ABDUCTION Release New Single "Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit" + Video!

UK extreme metal collective ABDUCTION has released a new single, "Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit," from their forthcoming album, 'Existentialismus,' set to be released on February 21, 2025 via Candlelight.

The new track is a harrowing exploration of the band's signature sound, a masterful amalgamation of otherworldly atmospheres, searing aggression, and apocalyptic tension. "Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit" offers a chilling, yet cohesive glimpse into the bleak, introspective universe the band continues to craft, drawing their listeners into a sonic abyss that is as unforgiving as it is captivating.

With 'Existentialismus,' ABDUCTION continues to push the boundaries of extreme metal, their sound a fierce embodiment of nihilistic intensity. And as the album's release date draws near, "Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit" serves as a potent warning of the darkness yet to come.

Comments vocalist A|V:

"The city swine are feasting, eyes fixated on all that is surplus, transitory, and inane. 

"All at once was the flood. 

"Unwilling rats, unknowing of their stench.

"Spiralling towards the sewer... 

"Perfect." 

Watch the Video for "Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit" Below:

Listen to "Blau ist die Farbe der Ewigkeit" HERE

Following their 2022 album, 'Black Blood,' which showcased the band's fiercely expansive sound, ABDUCTION is now poised to push their musical boundaries even further. With many bands currently paying homage to black metal’s glory years and just as many attempting to connect unrelated workings to that legacy, ABDUCTION’s music manages to be both recognizably authentic and imbued with its own spirit. And never has this been truer than in the new album, 'Existentialismus.'

The band will also be hitting the road for a series of exclusive live dates in March, bringing the intensity of 'Existentialismus' to the stage in support of the album's release.

Pre-Order 'Existentialismus' HERE

Having become one of the UK’s most visible black metal acts on the live circuit, bringing their ritualistic and immersive performances to audiences at club shows and festivals such as Damnation, Bloodstock, Incineration, Fortress, Mass Destruction, Samhain, Reaperfest, and Eradication, 'Existentialismus' has been recorded, for the first time, as a full band.

“It’s inspired by the juxtaposition of this horrible post-truth era with its contradictions and the simple, metaphorical truths that began in ancient religions of the crumbling past. Somewhere between a biblical gospel and a Nietzschean nightmare. As a father, there’s a particular terror in seeing all that our grandfathers built, physically and morally, being torn apart and reduced to a commodity and wondering what kind of world my son will inherit.”

“I am by no means a philosopher – I desperately lack the patience,” A|V admits. “But my observations of the modern Western humane race have become particularly bleak, and this informs my lyrical writing process. Art as a reaction to life and experience. This is laid out in the first track, ‘A Legacy of Sores’, which posits that most of us here, in the current year, have become an alarming pairing of being both too sensitive and yet without any core beliefs to stand on. (‘Wet skin now paper thin, reveals a core of dust’) I think this is a mixture of a post-religious society and the acceleration of technology to the point at which its claws are deeply in us. Have you tried to live without a smartphone recently?”

'Existentialismus' was recorded and produced by Ian Boult at Stuck On A Name Studios in Nottingham, while the final touches of post-production and mastering were handled by Tore Stjerna (Watain, Mayhem, Deströyer 666) at Necromorbus Studios in Sweden. The striking and immersive cover art is the work of Julia Soboleva.

ABDUCTION Release Immersive New Single "Razors of Occam" + Music Video

UK extreme metallers ABDUCTION have released their immersive second single, "Razors of Occam", a gripping prelude to the forthcoming album, 'Existentialismus,' due for release on February 21, 2025, via Candlelight. The track serves as a visceral glimpse into the band’s otherworldly, introspective universe, while its haunting video, directed by Jake Kindred, draws viewers deep into the emotional abyss of ABDUCTION's world. 

"'Razors of Occam' is a celebration of the back-breaking labour that our grandfathers and grandmothers endured over the past century to build the houses and systems that maintain our (relative) safety and comfort here in the west', comments vocalist A|V. '"There's more honour in the last gasping breath, spilled forth from a dying old man's chest, than in all the seas of all the tears the younger can conjure. For with one wish, they'd give it all away."

Following their explosive 2022 album, 'Black Blood,' which showcased the band's fiercely expansive sound, ABDUCTION is now poised to push their musical boundaries even further. With many bands currently paying homage to black metal’s glory years and just as many attempting to connect unrelated workings to that legacy, ABDUCTION’s music manages to be both recognizably authentic and imbued with its spirit. And never has this been truer than in the new album, 'Existentialismus'.

Watch the Video for "Razors of Occam"

Having become one of the UK’s most visible black metal acts on the live circuit, bringing their ritualistic and immersive performances to audiences at club shows and festivals such as Damnation, Bloodstock, Incineration, Fortress, Mass Destruction, Samhain, Reaperfest, and Eradication, 'Existentialismus' has been recorded, for the first time, as a full band.

“It’s inspired by the juxtaposition of this horrible post-truth era with its contradictions and the simple, metaphorical truths that began in ancient religions of the crumbling past. Somewhere between a biblical gospel and a Nietzschean nightmare. As a father, there’s a particular terror in seeing all that our grandfathers built, physically and morally, being torn apart and reduced to a commodity and wondering what kind of world my son will inherit.”

“I am by no means a philosopher – I desperately lack the patience,” A|V admits. “But my observations of the modern Western humane race have become particularly bleak, and this informs my lyrical writing process. Art as a reaction to life and experience. This is laid out in the first track, ‘A Legacy of Sores’, which posits that most of us here, in the current year, have become an alarming pairing of being both too sensitive and yet without any core beliefs to stand on. (‘Wet skin now paper thin, reveals a core of dust’) I think this is a mixture of a post-religious society and the acceleration of technology to the point at which its claws are deeply in us. Have you tried to live without a smartphone recently?”

'Existentialismus' was recorded and produced by Ian Boult at Stuck On A Name Studios in Nottingham, while the final touches of post-production and mastering were handled by Tore Stjerna (Watain, Mayhem, Deströyer 666) at Necromorbus Studios in Sweden. The striking and immersive cover art is the work of Julia Soboleva.

Pre-Order 'Existentialismus' HERE

UK Black Metal Standouts THE INFERNAL SEA Release Deluxe, Reimagined Version of 'Hellfenlic'

As UK black metal luminaries THE INFERNAL SEA launch their European tour in France tonight, the band have also unleashed the deluxe edition of their acclaimed 2024 album 'Hellfenlic'. Titled 'Hellfenlic Deluxe (Reincarnated Evil)', this expanded version is now available through Candlelight, offering fans a deeper dive into the band’s unrelenting darkness.

