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Finnish Black Metal.

Contains both demo tapes, "Crushing the Thrones of Light" (1996) and "Wölfe der Nacht" (1999) along with a compact disk exclusive bonus rehearsal track of the last song ever created for Shatargat from 1999.

For years one of Finnish black metal's best-kept secrets, in recent times have FORGJORD sprung to prominence among the adventurous as practitioners of a strangely alluring sort of obsidian. Although existing since the mid '90s and patiently parceling out their recordings in an almost-clandestine manner, the upswing in activity began with FORGJORD's third album (and first with WEREWOLF), Uhripuu, in 2017 and was followed by the equally challenging Ilmestykset in 2019, the comparatively more rockin' Laulu kuolemasta a year later, and the draw-everything together Ruumissaarna Pt. 1 in 2022. Among those four full-lengths, the Finnish trio solidified and strengthened their strident aesthetic - malodorous melodicism, hypnotically rendered through a ripped-raw soundfield, making their strangely hummable ruminations on triumph & tragedy sound all the more alien, each album unified yet unique within that aesthetic - and made it all seem effortless. Finally, it seemed that the name FORGJORD was no longer a "secret."

RUTTOKOSMOS were one of the great "what if?"s of Finnish black metal. The band formed sometime in 2003 and released the five-song Ja minä näin kuoleman demo in 2006 and then the six-song Kärsimys demo a year later. Afterward, nothing was heard from RUTTOKOSMOS ever again. Only one member concurrently played in Divina Inferis, and the other two members either disappeared or played pseudonymously in other bands. In 2021, WEREWOLF compiled both demos onto one massive compilation, (re)introducing RUTTOKOSMOS to a newer generation starved for authentic mysticism in black metal, with the cryptic suggestion that a debut album may someday or decade arrive.

Emerging from the shadows of obscurity, "I.B.L.I.S." marks the inaugural full-length release from the enigmatic entity known as BAPHORATOR. With few details known about this anonymous group, BAPHORATOR released an eponymous demo of chaotic bestial black metal in 2023 to much underground acclaim. This new offering further refines the craft displayed on the demo, delivering an unrelenting onslaught of malevolent war metal with a suffocating, grim atmosphere. This record was completely improvised, creating a raw spontaneity akin to the first BESTIAL SUMMONING demo. Taking influence from classic black death metal of the 80s and early 90s, BAPHORATOR channels the lunar chaos of Finnish legends BEHERIT, the muscular violence of Brazil’s IMPURITY, and the arcane malevolence of South East Asian groups ABHORER and RATOR. “IBLIS” is the rare record that truly epitomizes the evil inherent in black death war metal art, with no recourse allowed for the sensitive listener. A sonic representation of hell, BAPHORATOR is a standout release of 2024.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE

1. Advocatus Diaboli 01:58
2. Divine Abortion 09:38
3. Grey 11:24
4. Turning Purple in the Dark 04:40
5. Radiance 04:29
6. Void 15:54

1. Enemy of Humanity
2. Demoness of Whores
3. Ritual Misanthropic (edit)
4. Ghost Unholy
5. As the Warmth Leaves Her Body
6. Black Monolithic
7. Punishment Made Flesh
8. Idol of Fear
9. Transilvanian Hunger

1. Arson Cult
2. Sovereign Misanthropy
3. Choir of Damnation
4. At Darkest Night
5. Pest
6. Dying Dream
7. From the Solitude Veil
8. Season of Shadows
9. My Lady Princess of Hell (Songe D'Enfer cover)