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A newcomer hailing from Norway, SOLUS GRIEF is the work of one Peregrinus, who handles all instruments, vocals, and mixing & mastering. And where so many "one-man black metal bands" sound as much (or worse), SOLUS GRIEF buck that trend with a righteously robust sound and fully in-the-moment style of execution. In other words, Peregrinus sounds more like an actual band than many "bands" do.

With a Last Exhale is the evocatively titled debut of SOLUS GRIEF, self-released digitally late last year - and so entranced by its rigid-yet-unique style of black metal, PURITY THROUGH FIRE is now rightfully releasing the album on two physical formats. It would not be incorrect to assume a four-song/41-minute black metal record recorded by one man would be of the depressive/suicidal variety, and to some degree, both those appellations could be applied to SOLUS GRIEF. However, as Peregrinus soon displays, With a Last Exhale moves many, MANY places - and many of them quite surprising, despite remaining steadfastly within BLACK METAL - and with a jaw-dropping fluidity; this is NOT one-riff minimalism/"hypnosis" nor an expression living/dying on "atmosphere" alone. Indeed, with plenty of atmosphere to spare, Peregrinus' compositional skills astoundingly span the full reach of extreme metal, subtly (and tastefully) touching such boundaries as '90s melodic death metal, '80s epic doom, or even just proper heavy metal...but the expression is resolutely a black metal one, the emotions intense and inward, as befitting a title like With a Last Exhale. And the bass guitar here is something that must be experienced.

Hailing from Norway, KVAD indeed performs black metal exclusively in the ancient Nordic tradition. The band is yet another project of the ever-prolific Peregrinus, who numbers the likes of UNHOLY CRAFT, SOLUS GRIEF, Hjemsøkt, Darkest Bethlehem, and Praefuro among his current endeavors. Then a duo, in 2022, KVAD released the Invocations EP and Cold & Dark, As Life debut album in quick succession, and now Peregrinus continues to strike while the burning church is hot with their second album, So Old.

On one hand, So Old is aptly titled: the album begins with a desolate melancholy of what once was, and then the blizzard of distortion leads into a cryogenic grimness not unlike mid-'90s Gorgoroth, particularly the hackle-raising, Hat-esque screams of Peregrinus. And so KVAD follows this trajectory for a good deal of the album...but their songwriting unfolds, fever-dreaming into strange shapes not found among the ashes of those churches. While never dissonant per se, that blizzard of riffing soon compounds into a fury/flurry backed by Peregrinus' brisk-yet-building drums; it's a howling hysteria that's not altogether untuneful, and its slipstreaming vortex suggests the superlative late '90s psychedelia of Svest and Weakling. But, much as he does with his other projects, Peregrinus is not one to be (exclusively) pinned down to one specific style, and possesses the songwriting nous to turn these classics-minded creations into ones respectably modern. So Old, and yet so alive!

Jewelcase CD.

Recent output has seen OCTOBER TIDE tone down on the doom particle, and throw the listener in a colder embrace of a melodic death metal rainstorm. This trend remains consistent on "The Cancer Pledge", and overlaps with the direction spearheaded by guitarist Fredrik Norrman (ex-Katatonia, ex-Trees Of Eternity, Thenighttimeproject), keen on rejuvenating OCTOBER TIDE with a touch of the past. "It's a direct continuation of the previous album," states Norrman. "Less doom and more death metal, yet melodic and with more layers. I’ve searched for inspiration in records I listened to in the 80’s and 90’s when I grew up. But it still sounds like October Tide."

The sound of OCTOBER TIDE, aside from being doom intertwined melodeath, is fronted by emotionally compelling guitarwork, known to subside into melancholic and introspective tones. Even though the band has shapeshifted over the years - starting off as a duo of Katatonia fame musicians, Fredrik Norrman and Jonas Renske, back in 1994 - it has retained and evolved its trademark formula. The present-day line-up, intact since 2016, features said guitarist & founder Fredrik Norrman, second guitarist & Fredrik's brother Mattias Norrman (ex-Katatonia), vocalist Alexander Högbom (ex-Demonical), bassist Johan Jönsegård (Letters From The Colony) and drummer Jonas Sköld (Letters From The Colony / Thenighttimeproject).

"The Cancer Pledge" was recorded and produced in 2023 by OCTOBER TIDE and Karl Daniel Lidén (Bloodbath, Katatonia). The latter mixed and master the album, whose cover artwork was designed by Albin Högbom.

Limited ice galaxy LP.

Recent output has seen OCTOBER TIDE tone down on the doom particle, and throw the listener in a colder embrace of a melodic death metal rainstorm. This trend remains consistent on "The Cancer Pledge", and overlaps with the direction spearheaded by guitarist Fredrik Norrman (ex-Katatonia, ex-Trees Of Eternity, Thenighttimeproject), keen on rejuvenating OCTOBER TIDE with a touch of the past. "It's a direct continuation of the previous album," states Norrman. "Less doom and more death metal, yet melodic and with more layers. I’ve searched for inspiration in records I listened to in the 80’s and 90’s when I grew up. But it still sounds like October Tide."

