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Composed during the pandemic-induced lockdown period of 2020/2021, "Isolation" features some of ColdWorld's most expressive compositions to date. Managing to transcend the conventional sounds pursued in what is best described as the "ambient/depressive" black metal subgenre, ColdWorld's newest sonic endeavor draws listeners into an incredibly immersive soundscape, rife with lush classical instrumentation and ethereal, yet occasionally harrowing vocals, the first of which is showcased brilliantly on the album's second track "Soundtrack to Isolation".

Clearly, this music is a truly honest and emotional representation of what the project's sole mastermind G.B. has experienced these past years. As such, the songs that comprise "Isolation" ebb and flow effortlessly, with even seemingly lengthy track durations being navigated masterfully by G.B.'s approach to songwriting and track placement. Throughout "Isolation", listeners may notice influences ranging from more traditional black metal and immensely heavy doom fused with post-rock leanings along the lines of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Of particular note is the use of classical string instrumentation and guitar lead harmonies that harken back to early My Dying Bride. However, it is the fusion of these elements and their interpretation through the creative mind that allows to confront listeners with an incredibly individualistic sound.

The creative and diverse vocal work featuring layered clean vocals, harrowing wails, a fascinating form of what is possibly throat singing as well as profoundly deep growls give "Isolation" an unmistakable edge over many of ColdWorld's contemporaries in a rather crowded scene. As such, listeners are sure to return to these eight tracks regularly, as this work is not easily grasped in its entirety on a first listen. Although it makes a staggering first impression, this record demands to be experienced repeatedly.

***ON LIMITED SEA BLUE CLOUDY VINYL!!! The second split release of the year from 20 Buck Spin sees the return of Terminal Nation for the first time since the crushing Holocene Extinction album released in the bleak pandemic summer of 2020. Joining them on the split is Japan’s ultra heavy kingpins Kruelty, fresh off tour dates in both the U.S. and Europe after releasing the furious A Dying Truth and Immortal Nightmare in 2020.

Reinforcing the fact of being one of the heaviest bands on the planet, Terminal Nation offer three new tracks on the A side, declaring all out war on the imperial masters pulling the world’s strings. The darkness of death metal and Bolt Thrower’s tank march matched with the ferocious power of the hardcore breakdown, the songs are teeming with a nation’s rage on the brink of boiling over into full blown chaos.

Kruelty similarly have found the sweet spot where hardcore meets old school steamrolling death and doom metal. “Suppression” and “Under Your Pressure” reveal some of the bands most punishing, structure-leveling riffs and bloodied beatdowns to date.

Additionally each vocalist from Terminal Nation and Kruelty also appear with guest vocals on a track from the other with Tatami of Kruelty appearing on Terminal Nation’s “Sacrificial Capital” and Stan Liszewski of Terminal Nation appearing on Kruelty’s “Under Your Pressure.” Heaviest split of 2022? Easily…

White, Grey, Olive Green Merge

With the release of her Godslastering: Hymns Of A Forlorn Peasantry, Hulder made it known that the pure traditional black metal of earlier releases could be classical, rich in detail and creatively novel once again. A triumphant debut that indicated much more to come. On her new mini-album The Eternal Fanfare, Hulder expands the scope laid out on the debut, taking the production value to new places with more low-end depth and forceful resonance. The songwriting capability continues to sharpen into a dense confluence of her disparate influences such as on the cinematically expansive “Burden Of Flesh And Bone” and “Sylvan Awakening,” to the cold stormblast ferocity of the title track. Opener “Curse From Beyond” is a celestial atmospheric piece akin to Dead Can Dance at their most mysteriously plaintive, while the pensive lament of closer “A Perilous Journey” concludes The Eternal Fanfare with an aura of melancholic finality. The Eternal Fanfare presents a stark interlude between the Godslastering album and the forthcoming second full length. Yet on its own, its a powerful statement of haunting new horizons and evolving mastery, ascendent and bottomless at once.

Hailing from Poland and making their public debut with the demo Ancient Darkness Triumphant in 2020, TEUFELSBERG are a band out of time. The modern "black metal underground" is a vacant void to be shunned, spit upon; for the trio, the elder ways of black metal militancy reflected in the Polish underground during the glorious '90s are to be proudly upheld. And upheld they did with a successive split with comrades MINNESJORD last year, once again through the auspices of SIGNAL REX, in the process building their own dead Christ commune.

And now, TEUFELSBERG fortify it further with their full-length debut, Ordre du Diable. No great changes have been made, thankfully - cold and grim is their march, rendered in raw-yet-clear tones that remarkably retain an era-authentic vibe - but the trio's songwriting has undoubtedly advanced, moving at many speeds and effortlessly evincing a focus that's fiery and finessed in equal measure. Further, their integration of synths is subtle and tasteful, coloring Ordre du Diable in rich hues of velvety purple emanating from deepest black. More simply stated, TEUFELSBERG deliver a record that could've easily come out in 1995: that same mysticism is alive and well here, and DEAD.

Opening with a fug of crypt-dwelling ambience, and the distant howls of the bloodthirsty Wampyre, building through riff and atmosphere towards a clearer skied climax in the more epic medievalism from Ages of Blood. A perfectly ascendent split with euphoric trajectory from the raw to the radiant, balanced by the pivotal Beulenpest who features in both projects.

Furious violent black / death metal, tracked live for extra rawness

Fantastic cover art executed perfectly by Italian master Paolo Girardi

Guitarist and singer Heljarmadr (Dark Funeral) expressed his thoughts: “Flame Of Hephaestus” is the first single from our new album Lycaon. We feel that it is a good representative for the album and it carries an intensity that kinda connects it with our last album Väsen. It serves as a natural bridge, if you will.

Flame Of Hephaestus brings us back to our early days, when we were including more influences from Greek mythology, alongside the ancient Scandinvian cult. It is therefore also quite suitable that Lycaon was mixed and mastered in Greece. Mixed by Terry Nikas and mastered by George Nerantzis”.

The Flame Of Hephaestus artwork was created by Italian artist Roberto Toderico, while the B-side, ”Stella Polaris”, is a single exclusive instrumental track, written by guitarist Maugrim. This is his first contribution for Grá as a composer.

- 300g black vinyl
- 300 hand-numbered copies
- Handmade silk-screen printed sleeve
- Including two stickers and patch

MCMXCV: The Ultimate Blasphemy contains both seminal 1995 recordings previously released as promo- and rehearsal-tapes.
Crude Black Doom/Death Metal strangulated by the hands of veterans A.J. van Drenth (Beyond Belief a.o.) and Bob Bagchus (Asphyx a.o.).