Originally released in January, this enhanced version takes each track to new, reinterpreted heights, offering fresh arrangements that reimagine the original compositions. With every song reworked, 'Hellfenlic' in its deluxe form challenges listeners to approach the album from a completely different perspective, inviting them to rediscover its dark intricacies in a whole new light.

To celebrate the release of 'Hellfenlic Deluxe (Reincarnated Evil)', THE INFERNAL SEAhave also released a brand new visualizer for "Black Witchery (Curse of The Coven Remix by Nekravol".

Watch the Visualizer for "Black Witchery"

(Curse of The Coven Remix by Nekravol) Below.

THE INFERNAL SEA draw from a vast musical palette, influenced by a wide array of genres, including electronic and industrial. Having come of age in the 90s, they were immersed in a time when metal bands were boldly crossing genre lines, experimenting with new sounds and styles. Acts like Fear Factory and White Zombie were at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of their art and creating genre-defying remix albums that shattered conventions and expanded the possibilities of what metal could be.

THE INFERNAL SEA comments on the deluxe album:

"Our goal was to imagine how these songs might have sounded if someone else had shaped them – to explore the possibilities of an alternate vision. These reimagined tracks aren’t meant to replace the originals; far from it. Instead, they’re designed to challenge listeners, encouraging them to approach 'Hellfenlic' from fresh perspectives and discover new layers within the music.

"It's been highly satisfying if not mind-bending to hear other people's takes on these tracks, in a genre where you almost never see this happen. There is a wide range of sounds, influences and flavours on offer here all while staying true to the intent of the original songs, infernal gratitude to all who gave their most precious time to this unusual project."

Stream 'Hellfenlic Deluxe (Reincarnated Evil)' HERE

THE INFERNAL SEA have been a plague on this Earth since 2011, composing fierce and terrifying black metal from the Fenlands of England, conjuring compelling tales of English & European history throughout the Medieval period.

Over several releases, THE INFERNAL SEA have solidified their reputation as black metal wraiths—enigmatic and elusive, their true identities obscured by plague doctor-inspired masks and shadowy shrouds. In January 2024, they released 'Hellfenlic', a ferocious new album whose title, derived from Old English, translates to "a Fen of Hell." The record delivered eight tracks of seething, raw black 'n' roll fury, continuing the band's unrelenting assault on the senses. 'Hellfenlic' follows their trio of studio albums — 'Negotium Crucis' (2020), 'The Great Mortality' (2016), and 'Call of the Augur' (2012), further cementing their place as one of the genre's most powerful and uncompromising forces.

THE INFERNAL SEA have continued to elevate their live performances with a terrifying and captivating ritualistic stage show, enthralling audiences wherever they may roam. This has included performances at key UK festivals such as Bloodstock Festival, Incineration Festival, Damnation Festival, A Night of Salvation, Reaper Fest, Cosmic Void as well as a whole host of key support slots to bands such as Anaal Nathrakh, 1349, Taake, Napalm Death, Akercocke, Nargaroth, Primordial, Hellripper, Tsjuder, Mork, Rotting Christ, Hulder, Strigoi, Abigail Williams, Arch Enemy and many more. 

Continuing to captivate audiences with their electrifying, raw live performances, THE INFERNAL SEA kick off their European headline tour in France today.

Global Doom Supergroup MMXX Share New Single, "Alone", Featuring Mick Moss of Antimatter

Announce 'The Next Wave' EP Out April 14th

Pre-Save HERE

Global doom metal supergroup MMXX have announced their new EP 'The Next Wave' will be released via Candlelight on April 14th.

Ahead of this the band have released their first single and video, "Alone", which features guest vocalist Mick Moss (Antimatter, Sleeping Pulse). 

Check out the official lyric video, "Alone", feat. Mick Moss 

Born during the initial worldwide lockdown and incubated as the seasons passed, doom metal supergroup MMXX began as the sound of global isolation. Not unlike the pandemic itself, MMXX has long harboured an unseen chapter: 'The Next Wave'.

First single, "Alone" is an anthemic five-minute funeral march featuring the unmistakable Mick Moss (Antimatter, Sleeping Pulse). The full three song EP includes the metallic and driving "Isolation" featuring Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow the Sun), and the melancholic and ethereal "Echoes" featuring Alicia Nurho. 

'The Next Wave' EP will be released on vinyl by Candlelight and like its 2022 full-length predecessor 'Sacred Cargo', contains stunning artwork from Portuguese fine-art photographer Henri Prestes.

Comments the band: "The pandemic proved an especially inspiring and creatively prolific time for MMXX. Our desire to keep 'Sacred Cargo' short enough to fit on a single vinyl, and our preferred sequencing of songs meant we had a few songs from the 'Sacred Cargo' session left. As you will discover, they are by no means inferior, and we are pleased they will soon join our previous album as the ultimate epilogue to a global collaboration originating in the epicentre of pandemic isolation." 

At the core of MMXX is Andrea Chiodetti (ex-The Foreshadowing) on guitars and keys, Jesse Haff on drums (Daylight Dies and Gökböri) and Egan O’Rourke on bass (Daylight Dies). Together they channelled inspiration for composition after composition to collaborate with a geographically, culturally, and stylistically diverse collection of celebrated vocalists and musicians from around the world.

MMXX’s debut offering, 'Sacred Cargo' (2022), displayed the project’s signature multifarious approach to doom metal with upcoming EP, 'The New Wave', building upon the foundations laid by its predecessor with a newfound conviction.

MMXX are:

Andrea Chiodetti - Guitar/Keys

Jesse Haff - Drums

Egan O’Rourke - Bass

Ihsahn Announces New "Fascination Street Sessions" EP + Shares "Contorted Monuments"

Norwegian progressive metal pioneer Ihsahn returns with his latest release, the Fascination Street Sessions EP, on March 24 via Candlelight Records.

Ahead of the new EP, Ihsahn has also released the first single "Contorted Monuments." Listen below.

Known as a constantly evolving artist who loves to transcend boundaries, Ihsahn's musical journey has been relentlessly fascinating and frequently revelatory. With his penchant for collaborative projects and fascination with production, this new three-track EP, featuring two new original songs and one cover version, is the direct result of Ihsahn joining forces with URM Academy'sonline educational program for music production, and producer/engineer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Powerwolf) of Fascination Street Studios. 

