Search "lazer+sword+memory" 79 Items

if you survived trips 1-17 with one tiny speck of psychedelic sunshine intact, Brown Acid The 18th Trip will be your coming of age nightmare. Vintage underground '70s hard rock, coming at you from bizarre angles, local scene wasteland America when everybody was out for themselves and the drugs went bleak. The guitars kill, the attitude is twisted, even the sex is headed down the wrong road. Real people, no compromise, pure and potent. Get stoked, take the 18th Trip and know that the artists will get paid for pulverizing your soul! "People… are you ready?, 'cause the music now is getting so heavy"… Back Jack out of St. Louis, Missouri in 1974 launch our trip with "Bridge Waters Dynamite". It's an invocation to rock flashing on Mark Farner whooping up a Grand Funk crowd, then getting to the point quickly with berserk guitar assaults. Heavy riff with power chord stalks beneath as you take their advice… get loose and blow up the past. Smokin' Buku Band dropped my jaw with the audacious track "Hot Love" coming on like some fractured fever dream burlesque of Led Zep moves out of Hollywood in 1980. Swooping elongated vocals above, a total Zep chord move at the end of each verse. Writer/producer Steve Shauger aka Shag Stevens gets a brilliantly messed up sound quality here, the ideal polar opposite of slick. The extended guitar break is an epitome of serendipitously crude virtuosity, simply outrageous! Coming at you from way outta left field is "Moby Shark" by Atlantis, a hilarious and strange Baltimore pre-punk vibed dose of D.I.Y. meets hard rock. Lon Talbot is the mastermind, the flip side of this impossibly rare Mekon Records label single was featured in an obscure 1978 B-movie titled "The Alien Factor". Follow the lyrics closely, when the ominous jaws jaws jaws start coming after you you you… the song's big hook is so preposterously catchy the shark attack feels like good news. Inquiring minds should know that the band formerly known as Atlantis can now be found by searching for the Lon Talbot Group! Tommy Stuart and the Rubberband's "Peeking Through Your Window" from 1970 opens with a spooky organ riff, slips into a gushy fuzz/organ groove akin to "Mustache In Your Face” by Pretty. The singer creates downright creepy vibes, a stalker peeking through the girl's mind like a peeping Tom at the window up to no good. The lyrics evoke a disturbing scenario. Tommy Stuart also made a strange LP titled Hound Dog Man in 1977 and some terrific rare garage singles under the names Magnificent Seven and The Omen & Their Love in the mid '60s. Nothing better than an angry two chord guitar attack with cowbell to set the stage for this rant about getting "Ripped Off" by love. Taken from their rare 1977 LP on Dynamite Records, Chicago Triangle was Marvey Esparza, Dave Guereca, Jose 'Tarr' Perez and Robert Aguilera. They unleash such strong brain-scrubbing wah wah frenzy in the guitar break here that it seems to perversely mock it's own intensity! Like I said, Brown Acid the 18th Trip comes at you from all kinds of uncanny angles. Damnation of Adam Blessing out of Cleveland, Ohio unleashed a stone killer psychedelic hard rock classic "Cookbook" in the late '60s, this track "Nightmare" from 1973 has them cooking again at full power. A different singer, name change to Damnation and then Glory, unleashing a deadly dose of dark progressive heavy rock drama peaking when spooky 'oooo-wa-oooo' background vocals emerge during a bizarre spoken bit. It unfolds like a mini-epic and includes some remarkably brutal guitar and turbulent organ, too. "Swing your sword, all aboard… bid farewell to the dreamer" Dalquist exclaims. Cynical view of human nature, idealism is over, war is coming, it always does. Opens with a cold menacing riff and atmosphere reminiscent of "Synthezoid Heartbreak" by Maya. Mournful despondent vocals ride an insistent churning groove, gnarly guitar break moves into free noise territory. This rare track is from a local various artists benefit album titled Kangaroo Jam issued for the Waco Family Abuse Center in Texas circa 1980. The Pawnbrokers "Realize" is prime proto heavy rock emerging out of psychedelic garage roots in 1968 Fargo, North Dakota. Unusual arrangement, terrific sustain guitar tones like on the first Blue Cheer LP, even a rip on Hendrix "Manic Depression" with unison voice and guitar ascent near the end. They made three 45s and were active from '65 to '69. Hats off to Blake English, Kent Richey, Paul Rogne and Steve Harrison, you nailed it in just a hair over two minutes! As pure and creative as the original psychedelic garage hard rock gets. Parchment Farm from Union, Missouri gigged with the likes of ZZ Top and Foghat back in the day and unleashed the amazing "Songs Of The Dead" in 1971. Primitive riff/chord pattern dosed with some funky prog moves, sky turning black, 'is this heaven or hell' type disoriented confusion… may as well grab your guitar and sing songs to the dead. Robert 'Ace' Williams on bass, Paul Cockrum on guitar, Gary Reed on keys and Micky Waterman on drums, replacing Mike Dulany (R.I.P.) Cool that they use the Blue Cheer misspelling from Vincebus Eruptum for the band name! Ominous organ, thick minimalist fuzz riff, funky psychedelic wah wah flashes and freaky sex combine in one twisted dance titled "Rockin' Chair" by Brothers Of The Ghetto. Out of Chicago in 1975 with some Santana atmospherics and a delicious fuzz wah screamin' guitar break, the groove is highlighted by an off the wall vocal which sounds eerily detached in a subtly sleazy way. Rene Maxwell is the writer of this hard-rock boogie-down hybrid straight out of the twilight zone. It was issued on Ghetto, a subsidiary of the peculiar Kiderian label that released the Creme Soda LP. Now that your head is totally skewered, go Back Jack and play side one again! (Words by Paul Major)

Këkht Aräkh is the Ukrainian project founded in 2018 by Dmitry Marchenko. Originally released on the Finnish label Livor Mortis in 2021, Pale Swordsman goes to even greater extents in building a bold and atmospheric sonic palette, and it's now seeing a worldwide reissue via Brooklyn label Sacred Bones. For the sound design of the album, Dmitry was inspired by The Stooges' Raw Power to deliver a more soft sounding album, decisively less "metal". Traditional black metal song structures still persist in songs like "Night Descends" and "In The Garden". However, their rawness and fast tempos is quickly cut through by dark ambient passages in "Amor" and "Intro" and softly played desolate ballads like "Nocturne" and "Lily". The crown jewel is the album closer "Swordsman", a track that displays a superb gothic sensibility, a poem recited over a deeply melancholic piano melody. "The Christian concept of a person ridding themselves of evil to find inner peace or to be able to leave this world safely has become the core inspiration for the song." Dmitry explains "However, this is not the only reading possible. I purposely avoid specifics in my lyrics so that the listener can always give the song their own meaning." The inspiration for the concept of the album also came from David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. "I really enjoy it when an album tells a story about some character so I came up with one." says Dmitry when explaining the origin of the Pale Swordsman. The character is portrayed on the striking album cover art - a figure sitting aloof with a sword and a rose in each hand - and clearly symbolises the romantic juxtaposition of belligerence and fragile beauty that permeates the album's sound and atmosphere. Pale Swordsman delivers a foreboding yet bittersweet melancholy through poetic lyrics, soft interludes, raw and distorted guitars, eerie drums and harsh vocals - a fragile yet potent mix that successfully amplifies the ambience.

