Updates for the following bands: Kapala (IND), Tristengrav (GRC), Vectis (PRT), Intothecrypt (RUS), Valaraukar (SCT), Devourment (USA), and the Eric Hoffman Meal Plan.
New Kapala EP Streaming at Decibel:
Via Press Release:
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Today, Indian warfare noise terrorists Kapala stream the entirety of their highly anticipated second EP, Termination Apex, at Decibel magazine’s website. Set for international release on June 25thvia Dunkelheit Produktionen, hear Kapala‘s Termination Apex in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Formed in the depths of Kolkata, Kapala have had one – and only one – objective since its formation: to play the most intense and bestial musick and annihilate the cesspool. Inspired by such legends such as Goatpenis, Revenge, Black Witchery, Blasphemy, Conqueror, and many other violent entities, Kapala seek to wage total sonic warfare with a strong obsession for the concept of “Survival of the Fittest.” And indeed, they accomplished that in a swift ‘n’ decisive 20 minutes comprising their first public recording, Infest Cesspool, which was released in 2017 by Dunkelheit to worldwide shock & awe.
Now, with the aptly titled Termination Apex, Kapala eclipse that feat with an even-more-savage and challenging onslaught that spans a densely uncompromising 26 minutes. Like its equally swift predecessor, Termination Apex displays the power-trio of Kapala more as a three-man war machine: indeed, their aim is to crush, kill, and destroy all in their path with overwhelming violence and totally OTT intensity. Their arsenal of shredded decibels is even more bountiful here, as each riff and drum hit becomes its own weapon, stockpiled with nuclear power before unleashing wave after wave after unmitigatedly annihilating wave.
If anything, the most striking difference between Infest Cesspool and Termination Apex is that Kapala here take a decisive detour from their influences and blast deeply into (and below) the most fetid depths of old-school grindcore, noisecore, and even gabber-leaning goregrind. Each instrument is seemingly mangled beyond recognition, stripped of humanity and anything resembling “normality” – stripped so far beyond the barest essentials, rawness pushed well past the red – that a perversely avant-garde element arises. However, linger under no assumption that such is softening Kapala characteristically savage identity: this is still its own blown-out, charred-beyond-redemption landscape, unforgiving and unrelenting and unforgettably so, arguably more than ever.
If Kapala left nothing but scorched earth and eviscerated eardrums after the Infest Cesspool was wiped clean, then surely their Termination Apex scatters the ashes across the anticosmos – and far beyond! Fully scatter your own ashes exclusively HERE, courtesy of Decibel, North America’s only monthly metal magazine. Preorder info can be found HERE at Dunkelheit‘s Bandcamp.
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Tristengrav Streams New Demo:
Via Press Release:
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Today, deathrocking black metallers Tristengrav stream the entirety of their striking second demo, II – Nychavge, at heavily trafficked web-portal CVLTNation.com. Set for international release on June 22nd Caligari Records on cassette tape format, hear Tristengrav‘s II – Nychavge in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Tristengrav hail from Patras, Greece and released their first demo, Incendiarism of Nous, in 2018. Now, roughly a year later comes Nychavge, a four-track (plus one outro) recording featuring their unique blend of black metal with gothic rock. Imagine GISM crossed with Rozz Williams-era Christian Death or later Anti-Cimex covering Mighty Sphincter and you have some glimpse into the ever-growing madness that is Tristengrav…
“We’ve been a band almost two years now,” the band explain. “All songs were written during a very misty period of time, where the only goal was to dive headfirst into a pulpit of negative/dark visions and coming back with the results and the metamorphosis at hand. Serious introspection is required, and the inwards and backwards motto is of utter importance as one of the main aspects that the lyrics lean towards is the process of becoming – a revelation and exaltation of bestial self, a primordial state that overcomes the omnipresent sinister side, yet without denying it, but embracing its fertile scourge.”
Indeed do Tristengrav experience a sort of “becoming” on Nychavge – is a compound word that means the radiance of the night – whereby the grisly, greasy heart of very ancient black metal (we’re talking the first three Bathory albums here) is ripped asunder and suffused with chaotically chorused lead guitars, emitting a sinister and spectral aspect intrinsic to classic ’80s goth and deathrock. While that latter aspect certainly renders Tristengrav‘s creations more melodic than they have any right to be, they likewise render them utterly crazed and delirious, whipping forth a D-beating maelstrom straight into the grave…or the batcave.
“We chose to compose the songs in a more punkish way than the first EP,” the band elaborates, “as we like to bastardize the genre in a way that it is more interesting to us. We’d like to have a more personal sound in black metal, but not getting away from its roots.”
Sonically iconoclastic Nychavge may be, Tristengrav‘s heart still pumps the blackest blood: “Satan is also the Dionysian glorification of flesh, desire, ecstasy. Our way of saying that, aside from our opposition to the modern world of mundane trivialities and lack of spiritualism, there is this eternal symbol that feeds our primal flame, leaving us without an option of accepting defeat but with a proud struggle against the katechon.”
Struggle no more and simply submit to Tristengrav‘s salacious and super-stylish onslaught. And they’re only getting started with II – Nychavge! Fully submit exclusively HERE, courtesy of CVLTNation.com. Preorder info can be found HERE at Caligari Records‘ Bandcamp.
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Vectis Streams Debut Demo:
Via Press Release:
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Today, blackthrash upstarts Vectis stream the entirety of their debut demo, The Executioner, at Decibel magazine’s website. Set for international release on June 27th via Helldprod Records on cassette tape format, hear Vectis‘ The Executioner in its entirety exclusively HERE.
