CD

Bilwis is a Melodic Black Metal solo-project from Germany. 

The concept of Bilwis comprises old European fairy tales and myths, clothing them in a garment of raw, yet melodic and atmospheric Black Metal with German lyrics - a journey to the world of forgotten dreams, wolves, ghosts, dwarfs, mermaids, trolls, elves, vampires & giants.

When Bilwis started the songwriting for the new album “Hameln”, it soon became apparent that in terms of songwriting he needed to return to the debut EP, but with improved sound. The last album “Pan” ended up very melodic and playful, whereas the concept of the new album required a darker and oppressive sound and songwriting to express the grim themes that the lyrics deal with. Musically, a big inspiration have always been Dissection, and while not always apparent, the occasional nods to “The Somberlain” are quite distinctive.

In order to visually express the dark themes of the fairy tales and myths which are told on the new album, particularly that of the title song, it was decided to get the cover artwork done by the very talented German artist Julian Bauer, who captured the essence of the music and lyrics perfectly in his image of the “Rattenfänger von Hameln”.

‘Rotten mindcrushing death metal from the underground, most important and influential bands. A brutal compilation that sickens your soul’. That was the original promotional line for this compilation album in 1991. It’s still valid to this very day. ALL bands are up till now active, recording new albums and performing worldwide. And all with their own serious fanbase. This cd re-release features Unleashed, Asphyx, Tiamat, Morgoth, Grave & Loudblast. All with rare or special tracks from 1990 – 1991, 15 in total. The 12 page booklet contains interviews with all bands, done by Pim Blankenstein (Sinister, Bodyfarm, Infernal Majesty). Complete booklet and original artwork remake by ACW (Tiamat, Ceremonial Oath). 

Collector's Edition in 4-panel Digipack with 6-page booklet, limited to 1000 copies. The image is a digital mockup. The actual DigiCDs may look slightly different.

Aquilus is an atmospheric metal band from Melbourne, Australia. The works encompass different styles of atmospheric music inspired by classical, folk, and other genres. Primarily a one man project composed/produced by Horace Rosenqvist, it also features the addition of session musicians, and now has a full 6 member live band with Zebadee Scott (Drums), Hayley Anderson (Violin), Sara Orania (Keyboard), Mortimer Bellchambers (Guitar), and Daniel Green (Bass).

Being conceived sometime in the early 2000’s, after some experimental demos and an EP “Arbor” in 2007, Aquilus released their debut album Griseus, created soley by Rosenqvist, on CD through ATMF in 2011. A 2013 vinyl release by Blood Music raised the band into public consciousness, and Griseus slowly amassed a following of devoted fans, climbing its way to being voted one of the top albums of the decade on MetalStorm.

For eight years, an epic, sophomore masterwork was in-the-making. So legendary, in fact, that fans hardly believe it existed. The opus grew so furiously, the decision was ultimately made to split the work into two albums, culminating with the release of the first album, Bellum I in 2021, and then the second album, Bellum II in 2024.

Bellum I and II showcase the band’s rare amalgam of authentic classical, European folk and black metal influences, alongside Aquilus’s unique multi-instrumentation and compositional complexity. Depending on the piece, instruments used range from an assortment of acoustic guitars to pianos, violins, mandolas, mandolins, balalaika, banjo, gusli, bow psaltery, and fipple flutes among others. Metal influences, ranging from early Metallica to the early works of Solefald, Opeth and Katatonia, combine with the classical romanticism of Rachmaninov and Chopin, to the soundtrack textures of Bernard Herrmann and Thomas Newman.

The amount of time, thought and detail gone into the works is immense. Many years of dedication have been put in to produce the best works possible. Now the world can hear ‘Bellum’ in its entirety. ‘Bellum I’ and ‘Bellum II’ being essentially one colossal album split into two releases, both written and recorded at the same time. ‘Bellum II’ is the more mellow of the two albums, but still contains its dark and heavy moments, albeit with longer expansive tracks and some different shades not seen on ‘Bellum I’. Immerse yourself in the conclusive chapter of the journey of Bellum.

----------------------- 10% off launch price until 12/04

A special bundle offer during first weeks of preorder: gold vinyl + digipak CD at a slightly discounted launch price 

Three years after their latest release, atmospheric black metal / dark folk duo Ulvik is ready to release their new studio album, Last Rites | Dire Omens. The Canadian duo formed by Jade Fadel and George Allen once again defies genre borders with nine new songs all different from one another, yet perfectly consistent.

Ulvik has always been hard to define, moving seamlessly between dark folk (Volume I and Volume II) and atmospheric black metal (Cascades), and their new opus makes no exception: albeit a black metal record at heart, Last Rites | Dire Omens includes lots of different influences and hints. Reminiscent of the Northwestern lands of the American continent, Ulvik’s work shifts from essential, acoustic episodes to more complex, aggressive and almost avantgarde pieces.

