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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.

This five-song split represents the most recent blasphemies conjured by two relatively young bands that are likely to share the duty of carrying the banner of primitive black metal for years to come.
 

Obsidian Sea was formed in the beginning of 2009 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In the spring 2014 the band started recording their second album "Dreams, Illusions, Obsessions".

Influence : Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Black Hole, Paul Chain, obscure old rock & psychedelic bands; old horror films; mythology, philosophy; life, death, the beyond
 

Australian black metal band Ill Omen has been releasing some of the more intriguing material out there in recent years, with sprawling instrumentation that takes on a more mysterious and ritualistic feel. These elements have been expanded further than ever before on the newest full length ‘Æ.Thy.Rift’, which feels like it could be a funeral doom effort ran through a black metal filter. Each of the songs builds a thick atmosphere that feels like it’s going to pull you directly into the void, and it’s handled in such a way that uses the longer song lengths to its advantage rather than letting them feel as though they are dragged out.
 

New Mini-CD 7 tracks of blasphemy
 

Katechon is a Norwegian black/death metal act hailing from the prolific region of Trondheim. The band's sophomore album, Coronation, was released in June of 2015 by Nuclear War Now! Productions on CD and vinyl. Sporting nearly thirty-five minutes over eight tracks, Coronation is suffocating yet engaging, chaotic yet flowing. Several members of Katechon have spent time in infamous Norwegian acts like Hellstorm, Wallachia and Thorns, but, with their latest album, it seems the band is intent on carving its on history.
This is an extremely heavy and dense album, but the band's swirling patterns of dissonance and frenetic melodies are superb. While the typical sunglasses and bullet belts style of black/death has its place, Katechon brings something that begins to transcend the genre; something that offers more than just primal aggression.

 

After emerging on the scene with the “Bearers of Black Arts” demo followed by the “Rites of Barbaric Demons” mLP and last year’s “The Premonition” demo, Italy’s Demonomancy now return with one of the most anticipated debut full-lengths released in years. With this album, entitled “Throne of Demonic Proselytism,” Demonomancy settles into its sound focusing on a style that draws upon the dark, mid-paced atmosphere of bands like Demoncy and Archgoat, but delivered with the cutting precision of the first Black Witchery album.
 

Pressed on black vinyl.

Tracks A1 to B2 from the Bearers Of Black Arts demo.
Tracks B3 and B4 from the The Premonition demo.