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Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal formation 1914 return with unrelenting force on their fourth studio album, Viribus Unitis, Latin for "With United Forces." Far more than a historical reference to the personal motto of Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the title reflects the band’s resilience through war, loss, and upheaval – a powerful symbol of survival and solidarity. Releasing on November 14, 2025 via Napalm Records, Viribus Unitis builds on the band’s acclaimed conceptual approach, pushing even deeper into emotional and musical intensity.

Continuing their chronicle of World War I, 1914 shift their focus slightly, from the raw portrayal of death and destruction to themes of camaraderie, endurance, and the emotional landscapes of those who endured the horrors. While previous releases like The Blind Leading the Blind (2018) and Where Fear and Weapons Meet (2021) centered on the futility and finality of war, Viribus Unitis explores the human bonds forged under fire and the strength of those who returned: broken, changed, yet still alive.

Musically, 1914 remain true to their identity – brutal mixture of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes. This time, however, their sound gains a broader dynamic range, with soaring melodic leads, orchestral textures, and haunting clean vocals that provide dramatic contrast to the crushing heaviness. One of the album’s highlights is a collaboration with Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride and High Parasite on “1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape),” whose mournful voice adds a solemn, almost liturgical quality to this elegy of grief and brotherhood on the front lines.

Viribus Unitis deepens 1914’s commitment to historical authenticity, both lyrically and conceptually. Told through real events and personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army, the album traces a timeline from 1914 to 1919, painting a grim journey through the war’s rise, climax, and hollow aftermath.

From the brooding opener “War In” to the bleak closer “War Out (The End?)”, each track captures a moment in time: the brutal “1914 (The Siege of Przemysl)”, the frostbitten “1915 (Zwinin Ridge)”, the crushing Alpine combat of “1916 (Südtirol Offensive)”, and the madness of “1918 Pt. 2: POW (Prisoner of War)” featuring Christopher Scott of Precious Death.

The album ends with “1919 (The Home Where I Died),” featuring Rome’s Jerome Reuter, a haunting portrait of a soldier who survived the war, but not its shadow. This emotional song deals with the soldier's will to live and his family values, seeing him escape from captivity to finally return home to embrace his wife and daughter. 1914 fuse blackened death metal, doom, and atmospheric textures with dramatic flourishes and guest vocals, creating their most dynamic and emotionally resonant record to date.

Ukrainian blackened death/doom metal formation 1914 return with unrelenting force on their fourth studio album, Viribus Unitis, Latin for "With United Forces." Far more than a historical reference to the personal motto of Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the title reflects the band’s resilience through war, loss, and upheaval – a powerful symbol of survival and solidarity. Releasing on November 14, 2025 via Napalm Records, Viribus Unitis builds on the band’s acclaimed conceptual approach, pushing even deeper into emotional and musical intensity.

Continuing their chronicle of World War I, 1914 shift their focus slightly, from the raw portrayal of death and destruction to themes of camaraderie, endurance, and the emotional landscapes of those who endured the horrors. While previous releases like The Blind Leading the Blind (2018) and Where Fear and Weapons Meet (2021) centered on the futility and finality of war, Viribus Unitis explores the human bonds forged under fire and the strength of those who returned: broken, changed, yet still alive.

Musically, 1914 remain true to their identity – brutal mixture of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes. This time, however, their sound gains a broader dynamic range, with soaring melodic leads, orchestral textures, and haunting clean vocals that provide dramatic contrast to the crushing heaviness. One of the album’s highlights is a collaboration with Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride and High Parasite on “1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape),” whose mournful voice adds a solemn, almost liturgical quality to this elegy of grief and brotherhood on the front lines.

Viribus Unitis deepens 1914’s commitment to historical authenticity, both lyrically and conceptually. Told through real events and personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army, the album traces a timeline from 1914 to 1919, painting a grim journey through the war’s rise, climax, and hollow aftermath.

From the brooding opener “War In” to the bleak closer “War Out (The End?)”, each track captures a moment in time: the brutal “1914 (The Siege of Przemysl)”, the frostbitten “1915 (Zwinin Ridge)”, the crushing Alpine combat of “1916 (Südtirol Offensive)”, and the madness of “1918 Pt. 2: POW (Prisoner of War)” featuring Christopher Scott of Precious Death.

