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Dutch atmospheric black metal act Nachtheem delivers a deeply hypnotic and melancholic abum with Waan van de leegte, refining the raw and immersive sound already explored on their demos and split releases. Floating riffs, aggressive passages and haunting atmospheres merge into a uniquely introspective vision of dark metal rooted in the spirit of the underground Dutch scene

CD Digipak

Self-titled albums usually suggest either a questionable "return to the roots" or a band reinvention of sorts. For brooding black metal beasts, Bethlehem, however, the release of the eponymously titled ‘Bethlehem’ marks the 25th anniversary of the group, which the German group celebrates in their own wayward style.

‘Bethlehem’ is a welcome rejuvenation in every respect. When the line-up that recorded their 2014 release, Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, fell apart, founding member/mastermind Jürgen Bartsch took the bull by its proverbial horns and matters into his own deviceful hands.
 

Gatefold LP (bright green/black marble) incl. insert, padded inner sleeve and protection sleeve

Following their early EPs "My Angel" (1991) and "Constellation" (1994), ARCTURUS finally released their debut album "Aspera Hiems Symfonia" in 1996. The Norwegians derived their name from the brightest star of the Northern hemisphere and were obviously influenced by the massively expanding black metal scene of their homeland. Already featuring such well-known protagonists as ULVER's Garm and MAYHEM's Hellhammer, the line-up on "Aspera Hiems Symfonia" saw Samoth replaced by excellent guitarist Carl August Tidemann and outstanding ULVER bass player Hugh "Skoll" Mingay also joining the band. Despite their audible black roots, ARCTURUS clearly begged to differ by daring to experiment and adding an avant-garde twist with strange sonorous vocals complementing those piercing shrieks, Sverd's cinematic keyboards, the technical guitar solos, and more elements that to this day mark the band from Oslo as progressive innovators.

With their fourth studio album "Hulders Ritual" ('Ritual of the Huldra'), SLAGMAUR break the chains of repetition and nostalgia by rewriting the rules of black metal. This does not mean abandoning the foundations of the genre, which is already indicated by working with the 'inventor' of the 'Norwegian black metal sound', THORNS mastermind Snorre W. Ruch, as an additional producer. The band's founder, General Gribbsphiiser, rather unafraid and with reckless abandon mutates and warps the traditional formula through a host of subtle innovations and tweaks of the classic sound. Although "Hulders Ritual" continues, refines, and widens the daring stylistic balance of SLAGMAUR's previous works, it adds an extra dimension of sardonic mania to its collection of sharp and vicious sonic instruments. Choice guest-contributions that include TAAKE vocalist Hoest, DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz, and MISÞYRMING frontman D.G., who cover three decades of Nordic black metal make a case in point.

reissue 2014
 

The title of SATURNUS' fifth album, "The Storm Within" is hinting at both, the tempest of the natural world and turmoil that can rage inside the mind. It is also quite obvious that the long time it took the Danes to create this full-length and the personal reasons behind the hiatus very much contributed and inspired its artistic expression. SATURNUS have outdone themselves with "The Storm Within". The musical themes of the seas, rain, and stormy waters are a subtle presence and guiding thread throughout the songs that reflect anger, loss, melancholy, and pain in equal measure. The fully matured craftsmanship on this album is sublime and extremely dynamic, ranging from moments of calm to brutal outbursts. Working again with producer Flemming Rasmussen, the legendary Danish producer of METALLICA's classic albums, also ensured that the sound of "The Storm Within" matches its outstanding musical quality. SATURNUS came into being when singer Thomas A.G. Jensen started looking for fellow musicians in the area of Denmark's capital Copenhagen to form a death metal act in 1991. Following a number of changes during the next few years, the name was finally switched to SATURNUS in 1993. The band released their first album "Paradise Belongs to You" in January 1997 and were immediately invited to perform at the famous Roskilde Festival the same year. The show was recorded by Norwegian Radio (NRK) and ended up being broadcast all over Scandinavia, which firmly established the band as a death doom household name in Northern Europe. Following their sophomore album "Martyre" (2000) and the iconic third studio full-length "Veronika Decides to Die" as well as constant touring throughout Europe and increasingly beyond, "Saturn in Ascension" was released in 2012, which was once again produced by Flemming Rasmussen. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, SATURNUS got back on the roads of Europe and also performed at prestigious festivals such as Brutal Assault (CZ), Copenhell (DK), and ArtMania (RO) among many others. The Danes continued touring with occasional breaks from 2014 until 2017, which got them as far as Russia and to the Middle East. After several notable changes in the line-up, SATURNUS were joined by guitarists Indee Rehal-Sagoo (formerly CLOUDS and EYE OF SOLITUDE) and Julio Fernandez from AUTUMNAL in 2020. Despite more obstacles created by the pandemic, the band finally started working on their next album and also continued their collaboration with Flemming Rasmussen. "The Storm Within" took a long time in its creation and along the way demanded painful sacrifices from SATURNUS. All the blood, pain, and sweat have left their marks on this record. Yet in the end, the brutal honesty and the baring of the soul emanating from each note is what makes "The Storm Within" such a brilliant piece of music.

"Zeitlang" is the harsh debut full-length of Bavarian black metal act GRÀB featuring founding vocalist Grant. The former DARK FORTRESS frontman has written the entire concept album in a local dialect of Germany's southernmost Alpine state.

GRÀB, which means “old and grey”, are lyrically telling the story of an old man, who has chosen to withdraw from society into an isolated cottage deep in the mountains, where he reflects on his life while his death edges ever closer. The story on "Zeitlang" ("Yearning") begins in his early childhood with the song 'Nachtkrapp' ("Night Raven") and continues all the way to his end, which is illuminated by the track 'A Gråbliacht' ("A Grave Lantern").

Musically, GRÀB are picking up the Norwegian strands of early GEHENNA, ULVER, and DARKTHRONE as well as being inspired by German NAGELFAR and LUNAR AURORA. Yet true to their topic, the Bavarians include traditional local elements, which is instrumentally expressed by the use of hammered dulcimer, zither and alphorn.

Vocalist and Bavarian poet Grant views "Zeitlang" as his personal musical legacy. Join the singer and GRÀB on their equally intimate and forceful quest into the dark and stark places of the human mind and Alpine nature where there are no safe spaces.

.16 page booklet contains lyrics and their English translations.
Handnumbered