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NORDIC METAL

HELHEIM, founded in Bergen, Norway in 1992 were eager to establish themselves in the Norwegian Black Metal scene and released their first demo in 1993. Heavily influenced by BATHORY and including a cover of VENOM`s “Countess Bathory” to pay tribute to one of their foremost influences, the first demo, while being an interesting document of the time and showing potential, still lacked the depth and ambition of their later work.

Their second demo entitled Niðr Ok Norðr Liggr Helvegr and released in 1994 marked a major leap in style and quality. With a for a demo unusually long playing time of nearly 50 minutes, HELHEIM`s second effort saw the horde introducing female vocals, folk and Viking elements and even trumpets. Obviously influenced by compatriots ENSLAVED, it featured non-linear compositions and a unique sound. This demo is considered a landmark in Norwegian Metal and far surpasses the typical expectations of a demo release. It`s with Niðr Ok Norðr Liggr Helvegr that HELHEIM found their sound and catapulted themselves to the forefront of Norwegian Black Metal.

Remastered from the original DATs by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony.

A long and detailed new interview about the time from 1992-1997 was conducted with the band exclusively for these current reissues.A long and detailed new interview about the time from 1992-1997 was conducted with the band exclusively for these current reissues.
The jewel-case CD comes with a 20-page booklet including the interview and many never before-seen pictures.

Av Norrøn Ætt, HELHEIM`s second album released in 1997 basically continues where the band left off with their predecessor. All the elements present on Jormundgand are part of their sound again – only intensified and more proficient. Thus, Av Norrøn Ætt features more chaotic Black Metal, more pronounced folk and Viking influences, and an even grander epic scope. Only the high-pitched screaming vocals are gone and have been replaced by grim croaking. The album is intense and ambitious, with long, complex tracks that showcase intricate arrangements. Its title track especially stands out as a fusion of Black Metal, Viking music, and even prog-rock influences. Often compared to early ENSLAVED, particularly their Eld album from the same year, Av Norrøn Ætt represents a peak of creativity for HELHEIM. It remains their most ambitious work and a unique, unmatched moment in their discography. Av Norrøn Ætt truly ranks among the masterpieces of Norwegian Black Metal.

Formed in 1989 after Johnny Hedlund was kicked out of NIHILIST (who split up and reformed as ENTOMBED to avoid firing him directly),
UNLEASHED are credited to be one of the first death metal groups to write songs about Viking/Scandinavian history and heritage instead of the more typical subjects like death and gore.
Since these times UNLEASHED can be counted as one of the leading acts of the Scandinavian death metal scene.

On this compilation you can find every song the band recorded before their classic debut album Where No Life Dwells from 1991!

It includes The Utter Dark (3 songs), Revenge (3 songs) and the complete Bielefeld recording session (7 songs) which contains songs from the And The Laughter Has Died… 7“ EP,
the Century Media Promo Tape and songs from the Century Media compilation In The Eyes Of Death.

A long in-depth interview with Johnny Hedlund held especially and exclusive for this compilation.

Founded in 1994 and led to rest in 2012, Lunar Aurora released during their existence 9 full length albums, two demos and some split releases with Secrets Of The Moon, Paysage D‘Hiver and Nordlys.
Partly atmospheric, partly aggressive but always unique and special, in their active years Lunar Aurora created a deep and mysteries sound full of grim Black Metal with symphonic, ambient and modern classical elements.

In the coming months, Darkness Shall Rise Productions will release all of the bands releases in a special deluxe Pic. LP edition, including sleeve, 12-page inserts with new liner notes, poster, download-card etc.
To start with this amazing project, we decided to first release the great and highly appreciated final output Hoagascht from 2012 and the bands grim and majestetic 7^th album Mond from 2005.

Vinyl-Masters were done again by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony.
There are no plans to make a vinyl-box (unlike a tape box which will definitely come later) with all albums, so all these Pic. LP releases will be only available as stand-alone releases.

Black LP with 12-page booklet and poster.

Black LP with 12-page booklet and A2 poster.

Founded in 1994 and led to rest in 2012, LUNAR AURORA during their existence released 9 full length albums, two demos and some split releases with SECRETS OF THE MOON, PAYSAGE D‘HIVER and NORDLYS.
Partly atmospheric, partly aggressive but always unique and special, LUNAR AURORA created a deep and mysteries sound full of grim Black Metal with symphonic, ambient and modern classical elements.

