CD

Tellingly titled, The Awakening displays yet more sides to this still-unfolding entity. To be sure, Valravn's poise and power are firmly accounted for here - you can still FEEL every note, so vital, virile, and vivid - and they've even added a bit of death metalled muscle, too, but the songwriting itself is where their second album truly takes flight. Sharp and yet never sterile, thanks to a production that's on the right side of polished, there's an acute balance of contrasts across The Awakening's 44-minute runtime; each of the album's eight songs features some twist of melancholy and militancy, of bursting color and bristling monochromatism, of stoic resignation and steadfast determination, of man-on-the-mountain spaciousness and stuck-in-the-catacombs claustrophobia. Concluding with the literally breathtaking "Charge of the Last Cavalry," The Awakening consolidates all the strengths of its predecessor and indeed leads Valravn into a new charge for glory. 

"Original Finnish Heavy Rock recorded 1987: Where Thunder Meets Steel"
Born from the roar of unyielding spirit and electrifying riffs, this is heavy rock that resonates across decades. A long-lost gem blending grit, melody, and epic attitude — echoing the golden age of Finnish rock glory and reigniting the spirit of an era when thunder roared and steel reigned supreme.

Contains last unreleased material of this band, 3 studio and 4 live tracks.
Live tracks are extremely raw and primitive yet fairly good sounding.
Dead But Dreaming is the memory of true East-European black metal golden dawn.

Track 1 previously unreleased, originally performed by Arkona on "Imperium" LP.
Track 2 previously unreleased, created in 2001, taken from the forthcoming split EP with Legion Of Doom.
Track 3 previously unreleased, created in 1995 and 2002.
Track 4 performed live in 2001, originally appeared on "The Gates" EP.
Track 5 performed live in 2001, originally appeared on "Tormenting Legends I"compilation.
Track 6 performed live in 2001, originally appeared on "Purity" LP.
Track 7 performed live in 2001, originally performed by Bolt Thrower on "War Master" LP.

2-CD hardcover book (18 x 18cm, 36 pages) + excl. bonus CD with 4 bonus songs and additional artwork

With their seventh studio album "Otra", Norwegian avant-garde metal stalwards IN THE WOODS... might surprise their listeners – and particularly those, who have not followed the remarkable evolution that the band from the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand has undergone since the early nineties. The tracks of "Otra" are surprisingly captivating with melodic tunes dominating the present sound of IN THE WOODS... – although progressive elements and the occasional rough reminder of the Norwegians' harsh past are also regularly shimmering through the fabric of these songs. What sets "Otra" apart from the average heavy work of music is the excellence of composition that shows expert level experience and comes with a seeming ease that makes the achievement even greater. Lyrically, "Otra" revolves around stories connected to the eponymous river that winds for 245 kilometres through the South of Norway and spills into the Skagerrak, the strait that separates the country from Denmark and Sweden, at the band's home in Kristiansand. There is hardly a need to introduce the name IN THE WOODS... to any adherent of avant-garde and black metal. Their coordinates within the scene are also well known: The Norwegians were among the bands that have participated in the burgeoning evolution of black metal in the early nineties and have had a large part in the shaping of the sound of a strong subgenre. Their first full-length "Heart of the Ages" (1995) has a lasting impact on black metal and is rightfully regarded as one of the genre's early classics. Refusing to rest on their laurels, IN THE WOODS... progressed further into different musical dimensions with "Omnio" (1997) and "Strange in Stereo" (1999). Following a long hiatus between the years 2000 to 2014, the Norwegians returned with vocalist James Fogarty, who continued to front the band until December 2021. With a new line-up and singer Bernt Fjellestad completing IN THE WOODS... a fresh direction was taken with the album "Diversum" (2021). With "Otra", IN THE WOODS... demonstrate the full strength and artistic maturity of the Norwegians' third incarnation. Enticing and highly pleasurable to listen to, this exciting record is nonetheless crammed with glorious details and surprising twists that reveal themselves only after many spins.