RSD First, Limitation: 1100

In a monumental moment for fans of gothic metal pioneers Lacuna Coil, we are thrilled to unveil a limited edition vinyl release for RSD Black Friday 2024. Embracing the spirit of nostalgia and celebrating the band's early roots, this exclusive offering combines two timeless EPs, the self-titled "Lacuna Coil" EP from 1998 and the hauntingly evocative "Halflife" EP from 2000, into a single mesmerizing vinyl experience.
**Apricot Dream** Vinyl - a name as ethereal as the music it houses - serves as a bridge between Lacuna Coil's formative years and their meteoric rise to international acclaim. With its striking color reminiscent of a vibrant sunset, each record becomes not just a collector's item but a tangible embodiment of the band's journey, capturing the essence of their raw energy and emotive lyricism.
The self-titled EP introduces listeners to Lacuna Coil's distinctive blend of heavy riffs, ethereal melodies, and powerful vocals, laying the groundwork for their signature sound that would captivate audiences worldwide. Tracks like "No Need to Explain" and "Circle" showcase the band's early prowess, while "Halflife" delves deeper into the darker, more introspective realms of their artistry, with haunting tracks like "To Myself I Turned" and "Hyperfast."
This groundbreaking release not only pays homage to Lacuna Coil's remarkable evolution but also offers fans a unique opportunity to own a piece of music history. With only a limited number of copies available, each Apricot Dream Vinyl becomes a cherished treasure, a testament to the enduring legacy of one of metal's most iconic acts.
Join us on RSD Black Friday 2024 as we celebrate the music, the memories, and the magic of Lacuna Coil's Apricot Dream Vinyl. Don't miss your chance to experience the ultimate fusion of past and present, captured in the warm embrace of analog sound.

Këkht Aräkh is the Ukrainian project founded in 2018 by Dmitry Marchenko. The debut album Night & Love was initially released on the Finnish label Livor Mortis in 2019 and it's now seeing a worldwide reissue via Brooklyn label Sacred Bones.Dmitry's intent to experiment with standard black metal canons previously seen at play in Through the Branches to Eternity EP (2018) solidify further on Night & Love, he mentions "back then I had an idea of combining Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger type of black metal with early Internazionale or Croatian Amor vibe."Described as ambient or atmospheric black metal, this debut presents Këkht Aräkh's signature dichotomy of harsh traditional early Norwegian black metal and the more ethereal and delicate melodies. On the other hand the lyrics are romantic and melancholic, clearly influenced by a stark Gothic imagery, and serve as an extra layer of mystery to the already suggestive body of work. The album beings with a soft acoustic intro in "As the Night Falls_" before descending into the raw and raucous "Elegy for the Memory of Me" and "Den Venstre Hånd På Den Hoyre", both songs that are drenched in the more traditional black metal style of raspy, high-pitched vocals, dense, tremolo- picked riffs and fast paced drums. It is however songs like "Night" and "Love" that really set this album apart. "Night" is a softly spoken word ambient track that with a beautiful piano synth work that permeates throughout it aids in the romantic delivery and conjuring of imagery of the night. "Love" is a spellbinding and melancholic song, equal in its romanticism but one that displays a deeper sorrow and tenderness supported by calming field recordings of trickling water.The intertwining of black metal, dark folk and ambient repeats itself, culminating in a quietly hummed outro "...And Never Ends (Eternal Love)" that alludes to and completes the album's first track.

This vinyl record album - pressed in clear wax - contains the Kiss Hits Lick It Up, Cold Gin, God Of Thunder, Destroit Rock City and many more. Recorded in 1989.

OFFICIAL REPRESS ON LIMITED EDITION BLACK AND FROSTED CLEAR VINYL!!!Smash dark electro hit Perturbator has crashed onto the scene with an insane force. A perfect rehash and improvement upon 1970s and 1980s analog synthesized film scores – recounting Blade Runner and the like – this is the Parisian artist's extremely sought-after early works. This is an incredibly highly demanded physical pressing. The original vinyl version of this took down the label's webshop with refreshing for four straight hours and sold out immediately upon release. 01 – The New Black 02 – Retrogenesis 03 – Eclipse 04 – I Am The Night 05 – Naked Tongues (Feat. Memory Ghost’s Isabella Goloversic) 06 – Nexus Six / Interlude 07 – Technoir (Feat. Noir Deco) 08 – Desire (Feat. Greta Link) 09 – Deviance (Feat. Arcade High) 10 – Raining Steel 11 – Ghost Dancers Slay Together 12 – The Price Of Failure

OFFICIAL REPRESS ON LIMITED EDITION BLACK AND FROSTED CLEAR VINYL!!!Smash dark electro hit Perturbator has crashed onto the scene with an insane force. A perfect rehash and improvement upon 1970s and 1980s analog synthesized film scores. "Dangerous Days" is PERTURBATOR's 3rd album originally released in 2014. SIDE A1. Welcome Back2. Perturbator's Theme3. Raw Power4. Future Club SIDE B1. War Against Machines2. Hard Wired (feat. Memory Ghost's Isabella Goloversic)3. She Is Young, She Is Beautiful, She Is Next4. Humans Are Such Easy Prey SIDE C1. Minuit (feat. Dead Astronauts)2. Satanic Rites3. Complete Domination (feat. Carpenter Brut) SIDE D1. Last Kiss2. Dangerous Days

Cynic's vinyl reissues including bonus material to be released via Svart Records in February 2025

American progressive metal band Cynic's 2010 EP Re-Traced available on 12" vinyl for the first time ever, including a memorial tribute track to the late Sean Malone.

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal in 1987, incorporating elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their debut album Focus was released in 1993, after which they disbanded in 1994. The comeback in 2006 resulted in the sophomore album Traced in Air (2008), of which the four first songs on Re-Traced are re-interpretations of. Svart Records in co-operation with Cynic now proudly present Re-Traced reborn on a 12" vinyl, including three alternative versions of the songs and liner notes by Martin Popoff.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: “Seeing Re-Traced pressed on a legit 12” vinyl is an exciting first, especially with the inclusion of bonus tracks like Sean Malone’s beautiful, never-before-released bass rendition of Wheels Within Wheels and his magical performance on Integral, which I initially released digitally as a memorial tribute to him. The electronic renditions of Traced in Air tracks like Space, Evolutionary and King take the songs into entirely new realms. It’s also synchronistic that I’m now playing these songs in my solo acoustic ambient shows, finally bringing them into a live format. Altogether, it feels quite special to see these two records reborn.”

