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Live Bootleg Recorded Live in Transylvania on March 23rd (2009)

Mediabook CD with bonus track & remix + 24p booklet

Nightmares have never sounded so beautiful! Swedish grandeurs of melancholic heaviness, KATATONIA, return with Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, set for release on June 6, 2025 via Napalm Records. Once again, the Stockholm-based unit masterfully navigates the tightrope act between nocturnal darkness and Scandinavian despair while subtly weaving a sense of hope into the listener’s heart. Since emerging in the early nineties, KATATONIA has projected a beacon of light for the forgotten and the lonely ones, offering solace to those willing to lose themselves in the band’s immersive soundscapes. From their roots in death-doom metal to the post-metal entity they embody today, their art remains as haunting as ever. Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State marks the next step in KATATONIA’s evolution, building upon the foundation of their previous album, Sky Void of Stars (2023). Crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like ""Thrice"" and ""Warden"" pulse with dynamic energy, while ""Lilac"" sees Jonas Renkse’s unmistakable vocals intertwining with hypnotic rhythms and progressive elements. A near-ceremonial piece, ""Wind of No Change"", merges subtle electronic textures with KATATONIA’s enigmatic soundscapes, while ""Temporal"" balances fragility and strength - its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The breathtaking ""Efter Solen"" (Engl. After the Sun), featuring Swedish lyrics, evokes echoes of Jonas Eika’s 2018 short story collection, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.

Even after more than 30 years, KATATONIA continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State stands as a testament to their enduring brilliance. The album was produced by Jonas Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.

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.

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.

DOUBLE-DISC 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF DARKTHRONE'S CLASSIC FIFTH ALBUM OF CELTIC FROSTFUELLED BLACK METAL, INCLUDING NEWLY RESTORED AUDIO MASTER, PLUS ADDITIONAL DISC WITH COMMENTARY FROM FENRIZ.

'Panzerfaust', Darkthrone's fifth album was originally released in 1995 on the Norwegian label, Moonfog (the label previously owned by Satyr of Satyricon). The album was recorded similarly to their previous release, 'Transilvanian Hunger', in that it was written & recorded solely by Fenriz at his home 'Necrohell' studio, with Nocturno Culto later adding vocals.

'Panzerfaust' was largely inspired by the works of Celtic Frost, a long-time favourite of the Darkthrone members & also included songs in the Bathory style, a follow-on to the faster tempo of the tracks featured on 'Transilvanian Hunger'. 'Panzerfaust' is also notable for including some of the most raw & primal vocals in black metal - completely well suited to the music on display & the misanthropic nature of the band at the time. With its feast of Frost-fuelled riffing, 'Panzerfaust' is rightly hailed one of THE classic Darkthrone black metal albums, whilst also featuring lyrics written by Varg Vikernes.

This edition of ‘Panzerfaust’ is presented on double-disc CD format & includes a newly restored audio master for the album’s 30th anniversary, plus the 2010 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.