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One of Australia's longest-running and most respected black metal bands, Pestilential Shadows have been building a towering canon of work since 2003. Whereas many of their native land's extreme metal exports either tend toward the chaotic or too clean, the shadowy collective led by founding vocalist / guitarist Balam consistently create compelling swathes of drama and darkness, all-enveloping emotion and regal-yet-gritty grandeur. Truly, Pestilential Shadows are black metal classicism par excellence.

And while the last handful of their albums the past decade-plus have seen sizable gaps between them, Pestilential Shadows strike while the iron's hot with Wretch. Simply and substantially titled, Wretch follows from last year's Devil's Hammer and continues the band's progression / regression toward uglier, gnarlier expanses. Mind you, it's a lateral development rather than a vertical one - the "form" is still BLACK METAL, and its attendant contents are ruminations on death and the beyond - but the fact that Pestilential Shadows can subtly-to-significantly shift their sonic palette whilst conveying their characteristic melancholy and tragedy speaks to the enduring strength of their songwriting. What's more, the album's production is palpably professional, feeling effervescent and crisp even when running through those uglier, gnarlier expanses. If anything, said recording style of Wretch - mastered by Krvna mainman Krvna Vatra, who played on the aforementioned Devil's Hammer, with mixing done by Balam - gives the record a uniquely ethereal aspect, even when the band have kicked into ultraviolent overdrive. Above all, the eight songs that comprise the 49-minute Wretch prove Pestilential Shadows as masters of pacing, doling out the sublime and the profane with equally windswept aplomb. Of especial note is the solemn procession of "Where Sunlight Goes to Die," which features guest choral vocals from Dis Pater of Midnight Odyssey.

As always, totality is key, and thus has Greallach Art been brought back to provide stark & austere cover artwork for Wretch. On the strength of this album alone, Pestilential Shadows continue to assert their position as a classics-minded black metal vanguard.

In the same vein as Haimad’s spectacular 2019 EP "The Return", their long overdue debut album finally arises like a beacon in the northern night, more than 30 years after the band’s founding, and continues the tradition of mid-90s style, melodic, symphonic Scandinavian Black Metal albums that saw a sort of renaissance in the recent past, most noteworthy with some bands from the Finnish scene. Haimad show that Sweden, too, can still produce albums of the caliber of the 90s classics, and unleashes a majestic coalescence of classic symphony and Black Metal inferno steeped in Tolkien-lore.

Haimad was formed in Sundsvall, Sweden in 1994 and released two tapes and a MCD between 1995 and 1999 before they went on a long hiatus.
Many years went by without a sign of life before Azradan, the only remaining founding member, set out to resurrect the band and recruited a new line-up in order to create Symphonic Black Metal in the best tradition of the Scandinavian mid-90s.
And who else but musicians who were part of that same scene back then would be able to create something that reminds so powerfully of the good old days?
25 years after their founding, Haimad release an EP that is a dream come true for any fan of albums like "The Sad Realm of the Stars", "Seen Through the Veils of Darkness", "Provenance of Cruelty", "In the Nightside Eclipse", "Stormblåst", "In Times Before the Light", "Moon in the Scorpio" or "Tusen År Har Gått".
If one has grown up with these milestones, listening to Haimad's "The Return" is like coming home after a long time away because the material on this EP is absolutely on par with the classics, and it sounds like it was composed over 20 years ago.

Formed in 2015, Fuath is Marshall’s outlet for a colder, more ferocious vision, melding relentless aggression with haunting, melancholic melodies. The music channels a timeless frostbitten spirit, weaving immersive soundscapes steeped in winter’s bleak beauty, ancient mysticism, and dark folklore.

Though rarely performed live, Fuath’s selective appearances have left a lasting impact, immersing audiences in its stark, otherworldly realm.

Fuath's III, arriving five years after the last album, features four expansive tracks with a running time exceeding 40 minutes. III embodies a cold, atmospheric, harsh, and hypnotic sound, driven by blistering speed and raw intensity, while retaining the haunting melodic depth that defines Fuath’s essence.

Collector's Edition in 6-panel digipack, limited to 500 copies.

Faidra is a Swedish Atmospheric/Orthodox Black Metal solo project that formed during late summer of 2019. The music is primarily inspired by Scandinavian Black Metal of the early 90s, with Burzum being perhaps the most prominent influence. The man behind Faidra has played in various bands of different genres since the late 90's, and for Faidra chose to keep his identity undisclosed in order to let the music speak for itself.

Limited Collector's Edition of 999 copies in 4-panel digipack.

This EP compiles the two songs "Ixion" & "Phantasmagoria" that were previously only available from Faidra's Bandcamp site, as well as the new song "Dies Irae", together for the first time on physical format.

Second album of the italian Black Metal Band. For those who loves bands like Summoning or Caladan Brood, this band follows their steps, with their characteristic Tolkien based lyrics.

The only member is Severio Gioni, and also he is the face of the Viking Metal band Valtyr and Black Metal band, Ymir.

"Elenion Ancalima" is a full album of 5 tracks inspired by Tolkien's novel "Akallabeth" from Silmarillion. It features Hildr Valkyrie (guest vocals)
 

Second album of the italian Black Metal Band. For those who loves bands like Summoning or Caladan Brood, this band follows their steps, with their characteristic Tolkien based lyrics.

The only member is Severio Gioni, and also he is the face of the Viking Metal band Valtyr and Black Metal band, Ymir.

"Elenion Ancalima" is a full album of 5 tracks inspired by Tolkien's novel "Akallabeth" from Silmarillion. It features Hildr Valkyrie (guest vocals)
 

“Afar Angathfark”, Emyn Muil’s third and most magnificent album to date, is inspired by the character of Fëanor and his war against Morgoth to claim back his Silmarils. A dark story of oaths and fratricide, and about an epic journey. Fans of bands like Summoning or Caladan Brood will find much to enjoy on this monumental release, and we highly recommend it to them!

il nuovo album dei britannici Cryptic Shift porta oltre i confini del metal estremo un’avventura sonora tra death, thrash e tecnicismi pro-progressive. Con soli 5 brani ma un’intensa narrativa sci-fi, “Overspace & Supertime” continua l’universo concettuale di Visitations From Enceladus, catapultandoti in dimensioni ancora più folli e assurde

NORDIC METAL

HELHEIM, founded in Bergen, Norway in 1992 were eager to establish themselves in the Norwegian Black Metal scene and released their first demo in 1993. Heavily influenced by BATHORY and including a cover of VENOM`s “Countess Bathory” to pay tribute to one of their foremost influences, the first demo, while being an interesting document of the time and showing potential, still lacked the depth and ambition of their later work.

Their second demo entitled Niðr Ok Norðr Liggr Helvegr and released in 1994 marked a major leap in style and quality. With a for a demo unusually long playing time of nearly 50 minutes, HELHEIM`s second effort saw the horde introducing female vocals, folk and Viking elements and even trumpets. Obviously influenced by compatriots ENSLAVED, it featured non-linear compositions and a unique sound. This demo is considered a landmark in Norwegian Metal and far surpasses the typical expectations of a demo release. It`s with Niðr Ok Norðr Liggr Helvegr that HELHEIM found their sound and catapulted themselves to the forefront of Norwegian Black Metal.

Remastered from the original DATs by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony.

A long and detailed new interview about the time from 1992-1997 was conducted with the band exclusively for these current reissues.A long and detailed new interview about the time from 1992-1997 was conducted with the band exclusively for these current reissues.
The jewel-case CD comes with a 20-page booklet including the interview and many never before-seen pictures.