"Fans of Traced in Air and Cynic in general should buy this. It’s not even a question of whether or not this is worth your time and money. The sheer talent of this band turns me into a blithering fanboy and this EP just gets me excited for more new Cynic." -Angry Metal Guy, 2010

Cynic's vinyl reissues including bonus material to be released via Svart Records in February 2025

American progressive metal band Cynic's 2010 EP Re-Traced available on 12" vinyl for the first time ever, including a memorial tribute track to the late Sean Malone.

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal in 1987, incorporating elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their debut album Focus was released in 1993, after which they disbanded in 1994. The comeback in 2006 resulted in the sophomore album Traced in Air (2008), of which the four first songs on Re-Traced are re-interpretations of. Svart Records in co-operation with Cynic now proudly present Re-Traced reborn on a 12" vinyl, including three alternative versions of the songs and liner notes by Martin Popoff.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: “Seeing Re-Traced pressed on a legit 12” vinyl is an exciting first, especially with the inclusion of bonus tracks like Sean Malone’s beautiful, never-before-released bass rendition of Wheels Within Wheels and his magical performance on Integral, which I initially released digitally as a memorial tribute to him. The electronic renditions of Traced in Air tracks like Space, Evolutionary and King take the songs into entirely new realms. It’s also synchronistic that I’m now playing these songs in my solo acoustic ambient shows, finally bringing them into a live format. Altogether, it feels quite special to see these two records reborn.”

"Fans of Traced in Air and Cynic in general should buy this. It’s not even a question of whether or not this is worth your time and money. The sheer talent of this band turns me into a blithering fanboy and this EP just gets me excited for more new Cynic." -Angry Metal Guy, 2010

No Colours Records have made a deal with Prince Korthnage (ex Agatus) to repress the 1994 Promo tape "My black desire" and the 1996 Demo "Shadows of storming Nyx" as one Lp. This is pure old school dungeon synth, melodies and tales to whisk you away from reality. Two early tapes that really stood well above most of its contemporaries in quality and atmosphere. 1 Widdershins2 Diasia Of The Evil Incantations3 A Paean Under The Silence Of Styx4 Swords In Flames... (Part I: Black Shadows Of The Endless Skies. Part II: ...In An Aeonic Circle Of Death. Part III: The Final Battle Begins... The Sign Comes...)5 Nyx Amolgos (To Be Continued...)

Following the success of the blazing debut album “Emperor Rising”, “Return Of The Heralds” delivers yet more fast melodic tunes living and prospering in the realm of traditional power-speed metal. The new Krilloan record is once again a heartfelt homage to the "good ol' times" of classic heavy metal and sword & sorcery entertainment that shaped them. Epic and fierce battle hymns about Conan the Barbarian, Elric of Melniboné, "Warhammer 40.000" and those never-ending days spent in a world beyond our own: this is the conceptual foundation of the Swedish band led by guitarist Klas Holmgren, with a clear focus on a well-crafted and always well-balanced songwriting as well. One thing is for certain: you will never be bored listening to a Krilloan album! 1 Atlantean Sword 2 Kings Of The Iron Hill3 Blood & Fire (Born On A Battlefield)4 Hammer Of Wrath5 Avenging Son6 The Oathpact7 Return Of The Heralds8 The Kingkillers Tale9 We Burn10 Beyond The Gates

FUNERAL, hailing from the icy landscapes of Norway, stands solemn as stalwart guardians of the funeral doom metal genre. With roots intertwining the sorrow of a wake and the heaviness of bowed boughs bearing winter's weight, their music is a vessel of mourning and memory. In the heartrending depths of Gospel of Bones, we bear witness to a journey of grief, a map drawn in melancholic melodies and the relentless dirge of funeral drums. Each song is a requiem, a story etched into the annals of the night, with Anders Eek’s dismal symphonies leading the procession through tracks like the desolate beauty My Own Grave and the harrowing Procession of Misery. From the cold, lingering notes of Too Young to Die, to the sorrowful elegy Yestertear, this album is FUNERAL's sovereign claim to the throne of despair. Produced by the venerable hands of Børge Finstad and enriched by the ethereal harmonies of Ingvild "Sareeta" Johannesen, Gospel of Bones is a cathartic journey to be felt, a path through the shadows. 1. Too Young To Die 2. Yestertear 3. Procession of Misery 4. These Rusty Nails 5. Ailo's Lullaby 6. My Own Grave 7. To Break All Hearts Of Men 8. Når Kisten Senkes 9. Three Dead Men

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.”

Këkht Aräkh is the Ukrainian project founded in 2018 by Dmitry Marchenko. Originally released on the Finnish label Livor Mortis in 2021, Pale Swordsman goes to even greater extents in building a bold and atmospheric sonic palette, and it's now seeing a worldwide reissue via Brooklyn label Sacred Bones.For the sound design of the album, Dmitry was inspired by The Stooges' Raw Power to deliver a more soft sounding album, decisively less "metal". Traditional black metal song structures still persist in songs like "Night Descends" and "In The Garden". However, their rawness and fast tempos is quickly cut through by dark ambient passages in "Amor" and "Intro" and softly played desolate ballads like "Nocturne" and "Lily".The crown jewel is the album closer "Swordsman", a track that displays a superb gothic sensibility, a poem recited over a deeply melancholic piano melody. "The Christian concept of a person ridding themselves of evil to find inner peace or to be able to leave this world safely has become the core inspiration for the song." Dmitry explains "However, this is not the only reading possible. I purposely avoid specifics in my lyrics so that the listener can always give the song their own meaning."The inspiration for the concept of the album also came from David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. "I really enjoy it when an album tells a story about some character so I came up with one." says Dmitry when explaining the origin of the Pale Swordsman. The character is portrayed on the striking album cover art - a figure sitting aloof with a sword and a rose in each hand - and clearly symbolises the romantic juxtaposition of belligerence and fragile beauty that permeates the album's sound and atmosphere.Pale Swordsman delivers a foreboding yet bittersweet melancholy through poetic lyrics, soft interludes, raw and distorted guitars, eerie drums and harsh vocals - a fragile yet potent mix that successfully amplifies the ambience.

