELETHAL will make believers out of even the crankiest "old school" diehards. 1.Creation ?2.Spectrum of Morbidity3.Mesmerizing Flies at the Doors of Death4.Eyes Sewn Mouth Full5.Upon the Immemorial Ziggurat6.Fatal Abstraction7.Within Corrosive Continuums

Beasto Blanco was founded by Chuck Garric and Chris Latham. They set out to create a raw, powerful rock & roll band with a blistering, theatrical live experience. Then came Calico Cooper, rock vixen and offspring of Garric's boss, legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper, and a renegade German rhythm section, and Beasto Blanco's inimitable sound and image was born.Blood, sweat and gas fuel Beasto Blanco's explosive rock sound. A band and an audience united in an inseparable bond of musical thunder and sensational spectacle: welcome to the world of Beasto Blanco. Whether under the spotlights of huge arenas or headlining packed theatres and clubs, the band's mission is unwavering: to create an immersive experience where everyone is welcome to join an extended family whose support is unconditional and authentic.At the helm of Beasto Blanco is a powerful triumvirate. Band co-founder, frontman, lead singer and guitarist Chuck Garric, distinguished by his considerable legacy as a touring and recording musician, including 22 years playing bass with Alice Cooper, is a creative force of nature. "Beasto Blanco is my inner beast, my Hulk, my wolfman, the thing I turn into when I step onstage", he says.Calico MachineGirl Cooper is the band's high priestess and serves as an inspirational archetype. "I get approached by women who say, 'Thank you for being so strong and so powerful'"'she explains. Her interaction with Chuck - who she's known for chasing around the stage with a spiked baseball bat - captivates the audience with a dynamic that blurs the line between combat and romance. "We're not just a band, we're a lifestyle".The future is a beast and we are here to ride it. – Chuck Garric 1. Run For Your Life2. Nobody Move3. Heavy Is The Head4. Unreal5. Kill Us Off With A Smile6. Slide7. Skull Rider8. Lowlands9. Diamond In The Dirt10. Bad Thoughts11. Fight

Ad Patres, the French death metal band hailing from Bordeaux, has marked nearly two decades of existence. In 2010, the band released their first promo EP, featuring three intense and brutal tracks that drew inspiration from death metal giants like Morbid Angel and Suffocation. The EP laid the foundation for their unique sound, blending classic death metal standards with modern influences. After its first full-length offspring "Scorn Aesthetics" in 2012, the band quickly gained recognition for their brutal and uncompromising approach to death metal. The band is known for a style that seamlessly oscillates between melodic elements and unbridled aggression. Rejecting a calculated approach, Ad Patres focuses on crafting music that resonates with their personal tastes, involves meticulous refinement, and undergo extensive rehearsal. Describing their sound as clean, direct, and devoid of unnecessary frills, they aim for a music experience that is unequivocally "in your face." Following it’s 2019 release "A Brief Introduction to Human Experiments", the band is now ready to father it's new ill conception. Ad Patres will release its new album "Unbreathable" in 2024 through Non Serviam Records. Main composer Olivier's clear vision shaped the album. Fostering a suffocating and claustrophobic atmosphere, the album seamlessly integrates new technical horizons with the band’s signature sound, resulting in a work of heightened accomplishment. 1.Intro2.The Dream Chaser3.Versus4.Deserter5.Exodus6.Interlude7.Chapter X8.The Medium9.Rebellion Grief10.Deus Deceptor

Orange w/ black marble vinyl, limited to 750 copies.ACxDC_full name Antichrist Demoncore_are anything but subtle. So to make sure that their message is heard loud and clear, they take things a step further, smashing these ambiguous, sophisticated, and abstract notions into a pulp and shoving them down throats. What's left are sharp, caustic, and unabashedly vicious bits of truth and poisonous tongue-in-cheek propelled by bursts of powerviolence, metallized hardcore, and grindcore. Over the seventeen short songs, the music closely follows these themes.

Early Moods’ sophomore album A Sinner’s Past is the ultimate dosage of classic early 70s proto-metal, 90s grunge riffing and timeless songwriting delivered with an explosive youthful energy. The Los Angeles area quartet burst onto the scene fully formed with a sound that somehow simultaneously merged gritty underground Street Doom with slick “big box” Heavy Metal melodies on their self-titled RidingEasy debut album in 2022. And it’s the band’s highly skilled musicianship paired with exquisite aesthetic taste — in addition to their killer live show — that has made them an immediate popular favorite. A Sinner’s Past takes those elements several steps higher with a nod to Soundgarden’s huge sonic depth, the low-mid fuzz drenched tones of Sabotage and classic 70s melodies and structures of Ulli Roth-era Scorpions. The latter in particular inspiring the album’s intricate tonal shifts and shimmering twin leads.

Victoria BC's Raw War were a lawless blown out nuclear crust assault that obliterated ears from 2009 to 2013. During that time the band decimated stages and established widespread chaos all over the Pacific Northwest with pulverizing live sets and a sound made of pure apocalyptic terror doused in the ashes of humanity's end. Influenced by '80s and '90s UK D-beat and anarcho-punk bands like Doom and Discharge as well as by early Scandinavian crust bands like Anti Cimex and Totalitär, Raw War soon established widespread terror in their native British Columbia region, bringing their derailing and off the chain assault of primitive, ear-splitting noise-punk cacophony to its inevitable end and extreme conclusions. An unnamed full-length album and 7" EP tentatively tiled Raw Terror were recorded but never saw the light. Marred by debauchery, lineup instability and their very nature as an entity that far too soon had decided to explode in a shockwave rather than quietly fade away, Raw War disbanded sometime around 2013 leaving a thirty-five minute unforgiving, primeval, bulldozing, crustcore onslaught unreleased and completely unheard of for ten long years. Fast forward to 2023, and Sentient Ruin stepped in to honor the legacy and work of one of BC's most uncompromising and visceral hardcore crust bands by finishing the work and releasing the entirety of the band's long-unreleased material (the untitled full-length album and the Raw Terror EP) as the comprehensive 12" vinyl/digital full-length release Total Raw War. Long live the Raw War. Long live Total. RAW. WAR.

Taking one step forward and three steps back, Alfahanne returns home to Dark Essence Records with their most furious and heavy release to date! Marking exactly 10 years since the band's debut, the new album "Vår tid är nu" will see the dark of night in February 2024. Loaded with the catchy melodies that has become the Alfahanne signature, the album combines a punk attitude, melody and groove with a bleak atmosphere somehow both reminiscent of the 80s and the early days of black metal. Adding such noble and notorious guests as Nattefrost (Carpatian Forest), Spellgoth (Horna), Nattfursth (Sorhin) and Doedsadmiral (Nordjevel) into the mix, you have an explosive cocktail fit for the end of days. On "Vår tid är nu", Alfahanne looks back while leaning forward, staring deep into the abyss. The band quotes "Our time is now, this is the beginning of the end."

