Svart Records announced the reissue of the monumental, highly acclaimed and worshipped old school album "Into Darkness" by New York´s mighty WINTER. A 2LP box set presented as "the ultimate edition on vinyl! housed in a heavy- duty slipcase, the package features a replica of Into Darkness LP with original cover layout, the demo Eternal Frost making its vinyl debut plus a thick magazine with Winter memorabiblia." Sounds really good doesn´t it? So it is a good chance to add it to your collection wether yu alredy have the original release, the Southern Lord reissue of 2011, all or none of them. There is a black vinyl version limited to 600 copies and one on clear vinyl limited to 400 copies. A must! But, the good news doens´t end here, Svart Records also announced the upcoming release of the debut album by GÖDEN, the spiritual succesor to Winter.Founding guitarist Stephen Flam set to work on what has become Göden, "a project that has inherited much of Winter's ultra-bleak apocalyptic scope, but in the spirit of the transition between Celtic Frost and Triptykon", The album title is "Beyond Darkness", it will be releaased on May 7th.
CIRITH UNGOL have just revealed a lyric video of the brand new track titled "Legions Arise", taken from the upcoming album "Forever Black" out on April 24th via Metal Blade.
"Realm of Ash and Blood" is the title of the new album by Finnish Death-doom monsters SOLOTHUS. The album will be released on March 27th via 20 Buck Spin records. The first track unveiled is "The Watcher", a reeeally heavy midtempo-neck breaking track.
Spanish NECROPHILIAC surprises us with their first official video clip ever. This veteran death metallers are about to release the second full-length "No Living Man is Innocent" via Xtreem Music. The track chosen for the video clip is "GodBundy".
Second lyric video released by CANDLEMASS from the band´s new EP "The Pendulum".The track appeared on Avatarium´s latest full-length "The fire I long for", released last year, but according to Candlemass´ Leif Edling this version of "Porcelain Skull" is "rawer and harder"...
THE SWAY OF MOUNTAINS is a one man project coming from South Africa. It is a self-released instrumental death metal album performed very well by Rowan Deysel. I´m not into instrumental albums so I missed some vocals here and there, and I missed more rawness and a dirtier production too. But on the other side, in the five tracks on "Elasticity" you´ll find some great riffs, progressive parts, good solos and melodies that proves that Rowan has good ideas and he play with a precise technique. So for me it is worth to check "Elasticity" out and to keep an eye on on the next release, as Rowan is already working on new songs.
PUTRID from Peru will release the second full length "Antichrist Above" on Godz Ov War Productions on March 13th. Here´s the first attack of blasphemous savagery with the lyric video of the track "Warfare In Golgotha"...
Hell yeah, I´m really longing for this album. THANATOS will release "Violent Death Rituals", their 7th full-lenght via Listenable Records on March 20th on LP and CD. A few days ago the band premiered a lyric video for the great title track. Pre-orders available here. The album will feature the following ten tracks: "Violent Death Rituals"; "The Silent War"; "Unholy Predators"; "The Outer Darkness"; "Vurn The Books of Hate"; "It Always Ends in Blood"; "Corporate Indoctrination"; "Sent from Hell (I Infidel)"; "Legacy of the Gods"; "As the Cannons Fade".
TESTAMENT have just premiered the official lyric video for "Night of the Witch", the brand new track taken from the upcoming album "Titans of Creation" to be released on April 3rd through Nuclear Blast. The complete tracklist reads as follows: "Children of the Next Level"; "WWII"; "Dream Deceiver"; "Night of the Witch"; "City of Angels"; "Ishtars Gate"; "Symptoms"; "False Prophet"; "The Healer"; "Code of Hammurabi"; "curse of Osiris"; "Catacombs".
Chile´s underground gods PENTAGRAM released a video for the track "Evil Incarnate", with footage shot at last year´s Santiago gets louder festival. The track is a "new" song composed by parts of two old tracks, the original "Evil Incarnate" and "Summoned from the Grave", taken from an old rehearsal tape from 1985. The song is included on the compilation "Past, Present and Future" released last year by Cyclone Empire Records.
CANDLEMMAS announde a new EP entitled "The Pendulum" due out March 27 via Napalm Records. The EP consist of the title track and five demo tracks from "The Door To Doom" 2019 album sesions, that were left unused on the album. The following tracks will appear on the EP: "The Pendulum"; "Snakes of Goliath"; "Sub Zero"; "Aftershock"; "Porcelain Skull"; "The Cold Room".
