Vinili

Gatefold LP

Two years after their sophomore “Cosmic Terror”, Germany’s THE SPIRIT once again delve into the vast nothingness of the universe, while capturing the fear of the unknown and humanity’s insignificance within our cosmos in their sound. On their upcoming third offering, “Of Clarity and Galactic Structures”, the duo, consisting of Matthias Trautes (vocals, guitars, bass) and Manuel Steitz (drums), hold on to their black/death metal roots yet take the progressive elements to a whole new level. Whilst the predecessor from 2019 already contained some prog elements, the brain twisting rhythm changes and virtuosic instrumental performance became an essential part of the band’s universe.

Once again recorded and mixed at the Woodshed Studio, Germany by V. Santura (with the drums being tracked at Iguana Studios by Christoph Brandes), THE SPIRIT’s lyrics usually mix a general misanthropic view on the world with cosmic metaphors and the call to see our often narrow-minded and egocentric existence in the larger context of our whole universe, where none of our daily struggles and vanities ever matter. To distance oneself from this attitude and see the bigger picture can often lead to new clarity, and this thought inspired the album title.

Black Vinyl

When FLAGG burst from the void in June 2020 with their debut album, Nothing But Death, the veil of secrecy had yet to be lifted. Which mattered not, when presented with black metal of such sterling quality: both ancient and ageless, old yet new. Their attack was immediately intense, exhibiting a restlessness that's roiling and raging, always moving but always with a target in sight. Eventually, it was revealed that FLAGG hailed from Finland and was the work of selfsame multi-instrumentalist Flagg, who was a part of reanimated old Finnish cult Annihilatus, and vocalist Tyrant, whose hordes include the esteemed likes of MALUM, Infernarium, and Kalmankantaja.

With that lineup thus set, FLAGG return little more than a year later with their second full-length, Cosmic Chaos Manifest. An immediately harsher spin than its not-inconsiderable predecessor, Cosmic Chaos Manifest duly lives up to its title through a shapeshifting style of ultraviolence that retains a unique gleam, one that's paradoxically grittier for all its seemingly on-the-surface clarity. As ever, FLAGG's songwriting strikes true through a skillful balance between burning fire and nightsky melodicism, here actually sounding more richly 1990s - specifically, the oft-overlooked late '90s - than the comparatively modernist grime of Nothing But Death. But, just like that bolt-from-the-blue debut, FLAGG understand archaic expressions, the Old Language of Black Metal, where medieval atmosphere and ghostly portent informed even the most straightforward forms, rendering an air of aristocracy to that of belligerent bravado; now, they're just rendered in more restless, dizzying form.

"gold & orange" vinyl

The quest for a complete Solar Fields reissue collection continues here at Sidereal, and this time we bring back to light the first installments in Magnus Birgersson’s unfinished tracks archive.

Origin #01, originally released in 2010, was the first compilation of Solar Fields finished unfinished pieces. A series of audio stems born in various periods of time, in this case from 2002 to 2008, then completed and refined.

Such a genesis makes the Origin series something different in the Solar Fields catalog, as the usual consistency and unity of Magnus’s studio albums is nowhere to be found here, in favor of a multi-faceted, various and fragmented approach. Every track is completely different from the other, and you never know what’s lying behind the next corner. Every note sounds 101% Solar Fields, but the spectre covered by Origin #01 was an entirely different width compared to what the Swedish producer released until that moment.

Limited edition, 300 pcs.

The 2012 album “Patria” constitutes the next step in Nordvis’ undertaking to release the entire Tervahäät catalogue on vinyl.

Tervahäät is a collective of Finnish mystics who began collaborating on ceremonial folk and ambient music back in 2008. Through sounds and words, they seek a better understanding of Finnish culture, history, and beliefs, as well as the subtle aspects which cannot be seen - only felt. To date, they have made six full-length albums, varying from wintry ambiances and harsh industrial soundscapes to ritualistic drone and wistful folk.