PSYCHLONA's fourth album "Warped Vision" is an exemplary exercise of practiced veterans creating a masterpiece. The album's foundations are laid down by riff-focused heaviness and breakouts combined with a multitude of chilled vibes. What makes "Warped Vision" stick out from a host of similar recordings is the precision with which each hook hits home and sticks, a dynamic balance of rough edges and catchy melodies. The city of Bradford in West Yorkshire is neither particularly arid nor situated in a hot climate. But although hailing from the former industrial heartlands of rainy Northern England, PSYCHLONA have developed a particularly British brand of desert rock. Some hot summer days in 2016 inspired local musicians to fry up some sonic ideas from sunny California of decades past and to blend in the raw energy of UK punk, a dash of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and spoonfuls of classic English 60s and 70s psychedelia. When the experiment exceeded their own expectations, PSYCHLONA were born. In November 2018, when English towns turn bleak and cold, their sun-drenched debut album "Mojo Rising" made ears prick up and set them firmly on the path for the prolific following years. The hardworking Englishmen released their sophomore full-length "Venus Skytrip" in August 2020, an album received rave reviews across the heavy rock underground, and which landed PSYCHLONA their first number one on the Doom Charts. It also reserved them spots high up on several important end-of-year lists. Gathering momentum, the British stoner rockers unveiled their third album "Palo Verde" two years later in August 2022 and immediately scored a second 10/10 review in Powerplay Magazine UK. Now, PSYCHLONA are ready to take the next big step. Welcoming two new members aboard the band has added a new dynamic both in writing and recording. The gentle alterations brought about by their fresh input have turned "Warped Vision" into what is clearly the most complete and thrilling album of the psychedelic desert rockers so far. With "Warped Vision", PSYCHLONA have hit the jackpot, and they are generously offering up rounds for everyone. Cheers! 1. Jasmine2. Let's Go3. Smoke4. Cut Loose5. Topanga6. Kaleidoscope7. Split8. Magic Carpet

From the streets of Venice Beach CA, come Ottto, the electric eclectic funk-punk-rock stew who release their first full-length studio album Life Is A Game on March 24th, 2023. Bassist Tye Trujillo, lead vocalist/guitar Bryan Noah Ferretti, and drummer Triko Chavez spill their aggressive groove centric vibe throughout the 10 track, Tim Harkins (Korn, Jerry Cantrell) produced album, as Ottto lead the charge on a full-tilt Old School giant riff revival with pride and raw, unfettered passion. Double-stuffed with melody, Ottto throw it all down within a potent DIY punk attitude, infused with plenty of alternative chemical imbalance! "My Pain", "Skyscraper" and the ultra-dynamic "Night Howlers" are loaded with the sort of grease, grime, and funkified riffage that can only come from the hearts and minds of unpasteurized, raw warriors. If Life Is A Game then Ottto are going at it hard, fast, and without any traditional rules.

The highly anticipated new album from Portland’s Vintersea no on vinyl! One of the best and most consistent selling bands on our roster returns with a new full-length, the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Illuminated. Vintersea combines the essential parts of many genres into a melodic, progressive and at times blackened brand of metal that is undeniably inspired by the majesty of the Pacific Northwest. The quintet led by Malaysian-born vocalist Avienne, whose vocal range spans from haunting melodies to fierce growls, has organically built their following through a variety of top-notch music videos (each garnering hundreds of thousands of views) and social media outreach. Vintersea did two US tours in support of their previous record, alongside bands like Dawn of Ouroboros, Graveshadow and Voices of Ruin, as well as playing regionally opening for Fleshgod Apocalypse, Obscura, Thulcandra, Wolfheart, Ne Obliviscaris, Jinger, Arkona and Sirenia. Now with proper management and booking agent Vintersea seek to take things up a step.

The Debut album from Finnish band Graven Sin is a modern classic of godly, Doom-laden Heavy Metal. Veil of The Gods is etched in granite via Svart Records on November 2023

Pristine new Finnish band Graven Sin stomp proudly on the shoulders of giants with their ravishing debut album, Veil of The Gods. Immaculate Heavy Metal, expertly delivered with stunning finesse and elegant Doom perfection, Veil of The Gods is a classic in the making. Rarely has a new band sounded so timeless, serving up a godly platter of first-class Heavy Metal, that Graven Sin seem chiselled in granite to sit side by side at a table with the greats from the very get go.



From the galloping charge of opening barn-stormer Morrigan, with jaw dropping solo guitars courtesy of riff master Ville Pystynen, the epic and anthemic She Who Rules Niflheim with soaring vocals from Greek vocalist Nicholas Leptos to the formidable double bass canter of Ville Markkanen’s drums on songs like Beyond Mesopotamia, Graven Sin knows the true riddle of steel.



Throughout Veil of The Gods’ eleven cast-iron tracks, we can trace veins of recent Finnish greats such as Sentenced, Amorphis, Reverend Bizarre or their nordic counterparts Grand Magus from Sweden, but there is much more at play here. Graven Sin offers up heavy, doom laden orthodox Heavy Metal in the true, chugging, monumental sense of the term. The knowledge and prowess of Heavy Metal craft on display in Veil of The Gods is second to none, from the Maidenesque command of melody to the swarthy Manowar rhythms, herculean Deep Purple keys and Messiah like Candlemass-rich voice of astonishing vocalist Leptos, these are songs to be inscribed into stone tablets.



Where pitch dark mythical themes and occult leanings of the lyrics bring to mind the Heavy Metal running through Black Metal bands like Dissection, the song arrangements swing from gallop to thundering, head-banging mid-sections with such magnificence, you would think you were in the hands of a band with decades of heritage behind their backs. A “where have you been all my life moment” awaits Heavy Metal fans of all shades when Graven Sin hits the speakers, delivering a sound that cuts glass and steel. A refreshing tour–de-force through everything Heavy Metal is loved for, not shrinking from the dark but embracing it with gusto and fierce bravado. Veil of The Gods shows us that real metal lives forever, if crafted with true spirit and belief. Hear the cry of the seer of doom, by heeding Morrigan’s call now:

Ville Pystynen - guitar, bass

Nicholas Leptos - vocals

Ville Markkanen - drums

The Debut album from Finnish band Graven Sin is a modern classic of godly, Doom-laden Heavy Metal. Veil of The Gods is etched in granite via Svart Records on November 2023

Pristine new Finnish band Graven Sin stomp proudly on the shoulders of giants with their ravishing debut album, Veil of The Gods. Immaculate Heavy Metal, expertly delivered with stunning finesse and elegant Doom perfection, Veil of The Gods is a classic in the making. Rarely has a new band sounded so timeless, serving up a godly platter of first-class Heavy Metal, that Graven Sin seem chiselled in granite to sit side by side at a table with the greats from the very get go.



From the galloping charge of opening barn-stormer Morrigan, with jaw dropping solo guitars courtesy of riff master Ville Pystynen, the epic and anthemic She Who Rules Niflheim with soaring vocals from Greek vocalist Nicholas Leptos to the formidable double bass canter of Ville Markkanen’s drums on songs like Beyond Mesopotamia, Graven Sin knows the true riddle of steel.



Throughout Veil of The Gods’ eleven cast-iron tracks, we can trace veins of recent Finnish greats such as Sentenced, Amorphis, Reverend Bizarre or their nordic counterparts Grand Magus from Sweden, but there is much more at play here. Graven Sin offers up heavy, doom laden orthodox Heavy Metal in the true, chugging, monumental sense of the term. The knowledge and prowess of Heavy Metal craft on display in Veil of The Gods is second to none, from the Maidenesque command of melody to the swarthy Manowar rhythms, herculean Deep Purple keys and Messiah like Candlemass-rich voice of astonishing vocalist Leptos, these are songs to be inscribed into stone tablets.