Comments Ihsahn, "I've been working with Jens and his team for mixing and mastering for over a decade, but this course spans from pre-production to final master, so I wrote some demos and had Jens be involved from the very start."

Joining Ihsahn on this project was his long-time drummer Tobias Ørnes Andersen and keyboardist Øystein Aadland, who spent 10 intense days at Fascination Street Studios recording the songs. Øystein Aadland also adds warm and gentle lead vocals for the track "The Observer," while Jonas Renske of Katatonia recorded guest vocals to the song "Dom Andra," a cover of a track by Swedish band KENT.

Throughout the whole experience, the URM Academy team captured everything on video, with Jens Bogren adding commentary to the production techniques used, with detail on mic placements, preamps, drumhead tunings, sharing his methodology and drilling down into what goes into a recording such as this.

Ihsahn adds, "The idea was to capture high-end recordings of real instruments in great rooms, and we had an amazing setup for drums, guitars, bass, and even a vintage Hammond organ with Leslie, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, etc., recorded through Fender combos and analogue pedals etc."

He continues, "This was an amazing experience, and very educational, as I love everything related to music production. Both the Fascination Street and URM teams were incredible, and I believe everyone involved had a great time, in spite of 14–16 hour workdays. I'm very happy with how everything came together and for those interested in the technical aspects of how it was made, there will be a thorough course coming soon at URM Academy."

ABOUT IHSAHN:
Since 1991, IHSAHN has defied expectations and pushed boundaries. Launching his solo career in 2006 with The Adversary, he has sought to maintain the black metal blueprint that he helped devise with the world-shattering EMPEROR, while mischievously exploring progressive dreamscapes, avant-garde jazz, electronica, darkwave, ear-crushing tech-metal and ambient meditations. Each full-length album has had an element of surprise and delight, where the architect plays out his creative vision by building on an unwavering zeal for the shock and awe that keeps his listeners on their toes.

Armed for Apocalypse Announce Winter Tour Dates To Close Out 2022

New Album Ritual Violence Out Now On Candlelight Records

Armed for Apocalypse aren't saying goodbye to 2022 without taking their bludgeoning new album, Ritual Violence, out on the road! The uncompromising sludge masters have announced a winter tour run on the West Coast, along with a few dates in Mexico! The trek kicks off on November 30 in Crescent City, CA, and will conclude in Portland, OR on December 17. See below for a complete list of dates.

Commenting on these upcoming shows, drummer Nick Harris says, "We’ve been sitting on these songs for a long time. We’ve only played 7 shows since December 2019. We’ve got a new record, a rad label and PR team behind us. Bands don’t make a career out of playing their music by sitting at home! It’s time to get to work!" 

ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE - Winter 2022 Tour Dates

11/30/2022 - Crescent City, CA @ Enoteca

12/1/2022 - Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial

12/2/2022 - Tijuana, MX @ Interzona

12/3/2022 - Mexicali, MX @ El Granero Bar

12/4/2022 - Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Taproom

12/6/2022 - Austin, TX @ The Lost Well

12/7/2022 - Houston, TX @ Black Magic Social Club

12/10/2022 - Lawrence, KS @ Toliet Bowl

12/11/2022 - Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroot Brewery

12/13/2022 - Hollywood, CA @ Knucklehead

12/14/2022 - San Diego, CA @ Tower Bar

12/15/2022 - Oakland, CA @ Golden Bull

12/16/2022 - Bend, OR @ The Capitol

12/17/2022 - Portland, OR @ High Watermark

CANDLELIGHT MEDIA ALERT: Abduction Share New Video

UK BLACK METAL BAND

ABDUCTION

SHARE VIDEO FOR

"A PSYLACYBIC DEATH"

WATCH Below.

NEW ALBUM 'BLACK BLOOD' OUT OCTOBER 21!

Black metallers Abduction have released the video for the snarling new single "A Psylacybic Death", featuring Revenant Marquis.

"A Psylacybic Death" is the second visceral single to be released from Abduction's new album, 'Black Blood', which is set for release on October 21 via Candlelight Records.

Pre-order the album HERE

Abduction state, "'A Psylacybic Death" speaks, obtusely, of wisdom lost through time. The song entails a drug-induced death ritual inspired by the Eleusinian Mysteries whereby the subject hallucinates and is visited by creatures of the cosmic realm, before dissolving from tangible terra firma into the ether. The illusive RM of Revenant Marquis performed a particularly heinous ritual across this track, at my request. I am very pleased to have collaborated with him. 'I wish no ill, but all to death."

Formed in 2016 as a shadowy, single-man entity, Abduction have made astonishingly fast progress, carving a fearsome reputation for themselves as a standout act in an increasingly crowded extreme metal scene.

Performing alone in the early years — a rare sight, despite the many one-man bands in the genre – Abduction's central protagonist A|V then expanded the band into a full live outfit, to better create intense, ritualistic and immersive performances, both at underground shows and larger festivals.

The forthcoming release of 'Black Blood' sees Abduction's most ambitious and rewarding album to date. Recorded ­— like its predecessor, 2019's 'All Pain as Penance'— by Ian Boult at Stuck on a Name Studios in Nottingham, this nightmarish yet entrancing listen pushes Abduction into new territories without straying from their core sound.

From the hypnotically earnest and haunting opener "In Exaltation of the Supreme Being", to the expansive 11-minute epic "Plutonian Gate", with its marked progressive and psychedelic overtones, to the blend of uncompromising, stripped-down black metal and slower, almost post-metal textures of "A Psylacybic Death", it is an intense and dynamic experience.

Black Blood draws both from the band's roots and new inspirations. The fact that members of British black metal bands The Sun's Journey Through the Night and Revenant Marquis appear is a welcome nod to where Abduction come from, yet the fact that the band are atypical for a UKBM act ­— no rousing odes to England or '90s Scandinavian formulas here ­– is perhaps their most precious attribute. Their distinctive qualities have also earnt them a place on the roster of one of extreme metal's most famous labels — Candlelight Records — a definite milestone.

