Looking down from the North
Friday, 5. September 2008, 11:13:03
Orcustus' long awaited first and last album "Transdimensional Holocaust" is according to rumours recorded, mixed and mastered and will be out on Southern Lord within six months. After this, Orcustus will supposedly disband.Thursday, 4. September 2008, 10:58:14
Velvet Cacoon surprise us once again, and announce that their new album "Atropine" will be out in October / November on Fullmoon Productions. Go there to hear a sample of the "Funeral Noire" track from this album, as well as a sample from the unreleased "P aa opal Poere Pr. 33" album.Atropine extracts of henbane were used by Cleopatra to dilate her pupils to appear more alluring. In the Renaissance, women used the juice of belladonna berries to enlargen the pupils of their eyes for cosmetic reasons (in Italian, "bella donna" translates to "beautiful lady"). Later on, belladonna was used by witches before flight. The juice of the berries was applied to their vaginas resulting in massive and sometimes lethal dosages of atropine. In this state of unbelievable hallucinatory incoherence, they believed they were actually flying on their brooms and as they spoke aloud their spells the results unfolded right before their eyes.
This album was carefully created over a four year period under the closely supervised influence of mandrake, hemlock, datura stramonium, henbane, belladonna and jesaconitine isolate. Most of the drone library was originally recorded to DAT and buried in the ground for two years before reviving them for use.
Sunday, 30. September 2007, 20:28:28
Last year's best demo release, "Viscera Terræ" by Drowned, is finally available again. This Death Metal masterpiece was a limited tape release that sold out pretty quickly in early 2006, but can now be had on vinyl from the fine Greek label Nuclear Winter. As reported here before, a CD version is planned to follow from Worship Him in a couple of months. Drowned will appear live for the first time since 1998 on the Black Mass Ritual Fest in Kouvola, Finland (16.–17.11.2007). Check Alive (undead) section for details.Drowned have T-shirts available from their site again, as well.
Monday, 17. September 2007, 16:38:56
A closer inspection of the Dis-order webshop reveals that Xasthur's new albumn "Defective Epitaph" is also set for a September 28th release. I believe this is a co-release (European/American) between Hydrahead and Displeased. As mentioned here before, this album will feature acoustic drums for the first time as well as a cello.New masterpiece of loathing miserable bleakness !Tracklist:
1. Souless Elegy 02:42 2. Purgatory Spiral 04:29 3. Cemetery Of Shattered Masks 06:03 4. Malignant Prophecy 05:40 5. Oration Of Ruin 07:23 6. Legacy Of Human Irrelevance 05:36 7. Dehumanizing Procession 04:52 8. Funerals Drenched In Apathy 05:29 9. Warship (The War Against) Yourself 07:34 10. A Memorial To The Waste Of Life 08:44 11. The Only Blood That Pours Is Yours 08:15 12. Unblessed Be 08:13The CD can be preordered from Dis-order now, and probably soon from Hydrahead.
Update September 19th: Thanks to cja for the heads up in the comments about the 2CD version coming out on Daymare.
XASTHUR / Defective Epitaph (2CD) DYMC-042 miniature thick cardboard gatefold sleeve Release Date: September 21st (world premiere) with Japan exclusive bonus disc including completely unreleased materials in 38 minutes. There is no plan to be released separately in the future or anywhere else 1.UNTITLED / UNRELEASED (3.24) 2.UNTITLED / UNRELEASED (5.51) 3.MORDER GJENKLANG AV TANKEGANGEN (11.08) 4.FUNERALS DRENCHED IN APATHY / SOULLESS ELEGY (FIRST ATTEMPT) (9.27) 5.AWAKENING TO THE UNKNOWN PERCEPTION OF EVIL (SECOND ATTEMPT) ( 8.02) NEW IDEA SOCIETY / The World Is Bright And Lonely (CD) DYMC-043 Release Date: September 21st including 2 Japan only unreleased bonus tracks (Hope and songs to sing, The leaves won't fall on you)By the way, "MORDER GJENKLANG AV TANKEGANGEN" is some freaky Norwegian syntax.
Monday, 17. September 2007, 02:55:17
Haven't heard any mention of this one until now. Striborg's new album "Solitude" will be out September 28th on Displeased, only three months after the last new album "Ghostwoodlands". Preorder-able from here.- Brand new 2007 album!Here is the tracklist:
- Bleak grim Aussie black forest metal combined with eerie ambient soundscapes!
