Cast from deep within the mist of Bordeaux, France, The Great Old Ones weave the chilling tales of H.P. Lovecraft into otherworldly black metal. With four albums under their cloaks, the band are masters of the unknown, the unseen and the unconquerable.
"Unlike so many of their contemporaries in the current black metal scene, they morph the stale post-black aesthetic into something monumental and individualistic, a sound that re-imagines post-black metal through an uncommonly aggressive lens", Angry Metal Guy wrote about their last collection of cosmic tales.
Now, five years after Cosmicism, The Great Old Ones are back with a new dark and mountainous album that blurs the line between fantastical wonder and horrifying dread. Kadath opens with its lead single and opening song "Me, The Dreamer", a two-part epic that tosses and turns like an accursed bout of insomnia.
Kadath comes out January 24th, 2025 on Season of Mist.
Pre-save & Pre-order
https://orcd.co/tgookadath
Watch the harrowing visualizer for lead single "Me, The Dreamer below:
"Me, The Dreamer" follows Lovecraft's strapping young hero and fictional stand-in Randolph Carter. Always one to keep his head in the clouds, Carter embarks on a mind quest through the treacherous Dreamlands. But, as the divine gods of old would have it, his night time journey is barred by unspeakable perils that push him closer to brink of sanity.
A name is whispered which chills the spine and quickens the pulse – THE GREAT OLD ONES. Like phantoms emerging from the fog, they have haunted the world of Lovecraftian Black Metal with their sonorous, foreboding melodies and eldritch tales. Descending once more into the abyss of H.P. Lovecraft's enigmatic universe, they have unearthed their latest opus, Kadath - an album that promises to be a journey of both magnificent dreams and unspeakable horrors.
THE GREAT OLD ONES emerged in 2009 from the old parts of the ancient Aquitanian harbour city of Bordeaux, France, a city famed for its secrets and deep red wine. After releasing their first album, Al Azif, the reactions of critics and fans were unanimously positive.
The band followed up with their second full-length, Tekeli-li, which garnered even higher praise. As a result, THE GREAT OLD ONESplayed a show at the acclaimed Roadburn festival, opened for BEHEMOTH in their homeland, played at Hellfest, and supported label mates SHINING and DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT.
The third full length, EOD – A Tale of Dark Legacy, (2017) marked another big step in the band’s fast rising career. The five-piece took the road with the legendary GAAHLS WYRD and embarked on a successful European co-headline tour with AUÐN from Iceland. THE GREAT OLD ONES also appeared on the billing of respected festivals, such as Brutal Assault and Eindhoven Metal Meeting, in front of a gigantic crowd of cultists.
THE GREAT OLD ONES have been crafting sonic landscapes that echo with the cries of ancient, cosmic deities and the whispers of forgotten realms. Their discography masterfully showcasing the sheer power of atmosphere and narrative, and has guided listeners through the darkest corners of Lovecraft's mythos, earning them a devoted following among both metal aficionados and acolytes of the macabre. With their unique blend of harrowing intensity and sombre beauty, they have captured the essence of the otherworldly, marrying it with the raw, blackened heart of metal.
Kadath marks a bold departure from the oceanic depths of the Cthulhu mythos, venturing instead into the Dreamlands. It is here that we follow the protagonist, Randolph Carter, as he seeks the fabled city that haunts his visions. The album resonates with his longing and determination, embodying the treacherous path he treads amidst the capricious gods and monstrous entities that dwell within this twilight realm. Through seven tracks, THE GREAT OLD ONES tortuously narrate Carter’s odyssey, transcending the boundaries of music to evoke a world where fantasy intertwines with terror.
Recorded under the vigilant eye of Francis Caste at Studio Sainte-Marthe, Paris, Kadath's production is nothing short of sorcerous. Each note and whispers are imbued with the power to transport the listener, offering an escape into an epic, immersive universe. Benjamin Guerry’s haunting vocals and guitars, alongside the mesmerizing contributions of Aurélien Edouard and Alexandre Rouleau on guitars, the deep resonance of Gregory Vouillat's bass, and the relentless assault of Julian Deana's drums, forge an album of unmatched emotional depth and technical prowess.
Thus, behold the latest chapter in their eldritch saga, Kadath - their unyielding quest to explore the outer margins of reality and imagination. An invitation to journey beyond the familiar, into a world of cosmic dread and awe-inspiring beauty, where the ancient gods still roam and dreams bleed into reality.
Line-up:
Benjamin Guerry - Guitars, Vocals
Aurélien Edouard - Guitars
Hugo Bernart - Guitars
Gregory Vouillat - Bass
Julian Deana - Drums
Recording Studio:
Recorded at Studio Sainte-Marthe, Paris, France
Production Credits:
Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Francis Caste at Studio Sainte-Marthe, Paris, France
Biography:
The Great Old Ones, with additions by Sébastien Gamez
Cover Art:
Jakub Rebelka
Photographer:
Daphnea Doto & Solweig Wood
Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/tgookadath
Follow The Great Old Ones:
Website: https://www.thegreatoldonesband.com/
Bandcamp: https://thegreatoldones.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thegreatoldones
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreatoldonesofficial/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/thegreatoldonesband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1U6VZQrgQ4CNXbS6FpP0QC
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/4377965
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/the-great-old-ones/596465875
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/5475055