Vinili

Uncompromising black/death metal from Copenhagen

The follow-up to 2022’s breakout debut A Mother’s Curse

Features a guest appearance by Michael Poulsen (Volbeat, Dominus)

Odium is a name that hasn't been talked about much in the symphonic black metal scene. Formed in 1994, the Norwegian band didn't release much besides a demo, a single, and their only studio album "The Sad Realm of the Stars". The 1998 album received little recognition when it was first released since it was seen as more of a Limbonic Art knockoff. However, when you give the album a listen, you'll see that it's more than just a cheap ripoff of Limbonic Art. Not only does it expand upon the Limbonic Art sound, but it also stands out in its own ways.

Let's start off with the instruments. As I've stated before, the instrumentals take large inspiration from Limbonic Art, but it does have its own merits. The guitars sound more raw, but still maintain a clean production to fit the symphonic themes. Speaking of which, the symphonic elements are easily one of the strongest elements on this album. The keyboards sound beautiful with its melodic tunes, and gives the overall atmosphere a grand theatrical tone. One instrument I find a bit weak though is the drums. It's decent it terms of the blastbeats it plays, but the production softens the loud banging a bit, so it feels weak. Some of my favorite instrumentals come from the tracks "Towards the Forest Horizon", "Thy Eternal Nightfall", and "The Sad Realm of the Stars", since those tracks execute the symphonic themes the strongest and have some powerful riffs. While the drumming can feel weak, every other instrument does not fail in bringing in an epic and dramatic atmosphere.

Another great thing about the album is the vocals. Sechtdaemon does the vocals here, and he stands out in his own ways. Sechtdaemon's high shrieks sound very angry, and the occasional demonic screams only further enhances the evil personality in him. One of the stronger vocal moments is from the track "Through the Sorrowfilled Forest". The album goes for a more abrasive and chaotic tone, so the guitar riffs have more darker sounds and the symphonic synths have a more grim tone in them. This fits perfectly well with the vocals, as the shrieks flow well to the cold instruments and further execute the grand atmosphere. Sechtdaemon's vocals are excellent in flow and delivery, and his vocal skills are right up there with Ihsahn of Emperor.

Overall, this is an album that will surprise a lot of people, especially since it's a lot more than just Limbonic Art worship. The symphonic elements strengthen the cold and dark atmosphere, and the vocals have a strong delivery and execution. Odium would go on a hiatus shortly after the release of the "Altering the State of Being" single, and they only just recently reignited the band. It's unknown of the band is gonna make new music, but as of now, "The Sad Realm of the Stars" is an album I highly recommend for those seeking an unique take on the Limbonic Art sound.

Slater922, July 8th, 2021 - METAL ARCHIVES

Reprint, 500x heavyweight neon violet 12" in a black poly-lined innersleeve, gatefold jacket full-color printed on 350g carton, all assembled in a plastic overbag.

Reprint, 500x red opaque with heavy white & black splatters 12" (140g) in a microtene innerbag, printed innersleeve, full-color on 220g, jacket, full-color printed on 350g, lyrics sheet, all assembled in a plastic overbag.

Marble vinyl

After the success of Antichrist Rise To Power original release in 2019 on Nuclear War Now! Productions with over ten subsequent pressings the band felt there should be a official French version with complete text translation and expanded layout on the most cult label from France - Osmose Production

Antichrist Rise to Power is a violent declaration of allegiance to the Emperor’s dominion, from the mud-covered skeletons of Marengo to the jagged cliffs of St. Helena. The noble acceptance of forced exile, the inescapable chill of the prison cell, and the cruel rush of combat all fill the aristocrat’s appetite for his boundless quest for honor. 

Departure Chandelier’s music shimmers with the aesthetic ardor of apotheosis. It is a communion with the deceased, tracing the pathway of life transmuted into death over dishonor. Although comprised of members of Akitsa and Ash Pool, Departure Chandelier is wholly unique in style and substance and bears little overt resemblance to either of those projects.

