ALKALOID Return with Mind-Boggling First Single

ALKALOID are mad scientists. With each album, the extreme metal concocters have poked and prodded at mysterious phenomena both of this world and far beyond. They've written a song about what lies beneath the Antarctic crust, as well as an ongoing saga about a galactic civilization that ascends to a god-like-level of domination. 

Now, after five years, Alkaloid are back with their third full-length and it's got some of their most intricate, thought-provoking and batshit insane ideas yet. Numen is a 70-minute monolith of an album that doesn't just colonize interstellar space with sentient fungi and cephalopods. No; it grabs the fabric of the universe and ties it into knots to break time and space themselves. The Bavarian band plays around with all kinds of genre experiments, effortlessly flipping death metal on its horned head with seductive flurries of jazz, flamenco, rock and gospel choirs.

But Alkaloid are still bonded together by their love of extreme metal. After all, they are a supergroup made up of long-serving members of Obscura, Dark Fortress, Triptykon and other genre heavyweights. "Clusterfuck" might have a clean and catchy chorus, but even the fiery, finger-tapped solo that squiggles loose around the four-minute mark is crushed like an ant between colliding moons.

Here's what the band has to say about their new single: "It's one of our shorter and more moderate tracks - maybe uncharacteristically so, once you see the whole album. But "Clusterfuck" still covers the classic Alkaloid spectrum between groove, hooks, brutality and complexity. The lyrics address the question of why we as a species should aspire to greatness at all, when we know that in all probability, we're going to fail anyway".

'Numen' will be released on September 15, 2023 by Season of Mist. Pre-save the album HERE.  Pre-order it HERE. 

Progressive extreme metallers Alkaloid prepare to unfurl their new many-tentacled full-length, 'Numen' via Season of Mist. Featuring members of Triptykon, Obscura, Dark Fortress, and Obsidious, the Germany-based quartet of Morean (vocals, guitars, concepts), Hannes Grossmann (drums), Christian Münzner (guitars), and Linus Klausenitzer (bass) construct upon, expand away from, and journey between previous full-lengths The Malkuth Grimoire (2015) and Liquid Anatomy (2018) on Numen. In every respect, Alkaloid recommence the purposeful warp of various metallic genres they dimensionally blur. Tracks like the video single for "Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” and “Numen” posit heavy cosmological/Lovecraftian theoretic themes on top of musically-adept songs that are accessible yet undeniably intricate.
 
“We’ve all been around the block a few times by now as metal musicians,” says songsmith Morean. “The feeling that we’ve outgrown the narrow niche of pure extreme metal was a main motivator to start this band in the first place, ten years ago. The ‘prog’ tag is handy for us because, per definition, it already encompasses a wider range of possible styles and influences we can get away with than any one specific metal genre. This means we could ensure from the beginning that we’ll always be able to write whatever we want, no matter how crazy our ideas become. The heart of this band is always the songwriting, and we all like complex and virtuosic music in all its diverse manifestations. However, we do share a love for death metal as the smallest common denominator in the band, and we wanted to make sure no one thinks that just because we include melodies, clean guitars, and influences from other genres, we’d automatically sacrifice the brutality and relentless esthetic of extreme metal.”
 
'Numen' was written during the pandemic, but it was planned long before the scourge of disease wracked humanity. As a result, the songwriting sessions were predictably not "in the room" but over the Internet after the band members had isolated and worked on their constituent parts. Demos flew back and forth. Then, Tunker left amicably for personal reasons. Alkaloid could’ve folded, but the close-knit group soldiered on. They intensely relied on the professionalism and dependability of the collective to drive 'Numen' to completion. The complications of the two years it took to sonically inscribe the album into aeonic vastness didn’t fragment the end result. Instead, the process accelerated Alkaloid’s lambent, eldritch explorations. “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” “Numen,” and “A Fool’s Desire” expertly bridge the past to the future, where Alkaloid’s originative, daedal storytelling captures (and holds hostage) the imagination.

The title, 'Numen', got its start at the dawning of Alkaloid. It’s a word that Morean fell in love with immediately, and he knew it had a place in his creative endeavors. Whereas The Malkuth Grimoire talked about combining existing elements into new structures, and Liquid Anatomy dealt with the creation of new elements, 'Numen' tries to look at the universe from a kind of meta-perspective from an imaginary god, as if the space that everything happens in was given a voice and a role as observer and shaper of everything that happens. In it, sentient panspermic mycelia are swathed in Lovecraftian nastiness—like Shub-Niggurath and the Fungi from Yuggoth—while the new Dyson chapters interpret the aspiration to reach divinity rather literally, reshaping the entire galaxy by manipulating spacetime itself. Desperate to escape their doom, the Cephalopods from previous songs have returned, too. 'Numen' is dense but not impenetrable. In fact, from the first moments of opener, "Qliphosis," to the final contemplation of closer "Alpha Aur,” Alkaloid prove to be more charismatic than ever.
 
