News

The Sinister Flame to release a limited one-pressing-only tribute LP to Euronymous: "Welcome... to the elder ruins again!"

June 7, 2023

Welcome… to the elder ruins again!

On the 10th of August, 2023, it has been precisely 30 years since the passing of a soul whose unique visions and mindset have inspired us in our own work for over three decades already. It is time to commemorate that.

We are beyond pleased to announce that on that very day, The Sinister Flame will release a limited one-pressing-only tribute LP to Euronymous called ‘A Sinister Hail to the King’.

Instead of putting together a mishmash of random tracks, we have chosen to cover the entire ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas’ from start to finish, because, as we all know, this album was the ultimate culmination and demonstration of Euronymous’ unparalleled musical genius and sinister spirit. Eight The Sinister Flame bands will perform the eight legendary songs.

Front cover photo courtesy of Finn Håkon Rødland who has been of crucial help with this release.

More info: The Sinister Flame;

Solothus' journey ends: "The time has come for Solothus to sheathe the bloodied sword and enter the slumber of ages"

June 5, 2023

”There comes a time, thief, when the jewels cease to sparkle, when the gold loses its luster, when the throne room becomes a prison…”

The time has come for Solothus to sheathe the bloodied sword and enter the slumber of ages. We stand extremely proud of all the deeds we have accomplished and the path we have travelled, but there truly is a time for everything and now we see that Solothus has ran its course. There is no drama or any of that nonsense behind the decision, just the fact that now is time to concentrate on different things, musically and in personal life. We would like to thank all those who have walked with us all these years, all of those with whom we have played and all those who have supported us. Our deepest gratitude for you all.

There will be two chances in the future to see us live. Our last show in Finland will take place at Tuska 2023 and Brutal Assault will mark the last live performance by Solothus ever. After that, it is the end and the lumbering beast will be done. The split with our brothers in Temple of Void will be our swansong, there you will have the last song by Solothus.

Fear not, the fire will keep burning stronger than ever in the bands surrounding Solothus. Keep your eyes, ears and tendrils out for Sepulchral Curse (Kari & Aleksi), Gorephilia (Tami), Cataleptic (Juha & Tami) and Tormentor Tyrant (Juha)! We will continue our work with them stronger than ever.

No King Reigns Eternal. Hail Solothus.

More info: Solothus;

Memento Mori adds Ecocide to their rooster: "...a real homage to the golden days of yore, when Death Metal was memorable and riff-oriented to the hilt".

June 5, 2023

In our endless quest to push and support current underground acts that perpetuate the odor of vintage Death Metal, we’re extremely thrilled to announce a new signing: Ecocide, from The Netherlands.

Ecocide was formed in Haarlem by Sten Govers, Bas Gijzen and Rick Stikkelorum back in 2012, with Dennis Bikker joining in 2014. Their self-titled 2012 demo was basically Thrash Metal with a pinch of Death Metal thrown in for good measure and lyrical themes based on H.P. Lovecraft, 80’s horror and sci-fi movies.

Their 2013 debut album, titled ‘Eye of Wicked Sight’, saw the band shift their initial Thrash Metal sound into old school Death Metal, taking the Floridian brand of Death, Obituary and Massacre, adding some Swedish inspiration in the vein of Entombed, Grave and Unleashed, pouring some Bolt Thrower heaviness, some Pestilence greatness, and throwing in an additional touch of Thrash Metal à la Slayer for a real homage to the golden days of yore, when Death Metal was memorable and riff-oriented to the hilt.

The release of the album quickly attracted a bigger, international following and the band started playing dozens of shows within and around the Netherlands. During these shows they shared the stage with bands like Malevolent Creation, Sinister, Gorguts and the legendary Bolt Thrower.
After two lineup changes the band called it quits in 2015, returning briefly in 2017 to release a single titled ‘The Godhand’, and then again in 2020 to release another single, titled ‘Sleeper’. After releasing those two songs, the band remained dormant until 2023, when they announced their comeback and started working for the second full-length album.

Memento Mori will unleash the CD version of their sophomore full-length on October 23rd, 2023. Further details to follow in the coming months.

More info: Ecocide; Memento Mori;

Into It Records to release Masacre's demos on cassette: "You'll get some of the most chaotic and brutal Death Metal ever!"

June 3, 2023

2 very cool cassettes on the way!

What happens when a couple of teens, growing up in the turmoil of late ’80s Colombia decide to form a band? You’ll get some of the most chaotic and brutal Death Metal ever!

We’re extremely proud to reissue the first 2 studio-demos (‘Colombia… imperio del terror’ (1989) & ‘Cáncer de nuestros días’ (1990)) for the legendary Masacre! 34 years after releasing the first demo these South Americans are still going strong, having just finished a successful European tour.

Cassettes will be released in June, both with a very cool, new and improved lay-out. BRUTALES MASACRES!

More info: Masacre; Into It Records;

Denmark's Ascendency ready to release new EP: "Delve into oblivion with these new offerings of unfaltering triumph and might".

June 1, 2023

Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records are proud to present a brand-new mini-album from Ascendency, ‘A Manifest of Imperious Destiny’, on 12″ vinyl and CD formats, respectively.

