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Finnish Death Metal band Sepulchral Curse have been expanding upon their sound since their inception, adding more influences to make it more rich and diverse, and it’s on this release, their second full length, that they’ve finally come into their own.

They can boast now more than ever before of having a powerful and identifiable sound that they can call their own, one that is honed to perfection and bears myriad elements without sounding disparate. The music is more intricate and complex than ever before but sounds remarkably robust and coherent despite it all, and is held together by the thick and impossibly deep roars of the vocalist.

Without betraying the imperious sound, each song exhibits various shades of emotion, even reveals glimpses of well-ensconced melodies, and weaves together an engrossing tale of their own. They’ve crafted a stunningly nuanced album for music this crushing and domineering, and are sure to make a mark for themselves with this release.

Hammer of Hate is proud to present Sielunvihollinen’s highly anticipated fifth album, ‘Helvetinkone’, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Formed in 2011 initially as a solo project, over the course of four albums and a handful of splits, demos, and EPs, Sielunvihollinen have come to be standard-bearers of pure ‘n’ proud Finnish Black Metal. While neither shying away from the spotlight nor intentionally cultivating an air of mystery, Sielunvihollinen’s catalog over the past decade has come to speak of itself – thoughtful songwriting, impassioned performances, a totality of form meeting content – and with their development into a full band unlike so many other Black Metal “projects,” they’ve also become a considerable force on the live front.

While they’ve no doubt been prolific in the number of EPs and splits they’ve released over that past decade-plus, Sielunvihollinen have fastidiously released a full-length every two years. Now, like clockwork, two years after the widely acclaimed Teloituskäsky comes their fifth album, ‘Helvetinkone’. Roughly translated into English as “Hell Machine,” Sielunvihollinen’s latest full-length is indeed a hellish affair, but one not without the band’s characteristically poignant melodicism. Carrying forward that deadly precision of its full-length predecessor ‘Helvetinkone’ cruises with a clarity of focus that simply heightens the heartstrings-pulling push of their anthemic songwriting. Indeed, the attack is squarely Black Metal – rough and rowdy at heart, “catchy” in the Finnish post-millennial tradition – but these eight anthems are ridiculously compact and contoured; not one single second is wasted, and the leads-forward emphasis has never been more striking. And whereas the aforementioned Teloituskäsky was Sielunvihollinen’s cleanest-recorded work to date, it was a sea-change that only benefited the band’s increasingly compact nature; with ‘Helvetinkone’, it makes perfect sense, and lends a strangely sparkling character to their quintessential Finnish filth. Iron fists lined with velvet, and poised to punch you in the fucking face!

Once again presenting authentic ’90s classicism whilst trampling the graves of the present, Sielunvihollinen stand firm in the upper echelons of international Black Metal with ‘Helvetinkone’!

Me Saco Un Ojo Records, in conspiracy with Sewer Rot Records and Unholy Domain, is proud to present a new mini-album from Japan’s Transgressor, ‘Beyond Oblivion’. Me Saco Ojo will handle the vinyl version, Sewer Rot the CD version, and Unholy Domain the tape version.

Formed as early as 1989, Japan’s Transgressor is one of those cult names only the deepest dwellers of obscurity might seek. With a healthy-if-sporadic discography, the time for a new EP is here: ‘Beyond Oblivion’.

Blending the murkiest elements of putrid Death Metal, ferocious grooving, and blistering lead work atop a hammering percussion: whether or not this name is familiar, Transgressor will beat you into submission. A healthy mix of exhilarating drums and crawling, tomb-lurking riffs seep forth very naturally while the vocal spew further enhances the eldritch mood of the record. With a timelessly classic feeling to the style of music, this horde of old-school maniacs have such a graven and crushingly brutal approach to keeping the archaic morbid spirit alive. The heaviness is asphyxiating, but there is also melody and these moments of gloom that give huge dynamics to the experience, showcasing a band who have clearly refined their sound to a well-oiled death-machine over the decades of their existence.

While many Japanese Death Metal bands have a penchant for purely slower tempos, Transgressor range from the spectral doomy moments all the way to a thrashing rage with so many meaty hooks in the mid-tempos, giving a varied and adrenaline-injected performance across the board. An impassioned performance and organic production deliver this EP with a flawlessly intense execution, so those seeking Death Metal that isn’t mangled by modernity can truly revel in the rottenness of ‘Beyond Oblivion’ for its honest and truly crushing approach that lingers in the air, ensuring you will come back to the crypt for more.

The year is 1991, Swedish Death Metal is at it’s peak and the infamous combo Skogsberg/Sunlight produces one classic after another.

