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Digipack

To understand the defining traits of Greek Black Metal, one need only to listen to “The Tressrising of Nyarthotep” by the mighty Varathron. This track, first appearing on the “genesis of Apocryphal Desire” demo, possesses all of the victorious grandeur and tragic melancholia that are the essence of the early 1990’s Greek Black Metal sound. Along with contemporary releases by Rotting Christ and Necromantia, Varathron’s demo material firmly established a style that is thoroughly Grecian in character. Thick with a damp and heavy Hellenistic darkness, Varathron explored a sound that was infused with the epic and the ancient. As with so much of the most evocative and potent Black Metal, the ancient currents are revealed through the expression of the modern. Varathron’s music is as mystical as it is visceral. The recordings on this compilation comprise the earliest seeds of what would become one of the greatest bands in the history of the genre. This collection contains all of Varathron’s work leading the band toward the creation of their monumental debut LP, “His Majesty at the Swamp.” The two demos, “Procreation of the Unaltered Evil” and “Genesis of Apocryphal Desire” reveal the steps that Varathron took that would later come to fruition on their first album. This collection also contains the more refined tracks that were utilized on their first vinyl releases – the “One Step Beyond Dreams“ EP and “The Everlasting Sins” tracks from the split LP with Necromantia – and three additional bonus tracks recorded during the early years. As with the forthcoming Rotting Christ demo collection that NWN! will soon release, the songs on this compilation of Varathron’s early recordings reveal the painstaking emergence of a band’s identity. Absorbed in the context of early works by Varathron’s Greek contemporaries, one also witnesses the development of a sound uniquely specific to a geographic region, so specific, in fact, that it is impossible to imagine such a multidimensional approach to Black Metal originating anywhere else. Both the Regular and Die Hard editions of this release will feature gatefold jackets with artwork by Manuel Tinnemans and layout by Tilmann Benninghaus as well as a 48 page zine booklet. The Die Hard edition will also come with a separate LP (with jacket) featuring the “Live at the Swamp” demo material. Originally released on tape in 2004, “Live at the Swamp” features a live recording and rehearsal recording from 1991. These recordings have been remastered and cleaned up by James Plotkin and the sound quality on this LP, although still quite raw, is markedly better than the original tape version.

white vinyl

- 140g black vinyl
- Matte varnish outersleeve with red flood
- Double-sided insert
- Poly-lined black innersleeve

white vinyl with insert

 - 140g black vinyl
- Double-sided insert
- Poly-lined black innersleeve
- 350gsm matte varnish outersleeve

Black 12" vinyl (33rpm) in gatefold sleeve with gold foil and 4-page insert.
First pressing: 900 copies worldwide.

VLTIMAS have been legends since the dawn of metal. Flo Mounier has been drumming for Cryptopsy since their earliest exhumations of the Canadian underground. Rune Eriksen took hold of axe-wielding duties for the second coming of Mayhem. And who could forget David Vincent, the larger-than-life vocalist for Morbid Angel.
But these devils weren’t content with living amongst the gods. Instead, they’ve joined forces as the legendary heroes of the underworld. Their first album as VLTIMAS was greeted with a rapturous procession of devil horns. 2019’s ‘Something Wicked Marches In’ was voted “album of the year” by Zero Tolerance Magazine and BangerTV. “Likely to knock listeners asses to the ground with outlandish brute force”, praised Blabbermouth.
With new album ‘Epic’, VLTIMAS ascend to even greater Satanic heights. “Miserere” howls across a blackened sky, blistered by tremolo picking that’s more piercing than a siren’s call. True to its name, “Scorcher” is primed for face-melting, with blasts that blaze than a forest fire. “Undefeated, we are sure to remain”, Vincent bellows with ghoulish bravado over the constantly building “Invictus”.
You already know their names, but with ‘Epic’, VLTIMAS are mightier than ever.

Bilwis is a Melodic Black Metal solo-project from Germany. 

The concept of Bilwis comprises old European fairy tales and myths, clothing them in a garment of raw, yet melodic and atmospheric Black Metal with German lyrics - a journey to the world of forgotten dreams, wolves, ghosts, dwarfs, mermaids, trolls, elves, vampires & giants.

When Bilwis started the songwriting for the new album “Hameln”, it soon became apparent that in terms of songwriting he needed to return to the debut EP, but with improved sound. The last album “Pan” ended up very melodic and playful, whereas the concept of the new album required a darker and oppressive sound and songwriting to express the grim themes that the lyrics deal with. Musically, a big inspiration have always been Dissection, and while not always apparent, the occasional nods to “The Somberlain” are quite distinctive.

In order to visually express the dark themes of the fairy tales and myths which are told on the new album, particularly that of the title song, it was decided to get the cover artwork done by the very talented German artist Julian Bauer, who captured the essence of the music and lyrics perfectly in his image of the “Rattenfänger von Hameln”.

4mm spine sleeve!

Sad Whisperings was formed in 1990 (as Desecrate) and released several demo’s in the 80’s / 90s up till their split in 2004 and gained a worldwide cult following. Sad Whisperings was pure doom death metal like their early inspiration Paradise Lost and with a touch of the Dutch school of doom death metal like The Gathering. Sad Whisperings got signed by Dutch cult label Foundation 2000 (The Gathering, Gorefest) and released their debut album in 1993 called  ’Sensitive to autumn’. The album was recorded at the famous Beaufort Studios with Han Swagerman (The Gathering, Sear Bliss etc). Also featuring guest vocals by Usurper / Moon of Sorrow’s Parick Harreman..The insert contains rare and old pictures, flyers and posters. Extensive liner notes from Steven Willems (Rock Tribune, Streams of Ancient Wisdom: The History of Dutch Death And Extreme Metal). The band recently reformed, plays live and is currently working on a new album. 

Finally the two HEXX cult ep’s ‘Quest For Sanity’ (1988) and ‘Watery Graves’ (1990) are re-issued. When guitarist / vocalist Clint Bower (Abscess / The Ravenous) joined HEXX in 1984, their style changed from power metal (as on their two first albums) into raw thrash almost death metal. The album was engineerd by John Marshall (Blind Illusion, Metal Church, Metallica live), all artwork was made by Kent Mathieu (Possessed, Forbidden, Exhorder, Autopsy). All artwork and audio files are fully restored. The album contains eight tracks in total.