The album ends with “1919 (The Home Where I Died),” featuring Rome’s Jerome Reuter, a haunting portrait of a soldier who survived the war, but not its shadow. This emotional song deals with the soldier's will to live and his family values, seeing him escape from captivity to finally return home to embrace his wife and daughter. 1914 fuse blackened death metal, doom, and atmospheric textures with dramatic flourishes and guest vocals, creating their most dynamic and emotionally resonant record to date.

Svart Records continues to reissue the albums of Havukruunu, bringing their 2020 classic UINUOS SYÖMEIN SOTA back on the market in September 2025. Havukruunu's third album UINUOS SYÖMEIN SOTA is widely praised for its epic and melodic black metal, combining heavy metal influences with folk music. The album is celebrated in particular for its catchy melodies, powerful atmospherics, lush guitar solos and choral vocals, which create a unique blend of bleak heavy metal and other genres. The album has been compared to the works of Bathory and Moonsorrow, but critics have put Havukruunu on their own level for having such a unique style. True Finnish Forest Metal.

Havukruunu's debut album HAVULINNAAN reissued in June Svart Records is proud to bring Havukruunu's 2015 debut album HAVULINNAAN back to the market on June 6th, 2025. HAVULINNAAN is filled to the brim with raw, bleak, unforgiven heavy metal mixed with spells from the very depths of the misty Finnish forests. Havukruunu's Stefa had this to say about the upcoming reissue: "INTO THE CONIFEROUS CASTLE….. Ten years ago, we didst unleash an abomination of immortal-worship, improvised guitar solos and a first glance of a certain type of spiritual freedom, the very first full-length Havukruunu album HAVULINNAAN and thus began our search. Experience our then meandering worry anew, through this humble, slightly remastered reissue through Svart records."

Svart Records continues to reissue the albums of Havukruunu, bringing their 2020 classic UINUOS SYÖMEIN SOTA back on the market in September 2025. Havukruunu's third album UINUOS SYÖMEIN SOTA is widely praised for its epic and melodic black metal, combining heavy metal influences with folk music. The album is celebrated in particular for its catchy melodies, powerful atmospherics, lush guitar solos and choral vocals, which create a unique blend of bleak heavy metal and other genres. The album has been compared to the works of Bathory and Moonsorrow, but critics have put Havukruunu on their own level for having such a unique style. True Finnish Forest Metal.

Havukruunu's KELLE SURUT SOI reissued in September Svart Records continues to re-release the works of Havukruunu, bringing their highly sought after 2017 album KELLE SURUT SOI back in print in September 2025. Havukruunu's sophomore album Kelle surut soi is known for its immersive atmosphere, evoking imagery of Finnish paganism and nature's force. While rooted in black metal, the album incorporates folk melodies and acoustic elements, adding depth and texture to the sound, yet it doesn't shy away from aggressive, blackened riffs and powerful drumming, providing a satisfyingly heavy experience. The songs are individual journeys, with the album as a whole creating a larger, more impactful experience.

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Havukruunu's KELLE SURUT SOI reissued in September Svart Records continues to re-release the works of Havukruunu, bringing their highly sought after 2017 album KELLE SURUT SOI back in print in September 2025. Havukruunu's sophomore album Kelle surut soi is known for its immersive atmosphere, evoking imagery of Finnish paganism and nature's force. While rooted in black metal, the album incorporates folk melodies and acoustic elements, adding depth and texture to the sound, yet it doesn't shy away from aggressive, blackened riffs and powerful drumming, providing a satisfyingly heavy experience. The songs are individual journeys, with the album as a whole creating a larger, more impactful experience.

ON THIS ISSUE, EDITORIAL ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS WITH: Sentenced (special interview!); Virgin Black; Funeral; Shape Of Despair; Hallatar, Shores Of Null, The Foreshadowing, Xasthur, Grift, Kypck, Aquilus, Varhara, Prava Collective, Black Autumn, Klimt 1918, David Galas’ Lycia, Of The Muses, These Hands Melt, Kariti, Boleskine House, Marea.  

Written in italian