Line-up
Morean - guitars, vocals
Christian Münzner - guitars
Linus Klausenitzer - bass
Hannes Grossmann - drums

Recording Studio: Mordor Sounds, Nürnberg, Germany.

Producer: Sara Robalo

Recording & mixing: Hannes Grossmann

Mastering: Alan Douches at West West Side Music studio in Hudson Valley, NY.

Guest musicians
Adam Wallis, Cydney McQuillan-Grace, John Schaffer, Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo, Shannon Bedford

Additional choir tracks on "The Cambrian Explosion" and "Shades of Shub-Niggurath"

Former Alkaloid guitarist Danny Tunker contributed to "The Cambrian Explosion"

Artwork & photos: Christian Martin Weiss

Biography: Chris Dick

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/alkaloid-numen

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/numenpresave 

Format
Digital download
CD Digipak w/mediabook
Black Vinyl (Gatefold)
Coloured Vinyl (Gatefold)

Links
https://alkaloid-band.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alkaloid.metal
https://twitter.com/AlkaloidBand
https://www.youtube.com/c/Alkaloidbandmetal
https://alkaloid-band.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KMQDFaAsPEKcqKzdvkYKc


For more on Season of Mist, visit our official WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, and TWITTER

TWILIGHT FORCE - Release First Single "Twilight Force"

NEW ALBUM AT THE HEART OF WINTERVALE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

The new opus of Swedish adventure metallers TWILIGHT FORCE, At the Heart of Wintervale, will see the light of day on January 20, 2023, through Nuclear Blast. Today, the band has unveiled the first epic tale of the much-anticipated album. The first single 'Twilight Force' comes along with an official lyric video allowing you to dive word by word into the new adventure of TWILIGHT FORCE. The visual portrayal of this song is created by Tullius Heuer. The glorious lyric video of the title track "Twilight Force" can be witnessed below.

Stream the first single 'Twilight Force' here: https://bfan.link/single-twilight-force.a01

TWILIGHT FORCE comments:
"Rejoice and Revel!! We are extraordinarily elated and proud to finally share the first track and single from our fourth opus: 'Twilight Force'.
Our self-titled track is the tale of the Six Crystal Bearers and their quest for the glory of the Seven Kingdoms. The six heroes, as foretold by the Book of Time, are the protectors of the realms and the saviors who shall lead the Twilight Kingdoms into eternal prosperity and triumph. So come, follow the Crystal Bearer’s journey throughout this swift and classic piece, where the sounds and sights of old and new are fused into one sparkling concoction of extraordinary adventures! Join us, partake in the adventure once again, and May the Power of the Dragon Guide You!"

Pre-order and pre-save the upcoming album At the Heart of Wintervale here:
https://twilightforce.bfan.link/at-the-heart-of-wintervale.a01

At the Heart of Wintervale will consist of 8 captivating tales from far and wide, and will have a running time of approximately 45 minutes. The songs are all stories and legends from the Twilight Kingdoms, gathered over years of meticulous research, and will further explore and delve into the vast and magical world of its realms.

At the Heart of Wintervale will be released on CD, Digibook, and Vinyl. The limited Digibook edition will also include three bonus tracks. The first one is a song that many of TWILIGHT FORCE's loyal knights may somewhat recognize; it is an acoustic blend of some of the older works, featuring an entrancing vocal performance and guitar work by TWILIGHT FORCE's very own wood elf Aerendir. The second and third bonus tracks are orchestral versions of two songs from the album, where fans will have the opportunity to experience a different soundscape, and perhaps discover new exciting elements and intricacies never discerned before.

About:
TWILIGHT FORCE is a Swedish symphonic power metal band known for their highly fantastical lyrics and LARP-style outfits which the band performs onstage in. The band's main lyrical themes are based on the lore of a fictional world known as The Twilight Kingdoms, created by keyboardist Blackwald. The band has released three albums to date. Their latest, Dawn of the Dragonstar was released in 2019. During the past few years, Twilight Force have been busy forging their newest opus, At the Heart of Wintervalewhich will be released by Nuclear Blast Records on January 20th, 2023.