"Before this album was recorded, I knew I wanted to step things up a few notches in terms of taking this vision to a wider audience," A|V states. "Candlelight approached me — indirectly, as they didn't know who I was behind the mask — and offered a deal that more than meets where I want to take this project. Rather than continue to exist in the well-established sphere I've grown comfortable in, I decided that now is the time to take a leap into the unknown. Much like the narratives of the songs, there is both trepidation and elation. Time will be the judge…"

CANDLELIGHT MEDIA ALERT: MMXX Share New Video

DOOM SUPERGROUP

MMXX SHARE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE

"SHADOW HAVEN"

WATCH Below

NEW ALBUM 'SACRED CARGO'

OUT NOVEMBER 11!

Global doom metal supergroup MMXX have released the video for the new single "Shadow Haven", featuring Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity/Nightingale).

This is the third single to be released from their forthcoming album 'Sacred Cargo', out November 11 via Candlelight Records.

Pre-order it HERE

"Shadow Haven" bursts forth with sombre grace and melancholy, paving the path for the band's debut with a rich-textured soundscape, soulful vocals, and powerful beauty. 

Drummer Jesse Haff explains, "Andrea [Chiodetti] shared what would become "Shadow Haven" with me at the very end of the writing process for 'Sacred Cargo'. Even before Dan Swanö brought his magic to the song, I was immediately hypnotized by the composition, and felt it would be the perfect album finale. Dan's dynamic vocals then elevated it to a completely different level. We're all very proud of the final result. 

Egan wrote the lyrics about how many of us learned to find peace in the quiet secluded time during pandemic lockdown, despite the misery unfolding around us."

Born during the initial lockdown of Rome and New York City, and incubated as the seasons passed, doom metal supergroup MMXX are the sound of global isolation.

At the core of MMXX is Andrea Chiodetti (ex-The Foreshadowing) on guitars and keys, Jesse Haff on drums (Daylight Dies and Gökböri), and Egan O'Rourke on bass (Daylight Dies). Together, they channeled inspiration for composition after composition to collaborate with a geographically, culturally, and stylistically diverse collection of celebrated vocalists and musicians from around the world.

"'Sacred Cargo' started during one of the darkest moments of lockdown," explains guitarist Andrea Chiodetti, "it was a creative expression, processing what was happening to the world around us. What makes this project unique is that every piece and its lyrics (provided by each singer), all composed during the height of the pandemic, is able to give voice to a deeply intimate part of all of us. They’re lyrics that belong to every person who lived through and shared that collective experience." 

The end result, 'Sacred Cargo', is a dynamic and diverse sounding release, simultaneously densely heavy whilst retaining elements of etherealness and light, with each guest vocalist layering in their own perspective to culminate in this eclectic compendium of music reflecting an experience sadly understood by all. 

Drummer Jesse Haff adds: "It's amazing to me that the grand vision of this album—one in which we had different vocalists from around the world contributing their own lockdown experience—was actually achieved. Andrea and I imagined our ideal end result and just went for it but underestimated how much coordination would be required by everyone to truly pull it off. I'm amazed that so many talented people connected with the intent behind the project and agreed to participate. I'm deeply grateful for that. We didn't have to describe some foreign science fiction concept—unfortunately it is a directly understood reality experienced by all. I think the idea of directly channeling our unique perspectives into a collective expression resonated with everyone, as an obvious way to mark this era of our lives." 

Guest vocalists appearing on 'Sacred Cargo' include Dan Swanö of Edge of Sanity and of Nightingale (Sweden), Yann Ligner of Klone (France), Mick Moss of Antimatter and of Sleeping Pulse (UK), Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride (UK), Mikko Kotamäki of Swallow the Sun (Finland), Carmelo Orlando of Novembre (Italy), Marco Benevento of The Foreshadowing (Italy), Chris Cannella of Autumns End (USA), and Egan O'Rourke of Daylight Dies (USA).

Cage Fight Share New Video

CAGE FIGHT REVEAL STRUGGLES ON NEW SINGLE "EATING ME ALIVE" (FEAT. TREVOR STRNAD)

ON WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

SELF TITLED ALBUM OUT NOW 

Hardcore/thrash/crossover band Cage Fight have released a new single "Eating Me Alive" featuring the late, great Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder.

Opening up about struggles with mental health, the "Eating Me Alive" lyric video has been released on World Mental Health Day, the international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. 

Watch the video for "Eating Me Alive"

One of — if not the final — recording by Strnad, the video was originally planned for May 13, which was Cage Fight's album release day. But the drop was postponed due to Strnad's tragic unexpected passing just days before. Trevor's support for singer Rachel Aspe's work played a key role in the formation of Cage Fight, which is why his contribution to their debut album is so special. And the subject matter — struggles with anxiety and mental health — makes this poignant song even more significant.

Aspe comments, "Over COVID I was looking for a new project and releasing covers for something to do, but also to hopefully connect with other musicians. When I released my cover of "Statutory Ape", Trevor picked up on it and shared from The Black Dahlia Murder's pages, and it got a lot of attention. Trevor messaged me to say he loved it and hoped that I'd find a band off the back of the cover. Not long after James (Monteith, guitar) contacted me about Cage Fight and the rest is history.

"Had it not been for Trevor's support, Cage Fight may never have happened; it was a huge honor to have him guest on this song and it meant the world to us. He was one of the greatest supporters of the scene and new music and is truly missed. RIP Trevor."

On the song's content, bassist Jon Reid comments, "'Eating Me Alive' is about the day-to-day struggles and challenges with mental health that are so prominent to so many people and how the sorrow and loneliness can have a tangible effect. This is something personal to us and we wanted to let people know that they are not alone. We can all have these feelings and that most importantly there is help out there, and we can all find something special.

"We have chosen to release this on World Mental Health Day as a sign of solidarity."

With the new single, Cage Fight are urging fans to show support by purchasing the Trevor Strnad memorial shirt. All proceeds will help Trevor's family cover expenses incurred by his death and benefit the Common Ground Resource & Crisis Center.

Purchase and donate HERE

"Eating Me Alive" is taken from their debut album, 'Cage Fight', out now on the Candlelight label. 

Stream or purchase the album HERE

2022 has been an explosive year for Cage Fight with the release of their highly acclaimed self-titled debut album, tours with Sepultura, Raging Speedhorn, and Cro-Mags, shows with Svalbard, Napalm Death and more, as well as appearing at many festivals including Bloodstock, Burn It Down, including headlining Derby Alt Fest.

Now firm favourites on the live circuit, Cage Fight have announced their first ever UK headline tour in December 2022.