Where pitch dark mythical themes and occult leanings of the lyrics bring to mind the Heavy Metal running through Black Metal bands like Dissection, the song arrangements swing from gallop to thundering, head-banging mid-sections with such magnificence, you would think you were in the hands of a band with decades of heritage behind their backs. A “where have you been all my life moment” awaits Heavy Metal fans of all shades when Graven Sin hits the speakers, delivering a sound that cuts glass and steel. A refreshing tour–de-force through everything Heavy Metal is loved for, not shrinking from the dark but embracing it with gusto and fierce bravado. Veil of The Gods shows us that real metal lives forever, if crafted with true spirit and belief. Hear the cry of the seer of doom, by heeding Morrigan’s call now:

Ville Pystynen - guitar, bass

Nicholas Leptos - vocals

Ville Markkanen - drums

Holyname is the project formed by Sleeping Giant vocalist Tommy Green. Their debut concert was live-streamed from Chicago and featured guest appearances from Brian “Head” Welch (korn), Ryan Clark (demon Hunter), Joe Musten (advent) and Brook Reeves (impending Doom).

Born from their shared love for heavy music and 20 years of experience in playing together, THE Gorge consists of four jazz musicians who use the project as a creative outlet besides their day jobs as session musicians and music educators. Triangulating the chaotic yet groovy energy and the guitar masterclass of Botch with the riffage of Mastodon and the nimble instrumental intricacy of Animals as Leaders or Intronaut, Mechanical Fiction is an immensely ear-pleasing collection of tasty riffs and complex compositions that are nonetheless free-flowing like a river smoothly carving its winding path through a rugged landscape. With their third full-length album, THE Gorge take you on a giant voyage of discovery from which an incredible amount of joy can be experienced. Besides being wizards at their instruments, the quartet from St. Louis also prove to be incredible composers who know when to shine and when to take a step back, which is a rare feat in progressive music these days. The final track «Wraith» offers a sublime moment in which the band's compositional skill and emotional lyrics come together to offer one last opportunity for respite and consideration. Among the giant synthesizers, slow syncopated riffing and dying screams we are all laid to rest with our faces towards the sunset. Having come to the end of a life's journey, THE Gorge ofer us the thing that we have all longed for: release from the bonds of our Mechanical Fiction.

Born from their shared love for heavy music and 20 years of experience in playing together, THE GORGE consists of four jazz musicians who use the project as a creative outlet besides their day jobs as session musicians and music educators. Triangulating the chaotic yet groovy energy and the guitar masterclass of Botch with the riffage of Mastodon and the nimble instrumental intricacy of Animals as Leaders or Intronaut, Mechanical Fiction is an immensely ear-pleasing collection of tasty riffs and complex compositions that are nonetheless free-flowing like a river smoothly carving its winding path through a rugged landscape.With their third full-length album, THE GORGE take you on a giant voyage of discovery from which an incredible amount of joy can be experienced. Besides being wizards at their instruments, the quartet from St. Louis also prove to be incredible composers who know when to shine and when to take a step back, which is a rare feat in progressive music these days. The final track «Wraith» offers a sublime moment in which the band's compositional skill and emotional lyrics come together to offer one last opportunity for respite and consideration. Among the giant synthesizers, slow syncopated riffing and dying screams we are all laid to rest with our faces towards the sunset. Having come to the end of a life's journey, THE GORGE ofer us the thing that we have all longed for: release from the bonds of our Mechanical Fiction.FOR FANS OF Mastodon, Intronaut, Botch, Between the Buried and Me, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Meshuggah, Animals As Leaders

Seaside Swirl Vinyl, limited to 500 copies.In the two years since their last full length outing, Let There Be Nothing, JUDICATOR have returned from collective and personal turmoil brought on by both the Covid-19 pandemic and foundational lineup changes. The US power metal group are now primed and proud to release their triumphant sixth studioalbum, The Majesty of Decay, via Prosthetic Records. Refreshed and revitalized, JUDICATOR are eager to let this beastly album out of the gate and into your stereos.Whilst the album's story remains somewhat shrouded in mystery, JUDICATOR utilizes compelling plot devices as a means to encourage fans to piece together the album's meta- contextual threads. What we do know, however, is that The Majesty of Decay explores the subjects of love, family, and the transformation of suffering into something meaningful. JUDICATOR invites you to step into this world and contemplate how the story might relate to you. The album is a carefully constructed puzzle of mirrors and metaphor that cries out for Judicatorfans everywhere to solve it.What began as a humble homage to their favorite band quickly grew into something that had fans begging for more, and JUDICATOR is happy to oblige.The band has produced a catalog of music that spans multiple sub-genres and breaks conceptual boundaries. With this latest offering, The Majesty of Decay, JUDICATOR have delivered yet another thought provoking album that fits nicelyinto their discography.

In four short years of existence, Green Lung have risen from the murk of the UK heavy underground to become a true cult band with a devoted following. Debut album Woodland Rites, released independently in early 2019, quickly garnered attention, resulting in a single being named ‘Track of the Week’ in the Guardian, plays on Daniel P. Carter’s Radio One Rock Show, a tour with fellow UK heavies Puppy and festival appearances across Europe.

This brought the band to the attention of the wider music industry, and after multiple offers from a variety of labels, the band decided to stay true to their roots and sign with the Finnish audio wizards at Svart Records, home to several of their doomy inspirations including Reverend Bizarre and Warning. Svart’s deluxe reissue of the album, and the preceding EP Free the Witch, sold out several pressings.

Two years later, the folk horror-obsessed fivesome have re-emerged from their mulchy catacombs armed with dozens of freshly-whittled riffs. Black Harvest, the sequel to Woodland Rites, is a more colourful reimagining of the band’s sound - Dawn of the Dead to its predecessor’s Night of the Living Dead.

Recorded at Giant Wafer Studios in rural mid-Wales over the course of two weeks with longtime producer Wayne Adams (Petbrick, Big Lad), it’s a more expansive and textured record than anything the band have done before, boasting a cinematic quality and more attention to detail. All samples were sourced from the local countryside and from instruments found in the studio, including the haunting opening vocal of ‘The Harrowing’ which was recorded on a whim after the band broke into the local church (the organ can be heard creaking in the background). The album was recorded in late autumn, and the seasonal atmosphere seeped into the music, which is redolent of mists, falling leaves, and the crumbling glory of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, the city the band call home.

The album also soaks in new sonics beyond the ‘Black Sabbath meets Brian May’ blueprint of what went before. ‘The Harrowing’ takes the band’s tradition of instrumental opening tracks to dizzy new heights, like Atomic Rooster jamming with Boston, while ballad ‘Graveyard Sun’, based on the folklore around the ‘Highgate Vampire’, adds gothic synth lines that would give Type O Negative pangs of jealousy. That’s not to say the hooks n’ heaviness approach that made the band’s name isn’t here in abundance, as the Sabbath-meets-Purple chug and groove of revolutionary lead single ‘Leaders of the Blind’ and the Hammer Horror riff frenzy of ‘Upon the Altar’ prove. Closer ‘Born to a Dying World’ is unlike anything the band have written before; an endtimes ballad with an almost gospel feel, tying the band’s omnipresent nature themes to the Anthropocene.

Mastered by John Davis at Metropolis (Led Zeppelin, Royal Blood), Black Harvest comes packaged in stained glass artwork by renowned artist Richard Wells (Doctor Who, Dracula, Ben Wheatley’s In the Earth), and is available in gatefold vinyl and CD formats.

Norwegian experimental progressive thrashers Vorbid are finally back with new music! 4 years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Mind, Vorbid is set to further explore the outpost of progressive metal. Vorbid is a young, fresh, and incredibly energetic metal band from Arendal, Norway. Both the band’s previous releases, a self-titled EP from 2016 and their debut album Mind from 2018 received amazing reviews and got lots of media attention, landing them tours with Norwegian underground heavyweights such as Aura Noir, Obliteration and Einherjer. In 2022 Vorbid has returned with even more technically challenging and intriguing music, stepping up the game and proving themselves worthy of a place at the prog metal table.