Këkht Aräkh is the Ukrainian project founded in 2018 by Dmitry Marchenko. The debut album Night & Love was initially released on the Finnish label Livor Mortis in 2019 and it's now seeing a worldwide reissue via Brooklyn label Sacred Bones.Dmitry's intent to experiment with standard black metal canons previously seen at play in Through the Branches to Eternity EP (2018) solidify further on Night & Love, he mentions "back then I had an idea of combining Darkthrone's Transilvanian Hunger type of black metal with early Internazionale or Croatian Amor vibe."Described as ambient or atmospheric black metal, this debut presents Këkht Aräkh's signature dichotomy of harsh traditional early Norwegian black metal and the more ethereal and delicate melodies. On the other hand the lyrics are romantic and melancholic, clearly influenced by a stark Gothic imagery, and serve as an extra layer of mystery to the already suggestive body of work. The album beings with a soft acoustic intro in "As the Night Falls_" before descending into the raw and raucous "Elegy for the Memory of Me" and "Den Venstre Hånd På Den Hoyre", both songs that are drenched in the more traditional black metal style of raspy, high-pitched vocals, dense, tremolo- picked riffs and fast paced drums. It is however songs like "Night" and "Love" that really set this album apart. "Night" is a softly spoken word ambient track that with a beautiful piano synth work that permeates throughout it aids in the romantic delivery and conjuring of imagery of the night. "Love" is a spellbinding and melancholic song, equal in its romanticism but one that displays a deeper sorrow and tenderness supported by calming field recordings of trickling water.The intertwining of black metal, dark folk and ambient repeats itself, culminating in a quietly hummed outro "...And Never

Këkht Aräkh is the Ukrainian project founded in 2018 by Dmitry Marchenko. Originally released on the Finnish label Livor Mortis in 2021, Pale Swordsman goes to even greater extents in building a bold and atmospheric sonic palette, and it's now seeing a worldwide reissue via Brooklyn label Sacred Bones.For the sound design of the album, Dmitry was inspired by The Stooges' Raw Power to deliver a more soft sounding album, decisively less "metal". Traditional black metal song structures still persist in songs like "Night Descends" and "In The Garden". However, their rawness and fast tempos is quickly cut through by dark ambient passages in "Amor" and "Intro" and softly played desolate ballads like "Nocturne" and "Lily".The crown jewel is the album closer "Swordsman", a track that displays a superb gothic sensibility, a poem recited over a deeply melancholic piano melody. "The Christian concept of a person ridding themselves of evil to find inner peace or to be able to leave this world safely has become the core inspiration for the song." Dmitry explains "However, this is not the only reading possible. I purposely avoid specifics in my lyrics so that the listener can always give the song their own meaning."The inspiration for the concept of the album also came from David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. "I really enjoy it when an album tells a story about some character so I came up with one." says Dmitry when explaining the origin of the Pale Swordsman. The character is portrayed on the striking album cover art - a figure sitting aloof with a sword and a rose in each hand - and clearly symbolises the romantic juxtaposition of belligerence and fragile beauty that permeates the album's sound and atmosphere.Pale Swordsman delivers a foreboding yet bittersweet melancholy through poetic lyrics, soft interludes, raw and distorted guitars, eerie drums and harsh vocals - a fragile yet potent mix that successfully amplifies the ambience.

The subtly-monikered Witch Vomit from Portland, OR offered Thee obscure gem of the 2016 Death Metal underground with their A Scream From The Tomb Below full length. Many took note, and now 20 Buck Spin offers the first bloody taste of a new partnership with the band in the ‘Poisoned Blood’ MLP.

Offering four new tracks + intro over 20 minutes, put simply, ‘Poisoned Blood’ is one of the most brutal recordings to come out of the Northwest in recent memory. Ranging from blasting Deathgrind, foul Finnish obscurity and liquified cannibalistic necromancy, the riffs on this MLP bubble up like slimy green rot leaking from crypt walls.

Though the core membership of Witch Vomit also perform surgeries for barbaric persecutors Torture Rack, and the two bands share a propensity for blasting storms of seared flesh chunks and glistening old guts, Witch Vomit is mixing its mashed bone stew with a wider array of viscera, melting brains with ancient violence and intensity.

Red Fang's self-titled debut full-length will be reissued on Sargent House in December 2021.This debut is being repressed for the first time since 2015). Red Fang is the formation of long time friends and collaborators Bryan Giles (Last of the Juanitas, Party Time), Aaron Beam (Dark Forces, Lachrymator), David Sullivan (Party Time, facedowninshit, Shiny Beast) and John Sherman (Party Time, Bad Wizard, Trumans Water, All Night). Unleashed on New Year's Eve of 2006 in Portland, Oregon, Red Fang stormed out of the gates, introducing a sweaty, seething basement to a new kind of unforgettable fist-pumping, beer-chugging rock music. Since that night, the band has continued with the same intensity, energy, and intimacy to quickly become a touring juggernaut, playing shows all over the US with bands like The Melvins, Big Business, and The Sword, to name just a few. Residing somewhere between Black Flag and Black Sabbath, Red Fang recall a time when rock was more urgent and horrifying. Synthesizing a variety of heavy music influences into their own distinct musical identity, the band easily shifts from barn-burning punk to mid-tempo, hyper-distorted bass destruction all while maintaining a cohesive sound. Red Fang create gigantic rock songs that are easy to listen to (not easy listening, mind you) and qualify the simultaneous usage of both the thinking and the banging head, which are usually mutually exclusive. Their instrumentation is fluid and effortless, and the vocals are delivered melodically and forcefully, with enough rasp and effect saturation to fit nicely within the music. Paired with elemental imagery, the lyrics are immense and satisfying without any pretense. Classic black vinyl, for Fans of Fu Manchu, Melvins, Clutch, Stoner, Doom & Sludge!

New York City has the historical significance for being the world's melting pot and churning out an amalgamation of cultural diversity. The evolution of New York Hardcore epitomizes the primordial ooze that is generated from mixing of multi styles of heavy music. As the early days of New York Hardcore transitioned from the 80's into the '90's, it's hard to deny the growing influence of metal on the classic hardcore sounds. With bands like Agnostic Front, Sick of it All, Leeway melding their hardcore and punk roots with brash metal riffs, driving drums and signature breakdowns, a new genre of "cross-over" born. The music was hard, fast and melodic. It truly was an amazing period in hardcore music history. New York's Merauder was no exception. Forming in 1990, their cross-over style quickly propelled them to the forefront of the Nyhc scene and beyond. Merauder's musical style was well ahead of their time. The lyrics were deep and insightful. The musicianship was hailed as the next level of hardcore as they weaved in elements of metal with the "in-your-face" New York attitude. For the first time ever, the early Merauder recordings have been compiled into one release, immortalized on tangible formats, confirming the internet folklore about the existence of these recordings. Vocalist, Marco "Minus" Rodriguez became known for his commanding vocal style and scene presence. Add in original members, Javier "sob" Carpio, "Karate" Chris Bozeth, Eamon Carney and Vinny Vitale, Merauder quickly dominated the early 1990's music scene and beyond. Merauder "The Minus Years" is a capture of New York hardcore nostalgia. For those that were there, these recordings will certainly refresh memories that have been tucked way in the memory bank for many years. For those that are relatively new to the hardcore culture, The Minus Years is a time-machine into where so many new hardcore and metal bands have been influenced by. The recordings are raw and analog. The energy that was captured is not masked by overdubs and over-production. Simply, five dudes in a room and when the "red" record button was enabled, history was made.