The sound of OCTOBER TIDE, aside from being doom intertwined melodeath, is fronted by emotionally compelling guitarwork, known to subside into melancholic and introspective tones. Even though the band has shapeshifted over the years - starting off as a duo of Katatonia fame musicians, Fredrik Norrman and Jonas Renske, back in 1994 - it has retained and evolved its trademark formula. The present-day line-up, intact since 2016, features said guitarist & founder Fredrik Norrman, second guitarist & Fredrik's brother Mattias Norrman (ex-Katatonia), vocalist Alexander Högbom (ex-Demonical), bassist Johan Jönsegård (Letters From The Colony) and drummer Jonas Sköld (Letters From The Colony / Thenighttimeproject).

"The Cancer Pledge" was recorded and produced in 2023 by OCTOBER TIDE and Karl Daniel Lidén (Bloodbath, Katatonia). The latter mixed and master the album, whose cover artwork was designed by Albin Högbom.

Fourth studio album of DEN SAAKALDTE.

DEN SAAKALDTE is the brainchild of guitarist Sykelig, established back in 2006, after Sykelig relocated from Hellas to Norway. The band started as a one man project but soon included in its ranks members such as Kvarforth (Shining), S. Winter (ex-Gehenna), Seidemann (1349) and Øyvind Hægeland to name a few. 

Through its years of existence, DEN SAAKALDTE released "Øl, Mørke og Depresjon" (2008), "All Hail Pessimism" (2009) and "Kapittel II: Faen i Helvete" (2014), along with a number of split EPs with notable bands such as Shining, Horna, Varathron and Principality of Hell. 

The band's current line up consists of guitarists Sykelig and Fineidet, bassist Skoll (Arcturus, Ved Buens Ende), drummer Tybalt (ex-Pantheon I) and vocalist Svik.

Digipack

Full Dynamic Range pressed from original tapes.
Re-issue on black vinyl.
Standard sleeve, insert with lyrics and notes.

Complete 'Demo 91' , original 'Aske' recording, original 'Svarte Dauen' recording and more , with photos, info, etc, 74 minutes

1, 2, 3: orginal "Aske" EP, recorded during 1992
4, 5, 6, 7: "Rehearsal/demo 1991" previously unreleased
8, 9, 10: "Svarte Dauen" 1993 previously unreleased
11: version taken from "Burzum" 1992
12: version taken from "Det Som Engang Var"
13: version taken from "Filosofem" album

TRACKLIST

i. Lukans Renkespill
ii. Belus' Doed
iii. Glemselens Elv
iv. Kaimadalthas' Nedstigning
v. Besoek til Kelio
vi. Alvenes Dans
vii. Alvegavene
viii. Sverddans
ix. Keliohesten
x. Morgenroede
xi. Belus' Tilbakekomst

4-panel digipak with 12-page booklet, plus a designed album download card.

They Came From Visions from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv was formed in 2019 in order to create raw and twisted music that conjures the visions of shimmering mist over ancient swamps, of moonlight painting the earth in surreal colours, of unsettling hum and chitter of nocturnal insects, of countless dangers and wonders of a world shrouded in darkness. The three nameless individuals behind the group draw inspiration from bands such as Wiegedood and Yellow Eyes as well es from folk-horror-movies and -games – from the classics released in the 70s and also from modern favorites such as „The Witch“ and „Midsommar“.

„The Twilight Robes" continues that theme while raw and varied riffs, spanning the range from mournful to triumphant, weave a bleak tapestry of struggle, danger, mystery, and violence. The record is dedicated to exploring various facets of the commonfolk's struggle and suffering in dangerous and mysterious times: Human-sacrifice-rituals, nocturnal horrors, powerlessness, and surrender in the face of overwhelming natural and supernatural forces belong to the lyrical themes explored here. Rather than leaning on any particular culture's specific folklore, the band references humanity's shared feeling of weakness and fear before the unknown. „The Twilight Robes“ is a testament to the band's dedication to their craft and their desire to tell stories that speak to the human experience.

The recording process was a unique yet frightening experience for the band, as it took place during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Therefore, the band members imbued their feelings of fear, frustration, and anger into the music to cope with the absurd horror of the situation. The album was fully self-produced by the band to preserve the integrity of the composer's vision, and all instruments were recorded at home - with the exception of the vocals, which were recorded at a rehearsal studio. The album was mixed by the guitarist who plays under the pseudonym Voice of Gloom and mastered by bassist Voice of the Deep. The artwork was created by Ukrainian artist Mykhailo Skop (also known as Neivanmade).