Limited Svart exclusive box set edition. The demo LP will not be available separately.

Hexvessel and Svart Records celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Hexvessel’s debut album Dawnbearer with a set of reissues, including CD, double vinyl plus an exclusive vinyl box set with a bonus LP containing demos and early versions of tracks on the album.

“Dawnbearer is a very important album for us, being our first album but also the first original album release for Svart Records. It’s also a very special record for our fans, and one that’s particularly close to my heart, in a world of its own when compared to the other records we have made. Considering that it’s been out of print now for some time, I’m delighted to be able to oversee a reissue of this album, together with original demos and out-takes, and liner notes showing the making of this album which carries the initial DNA of Hexvessel’s musical and spiritual journey”, says band leader Mat McNerney, “We haven’t touched a thing on the original layout, but added some bonus material for the limited edition, should you wish to own a luxury edition of this, our now classic debut.”

Hexvessel band was founded by English singer/songwriter Mat McNerney (Beastmilk, Grave Pleasures, Carpenter Brut etc) after he moved to Finland in 2009. Their style of music has been referred to as “forest folk” or as Noisey/Vice puts it: “Weaving English folk, lilting Americana, and mushroom-induced psychedelia”. Their debut album 'Dawnbearer' was released worldwide in 2011 on Svart Records and is considered to be an influential classic record of the modern Occult Rock revival. Highly popular with Hexvessel fans and unique in their catalogue, featuring guitars by Andrew McIvor (Code), violin work of Daniel Pioro (who works on Paul Thomas Anderson’s soundtracks with Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead), the early production work of Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost), and guest vocals from Carl Michael Eide (Virus, Ved Buens Ende, Aura Noir).

“Think Woven Hand, haunted ’60s/’70s pastoral folk, or a darker riff on Midlake. McNerney covers Clive Palmer’s post-Incredible String Band crew C.O.B. and successfully transforms and darkens Paul Simon’s “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes.” He quotes Crowley, Truman Capote, Isaac Babel, etc. Unlike black metal-ready folk, this is folk by a talented, ambitious black metal musician. But the energy’s there. As is the atmosphere.” - Stereogum

“(Part of) a new wave of bands who share many of the original occult bands' musical and philosophical characteristics, spearheaded by Ghost, from Sweden, and the Devil's Blood, from Holland – have begun to lure in a new generation of fans, predominantly from the metal scene, their names alone – Ancient VVisdom, Hexvessel, Blood Ceremony– point to a focused step back to the age of Wheatley and Hammer. ” - The Guardian (2011)

Moon Colored Vinyl, limited to 500 copies. Swords and metal go hand in hand. That's what crossover thrash band High Command say, having turned heads with their debut album Beyond The Wall of Desolation (2019). But it's not solely metal music which influences the band, who cite the lustful violence of Robert E. Howard, Michel Moorcock, Jack Vance and many other legendary pulp writers of the 20th century as an impetus for their expansive storytelling. "People would also be surprised to hear we drew quite a bit of inspiration from the music of Ennio Morricone, especially in regards to writing some more of the epic, grandiose passages and chord progressions." says the band. Now, with their second album, Eclipse of the Dual Moons, the band take their love of storytelling a step further, deepening and widening the world of Secartha, the realm of High Command's songs. The band place themselves as omniscient narrators of the world they have created, and say that they are inseparable from Secartha and its people. "It's one thing to make a good metal record, but it's another to put on top of it a sort of overarching story that makes sense to listeners. The whole High Command project is enriched by lyrics articulating characters, a world, and trials faced within it. We want our records to be immersive and leave listeners with a feeling they've experienced something bigger than the music."

High Command returns with their second full length album Eclipse of the Dual Moons, arriving 25th November via Southern Lord and produced with Seth Manchester. Listen TO First Single "siege Warfare" Black Vinyl - Non-returnable. Swords and metal go hand in hand. That’s what crossover thrash band High Command say, having turned heads with their debut album Beyond The Wall of Desolation (2019). But it’s not solely metal music which influences the band, who cite the lustful violence of Robert E. Howard, Michel Moorcock, Jack Vance and many other legendary pulp writers of the 20th century as an impetus for their expansive storytelling. “People would also be surprised to hear we drew quite a bit of inspiration from the music of Ennio Morricone, especially in regards to writing some more of the epic, grandiose passages and chord progressions.” says the band. Now, with their second album, Eclipse of the Dual Moons, the band take their love of storytelling a step further, deepening and widening the world of Secartha, the realm of High Command’s songs. The band place themselves as omniscient narrators of the world they have created, and say that they are inseparable from Secartha and its people. “It’s one thing to make a good metal record, but it’s another to put on top of it a sort of overarching story that makes sense to listeners. The whole High Command project is enriched by lyrics articulating characters, a world, and trials faced within it. We want our records to be immersive and leave listeners with a feeling they’ve experienced something bigger than the music.” It’s not just a question of widening the world, which the band first started exploring on The Secartha Demos (2016); Eclipse of the Dual Moons sees High Command honing their process to a fine art “it’s like we started with chiseling a rock… this record is the moment the rock in question begins to look like an actual sculpture.”

Somewhere between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, the rif largely disappeared from mainstream rock & pop. Its transformative power - the rif as a means to transport the listener into another dimension - became an art cherished only in the underground of rock and metal. One of the strong proponents of that transformative power is Astrosaur, an overlooked gem in the international heavy psyche rock and post- metal scene. The Norwegian power trio has been employing the rif as their principal mode of transport since their 2017 debut album Fade In // Space Out. Now, with the release of their third album Portals, Astrosaur are sounding more expansive and convincing than ever, delivering an intuitive exploration of the infnite powered by soaring guitars and surging grooves. With their third full-length album, Astrosaur have delivered an incredibly diverse and musically challenging and satisfying experience, showing that this band is greater than the sum of its truly great parts. Over the course of fve tracks and 48 minutes, the band use the best traits of the aforementioned genres to take you on a sonic journey into the deepest caverns of space and time. First single «Black Hole Earth» is masterclass soaring post-rock guitars, with its magnifcent main melody, which is ofset against a blistering desert rock rif, like a star ship phasing in and out of hyperspace, alternating between crushing your guts and showing you the most marvellous views of deep space. From a compositional viewpoint, «Eternal Return» is a mind-blowing afair. This giant psychedelic prog epic has been built from diferent themes and motifs that take turns in appearing, shifting form and developing as they go along. Segueing into new themes or returning to earlier ones, «Eternal Return» gloriously comes full circle, ending the mind-boggling journey of Portals. With the addition of vibraphones, Moog and acoustic guitars, the sound of Astrosaur is fuller and more diverse than ever before. From the soaring overture of «Opening» to the glorious fnale of «Eternal Return», Portals shows the next great post-metal band at their most accomplished. Fans of dynamic rifs and intricate compositions can once again rejoice as they're able to tune in and fade out once more with another wild ride courtesy of this exciting Norwegian powerhouse. Limited Eternal Return Vinyl Edition!

