Black Metal

Truly titled, this massive double-disc collection conveniently compiles the original three BEHEXEN demos and the preceding Lords of the Left Hand one, making for over an hour and a half of ancient black metal music. Lords of the Left Hand’s lone demo, Reality is in Evil…, leads off Beyond the Four Gates, and even back then, the foundation for the first era of BEHEXEN – which culminated in (and concluded with) Rituale Satanum – was in place, all hulking plod and clanging cold guitars. Following on the first disc is BEHEXEN’s first official demo, Eternal Realm. Here, the cold clang is suffused with more energy and, more crucially, medieval synths: a poignant snapshot of 1997 indeed. From those sessions is included a cover of Rotting Christ’s “Sign of Evil Existence.” Come 1998’s Blessed Be the Darkness demo, BEHEXEN would begin showing signs of the sound that would come to define that first era. Colder, crueler, faster, and fueled by founding frontman Torog’s increasingly inhuman throat, this demo presciently forecasted the filthy & furious idiom of Finnish black metal that would bloom during the looming new millennium.

Black Metal

CHAMBER OF UNLIGHT began as the solo work of multi-instrumentalist Necrosis. The man stands as a prolific veteran of Finland’s esteemed extreme metal landscape; during the past 20 years, his credits include Deathchain, Ajattara, Shade Empire, and Trollheims Grott. Joined by drummer Kassara – himself an equally prolific Finnish veteran whose credits likewise include Deathchain and Trollheims Grott but also Horna, Bythos, Forgotten Horror, Striges, and Black Death Ritual among others – CHAMBER OF UNLIGHT released their self-titled debut demo in 2017. Immediately, the eldritch essence of ’90s Finnish black metal was felt, and the storm was only brewing…

Black Metal

CRIMSON EVENFALL is the oft-overlooked predecessor of one of Finnish black metal’s most cult names, Musta Surma. As Musta Surma, the duo of Thyrgrimmr and Strigoi Mort have spent the better part of 25 years releasing demos, EPs, and splits but never a full-length record, with rumors frequently abounding about the band’s status, unreleased recordings, and general air of elusiveness. However, what Musta Surma lack in quantity, they more than make up for it it in quality: dirty-yet-mystical black metal time-locked in the ’90s, a veritable portrait of Dorian Gray forever covered in the ashes of the past.

Dungeon Synth

Featuring two stalwarts of the dungeon synth genre, this split also brings together Finland’s foremost purveyors of the resurgent style. DRUADAN FOREST, of course, should require little introduction for those who follow the banner of WEREWOLF RECORDS: in 2019 did mainman V-Khaoz (also of labelmates VARGRAV and GRIEVE) release the staggering atmospheric black metal monolith Dismal Spells From the Dragonrealm, and shared an all-dungeon-synth split album with THE TRUE WERWOLF in 2108. Here, DRUADAN FOREST deliver two epic-length tracks of the purest, most fantastical dungeon synth. Unlike so many two-note/one-loop charlatans, V-Khaoz’ dungeon synth creations are symphonies unto themselves, neither understated nor overstated, with fugue-like compositions revealing a wealth of adventure and mystery equally.

Dungeon Synth

Featuring two stalwarts of the dungeon synth genre, this split also brings together Finland’s foremost purveyors of the resurgent style. DRUADAN FOREST, of course, should require little introduction for those who follow the banner of WEREWOLF RECORDS: in 2019 did mainman V-Khaoz (also of labelmates VARGRAV and GRIEVE) release the staggering atmospheric black metal monolith Dismal Spells From the Dragonrealm, and shared an all-dungeon-synth split album with THE TRUE WERWOLF in 2108. Here, DRUADAN FOREST deliver two epic-length tracks of the purest, most fantastical dungeon synth. Unlike so many two-note/one-loop charlatans, V-Khaoz’ dungeon synth creations are symphonies unto themselves, neither understated nor overstated, with fugue-like compositions revealing a wealth of adventure and mystery equally.