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Golden Vinyls.

To understand the defining traits of Greek Black Metal, one need only to listen to “The Tressrising of Nyarthotep” by the mighty Varathron. This track, first appearing on the “genesis of Apocryphal Desire” demo, possesses all of the victorious grandeur and tragic melancholia that are the essence of the early 1990’s Greek Black Metal sound. Along with contemporary releases by Rotting Christ and Necromantia, Varathron’s demo material firmly established a style that is thoroughly Grecian in character. Thick with a damp and heavy Hellenistic darkness, Varathron explored a sound that was infused with the epic and the ancient. As with so much of the most evocative and potent Black Metal, the ancient currents are revealed through the expression of the modern. Varathron’s music is as mystical as it is visceral. The recordings on this compilation comprise the earliest seeds of what would become one of the greatest bands in the history of the genre. This collection contains all of Varathron’s work leading the band toward the creation of their monumental debut LP, “His Majesty at the Swamp.” The two demos, “Procreation of the Unaltered Evil” and “Genesis of Apocryphal Desire” reveal the steps that Varathron took that would later come to fruition on their first album. This collection also contains the more refined tracks that were utilized on their first vinyl releases – the “One Step Beyond Dreams“ EP and “The Everlasting Sins” tracks from the split LP with Necromantia – and three additional bonus tracks recorded during the early years. As with the forthcoming Rotting Christ demo collection that NWN! will soon release, the songs on this compilation of Varathron’s early recordings reveal the painstaking emergence of a band’s identity. Absorbed in the context of early works by Varathron’s Greek contemporaries, one also witnesses the development of a sound uniquely specific to a geographic region, so specific, in fact, that it is impossible to imagine such a multidimensional approach to Black Metal originating anywhere else. Both the Regular and Die Hard editions of this release will feature gatefold jackets with artwork by Manuel Tinnemans and layout by Tilmann Benninghaus as well as a 48 page zine booklet. The Die Hard edition will also come with a separate LP (with jacket) featuring the “Live at the Swamp” demo material. Originally released on tape in 2004, “Live at the Swamp” features a live recording and rehearsal recording from 1991. These recordings have been remastered and cleaned up by James Plotkin and the sound quality on this LP, although still quite raw, is markedly better than the original tape version.

Originally recorded in 2013 during the "Kriegserklärung" sessions and released in 2017 as a split with Kommandant. These tracks convey the aftermath of the Great War in early 1919 by covering the brutal street fighting of factions in the early Weimar Republic. Some of the fastest and most intense songs of the band's early period are here, as well as the first experimentation with neofolk.

200x heavyweight milky clear 12" (180g) in a microtene innerbag, printed innersleeve, full-color on 220g carton (coated paper), jacket, full-color printed on 350g carton, coated paper (semi-gloss), all assembled in a plastic overbag. Specially remastered for vinyl with a complete new artwork and layout.

This edition of 'It Beckons Us All' is presented on Nocturno Culto’s own limited grey marble vinyl, with printed inner sleeve containing lyrics. 

With a legacy of audial treasures now spanning more than 35 years & with the fountain of creativity ever flowing, Norway’s Darkthrone return with their latest venture through classic riffs & vintage sounding metal in the shape of the epic new seven track studio opus, ‘It Beckons Us All’. 

Seeing the longstanding duo of Fenriz & Nocturno Culto uniting once more, ‘It Beckons Us All’ follows on the heels of 2022’s revered ‘Astral Fortress’ album, with what could be considered an even more refined, challenging & diverse set of timeless metal anthems from the uncompromising trailblazers; from the melodic, to the sombre & atmospheric, to the blackened dirges emanating from Darkthrone’s highly distinguishable riffing, as well as a nod to influences such as Celtic Frost along the way. 

Recorded once again at Chaka Khan Studios in the band’s native Norway, ‘It Beckons Us All’ was mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door, with artwork courtesy of Polish artist Zbigniew Bielak. 

With an expansive catalogue consisting of a multitude of various genre classics, Darkthrone first arrived on the global stage with their atmospheric & technically accomplished death metal debut, ‘Soulside Journey’ back in 1991, followed by the milestone in black metal that is ‘A Blaze In The Northern Sky’ released only the following year, after the intended second album ‘Goatlord’ was essentially scrapped to make way for something more primitive & paving the way for Darkthrone’s close association with the black metal genre over many years. And so, with an endlessly progressing (and even regressing) evolution which has seen the band successfully delving into many sub-genres of metal & punk, ‘It Beckons Us All’ stands as one of the band’s most complete & vast works to date. 

Black Vinyl

First time ever on vinyl, gatefold cover, limited edition silver vinyl.
 

One of the metal underground’s best-kept secrets, WARLUST began their assault on the false in 2012. The title of their debut demo, 2014’s Unholy Attack, said everything it needed to: here was blackthrashing METAL, steeped in the spirits of old and with genuinely evil blood coursing through its veins. However, it was 2017’s Morbid Execution debut album where WARLUST first truly took flight – on burning wings of flame! More intense, more epic, more heavy fucking metal, Morbid Execution carried on the noble work started by founding fathers Desaster in their homeland and Deströyer 666, Zemial, and Aura Noir abroad.

But, while that debut LP was still tethered to more traditional-style blackthrash, with Unearthing Shattered Philosophies do WARLUST’s songwriting chops blossom with startling strength and crushing clarity. It’s all immediately WARLUST, for sure, but within the album’s eight-song/45-minute runtime lurks a travelogue of terror and triumph, of melancholy and malevolence. 

Full coloured cover with white inner jacket + Insert. Limited to 100 copies on 12" Vinyl.