Poland´s death metal giant VADER have just released the official lyric video for the track "Shock and Awe", the opening song from the upcoming album "Solitude In Madness", out in May via Nuclear Blast.
"Metempsychosis" is the title of the self released advance EP of FORCE OF DARKNESS. The digital release consists of the title track and "Sons of Hypocrisy", though the physical format includes 3 tracks, no further info has been revealed yet. So stay tunned for more news soon...
"Evil Empire" is the second track unveiled from the new album by Brazilial vetetans VULCANO entitled "Eye In Hell", to be released on Mighty Music next March 13th.
YOTH IRIA marks the return of Jim "Mutilator" Patsouris to
musical activities with a new band. Together with The Magus from Necromantia,
the band is about to release the debut EP "Under
His Sway". Reason enough to send a few questions to Jim to take a
little glimpse at the past and to know about Yoth Iria's present and future. Bless upon us, the cursed ones...
How and when exactly does the beginning of Yoth Iria materialize? The idea started to work in my mind in the mid of 2000ies. After
some years from my hiatus with Rotting Christ i felt the need of composing new
tracks. Around 2008 2009 started composing new tracks for a new band but it
took me up to 2019 to create my new band. How did you guys team up together, are all permanent members? Can
you give details about the working process? about songwriting and rehearsals? Me and Magus are the core of the band and hopefully the other
guys, my brother and the drummer John The Maelstrom, will go far with us.
Allthough George Emmanuel gave us big help and education cant follow as a
permanent member due to his heavy duties with Lucifers Child and Pentagram
studios. When I saw the band name instantly came to my mind the chorus of
“The Fourth Knight of Revelation”. Why did you choose Yoth Iria and how did you
develop the concept under this name? Yoth Iria is one of my personal guardians from my childhood years
. It also connects me with my Rotting Christ period still. In your own words how would you describe the music in “Under his
Sway”? As you were part of the early days of Rotting Christ, do you think that
people will take it for granted that you´ll be under the influence of that
sound and style? Its very difficult to describe my own music. Lets say its a mix
of all metal kinds but its infused with black metal ideology. Of course some
Rotting Christ similarities are here but it just happened as thats my way of
making music from the first days of my carrer
Tell me about the opening track, the title track, it has great
melodies, and a powerful chorus, please tell me about the writing of this song
and its lyrics. This is the first track I composed after my departure from
rotting christ . Actually the track was 2 minutes shorter but after we entered
the studio we added some more ideas. The second track, Sid-Ed-Djinn, starts with a slower part, huge
choruses, and then fast riffs, then and rich melodies, very dynamic and
diverse. The female vocals add an epic dimension. What were your sources of
inspiration for the lyrics, and the music too. Unlike Under His Sway , Sid Ed Djinn is the very last track i
composed for the album and was born after George Emmanuel listened to an old
recording of me with some forgotten riffs. He forced me to try to work on this
riff and making a new track. So Sid Ed Djinn was born. Lyrically is an anti
religion track that shows my philosophy against christianity as a theory
without value.
You are working on a video clip for this song, can you comment
some works about it?
The guys of Repulsive Records in cooperation with Ritual Video
take care for the video (the video clip is amazing and you can watch it at the end of this interview - Chris). The choice of Visions of the Dead Lovers was indeed a nice surprise, why did you
choose to do a new version and how would you describe it? I think this is one ofe the best rotting christ tracks that
never appeared in a rotting christ album. So it was a good reason to re release
it with a more modern production and make people flashback to the original one. Do you plan to do more cover version in your next releases? Yeah I have some more covers in my mind from some tracks that
built my own personality from such bands as Bathory, Possessed, Celtic Frost
and GBH... The cover artwork is amazing, who had the idea and concept and why
did you chose the indian artist Harshanand Singh? This cover magnetised me from the first sight. It was exactly
what it fit us according our music and our general thematically concept. How did you get in touch with Repulsive Eco Records? Why did you
decide a 10” inch vinyl release (which is very cool) instead of a 12” version? A common friend brought us in contact and from the start we felt
really comfortable . Im extremelly satisfied with Repulsive Re. as they are
really proffesionals and above all they know their job. I can´t avoid asking you about the early days of Rotting Christ
and Necromantia, What are your memories from those days? What are you missing
from the old days, comparing the old days and the current “scene”?