In the mists of that a band called Mastication rises and within a period of two months they entered the Sunlight Studio twice and recorded 2 demos. In between the heavy riffing of Daniel and Janne, Per hitting those Sunlight d-drums and the monstrous growls of Lars these demos became some of the finest Death Metal ever to come out of Sweden.

Sadly the band was shortlived and just 5 tracks were recorded but they made a huge impact in the Death Metal underground.

Fast forward to the year 2023 when Raw Skull Recordz and Into It Records decide to team up to bring these demos back to life and give them a well deserved, first time ever re-release on vinyl and tape. You might think these demos sound great as they were but a little magic was done on the remastering front and boosted things immensely.

If it’s Swedish Death Metal you like, there’s absolutely no excuse in not getting your hands on these great releases.

More info coming soon!

SVENSK DÖDSMETALL FÖR ALLTID

Iron Bonehead Productions is proud to present Luring’s cult second album, ‘Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ’, on CD and vinyl LP formats.

Making their public demo in 2018 with the ‘Interitu Caret Devotione ad Coronam Satanas’ demo, Luring have slowly-yet-assuredly become one of the most exciting developments in American Black Metal of recent years. Theirs is a stridently classicist form that doesn’t point toward preceding idioms too obviously nor overly, and they proved as much with last year’s ‘Victory Fires Ablaze Under the Banner of Lucifer’ full-length debut and the proceeding ‘Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ’ earlier this year.

The latter was only available digitally and on tape, and now Iron Bonehead steps forward to release Luring’s second album on a wider scale. Mystical and indeed malignant, ‘Triumphant Fall of the Malignant Christ’ weaves a black magickal spell rife with rippling physicality as well as otherworldly texture. Shimmering atmosphere floats above and below just-raw-enough melodicism that surges and spirals with rabid intent. One could variously point contemporaneously early Abigor and Gorgoroth as equally as turn-of-the-millennium Nocternity and Lunar Aurora – but Luring are an aptly monikered horde, and those aesthetic signposts merely serve as springboards for a still-unfolding creativity that manages to mesmerize with alluring elan.

Behold, the unholy force of Tumulation, the Californian Death/Doom purveyors who summon forth a massive wall of down tuned filth. Embracing the swampy early 90’s Death/Doom Metal, ‘Haunted Funeral Creations’ exudes a malevolent aura of aggression and anger, saturating every pore with this infernal atmosphere.

With an unwavering dedication to the old school Death/Doom Metal, Tumulation’s first-class rancid and merciless sound remains incredibly varied, never faltering into irrelevance or tedium. Switching instruments and roles, the members of Conjureth formed Tumulation in 2021 to delve into new musical ideas, concocting a new songwriting process that focuses on the swampy early 90’s Doom/Death sound.

Tumulation’s two back-to-back demos received critical acclaim from both the media and fans, unleashing the fully formed veterans of the extreme music scene. In league with Hammerheart Records, Tumulation will unleash their first album ‘Haunted Funeral Creations’ in August 2023!

Fossilization, one of the most acclaimed and praised newcomers in the underground recesses of the contended and highly demanding Death Metal feud, are finally back with their first full album ‘Leprous Daylight’, their most crushing and brutally wrenching release! 8 new savage tracks soaked in doomy despair, maliciously crafted and fiercely executed, a must have for all the fans of the Brazilian band and the whole Death Metal genre!

“I started working on ‘Leprous Daylight’ right after the recordings of the split with Ritual Necromancy. I knew I wanted to take a different direction with this full length album, it had to be faster and brutal as much as I could but without compromising my songwriting. I think ‘Leprous Daylight’ is Fossilization’s most violent effort so far but still full of the melancholy and sadness you have been used to with our previous releases.” (V.)

Fossilization is a Death Metal band formed in 2020. The duo featuring members of the Sludge/Death/Doom metal band Jupiterian, V. (voices, guitars, bass) and P. (drums) started as an idea right after their European tour with Krypts, Father Befouled and Encoffination but since Jupiterian was still working on their last album, the project had to be delayed and it only turned to full time band after the striking of the plague.

Critically acclaimed for their debut EP ‘He Whose Name Was Long Forgotten’ released by Everlasting Spew Records and the following 2 tracks featured on the Split with US combo Ritual Necromancy, the Brazilian duo is now back with their debut full length while embarking for a take no prisoners European tour with label mates Altars!

Stockholm, Sweden’s Xorsist have today announced their signing to Prosthetic Records, accompanying the signing announcement Xorsist has also shared plans to release their second album, ‘At the Somber Steps to Serenity’, on October 6.

Speaking on the signing and album announcement, Xorsist comments: “A new chapter begins. We are thrilled to announce the imminent release of our second full length album, ‘At the Somber Steps to Serenity’, under the renowned banner of Prosthetic Records. We are very excited to be joining forces with them, and we cannot wait to show you what we have been working on.”

