Northern Silence

Only 5 months after their 2023 mini-album "Wastelands", Heretoir release their new intense full-length "Nightsphere"! The new record is a concept album dealing with the struggle between the forces of nature and a world of machines. Humanity is in the midst of this confrontation, and the dichotomy between living as an animal among animals and existing as a cog in the wheel of progress determines the course of the story the five songs tell.

"Nightsphere" is a dark album that weaves atmospheric black metal parts with melodic clean passages, swirling blast beats with calm post rock and ambient sounds, and the intensity of desperate screams with the poignant emotionality of melancholic clean vocals into a musical journey through an archaic world. It is also the first album that was entirely written by the full band, featuring contributions of every single member.

The album features ambient sounds of the long-time befriended project "Hidehidehide" as well as guest-appearances of two giants of the (post) black metal genre - Tim Yatras of "Austere" who fuels the song "Twilight of the Machines" with his anguish and Nikita Kamprad of "Der Weg einer Freiheit" who delivers intense and powerful vocals on "Glacierheart - Nightsphere Part II".

"Nightsphere's" natural and organic but powerful sound was crafted by David Deutsch and Justin Felder at 1408 Productions in Hannover, who were responsible for the mix of the record. Furthermore Nikita Kamprad of "Der Weg einer Freiheit" took care of the mastering of the album. Prepare to dive into a highly atmospheric night-realm and emotional maelstrom with "Nightsphere"!

purple/orange galaxy vinyl, incl. download

This album features the song "Hagalaz" from the split with Dreams of Nature that was only available on CD until now, as well as an unreleased demo version of "Spirit of the North" from 2015 on side A, and on the B-side the previously unreleased demo song "Entering Eldamar" from 2015 - a fantastic 15 minutes opus that showcases a much darker and more melancholic side of Eldamar. The earliest beginnings, if you will. All in all you get 40:44 min of Eldamar material that was never before available on vinyl. An absolute must have for fans of the project!

Ltd. 300 on 180g purple & orange blend vinyl

Including:

- 350g gatefold cover
- printed 250g cardboard innersleeves
- two A2 posters
- three stickers
- free download
- 2x 180g vinyl
- two exclusive vinyl bonus tracks (Summoning covers)
- total playing time almost 1.5 hours!

Collector's Edition in 4-panel digipack, limited to 500 copies.

Hån's third album "Conquering Magnificent Halls" marks a significant evolution in the band's song structures while maintaining their trademark infectious melodies and steadfast aggression. Mixed and mastered once again at Liquid Aether Audio Studio, this album promises to showcase Hån's relentless dedication to pushing the boundaries of Black Metal.

Collector's Edition in 4-panel digipack with 12-page booklet, limited to 500 copies.

Boréalys is a black metal project formed in northern Québec (in Abitibi). It was around 2015 that Abstrus (ex-Brumes) gave birth to the first guitar riffs, which will eventually serve the EP "Là où les eaux se séparent" (label: Winter Sky/Les Fleurs du Mal/ Non Posse Mori, recorded in the ''Black Amp Studio'' and ''Dans l'Antre'') and the first album "L'héritage" (label: Northern Silence Productions, recorded in the ''Black Amp Studio'' and ''Dans l'Antre''). Somewhere in 2018, Julius (from Black Empire) joined the project for the drums, and later K. (from Wendess) for bass and mix/mastering. In 2020 K. left the band and it is Abstrus who took over the bass for the album "L' héritage", now making Boréalys, a duo.

Only in French, Boréalys is rooted in its history, these tales, and these legends of its terroir. In a defined atmosphere that tells you the memories and customs of their past, the wounds and efforts of their ancestors who colonized this land, but also, a feeling of freedom coming from the infinite forests and the many rivers that make it their fortress. In order to pay tribute to its native language, faithful to its Francophone origins, Boréalys is, and will remain, a project only in French. 

In a heavy and melancholic atmosphere, Boréalys draws its influences from the Scandinavia of the '90s and bands such as Drudkh and Abyssic Hate.