- For fans of Xasthur, Mütiilation and Ildjarn!
Displeased also have a release sheet in PDF format (local copy here).
1. Ektoplasmic Dreams 04:55
2. Solitude 15:00
3. Pernicious Paths Of Perception 09:23
4. The Untouched Land 06:10
5. Doppelganger04:34
6. The Failure Of Human Nature 16:02
7. The Grandeur Of Melancholy 07:04
8. Homosapiens Devoid 08:12
Tuesday, 4. September 2007, 07:19:22
Well, the title says it all really. The Southern Lord Blog has the news today that the new Wolves in the Throne Room album is finally available for order from the Southern Lord webshop. The album will be available in stores September 26th.“The deep woe inside black metal is about the fear that we can never return to the mythic, pastoral world that we crave on a deep subconscious level”Also be sure to check out the dates for the extensive US tour in support of the new album.
The brand new Wolves In The Throneroom albumis now available directy from Southern Lord. It will be “officially” released in most stores September 25th. You can get it now directly from Southern Lord! Wolves will also be embarking on a long tour of the USA during the month of October!
The new album: “Two Hunters” was recorded on tape, at London Bridge and Aleph Studios by Randall Dunn (Earth, sunn 0)))/Boris, Kinski) in the Pacific Northwest.. The process of the recording was very organic with very minimal use of any digital manipulation or processed effects. Jessica Kinney (previous collaborations with Eyvind Kang and Asva) provides beautifully dark vocals on “Cleansing” and “I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots.” Comes packaged in a 5″ mini-gatefold thick cardboard jacket.
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 20:00:00
The best metal related fanzine in existence comes out with another issue. I am of course talking about Oaken Throne. I just got my copy in the mail today and haven't had a chance to look at it for more than 30 seconds yet. But as always, it looks gorgeous, and this times comes with a compilation CD featuring among others Asunder, Wold, Caïna, Coffins and Moss. And the reading material contains highlights such as Wold, Coffins, Cult of Daath, and much more. Looking forward to spending a couple of hours with this piece of dead wood!Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 19:52:24
Hungary's Marblebog have a new split tape out on Brazilian label Hammer of Damnation. I suppose you'll have to contact Marblebog directly to get details on the purchase. Some shirts are available as well. Try mailing Vorgrov. LASCOWIEC / MARBLEBOG / VÉRZIVATAR - Deep Horizons Of Eternity split tape
45 minutes of underground black metal from a US and two Hungarian bands, including previously unreleased songs.
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 19:36:12
Haven't heard any buzz about this one, but the new Krohm album has been out since July 31st on Debemur Morti. Can be ordered from Mystic Arts and Moribund Cult.A harrowing personal voyage through labyrinths lofty, majestic and grand. Supremely individualistic KROHM is the essence of otherworldly continuance, the recurring resonance of lingering energies. Transcendental, paranormal Black Metal Mandatory for worshipers of Leviathan, Xasthur, Burzum or Manes!
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 19:22:53
Nuclear War Now is set to rerelease a couple of Nifelheim albums.I bought the rights for these albums directly from Necropolis. The first two classic black metal albums will be reissued under the banner of Nuclear War Now! Productions. I’m currently waiting for the band to send me more layout material.By the way, I got to see Nifelheim live this summer, very pleasant experience.
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 19:11:45
This year's best album so far, Necros Christos' Triune Impurity Rites, has been sold out on CD for a few months. A CD repressing is set for 2008, and now it looks like a vinyl edition will be released as well. According to Sepulchral Voice:EXPECT THE DOUBLE VINYL VERSION TO BE RELEASED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. NO RESERVATIONS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME. WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON ALL FUTURE RELEASES OF SVR.A couple of distros might still have the CD if you haven't got it. Check the Sepulchral Voice site for info. Highest recommendations!
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 19:01:49
It's been a few months since Winterreich went "tape only", and now they have a lot of new releases in stock. Vinterriket, Devilish Era, Nocturnal Depression, Kill the Kristians, Wyrd and others available. Burn down your local church, synagoge or mosque and then fuck off and die!!!
