CD

2CD hardcover artbook (28x28 cm, 60 pages) with 8-track bonus CD (48 minutes)

Austin Lunn’s journey carried Panopticon from the urban density of Louisville to the remote northern reaches of Minnesota. It is here, surrounded by a landscape both inspiring and endangered, that “Det hjemsøkte hjertet” took shape. The album follows an elder hermit in the final week of his life, interweaving childhood memories with a lament for an ecosystem transformed by modern encroachment.

Dense, atmospheric, and unmistakably cinematic, “Det hjemsøkte hjertet” (‘The Haunted Heart’) shifts from the icy aggression of earlier works into something richer and more saturated – a palette of purples and burning oranges fading into dusk. The folk instrumentation once associated with Panopticon has largely receded, giving way to tones reminiscent of Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

The metal foundation remains, but the record’s strength lies in composition rather than speed: layered arrangements, long-form dynamics, and a strong narrative undercurrent. A full orchestral presence runs throughout, with Charlie Anderson’s string performances adding both gravity and movement. Each song features a different guest vocalist – Aaron Charles (Falls Of Rauros, Rhun), Jan Evan Åsli (Vemod), and Jan 'Winterherz' Van Berlekom (Waldgeflüster) among them – introducing distinct colours without compromising cohesion.

"Eight years after 'Eonian', DIMMU BORGIR returns with 'Grand Serpent Rising', a thirteen-track album that is both relentless and remarkably diverse. The title itself symbolizes renewal: for the band, the serpent represents transformation, knowledge, and liberation—a necessary shedding after more than thirty years in the industry. From the introduction 'Tridentium' to the explosive 'Ascent', the band confirms that it has lost none of its intensity or aura. Over nearly an hour of music, the album showcases majestic power, blending the raw energy of 90s Norwegian black metal with the mastery gained over the decades. With 'Grand Serpent Rising', DIMMU BORGIR delivers an imposing and ambitious work, driven by an intact inspiration and a vision more grandiose than ever."

UK thrash legends Acid Reign return with their highly anticipated new album, Daze Of The Week, releasing on May 15, 2026, via Back On Black Records. Produced by Jayce Lewis, the album features ten tracks promising catchy choruses and high-speed thrash, following their 2019 release