The enchanted land of power metal. ‘On a Moonlit Night’ is the highlight of the brief but already remarkable Vandor’s career. The Swedish band looked at the best moments of their brilliant debut-album and aimed at writing in that vein, expanding the stylistic horizon at the same time. They managed to cover so much musical ground on this record, spanning from the anthemic ‘Mountains of Avagale’ to the beautiful ‘Future to Behold’ and the intense warmongering tale of ‘Fate of Eltoria’, and finishing with the almost 20-minute-long saga ‘The Sword to End All Wars’. This second album is even more “power metal” than the previous one, but Vandor also embraced some elegant and subtle hard & progressive rock influences – which might not come as a shock for those familiar with their music. Enter the realm of Vandor, enter a new and exciting power metal dimension.

To celebrate the 11th anniversary of the 2nd album from Vulture Industries, “The Malefactor’s Bloody Register” has now gotten a makeover and will for the first time be available on vinyl. Re-mixed, de-mixed, remastered and unmastered, this release has been in the making for some time. Intent on an impeccable vinyl presentation, the band originally set out to re-mix the album. But good intentions turned to shit as the new master sounded worse than the original. So, two steps back, press reset, the original master was tweaked for vinyl and we are mighty pleased with the result. Originally released in 2010, “The Malefactor’s Bloody Register” was released to critical acclaim and took the band to big festivals such as Hellfest Open Air and Metal Days. With the band growing in size, and the latest single, “Deeper”, reaching half a million streams, we know the fans are hungry for something new. And this is the only Vulture Industries album that hasn’t been out on vinyl yet. So, while we wait for something completely different and new from the band, we can enjoy a trip down memory lane with “The Malefactor’s Bloody Register”. “The Malfactor’s Bloody Register” was originally recorded at Conclave & Earshot Studios with Bjørnar Nilsen, and was mastered by Brian Gardner (Isis, NIN, David Bowie). The album also features a guest performance by Herbrand Larsen (ex-Enslaved) on hammond organ, and performers on cello, viola and saxophone.

Gatefold double LP, splattered vinyl. Special extended LP edition of Pilgrim’s cult Misery Wizard album, dedicated to the memory of Jon Rossi. Includes two extra bonus tracks, Return of Astaroth and Gryphon Rider, from the band’s unfinished third album. This legendary doom classic is pressed on three sides of vinyl for extra heavy fidelity and crushing sound, with bonus tracks on 4th side. Exclusive brand new liner notes provided by Albert Witchfinder (Reverend Bizarre) and Eric Heath-Dittrich(Pilgrim) offer deeper insight into the album and Pilgrim’s legacy. Released in a limited edition of 1000 copies, 400 of which are on splatter vinyl. Mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Cathedral).

Dead Quiet's third album Truth and Ruin is a rich, melody-laden opus for fans of Deep Purple, The Sword, and Pallbearer.After a rigorous couple years of touring, Dead Quiet is ready to drop their third record, Truth and Ruin. Again teaming up with Artoffact Records, Truth and Ruin sees the addition of Mike Rosen to the band and proves that work ethic and chemistry can refine a band's sound to what they had always been striving for: heavy instrumentation combined with rich melody and uniquely personal lyricism.

HYPNO5E have forged the term "cinematic metal" with their truly epicscompositions, often exceeding not only the 10- but the 20- minutes mark, merging elements of contemporary metal with latin folk and soundtrack-score like sonic landscapes.For fans of CYNIC, BTBAM, GOJIRA, MESHUGGAH, OPETH, CULT OF LUNA, PINK FLOYD,TESSERACT, SOEN, MONUMENTSAfter the acoustic special album "Alba - Les Ombres Errantes" (2018), theSouthern French quartet are now returning with a more "typical" HYPNO5E record, if there is such a thing: their 5th album, "A Distant (Dark) Source", is thesecond part of a diptych album project. Each part will be released separately,starting with the second one. "A Distant (Dark) Source" continues to chase those demons and lost memories which the band has been chasing ever since their debut album "Des Deux L'Une Est L'Autre": the album is an inward journey to the land of the ghosts of the past. At the origin of this distant dark source lies Tauca, an old Paleolithic lake located in Bolivia, where singer and guitarist Emmanuel Jessua has grown up, and continues to find inspiration for his musical endeavors. Lake Tauca disappeared more than 15 000 years ago, leaving behind an arid land and salt lakes, like the Salt Desert of Uyuni or Coipasa, at 4.500m of altitude in the Andes mountain range. "A Distant (Dark) Source" is the musical imagination of a night in this desert, during which the old shores of the lake see the return of the shadows of the people who used to live in this area before its disappearance. A man comes back to the lake to look for the shadow of the woman he loved. The album tells the story of this ephemeral return."A Distant (Dark) Source" is the second part of this story and takes place during one single night...but don't be deterred by such conceptual enthusiasm, as HYPNO5E sound is powerful, visceral and immediate. There are moments that remind you of the expansive technical elaborations of BTBAM, but there is also the careful melancholia of Cynic and...

Approaching a full forty years on from 1980 - arguably the greatest year in its history - it can be vanishingly difficult in there here and now to find bands who can summon up the true elixir of traditional heavy metal in all its gory glory. Certainly, there have been manifold variants of this supernatural force in the last four decades, yet for all the power-metal diversions and Pro-Tooled machinations that have crossed our transum, the blood-simple formula of steel-plated grandeur and street-level grit remains mystifyingly elusive for even its most long-standing proponents. Lucky for everyone therefore, that the Cypriot denizens of darkness Mirror have returned. The brainchild of former Electric Wizard and Satan’s Wrath bassist Tas Danazoglou, Mirror’s second album sees them building on the heroic vibrations of their self-titled 2015 debut, summoning forth nine triumphant anthems that are equal parts lethal and life-affirming. Deftly avoiding the lure of pastiche and parody, ‘Pyramid Of Terror’ arrives once again at the cusp of an audial era in which the widescreen sweep of late-‘70s rock, a la the cinematic splendour of Dio-era Rainbow, crosses swords with the stripped-down panache of the NWOBHM - somewhere akin to a danger zone between first-two-albums Iron Maiden and the occultist allure of debut Angel Witch - to set passions dramatically ablaze.