CAGE FIGHT ARE:

Rachel Aspe — Vocals

James Monteith — Guitar

Jon Reid — Bass

Nick Plews — Drums

Doom Supergroup MMXX Drop "This Breath Is Not My Breath" Lyric Video — WATCH

Born during the initial lockdowns of Rome and New York City, and incubated as the seasons passed, doom metal supergroup MMXX represents the sound of global pandemic isolation. Joining Candlelight Records for the release, the band has debuted an ethereal new single with "This Breath Is Not My Breath," which features guest vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow the Sun).

Watch the lyric video below.

On the new single, the band comments, "Essentially 'This Breath Is Not My Breath' is trying to tell the story of the hellscape that was January to March 2020 from the perspective of someone who first viewed COVID as a disease that is only really an abstraction and has zero impact and poses zero threat. [He] then gets sick and spreads the disease to everyone around him. The idea in the chorus is that your breath literally and metaphorically is owned by and only shared at the discretion of the disease. Your blood (body) is now a harbinger of other's suffering."

MMXX is Andrea Chiodetti (ex-The Foreshadowing) on guitars and keys, Jesse Haff on drums (Daylight Dies and Gökböri), and Egan O'Rourke (Daylight Dies) on bass. Together, they channeled inspiration for composition after composition to collaborate with a geographically, culturally, and stylistically diverse collection of celebrated vocalists and musicians from around the world. The end result is a dynamic and diverse sound, simultaneously densely heavy while retaining elements of etherealness and light, with each guest vocalist layering in their own perspective to culminate in this eclectic compendium of music reflecting an experience sadly understood by all.

Guest vocalists appearing on the forthcoming album include Dan Swanö of Edge of Sanity and of Nightingale (Sweden), Yann Ligner of Klone (France), Mick Moss of Antimatter and of Sleeping Pulse (UK), Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride (UK), Mikko Kotamäki of Swallow the Sun (Finland), Carmelo Orlando of Novembre (Italy), Marco Benevento of The Foreshadowing (Italy), Chris Cannella of Autumns End (USA), and Egan O'Rourke of Daylight Dies (USA).

Full album details will be released shortly. Stay tuned for more news. 

MMXX ARE:

Andrea Chiodetti — Guitar + Keys

Jesse Haff — Drums

Egan O'Rourke — Bass

Armed for Apocalypse Share "Full of Phlegm"

ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE TO RELEASE RITUAL VIOLENCE ON CANDLELIGHT RECORDS ON OCTOBER 7

BAND SHARES "FULL OF PHLEGM" Listen below.

Uncompromising sludge juggernaut Armed for Apocalypse have announced that their third album, Ritual Violence, is set for release on October 7 via Candlelight Records.

Serving as a punishingly heavy taster for the new album, the band has released first single "Full of Phlegm," a blistering track that embodies the feeling of guilt and shame brought on by the decisions we make when we are in an intoxicated state.

Pre-save the album here.

"Ritual Violence was written in a time where everything seemed to be hopeless," the band says. "A lot of the songs on the album revolve around an overall theme of being stuck in an inescapable self destructive rabbit hole, and the struggle to break free of those habits."

Ritual Violence, which sees the band at its most aggressive and unrelenting, is both a product and expression of their never-die attitude. It's the album Armed for Apocalypse always wanted to make, with the engineer they wanted to make it with — Kurt Ballou of God City (Converge, High On Fire, Every Time I Die) — and the label they wanted to partner with — Candlelight Records. Featuring guest appearances from Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) on track "Foredoomed" and Trevor Phipps (Unearth) on "Suffer for a Living," it is Armed for Apocalypse refined to its purest form: 0 percent frills, 100 percent heavy riffs. 

Forming in California in the aughts, Armed for Apocalypse quickly released 2009's Defeat (Ironclad Recordings). That's where they laid out their mission statement: we are going to tune low, play riffs, and make heavy metal that makes you bang your fucking head. Real amps turned up, real drums hit hard, no bullshit. 2013's The Road Will End (Ironclad) complicated their thesis, the band experimenting with new structures and incorporating a broader sonic palette. But member changes and new life directions led to a challenging five years before their next release, 2018's Palm Reader EP. Now, in 2022, they return more focused than ever with their most potent and unwavering album to date. Ritual Violence is 11 tracks of bludgeoning skullfuckery; a record from a band who are confident in who they are, and what they want to do. And who won’t let anything get in the way of that. Not the years. Not the heartache. Not an industry that devalues its creators. Nothing.

Armed for Apocalypse has never done it the easy way. But on this latest record is a statement and a promise: They will do it their way.

ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE ARE:

Nate Burman — Vocals + Guitar

Cayle Hunter — Guitar

Charlie Fischer — Bass

Nick Harris — Drums

Cage Fight Share Visualizer for "Killer" Video + It HURTS!

SELF-TITLED ALBUM OUT MAY 13 VIA CANDLELIGHT

Hardcore x thrash crossover band Cage Fight have dropped the new single "Killer." Listen to and watch the visualizer below.

Bassist Jon Reid explains, "'Killer' is a release of anger and fury directed at anyone that has caused wrong and is a rallying cry to those that feel pure visceral rage and need a soundtrack to that pure emotion. The song's intensity is based in a simple remit, if you have wronged... you better start running..."

The tracks accompanying video clip documents frontwoman Rachel Aspe tattooing the band's logo on a client's palm. The resulting image — a grabbing hand with the Cage Fight logo tattooed at the center — visually portrays the violent rage at the core of the band's music and was aptly used as the album artwork.

"I wanted to create artwork that represents pain, anger, resilience, and power – themes of our music," Aspe shares. "The palm is extremely painful to tattoo, so the palm-tattooed hand clawing the air in a red mist does this very aggressively. I tattooed a very brave model at Evil From The Needle in Camden; the hand had to be strapped down, and it took two tortuous hours."

The band's debut self-titled album is due out May 13 on Candlelight. Pre-order it here.

CAGE FIGHT ARE:

Rachel Aspe — Vocals

James Monteith — Guitar

Jon Reid — Bass

Nick Plews — Drums

Cage Fight + Share Video for "Shine Don't Fade"

UK THRASH/HARDCORE OUTFIT CAGE FIGHT SIGN WITH CANDLELIGHT

SELF-TITLED ALBUM OUT MAY 13

BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR "SHINE DON'T FADE"

Hardcore/thrash crossover band Cage Fight, which features TesseracT guitarist James Monteith and former Eths vocalist Rachel Aspe, have announced their debut self-titled album, Cage Fight. The record is due out May 13 on Candlelight. Pre-order it here.