We no longer live in the ’80s or even the ’90s, but the ability to emulate this musicality by the youngest newcomers in the metal scene is a phenomenon still worth of following. In this case, Vectis are a bunch of 16- to 18-year-old teenagers playing their debut demo entitled The Executioner.
Delivering an uncompromising blackthrash attack like the ones played by early Sodom, Protector, or even Vulcano, Vectis stand for raw, ripping, and fisting hellraisers of the sacred domains and are a strong reminder that the old ways of metal are still well alive. Now it’s about time for you to give them your left-hand blessing and support the sustenance of metal’s primordial extreme roots for the future.
Raise that left-handed fist fully exclusively HERE, courtesy of Decibel, North America’s only monthly metal magazine. Preorder info can be found HERE.
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Intothecrypt Streaming Debut Album:
Via Press Release:
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Today, Russian pagan metallers Intothecrypt stream the entirety of their striking debut album, Vakor, at Legacy magazine’s website. Set for international release on June 21st via Ordo MCM, hear Intothecrypt‘s Vakor in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Although an otherwise-new name, having been formed in 2016 as a studio project, Intothecrypt feature members of Russian cult band Scald: guitarist Ivan “Harald” Sergeev, bassist/vocalist Ilia “Velingor” Timashev, and drummer Aleksand “Ottar” Kudryashov, all of whom also played in Russian folk metal band Tumulus. The main goal of Intothecrypt is to create dark, extreme music which includes elements of Scald, Bathory, old-school doom/death, black metal, and Northern folk music. So, one could understand Intothecrypt as an extension of where Scald could’ve gone but also a separate entity unto itself.
Uniquely, Intothecrypt‘s lyrics are based on a peculiar combination of Slavic and Finno-Ugric mythologies which emerged in the North and North East regions of Ancient Rus when Slavs settled there and made contact with Finno-Ugrians and their culture. The songs are written from the viewpoint of a shaman who lived at a crossroads of cultures and combined both Slavic and Finno-Ugric believes and magical practices. Some of Intothecrypt‘s lyrics are in English; the rest of them are based on Ancient Russian grammar, with the use of Ancient Russian, Finno-Ugric and Russian dialectal vocabulary. A significant contribution to the music of Intothecrypt was made by Gervald (project KI.EN.GI) and other guest musicians.
In 2017, Intothecrypt created a four-song demo. A year later, the band finished their debut album, Vakor. Epic and expansive, Vakor creates a colorful canvas during its hour-long duration, with its kaleidoscopic landscape taking in pagan metal, folk, prog, traditional black/death, and of course that magical touch of Scald and their pagan-era forebears Bathory. Each of the album’s ten main songs weaves a fantastical spell that immediately penetrates the soul and stirs the imagination. At once, Intothecrypt is emblematic of Russia’s reigning pagan metal paradigm and defiant of it, creating a tapestry of glory entirely their own.
Apart from the main members of Intothecrypt – Harald, Velingor, and Ottar – the following musicians took part in recording this album: Gervald on sound effects, percussion, and backing vocals and Marina Sokolova of Sedmaya Voda on vocals, altogether making for a truly unique and collaborative experience. Completed by Andrey Andreev’s cover artwork, Intothecrypt‘s Vakor is a timeless tale of past, present, and perhaps future!
Fully ponder the future exclusively HERE, courtesy of Legacy, Germany’s extreme metal authority.
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Valaraukar Streaming Debut Album:
Via Press Release:
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Today, Scottish black metal cult Valaraukar stream the entirety of their striking debut album, Demonian Abyssal Visions, at heavily trafficked web-portal Black Metal Daily. Set for international release on June 21st via Iron Bonehead Productions, hear Valaraukar‘s Demonian Abyssal Visions in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Hailing from Edinburgh, Valaraukar are a formidable black metal duo whose sound encapsulates very real, potent visions of dark supremacy and empowerment. Their first full-length recording following a two-song demo in 2018, Demonian Abyssal Visions is a wealth of hostile, masterful black metal aggression which carries introspective and abyssal undertones. Hovering and heaving and yet emitting a palpable lawlessness, Valaraukar‘s debut LP is black metal by old souls, for old souls, but by no means is tethered to try-hard “retro” tropes.
Valaraukar‘s impenetrable vision comes from the mind of guitarist/vocalist Vagath, whose enduring dedication to his dark arts are driven by inner demons and primal aspects of the subconscious. Vagath’s guitar work is fused together with the driven and powerful drumming of Sovereign, an individual committed to relentless extremity and force. Together, a swirling, sometimes-smothering/sometimes-spacious vortex of cosmic filth is created, palpably physical (and headbangingly so) despite the more spiritual parameters Valaraukar aim. Across its rich ‘n’ dynamic 43-minute runtime, the six component “visions” comprising Demonian Abyssal Visions draw the listener in with a subtly spell-like appeal. Or, put another way, visualize the music much like the album’s cover art.
New old portals have been opened by Valaraukar, and they beseech you to witness their Demonian Abyssal Visions. Step fully inside all those portals exclusively HERE, courtesy of Black Metal Daily.
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Devourment Announce New Album, Debut New Music:
Obscene Majesty is out August 16th on Relapse Records. New track:
Body by Eric Hoffman:
I’d put $5,000 on Eric in a fight against Glen.
6 am. 6 eggs. 6 shrimp. Hail Satan, wheat toast cult eternal.
Ok, bye. Eat meat.
apanthropy 
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