CD

To understand the defining traits of Greek Black Metal, one need only to listen to “The Tressrising of Nyarthotep” by the mighty Varathron. This track, first appearing on the “genesis of Apocryphal Desire” demo, possesses all of the victorious grandeur and tragic melancholia that are the essence of the early 1990’s Greek Black Metal sound. Along with contemporary releases by Rotting Christ and Necromantia, Varathron’s demo material firmly established a style that is thoroughly Grecian in character. Thick with a damp and heavy Hellenistic darkness, Varathron explored a sound that was infused with the epic and the ancient. As with so much of the most evocative and potent Black Metal, the ancient currents are revealed through the expression of the modern. Varathron’s music is as mystical as it is visceral. The recordings on this compilation comprise the earliest seeds of what would become one of the greatest bands in the history of the genre. This collection contains all of Varathron’s work leading the band toward the creation of their monumental debut LP, “His Majesty at the Swamp.” The two demos, “Procreation of the Unaltered Evil” and “Genesis of Apocryphal Desire” reveal the steps that Varathron took that would later come to fruition on their first album. This collection also contains the more refined tracks that were utilized on their first vinyl releases – the “One Step Beyond Dreams“ EP and “The Everlasting Sins” tracks from the split LP with Necromantia – and three additional bonus tracks recorded during the early years. As with the forthcoming Rotting Christ demo collection that NWN! will soon release, the songs on this compilation of Varathron’s early recordings reveal the painstaking emergence of a band’s identity. Absorbed in the context of early works by Varathron’s Greek contemporaries, one also witnesses the development of a sound uniquely specific to a geographic region, so specific, in fact, that it is impossible to imagine such a multidimensional approach to Black Metal originating anywhere else. Both the Regular and Die Hard editions of this release will feature gatefold jackets with artwork by Manuel Tinnemans and layout by Tilmann Benninghaus as well as a 48 page zine booklet. The Die Hard edition will also come with a separate LP (with jacket) featuring the “Live at the Swamp” demo material. Originally released on tape in 2004, “Live at the Swamp” features a live recording and rehearsal recording from 1991. These recordings have been remastered and cleaned up by James Plotkin and the sound quality on this LP, although still quite raw, is markedly better than the original tape version.

Jewel case CD, 12 pages booklet

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). 

----------------------- 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.

Dystopia proudly presents their fourth full length album titled: «De Verboden Diepte I: Veldslag op de Rand van de Wereld». An album that takes you on a journey of Black Metal fury mixed with beautiful post-like atmospheric influences and combined with less obvious instruments like the trumpets.

“De Verboden Diepte I” offers a wide variation on sound and goes from fast black metal blasting to mellow atmospheric passages back to devastating headbang moments in an even somewhat pagan style here and there (like Enslaved). The guitars are strong and clear throughout the album giving them moments of beautiful melodies as well as some old school chord riffing. The drums are also a piece of variation from the standard blasting to more extended playful drum parts where the bass is being added like a pounding machine filling up the gaps with some nice bass solos and it gives the drums that extra touch on the low end. The most remarkable instrument on this album must be the trumpet who delivers some very nice background melodies and atmosphere which lifts the album to a whole other level, combined with the wide range of the vocals who variate between different screams and even clean vocals makes the song structures unbelievable majestic!

Dystopia has delivered an album that is simply beautiful, yet aggressive, powerful, yet calming. A masterpiece within its very own genre! A must have to every fan of Old School Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal and even Post or Pagan Black Metal.

Recommended if you like: Darkthrone, Emperor, Enslaved, Fluisteraars, Summoning, Wolves in the Throne Room, Elffor, Obliteration, Grey Aura, Terzij de Horde, Dodecahedron,