CD

With their fifth album "The Stillness of Dissolution", AUSTERE embark on a dark journey that leads through the abyss of time, the inevitable return of order to chaos into the black void. In the words of the poet: everything that arises is worth that it perishes. The new album brings an overall blacker feel to their sound. This slight change of course does not constitute an easy nostalgic return to the old days as AUSTERE remain within the framework of the more mature and defined version of their particular style of depressive black metal, which reflects their greater experience and evolution as artists. AUSTERE arose from a solo-project run by multi-instrumentalist and singer Desolate alias Mitchell Keepin who joined forces with drummer, keyboard player, and vocalist Sorrow aka Tim Yatras in 2005. Signature frost-bitten guitars, alongside high-pitched screams and wails marked AUSTERE's debut album "Withering Illusions and Desolation" (2007). The sophomore album "To Lay like Old Ashes" followed in 2009 and still featured a raw sound but with a refined production. At this point in time, both musicians decided to focus on other projects and AUSTERE went into hibernation until the duo reformed in 2021. The number of followers had only grown during their absence through word of mouth. AUSTERE are back in black with "The Stillness of Dissolution", yet the Australians also keep all the subtle shades of grey that turn the ongoing evolution of their music into a thrilling experience of new sonic spaces of dark matter.

With their seventh full-length "Nocturne", HEXVESSEL explore the liminal spaces between light and darkness, nature and solitude on an epic album. The ever evolving and shifting Finnish band has reawakened their treasured roots in folk music and psychedelic rock as they artfully weave acoustic interludes, cosmic synths, and spectral piano into the frost-spun threads on their black metal loom. "Nocturne" sounds both familiar and fearlessly progressive as echoes of tradition entwine with a fresh reinvention of their characteristic sound. The seed of this masterpiece was sown by the performance of a commissioned work at Roadburn Festival 2024 that was originally entitled: "Music for Gloaming: A Nocturne". With this album, it arrives fully fleshed in recorded form. This opus magnum blends the raw spirit of Quorthon's black metal with the intricate minimalism of contemporary composers such as Philip Glass, György Ligeti, and Avro Pärt. Its eclectic nature is elevated and underlined by select guest performances, including the vocals of Saara Nevalainen, as well as the avant-garde black metal luminaries Yusaf Vicotnik Parvez (DHG/DØDHEIMSGARD), and ORANSSI PAZUZU's Juho Vanhanen. While HEXVESSEL are based in Tampere, Finland, they were founded by English singer & songwriter Kvohst aka Mat McNerney after he moved to the country in 2009. In many ways, HEXVESSEL reflect their founder. The vocalist and songwriter has instigated and been involved in various bands ranging from UK black metal act CODE, a stint in Norwegian legends DØDHEIMSGARD, and to rock shooting stars BEASTMILK – later 'continued' with GRAVE PLEASURES to name but a few of his success stories. With "Nocturne", HEXVESSEL invite all souls on earth to a transcendental night ritual that is imbued with DARKTHRONE, TANGERINE DREAM, Philip Glass, and sounds unearthed from the dead past, now instilled with new life.

Collectors edition - second press digipak, with slightly different layout than first press

Nel Buio, Italian for In the Dark, is a black wave project born by Clod "the Ripper" De Rosa (Blasphemer, ex-Septycal Gorge) in the Autumn of 2023 to combine black metal and 80s darkwave. The Line up was completed by
Neil Grotti on guitars and Francesco Vellacifer on drums (both of Electrocution and Blasphemer's fame, among the many).
Avantgarde Music is glad to announce the release of Nel Buio self-titled debut EP. Frontman Clod the Ripper chose the following words to introduce the five songs composing the record: “In the shadow of the metropolis, where the echo of alienation seeps through the cracks in the concrete, our music is born. A work that reflects the isolation and hypocrisy of lives obscured by the lights of big cities. Through a feminine eye, our "pure Italian blackwave" is a manifesto for those who find beauty in decay and truth in shadows, a comfort in the darkness for the souls lost within it”.
Uncompromising, dark and sorrowful, Nel Buio debut will leave a mark on all those looking for something more than mere fury in black metal. On June 21st, let the dark guide you.

DOUBLE-DISC EDITION OF DARKTHRONE’S LEGENDARY 1994 BLACK METAL ALBUM, INCLUDING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY MASTER, PLUS ADDITIONAL DISC WITH COMMENTARY FROM FENRIZ.

Darkthrone began life in the late 80’s as a thrash/death metal act & progressed through technical death/doom metal experimentation to become legends of the black metal world & one of the original leading bands of the Norwegian scene, as well as inspiring a whole generation of metal bands.