TWILIGHT FORCE is:
Allyon | lead and backing vocals
Lynd | lead and rhythm guitars
Born | bass
Blackwald | keyboards and narration
De'Azsh | drums
Aerendir | rhythm and acoustic guitars

Pre-order and pre-save the upcoming album At the Heart of Wintervale here:
https://twilightforce.bfan.link/at-the-heart-of-wintervale.a01

THE ABBEY Signs to Season of Mist, Unveils First Single + Music Video

Season of Mist is proud to announce the signing of THE ABBEY, the emerging progressive doom metal band ft. Natalie Koskinen (SHAPE OF DESPAIR), Jesse Heikkinen (HENGET, ITERUM NATA, etc), Vesa Ranta (SENTENCED, THE MAN-EATING TREE), and Janne Markus (THE MAN-EATING TREE)! In conjunction with the announcement, the band is now revealing their bewitching first single, "A Thousand Dead Witches," along with a chilling music video that will certainly get you in the spirit of Samhain! The clip, which was directed by Ranta, can be seen been

THE ABBEY comments on the signing, " We feel honored and privileged to get to write a new chapter in the history of Season of Mist - a distinguished label that has the courage and vision to do something extraordinary. We do believe that the collaboration between Season of Mist and The Abbey is going to lead us to great things."

Regarding the single, the band adds, "Our first single has all the basic The Abbey elements: big vocals, dissonant harmonies, hauntingly beautiful melodies and tempo changes. This is The Abbey’s ode against oppression and tyranny."

"A Thousand Dead Witches" is taken from THE ABBEY's upcoming debut album, 'Word of Sin,' which will be released next year via Season of Mist! The cover artwork can be found below while more information will be revealed soon!

In the meantime, pre-save the album across all streaming services HERE.

Aleister Crowley’s Abbey of Thelema was located in Sicily, Italy, and functioned as ground zero for many of the occultist’s most complex and groundbreaking hedonistic pursuits. Here, Crowley codified his ritual practices and took his concept of “Magick” to new, unforeseen levels. He rebranded the temple as “Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum,” translating to “A college towards the Holy Spirit.” But the Abbey of Thelema was not without its controversy: A young disciple died in 1922 after contracting typhoid fever from the drinking water. And a year later, Crowley was evicted by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s regime, yet the mystery and intrigue behind the Abbey of Thelema remain.

It was only appropriate, then, that Jesse Heikkinen, a veteran of the Finnish music scene and a solo artist under the Iterum Nata banner, branded his newest musical pursuit as The Abbey. Drawing lyrical inspiration from esoteric organizations, their beliefs and his own practices, Heikkinen and co-lead vocalist Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) weaved ritualistic tales from the darkest corners of themselves to pair with music that is a provocative, alluring kaleidoscope of dark, heavy rock. The result is the mystical Word of Sin, The Abbey’s nine-song debut long-player.

The Abbey tale began when Heikkinen generated the sudden urge to try his hand at singing in a doom metal band after laying down guest vocals for fellow countrymen Fuzzifer. His idea was to form a doom metal band with “big vocals” — a project for fun’s sake that would thrive off writing from the heart and improvisation. Those plans involved former Sentenced and The Man-Eating Tree drummer Vesa Ranta — the first name that came to Heikkinen’s mind for the project.

Ranta, now a professional photographer and filmmaker, provided the steady backbone behind Sentenced’s groundbreaking career that was brought to its conclusion in 2005. According to Heikkinen, Ranta plays “like a battalion of marching giants,” a not-so-subtle nod to the drummer’s mastery of the quarter-note. Ranta quickly took to Heikkinen’s early demos and suggested they add a female singer. Enter Koskinen. Koskinen knew Ranta from a video shoot where she was serving as a makeup artist. Reluctant to try a new band considering her Shape of Despair and career obligations, Koskinen listened to Heikkinen’s first demo and decided to give the project a go. Janne Markus (guitar, also of The Man-Eating Tree) and Henri Arvola (bass) were soon tapped to complete the band’s lineup.

Word of Sin was recorded between April and November 2021 in several locations across Finland. Drums, bass and Markus’s guitars were tracked at Kratio Studio in Oulu by Kyösti Rautio. Rautio also served as co-producer and mixed the album, becoming the unofficial sixth member of The Abbey. Heikkinen, who recorded most of his vocals and guitars in his stepdaughter’s room, surrounded by My Little Ponies, Disney figurines and a pile of esoteric literature, is careful to point out that The Abbey fails to drop into any neat, little subgenre.

“The album was made purely for self-expressive reasons,” he says. “My music is the channel where I can be as true and authentic as possible. It is also a somewhat safe way to explore and express the dark side of myself and the collective consciousness. Word of Sin may seem like a tremendously dark piece as a rock album, but it’s pretty lightweight for a doom metal album! The material proved so strong that it was obvious that it wasn’t going to be another side project. I think using the means of improvisation made the music sound more like its creator instead of it being forced to be this or that — and that seemed to work really well for us!”