Somewhere between the late 1990s and the early 2010s, the rif largely disappeared from mainstream rock & pop. Its transformative power - the rif as a means to transport the listener into another dimension - became an art cherished only in the underground of rock and metal. One of the strong proponents of that transformative power is ASTROSAUR, an overlooked gem in the international heavy psyche rock and post- metal scene. The Norwegian power trio has been employing the rif as their principal mode of transport since their 2017 debut album Fade In // Space Out. Now, with the release of their third album Portals, ASTROSAUR are sounding more expansive and convincing than ever, delivering an intuitive exploration of the infnite powered by soaring guitars and surging grooves.With their third full-length album, ASTROSAUR have delivered an incredibly diverse and musically challenging and satisfying experience, showing that this band is greater than the sum of its truly great parts. Over the course of fve tracks and 48 minutes, the band use the best traits of the aforementioned genres to take you on a sonic journey into the deepest caverns of space and time.First single «Black Hole Earth» is masterclass soaring post-rock guitars, with its magnifcent main melody, which is ofset against a blistering desert rock rif, like a star ship phasing in and out of hyperspace, alternating between crushing your guts and showing you the most marvellous views of deep space.From a compositional viewpoint, «Eternal Return» is a mind-blowing afair. This giant psychedelic prog epic has been built from diferent themes and motifs that take turns in appearing, shifting form and developing as they go along. Segueing into new themes or returning to earlier ones, «Eternal Return» gloriously comes full circle, ending the mind-boggling journey of Portals.With the addition of vibraphones, Moog and acoustic guitars, the sound of ASTROSAUR is fuller and more diverse than ever before. From the soaring overture of «Opening» to...

"Electric Elite" is the second studio album of Riot City from Canada and this is the perfect follow-up to their highly acclaimed "Burn The Night" debut of 2019. The debut album was Album of the Month in Germany's Deaf Forever magazine and was voted by many media as one of the best albums of its year. Riot City was also voted as one of the best newcomers by various media, while metal fans also supported the release and the band that already has completed two European tours and many festival appearances with many more to follow supporting "Electric Elite".Following "Burn The Night", Riot City are keeping their ripping and screaming heavy metal but with "Electric Elite" they're also going one step further adding US heavy and power metal elements to their heavy-speed Judas PRIEST-and-NWOBHM-inspired metal.

Urferd signifies the beginning of a new and additional musical chapter for its founder and sole member, Daniel Beckman (twilight Force, Ages), and brings a refreshing new perspective to the genre, challenging the boundaries of dark atmospheric folk music. The first album “resan” is a musical odyssey in both a literal and figurative sense. The album takes the listener on a journey through dark and olden Nordic forests; where strife and hardships follows in our steps, yet where the beauty and vastness of the solemn Nordic landscape persists and permeates. From the album opening’s depiction of a serene morning’s dawn to the closing track’s respite of a hearth at nightfall, Resan traverses a multitude of captivating musical landscapes and themes throughout its eight songs.

Finnish metal quartet Black Royal – whose blend of lurching sludge and groove-laden death metal is inflected with lyrics inspired by Scandinavian and Sami mythology – have signed with M-Theory Audio. The group's third full-length album “Earthbound” is set for release October 21, 2022. Black Royal formed in Tampere, Finland in 2013, and unleashed two self-released EP's – 2015's “The Summoning Pt. 1” and 2016's “The Summoning Pt. 2” before signing with Swedish-based Suicide Records for the release of their 2018 debut full-length, “Lightbringer.” The latter slab of sludge-infused death metal made waves within their homeland's metal scene by making Inferno Magazine's Top 10 Albums of 2018 list. The album was praised by Angry Metal Guy for its “giant riffs and primal groove” and applauded by Metal Temple for its “refined arrangements and impactful atmosphere.” The group also made its presence felt on the live stage after the release of “Lightbringer,” culminating in a performance at Tuska Open Air 2018. Black Royal's second album “Firebride” was released in February 2020. The effort saw the group continue to build upon the momentum of their previous effort and refine their varied influences into a more cohesive display of suffocating death metal, hypnotic sludge, and catchy rock hooks. MetalSucks asserted that Black Royal crafted “some pretty gnarly sludge ‘n’ roll” and No Clean Singing noted that “for all its buzz-saw riffery and doomy delirium, 'Firebride' [was] all about the hooks.” Ghost Cult Magazine cited vocalist Riku‘s “harsh bark” and Jukka‘s “mammoth drums” while also giving plaudits to a sound that was “given touches of both tradition and imagination by [guitarist] Toni’s leadplay” and bass notes from Pete that resembled “a jet taking off.” Black Royal entered Studio Watercastle in August 2021 to begin laying down the tracks that would become their third full-length album – and M-Theory Audio debut - “Earthbound.” Produced and mixed by Oskari Hakala-Rahko (Lordi, Blind Guardian) and mastered by Jaakko Viitalähde (Convulse, Oranssi Pazuzu), the record is set to be the group's heaviest mix of sludgy riffs and death metal power yet.

Italian tortured black doom juggernaut Noctu takes another bold step in their musical and lyrical progression with the blazing new anticipated full length album "Norma Evangelium Tenebris" via Dusktone. On this six-track album, Noctu brings us a heavily layered black murk and a veil of staticky black hiss unfolding into broken-down melodies and fractured pieces of tortuned guitars and vocals, building into a strange ghostly noisescape with howling blackened shrieks and psychotic moaning that worm their way through the gales of slow distortion. Combined with their penchant for sombre imagery and apocalyptic undercurrents, this produces something far bleaker and more unsettling than anything else we're hearing in the realm of black funeral doom right now. again, a dreamlike descent into the realm of death and human despair

On vinyl fo rthe first time. Even in 1994, good and exciting traditional metal albums were being recorded while "out there“ grunge and crossover were raging. Morbid Jester from Herborn started in 1988 under the name Milzbrand (German for anthrax) and initially played punk. But the love for heavy metal prevailed among the members, so that in 1992 they recorded their first demo as Morbid Jester, which sold more than 400 copies regionally. The press also reacted enthusiastically, so the next step was to record their first album: "Until The Battle Is Won“.

The Finnish death doom spearhead Kuolemanlaakso, starring vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow the Sun), are about to release their first album in eight years. The band’s third full-length Kuusumu was co-produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by the Triptykon and Dark Fortress guitarist V. Santura, with whom the band has worked with on all of their releases. Kuusumu will be released in 2022 via Svart Records.

“The recording break streched unforgivably long, but in doom there’s no rush. It was great to get back to business with the guys and have the opportunity to invite a couple of old friends to help us out, too. Kuusumu’s keyboards were produced and co-arranged by Aleksi Munter (Swallow the Sun, Insomnium, Ghost Brigade), and Lotta Ruutiainen (Luna Kills) did some amazing singing on a couple of tracks. In my humble opinion we took many steps forward on Kuusumu”, says guitarist-songwriter Laakso.

Kuusumu’s texts are loosely based on the sudden global cooling that began in 535, leading to a 10-year long winter, loss of crops, famine and mass deaths of cattle and other animals. The climate change was most likely caused by massive volcanic eruptions, the fog of which darkened the sun for 1,5 years, causing loss of light and intolerable coldness. Moreover, the bubonic plague that began in the Byzantine Empire in 541 swept across Europe, killing tens of millions of people during the climate crisis.

“I see our previous releases as autumn albums, so this time we decided to make a winter album. I came across some literature about the catastrophic events by chance, and got immensely inspired by them – especially the contemporary writings of the 530–540 era. It didn’t take long for me to write the album after that. It’s spine-chilling to ponder that a deadly climate change and a pandemic raged also 1,500 years ago when medical knowledge, information flow and living conditions were in their infancy. And there was no electricity, of course. People thought that they have angered the gods and the darkness will last forever,” says Laakso.

On Kuusumu, Kuolemanlaakso stretch their artistic boundaries even further. The album contains the trademark Kuolemanlaakso heaviness, but also more bombastic, fast and meticulously arranged material. The first single Katkeruuden malja, featuring Lotta Ruutiainen, represents the catchier and lighter side of the album.

