CD

The final part of the «Night»-trilogy. From the words of the band: Natt til ende is the last and final conclusion in the trilogy about the "night". This last chapter is my manifest of the final ending of christianity and death of "Jesus", in both physical and mental shape. Naturally this also lifts the idea and concept of forces christianity calls evil. The same forces I would call natural and human. They may be described as in a dream or in a more harsh speech.

In the wake of their previous work, Also sprach das Chaos, Blackdeath continue to push experimental boundaries in composition. In an era when musical distinctiveness is scarce, Blackdeath offers a rare listening experience shaped by over 25 years in the black metal scene.

Their journey began with Saturn Sector (1998), a raw debut rooted in the defiant tradition of black metal, yet unmistakably their own. Their latest release, Mortui incedere possunt ("Dead Can March"), showcases an expanded role for drummer Polar Maya as vocalist, along with an ambitious production by TT of Abigor. Now joined by second guitarist Der Nukleare Herjarnn, a longtime live collaborator, Blackdeath’s sound hints at Voivod and the radical strains of orthodox black metal, exploring mid-tempo, ice-laden grooves.

Merging familiar intensity with newfound uniqueness, Blackdeath may well have achieved their pinnacle. Thematically, they dissect reality through an anti-cosmic lens, revealing Chaos in all things.

Anthropic Bias (2022) explores themes of cosmic significance and existential philosophy, echoing the idea of humanity’s tendency to see the universe as centered around itself. The music itself is a fusion of icy, tremolo-picked guitar riffs, blast beats, and haunting, atmospheric synth layers. It carries an otherworldly mood, drifting between aggression and contemplation. The song also incorporates electronic elements and ambient interludes, which provide a vast, ethereal soundscape. This single is both relentless and meditative, capturing Mesarthim’s ability to craft immersive, spacey atmospheres while retaining black metal’s raw intensity.

Departure (2024) leans heavily into the band’s cosmic themes, evoking feelings of journeying through space or leaving behind something familiar. The track opens with a somber and almost melancholic tone, gradually building into a massive, swirling blend of distorted guitars and atmospheric keys. The song shifts through dynamic phases, from soaring melodies to intense, fast-paced sections. Like much of Mesarthim’s work, Departure utilizes synth layers to create a celestial, almost dreamlike atmosphere, suggesting both the awe and isolation of venturing into the unknown. The track serves as a contemplative journey, fitting with the title’s theme of departure and escape.

Todestrieb is a Polish black metal duo formed in 2023 in Cracow by blein (guitars and bass) and Res (vocals and lyrics). After several months of hard work, the duo completed their debut studio record, Corona Tenebra, which will be released in December by Avantgarde Music.
Drawing their inspiration from bands such as Watain, Odraza, Drastus, Kriegsmaschine, Tortorum, Funeral Mist and many more, Todestrieb managed to find their own way in the crowded black metal underground, specifying that “those bands influenced rather the essence of our music than the form”.
Corona Tenebra consists of five tracks and an outro, and its lyrics, all written in Polish but translated into English in the album booklet, circle around themes like spirituality, gnostic satanism, blasphemy, theology and philosophy.

Featuring Mgła, Hauntologist and Owls Woods Graves’ Michał “The Fall” Stępień on drums, Todestrieb debut is a very diverse, fascinating take on black metal. Corona Tenebra was recorded in No Solace studio and mixed and mastered at Impressive Art Studio. With an artwork by Izabela Grabda, Corona Tenebra will be released via Avantgarde Music on CD, LP and digital on December 13th, 2024.