Regardless of where Word of Sin falls between the vast channels of doom and heavy rock, the vocal interplay between Heikkinen and Koskinen is undeniable. Each has songs where they take the lead, but their harmonies and trade-offs carry songs like “Rat King” and “Desert Temple” to the fore, creating a restless, captivating atmosphere resembling vintage rock from the 1970s. And, for his first go at singing lead in a band, Heikkinen proves to be quite the capable vocalist, carrying a smooth, almost airy delivery on “Crystallion” and “Widow’s Will.”

“I didn’t think of it that much — my vocals all came naturally,” he says. “I still think I’m more of a guitarist than a vocalist, really. During the writing and recording, I listened to King Crimson’s Red quite a lot, so I’m sure I got some influences from John Wetton’s singing on that album. The vocal harmonies were heavily inspired by bands like E.L.O, Queen and Yes.”

Heikkinen and Koskinen didn’t know each other before the formation of The Abbey. Heikkinen met Koskinen for the first time when she tracked vocals at his home studio, but their partnership generated immediate results. “Nowadays, I usually record my vocals at home, but in this case, as I had yet to meet Jesse in person, I wanted to record my parts at his place,” says Koskinen. “It’s very important to see what kind of energy is between the musicians I’m going to work with in the long run. It turns out that we are a perfect match musically. Later on, I traveled to Oulu to meet the rest of the guys [Janne and Henri] and I must say that we had a very strong bond from the beginning. Sometimes things just happen even when you don’t plan them.”

“The right lines for each were found really easily,” adds Heikkinen. “There already were dozens of vocal tracks in some of my demos, but every time Natalie found her place in the song, she added something new into it.”

The creative process behind Word of Sin proved so fruitful that the members of The Abbey are already thinking about a follow-up. It’s a testament to the material’s inherent strength and the immediate bond between all five musicians.

“The Abbey will most definitely be an active and serious project for me - I do hope it will turn out fun as well,” wraps Heikkinen. And closes Koskinen: “I do have a feeling this band will make a long trip together.”

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/abbeyceremonial
https://www.instagram.com/theabbeyceremonial/

Lineup:
Jesse Heikkinen – Guitar, keyboard, percussions, vocals
Natalie Koskinen – Vocals
Janne Markus – Guitar

Vesa Ranta – Drums
Henri Arvola – Bass

Cover Art: Alexander Reisfar

Bio: David E. Gehlke

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/theabbeysin

AD INFINITUM Announce New Album, 'Chapter III - Downfall' & Reveal First Single

In 2023, rising modern symphonic metal outfit AD INFINITUM re-enter the scene with their electrifying third studio album, 'Chapter III – Downfall', out March 31 via Napalm Records. The unit's signature sound - consisting of heavy, modern riffs paired with haunting vocal melodies of incredibly talented Melissa Bonny - has positioned them for unstoppable ascension in the metal world.

Following the massive stir caused by songs like “Marching on Versailles” and “Unstoppable” - which have each garnered over 2.7 million and 2.3 million video views, respectively, to date - this next offering provides another wave of proof of the breakout success they have earned since the release of their debut album in 2020.

With their freshly released new single, "Upside Down", AD INFINITUM enhance this addictive formula while defying all rules, combining epic melodies and demonic growls with finesse. The song goes in line with an impressively energetic official video setting a new standard in the band's universe.

AD INFINITUM on "Upside Down":

"As we hit the road for our European tour with Amaranthe, Beyond The Black and Butcher Babies, we are proud and excited to present “Upside Down”, the first single of our upcoming album 'Chapter III – Downfall'. We are looking forward to seeing many of you all over Europe and playing this new song on stage!"

  Check out the gripping official video for “Upside Down"

Game-changing new album, 'Chapter III – Downfall', bewitches with an innovative sound full of soaring melodic splendor juxtaposed against brooding, dark and even gothic heaviness. Exploring concepts of Ancient Egyptian history and mythology, AD INFINITUMmelds a perfect balance of storytelling and technically sophisticated songwriting, spreading their wings in both areas of production and lyricism. Charging instrumentals, pounding drums, chunky, grooving riffs, mind-boggling solos and enchanting orchestrations build the band's unique world of sound as frontwoman-to-watch Melissa Bonny’s soul-stirring cleans and haunting growls put her incredible vocal range on display - dropping jaws with each line.

Produced by AD INFINITUM and Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, 'Chapter III – Downfall' showcases that this up-and-coming quartet can effortlessly turn the genre upside down, gracing it with contemporary vibes without forgoing their signature metal origins, and thrilling all metal fans as they rise to the top!  

AD INFINITUM add:

"The word is out, 'Chapter III - Downfall' is on its way! For this album, we explored stories and legends of Ancient Egypt with, as star character and main inspiration, Cleopatra. We added some extra dimension and sounds to our signature AD INFINITUM sound to create an extra dimension, transporting the listener to mystical landscapes of another era. We are beyond excited to start to unveil this new record!"