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 18:51:49
Another undigital release from Bone Awl is available. Cheap and cool artifact of primitive brutality. Can be had from Klaxon and Northern Sky.New cassette version of the limited 7" vinyl that came out last year on Northern Sky Productions. This time resurfacing as a collaboration release between Klaxon and NSP. The cassette itself comes in black with professionally printed artwork on the shell sides. It also comes packaged in a 4"x6" ziplock with oversized cover. Musically, these songs are some of BONE AWL's crudest and most powerful. The songs here focus on the lower arm of the swastika as it swings down, away from life.
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 18:45:32
I nicked this from the Full Moon site. Germany's Metal Hammer has a summary of the "best", or rather "ten essential", USBM releases. The top paragraph is a warning about the (un-)availability of some of these records, with best wishes for the record hunt. Several Northern Vantage favourites on that list, as well.Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 18:30:41
Already a couple of months out, let's blame the summer daze for the slack in update on Paysage D'Hiver. Anyway, the third in the series of demo rereleases from Switzerland's best is out on Aurora Borealis.
I also forgot to mention the limited (300 copies) tape of new material that was released in late April, another fine ambient tape/album called Einsamkeit. Long gone now I'm afraid, but I am sure Google can help in tracking down a digital version.'07
Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver DLP
Paysage d'Hiver - Kerker A5 Digipack/LP
Paysage d'Hiver/Nordlicht - Split LP
Paysage d'Hiver - Kristall & Isa A5 Digipack/LP
'08
Paysage d'Hiver - Winterkaelte A5 Digipack/3LP
Paysage d'Hiver - Nacht A5 Digipack/DLP
Paysage d'Hiver - Schnee A5 Digipack
Paysage d'Hiver - Einsamkeit A5 Digipack/DLP
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 18:16:23
According to the Wolves in the Throne Room myspace page, the official Southern Lord release date for the next album "Two Hunters" is set to September 25th. WitTR have some tour dates lined up for September-October, covering the west coast of the USA.Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 17:54:34
Thanks to Jay for pointing me in the direction of this thread on the FMP forum. According to Blake at Battle Kommand, the only upcoming Leviathan releases are the already announced splits.Leviathan stuff for this is finally finished (Nachtmystium's shit has been done since January of this year....) We should be putting this in the hands of SL and Candlelight by mid-September ready to go to press. I'll update when its going to be released.Both Moribund Cult and Debemur Morti still mention the album on their websites anyway...
As for the Leviathan record...let it be a mystery for now. I have nothing to do with whatever is happening between Leviathan and Moribund. Just doing the new LoC record. Perhaps he decided to make the new Leviathan a LoC record for artistic/personal reasons....not sure, not my business. Await the new LoC because its fucking great!!
A hellish pact between Moribund Records and Debemur Morti / Blasphemous Underground Productions has been sealed. We'll be unleashing the upcoming LEVIATHAN full length, "Massive Conspiracy Against All Life", on vinyl format for the European territory. Release date will be announced at a later time. Let it be known that this agreement also includes European vinyl versions of LEVIATHAN's previous works "The Tenth Sub Level Of Suicide", "Tentacles Of Whorror" and "Howl Mockery At The Cross"...Big bummer if there will not be another Leviathan album. We'll just have to wait and see until the confusion settles.
Tuesday, 21. August 2007, 17:41:30
Carl of Left Hand Path/Grave With a View sent me a heads up on his recent two part interview with Blake Judd of Nachtmystium. Interesting and rather substantial interview, with news of Nachtmystium signing a two album deal with Century Media among other things. There is also some long awaited Twilight news:we got together a few weeks ago and tried to do some shit together. It was an interesting week. We did a lot of drugs and didn’t do much of anything. (laughs) We wrote four songs…it was Wrest, myself, and Imperial from Krieg. We all collaborated, though. It wasn’t like, “Alright I wrote this riff…now you write the next one.” We were just all playing together, feed off of it, and just go with whatever sounded good. It’ll be a lot more of a group effort, Aaron Turner will be involved in writing as well, and we’re gonna take our sweet ass time with it. There’s no timeline for it.Head over to Carl's cool blog to read the entire interview, as well as record reviews of Furze, N.I.L. and others:
Tuesday, 7. August 2007, 11:25:15
The Genevieve and Northsuite LP's are available from Fullmoon now. And VC made a couple of longish and rantish updates to their website, with news of the upcoming album "P aa opal Poere Pr. 33".July 31st, 2007
Hey, me again! A lot of e-mails came my way after I updated the site, too many to respond to all. Many people were saying that websites on MySpace were popping up, using the Velvet Cacoon band name and featuring songs supposedly from our new album. Our fans are very sly like that! heeeheee!