“Katkeruuden malja draws its inspiration from grief and misery. Musically it’s almost tripping in the landscapes of recent day Tribulation, but with melancholic and Kalevala-infused melodic influences, that sound very Finnish to me. The music video sort of mixes and matches the frost theme of the album with the color palette of the cover artwork,” states Laakso.

The Finnish death doom spearhead Kuolemanlaakso, starring vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow the Sun), are about to release their first album in eight years. The band’s third full-length Kuusumu was co-produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by the Triptykon and Dark Fortress guitarist V. Santura, with whom the band has worked with on all of their releases. Kuusumu will be released in 2022 via Svart Records.

“The recording break streched unforgivably long, but in doom there’s no rush. It was great to get back to business with the guys and have the opportunity to invite a couple of old friends to help us out, too. Kuusumu’s keyboards were produced and co-arranged by Aleksi Munter (Swallow the Sun, Insomnium, Ghost Brigade), and Lotta Ruutiainen (Luna Kills) did some amazing singing on a couple of tracks. In my humble opinion we took many steps forward on Kuusumu”, says guitarist-songwriter Laakso.

Kuusumu’s texts are loosely based on the sudden global cooling that began in 535, leading to a 10-year long winter, loss of crops, famine and mass deaths of cattle and other animals. The climate change was most likely caused by massive volcanic eruptions, the fog of which darkened the sun for 1,5 years, causing loss of light and intolerable coldness. Moreover, the bubonic plague that began in the Byzantine Empire in 541 swept across Europe, killing tens of millions of people during the climate crisis.

“I see our previous releases as autumn albums, so this time we decided to make a winter album. I came across some literature about the catastrophic events by chance, and got immensely inspired by them – especially the contemporary writings of the 530–540 era. It didn’t take long for me to write the album after that. It’s spine-chilling to ponder that a deadly climate change and a pandemic raged also 1,500 years ago when medical knowledge, information flow and living conditions were in their infancy. And there was no electricity, of course. People thought that they have angered the gods and the darkness will last forever,” says Laakso.

On Kuusumu, Kuolemanlaakso stretch their artistic boundaries even further. The album contains the trademark Kuolemanlaakso heaviness, but also more bombastic, fast and meticulously arranged material. The first single Katkeruuden malja, featuring Lotta Ruutiainen, represents the catchier and lighter side of the album.

“Katkeruuden malja draws its inspiration from grief and misery. Musically it’s almost tripping in the landscapes of recent day Tribulation, but with melancholic and Kalevala-infused melodic influences, that sound very Finnish to me. The music video sort of mixes and matches the frost theme of the album with the color palette of the cover artwork,” states Laakso.

Grave Bathers have been decimating audiences with high decibel, high energy live performances since their formation in 2018 and quickly gained notoriety with their ambitious Feathered Serpent/Death Hand 7” EP released via Seeing Red Records in 2020. Upon first listen, The Sleeping Shaman hailed the band’s, “epic riffs, piercing Robert Plant vocals, tales of outlaws and bloodshed, all above some truly gorgeous bass work,” while Doomed And Stoned lauded “a sound that shuffles well with the rockier side of Pentagram, Black Sabbath, and Portland street doomers R.I.P.” Added Metal Temple, “Grave BATHER’s EP is the epitome of doom metal, and resembles every corner of the atmosphere through their clouded movements… the EP deserves a listen through the graveyard.” The band’s authentic blend of bombastic boogie, booty shaking hard rock, heavy psych, and episodic doom earned them both critical acclaim and the momentum to pick up endorsements by Orange Amplifiers and Ampturco Guitar Werks. Grave Bathers continues to make strides in the streets by writing, touring, and playing with great acts such as Ruby The Hatchet, Blackwater Holylight, Rifflord, Deathchant, Warcloud, Tower, Scorpion Child, Zed, Howling Giant, Amplified Heat, Ecstatic Vision, Holy Death Trio, Heavy Temple, Mick’s Jaguar, and many others. Their momentum is no surprise: the band boasts the decibel-smashing guitarist Jaret Salvat-Rivera of Heavy Temple as their lead riff ripper and later added drummer Sean Lafferty of Yatra into the fold to forge their most dominant lineup yet. The talent-stacked Voltron has since earned thousands of fans online through their iconic style, viral gear porn, vintage analog recording methods, and Spotify presence; all with only three singles out.

Orthodox was born as a trio in Seville, Spain at the end of 2004. Starting from doom metal and absorbing influences from drone, jazz, and extreme metal, the band represents one of the most relevant but unpredictable bands of the Spanish metal underground. After breaking through the international underground with their Gran Poder debut LP in 2006, Orthodox has released another six studio albums, multiple EPs, splits, singles, and more, released through respected labels like Southern Lord, Utech Records, God Unknown, and long-running allies, Alone Records. Since 2014, Orthodox has operated as a duo, with bassist/vocalist Marco Serrato and drummer Borja Díaz handling all recording and live performances. However, Proceed sees the return of guitarist Ricardo Jiménez to the lineup for the first time since 2011’s Baal. To capture this mammoth album, in November 2021, Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, High On Fire, Om, Neurosis, EyeHateGod) was flown to La Mina Studios in Sevilla, Spain, and recorded the album with assistant engineers Raúl Pérez and Nacho García. Anderson mixed the record at his Everything Hz back in Portland, Oregon, after which it was sent to Justin Weiss at Trakworx in San Francisco, California for mastering. Proceed was completed with artwork and illustrations by Fernando Rivas and layout/design by José Postigo. Proceed represents Orthodox's return to its original essence, but also a step forward as a band. After a multitude of different projects around the band and a long way traveled, they are back to reel off heavy riffs like a three-headed juggernaut. Orthodox has performed at international festivals such as Hellfest, Roadburn, Supersonic, Amplifest, Primavera Sound, and many others, has collaborated with artists as diverse as Julian Cope and flamenco dancer Israel Galván, and has opened for Voïvod, High On Fire, Corrosion Of Conformity, and countless more.

Black vinyl, gatefold sleeve, 12″ insert

Finnish Heavy Metal legends, Spiritus Mortis unveil a grand–scale epic of antique Doom on 16th of September via Svart Records.

Erecting a new monolith in the halls of Doom Metal history with their fifth album The Great Seal, Spiritus Mortis certify true classic status as one of the scene’s modern greats.

There are few modern-day bands that can be uttered under the same breath as the giants of Traditional Doom and Heavy Metal like Spiritus Mortis. Formed in 1987 as Rigor Mortis they can firmly attest to having been “the first Finnish Doom Metal band”, uncovering hallowed ground before the later imitators. Carrying the banner of powerful true Metal, the likes of which stands proudly next to the masters such as Dio era Sabbath, Solitude Aeturnus and Trouble, Spiritus Mortis have established a tradition of catchy song-writing and consummate knowledge of sacred riff-craft. The Great Seal is a collosal album which Spiritus Mortis describes as “a rite of collective suicide and an orgy of self-immolation” and plumbs the depths of epic sorrow with gargantuan slabs of igneous riffs and emotional vocals.

Synonymous with classic Finnish Doom bands like Reverend Bizarre, whose singer Albert Witchfinder intoned previous albums’ vocals, Spiritus Mortis continue to define and cement their formidable legacy. Albert’s replacement, Kimmo Perämäki is more than worthy of the consecrated robes he inherits, delivering a performance which is flawlessly dominating and instantly gratifying. Tracks like Martyrdom Operation and Visions Of Immortality see Perämäki boldly carving his own name in the stone tablets of future history, marrying the riffs of the Maijala brothers and guitarist Kari Lavila with the splendor of magnificent melancholy that Spiritus Mortis is so known and admired for.

