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Offers: CD, Vinyl, DVD, Merchandise and Second hand - Extreme Metal and Dark music
Shadows Call comprises a total of 37 minutes and two epic-length tracks, one each from Signal Rex‘s most striking discoveries in recent years, Nathr and Ordo Cultum Serpentis. Nathr are up first with “The Burial,” a nearly-20-minute track that duly lives up its namesake. Plaintive and placid, yet unsettlingly so, for more than half its massive duration, “The Burial” mesmerizes with a strangely beautiful aspect before exploding into a slo-mo crush akin to the cosmos crumbling away, deceptively peaceful in its resigned oblivion. Ordo Cultum Serpentis are second, with the nearly-17-minute “Filii Serpentis Nigri.” Much like their two celebrated EPs last year, the duo sonically approximate a massive boulder ritualistically opening into an impossibly vast tomb. But, like their split-mates, halfway through the track, they surprise with a jarring-yet-somehow-seamless transition into ritualistic blasting, sealing that same tomb with utter finality.
Simply put, blackened doom doesn’t get much better than this. And Nathr and Ordo Cultum Serpentis together a create a complementary work rather than a split “album” full of throwaway tracks. Feel their Shadows Crawl!
On their sophomore full-length "La Masquerade Infernale" (1997), ARCTURUS took their musical experimenting three ambitious steps further. The Norwegians succeeded in wedding a devilish concept loosely based on the characters of Faust and Mephistopheles with an eclectic range of surreal sound elements into an album that is rightfully considered a prime example of what later came to be known as avant-garde metal. From quoting Edgar Allan Poe in operatic paraphrases by frontman Garm (ULVER) or the additional high notes from the unmistakable I.C.S. Vortex (BORKNAGAR) via the spaced-out electronic samples, classical instrumentation, and an even increased use of psychedelic guitar riffage alongside more "traditional" black and death metal elements. Brilliant guitarist Knut Magne Valle replaced Carl August Tideman, which brought stability to this position of the band's line-up. ARCTURUS aimed dangerously high with "La Masquerade Infernale" – but remarkably pulled off the extremely difficult feat of forging such widely differing elements into a wildly fascinating, over the top listening experience that has stood the test of time and surely deserves to be labelled a "masterpiece".
2022 REPRESS in co-production Avantgarde Music / Eisenwald
Comes in milky-clear 180 gr. vinyl
Digipak CD with booklet
Five long years after their fascinating debut, Milan-based duo A Pale December deliver their sophomore album, Death Panacea. Compared to The Shrine Of Primal Fire, Death Panacea steers towards more aggressive, warring sounds. The “atmospheric black metal” label which so aptly described their debut album, is now just one of the many, partial definitions which could be used to define the band’s music.
When asked about their new opus, multi-instrumentalists Riccardo Di Bella and Ernesto Ciotola provided the following, strong statement: “While many metal albums seem to appeal to a feeling of fierceness, a call to war, an urge to fight something, we wanted to express the opposite. Death Panacea is an album about defeat and hopelessness, about the inherent futility of human strife and all our laughable attempts at masking this unescapable nature.
We wanted to praise failing and giving up, as opposed to perseverance, pride and the grinding mentality. We wanted to praise the rejects above the leaders, who naively think they can escape this race towards oblivion, and the coward above the fighting man, whose only fault was believing in the frail concept of nation and a false sense of belonging.
While distancing ourselves from these delusional sentiments, we also didn't want to fall into optimistic nihilism; the idea that the awareness of an impending void can grant any peace is simply preposterous.
Ultimately, this is the meaning that lies behind the title of the album: death is what keeps us in check and yet is the one and only panacea to all our anguishes. In all this, one could almost find a cold comfort, knowing that the top step of the podium is eventually just a springboard to the abyss”.
Digipak CD with booklet
After two decades devoted to the dark arts within obscure black metal, Wraith (Vanquished) and Luzifaust (Kaifrun, Hostium) present a new chapter, going by the name of Vastatum.