With their seventh studio album "Otra", Norwegian avant-garde metal stalwards IN THE WOODS... might surprise their listeners – and particularly those, who have not followed the remarkable evolution that the band from the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand has undergone since the early nineties. The tracks of "Otra" are surprisingly captivating with melodic tunes dominating the present sound of IN THE WOODS... – although progressive elements and the occasional rough reminder of the Norwegians' harsh past are also regularly shimmering through the fabric of these songs. What sets "Otra" apart from the average heavy work of music is the excellence of composition that shows expert level experience and comes with a seeming ease that makes the achievement even greater. Lyrically, "Otra" revolves around stories connected to the eponymous river that winds for 245 kilometres through the South of Norway and spills into the Skagerrak, the strait that separates the country from Denmark and Sweden, at the band's home in Kristiansand. There is hardly a need to introduce the name IN THE WOODS... to any adherent of avant-garde and black metal. Their coordinates within the scene are also well known: The Norwegians were among the bands that have participated in the burgeoning evolution of black metal in the early nineties and have had a large part in the shaping of the sound of a strong subgenre. Their first full-length "Heart of the Ages" (1995) has a lasting impact on black metal and is rightfully regarded as one of the genre's early classics. Refusing to rest on their laurels, IN THE WOODS... progressed further into different musical dimensions with "Omnio" (1997) and "Strange in Stereo" (1999). Following a long hiatus between the years 2000 to 2014, the Norwegians returned with vocalist James Fogarty, who continued to front the band until December 2021. With a new line-up and singer Bernt Fjellestad completing IN THE WOODS... a fresh direction was taken with the album "Diversum" (2021). With "Otra", IN THE WOODS... demonstrate the full strength and artistic maturity of the Norwegians' third incarnation. Enticing and highly pleasurable to listen to, this exciting record is nonetheless crammed with glorious details and surprising twists that reveal themselves only after many spins.

The flickering light of fragile hope battles the crushing weight of despair in Fields of Mildew’s fourth release, “IV”. With its signature minimalist dark folk, the project delves into the innermost recesses of human emotion, offering an unflinching reflection on loss, resilience, and the stark beauty of barren landscapes.

On “IV”, Fields of Mildew shifts its focus inward, exploring the fragmented psyche of a solitary soul caught between the oppressive weight of reality and fleeting moments of imagined relief. Themes of love and loss, fragile dreams, and the slow erosion of hope thread through the album, painting a harrowing yet tender portrait of inner struggle.

Amidst the sorrow, glimmers of solace emerge as the music itself offers moments of reprieve. Immersive melodies are shaped by the same austere minimalism that defines the project’s essence – from its stripped-down instrumentation to its visual aesthetic, inspired by the desolate Teufelsmoor region of Northern Germany.

Since its inception in 2015, Fields of Mildew has stood as a testament to the human spirit pushed to its limits. Helmed by a musician known only as R, the project began as an ode to the resilient souls who eked out a living in the unforgiving lands of the Teufelsmoor. Over time, its thematic scope expanded, but the core remained unchanged: an unflinching portrayal of human existence in its most vulnerable and honest form.

“IV” is the culmination of this evolution – a quiet yet powerful meditation on despair, resilience, and the fleeting beauty found even in life’s harshest moments. For those seeking music that channels the depth of mortal experience with haunting clarity, “IV” is a profoundly moving journey into darkness and beyond.

MORSURE is a French Black Metal entity created in 2018 by Hygdahell. “Naissance d’un empire” follows his first EP “Prima Materia” and contains a 35min length single track of pure Raw Black Metal hate, in the vein of early LLN releases.
MORSURE is a promising band and should quickly establish itself in the French Black Metal scene. To be followed carefully !
“Naissance d’un Empire” now available in a 2 part CD Digipack, containing an 8 pages booklet and a picture printed CD

Raw Black Metal from France.
EP on a limited CD edition on jewel case.

WINDHELM is a French entity active since 2016, and delivers old school Black Metal in the vein of legendary LES LEGIONS NOIRES.
ALDRIC, the man behind the project, makes a point of keeping the true essence of the underground spirit: his music is raw, straight to the point, with no frills.

“Chroniques d’un Non-Mort” is a brilliant sequel to “Au Crépuscule de l’Existence” released in 2022, and with tracks like “Un Cauchemar de Soleil Blanc”, “Faim de Chair et Soif de Sang”, or “Le Non-Mort”, you will definitely feel that only the cold and misanthropic atmosphere remains from the ice-sharped riffs and asphyxiating vocals from the grave…

Black Metal from Sweden.
EP on a limited CD edition on a 4 panel Digifile.