Death / Doom Metal

A mature and majestic display of pure heaviness mixed with sorrowful melody to conjure an ethereal work of Doom Metal magic, Anathema’s 1993 debut ’Serenades’ clearly demonstrated that this was a band who stood apart from many of their competitors, able to effortlessly transition from the dark foreboding of tracks such as ‘They (Will Always) Die’, to more sensitively textured moments as witnessed on the acoustic guitar-laden ‘J’ai Fair une Promesse’.

A limited cream marble-effect vinyl edition of Anathema’s debut Serenades marking 30 years since its original release.

Black Metal

‘For Snow Covered the Northland’ was the first full-length album from the Swedish Black/Doom Metal band Ancient Wisdom, which was formed in 1992 by Markus Norman (also of the band Throne of Ahaz & Bewitched), then under the moniker of Pain, then Ancient.

Ancient Wisdom’s career began with the 1993 cassette ‘In the Eye of the Serpent’ before going on to release 4 albums with the Italian label, Avantgarde Music. Though recorded in 1994, the debut album eventually saw release in 1996 and was notable for its highly atmospheric compositions & melodic slow-mid tempo riffing – a large departure from the all-out speed of many of their contemporaries at the time – and other sounds such as acoustic guitar & keyboards were effectively utilised to heighten the atmosphere.

Black Metal

’A Blaze In The Northern Sky’, Darkthrone’s second album, was originally released in 1992 and was without question the blueprint release for the Black Metal scene, spearheading the evolution of the early second wave movement in Norway & beyond. It was hailed on release as an album of true scene-shifting greatness, following their more death metal centered debut, ’Soulside Journey’.

Black Metal

With a legacy of audial treasures spanning more than 35 years, and a fountain of creativity ever flowing, Darkthrone returns in 2024 with an epic odyssey boasting classic riffs and vintage sounding Metal.

The seven track studio opus It Beckons Us All sees the longstanding duo of Fenriz and Nocturno Culto presenting an even more refined, challenging and diverse set of timeless anthems. The uncompromising trailblazers shift from the melodic to the sombre and atmospheric to blackened dirges emanating from Darkthrone’s unique riffing.

Includes the astonishing 10 minute closer, The Lone Pines Of The Lost Planet.

Death Metal

Darkthrone began in the late 80’s as a thrash/death metal act & progressed through technical death/doom metal experimentation to become legends of the black metal world & one of the original leading bands of the Norwegian scene, as well as inspiring a whole generation of metal bands.

Soulside Journey was Darkthrone’s debut studio album after signing with Peaceville Records, following their cult Cromlech demo. It was recorded in 1990 at Sunlight Studios in Sweden with Tomas Skogsberg, notable for his work with Entombed & many other acts over the years. Soulside Journey contained tracks of atmospheric & often technical & complex death metal, with influences ranging from acts such as Autopsy & Death. This was the band’s only death metal album before turning to a more primitive black metal style, but is still rightly regarded as a masterpiece of the genre.

Black Metal

Recorded in November and December 1993.

Black Metal

Famously written and recorded over a period of just 2 weeks and featuring the iconic photocopied front cover, ’Transilvanian Hunger’ features primitive guitar riffs over a monotonous drum beat creating a feel of hypnotic starkness with its blend of Von, Burzum and Bathory. Over the years the album has become representative of the definitive 90’s Norwegian black metal sound and style, often copied but never bettered over the past 2 decades.

The album was recorded with Fenriz’ ’Necrohell’ studio, and was the first release where the band became a duo, following the departure of guitarist Zephyrous.

Black Metal

To fans of black metal, Dødheimsgard need no introduction, being as they are one of the great purveyors of the Norwegian Black Metal creative evolution. The band was formed in 1994 by Aldrahn (Thorns) and Vicotnik (Ved Buens Ende). The early incarnation was that of a raw and at times melodic black metal band, with their debut album ‘Kronet Til Konge’ also featuring Darkthrone’s Fenriz on bass. Over time Dødheimsgard became known as one of the premier avantgarde black metal acts after a stylistic shift away from their more old-school origins, as displayed on the band’s most recent output; ‘A Umbra Omega’ and 2023’s universally-lauded magnum opus, ‘Black Medium Current’.