As always, the very website you are reading this message on, velvetcacoon.com, will be the only place anyone from the band ever puts any valid and official information up on. It is where you will first hear music from the new album as well, see concert listings, and anything else related to Velvet Cacoon. That should go without saying, but over the years we have managed to acquire some very very obsessive fans who, I guess, think we enjoy their attempts at flattery when we really sorta wish they'd never discovered us in the first place.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) the new album is still in post-production and we are looking at a late September/early October release date. As with "Genevieve", there will be no "internet leak" of the album since both we in the band and Full Moon Productions have certain plans in store. So until then, any songs you hear on MySpace or wherever your internets may guide you are not from us or any album we've made.
Velvet Cacoon once made use of MySpace in order to "reveal" a "hoax" about material we "stole" to the largest audience possible, and once that revelation was made we took the site down. We think MySpace is a bit tacky and would never use the site to promote Velvet Cacoon in a serious manner. MySpace is "a place for friends", certainly no place for us.
Furthermore, the website known as MySpace is owned by News Corp. (Rupert Murdoch), who bought MySpace just over two years ago. While this may mean very little to the average teenager who just wants to click away and hear his or her favorite black metal bands putting up their latest and (hopefully) greatest songs, what it really means is that anytime you click on those ads that blink, bounce and generally bombard you on MySpace, you are generating revenue for the same company which has made significant investments in things like:
Wal-Mart
Fox News
George W. Bush
McDonalds
What a fantastic list, no? Those companies eat, sleep, live and breathe black metal ideals!
In the age of convenience where corners are cut and sacrifices are made in the name of ignorance, we just wanted to point this out. Many black metal bands likely contend they are somehow "screwing the system" by using a right-wing, Christian owned website like MySpace to "spread the word of misanthropy and Satan", but we know that's just a deflection of hypocrisy. Why respectable bands continue to invite fans to a website which keeps tabs on the activities and preferences of its registrants in addition to exploiting the "Private Message" feature in the name of "Captive Target Market Research" is beyond us, but we think any band who uses MySpace to promote themselves really cares more about receiving attention than their supposed message.
All it takes is a little research and investigation into the things services and companies you interact with on a daily basis to realize that a lot of them are funded by and supporting causes, ideologies, political and religious groups who aim to disservice you in the end.
But hey, why be bothered with all that seriousness? Black metal is supposed to be fun! I'll stop talking about issues reserved only for scary interviews and mid-gig rants, and finish up by saying thank you very much for using your email application to communicate vocabulary with ourselves.
Alexis
July 29th, 2007
Hi. We are Velvet Cacoon. We've never addressed you in this way before, but I guess there is a first time for everything! We have some news to tell you. Our 2nd album is coming out soon! It is called "P aa opal Poere Pr. 33" and we think it is a really good album, hehehe . Maybe you will think the same?
We spent a really long time working on writing interesting black metal music for this album and experimenting with various recording techniques to attain sounds that do not occur naturally in the human environment. It was a slightly difficult process that took us a little over three years but we think it was worth it. It is a very warm and poignant record. "Genevieve" was a harsh, cold record - something for the sea and drugs. The new one is us sounding a little matured, something to cozy up next to the fireplace and enjoy with a pipe and your favorite dark rum.
Our new album will be out on the marvelous Full Moon Productions record company label sometime this autumn, just in time for those rainy drives to your Oregon coast cabin.
Also, a couple months ago a record label called Southern Lord put out a couple of vinyl albums from us. This company has very creative ideas for packaging! You can order them from Southern Lord or Full Moon Productions, or check your local shop.
If you have any questions you can email our record label at general@fmp666.com or you can email alexis@velvetcacoon.com
Thank you very much for reading our webpage and for supporting unique black metal music principles, and have a great day!
Alexis
Wednesday, 11. July 2007, 11:54:25
Thanks to dschalek of Metal Flows In My Veins for dropping a comment in the 777 thread, telling about his report from the The El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, California show.Consisting of a trio without a bass on a darkened stage, the band blazed through a very taut, precise 25 minute set without any acknowledgement of the crowd. They simply went out and played with noticeable intensity, ultimately resulting in a great set.Head on over to the Metal Flows In My Veins to read the whole report, and check out pictures and videos from the show!
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