An ancient parallelled entity born into modern existence. Rich with atmospheric maturity and an emphasis on existential impermanence, Vastatum have executed the sonic experience of passing beyond life into death’s immeasurable grasp. Thus melding the elusive soundscapes of disembodiment with the haunting distinctions of absolution. Poetic, and potent, melodic and malevolent.
Vastatum is driven by the dark innate will of creativity and the seductive allure of the occult, and Mercurial States Of Revelation is the first chapter in the band's history. A chapter written in black metal and contemplations upon human existence.
Mercurial States Of Revelation reflects upon the conceptual philosophy that since time immemorial the earth, world and existence (as we comprehend it) have been in a constant state of flux and continual transformation. Thus compelling all planetary inhabitants toward perpetual states of adaptation within a world that is rapidly evolving and transcending beyond the depths of the human species.
Through mighty riffs deeply rooted in both the classic sounds of Norway in the early ‘90s and the Cascadian tradition of the ‘00s, Vastatum find a perfect balance between the old, the contemporary and the esoteric, picturing visions of growing shadows and perishing bodies.
brand new copy and unplayed, came-in with a very small corner ding, therefore sold at reduced price
100 copies LTD black vinyl
Sgàile is the solo project of Scottish multi-instrumentalist Tony Dunn, a venture that was a long time in the making due to Dunn’s commitments with other bands such as Falloch, Cnoc An Tursa and Saor. “For almost a decade, I had concentrated on playing other people's songs, singing other people's lyrics, and not feeling that I had an identity of my own. The name Sgàile means "ghost" or "shade" in Gaelic, and this was born from the fact that I didn't quite "fit in" with the Scottish Black Metal scene that these bands were an integral part of”.
In August 2018, Dunn parted ways with Saor in an amicable manner. It was then and there that “I decided to really concentrate on putting out a body of work that I could put my own name to and be proud of”. Sgàile was officially born. Ideals & Morality was conceived, composed and recorded in most of its parts in late 2019/early 2020. At this point Mike Lamb (Sojourner, Light Field Reverie) was brought on board for the mixing and mastering. “He had a look at the quality of the recordings, and gave me a great deal of advice, so much that in late summer 2020 we decided the best course of action was to re-record all of the guitars and bass from scratch. So in essence, Ideals & Morality was recorded twice”.
Musically and lyrically, Sgàile’s debut is an emotional record. “It is a record that I feel is both melancholy and quite dark in places, but uplifting and inspiring in others, as during the recording sessions I felt like I was in quite a low place at times mentally, but the actual writing process itself lifted my spirits. I feel that the album certainly has the potential to both haunt and elate in equal measure”. Lyrically, it's almost a stream of consciousness of various aspects of Tony’s psyche, dealing with his love for Scottish mountains (“The Summit”), the feeling of becoming a parent (“Instinct”) or even the experiences of the past decade (“Facade”). Every song comes from its own background, making Ideals & Morality a multifaceted experience. “The album is almost like a peek at what goes on inside my head. My ideals and my moral compass are what have guided me on my path as an artist since being thrust into the music industry and will stick with me through the rest of my journey, wherever that may lead”.
Gold and Black vinyl, limited to 200 copies
Three years after the second full-length 'Faunalia', the singer/keyboardist Selvans returns with a new EP.
'Dark Italian Art' is definitely the Manifesto of the Italian composer. Selvans confirms the prog rock and symphonic influences introducted in the previous work (with Goblin and Devil Doll ruling the roost), imprinting them definitely in his folk-horror scenery.
The EP introduces 'Corvo Morto' (Italian for 'Dead Crow'), a character created by Selvans in collaboration with the horror writer Luigi Musolino and to whom the track 'Verrà Corvo Morto' (Italian for 'Corvo Morto will come') is connected, as well as the homonimous tale attached to the 80 pages digi-book version of the EP.
