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2-CD hardcover book (18 x 18cm, 36 pages) + excl. bonus CD with 4 bonus songs and additional artwork

With their seventh studio album "Otra", Norwegian avant-garde metal stalwards IN THE WOODS... might surprise their listeners – and particularly those, who have not followed the remarkable evolution that the band from the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand has undergone since the early nineties. The tracks of "Otra" are surprisingly captivating with melodic tunes dominating the present sound of IN THE WOODS... – although progressive elements and the occasional rough reminder of the Norwegians' harsh past are also regularly shimmering through the fabric of these songs. What sets "Otra" apart from the average heavy work of music is the excellence of composition that shows expert level experience and comes with a seeming ease that makes the achievement even greater. Lyrically, "Otra" revolves around stories connected to the eponymous river that winds for 245 kilometres through the South of Norway and spills into the Skagerrak, the strait that separates the country from Denmark and Sweden, at the band's home in Kristiansand. There is hardly a need to introduce the name IN THE WOODS... to any adherent of avant-garde and black metal. Their coordinates within the scene are also well known: The Norwegians were among the bands that have participated in the burgeoning evolution of black metal in the early nineties and have had a large part in the shaping of the sound of a strong subgenre. Their first full-length "Heart of the Ages" (1995) has a lasting impact on black metal and is rightfully regarded as one of the genre's early classics. Refusing to rest on their laurels, IN THE WOODS... progressed further into different musical dimensions with "Omnio" (1997) and "Strange in Stereo" (1999). Following a long hiatus between the years 2000 to 2014, the Norwegians returned with vocalist James Fogarty, who continued to front the band until December 2021. With a new line-up and singer Bernt Fjellestad completing IN THE WOODS... a fresh direction was taken with the album "Diversum" (2021). With "Otra", IN THE WOODS... demonstrate the full strength and artistic maturity of the Norwegians' third incarnation. Enticing and highly pleasurable to listen to, this exciting record is nonetheless crammed with glorious details and surprising twists that reveal themselves only after many spins.

If classic outputs from DARKTHRONE, ENSLAVED, EMPEROR or ISENGARD et al. make your blood boil, you should make sure to purchase HERSIR`s album and immerse yourself in its Northern Black Metal excellence. Despite having already been incepted in 2016 by Grim Vindkall who is primarily known for his band DOMGÅRD, Swedish HERSIR have up until this point kept a rather low profile. With only three demos to their name – none of which released physically – the horde has remained a rather obscure entity. Once released, chances are that the sheer quality of HERSIR`s first full-length effort Hateful Draugar From The Underground will rectify that situation in no time, though. Completely devoid of unnecessary gimmicks of any sorts, HERSIR are all content and no show. For a change, everything – the well-written lyrics dealing with Nordic spirituality of the shadow side, the music, the visual presentation – feels genuine and without any infantile pretence. Their very aptly titled album convinces with hateful and majestic Black Metal of a distinctively northern nature. The vocals brimming with contempt and savagery are one of the highlights of the full-length. Vocalist Haugbúi’s rather low, raspy tone and pestilent delivery seem like the perfect fit for HERSIR’s rather simple and stripped-down compositions. Overtly complex structures are left out to augment the war-like quality of the recording and in favour of conjuring epic atmospheres often built upon melodies stemming from the old Nordic tradition. The impact of some of the memorable riffs is further increased by the sporadic inclusion of keyboards. Overall, this album is the real deal and deserves to be attentively listened to by anyone into genuinely dark Black Metal.

GRÀB offer both, continuity and change, on their sophomore full-length "Kremess". The Bavarian black metal project founded by vocalist Grànt continues to revolve lyrically around tales and traditions narrated in the local dialect of Germany's southernmost Alpine state: Bavaria. "Kremess" means 'funeral feast' in that language and death plays a leading role on this album. Musically, GRÀB still feature a prominent traditional instrument of their region, the hammered dulcimer. This gets combined with particularly Norwegian strands of black metal such as early GEHENNA, ULVER, and DARKTHRONE as well as taking inspiration from German pioneers of the genre namely NAGELFAR and LUNAR AURORA. Adding to the local sonic colours are many fresh ideas and sounds that came with English guitarist Gnàst, who has replaced previous main songwriter Grain in the meantime. A host of guest musicians including members of EMPYRIUM, TRIPTYKON, and DARK FORTRESS among others has further enhanced the musical spectrum. GRÀB, meaning "old and grey" in the local dialect, were conceived by former DARK FORTRESS frontman Grànt who wanted to bring a particularly Bavarian expression to black metal. The earlier collaboration between Grànt and guitarist Grain resulted in the release of the debut full-length "Zeitlang" in 2021, which channelled the black metal spirit of the early 90s much to the delight of both critics and fans. With "Kremess", GRÀB are infusing Bavarian black metal with new power that is bound to expand their growing empire far beyond the borders of their homeland.