One of the most furious hardcore records to emerge from the UK in recent years, the anger and frustration of Cage Fight's self-titled debut album is the perfect catharsis for our times.

Aspe comments, "I cherish the ability to channel my anger through this outlet. In a world full of uncertainty and frustration, this type of music was the only thing I found solace and balance in. These songs have a deep meaning for me and I hope this is something that other people can relate to."

Bassist Jon Reid, adds, "In the wake of the greatest media heist in modern British times and the fall out of the cataclysmic debacle that is Brexit, it seemed perfect stimulus to write lyrics that confronted the continued world of systemic racism, cultural divide, and an antiquated class system wrapped up with personal mental health issues and the challenges of modern living."

The album's artwork — a grabbing hand with the Cage Fight logo tattooed on the palm — visually portrays the violent rage at the core of the band's music. Legitimately inked by Aspe, a tattoo artist by trade, the process of creating the image is as impactful as the final artwork itself.

CAGE FIGHT ARE:

Rachel Aspe — Vocals

James Monteith — Guitar

Jon Reid — Bass

Nick Plews — Drums

Diablo Swing Orchestra Release "Celebremos Lo Inevitable" Video

NEW ALBUM SWAGGER & STROLL DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE OUT NOVEMBER 2 VIA CANDLELIGHT/SPINEFARM

The unstoppable octet Diablo Swing Orchestra continue fearlessly on their musical rollercoaster ride.

The band is hurtling towards the release of their stupendous fifth album Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole, out November 2 via Candlelight/Spinefarm, with the video for "Celebremos Lo Inevitable."

Watch the video

Guitarist/vocalist Daniel Håkansson says, "The song draws inspiration from the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos and its celebration of friends and family members who have passed on but still live in our hearts and through our memories of them. It's our first song in Spanish and since we wanted it sound authentic, we had a Mexican vocal coach in the studio just to get the pronunciation correct."

The spirited, progressive eight-piece Swedish ensemble are known for pairing elements of jazz, swing, classical, and progressive rock with just about everything in between. Since their foundation in 2003 the band have released four studio albums which push musical boundaries to the extreme with humour, creativity, and a healthy dose of positive aggression. Their debut The Butcher's Ballroom was a breath of fresh air when it came out in 2006 to worldwide critical acclaim. Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole is the band's fifth effort and is by far their most ambitious undertaking, which pays tribute to all four previous releases and adds some new colors to their already broad pallet of sounds.

DSO have once again teamed up with producer Roberto Laghi (In Flames, Hardcore Superstars), who has become almost the ninth member of the orchestra. Together, they've dug deeply into each of the genres explored in the 13 album tracks and worked hard to find the appealing genre characteristics to forge their own sound. This approach has resulted in an impressive list of guest musicians and some very interesting clashes between sounds which, at least on paper, shouldn't work. Listeners with an open mind will be rewarded by numerous goodies littered throughout the album, ranging from the tribal assault that is "War Painted Valentine" to the Zeppelin-gospel-infused "Snake Oil Baptism."

As with many bands, COVID-19 presented multiple challenges but also presented opportunities, which allowed them to take their time in the studio since there was no tour waiting to happen. The mixing process alone took over half a year but Diablo Swing Orchestra are confident that they've produced an album that will leave an indelible mark, while inspiring others to try out fresh ideas on genre-blending.

Burning the Oppressor Share Powerful "Martyrize" Video — WATCH

NEW ALBUM DAMNATION OUT OCTOBER 29 VIA CANDLELIGHT RECORDS

Canadian death metal quintet Burning The Oppressor have released new single "Martyrize," the second track taken from their upcoming album DAMNATION, out October 29 via Candlelight Records.

The powerful song tackles the issue of domestic abuse. Watch it

"'Martyrize' was written, a few years ago, in a surge of anger and incomprehension after news broke out of abuse suffered by a seven-year-old girl at the hands of her father and stepmother in the eastern townships, Quebec," the band says. "The circumstances of her death sent a shockwave through Canada and authorities ordered a public inquiry to shed light on how child protective services could have failed so miserably, in this particular case, even though they were apprised of the situation well before her death."

The band continues, "During the last year, the number of cases of infanticide and feminicide have also, unfortunately, been on the rise — no doubt emphasized by the current pandemic. Reports of domestic violence have skyrocketed in the past year-and-a-half, and we felt it was important for us to try and bring attention to these tragic situations without romanticizing the suffering of their victims."

Pre-order Damnation here.

Watch the lyric video for the previous single "Warrior."

Burning The Oppressor was founded in 2012 by passionate musicians with different influences and armed with remarkable stage dynamism. With intense texts and brutal riffs, BTO puts into words and sounds the trials of modern life and the sufferings of a society in turmoil. Militant in favour of social equity and the inclusion of all people, the band denounces discrimination and oppression through its work.

Strong from their experiences and numerous performances, from the early days at the Montebello Rockfest Festival to the latter days at Heavy Montréal Festival, BTO's reputation is now stronger than ever. The name still resonates in the minds of all of those who have seen them live. The band has taken the metal scene with strength and burned down each and every venue it has performed at. It proudly shared the stage alongside great bands such as Skeletonwitch, Mass Hysteria, Tagada Jones, The Agonist, Beyond Creation, Jungle Rot, The Browning, The Acacia Strain, After the Burial, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Jinjer.

Burning The Oppressor also left its mark with its three previous albums: The Ignition (2012), Verbal Aggressor (2013), and Bloodshed (2017). Each of these albums were nominated for "Best Independent Metal Album" at GAMIQ Awards and Bloodshed won the public's choice award for the "Metal Album Of The Year" in 2017.

With their forthcoming album, Burning The Oppressor will raise the rage to new heights and pursue its ascent on the metal scene. Armed with its groove death metal, the Canadian lineup is ready to rip your ears apart with blistering, yet catchy riffs, energy and passion.

Diablo Swing Orchestra Announce "Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole" + Drop New Video — WATCH

RECORD IS OUT NOVEMBER 2 VIA CANDLELIGHT/SPINEFARM

BAND SHARES NEW VIDEO FOR "WAR PAINTED VALENTINE" — below

Tim Burton's veritable dream band — that would be Diablo Swing Orchestra — are parading down the rabbit hole on album Number 5. The fearlessly progressive, eight-piece Swedish ensemble are poised to return with their fifth album Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole, on Día de los Muertos,

November 2, via Candlelight/Spinefarm.