Pre-Order your copy of 'Chapter III – Downfall' NOW!

Opening track “Eternal Rains” immediately catches your breath with a captivating chorus, followed by electric “Upside Down” - defying all rules by combining epic melodies and demonic growls with finesse.

“Seth” convinces with a resounding modern sound and eerie ambience that’ll have new fans turning heads, whereas “From The Ashes” impresses with reminiscence of artists like Meshuggah, proving that AD INFINITUM never fails to deliver surprises.

“Somewhere Better” creates a perfect symbiosis of vicious vocals and ethereal soundscapes, carrying the listener far away with its wide range of infallible instrumentals.

“Under The Burning Skies” directs its haunting vocals towards the horizon, unfolding into an intense mid-tempo ballad shortly after.

As a special treat, AD INFINITUM welcomes Chrigel Glanzmann of Eluveitie, who provides his voice for the atmospheric monologue introduction on “Legends”, paving the way for a touch of Middle Eastern-inspired djent flavor.

AD INFINITUM are:

Melissa Bonny – Vocals

Adrian Thessenvitz – Guitars

Korbinian Benedict – Bass

Niklas Müller – Drums

Seattle indie rockers Black Nite Crash announce new album, tease first single 'The Take'

"Slow and brooding, their mixture of psychedelia and rock, with this steady yet mysterious backdrop and consecutive male-female-vocals, is a winning formula, producing an inescapably transcendent vortex of sound" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Seattle-based psychedelic rock outfit Black Nite Crash have announced they will release their new album 'Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash' in mid-October. To quench your sonic thirst for now, they present the lead track 'The Take', a storyteller-led pulsating noir singalong with a trippy silhouette-laden video directed by Jim Biggs with assistance from James Stone.

Formed in Seattle twenty years ago, Black Nite Crash has, over the years, involved more than 30 members around Jim Biggs, the last remaining original member. Yet somehow, the band has maintained a coherent sound and vision throughout.

Born of the desire to do something more simple and direct than the myriad Radiohead wannabes flooding the indie and alternative airwaves at the time, the band embraced loud guitars, memorable hooks and solid pop tunes with simple arrangements, which have guided the band in their compositions through to today.

Today Jim Beggs (vocals, guitar) is joined by John Parker (bass), James Stone(guitar), Tony Zuniga (drums) and Claire Tucker (guitar/vocals).

"This album was started before the pandemic and then endlessly delayed until now, which speaks to the perseverance of the band. This is the band's fifth full length in nearly twenty years of existence, and it looks to be the start of a period of more frequent releases as we work through our backlog of unreleased recorded songs, not to mention the surplus of new material we're working on even now," says Jim Biggs.

"After a long career of creating fuzzed out noise pop with wall of sound guitars somewhere between psychedelia and shoegaze, we're branching out into more subtle dynamics and stretching our sound to include different stylistic flourishes - everything from Murder Ballads to Baggy pop tunes. There's also something about it that sounds like the wide open west; for a band that lives in the soggy Pacific Northwest, the sound of the desert has long seemed to haunt our music (to be fair, the band, as constituted on this release includes Tony and Sharim, both from Las Vegas and Jasun is from Arizona). All of that being said, we are not completely abandoning our fuzzy pop tunes."

Work on the 'Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash' LP began before the pandemic, the songs a reflection of a band finding its feet again, with (then) relatively new members Claire Tucker and Sharim Johnson putting their imprint on this batch of songs. Then can lockdown before tracking could be completed.

In that time, longtime bassist Jasun Hadaway, who made a big contribution to the album, left the band. As things opened back up, we began to slowly progress towards completing the album. Sharim left the band just as longtime collaborator Matt Brown (Trespassers William) finished the mixing and the band handed the recording to mastering genius Adam Straney. The result is the most diverse set of songs the band has ever released, combining the band's standard fuzzed out guitars with some newer flavours.

As of August 24, 'The Take' will be available everywhere online, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full album 'Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash' will be released on October 14 through the Neon Sigh label.

SINGLE CREDITS
Jim Biggs - guitars, vocals
Jasun Hadaway - bass
Tony Zuniga - drums, percussion
Claire Tucker - guitars, vocals
Sharim Johnson - guitars
Matt Brown - organ
Written by Biggs / Black Nite Crash
Engineered and mixed by Matt Brown at Crackle and Pop and Spaceranch Studios in Seattle, assisted by Skyler Holcombe
Produced by Matt Brown and the Band
Mastered by Adam Straney at Breakpoint Mastering
Video directed by Jim Biggs with assistance from James Stone

Keep up with Black Nite Crash
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

CONSTELLATIA Reveals New Album, Shares First Single

South African progressive black metal band CONSTELLATIA will be releasing its sophomore full-length, 'Magisterial Romance,' on November 11, 2022 via Season of Mist! The album details, tracklisting, and artwork can be found below! In celebration of the announcement, the band is now sharing the mesmerizing first single, "Adorn," along with a music video! The song and video can be seen below.