We were little kids with a life dedicated to what we can name
metal music. Not only as a kind of music but as a way of life. We started our
first band with Sakis and Themis back in 1985 in a period of time that heavy
metal music was totally anti social and we were considered by society like
human scums.Of course with the passing of years it has changed and to be a
metal fan is normal but those days it was really hard to be a part of this
music. I cant imagine my life without this, i prefer to die than change
life.With few words those days are unforgetable and glorius.
How do you feel about the importance of the Hellenic black metal
sound? Do you thing that the new bands always tried to feel close to the style
started by Rotting Christ or Varathron? We were from the first bands worldwide to play this kind of
music. makes sense that a lot of bands are influenced by us. In my
opinion there is one scene and this is a worldwide scene. Of course im happy to
see Greece to have so many great metal bands and so many talented musicians. Jim, how were out of the musical scene, but you had a record shop,
how was the time there, how did you live the evolution or involution of the
scene. yeah I used to run my own metal shop from 1994 to 2009 It was
really good to be daily into the metal music and all day long to be amongst
metal fans but i felt i couldnt go any more as a metal merchant so i sold
everything and return to paluing music and of course listen to the music. You recently collaborated with Medieval Demon, or beyond just a
collaboration, are you a permanent member of the band? I know the guys from Medieval Demon since 1993 when they hit the
door of our storm studio recording their debut demo. So after they asked me to
play in their upcoming album i said yes. Medieval Demon is a black metal band
dedicated to old school and they are dedicated to underground soul and body. You also did guest vocals on the last Mystifier full-length,
please tell us how did that happen? Were you in contact with them when they
were in Osmose too? Armando is a legendary black metal hero from the late 80ies so i
was really honored to have a little participation on their latest effort. How important is it for you as a musician to be part of a scene?
Do you agree to promote the motto "support the scene"? And how do you
interpret it as a fan? Absolutely I agree . As I told you , im a metal fan first . In
my opinion metal fans and metal musicians are the different sides of the same
coin. What are the best, or what do you appreciate most about about living in Greece? Life in greece is full of an ancient energy and is a really
mystic place to live. Of course there is a big economical crisis but overall is
our home. Besides music, are there other artistic expressions that interest
you? Of course I enjoy writing. Would you name some of your fave bands and your fave albums from
Old good veterans and newcomers? I still die for bands like Bathory, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden,
Celtic Frost, Possessed , Discharge, Destruction, Kreator, Sacrifice,
Necrovore, Dissection but still worship tons more bands that i need days to
mention all of them. What´s the strangest place and the most shocking place you have
been? I dont think I have been ever in a place that shocking me,
actually theres no fear on me for anything .
What will be the next steps for Yoth-Iria? Are you already
working on a full-length? Next step is to release our full length album and play some gigs
around the world. Are you going to play live or touring with this line-up? If there is demand on us of course. Thanks you for your time, last words are yours... Thanx for the great interview. NON SERVIAM & METAL MAGIC
FREEDOM....
Excellent video for an excellent track by YOTH IRIA. This Greek obscure incarnation marks the return of bassist Jim Mutilator, former member of Rotting Christ, joined by Magus Wampyr Daoloth from Necromantia on vocals, George Emmanuel from Lucifer´s Child on guitars and J.V Maelstrom on drums, ex-Thou Art Lord, currently on Caedes Cruenta and more.
"Sid Ed Djin" belongs to the upcoming EP "Under His Sway" , to be released soon by Repulsive Echo Records in March.
This magnificent video was created by Ritual Video. Stay tuned for more detailed info about YOTH IRIA soon! Hail the Beast!
Spanish death metal veterans NECROPHILIAC revealed details of their upcoming album "No Living Man Is Innocent", the second full-length following the debut album "Chaopula - Citadel of Mirrors" released in 1992. The band returns with four of the original members plus a new bass player. The new Lp will be out in March 12th through Xtreem Music on CD and LP. The band revealed the first single "Kill All, Burn All, Loot All", a very "old-school" death metal track, heavy, dynamic, with a very obscure sound. The cover artwork belongs to Artem Grigoryev, a totally different concept to what they used on "Chaopula".
"The Ghost of Orion" is the title of the upcoming album of gothic/doom metal icons MY DYING BRIDE.
The album will be released on March 6th, 5 years after its predecessor "Feel the Misery" via Nuclear Blast.