300 copies on orange/white galaxy 

Following the incredible success of the debut, the second full length, entitled ”Militant, Penitent, Triumphant”, builds on this rock solid foundation. It showcases the unique sound and song structures that so many people appreciated about “Six Voices Inside”, thus making it instantly recognizable as none other than Faidra. To keep that typical sound and atmosphere was indeed a very conscious decision. The familiar structures, ambient synth sounds and slow tempos from the first album are present and continue that tradition, while also including occasional new elements and influences.

The work on this new album started almost immediately after the release of the debut album, knowing that it would take a long time to complete because of rather limited free time. The project was worked on from time to time during almost three years without a consistent work flow, where sometimes months passed by without a single note recorded.

Where the debut tackled a lot of different subjects, the new album has a very specific theme running through almost every track. The larger concept handles the themes of sin, penitence and redemption; also mirroring the title of the album, which are the three states of the Catholic church.

Limited edition of 333 copies on oxblood/black galaxy vinyl, incl. printed innersleeve, two stickers and download.

Following the incredible success of the debut, the second full length, entitled ”Militant, Penitent, Triumphant”, builds on this rock solid foundation. It showcases the unique sound and song structures that so many people appreciated about “Six Voices Inside”, thus making it instantly recognizable as none other than Faidra. To keep that typical sound and atmosphere was indeed a very conscious decision. The familiar structures, ambient synth sounds and slow tempos from the first album are present and continue that tradition, while also including occasional new elements and influences.

The work on this new album started almost immediately after the release of the debut album, knowing that it would take a long time to complete because of rather limited free time. The project was worked on from time to time during almost three years without a consistent work flow, where sometimes months passed by without a single note recorded.

Where the debut tackled a lot of different subjects, the new album has a very specific theme running through almost every track. The larger concept handles the themes of sin, penitence and redemption; also mirroring the title of the album, which are the three states of the Catholic church.

UV-printed MC, J-card with lyrics, limited to 144 handnumbered copies.

Following the incredible success of the debut, the second full length, entitled ”Militant, Penitent, Triumphant”, builds on this rock solid foundation. It showcases the unique sound and song structures that so many people appreciated about “Six Voices Inside”, thus making it instantly recognizable as none other than Faidra. To keep that typical sound and atmosphere was indeed a very conscious decision. The familiar structures, ambient synth sounds and slow tempos from the first album are present and continue that tradition, while also including occasional new elements and influences.

The work on this new album started almost immediately after the release of the debut album, knowing that it would take a long time to complete because of rather limited free time. The project was worked on from time to time during almost three years without a consistent work flow, where sometimes months passed by without a single note recorded.

Where the debut tackled a lot of different subjects, the new album has a very specific theme running through almost every track. The larger concept handles the themes of sin, penitence and redemption; also mirroring the title of the album, which are the three states of the Catholic church.

Special Collector's Edition in 4-panel A5-digipack with alternative artwork, limited to 300 copies.

Following the incredible success of the debut, the second full length, entitled ”Militant, Penitent, Triumphant”, builds on this rock solid foundation. It showcases the unique sound and song structures that so many people appreciated about “Six Voices Inside”, thus making it instantly recognizable as none other than Faidra. To keep that typical sound and atmosphere was indeed a very conscious decision. The familiar structures, ambient synth sounds and slow tempos from the first album are present and continue that tradition, while also including occasional new elements and influences.

The work on this new album started almost immediately after the release of the debut album, knowing that it would take a long time to complete because of rather limited free time. The project was worked on from time to time during almost three years without a consistent work flow, where sometimes months passed by without a single note recorded.

Where the debut tackled a lot of different subjects, the new album has a very specific theme running through almost every track. The larger concept handles the themes of sin, penitence and redemption; also mirroring the title of the album, which are the three states of the Catholic church.

Jewelcase

Following the incredible success of the debut, the second full length, entitled ”Militant, Penitent, Triumphant”, builds on this rock solid foundation. It showcases the unique sound and song structures that so many people appreciated about “Six Voices Inside”, thus making it instantly recognizable as none other than Faidra. To keep that typical sound and atmosphere was indeed a very conscious decision. The familiar structures, ambient synth sounds and slow tempos from the first album are present and continue that tradition, while also including occasional new elements and influences.