Power metal for eternity...Fellowship was the absolute power metal revelation of 2022; after successfully bringing their positive vibes live in Europe, Japan and America, the English band is now ready to set the bar higher. "The Skies Above Eternity” takes the classic Fellowship sound, adds a healthy sprinkle of Japanese power metal influence, and then makes a darker turn on a journey into a world where light is all but gone, and where hope is all but lost… Perhaps along the way we might find enough light within ourselves to illuminate the pathway home. A tale of princes and paupers, of oppression and resistance, of the value we get from simply looking up at the sun when times get tough, “The Skies Above Eternity” represent those human aspirations to live freely, live well and live on – no matter how hard or how bleak life may seem. 1. Hold Up Your Hearts (Again)2. Victim3. The Bitter Winds4. Dawnbreaker5. Eternity6. King Of Nothing7. World End Slowly8. A New Hope9. Memories On The Wind

VATICINAL RITES are finally back with their debut full length "Cascading Memories Of Immortality", an album that will take you on a death metal odyssey, a journey destined to captivate fans of true old school death metal! 1.Foiled Skirmish 2.Plead For Termination 3.Asphyxiation Of Ecstasy 4.Bowels Of Gargantua 5.Siphoning Plasma From The Gods 6.Unhinged Cataclysm 7.Corporeal Affliction 8.Eroding Planetesimal (Interlude) 9.Cascading Memories Of Immortality

"Every decade they say that it's the last generation for metal. It never is, and it never will be. As I write this review, I'm listening to Of God's & Monsters debut album. It gets me like Dio's - Holy Diver did the first time I heard it. Sons of Armageddon is that good, period. With vocals akin to the late great Ronnie James Dio. And, with this cast of multi-talented musicians, the caliber of traditional heavy metal and melodic power metal music you get here, is simply mind-blowing! (Timothy Gaines - Bass - Stryper, Dean Castronovo -Drums - Journey / Bad English / Hardline, Joey Tafolla - Guitar - Leatherwolf / Hardline / Jag Panzer, Kevin Goocher (Vocals) - Omen / Final Decree / Phantom X) The CD was released in March 2020, this is the first time this metal treasure is available on vinyl - Black Vinyl and Red Vinyl! Each album comes with a 12x12 insert and a 24x24 poster of the band. Packaging includes excellent band pics and lyrics. Castronovo stands out as an incredibly tight drummer, and the lyrics are all about beasts, dragons, sword and sorcery. In other words, this is US melodic metal perfection!

FUNERAL, hailing from the icy landscapes of Norway, stands solemn as stalwart guardians of the funeral doom metal genre. With roots intertwining the sorrow of a wake and the heaviness of bowed boughs bearing winter's weight, their music is a vessel of mourning and memory. In the heartrending depths of Gospel of Bones, we bear witness to a journey of grief, a map drawn in melancholic melodies and the relentless dirge of funeral drums. Each song is a requiem, a story etched into the annals of the night, with Anders Eek’s dismal symphonies leading the procession through tracks like the desolate beauty My Own Grave and the harrowing Procession of Misery. From the cold, lingering notes of Too Young to Die, to the sorrowful elegy Yestertear, this album is FUNERAL's sovereign claim to the throne of despair. Produced by the venerable hands of Børge Finstad and enriched by the ethereal harmonies of Ingvild "Sareeta" Johannesen, Gospel of Bones is a cathartic journey to be felt, a path through the shadows. 1. Too Young To Die 2. Yestertear 3. Procession of Misery 4. These Rusty Nails 5. Ailo's Lullaby 6. My Own Grave 7. To Break All Hearts Of Men 8. Når Kisten Senkes 9. Three Dead Men

Following two critically acclaimed black metal masterpieces, Vancouver's Liminal Shroud is back with their strongest album to date. Adding to their already impressive catalog, Visions of Collapse sees the band honing their songwriting by writing lengthy, yet catchy songs that are filled with amazing riffs. Sure to be on many metal year-end best lists. LP Packaging: Random Eco Mix LP.

Along the years, Vimur evolved into a full live-performing band, releasing three studio full-length albums, one EP and one live record. 2024 marks thecollaboration between the Georgia-based band with long-standing Italian label Avantgarde Music to release the band’s fourth album, The TimelessEverpresent.We asked the band to introduce the album in their own words. This is what seeped through the cracks of Vimur lair. “Forms change but ideas areeternal. Vimur is black metal totality and a conduit to the truth that lies hidden beyond the stars. The Timeless Everpresent is a revelation of vitalenergy and power. It is a soundtrack to the grand cosmic war that has existed since the beginning of time. No stone is left unturned. The vanguardknows that the war is fought on the physical, mental, and spiritual planes.This is reflected in the multi-dimensional sound achieved on The Timeless Everpresent. There are passages that reflect the blood, steel, and sweat ofphysical battle and others that are undeniably ascendent, making the listener aware of truths beyond material existence. The TimelessEverpresent is a collection of war hymns to destroy all illusion. Vimur reclaims the fire to light the mysteries. Flaming spears and swords in handaimed at the heavens, nothing will stop Vimur from reaching the Sun behind the Sun whether the enemy be man or divine." 01 - Resacralization02 - Fire, Glory, and Thinking03 - Sons Of Another Light04 - Wound Window05 - The Cold Only We Know06 - Fortress of a New Faith07 - The Embrace of Merciless Indifference08 - Astride the Centuries

M-Theory Audio is proud to present the second album, and first for M-Theory Audio, from VERNI. If that name sounds familiar it is the solo project of legendary bassist DD Verni, better known as the bassist and a founding member of thrash metal legends OVERKILL, also of Bronx Casket Company. Much like his first solo album ‘Barricade’ in 2018, Verni wrote and produced all the songs while handling vocals, guitar, and holding down the low end. The album features Overkill bandmate Jason Bittner on drums with some famous friends such as Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX), Virus (DOPE), and Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X) adding guitar parts. While this album bears some resemblance to ‘Barricade’, Verni lets his punk roots shine more on this album, which leads to 11 blistering tracks chock full of speed, intensity, and sing-alongs. The album will be available digitally and on CD and limited-edition black & white marble vinyl. 1.Lunkhead2.Cemetery Safari 3.All You Need To Know4.The Whore With The See Thru Shoes5.Red Flag6.Wild Horses7.Thanks For The Memories8.Call Of The Highway9.Tears On My Heart10.Takin’ Care of Business11.Victoria

Vástígr is the solo project of Þ. (Hāg, Ill Tidings and several other projects), Austrian composer, guitarist and singer. Vástígr debut, Aura Aeternitatis,was released by Avantgarde Music in 2019 and impressed all those who dared entering its realm.A perfect blending of atmospheric black metal and dissonant, complex structures typical to the Icelandic scene, Vástígr music is one of the veryrare cases in which a black metal artist is actually crafting something personal and unique.After a five-year long silence, Vástígr is back with its sophomore album, The Path of Perdition, a cathartic journey through downfall and uprising, ofaccepting man’s futility and insignificance in a greater (cosmic) scheme. As described by Þ., “the eternal cycle goes ever on and could not care lesswhat happens to us. Eventually the wheel of time crushes us all like insects. What remains is memory, ruins, ashes, until even those fade intooblivion – and the knowledge that the cycle shall repeat itself, for better or worse”.Produced in Iceland at Studio Emissary by Stephen Lockhart (Rebirth of Nefast and producer for Sinmara, Svartidauði, Nexion and many more),The Path of Perdition will feature once again a cover art by French artist Metastazis, who created art for Blut Aus Nord, Alcest, Amorphis, Ondskaptand many other prominent artists. 01 - Plunge02 - Chasm03 - Katharsis04 - Eternity