The band released the ooficial video for "Your Broken Shore", a great video of a track that sounds "classic", melodic, brutal, with the lovey violin and cello sound, and of course Aaron´s clean and death metal vocals. A track that embodies and expresses the recongnisable spirit and esence of MY DYING BRIDE.
The album will be available on various 2LP gatefold versions and CD. Pre-order here.
With each new song from "The Ones From Hell" that NECROWRETCH reveal, I´m more sure that the album will be something grandiose and one of the best of 2020. The track "Codex Obscuritas" is a monument of Sonic Darkness, hypnotic and sinisterly enchanting. Vlad´s vocals sound better and more diabolical every day. A voice that would make Satan himself proud.
I just came across KONVENT, a band from Denmark a few days ago on YT, watching the official video clip of "Puritan Masochism", the title track of their upcoming album to be out on January 24th via Napalm Records. A couple of days ago the band released a video clip of a brand new track titled "Ropes Pt. II". A highly recommended crushing death/doom track. If you like it, I also recommend you to check the lyric video of "Trust" (here) and the aforementioned video of "Puritan Masochism" (here). Pre-order available on different formats here.
TULUS is a band formed by members of Sarke and Khold, a band that I have not paid attention to since the release of their debut LP "Pure Black Energy". They have released a brand new single "Jord" and I truly enjoyed it. The song belongs to their new sixth full-lenght "Old Old Death", which will be released on March 6th via Soulseller Records and will be available on CD, digital and limited vinyl versions. Cold, grim, strong black metal.
I - TEITANBLOOD "The Baneful Choir" Norma Evangelium Diaboli
Music from the tomb, from the kingdom of worms, from the mud...Infernal, Ugly, EVIL music...beyond darkness, beyond death, beyond this fucking universe...Horror Inhumano...That´s "The Baneful Choir".
II - NOCTURNUS A.D.
"Paradox" Profound Lore Records
The release of "The Key" in 1990 was a milestone in death metal and extreme metal history. Now in 2019 we have the sequel of that masterpiece. "Paradox" is a perfect follow-up the debut album and a reminiscence of those elements that raised Nocturnus as an avant-garde cult band, slowed down by the mistakes of the second album "Thresholds".
Mike Browning, a visionary musician, must be proud of his achievement, "Paradox" is a comeback album that crowns the band as the originators and kings of science fiction themed Death Metal in this galaxy...and also in the distant ones. Seizing the throne.
III - PENTACLE
"Spectre Of the Eight Ropes" Iron Pegasus Records
Pentacle never disappoint. Every release sound as fresh and powerful as in the early days. "Spectre of the Eight Ropes" follows the same path. Powerful, old-school, skull crushing metal. Don´t forget the ancient spirit...it still rules!
IV - DARKTHRONE
"Old Star" Peaceville Records
This album shares the podium at #3. Riffs, riffs and more riffs! That 80s nostalgia, that "analog" sound, the "TomWariorresque" vocals of Nocturno Culto and the high Celtic Frost influence circling in the air. Awesome! ..."Mankind dies in a shroud of introvert mumbling"...
V - FUNEREAL PRESENCE
"Achatius" Sepulchral Voice Records
A few months went by since the album was released until I finally heard it. It was a great discovery since I had not heard Funereal Presence´s previous works. "Achatius" is a solid album, with a great and diverse songwriting that reflects reminiscences of classic heavy metal to primitive black metal, all in a vintage vibe. "Achatius" is a truly dark gem.
VI - USURPER
"Lords of the Permafrost" Soulseller Records
The return of Usurper 14 years after the previous album was indeed great. "Lords of the Permafrost" embodies the mighty elements that the Chicago metalheads have been performing since the early days, powerful black-thrash influenced by the sound of the 80s and yeah...the mighty Frost!! And I got the cool vinyl version next to "Diabolosis..." and "Skeletal Season" LPs. Ough!!
VII - MAYHEM
"Daemon" Century Media Record
I didn´t like Mayhem´s latest works, neither those of the Maniac era, Bu I really liked "Daemon" at the first listening. Not only because it instantly reminded me of the atmosphere and style of DMDS, but because it is probably the best since the debut album (imho). So considering it as the successor of DMDS there´s no need to say more. Another Mayhem´s classic!
VIII - MEFISTO
"Octagram" GMR Music Group
Mefisto gets darker and darker on every album. Except for the 2016 "The End of It All..." album, the self-titled album released two years ago and "Octagram" are a good exercise of looking for the extreme with a dose of blackened death-thrash, with a lot of different influences. Improving all what they recorded so far and walking on the right (left hand) path.