The debut album from Belial on Austria's Lethal Records is, without question, one of the heaviest Black/Death Metal albums I have ever heard. It starts off with a creepy little intro, then smashes into a re-recorded version of, in my opinion, Belial's signature track, "The Invocation." This version is much heavier and darker then the one that appeared on their "Gods of the Pit" demo, as Belial added more spoken word interludes and hoarse whispering to the mix. After this, Belial rips through 20 minutes of some of the most intense music in the history of the underground scene. This album just rages along at a breakneck pace, and doesn't let up fast enough for you to catch your breath. My only small complaint is the length of this album, but that is minor in comparison to what Belial does with the little time they have here.
On a side note, this release featured 2 different covers for some reason. The original (which I have, and which is the rarer of the 2) was a rather cheap looking, almost xerox'ed scene of a mountain landscape in the woods, with a black moon hovering in the sky, in black and white, with some blue here and there, and the band's logo in blue in the upper left hand corner, and the album title in the lower right hand corner. The second cover was the hand holding whatever that is in the photo, with the album title in white in the upper right hand corner, and the band logo in red in the lower right hand corner. I have no idea why this was done, other then perhaps only a limited number of copies had the original artwork.
This album has been long out of print, thanks to the thieving bastards that ran Lethal Records. However, I have seen 1 or 2 distros still carrying it (with the second cover artwork), and I'm sure there are a few traders out there with it as well. In any case, pick this up at all costs if you can.
 

Svart Records proudly present the Black- and Doom Metal pioneers Unholy’s compilation of early material – Demology out on July 19th

“Unholy are arguably the most original, avant-garde, definitive, and important Finnish extreme metal band. The paths they have walked have always been lonely and unknown, entering to the deepest celestial forests and psychic graveyards, and the treasures found there dark and exquisite. This compilation consists of their three legendary demos, of which Trip to Depressive Autumn is the best recording ever done in Finland, of any genre or style”.
- Albert Witchfinder, Reverend Bizarre

Svart Records is set to release the compilation album “Demology” by Finnish avant-garde death doom metal band Unholy. Including their early demo recordings "The Procession of Black Doom" (1990), "Demo 11.90" (1990) and "Trip to Depressive Autumn" (1992), this is the first time these demos are in the same package with exclusive liner notes.

Unholy emerged from the eastern Finnish town of Imatra in the late '80s. After changing their name from Armageddon to Holy Hell and eventually to Unholy, their mission was simple; to create harder, heavier, and slower music than their idols Black Sabbath and Celtic Frost. The lyrical themes and ideas for the songs came from Satanism, mysticism, anti-Christianity, mushroom trips, and shamanism among others. Finnish deep ecologist Pentti Linkola also inspired the band and their music. Some of the songs came up naturally by jamming riffs and others entirely by improvisation.

While the first two demos already made Unholy a force to be reckoned with, the release of “Trip to Depressive Autumn” caught the attention of the underground metal scene and various labels. The band was hungry for a recording contract, and it finally came into realization when Lethal Records released their debut album “From the Shadows” in 1993.

“Demology”, mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios, is out on July 19^th. Available formats include the Svart exclusive 2LP black/white marble vinyl, 2LP limited transparent red vinyl, 2LP classic black vinyl, and the 2CD edition.

Tilbake til Trollberg is now out! We bring you a little snack from Troll while you are waiting for the new full-length album. We return to Trollberg this autumn with a new release of Norwegian symphonic black metal.

By mass demand we are reprinting this album, this time with a gatefold sleeve (first press was on a single sleeve).

sound cave excl. edition, 100 copies in solid mercury grey vinyl

This is a project of Cernunnus (Manes), Kalmos (ex-Barathrum), Rainer Tuominkanto (Ajattara) and Niklas Kvarforth (Shining).

THE BAND STATES:

"Länge Leve Döden" is our monumental celebration of the great Lord of Death. A perfect alignment of five songs that were written under a awful unhealthy process over the course of two years. Expect Black Metal the way it used to feel and sound back in the early nineties and rejoice!"

By mass demand we are reprinting this album, this time with a gatefold sleeve (first press was on a single sleeve).

Band edition, but we will have an handful of copies  - purple black vinyl

This is a project of Cernunnus (Manes), Kalmos (ex-Barathrum), Rainer Tuominkanto (Ajattara) and Niklas Kvarforth (Shining).

THE BAND STATES:

"Länge Leve Döden" is our monumental celebration of the great Lord of Death. A perfect alignment of five songs that were written under a awful unhealthy process over the course of two years. Expect Black Metal the way it used to feel and sound back in the early nineties and rejoice!"

Black/White Marbled