In the mid-90s, a resurgence in Electro-Industrial was firmly focused on dance-floors. At this pivotal time, two San Francisco metal scene defectors, Mike Wells and Mike Cadoo, connected through a mutual friend. Bonding over their shared appreciation for non-metal influences, Wells, armed with a sampler and a couple of synths, had crafted a few tracks. Cadoo swiftly added vocals to these compositions, and thus, Gridlock was born. With relentless dedication, the duo embarked on sculpting a grittier, more ominous variant of electro-industrial. Steering clear of the upbeat rhythms typical of the genre, they opted for a dystopian, dirge-like pace. Drawing inspiration from iconic acts like Skinny Puppy, Einsturzende Neubauten, and Fields of the Nephilim, they pieced together the Sickness demo. Eager to share their creation, they distributed the demo to anyone who would lend an ear, including many users on the rec.music.industrial newsgroup. Despite numerous rejections from industrial music labels citing its lack of danceability, Pendragon Records saw potential and took a chance. Thus commenced the earnest endeavor of crafting their debut album, The Synthetic Form. Upon its release, it marked a pivotal moment in industrial music, ushering in a fusion of classic, experimental, and dystopian ambient elements. Pendragon Records tantalizingly teased the album as "Unleashing a World of Your Demons," offering a glimpse into its bleak exploration of themes like regret and personal turmoil. Over the years, Gridlock evolved through three subsequent albums, progressively exploring diverse sonic territories beyond the confines of industrial music. However, their journey met an acrimonious end with the duo parting ways, leaving behind their albums as poignant relics, elusive on digital platforms and sought after by collectors at premium prices... until now. In a heartfelt tribute to Mike Wells, who tragically passed away in 2022, Viasonde, with the blessing of the Wells family, embarks on a mission to reintroduce Gridlock to the world. The four main Gridlock albums will be reissued on vinyl for the first time, starting with The Synthetic Form double LP. Available on June 7th, this limited edition release will be featured on clear vinyl with black and bone splatter alongside standard black vinyl. Additionally, 50% of the proceeds from LP sales will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, honoring Wells' memory.

Time is a slippery fish.

Loss has inspired Mamaleek’s latest full-length album, titled Vida Blue. This marks the San Francisco Bay Area metal deconstructionists’ eighth album and their third as a full lineup.

Tragedy struck in March of 2023 when the band lost a longtime friend and member, keyboardist Eric Livingston, leaving the group, which began as a duo of two brothers and later expanded to a five-piece, now with only four members. Despite this profound loss, Mamaleek persevered, performing as a quartet at various festivals, including the 2023 edition of Tilburg.

The band returned to the studio to create new material that appropriately reflects their journey through loss and honors their fallen comrade. The resulting album draws inspiration from the legacy of Oakland A’s baseball legend Vida Blue, whose former team coincidentally announced its relocation to Las Vegas that same year. The band members themselves describe this poignant chapter in their own words:

“Time is a slippery fish. Maybe only someone like Vida could grasp it. Although he’s left time behind, his image and that lefty heat remain in the memories of many. Eventually they’ll be forgotten, and hopefully replaced with even more exultant ones. This musical recording is a reflection on loss and its acceptance. We explore several examples for each song, including the loss of pride, of money, of glory, of country, of sanity, of a favorite sports team, of significant others, and, every day, one’s self. It also explores various associated moods—fear, panic, reverence, stoicism, and steadfastness—to arrive at a resolution: Loss is only a test, the glue that holds and erodes each memory, the connection that binds and loosens us all, pitch by pitch, inning by inning. This is your celebration.”

Vida Blue is a person, moment, and memory, together the crystallization of apocalypse: “unveiling,” “disclosure.”

Time is a slippery fish.

Loss has inspired Mamaleek’s latest full-length album, titled Vida Blue. This marks the San Francisco Bay Area metal deconstructionists’ eighth album and their third as a full lineup.

Tragedy struck in March of 2023 when the band lost a longtime friend and member, keyboardist Eric Livingston, leaving the group, which began as a duo of two brothers and later expanded to a five-piece, now with only four members. Despite this profound loss, Mamaleek persevered, performing as a quartet at various festivals, including the 2023 edition of Tilburg.

The band returned to the studio to create new material that appropriately reflects their journey through loss and honors their fallen comrade. The resulting album draws inspiration from the legacy of Oakland A’s baseball legend Vida Blue, whose former team coincidentally announced its relocation to Las Vegas that same year. The band members themselves describe this poignant chapter in their own words:

“Time is a slippery fish. Maybe only someone like Vida could grasp it. Although he’s left time behind, his image and that lefty heat remain in the memories of many. Eventually they’ll be forgotten, and hopefully replaced with even more exultant ones. This musical recording is a reflection on loss and its acceptance. We explore several examples for each song, including the loss of pride, of money, of glory, of country, of sanity, of a favorite sports team, of significant others, and, every day, one’s self. It also explores various associated moods—fear, panic, reverence, stoicism, and steadfastness—to arrive at a resolution: Loss is only a test, the glue that holds and erodes each memory, the connection that binds and loosens us all, pitch by pitch, inning by inning. This is your celebration.”

Vida Blue is a person, moment, and memory, together the crystallization of apocalypse: “unveiling,” “disclosure.”

Time is a slippery fish.

Loss has inspired Mamaleek’s latest full-length album, titled Vida Blue. This marks the San Francisco Bay Area metal deconstructionists’ eighth album and their third as a full lineup.

Tragedy struck in March of 2023 when the band lost a longtime friend and member, keyboardist Eric Livingston, leaving the group, which began as a duo of two brothers and later expanded to a five-piece, now with only four members. Despite this profound loss, Mamaleek persevered, performing as a quartet at various festivals, including the 2023 edition of Tilburg.

The band returned to the studio to create new material that appropriately reflects their journey through loss and honors their fallen comrade. The resulting album draws inspiration from the legacy of Oakland A’s baseball legend Vida Blue, whose former team coincidentally announced its relocation to Las Vegas that same year. The band members themselves describe this poignant chapter in their own words:

“Time is a slippery fish. Maybe only someone like Vida could grasp it. Although he’s left time behind, his image and that lefty heat remain in the memories of many. Eventually they’ll be forgotten, and hopefully replaced with even more exultant ones. This musical recording is a reflection on loss and its acceptance. We explore several examples for each song, including the loss of pride, of money, of glory, of country, of sanity, of a favorite sports team, of significant others, and, every day, one’s self. It also explores various associated moods—fear, panic, reverence, stoicism, and steadfastness—to arrive at a resolution: Loss is only a test, the glue that holds and erodes each memory, the connection that binds and loosens us all, pitch by pitch, inning by inning. This is your celebration.”

Vida Blue is a person, moment, and memory, together the crystallization of apocalypse: “unveiling,” “disclosure.”