Last Rites | Dire Omens is a foreboding, yearning record, yet captivating in its stark beauty. Both harrowing in its unrelenting heavy passages, then flowing into delicate sounds of loss and despondency, like the soundtrack to a eulogy, a sermon for the end of the world.

----------------------- 10% off launch price until 12/04

Limited edition first press on digipak 

 Three years after their latest release, atmospheric black metal / dark folk duo Ulvik is ready to release their new studio album, Last Rites | Dire Omens. The Canadian duo formed by Jade Fadel and George Allen once again defies genre borders with nine new songs all different from one another, yet perfectly consistent.

Ulvik has always been hard to define, moving seamlessly between dark folk (Volume I and Volume II) and atmospheric black metal (Cascades), and their new opus makes no exception: albeit a black metal record at heart, Last Rites | Dire Omens includes lots of different influences and hints. Reminiscent of the Northwestern lands of the American continent, Ulvik’s work shifts from essential, acoustic episodes to more complex, aggressive and almost avantgarde pieces.

Last Rites | Dire Omens is a foreboding, yearning record, yet captivating in its stark beauty. Both harrowing in its unrelenting heavy passages, then flowing into delicate sounds of loss and despondency, like the soundtrack to a eulogy, a sermon for the end of the world.

----------------------- 10% off launch price until 12/04

For a song preview CLICK HERE

Limited edition first press on digipak

Vástígr is the solo project of Þ. (Hāg, Ill Tidings and several other projects), Austrian composer, guitarist and singer. Vástígr debut, Aura Aeternitatis, was released by Avantgarde Music in 2019 and impressed all those who dared entering its realm.
A perfect blending of atmospheric black metal and dissonant, complex structures typical to the Icelandic scene, Vástígr music is one of the very rare cases in which a black metal artist is actually crafting something personal and unique.
After a five-year long silence, Vástígr is back with its sophomore album, The Path of Perdition, a cathartic journey through downfall and uprising, of accepting man’s futility and insignificance in a greater (cosmic) scheme. 
As described by Þ., “the eternal cycle goes ever on and could not care less what happens to us. Eventually the wheel of time crushes us all like insects. What remains is memory, ruins, ashes, until even those fade into oblivion – and the knowledge that the cycle shall repeat itself, for better or worse”.
Produced in Iceland at Studio Emissary by Stephen Lockhart (Rebirth of Nefast and producer for Sinmara, Svartidauði, Nexion and many more),
The Path of Perdition will feature once again a cover art by French artist Metastazis, who created art for Blut Aus Nord, Alcest, Amorphis, Ondskapt and many other prominent artists.

A5 CD leather book with embossed hot foil cover, 12page booklet

LIMBONIC ART are back! Their ninth full-length "Opus Daemoniacal" is black as a raven, fierce as a wolf, majestic as an eagle, and mighty as the legendary Norwegian black metal pioneers that mastermind, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Vidar "Daemon" Jensen founded in 1993 have always been. "Opus Daemoniacal" continues along the more straightforward black metal path that the Norwegian has chosen for his last releases yet this album also deliberately harks back to the dense atmospheric and cinematic feel of LIMBONIC ART's groundbreaking early works. After having turned into a duo, the debut album "Moon in the Scorpio" was released in 1996 via Nocturnal Art Productions – the label of EMPEROR guitarist Samoth aka Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen. Their at the time quite unique combination of harsh Nordic black metal with cinematic elements inspired by romantic and classic orchestral music proved extremely influential in the following years. With their sophomore full-length "In Abhorrence Dementia" (1997) and the third album "Epitome of Illusions" (1998) LIMBONIC ART gradually reduced the symphonic elements of their sound. In February 2003, the duo broke up, but Daemon reformed the band in 2006. He continued to release the LIMBONIC ART albums "Phantasmagoria" (2010) and "Spectre Abysm" (2017). "Opus Daemoniacal" connects the present to the early sound of the Norwegian cult act, which is bound to appeal to friends of their first albums as well as to a new generation of classic Norse black metal connoisseurs.

Gurthang is back and ready to unleash their 8th studio album entitled: “Martyrium”. Like the 2 previous albums “Hearts of the Hollow and Ascension”, they keep moving forth in the same direction where they mix Black Metal with Doom Metal and a lot of ambient background effects making their sound original and outstanding from any other band.

Martyrium however, gives more depth on the guitar parts and delivers some excellent leads that have strong chords, melodies and even a couple of solos. The rhythm guitar brings the same filthy vile sound like we’re used to, where the bass is once again very powerful, harsh, yet, even got a few moments to shine on its own on this record. The drums are well-executed and elevate each song to a higher level by its ferocious diversity it lays down throughout the record and the vocals deliver the same haunted screams which kind of marks the sound of the band.

With their 8th album, Gurthang shows us that they’re far from done and still have a lot of cards up their sleeve. A solid album for those who love a good portion of Black / Doom Metal. 

Recommended if you like: Behemoth, Hate, Azarath, Blaze Of Perdition, Ascension, Vader, Infernal War, etc..