Distinguishing yourself from the glut of occult black metal in the current musical climate can be a difficult task; recycled sounds and copycat presentation bury many bands in a quagmire of stagnation and indifference. Rarely do bands show a passion and creativity that holds them apart from the herd, even rarer still do they have the talent to translate this drive in actual quality heavy metal that holds its head above the crowd – Inconcessus Lux Lucis deserve this accolade. Wrapped up in saturnian black magick, Inconcessus Lux Lucis conjure black metal in the veins of masters Bathory, Celtic Frost and Venom – comparisons bearing as much to the spirit and atmosphere created by their winding song structures rather than a straight up tribute. Augmented by the raw energy of Motörhead and 70’s proto-punk of The Stooges, live shows are a tribute to death and disembodiment of the band and crowd. Inconcessus Lux Lucis have been sharpening their steel since 2009’s demo ‘Part 1. The Awakening Of Him’, joining forces with Russia’s Nomos Dei Productions to release their first EP ‘Severed From Sephiroth’ and full length ‘Disintegration: Psalms of Veneration for the Nefarious Elite’. Allowing their craft to develop with the recording … Read More

Previously going under the moniker Chapel, a new relentless death metal duo by the name of Temisto have signed to Pulverised Records.

With the now-defunct Morbus Chron frontman Robert Andersson and Elias Scharmer (ex-Abduction, ex-Mutilate) at the producer/engineering helm, Temisto’s self-titled album has been mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio (Watain, Desultory, Repugnant, etc) with artwork and layout by Obssessed By Cruelty (Wolfbrigade, Enforcer, Agent Steel, Sabbat).

Pulverised Records Calvin Chiang has said “The Temisto self-titled album is easily one of the most refreshing things we have heard this year and the one thing that caught our attention instantly was how accomplished they are as songwriters, coupled with that organic and honest slab of death metal that we rarely hear these days. The level of maturity displayed on the record is just unbelievable and it certainly transcends an aura of otherworldly obscurity that Temisto have managed to capture perfectly.”

The Temisto self-titled album comes out on 26th February 2016.

West Virginian dark occult rockers Brimstone Coven have announced they will release their first full-length album, ‘Black Magic’, via Metal Blade Records in January, 2016. Recorded at Andrew D’Cagna’s Sacred Sound Studios in Ohio, the album was mostly written over a year period against a backdrop of “candles, incense, solitude, and a thick air of ganja”. The band are said to have taking influence from Sabbath, Pentagram, Zeppelin but also Pink Floyd, The Mamas & Papas, Yes and The Byrds.

The band reveals, “What sets ‘Black Magic’ apart is the genuinely eerie aura it invokes. We strove for a sound that makes you feel like you’re wandering through a shroud of mist, unable to see your own hand in front of your face. We want you to feel equally excited and creeped out, letting your imagination run wild and get the best of you.”

Chicago’s Bloodiest have released ‘Suffer’, the apocalyptic closing track of their forthcoming self-titled sophomore album (out January 15 on Relapse). For fans of sludgy, psychedelic metal and rhythmic noise rock, a genre-bending, wall-of-sound heaviness that is over almost as quickly as it begins, Bloodiest features Bruce Lamont from Yakuza and is produced by super-producer Sanford Parker (YOB, Minsk) and guitarist Tony Lazzara. ‘Bloodiest’ will be a testament to the band’s cinematic vision and have said that “Listeners willing to look into the darkness will find themselves taken on a storm-tossed, cathartic journey—and might even see the dawn after all.”

 Pre-Orders for ‘Bloodiest’ are available physically at this location and digitally here

Black/thrash tyrants Ketzer (German for ‘Heretic’ in case you needed to know) will release their brand new album ‘Starless’ on January 29th through Metal Blade and have teased us with a brand new video. 

The band have said “It is just now that we are realising what we have done during this summer: we recorded an album which is very free from any boundaries and pre-conceived notions that you can find ever so often within the genre of heavy metal. From sounds of raging fury, to the echoes of calm and cleansing waves – ‘Starless’ is an album that will take you on a journey that is unexpected, yet familiar at the same time. ‘Starless’ is going to explore the crack between religion and reality. Is there a truth in between? Centuries ago, humankind looked up into the star filled night skies, questioning the universe and their lives within it. In order to find answers, mythology was born. But religion and myths cannot connect to the world we live in today. They have blinded the night skies – hence, we have become ‘starless’. Join us to sing songs of the universe and play tunes of the spheres!”

Purson welcomes you to ‘Desire’s Magic Theatre’, which according to the band is “A technicolour trip through the mind’s eye of songstress/vocalist/guitarist Rosalie Cunningham, whose signature approach to her craft stands boldly centre-stage, blending progressive dexterity and cabaret romp into a compelling, multi-faceted rock ‘n’ roll show.” Already one of our editor’s albums of 2016, ‘Desire’s Magic Theatre’ draws inspiration from the rock operas of the late ’60s and early ’70s; musically, visually and lyrically, it touches on a variety of realms, including folk, prog, psychedelic, gothic and classic rock, making telling use of classical instruments and complex arrangements, and fully exploring the outer limits of reel to reel tape.

Says Rosie: “’Desire’s Magic Theatre’ has turned out to be everything I’d imagined and more! My world has been so consumed by it that I’ve barely been able to reflect on what it has become: a technicolour variety show, a playful display of the musical whims only briefly hinted at in our previous work; a psychedelic rock opera dedicated to our good friends Sarge Pepper and Zig Stardust.”

The album is set for release in March 2016 through Spinefarm and Machine Elf and a UK tour will follow

UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES

MARCH WED 09          BRISTOL, THE LOUISIANA THU … Read More

King Diamond will return to the UK next year, on Tuesday 21st June at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town. And as part of their live set, they will perform the ‘Abigail’ album in its entirety for the first and possibly last time ever in the UK. The band have promised that “This will be the most ambitious theatrical horror production by King Diamond to date. Both sonically and visually this will take the band to a whole new level.”

For a taste of what to expect check out this performance from last summer’s American tour: 

Tickets are on sale now at www.seetickets.com

And just if you thought you were getting no presents for Christmas Metal Blade have just re-issued ‘The Spider’s Lullabye’ on CD and vinyl, so you can treat yourself. The CD will be released as a double-Digi-CD featuring a bonus-CD that includes the rare and previously unreleased demos for the album. The LP comes as a double gatefold vinyl including all the bonus tracks as well. Get your copies of “The Spider’s Lullabye” and “House Of God” from Omerch