Originally released in 2001 by Ars Metalli, this fourth album by LUNAR AURORA will now be re-released in it’s original layout on black wax and picture-disc.
Recorded and mixed at Tonstudio Hörnix (ABIGOR, SUMMONING..) Ars Moriendi is an aggressive, wayward and majestic album which impressively confirms that there was also unique Black Metal art from Germany in the early 2000s.

Hardcover Digibook with 40-page booklet containing lyrics + parchment paper pages, sticker on cover & clear tray.

Blue vinyl version

are a black metal band from Kópavogur, Iceland. After their debut EP "Dönsum í logans ljóma", the members — all only in their early twenties — have been working intensively on new material. Concrete news will follow soon, but the band’s direction is already clear: FORSMÁN (pronounced "fors-mown") stand in the line of modern Icelandic black metal associated with SVARTIDAUÐI, SINMARA, and MISÞYRMING, combining dense atmosphere with focused, forward-driving songwriting. Expect urgent riffing, decisive rhythms, and vocals that cut through a cold, enveloping haze. FORSMÁN are part of a new generation coming out of Iceland with a strong sense of identity, and anyone drawn to the country’s contemporary black metal sound should keep a close eye on what comes next.

LTD.ED.250 on "blue/purple merged"- Vinyl including Insert and DLC!

il nuovo album dei britannici Cryptic Shift porta oltre i confini del metal estremo un’avventura sonora tra death, thrash e tecnicismi pro-progressive. Con soli 5 brani ma un’intensa narrativa sci-fi, “Overspace & Supertime” continua l’universo concettuale di Visitations From Enceladus, catapultandoti in dimensioni ancora più folli e assurde.

Black 2-LP with 12-page booklet and A2 poster.

Founded in 1994 and led to rest in 2012, LUNAR AURORA during their existence released 9 full length albums, two demos and some split releases with SECRETS OF THE MOON, PAYSAGE D‘HIVER and NORDLYS.
Partly atmospheric, partly aggressive but always unique and special, LUNAR AURORA created a deep and mysteries sound full of grim Black Metal with symphonic, ambient and modern classical elements.

Originally released by The Oath and Deviant Records in 2004, LUNAR AURORAs fifth album will be finally available again on double black vinyl and picture disc.
As bonus on this reissue, there are songs from the same recording session, which were not released on the original CD.
This is an essential masterpiece of Black Metal and proves once again the greatness and strength of LUNAR AURORA.

Japanese black metal legends Sigh formed in 1989/1990. The genre-classic debut ‘Scorn Defeat’ followed on Euronymous’ Deathlike Silence Productions in 1993, and with each subsequent release, Sigh grew to become one of the country’s greatest and most revered metal exports. With a journey through the strange and the psychedelic, incorporating a whole eclectic mix of genre styles & experimentation throughout their career, Sigh has remained a vital creative force in the avantgarde field whilst maintaining their old school roots, as witnessed with the stellar 2022 album, ‘Shiki’. 2025 also saw Sigh remaking their ‘Hangman’s Hymn’ album for a release on Peaceville as part of the band’s 35th anniversary celebrations, in the shape of ‘I Saw the World’s End: Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV’.

With the ongoing early line-up of Mirai Kawashima, Shinichi Ishikawa, and Satoshi Fujinami, ‘Scenario IV: Dread Dreams’ was the band’s fourth studio album, originally surfacing in 1999. This was also notably the final title in partnership with Sigh’s then-label, Cacophonous Records. Delving evermore into the experimental side of music to conjure an interlinked gallery of twisted soundscapes; ‘Dread Dreams’ became more of a journey into the realm of psychedelia and rock over black metal, with this Zappa-inspired odyssey acting as somewhat of a direct pre-cursor to what was to follow with the celebrated ‘Imaginary Sonicscape’ opus.

‘Dread Dreams’ was once more recorded at Shinjuku On Air Studio with J. Yamada, with a selection of guests including Damian Montgomery of Ritual Carnage lending lyrics plus guest vocals, along with King Fowley (Deceased), and Killjoy (Necrophagia) supplying additional song lyrics. Cover art came courtesy of renowned artist Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Autopsy).

Continuing with Peaceville’s re-issues of Sigh’s classic works, this edition of ‘Dread Dreams’ contains a new master created by Patrick Engel at Temple of Disharmony.

The release also includes a new interview with main-man Mirai Kawashima conducted by Dayal Patterson of Cult Never Dies, with his thoughts, influences and reflections on the album and its challenges.

This edition of ‘Dread Dreams’ is presented on limited marble vinyl.