The ten year anniversary of Chaos Echœs' first ever release, celebrated as a limited edition vinyl reissue with enhanced artwork to homage and consecrate the origin of an unforgettable legacy that will never fade our memory's reach. With 2012's "Tone of Things to Come" Chaos Echœs instantly established themselves as the very future of underground extreme metal, elaborating a formula rooted in arcane sepulchral dark death metal characterized by lengthy instrumentals and innovative detours deep into remote areas of history, art, culture and lore that would dictate the rhythm and tempo of a staggering metamorphosis of ascension. Still rooted in the legacy of Incantation, Morbid Angel, and Immolation, at its inception "Tone of Things to Come" had however already revealed widespread mutations in the fabric of conventional extreme metal and opened the eye of transformation, with its omniscient glare gazing through a spectral veil concealing abhorrent forms of ritualism and exploration within it. Enigmatic minimalisms crafted from unconventional instrumentations and improvisational free-flowing jam sessions were an already well established means of transcendence and transmutation within this earliest form of the band, and "Tone of Things to Come"'s oracular load of experimentation was already foreboding musical changes in consciousness and perception on a massive scale lurking not too far away on the horizon. A would-be future for extreme metal which we all now too-well know, love, and will forever miss. There will never again be an entity quite like Chaos Echœs, one capable of opening worlds within the listener and which had become such a synonym of transformation and of the fearless defiance of dogmas and conventions. A beacon for metamorphosis and boundary-dissolvement bridging effortlessly the sidereal distances between performance art, world music, ritualism, and death metal, that would help cement thereafter the undeniable and manifested explorative genetics of extreme metal. And as the sands of time and the immortality of this legacy fixate the greatness and majesty of those who dare, burning them forever into our minds, "Tone of Things to Come" remains a reminder for all that great legacies are built on great transformations, and the courage that motivates them.

Reaching the end of a strenuous journey beset by turmoil and loss, Madder Mortem is finally ready with their 8th studio album “Old Eyes, New Heart”. Emerging five years after its predecessor "Marrow", the time in which “Old Eyes, New Heart” was made has been a troubled one for the Madders - and in the winter of 2023, Agnete and BP’s dad Jakob passed away. Having always been a huge supporter of the band, Jakob’s backing was essential in launching the band's recording career almost 30 years ago. Being an artist himself, Jakob had prepared two paintings especially for the album and with the adaptation and additional design by long-term Madder collaborator Costin Chioreanu, the cover artwork for “Old Eyes, New Heart” was completed. Even though Jakob didn’t live to see the finished album, he would have been immensely proud to see his art on the cover, and the album is dedicated to his memory. Lyrically and musically, the album deals with hope, disappointment, and the ambivalence between them. It is music from old hearts and deep roots, with new eyes open to the unlimited possibilities of 12 notes, but always with the desire to write a good, honest song. Recorded and produced by guitarist BP M. Kirkevaag, it shows one of Norway’s most interesting bands embracing a multitude of directions spanning from post-metal heaviness to soft Americana grooves and everything in between. Fronted by one of the genre's greatest and most unique voices, it is an album full of surprises, but at all times unmistakably Madder.

Reaching the end of a strenuous journey beset by turmoil and loss, Madder Mortem is finally ready with their 8th studio album “Old Eyes, New Heart”. Emerging five years after its predecessor "Marrow", the time in which “Old Eyes, New Heart” was made has been a troubled one for the Madders - and in the winter of 2023, Agnete and BP’s dad Jakob passed away. Having always been a huge supporter of the band, Jakob’s backing was essential in launching the band's recording career almost 30 years ago. Being an artist himself, Jakob had prepared two paintings especially for the album and with the adaptation and additional design by long-term Madder collaborator Costin Chioreanu, the cover artwork for “Old Eyes, New Heart” was completed. Even though Jakob didn’t live to see the finished album, he would have been immensely proud to see his art on the cover, and the album is dedicated to his memory. Lyrically and musically, the album deals with hope, disappointment, and the ambivalence between them. It is music from old hearts and deep roots, with new eyes open to the unlimited possibilities of 12 notes, but always with the desire to write a good, honest song. Recorded and produced by guitarist BP M. Kirkevaag, it shows one of Norway’s most interesting bands embracing a multitude of directions spanning from post-metal heaviness to soft Americana grooves and everything in between. Fronted by one of the genre's greatest and most unique voices, it is an album full of surprises, but at all times unmistakably Madder.

Conceived in 2020, Spirit Tomb is the brilliant solo project of the visionary Norwegian artist Leon Kristoffer. Spirit Tomb features a dark romantic blend of piano, cello, and vocals. Leon Kristoffer’s masterful song writing combines with his superb dramatic abilities to create an overwhelming sonic elixir that grips you with the feverish intensity of delirium tremens. Spirit Tomb guides you through the gilded, yet lonely halls of the bygone eras mingled with phantasmagorical dreamscapes. The vertiginous experience awakens memories that disturb, seduce, and haunt. Spirit Tomb has already amazed international audiences with the EP The Lotus of Dahlia, the first installment in the “Aandegrav Trilogy,” which premiered in April. On August 4th, we will unveil Spirit Tomb’s second masterpiece, the formidable yet deeply personal Spiritus Lacrimarum: Dolorem in Lacrimas Efundere. On this an album, Leon Kristoffer reinterprets the works of Edgar Allan Poe with all the black magic of a necromancer. As always, his great finesse, regal charm, and devilish charisma cast an unbreakable spell. Meanwhile, Leon Kristoffer’s expertise as an engineer has ensured a pitch-perfect production. Leon Kristoffer frequently collaborates with the stellar photographer Nicolai Karlsen. Both men have stamped Spirit Tomb’s imagery with their distinctive trademarks. The pair have already presented a breathtaking video for The Lotus of Dahlia. They will at some point in the future also create a full-length film for this album as well. Spiritus Lacrimarum: Dolorem in Lacrimas Efundere boasts a stunning cover and gatefold by Mitchell Nolte and photographs by Joacim Jørgensen. Leon Kristoffer promises you an epic journey that summons forces that are stronger than both life and death. The sepulchral beauty of Spirit Tomb awaits you with the nuanced perfumes of vernal bouquets and an open mahogany lid.

Taking its name from the 50-foot effigy burned every year by a hysterical mob during the Fiestas De Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM, Zozobra is the brainchild of Caleb Scofield (Cave In / Old Man Gloom) and, to carry on his musical legacy, the two Zozobra albums Harmonic Tremors (2007) and Bird Of Prey (2008) can now be streamed everywhere on all streaming platforms once again. Also both albums will see their respective vinyl releases, the first time they will be officially issued on vinyl for widespread distribution (previous editions were tour-only editions and the Caleb memorial version). Following on the seismic heels of Harmonic Tremors, Bird Of Prey was originally released in 2008 via Hydra Head Records respectively and features drummer Aaron Harris (Isis), who also recorded and mixed the album. Scofield’s second full-length under the Zozobra moniker is a white-hot exploder shot through with snaking melody lines and implacable riffs. From front to back, Scofield’s signature roar is tempered by his own gleaming backup chants; meanwhile, an arsenal of guitars alternately churns and shimmers in the flames of Zozobra’s effigial namesake.