The work on this new album started almost immediately after the release of the debut album, knowing that it would take a long time to complete because of rather limited free time. The project was worked on from time to time during almost three years without a consistent work flow, where sometimes months passed by without a single note recorded.

Where the debut tackled a lot of different subjects, the new album has a very specific theme running through almost every track. The larger concept handles the themes of sin, penitence and redemption; also mirroring the title of the album, which are the three states of the Catholic church.

Gatefold, incl. printed innersleeves & download. Gold/brown galaxy vinyl.

The German Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal solo-project Herbstlethargie was founded by multi instrumentalist Herbst (also: Gernotshagen; on drums, bass, additional lead guitars, duduk and vocals) to express his very own musical ideas and creativity. The first lyrics date back more than 10 years.

When by 2015 all conceptual ideas and further lyrics had been finished, the band name was chosen and older lyrics revised to fit the final concept of expressing the different phases of autumn from the early, cool nights of September, throughout the colder days and weeks, to the harbingers of early winter and the first snow.

Songwriting took until 2020, and in 2021 the album recording was done with the help of Alboîn (also: Eïs and others) on rhythm and lead guitars, as well as Florian (Sylvaine, Melatonyn) doing some guest vocals and Lisa on cello. Recommended for fans of Woods of Desolation, Nyktalgia, Panopticon, Waldgeflüster.

Limited editions of 184 copies on red/green swirl vinyl, incl. printed innersleeve & download

Featuring exclusive material from both bands! Co-release with Purity Through Fire.

Collector's Edition in 4-panel digipack with 8-page booklet, limited to 800 copies. Co-release with Purity Through Fire.

Collector's Edition in 6-panel digipack, limited to 500 copies. Co-release with Purity Through Fire.

The Atmospheric Black Metal project Autrest hails from the mountainous region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Founded as a solo-project in the winter of 2022, the debut album was written, recorded and produced between September 2022 and January 2023.

Autrest draws inspiration from nature, incorporating the sounds of the forests and mountains into its music to create an immersive experience. Influenced by bands such as Cân Bardd, Saor, Caladan Brood, Elderwind and Eldamar, Autrest creates powerful and introspective, nature-themed music that transports listeners to a world of misty forests and icy peaks where each song becomes new a journey.

Gatefold, incl. A2 poster, logo sticker & download. Limited re-press of 300 copies on black vinyl.

Influenced by bands such as Caladan Brood, Elderwind, Saor and Gallowbraid, Cân Bardd was founded in 2016 as a one‐man project by then 18 year old Malo Civelli from Switzerland, with the purpose of creating an outlet for his feelings and ideas that would be at once heavy and aggressive, yet also melodic and atmospheric. Dylan Watson later joined him as permanent drummer. With the first two albums Cân Bardd already managed to enthrall a lot of fans in the Atmospheric Black Metal community, and with “Devoured by the Oak” the band set their sights even higher. The goal was to create a perfect blend of the strengths of the first two albums ‐ the ambience, textures and atmosphere of the debut, and the composition and quality of the sophomore album, culminating in a more mature sound and a more intense experience for the listener. To reach that goal the band once again teamed up with Vladimir Cochet as producer and asked the painter Michael Handt to create a very unique oil painting for the cover.

Collector's Edition in 8-panel digipack, limited to 1000 copies. 

"20 Jahre", or simply "XX", as it is also called, is a special release with selected songs from the very early days of Horn that were completely redone and re-recorded in the current Horn style, making this sound almost like a brand new album. It is a co-release between Horn and Northern Silence Productions.

Comes with gatefold cover, printed innersleeve, A2 poster, download and special vinyl mastering, limited to 333 copies on moss green/black galaxy vinyl.

"20 Jahre", or simply "XX", as it is also called, is a special release with selected songs from the very early days of Horn that were completely redone and re-recorded in the current Horn style, making this sound almost like a brand new album. It is a co-release between Horn and Northern Silence Productions

Limited edition of 199 copies on blue/black half & half vinyl with white splatter. Includes a printed innersleeve and download.