Not only will true devotees of the Spiritus Mortis Doom church be raising their fists with full hearts, but those who seek knowledge of the faithful spirit of real Metal can surely look no further than within The Great Seal.

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.

Fifth album by Swedish doom legends Count Raven finally available on vinyl!

What to do when you like rock and doom born from the desert but your surroundings offer anything but arid lands? Besvarjelsen found an impressive answer in the grim forests of their homeland in Dalarna, Sweden. Having grown up in the far north at the meeting grounds of ancient Norse and Finnish cultures amongst echoes of runes and gods, shamans and spirits, the spellbinding five-piece crafted their name from the Swedish word for "conjuring" while drawing heavy inspiration from local lore, mysticism, and the dark, old musical traditions. Yet Besvarjelsen are anything but another "pagan" outfit longing for a time that never was. With its wistful melodies and towering riff-power their sophomore full-length "Atlas" represents a logical step along the course that Besvarjelsen charted from the start. The band was co-founded by guitarists and vocalists Andreas Baier and Staffan Stensland Vinrot in 2014 with a clear vision to channel the spirit and traditions of the vast Dalarna forests, a region otherwise famous for its painted wooden horses, into contemporary heavy music. Once vocalist Lea Amling Alazam arrived with a fiery passion for punk and stoner rock that had begun at the local skate park when she was just counting 13 years, Andreas and Staffan happily relegated their shared vocal duties to a supporting role – an easy choice as Lea's distinctive voice summoned the intimacy and charisma of singers like Nina Simone or AMY Winehouse. Besvärjelsen released their debut EP "Villfarelser" in 2015, which was followed quickly by the "Exil" EP in 2016. The Swedes' debut full-length "Vallmo" hit the streets of Stockholm and elsewhere in 2018. The album merged crushing riffs and storming drums with increasingly sophisticated melodies and thoughtful themes. With the mini-album "Frost", Besvärjelsen intended to crush stages all over Europe in 2019, before being forced into involuntary live performance hibernation for two years. Although compelled to write separately, the band used the spare time to compile a wealth of ideas, amassed remotely and shared across the miles and months of relative solitude, which would finally result in the recording of "Atlas" with producer Karl Daniel Lidén in 2021. Re-purposing melancholic harmonies that could have been derived from the playbook of Alice IN Chains, adding gravity that would make Windhand proud, and topping their upgraded sound with exciting yet intimate vocal lines, Besvarjelsen have carved a towering monolith from solid rock and planted it firmly into the magical woods of their homeland to send its heavy lay-lines around the globe that is burdening the shoulders of the titan "Atlas".

So if Sandrider marks a shift for Weisnewski and Damm, it's more in the inclusion of Roberts and the overall presentation of their sound than in the style of their play. That said, Sandrider does have a more grounded feel to its material than did Akimbo; a maturation and natural next step from what they last presented. Songs vary in memorability, but each proves worthy in one way or another, and for the flow Sandrider establish across the album as a whole, nothing is out of place or unjustifiable. Roberts is an excellent complement for Weisnewski vocally, the two blending so well together that it's hard to tell where tradeoffs are (other than backing spots), and Damm's percussion adds a punk-ish sense of danger to the whole affair, whether it's the rhythmic shifts of 'Crysknife' or the driving finale of closer 'Scatter.' Sandrider, because they're not really a new band, don't fall prey to what a lot of others might on their first record in terms of not fully realizing the vision of what they're trying to accomplish, but at the same time, there's a sense of potential in opener 'Children' that speaks to the development of Sandrider as its own band and a hopefully ongoing project. The song has some surfy swagger and sway, and Weisnewski's scream tops the cleaner singing excellently. His guitar is at the fore, but the balance of the mix is excellent, and Sandrider can strike into either accessibility or riffy abandon depending on the band's whim.

Richmond, VA-based harsh industrial metal deconstructors Hold ME Down reanimate their design for total sonic retaliation through their latest creation, Powerless, a debut full-length offering of caustic post-industrial punishment and complete sensorial undoing which follows brilliantly in the steps of their transformative 2019 Sentient Ruin-issued self-titled demo tape. As is now commonplace with bands and their releases associated with Sentient Ruin, an aura of ambivalence, reverence and transformation enshrouds this work, with the echoes of legendary industrial acts like Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Godflesh and Swans reverberating from the past and undergoing a future-projecting metamorphosis, as present time contaminants (power electronics, blackened noise, death industrial) enter the picture in an aberrant recombination of stylistic DNA, paving the way to groundbreaking and grim sonic transfigurations. Throughout its ten cold bursts of synthetic mechanized dissolution Hold Me Down explore concepts of withdrawal, personal failure, societal fracture and emotional unravelling through a bleak post-industrial disassociation where disorienting drum machines, vitriolic metal guitars, bleak soundscapes and oppressive electronics instigate a depersonalizing collapse within the listener.

20 years after its recordings, Solefald’s fourth album ‘IN Harmonia Universali’ will be finally available on vinyl for the first time ever. Solefald are a wilful and truly unapologetical one-of-a-kind band, defying all known genre definitions with each release. ‘IN Harmonia Universali’ is one of their most complex works to date, layered and eclectic, it stems from the band’s obsession with Progressive Rock, making its way through art, history and philosophy with lyrics touching five different languages. An unheard-of blend of Extreme Metal with bombastic passages, Gothic mystique, acoustic interludes, and the fearless use of instruments like saxophone, hammond and piano, make this album a crucial step in the band’s career. «In Harmonia Universali» says Lazare «is one of the most ambitious albums we have created together. And more than anything it’s a statement of what happens when ambition meets possibility. The world has changed since its release, but ‘In Harmonia…’ still rises above convention and keeps on being itself.» This long awaited release comes on Double Black vinyl limited to 400 copies worldwide , housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with exclusive and extensive liner notes by Cornelius and Lazare, and including a 4-panel insert with lyrics.

Charlatans took its beginning back in 2019 when Mattias Svensson gave Jens Broman a call. Jens Broman hadn't been working with music to any major extent since 2010 when he left Darkane. Since the release of the album, Anomaly, back in 2006, The Defaced had slowly started to dissolve during 2007-2008 and was finally set on pause indefinitely in late 2008. Mattias explained on the phone that he had written a bunch of songs that he wanted Jens to listen to. The intention was to start up The Defaced again. Jens loved the songs immediately and slowly during 2019 Mattias and Jens started to set up a work process for continuing working on the songs. – It all came very naturally, just like in the old days, says Jens. Klas Ideberg shared the same thoughts and ambitions and after recruiting new drummer Bob Ruben a new start of the band was on the table. All instruments were recorded in Helsingborg at the Mansarda studios, produced by Klas and Mattias. Vocals were recorded and produced by Jens and Björn Strid at Studio Björngrottan, in Tyreså Autumn 2020. Mixing and mastering by Lawrence Mackory, At Obey Mastering, in Uppsala. December 2020. As with so many artists much of the inspiration for this record, lyrically came from a large extent from the pandemic. Not as such but its creativity came as an involuntary pause from the wound-up stressed world. The songs cover themes such as struggles with relationships, self-doubt and eager frustration and a feeling that everything is already too late to change. Charlatans is an album that encompasses the sound of the earlier albums but given the addition of a more prominent progressive touch. The songs aim to give the listener an even greater sonic adventure than the previous records. Still, most of the heritage from old metal giants is ever so present, blended together with classic songwriting with a twist towards progressive soundscapes.