On "The Dead Light," Fen explore the beauty that comes from destruction. Representing the vanguard of contemporary UK post black metal, the band offers its heaviest, most direct album to date. It is the sixth full-length in a career of less than 15 years and marks another recalibration for the three-piece that, while always daring to use unconventional structures, found that the predecessor "Winter" (2017) was the apex in this respect

Lifelover's fourth and last album "Sjukdom" (English: disease) is a dark and challenging record. Following their critical acclaim-afforded and cathartic "Konkurs" in 2008, these elusive and mysterious misanthropes venture down an even more daring path with "Sjukdom" where the extremes of the characteristically idiosyncratic Lifelover sound are pushed to their utmost limit: the bittersweet melodies become more beautiful whilst the pulsing, coal-black heaviness becomes uglier. After the tragic death of B in September 2011, this is Lifelover's final studio album.

A 2023 official release of the cult classic primitive Norwegian black metal recorded in 1992, featuring Dimmu Borgir’s Shagrath. 

The sole release by Fimbulwinter, this edition includes additional tracks with 12" booklet and 2 posters

Fimbulwinter, though short-lived, created a sole cult release in the form of 1994’s ‘Servants of Sorcery’, which emerged as the “second wave” of Norwegian black metal was truly taking hold. The band was formed in Oslo 1992, led by the notable figure of Shagrath, becoming most known afterwards as mainman for the phenomenon that was Dimmu Borgir. A more raw affair than the symphonic majesty of Dimmu Borgir, Fimbulwinter demonstrated a primal and fierce black metal attack, and concocted a perfect example of the early-90s style, with an extra injection of praise to bands of the 80s.

Even though ‘Servants of Sorcery’ as a release didn’t see the light of day until 1994, the tracks themselves were recorded back in the winter of 1992, and so stand as an essential and influential early example of what was to form a whole new chapter in metal history. Joining Shagrath was Skoll (Ved Buens Ende, Ulver, Arcturus) on bass, with the line-up completed by Necronos & Orbweaver.

This edition of ‘Servants of Sorcery’ - a title consistently requested by fans for a proper reissue for many years - notably includes material plus additional songs sourced and transferred from the band’s own tape collection (with work overseen by Shagrath himself), to present this most complete and comprehensive edition of Fimbulwinter’s work and legacy. Alongside Fimbulwinter’s own original material of spellbinding lo-fi grim chaos are storming cover versions of ‘Morbid Tales’ by Celtic Frost (which featured on the original ‘Servants of Sorcery’ release), plus ‘The Watchtower’ by Darkthrone, which is now included for the first time.

Siberian atmospheric black metal duo Grima is back with their third long player! 

"Will of the Primordial" contains eight ice-cold tracks, filled with gloomy atmosphere, bringing the fragile beauty and hostility of Siberian nature to life. 

The album was mixed and mastered by Vladimir Lekhtinen.

Originally released in the year 2000, IMMORTAL kicked off the new millennium in grand style with Damned in Black. Due to their increasingly hectic touring schedule, the band welcomed bassist Iscariah into the fold fulltime, and Damned in Black marked his first recording with IMMORTAL. Likewise, the album followed the transitional classic At the Heart of Winter, where the band sought a more slowed-down and definitely more epic sound. But “slowed-down” is all relative in the world of IMMORTAL, and Damned in Black brought back much of the band's trademark speed whilst not losing any epicness – and the closing title track is THE definition of EPIC. Reinvestigate this overlooked gem of the IMMORTAL catalog and forever be Damned in Black!

1997 osmose