Vinile Nero

Gli Islandesi Dynfari tornano con il loro terzo disco, dopo lo stupendo "Sem Skuggin" del 2012, e lo fanno alla grandissima... clamoroso Black Metal Atmosferico in bilico tra glaciali sfuriate e catarsi geotermiche, suoni naturali e vivi, oltre alla ormai collaudata abilità nel far confluire le influenze in un formato-suono coerente e coeso, ma nel contempo libero di spaziare e respirare a pieni polmoni dal Talento compositivo di una delle piu' interessanti Band emerse negli ultimi anni.

Ascolta su SoundCloud

This special edition comes with an exclusive silkscreened hand-printed and numbered slipcase, printed innersleeve, 12-page 12"x12" booklet and a download card. Pressed on exclusive gold nugget heavy vinyl. Limited to 102 copies.

#076/102

Tracks 1&4 - Recorded at The Academy, Winter 90/91. Original versions appear on "Gothic".

Tracks 2&3 - Recorded at The Academy, Winter 1989. Original versions appear on "Lost Paradise".
Also released as "In Dub" 12" on Peaceville for a limited period.

Track 4 - Previously unreleased version.
 

‘Den Svevende Festning’ features six tracks and over 32 minutes of raw and atmospheric Norwegian black metal, most notably containing exclusive and unreleased material recorded during the ‘Katedralen’ album sessions, in the shape of the title track (also the theme for the cover image, an old drawing of Fredriksten Fortress in Eriksen’s home-town of Halden), and ‘Ormtunge’. Side A is completed by the alternate arrangement of the track ‘Født Til Å Herske’, previously only available digitally. Side B contains a selection of live tracks from Mork’s recent shows, featuring a series of tracks from the ‘Katedralen’ opus.

Throughout the "Suns of Perdition" tetralogy, Panzerfaust has managed to expand upon their distinct sound and infuse it with a clear vision and intensity. In the third act of the tetralogy, the band takes listeners on an incredibly immersive, yet harrowing journey to an outer darkness, documenting mankind's descent into collective madness and forcing listeners to face the mirror of a hideous reality, in all of its glorious terror, horror, and disgust.

The music contained on "The Astral Drain" is incredibly captivating and immediate, whilst retaining a strong sense of atmosphere. In particular, the intensity of the performances is truly something to behold. While many contemporaries may drift toward increased tempos in order to artificially create a sense of intensity, Panzerfaust have achieved songwriting brilliance in ensuring that every moment on "The Astral Drain" is filled with passion and purpose. This is all the more impressive as much of the material seems purposefully composed at a more mid-tempo, allowing for these songs to be embellished with stunning details in melody, primarily provided by guitars, vocal arrangements, effective ambient sections as well as incredibly precise and deep percussion work. Specifically, the drums manage to provide a solid foundation to these monolithic tracks, while offering stunning compositional diversity and creativity. Furthermore, the band's boldness in vocal performance and delivery enhances what would already be a captivating listening experience. As such, it is the fantastic compositional detail placed on each element throughout this record that elevates "The Astral Drain" to stand as Panzerfaust's most accomplished and ambitious work to this date, certainly warranting repeated listens.

The band's ability as songwriters are on full display here, as each song refuses to fall back on genre conventions, instead of allowing the music to develop organically, with movements in each song seeming to convulse and develop into new sections that drive the music forward. This is an impressive compositional achievement, as the shifts in musical form occur naturally, belying the fact that great effort was placed in the fluidity of the music, something that is often ignored in more "progressive" extreme metal.

As pertains to production, the band has managed to infuse these songs with depth and a strong sense of atmospherics that never drains out the main instruments. Produced by Greg Dawson at BWC Studios in Kingston, Ontario, and mastered by Sergei Lazar at CDM Records, Moscow, the sound of "The Astral Drain" is stunningly organic, whilst retaining clarity in all instrumental elements, an impressive accomplishment when considering the audible layers on display throughout the album. The production is warm and entrancing, perfectly fitting the compositions of the record.

Despite - or perhaps due to - this compositional and conceptual boldness, "The Astral Drain" is a profound black metal record, filled with sonic despair and darkness.