The new track is accompanied by two guest musicians from HONEYMOAN; vocalist Alison Rachel and guitarist Skye MacInnes. The video was filmed and edited by Barry De Villiers.

CONSTELLATIA bassist/vocalist Keenan Oakes comments: "We are overjoyed to share some new music with all of you, finally. Our second collaboration with Alison Rachel; 'Adorn' is a beacon of light, a real empowering song which speaks to growth and the love of self. Sit back, turn it up and enjoy. Thank you for listening!"

Pre-orders for 'Magisterial Romance' are now live HERE.
Pre-save the album on all streaming services HERE.

Following the end of Wildernessking’s career, Keenan Oakes had to continue making music, despite the difficulties of playing in a metal band in Cape Town, South Africa. Regardless, Oakes joined forces with Crow Black Sky’s Gideon Lamprecht in 2018 to create the musical entity known as CONSTELLATIA. Taken from the word ‘constellation’, CONSTELLATIA refers to the nature of existence and the natural world, the cosmos, and extracting meaning and happiness from it all. The band’s somber take on progressive black metal encapsulates inherently human subjects; a distillation of life’s meander, sadness and tribulations.

Inspired by artists such as Opeth, Mastodon, The Cure, Primordial, Neurosis, Wolves in the Throne Room, Pink Floyd, Beach House, Agalloch, Emperor and Cult of Luna, Constellatia imbue their stark musical landscape with ferocity and reverie. Following the release of their debut record via Isolation Records in 2019, The Language of Limbs, CONSTELLATIA was very quick to garner the attention of listeners around the world, leading to their acknowledgement and subsequent signing to the large, independent record label, Season of Mist. While The Language of Limbs sounds bleak and tends to instill a sense of longing within the listener, it too sparks an idyllic feeling of catharsis with the mesmerizing atmospheric soundscapes and subtle intoxicating harmonies. 

Now with Season of Mist’s support moving forward with their sophomore record, CONSTELLATIA have the footing and foundation to fully expand on their musical endeavours. The new album which is set to release on November the 11th 2022, shows CONSTELLATIA continuing to evolve on their already mature sound, creating these larger-than-life romantic compositions that express the emotional spectrum of simply being; an amorphous progressive metal experience enriched with lavish ambiance and ripe with spirit, unique to them alone.
From the very start, the goal with CONSTELLATIA was to create emotionally dense and textured metal that is both transcendent and incredibly human. With the release of their upcoming record later this year, CONSTELLATIA will reveal just how much more dynamic and vulnerable their music has become. It may seem that the band is now hitting their stride, but they have only just begun. Plans are being made to tour the many corners of the world in support of their new album and subsequent releases.
 
To love
The wheels of this great turning
Dispel the grey aura you’ve known
Deepen the joy, stars aglow

Follow CONSTELLATIA on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

Genre: Progressive black metal

Mastering studio and engineer: Fascination Street - Tony Lindgren

Producer / Mixing engineer: Gideon Lamprecht 

Line-up:
Gideon Lamprecht - Lead guitar
Adam Hill - Rhythm guitar
Keenan Oakes - Bass, vocals

Recording Line-up:
Gideon Lamprecht - Lead guitar
Adam Hill - Rhythm guitar
Keenan Oakes - Bass, vocals
Frank Schilperoort - Drums

Guest musicians:
Alison Rachel (Honeymoan) - vocals on "Adorn"
Skye MacInnes (Honeymoan) - additional guitars on "Adorn"

Cover Art: Kent Andreasen

Biography: Written by JP Pallais

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/constellatia-mr 
Shop:       https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/Constellatia-MR
 

Formats:
CD Digipak
2x 12" Gatefold (Black)

TABOO RELEASES FIRST SINGLE 'FLAMES'

AVAILABLE NOW ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES

DEBUT ALBUM DUE THIS FALL ON FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL

TOUR DATES FORTHCOMING

As previously announced, Frontiers Music Srl has signed a new Danish hard rock band TABOO, who will release their self-titled debut album via the label this fall. Taboo features vocalist Christoffer Stjerne, who also fronts the band H.E.R.O., and guitarist Ken Hammer, who rock fans around the world will recognize as a founding member of the beloved hard rock institution Pretty Maids. Based out of Copenhagen, Denmark, Taboo's songs are stuffed with classic heavy riffing and super melodic hooks with a dose of modernity. Today, the band has released their first single, 'Flames'. Stream it on your preferred streaming service HERE: https://orcd.co/tabooflames or jump straight below.