Famously written & recorded over a period of just 2 weeks & featuring the iconic photocopied front cover, ’Transilvanian Hunger’ features primitive guitar riffs over a monotonous drum beat creating a feel of hypnotic starkness with its blend of Von, Burzum & Bathory. Over the years the album has become representative of the definitive 90’s Norwegian black metal sound & style, often copied but never bettered over the past 2 decades. The album was recorded with Fenriz’ ’Necrohell’ studio & was the first release where the band became a duo, following the departure of guitarist Zephyrous.

This edition of ‘Transilvanian Hunger’ is presented on double-disc CD format & includes an audio master created for the album’s 30th anniversary in line with the original 1994 version, plus the 2014 commentary disc from Fenriz with his recollections on the tracks & the time period.

DOUBLE-DISC EDITION OF DARKTHRONE'S 1993 PURE NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL MASTERPIECE, INCLUDING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY MASTER, PLUS ADDITIONAL DISC WITH COMMENTARY FROM FENRIZ.

Darkthrone began life in the late 80’s as a thrash/death metal act & progressed through technical death/doom metal experimentation to become legends of the black metal world & one of the original leading bands of the Norwegian scene, as well as inspiring a whole generation of metal bands, as they continue as strong as ever to this day.

‘Under A Funeral Moon’, Darkthrone's third album, was originally released by Peaceville in 1993. The album is a bleak reflection of contemporary times, featuring harsh guitar riffage & hateful vocals in what was the band’s first 100% pure black metal opus; a work completely stripped of the death metal traces of former releases & in its place, a stark & primitive execution. This was aided by an intentionally lo-fi sound that is powerfully cold & entirely unconcerned with any modern-day aesthetics. ‘Under A Funeral Moon’ is the album that many Darkthrone fans hail as the ultimate manifesto for Black Metal.

This edition of ‘Under A Funeral Moon’ is presented on double-disc CD format & includes an audio master created for the album’s 30th anniversary in line with the original 1993 version, plus the 2013 commentary disc from Fenriz with his recollections on the tracks & the time period.

DOUBLE-DISC EDITION OF THE ICONIC 1992 BLACK METAL CLASSIC FROM DARKTHRONE, INCLUDING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY MASTER, PLUS ADDITIONAL DISC WITH COMMENTARY FROM FENRIZ.

’A Blaze In The Northern Sky’, Darkthrone's official second album, was originally released in 1992 & was without question one of the blueprints for the Black Metal scene, spearheading the evolution of the early second wave movement in Norway & beyond. It was hailed on release as an album of true scene-shifting greatness, following their more death metal focussed debut, ’Soulside Journey’.

The rawness apparent on the album (recorded at Creative Studios, the same location as Mayhem's legendary Deathcrush was put to tape), was unusual for the time & an antithesis to the usual metal production values & standards during the period. With this, Darkthrone's statement of attitude & intent was clear & their status as masters of Norwegian black metal was set.

This edition of 'A Blaze In The Northern Sky' is presented on double-disc CD format & includes the audio master created for the album’s 30th anniversary in line with the original 1992 version, plus the 2012 commentary disc from Fenriz with his recollections on the tracks & the time period.

Hailing from the black metal hotbed of Finland, Curse Upon a Prayer was founded in Tornio in 2010 and have since released two albums - From The Lands of Demise in 2014, and Rotten Tongues in 2015. The band has gained some recognition for their strong, anti-Islamic themes, which are fiercely manifested in their live shows. During those well-received events, there has been multiple Quran desecrations, and the ruthless flame of Curse Upon a Prayer continues to grow without any hesitation.

Now, the Finnish infidels of Curse Upon a Prayer have decided to take another step towards the gaping abyss and thus present a new EP, thematically titled The Three Woes. Their third studio recording so far and a follow-up to the righteous Rotten Tongues, The Three Woes is another grand strike for Curse Upon a Prayer, albeit a quick-hitting one. No less satisfying despite its compact nature, this EP is merely a glimpse of the truly flagrant blasphemy that is yet come: a peaceful prelude for the next, Allah-raping Curse Upon a Prayer full-length set to be released in 2019.

Great symphonic black metal

Disastrous Murmur are back. These pioneers of death metal have been slaying the scene since the early 1990’s when their debut hit the public’s ears. Brutality, speed and heaviness are the key words for all tracks of the album "Death Unconquered", but also melody and catchy riffs and choruses characterize Disastrous Murmur’s tracks as always. The whole new album is a varied creature, with fast death metal attacks. Fans of Disastrous Murmur will nod in recognition to the band’s hallmarks and style, while new listeners will be embraced by stylish, brutal and aggressive old school death metal that has references back to the forefathers of death metal.