IX - POSSESSED
"Revelations of Oblivion" Nuclear Blast
A comeback album, but not exactly Possessed if you ask me. Obviously I didn´t expect it to sound like 80s Possessed (yeah, too obvious). Jeff Becerra´s vocals haven´t changed, and that´s a great fact, that´s something that bring the memories of the glorious times of "Seven Churches". But without being exactly the old musical style, "Revelations of Oblivion" is a great Death metal album, wrapped in the old-school vibe. The production is clean but heavy, all tracks are good, the lyrics are dark and the album cover is one of the best of the year. Pure gold!
X - THRONEHAMMER
"Usurper of the Oaken Throne" The Church Within Records
This is Doooom. Heavy weight riffs. "Usurper of the Oaken Throne" is the impressive debut full-length of Thronehammer giving us a dose of slow epic doom metal (with touches of funeral doom). The sound is heavy as hell and the vocals of Kat are as melodic as heavy. Did I mention that this sounds heavy? Besides, you can´t go wrong with a band name like Thronehammer. Let the Warhorn sound...
XI - OPPROBRIUM
"The Fallen Entities" High Roller Records
"Supernatural Death" (demo), "Serpent Temptation" and "Beyond the Unknown" are in my opinion death metal classics and among the best released between the late 80s and early 90s, when this band was known as Incubus. "The Fallen Entities" is the third full-length recorded under Opprobrium´s name (not counting Serpent Temptation 1996 re-recording) and in my opinion their best one so far. Furious and classic old-school death-thrash. Highly recommended.
XII - ANGEL WITCH
"Angel Of Light" Metal Blade Records
Angel Witch´s "Angel of Light" may be not their best release, but considering the monumental album debut it´s quite understandable. However, this fifth full-length is an outstanding heavy metal album and I hope the Sorcerers carry on waving the flag of classic heavy metal for long time.
XIII - SARTEGOS
"O Sange da Noite" I, Voidhanger Records
Among the many releases of the prolific Galician black metal scene comes the debut full-length of Sartegos. "O Sangue da Noite" is one of the finest albums of black thrash, but with a wide source of influences. Evoking the ancient spirits, the dark, the galician roots, perfectly executed with passion and strength.
My Hails to:1349"The Infernal Pathway" / Atomic Aggressor"Invoking the Primal Chaos" / Candlemass"The Door to Doom" / Chevalier "Destiny Calls" / Cianide"Unhumanized" / Concatenatus"Unfathomable Depths" / Concrete Winds"Primitive Force" / Death Worship"End Times" / Deathspell Omega"The Furnaces of Palingenesia" / Denial Of God"The Hallow Mass" / Die Kunst Der Finsternis"Revenant in a Phantom World" / Dikasterion"Stavelot 1597-Rome 897" / Dioivo"II" / Drastus"La Croix de Sang" / Dreadful Fate"Bringer of Damnation" / Exhorder"Mourn the Southern Skies" / Exumer"Hostile Defiance" / Gorgon"The Veil of Darkness" / Graveyard"Hold Back The Dawn" / Holocausto"Diario de Guerra" / Impiety"Versus All Gods" / Imprecation/Black Blood Invocation"Diabolical Flames of the Ascended Plague" / Krypts"Cadaver Circulation" / Midnight Priest"Aggressive Hauntings" / Mystifier"Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia" / Mystik"Mystik" / No One Alive"The Grim Reaper" / Overkill"The Wings of War" / Pentagram Chile "Past, Present, Future" / Pheretrum"Inwards Lunacy" / Possession"Passio Christi Part I & II" / Profanatica"Rotting Incarnation of God" / Protector"Summon the Hordes" / Ripper"Sensory Stagnation" / Saint Vitus"Saint Vitus" / Sodom"Out of the Frontline Trench" / Sorcery"Necesary Excess of Violence" / Thanatos"Blind Obedience-Thanatos" / Trajeto de Cabra"Supreme Command of Satanic Will" / Undead"Existential Horror" / Urn"Iron Will Of Power" / Vader"Thy Messenger" / Vectis"The Executioner" / Venefixion"Necrophagous Abandon" / Vircolac"Masque" / Vitriol"Chrysalis" / Wolfbrigade"The Enemy: Reality"