Aside from the second new track 'Iò Pan!' and the outro 'L'Errante', Selvans celebrates the artistic heritage of his country with the cover of 'The Hanged Ballad' taken from the first Death SS' album and a cover medley of the legendary album 'Inferno' by Metamorfosi, a progressive italian rock band from the 70's.
This will be the first work in which Selvans is joined by his full live band, made of valid musicians who are with him since several years of concerts.
Learnt the lesson of the great masters of the horror and the absurd in music – with Screamin' Jay Hawkins and King Diamond above all – Selvans offers a decandent and peculiar interpretation which is brazenly Italian.
Walking among woods and ruins of ghost villages, Selvans leads a procession of outcasts hidden behind animal masks, on a muddy stage weaved with roots, whispering rituals of rural magic and cursed doggerels.
Curtains up!
Black vinyl, limited to 300 copies
Three years after the second full-length 'Faunalia', the singer/keyboardist Selvans returns with a new EP.
'Dark Italian Art' is definitely the Manifesto of the Italian composer. Selvans confirms the prog rock and symphonic influences introducted in the previous work (with Goblin and Devil Doll ruling the roost), imprinting them definitely in his folk-horror scenery.
The EP introduces 'Corvo Morto' (Italian for 'Dead Crow'), a character created by Selvans in collaboration with the horror writer Luigi Musolino and to whom the track 'Verrà Corvo Morto' (Italian for 'Corvo Morto will come') is connected, as well as the homonimous tale attached to the 80 pages digi-book version of the EP.
Aside from the second new track 'Iò Pan!' and the outro 'L'Errante', Selvans celebrates the artistic heritage of his country with the cover of 'The Hanged Ballad' taken from the first Death SS' album and a cover medley of the legendary album 'Inferno' by Metamorfosi, a progressive italian rock band from the 70's.
This will be the first work in which Selvans is joined by his full live band, made of valid musicians who are with him since several years of concerts.
Learnt the lesson of the great masters of the horror and the absurd in music – with Screamin' Jay Hawkins and King Diamond above all – Selvans offers a decandent and peculiar interpretation which is brazenly Italian.
Walking among woods and ruins of ghost villages, Selvans leads a procession of outcasts hidden behind animal masks, on a muddy stage weaved with roots, whispering rituals of rural magic and cursed doggerels.
Curtains up!
84 pages Artbook with CD
Limited to one edition only in this format, printed on fine art book-paper and hard cover with goild foil details
Three years after the second full-length 'Faunalia', the singer/keyboardist Selvans returns with a new EP.
'Dark Italian Art' is definitely the Manifesto of the Italian composer. Selvans confirms the prog rock and symphonic influences introducted in the previous work (with Goblin and Devil Doll ruling the roost), imprinting them definitely in his folk-horror scenery.
The EP introduces 'Corvo Morto' (Italian for 'Dead Crow'), a character created by Selvans in collaboration with the horror writer Luigi Musolino and to whom the track 'Verrà Corvo Morto' (Italian for 'Corvo Morto will come') is connected, as well as the homonimous tale attached to the 80 pages digi-book version of the EP.
Aside from the second new track 'Iò Pan!' and the outro 'L'Errante', Selvans celebrates the artistic heritage of his country with the cover of 'The Hanged Ballad' taken from the first Death SS' album and a cover medley of the legendary album 'Inferno' by Metamorfosi, a progressive italian rock band from the 70's.
This will be the first work in which Selvans is joined by his full live band, made of valid musicians who are with him since several years of concerts.
Learnt the lesson of the great masters of the horror and the absurd in music – with Screamin' Jay Hawkins and King Diamond above all – Selvans offers a decandent and peculiar interpretation which is brazenly Italian.
Walking among woods and ruins of ghost villages, Selvans leads a procession of outcasts hidden behind animal masks, on a muddy stage weaved with roots, whispering rituals of rural magic and cursed doggerels.
Curtains up!