Prepare for the ultimate Black/Death Metal assault by Denmark’s Ascendency… Following a punishing demo in 2019 and their equally merciless 2020 MLP, they now return with another tome of destruction. Four new tracks span an unforgiving half hour of desecration.

While Denmark has offered some of the best contemporary Death Metal in the last decade or so, Ascendency are quite a unique beast within this. Their much darker, venomous Black Metal influences create disquiet with uncomfortable atmospherics that still retain that brutality, just with a much more unhinged twist. These new pieces showcase what the band has incubated in the last three years, which is feral and harrowing musical extremity with a sepulchral atmosphere and tremendous musicianship to boot. Reverberate howls and guitars send a chill through the ossuary while drums hammer through remaining skulls with ease.

While Ascendency clearly revel in delivering punishment, they do so with intricate and carefully constructed songs that contain more than enough nuance to really sink your teeth into. Melodic yet bestial riffs charge atop devastating percussion with demonic vocals while never straying too far from the cacophony of fury the remains the heart of this untamed sound. The subtleties tie in with bludgeoning violence effortlessly and leave us with a truly potent, memorable and distinguished record. Atmosphere and malice when they coexist in such a manner become an unstoppable beast, so prepare for annihilation if you seek out this mystical yet malignant gem of underground might. Delve into oblivion with these new offerings of unfaltering triumph and might.

More info: Ascendency; Dark Descent Records; Me Saco un Ojo Records;

Ondskapt call it quits: "Instead of writing a long and drawn out explanation..."

June 1, 2023

Founder and vocalist Acerbus of Ondskapt released the following statement:

“Instead of writing a long and drawn out explanation I will just announce that Ondskapt is over. I want to thank all of our fans for this incredible journey and all the support thought the years.”

In 2020 Ondskapt released their fourth and last album ‘Grimoire Ordo Devus’, which we described as: “This album is everything that you already love about Ondskapt and some more in the form of the melodic and ambient sound. Trust me; you do not want to miss it”

More info: Ondskapt; Osmose Productions;

Reaping Flesh to release debut EP via Redefining Darkness Records: "...a mission to play no frills, straight forward Death Metal..."

May 27, 2023

Italian savages, Reaping Flesh, formed in 2022 in Milan, Italy, with a mission to play no frills, straight forward Death Metal, the way they believed it should be.

Their sound is direct, and very influenced by early U.S. bands like Autopsy, Obituary, Morbid Angel, Death, and Massacre. The band started off strong with their first live performance opening for Death tribute act, Left to Die, and also just supported Crippled Bastards.

We are excited to release the band’s debut EP, ‘Abyss of Existence’, on CD & Cassette formats June 16th.

More info: Reaping Flesh; Redefining Darkness Records;

Live Burial calls it a day: "There is no drama here, we simply don’t have the desire to continue..."

May 24, 2023

After over a decade of existence Live Burial is no more.

We would like to take this opportunity to offer our utmost gratitude to everybody who has supported us in any way; whether this is attending shows, buying merchandise or offering meaningful feedback/advice. We would also like to thank all the bands that we have shared the stage with over the years, and these are memories that we will remember fondly for the rest of our lives.

When we started, we didn’t think that we would release 3 full length albums and play shows all over the country and Europe. We are proud of what we have achieved and feel now is the time to close things. There is no drama here, we simply don’t have the desire to continue and we’d rather end things on a high now than phone it in.

We have also made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming shows (Hartlepool, Glasgow and Edinburgh) and all promoters have been notified in advance of this statement. We will, however, play one last show in our hometown of Newcastle in the very near future to say goodbye to all of our amazing friends here. We will post further details when this has been confirmed.

The UK Death Metal scene is in an incredible place at the moment, and we are excited to see where the scene goes in the coming years. Keep supporting underground Death Metal!

More info: Live Burial;

Sepulchral Productions to release debut of Sacrenoir: "For fans who will never get enough of that early '90s sound, this is an album you cannot afford to miss!"

May 24, 2023

Two pioneers of the Québec Black Metal scene, Athros (Brume d’Automne, Forteresse) and Monarque (Monarque, Forteresse) revisit the very early days of Black Metal on Sacrenoir’s raging debut album. Falling in somewhere their respective bands and old Darkthrone and Gorgoroth or even Bathory, ‘Comme des Revenants Parmi les Ruines’ is cold, raw, classic Black Metal, the likes of which has seldom been heard within the Québécois scene. For fans who will never get enough of that early ’90s sound, this is an album you cannot afford to miss!

More info: Sacrenoir; Sepulchral Productions;

Trépas and Sepulchral Productions join forces again for second album: "...Trépas is on top of its game on this album, which should end the year in many top tens!"

May 23, 2023

After the release of a very well-received first album in 2020, Trépas returns with ‘Les Ombres Malades’, an opus that displays a band having acquired a lot of maturity. If its approach hasn’t changed that much, Trépas still alternating between incisive Black Metal and a more brooding side, the band was able nonetheless to enrich its compositions with acoustic and atmospheric parts that are even more intricate than on the first album.

Between the excellent vocal performance of Goliatt, the superb guitar harmonies, and the massive production, Trépas is on top of its game on this album, which should end the year in many top tens!

More info: Trépas; Sepulchral Productions;