With their musical union, Taboo became the musical playground for two of Denmark's most experienced and powerful musicians. The powerhouse duo of Christoffer and Ken won’t let rock fans down when they release their self-titled debut album later this year, as the first taste of the album, 'Flames' no doubt proves. 

Taboo are currently booking live dates, which will be announced soon. Follow the band on social media to stay up to date about news regarding the album and live shows. 

Band:

Christoffer Stjerne - Vocals, Various Instrumentation

Ken Hammer - Guitars, Various Instrumentation

Finnish Fantasy Metal Force BATTLELORE Presents First Single from New Album 'The Return of the Shadow'

Finnish Fantasy Metal Force BATTLELORE Presents First Single from New Album 'The Return Of The Shadow'

Their First Record in Over 10 Years!

Out June 3, 2022 via Napalm Records I Pre-Order HERE!

Watch the New Video for "Firekeeper" below.

The time has come to wield your sword and charge back to the battlefield! Following their last studio album, Doombound (2011), and extensive touring, Finnish heavy metal force BATTLELORE took a creative break. On June 3, 2022, the long, lingering 10-year sleep of the collective will finally end with the release of their much-awaited, seventh record, entitled The Return Of The Shadow, via Napalm Records!

"It wasn’t intentional, time just passed, and we didn’t want to push things to happen, because we knew that the new album would come when the stars are aligned and the time is right,” vocalist Tomi Mykkänen reveals. "This is our 'comeback' album and we are ready to be back!“

The album title perfectly represents their sensational comeback. Named after Tolkien’s original, shelved title for his legendary epic fantasy novel Fellowship of the Ring, BATTLELORE’s brand new album features nine Middle-earth-themed songs, shining with the blistering aura the band has become known and loved for.

Today, they have finally shared the first track taken from The Return Of The Shadow! On "Firekeeper", the Lappeenranta-based fantasy metal warriors showcase their exceptional songwriting skills, diving deep into dark facets of symphonic yet heavy metal realms. The vocal duets of Tomi Mykkänen’s power and the fairylike voice of Kaisa Jouhki merge with otherworldly guitars on this epic metal hymn!

Guitarist Jyri Vahvanen says about the track, "In the beginning there was nothing but silence. Then came the Creator called Ilúvatar and began a song which gave a birth to a world called Arda, and in the heart of it he set aflame, The Secret Fire. The One, All Father, Firekeeper of the World!"

The Return Of The Shadow was recorded by Janne Saksa at the Sound Supreme Studios, Finland, and was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound Studios. As a special gift to fans, the album will also include a bonus EP, entitled Lost Lands, that features three songs written around the beginning of the band’s hiatus that, soundwise, are different from the tracks on the main album.

"This bonus EP is something we wanted to record and release alongside the actual album, to clear the table and continue our musical career without any unpublished material haunting us from the past.“ Tomi explains. "The songs of the EP are from the beginning of our 10-year hiatus, so the compositions and the overall atmosphere differ from The Return Of The Shadow. Therefore, we felt that these hymns from the old days deserved their own release."

As the first single proves, the energy BATTLELORE showcases on The Return Of The Shadow – their first full-length album in more than 10 years – is immediately evident, making this record one of their strongest, heaviest and best works to date. Thankfully it’s not just their shadows, but the return of one of the most thrilling acts in heavy fantasy metal – welcome back, BATTLELORE!

The Return Of The Shadow will be out on June 3, 2022 through Napalm Records, the pre-sale has just started at THIS LOCATION!

For More Info Visit:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

NAPALM RECORDS

BATTLELORE are:

Tomi Mykkänen – Vocals

Kaisa Jouhki – Vocals

Maria Honkanen – Synths

Jyri Vahvanen – Guitars

Jussi Rautio – Guitars

Timo Honkanen – Bass

Henri Vahvanen - Drums

SETH Unveils New Album Details, Unveils First Single

French black metal pioneers SETH have teamed up with Black Metal Promotion for the release of their brand new single, "La Morsure du Christ!" The band's self-titled album is set for worldwide release on May 7 via Season of Mist. Pre-sales are available HERE.

Listen to the track "La Morsure du Christ"

SETH comments: "This is a great day for SETH! We are proud to present the very first track of our new album 'La Morsure du Christ.' Twenty-three years following the release of album one, 'Les Blessures de L’Ame,' the world moved further away from religion and spirituality. The demise of Notre Dame de Paris symbolizes the end of Christianity, whose treacherous lies burnt down the theatre stage of the Holy Church. In the remaining ashes, Christ appears as a deceiving ghost searching to spread his anesthetic venomous grip: 'La Morsure du Christ,' the bite of Christ."

The history of black metal formation SETH and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut ‘Les Blessures de L'Ame’ (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record. SETH has lit up the flame of those early days again with ‘La Morsure du Christ’, which can be seen as sequel to the highly acclaimed debut.