All-killer-no-filler melodic & symphonic & bombastic power metal at its best: every song of the new Moonlight Haze album is a potential hit single, displaying at the same time a rich sonic texture, some incredibly uplifting/addicting hooks and a meaningful and heartful message. ‘Animus’ represents a huge step up for the band’s songwriting and sound and got the five musicians excited since the very first melodies and lines that had been written. Lyrically-wise it’s an introspective and intimate work, but at the same time it looks at the world outside – willing to bring a bright message of vitality and rebirth. Hence the title, ‘Animus’, a Latin word that has different meanings: vital force, conscience, soul, mind and courage as well.

“I wanted to play guitar since I was born, basically,” proffers Matt Pike when asked about the formative years of his musical maturation. The iconic guitarist of High on Fire and Sleep seemingly came into the world with inherent talent

From reverent youth to Grammy-winning riff-wielder, Pike has always housed a boundless enthusiasm for the six-string and the stupendous sounds that – in the right hands – the instrument can produce.

“Trapped in A Midcave” was the first song we wrote. It’s kind of like “God of Thunder”. I tried to make my vocals mimic a David Lee Roth-type melody. Then I thought, “Who should I play the solo like?”, so I studied a bunch of Michael Schenker solos and then put a Michael Schenker solo that’s like four minutes long on it. It’s such a good riff. Soon after, it felt like ‘I want to record this, this shit’s really good,’” Pike admits.

The Automaton, in Greek mythology, is the big robot that’s the guardian of the Gods, basically. It’s a soulless, big machine named Talos. The big machine that’s working against mankind at this moment. In ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, Jason and the Argonauts have to battle this big machine guy that protects the island. Basically, what the album title is saying, metaphorically, is ‘Pike against the World.’”

“I made a psychedelic rock record that Sleep and High on Fire fans would like,” Pike says when asked for a CliffsNotes description of ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’. “And maybe if you’re not a Sleep or High on Fire fan, you might like it too. I definitely think it’s interesting; it has D-Beat punk, two-step. It’s got everything and it still works together, it doesn’t sound odd. It’s just an off-the-wall psychedelic rock record.”

“I wanted to play guitar since I was born, basically,” proffers Matt Pike when asked about the formative years of his musical maturation. The iconic guitarist of High on Fire and Sleep seemingly came into the world with inherent talent

From reverent youth to Grammy-winning riff-wielder, Pike has always housed a boundless enthusiasm for the six-string and the stupendous sounds that – in the right hands – the instrument can produce.

“Trapped in A Midcave” was the first song we wrote. It’s kind of like “God of Thunder”. I tried to make my vocals mimic a David Lee Roth-type melody. Then I thought, “Who should I play the solo like?”, so I studied a bunch of Michael Schenker solos and then put a Michael Schenker solo that’s like four minutes long on it. It’s such a good riff. Soon after, it felt like ‘I want to record this, this shit’s really good,’” Pike admits.

The Automaton, in Greek mythology, is the big robot that’s the guardian of the Gods, basically. It’s a soulless, big machine named Talos. The big machine that’s working against mankind at this moment. In ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, Jason and the Argonauts have to battle this big machine guy that protects the island. Basically, what the album title is saying, metaphorically, is ‘Pike against the World.’”

“I made a psychedelic rock record that Sleep and High on Fire fans would like,” Pike says when asked for a CliffsNotes description of ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’. “And maybe if you’re not a Sleep or High on Fire fan, you might like it too. I definitely think it’s interesting; it has D-Beat punk, two-step. It’s got everything and it still works together, it doesn’t sound odd. It’s just an off-the-wall psychedelic rock record.”

“I wanted to play guitar since I was born, basically,” proffers Matt Pike when asked about the formative years of his musical maturation. The iconic guitarist of High on Fire and Sleep seemingly came into the world with inherent talent

From reverent youth to Grammy-winning riff-wielder, Pike has always housed a boundless enthusiasm for the six-string and the stupendous sounds that – in the right hands – the instrument can produce.

“Trapped in A Midcave” was the first song we wrote. It’s kind of like “God of Thunder”. I tried to make my vocals mimic a David Lee Roth-type melody. Then I thought, “Who should I play the solo like?”, so I studied a bunch of Michael Schenker solos and then put a Michael Schenker solo that’s like four minutes long on it. It’s such a good riff. Soon after, it felt like ‘I want to record this, this shit’s really good,’” Pike admits.

The Automaton, in Greek mythology, is the big robot that’s the guardian of the Gods, basically. It’s a soulless, big machine named Talos. The big machine that’s working against mankind at this moment. In ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, Jason and the Argonauts have to battle this big machine guy that protects the island. Basically, what the album title is saying, metaphorically, is ‘Pike against the World.’”

“I made a psychedelic rock record that Sleep and High on Fire fans would like,” Pike says when asked for a CliffsNotes description of ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’. “And maybe if you’re not a Sleep or High on Fire fan, you might like it too. I definitely think it’s interesting; it has D-Beat punk, two-step. It’s got everything and it still works together, it doesn’t sound odd. It’s just an off-the-wall psychedelic rock record.”

“I wanted to play guitar since I was born, basically,” proffers Matt Pike when asked about the formative years of his musical maturation. The iconic guitarist of High on Fire and Sleep seemingly came into the world with inherent talent

From reverent youth to Grammy-winning riff-wielder, Pike has always housed a boundless enthusiasm for the six-string and the stupendous sounds that – in the right hands – the instrument can produce.

“Trapped in A Midcave” was the first song we wrote. It’s kind of like “God of Thunder”. I tried to make my vocals mimic a David Lee Roth-type melody. Then I thought, “Who should I play the solo like?”, so I studied a bunch of Michael Schenker solos and then put a Michael Schenker solo that’s like four minutes long on it. It’s such a good riff. Soon after, it felt like ‘I want to record this, this shit’s really good,’” Pike admits.

The Automaton, in Greek mythology, is the big robot that’s the guardian of the Gods, basically. It’s a soulless, big machine named Talos. The big machine that’s working against mankind at this moment. In ‘Jason and the Argonauts’, Jason and the Argonauts have to battle this big machine guy that protects the island. Basically, what the album title is saying, metaphorically, is ‘Pike against the World.’”

“I made a psychedelic rock record that Sleep and High on Fire fans would like,” Pike says when asked for a CliffsNotes description of ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’. “And maybe if you’re not a Sleep or High on Fire fan, you might like it too. I definitely think it’s interesting; it has D-Beat punk, two-step. It’s got everything and it still works together, it doesn’t sound odd. It’s just an off-the-wall psychedelic rock record.”

The masterful new album from Old Tower. Traditional and yet alien, the deconstruction of regression as transformation from man to beast, which conceptually was felt throughout the project's wanderings but steps forth fully from the shadows on 'The Old King of Witches.' Shaving down to the bone and trimming the fat of the carcass to incant without rest and without resolution, Old Tower resurrects the dying breed of dark ambient with '90s deep electronics to conceive of a new breed of DARK MUSIC.

The most pure form of Old Tower always reaches for fictional reality and time stasis.

Conceptually on 'The Old King of Witches' we follow ‘a stranger’ who enters a derelict domain, full of old and rotten pine trees, scattered rocks overgrown with dark green moss and strange reclusive inhabitants. Some of these inhabitants are witches who worship the ancient evil that roams this place. Through the use of forbidden magic, they slowly pull the ‘stranger’ deeper into their forest world and we follow him on this journey through the woods, caverns, fields, and groves of this mysterious land. The Old King is the ruler of this land. Not a physical manifestation, but a symbol for the attraction of the mysterious and the dark.

A place where the new comes to die, and the old tends to thrive.

If you are lost, fall back on what is old and familiar, to find that new energy in places you have not visited in a while or never visited at all.