Collector's Edition in 4-panel digipack with 8-page booklet.

Midnight Betrothed (AUS) presents its second full-length album, "Death...My Faithful Bride", containing six new tracks of dark romanticism in praise of moonlit tragedy and forlorn love.

Fronted by The Seer (Lament in Winter's Night, Vrörsaath etc.), Midnight Betrothed further refines its unique blend of 'Sombre Romantic Black Metal' throughout this sophomore album, bringing forth overtures of funeral erotica and deathly fantasia.

Reissue of the band's fantastic debut album from 1999 with original artwork and revised layout including all lyrics, extensive liner notes and many photos from the early days.

The CD comes as Collector's Edition in 4-panel digipack with 8-page booklet, limited to 500 copies, and includes the "Rabenflug" demo from 1996 as exclusive bonus tracks.

"Reign of Tempests" is a genuine classic of German Melodic/Symphonic Black Metal and an absolute must have for all fans of this genre. Pure 90s nostalgia!!

Both album and demo were meticulously restored and remastered for optimal sound on CD as well as vinyl by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in 2022.

Re-released with kind permission from DIES ATER and now available for the first time ever on vinyl and as DigiCD with the original artwork!

Reissue of the band's brilliant second album from 1998 with original artwork & sound, and layout only adjusted to the 8-panel digipack format, under exclusive license from Napalm Records.

"Provenance of Cruelty" is the second album of Mactätus, originally released by Napalm Records in late 1998. At the time of its release the hype for Scandinavian Black Metal in general and Symphonic and Melodic Black Metal in particular was already declining, following milestones such as Emperor's "In the Nightside Eclipse", Dimmu Borgir's "Stormblåst", Mörk Gryning's "Tusen år har gått", Gehenna's "Second Spell" or Limbonic Art's "Moon in the Scorpio". The result was that at the time of their release in late 1998 equally brilliant Symphonic Black Metal albums such as Odium's "The Sad Realm of the Stars" or Mactätus' "Provenance of Cruelty" were not as appreciated by a majority of fans as the earlier classics before them and remained a bit obscure and underrated for quite some time. While that changed later for Odium's debut album when it gained the underground cult status it deserves, "Provenance of Cruelty" somewhat suffered from the added drawback of being released by a label that at the time was already more focused on Gothic Metal, and also not necessarily one of the "cult" labels of the time. This, however, is definitely an album that belongs in every Symphonic or Melodic Black Metal collection and fans of the aforementioned albums should definitely check it out if they don't know it yet!

Reissue of the band's brilliant second album from 1998, for the first time ever on vinyl, featuring the original artwork and audio master, under exclusive license from Napalm Records.

Comes with printed innersleeve, limited to 222 copies on bone/black swirl vinyl 

"Provenance of Cruelty" is the second album of Mactätus, originally released by Napalm Records in late 1998. At the time of its release the hype for Scandinavian Black Metal in general and Symphonic and Melodic Black Metal in particular was already declining, following milestones such as Emperor's "In the Nightside Eclipse", Dimmu Borgir's "Stormblåst", Mörk Gryning's "Tusen år har gått", Gehenna's "Second Spell" or Limbonic Art's "Moon in the Scorpio". The result was that at the time of their release in late 1998 equally brilliant Symphonic Black Metal albums such as Odium's "The Sad Realm of the Stars" or Mactätus' "Provenance of Cruelty" were not as appreciated by a majority of fans as the earlier classics before them and remained a bit obscure and underrated for quite some time. While that changed later for Odium's debut album when it gained the underground cult status it deserves, "Provenance of Cruelty" somewhat suffered from the added drawback of being released by a label that at the time was already more focused on Gothic Metal, and also not necessarily one of the "cult" labels of the time. This, however, is definitely an album that belongs in every Symphonic or Melodic Black Metal collection and fans of the aforementioned albums should definitely check it out if they don't know it yet!