Black Metal

Four new tracks of pure black metal drag the listeners to the most sinister graves of early 90’s black metal, heralding the invocation of a most ominous spell. From the opening sounds of “Sectes”, it is clear that Cantique Lépreux is a band with intense focus, immediately grabbing listeners’ attention with their utterly putrid sound.

Black Metal

Formed in that fateful year of 1996, CEREMONIAL CASTINGS were a band of the times, a band later behind the times, and now a band ahead of the times once again. Many will belatedly be aware of the name CEREMONIAL CASTINGS due to the membership of future UADA founder Jake Superchi, alongside his brother Nick Superchi, who were later (and once again now) joined by drummer Matt Mattern. The band crafted a canon of symphonic black metal that was admirably ambitious and often brilliant but all too often overlooked. Until their eventual demise in 2014, CEREMONIAL CASTINGS created nine full-lengths and just as many demos/Eps that were all released on their own label. Their album covers were often graced with artwork courtesy of the masterful Kris Verwimp, who also created the band’s logo.

Black Metal

Composed during the pandemic-induced lockdown period of 2020/2021, “Isolation” features some of ColdWorld’s most expressive compositions to date. Managing to transcend the conventional sounds pursued in what is best described as the “ambient/depressive” black metal subgenre, ColdWorld’s newest sonic endeavor draws listeners into an incredibly immersive soundscape, rife with lush classical instrumentation and ethereal, yet occasionally harrowing vocals.

Black Metal

“Skelepht” is elevated into the highest echelons of sinister music by Dråpsnatt’s mastery of controlling the liminal values. A bloodred thread binds together the highly varied output, and this horror’s tentacles writhe in many dimensions at the same time while still being connected to the main body of frozen, fierce and elegant symmetry. On “Skelepht”, all of Dråpsnatt’s many outstanding features came together, and assembled a rare beast. A farewell it might be, but its echoes still resonate through eternity. In death; is life.

Black Metal

‘The longest journey is the journey inwards’ – words of wisdom Oraklet lives by. Back in 2015, he was searching for a path upon which to venture inwards and quench his existential wanderlust: to reach beyond the veil and depict through sonic art what he found there. In the wake of these deliberations, Swedish black metal band Häxkapell took form.

By March 2016, Oraklet had finalised his three-song demo, “Om sanningen”. It caught the eye of Nordvis – a label run by kindred spirits also located in the far-north of Sweden. Since then, he’s been engaged in a continuous creative process working towards what ultimately became “Eldhymner”. Having brough in session musicians on drums and violin, he finalised the recordings during the spring of 2021.

Black Metal

Limited to 500 copies.

Solid cover with a heavy two-sided insert sheet, both with matt varnish, A2 Poster and download of the album.

Black Metal

On their third full-length album, “Es grauet”, Ungfell abducts listeners on a sonic journey detailing moral ambivalence and treachery. Set in a seemingly idyllic rural village in pre-modern times, all is not as it seems. Tragedy strikes the town in the form of a horrific, grisly murder. Unfounded accusations lead the town further astray, while these occurrences of debauchery exceed the comprehension of the local inhabitants. Alas, evil lurks where you may least expect it… The story unfolds, accompanied by ravaging riffs and gripping songwriting that appropriately underline the complex, yet harrowing narrative. “Es grauet” shows Ungfell at their most ambitious and most audacious, featuring incredibly dynamic and warm production values, emphasizing atmosphere even more than previous releases, and managing to compliment the story being told.