The band has shared the video for the first single "War Painted Valentine." Watch it

DSO are known for pairing elements of jazz, swing, classical, and progressive rock with just about everything in between, so it comes as no surprise that the first single from Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole is a fusion of genres — best described as if Sepultura and Die Antwoord decided to write a song for the Carnival in Rio.

Since their foundation in 2003, the band has released four studio albums which push musical boundaries to the extreme with humor, creativity, and a healthy dose of positive aggression. Their debut The Butcher's Ballroom was a breath of fresh air when it came out in 2006 to worldwide critical acclaim. However, the band's latest, Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole, is by far their most ambitious undertaking, which pays tribute to all four previous releases while adding some new colors to their already broad pallet of sounds.

DSO have once again teamed up with producer Roberto Laghi (In Flames, Hardcore Superstar), who has become almost the ninth member of the orchestra. Together, they have dug deeply into each genre explored through the thirteen tracks on the album and worked hard to find the appealing genre characteristics to forge their own sound. This approach has resulted in an impressive list of guest musicians and some very interesting clashes between sounds which, at least on paper, shouldn't work. Listeners with an open mind are in turn rewarded by numerous goodies littered throughout the album, ranging from the tribal assault that is "War Painted Valentine" to the Zeppelin-gospel-infused "Snake Oil Baptism."

As with many bands, COVID-19 presented multiple challenges but also presented opportunities, which allowed them to take their time in the studio since there was no tour waiting to happen. The mixing process alone took over half a year but Diablo Swing Orchestra are confident that they've produced an album that will leave an indelible mark, while inspiring others to try out fresh ideas on genre-blending.

TNRA Share "Istok" VIdeo

RUSSIAN CELESTIAL BLACKGAZE TRIO TRNA RELEASE ATMOSPHERIC "ISTOK" VIDEO —

NEW ALBUM ISTOK OUT DIGITALLY ON SEPTEMBER 3 VIA CANDLELIGHT

PHYSICAL VERSION ARRIVES OCTOBER 1

Russian celestial blackgaze trio TRNA have released the music video for "Istok," the title track of their upcoming new album, out September 3 via the fabled Candlelight Records. Pre-order the album here.

Watch the "Istok" music video

The black and white music video for "Istok" follows the narrative of two protagonists, a white-cloaked figure and a black-cloaked figure, as they encounter each other's presence in a cornfield. The video visually tells the story of the album — to meditate on the importance of nature, finding inner peace, and gaining a viewpoint on life and the world.

On the inspiration for the debut music video, the band states, "It was written, directed, shot, and cut by our friend Gleb Kolotov in September 2020. It was the first time we did something like this. We hired actors, costumes, rented lenses and lights, and we think it all paid off in the end. The hard thing was to write the screenplay based on our vague descriptions about the track's meaning and what the album is about. In the end what we have is a beautiful music video with a plot and we’re really thankful to all of Gleb and his crew for helping us so much."

TRNA want to take you on a journey. Not to their Russian homeland, but beyond that, to a place not on any map, where the trio's dreamy "celestial blackgaze" can properly get beneath your skin and into your mind. With their fourth album, Istok — their first for Candlelight Records — they're pushing even further into the unknown.

The band formed in 2013 in Saint Petersburg, following the breakup of similarly blissful-minded outfit Princ Persii. Though not wanting to limit themselves to a genre, the tag of "celestial blackgaze" fit so well that it stuck – descriptive enough to catch their vibe, loose enough to have no walls. The band list artists like Wolves In the Throne Room, Panopticon, Amenra, Godflesh and shoegaze pioneers Slowdive as influences. But TRNA exist very much in their own otherworldly space.

Istok impresses with its vastness, its depth and its message. Recorded at Dobrolet Studios in Saint Petersburg and, in part, in their rehearsal space, TRNA wanted Istok to meditate on the importance of nature, and in finding an inner peace from which to get a viewpoint on life and the world.

"What is 'Istok?' 'Istok' is the place where all begins, where you go when you feel that you can’t bear your everyday life," the band explain. "It's the great nothingness where you find peace. It’s the salvation and relief. But to get there is a whole journey and it's different for everyone. TRNA is always about nature. Of course we would like our music to speak for us and reading what people say about how they feel listening to it makes us believe that we manage to somehow get the message across."

Across Istok, this takes many forms, from a more gentle serenity to cascading eruptions of black metal. The opening title-track bursts with glory and wonder, while "Echoes of the Past" is a blastbeat-led rager, and the 13-minute instrumental "Shining" is the euphoria after a storm. It all stems from the same purpose, and beautifully locks together to create an intense emotional journey.

Necronautical's "Necropsychonautics" Video Has Landed — WATCH

BLACK METAL BAND TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT ON AUGUST 20 VIA CANDLELIGHT RECORDS

UK black metal metal act Necronautical have released the video for "Necropsychonautics" from their upcoming fourth album Slain In The Spirit, out August 20 via Candlelight/Spinefarm.

Watch the video to "Necropsychonautics"

Vocalist/guitarist Naut comments, "We are proud to unveil 'Necropsychonautics,' the second single and music video from our new record Slain in the Spirit. In this visual manifestation created by James 'Carcarrion' Goodwin and Courtney Sherives, we witness an individual fleeing an unnamed malevolence, testing the fabrics of reality and the limits of human consciousness. This is a journey of cosmic significance through the maddening horror of the unknown. Behold 'Necropsychonautics!'"

Necronautical have always been about exploring the darkness. Their very name means "to explore death." It's fitting, then, that on Slain In The Spirit, the Manchester band are pushing both their sound and their concept to the outer limits.

Since forming in 2010, Necronautical have become respected among the British black metal underground. Across three albums — 2014's Black Sea Misanthropy, 2016's The Endurance At Night and 2019's Candlelight Records debut Apotheosis — their sound has become one rich in its skill with the dark side of metal. Ambitious and grandiose in its symphonic touches, this velvet glove hides beneath it an aggressive iron fist.

On Slain In The Spirit, this is truer than ever.

Everything has been taken to a degree beyond where the band has trodden previously, with the symphonic elements swirling even more dizzyingly above a metallic attack that hits with an almost machine-like ferocity. So much so that the band have transcended black metal altogether.