On Blessed By The Divine’s release, the group adds: “Having our second album officially announced, nothing represents our new sound and musical direction more than this first single. Featuring dual vocals performed by both Gustav and Birk, accompanied by our new drummer Alphonse, this track brings a new twist to the Xorsist discography.”

Following their self-released debut album ‘Deadly Possession’ in 2022, Xorsist caught the attention of the Prosthetic Records with their old school approach to and affinity for Sweden’s Death Metal legacy and history. Founded by Gustav Ryderfelt (vocals and guitar) before cementing their line-up with both Birk Castenmalm (vocals and bass) and Alphonse Bouquelon (drums), Xorsist’s core sound is one rooted in deep reverence for the genre’s roots as much as it is a spirited progression of the raw and uncompromising Stockholm sound.

Seeking to continue their working relationship with the legendary Sunlight Studios (Dismember, At The Gates, Entombed, Grave and more), Xorsist once again opted to retain Tomas Skogsberg on co-production duties with Iñaki Marconi (Soen, Sepultura, Carcass). Xorsist’s proclivity for musical tradition is not mere homage so much as it is a graceful carrying of the genre’s torch. Having built up a glowing reputation in the Swedish underground by fans new and old, ‘At the Somber Steps to Serenity’ sees the young band ensure the old school Swedish Death Metal torch continues to burn brighter than before for the fabled city in which they reside.

Kings of Dutch Black Metal Salacious Gods once thought lost and forgotten return with their magnum magistralis! Black Metal as it was intended: pure, fast, intense and full of hate!

‘Oalevluuk’ has such a significant and layered importance to Salacious Gods as a band and to the individual members that the album can only speak for itself. It captures the strife and endurance the band had to deal with to complete this piece of pure, ritualistic darkness.

After the release of the previous album ‘Piene’ in 2005, Salacious Gods had a new album written and ready to be recorded in 2006. The material was written the old-fashioned way, in the rehearsal room. But after a period of self-reflection and self-flagellation the new material was deemed more of the same and not up to the standards of the band. Due to changes in the writing process as well as an ever-evolving mindset, the band embarked on new horizons, both musically as well as lyrically.

The new ‘Oalevluuk’ material was written and perfected in 2008. The recording process started shortly after. But by then the first ominous signs of the old curse (‘Oalevluuk’) started to rear its head. The studio losing vital recordings, bandmembers sustaining slow healing injuries, line-up changes, personal tragedies were all but a few of the setbacks caused by the ‘Oalevluuk’. Therefore to take matters into their own hands and to rise as a phoenix out of the ashes Salacious Gods build their own place to record their satanic brewage of black bile: the Fire & Brimstone studio.

But after re-recordings and line-up alterations, the stars finally aligned in 2020. While the earth crumbled under the influence of a pandemic, fresh power flowed through the veins of old and new members of Salacious Gods. Founding member and guitarist Iezelzweard took control and lead the newly formed Salacious horde to the Fire & Brimstone studio to record ‘Oalevluuk’. He summoned the old band members Swerc (Kjeld, Lugubre, Uuntar) and Fjildslach (Kjeld, Lugubre) with the new members Njirrebrod (Standvast, Lugubre) on vocals and Lafawijn (Iku-Turso, Orewoet, Terdor) on vocals. Nine unholy tracks, filled with hate and spite were recorded. The lyrics are sung both in English as well as in their local dialect, Drents. The lyrical themes are a concoction of the bandmembers nightmares, ritualistic experiences performed at their own hands as well as channeling their powers from spiritual dimensions into flesh and blood.

To create the best atmosphere possible the album was mastered by Tore Stjerna (Watain, Funeral Mist, Ofermod) and the artwork was created by Babalon Graphics (Behexen, Ensiferum, Celestial Bloodshed), Médan Savamhel BA’Al, (Corpus Christii), Khaos Diktator Design (Lock Up, Doedsvangr, Thron). Intense, fast paced drumming, combined with memorable melodies and subtle keyboard passages sets the mood for the unholy return of the Gods from Drenthe!

Just when Deteriorot is back in full force and stronger then ever with a new album out and a European tour in August, it’s time to travel back in time and unravel the history of these harbringers of dark and haunting Death Metal.

This massive compilation called ‘Echoes from the Past’ (first released by Razorback Records on CD in 2016), will be released on cassette and features everything from demo- and album-tracks to rare live- recordings…and much, much more. For example it will contains the 1992 demo, the 1993 ‘Manifested Apparitions of Unholy Spirits’ EP etc. It will also have an alternative lay-out compared with the Rotter Records version.

If you’re a fan of the band this is an absolute must have!