In 2017, GOATMOON truly etched its name its Finnish black metal legendry with Stella Polaris, a monument of cosmic, snow-capped majesty. The entirely dungeon synth Silver Serpent followed in 2021, but now arrives GOATMOON's full-length return to black metal with What Once Was… Shall Be Again. As presaged by its title, there's an undeniably yearning and nostalgic aspect to the band's characteristically epic ruminations, occasionally/often dusted by folkloric synths. But if one were to assume that What Once Was… Shall Be Again would further continue that refinement – and indeed, in large part, it does – the album equally takes GOATMOON back to their earliest, rawest roots, here temped by the steely-eyed austerity of older age and wisdom. It's a skillful balance pulled off with aplomb, proving that the band honor their history but rarely repeat themselves. And more than anything, it provides another dazzling new canvas on which warriors and dreamers can explore…but no safe spaces here, of course. No other words necessary: What Once Was... Shall Be Again!
Endlich, RUNENWACHT sind zurück mit einem neuem Album " Das letzte Geleit". Inhaltlich widmen sich die zehn Stücke erneut der nordischen und heidnischen Mythologie. Auch zentrale Themen der Edda – der bedeutenden Sammlung von Götter- und Heldensagen – finden ihren Platz und verleihen dem Album eine tiefere mythologische Dimension.
Compact disk comes with a bonus disk featuring alternative versions of the album tracks with Cryptic Winter (Judas Iscariot etc.) on drums along with unreleased material.
The work of one selfsame Häxär, concurrently of Ernte, HÄXÄR are a lone torch of Swiss black metal. Now, after two albums in as many years, HÄXÄR present their third album of turn-of-the-millennium nastiness: Teufelskult.
Since their ...gedenken wir der Finsternis debut album in 2020, EISENKULT have quickly become a flagship band for PURITY THROUGH FIRE, which is perhaps unsurprising given that they include members of labelmates MAVORIM and TOTENWACHE.
HELL MILITIA, an assemblage of the vilest and most depraved individuals the French underground has spawned who have earned themselves a bad reputation by participating in among others MÜTIILATION, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and TEMPLE OF BAAL burst onto the scene with their first full length in 2005. Preceded only by an appearance on a split 7 inch and a demo, the aptly titled Canonisation of the Foul Spirit was unleashed to wreak havoc and soil anything pure and holy in utter contempt.