NECRONAUTICAL ARE:

Naut — Lead Vocals, Guitar

Carcarrion — Guitar, Backing Vocals

Anchorite — Bass, Backing Vocals, Clean Vox

Slugh — Drums

London Trio Urne Drop "The Palace of Devils & Wolves" Video

DEBUT ALBUM SERPENT & SPIRIT OUT JUNE 25

London metal trio URNE will release their debut album Serpent & Spirit on June 25 via Candlelight Records.

The band just shared the video for "The Palace of Devils & Wolves."

Bassist/vocalist Joe Nally comments, "When it came to writing 'The Palace of Devils & Wolves,' we wanted to write a straightforward heavy metal song compared to some of the longer pieces on Serpent & Spirit. Inspired by late '70s-Judas Priest and Megadeth Countdown to Extinction with our own spin, I believe we wrote a song that will have people headbanging at shows and festivals all over."

As for the video, Nally says, "The video was shot by Gav Thane and edited by our very own Angus Neyra. We took huge inspiration from the classic '90s metal videos; if there was a new Drilling the Vein video compilation coming out now, we would want this video on there. We wanted the grittiness of 'Davidian' (Machine Head) mixed with the energy of 'Slave New World' (Sepultura) but again, with our own spin."

During the writing process for Serpent & Spirit, Nally found an old demo of the first few minutes of the track and instantly knew it had to be finished. "Desolate Heart" subsequently became the first single released from the album.

There is no single way that Urne describe their sound. It all comes back to one thing: heavy. There are shades of Metallica, Mastodon, and Alice In Chains in the mix — hopping between sludge, tech-metal, doom, hardcore, and anything else with a weighty heart.

Formed by ex-Hang The Bastard bassist Joe Nally and guitarist Angus Neyraafter their former band called it quits, the pair already had a reputation for big, heavy riffs. Getting drummer Richard Harris on board in 2018, they gilded their new outfit with debut EP The Mountain of Gold, which immediately marked Urne out as a formidable new metallic force.

They return with debut album Serpent & Spirit. Heavier, wider, and with an even higher ratio of killer riffs than the EP, it also comes with a weighty concept based around the central character's struggle as he's pulled between good and evil, darkness, and light.

"I had a bit of a bad patch for a few months," explains Nally, revealing the inspiration for the album's lyrics. "I'm absolutely fine now, but I drew on those two months where I just wasn't feeling great. I took that and wrote a story based about that. The actual track listing is done like that film Memento, where it's all in a different order. Maybe one day someone will listen to the lyrics and work out which order the story goes in."

He continues, "The album is called Serpent & Spirit. The spirit is the human experience and the serpent is the evil that tricks your mind. It's about getting pulled apart and trying to find yourself within all of that. So it's almost good and evil, and throughout the album it's about a person getting pulled from the light to the dark."

Due to COVID, the final parts of the album were written over Skype, before being recorded by Chris Fielding (Conan, Electric Wizard, Primordial) at Foel Studios in deepest Wales during lockdown. It was then sent to acclaimed producer Jens Bogren who handled the mastering of Serpent & Spirit.

IHSAHN TO PERFORM TELEMARK + PHAROS EPS IN THEIR ENTIRETY FOR LIVESTREAM

INCLUDING EXCERPTS FROM DAS SEELENBRECHEN + FEATURING EINAR SOLBERG FROM LEPROUS

Shapeshifting progressive metal pioneer Ihsahn has announced an exclusive set at Munin Live, streaming from his hometown of Notodden on April 4 at 7pm BST/8pm CET/2pm ET.

Once again pushing the boundaries of unconstrained creation, the Norwegian master of the avant-garde will premiere both of his latest critically acclaimed EPs Telemark and Pharos in their entirety, including tracks that have never been performed live before. The set will also include excerpts from Das Seelenbrechen, and feature Einar Solberg from Leprous.

Get tickets here.

Having returned to that early black metal sound on Telemark, Ihsahn was due to perform at Norway's Inferno Festival in April 2020, followed by a series of live concerts and festival appearances that would showcase his more extreme work. Canceled due to the pandemic, he says. "We couldn't wait to perform the last EP. I even ordered stage props with David Thiérrée's illustrations. The plan was to do Telemark shows through the summer and focus in on my black metal roots. And then as a counterpart, I wanted to do a different show based on the more mellow, experimental side of what I do, trying to connect the two forms together."

He continues, "For many years, I felt that I should do something purely black metal again," explaining how this eventually led to the abstract basis behind Telemark and Pharos. "However, I would feel very limited by that in the form of an album," the artist shares. "And then I would have wanted an outlet for the opposite. I've done the full black metal thing in the past but I'm also not a pop artist. I think it would be hard for me to fill an album within that format. This has been a challenge of limiting myself to a certain expression."

In 2020, Ihsahn released two five-track EPs via Candlelight Records, inspired by and dedicated to his home county of Telemark.

The first, Telemark EP, represents the dark, brutal and aggressive side of Ihsahn's compositional identity. With three new original songs and two ferocious cover versions, it represents a celebration of the defiant spirit that first inspired him to follow a creative path, forming Emperor, three decades ago. Listen to "Stridig."

The second, Pharos EP, is the light to Telemark's dark. Pharos features three original compositions and two covers: A delicate but true-to-the-original version of "Manhattan Skyline" by Norway's own pop progenitors A-ha (featuring Leprous frontman Einar Solberg on vocal duties) and the haunting "Roads," originally by British trip-hop collective Portishead. Recorded at his home studio, with additional drums by Tobias Solbakk at Jukes Joint Studio, Pharos is musically and conceptually a reverse image of Telemark.

Full Ihsahn merch options are available here.

ABOUT IHSAHN:

Since 1991, IHSAHN has defied expectations and pushed boundaries. Launching his solo career in 2006 with The Adversary, he has sought to maintain the black metal blueprint that he helped devise with the world-shattering EMPEROR, while mischievously exploring progressive dreamscapes, avant-garde jazz, electronica, darkwave, ear-crushing tech-metal and ambient meditations. Each full-length album has had an element of surprise and delight, where the architect plays out his creative vision by building on an unwavering zeal for the shock and awe that keeps his listeners on their toes.

IHSAHN SOCIAL MEDIA

‌ ‌ ‌

Spinefarm Records:

https://www.facebook.com/spinefarm

https://twitter.com/Spinefarm

http://www.spinefarmrecords.com/usa/

https://instagram.com/spinefarmrecords/

https://www.youtube.com/user/SpinefarmRec