The release of ‘Les Blessures de L'Ame’ quickly gained international attention and SETH built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album ‘Originators of the Northern Darkness’ alongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length ‘The Excellence’ came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song ‘Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound’.

Shortly after, the group recorded their third album ‘Divine-X’ (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.

Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album ‘Era-Decay’ (2004), two new members joined the ranks of SETH: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.

A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing ‘The Howling Spirit’ (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of ‘Les Blessures de L'Ame’ in 2018, SETHexclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l'Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called ‘20 ans de Blasphème’. The band’s new line-up featured members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.

With the flame of SETH burning strong again, the French black metallers started writing new material. On the new record ‘La Morsure du Christ’ (a double meaning title: literally « The Bite of Christ » and phonetically « Christ's death is certain »), they return to their original sound, employ French alexandrine verse in their lyrics and choose a striking image as an album art. The blazing inferno of the Notre-Dame de Paris is depicted on the cover, an event that shuddered the world on April 15, 2019. The release of the record marks the 2nd anniversary of the event.

It's a powerful picture that conveys the very essence of 'La Morsure du Christ.' In a world moving further away from religion and spirituality, the demise of this landmark symbolizes the end of the Christian reign and the ultimate betrayal of God. From the ashes of the cathedral, a godless world will come into being.

Line-up:
Guitar - Heimoth (Sinsaenum)
Drums - Alsvid (ex-Enthroned, AdPatres)
Vocals - Saint Vincent (BlackLodge, Vorkreist)
Bass - Esx Vnr (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack, ex-Glorior Belli)
Guitar - Drakhian (ex-Loudblast, Griffar)
Keys - Pierre Le Pape (Melted Space)

Genre: Black Metal

Artwork: Leoncio Harmr (www.harmr.com )

Recording studio: Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris (Regarde les Hommes Tomber, Sinsaenum, Loudblast, Hangman's Chair)

Producer / sound engineer, mixing and mastering: Studio Sainte Marthe, Francis Caste

Links:
http://www.innomineseth.fr
http://instagram.com/sethblackmetal/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgTXE9Iko1vpm33RWIO0Xbg
https://twitter.com/SETHblackmetal
http://instagram.com/sethblackmetal/
https://www.facebook.com/innomineseth

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/morsure-du-seth

THE DEVIL'S TRADE Reveal New Album Details, Release First Single

Taken from THE DEVIL'S TRADE upcoming full length 'The Call of the Iron Peak'. Release date: 28th August, 2020. The album can be ordered in various formats h...

Dark folk project THE DEVIL'S TRADE will be releasing the sophomore full-length 'The Call of the Iron Peak' on August 28 via Season of Mist, making its debut to the label. The project is the brainchild of singer/musician Dávid Makó. The emotional first single, "Dead Sister," is out now

Frontman Dávid Makó comments on the track: "The muse for this piece was probably the biggest storm cloud I have ever seen covering the perfectly clean summer night sky. I was sitting right under the eye of the storm on a plain somewhere in the Hungarian countryside. It was like sitting under a gate to another ancient world. The world went silent the air stopped and I was waiting to be smashed by the elements. For about twenty minutes it felt like I was connected to the otherworld. Then a cool wind came and blew it away. The sister part is too personal. It took thirty years to understand that someone I never met has such a powerful influence on me. If there is an afterlife I hope she will be there and I can hug her."

'The Call of the Iron Peak' can be pre-ordered HERE.

THE DEVIL'S TRADE earlier announced the rescheduled dates for the previously canceled tour with DARKHER and FORNDOM. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.

THE DEVIL'S TRADE
+Darkher +Forndom
04/07/21: Gdańsk (PL) @ Drizzly Grizzly
04/08/21: Warsaw (PL) @ Hydrozagadka
04/09/21: Kraków (PL) @ Zascianek
04/10/21: Budapest (HU) @ Instant
04/11/21: Vienna (AT) @ Escape
04/12/21: Prague (CZ) @ Modra Vopice
04/13/21: Apr 21 Leipzig (DE) @ Moritzbastei
04/14/21: Berlin (DE) @ Cassiopeia
04/15/21: Copenhagen (DK) @ Stengade
04/16/21: Hamburg (DE) @ MS Stubnitz
04/17/21: Cologne (DE) @ Club Subway

Listen to the call of the Iron Peak. It is calling for you to find your true self in a world you want to be isolated from. It is calling for you to make peace with yourself, with the inevitable end. It is calling for Hungarian singer-songwriter Dávid Makó, who redefined himself as The Devil’s Trade a few years ago, embarking on a long journey with his deeply personal and dark, sometimes doom infused folk songs.

Be it the folk of the Appalachians or the tales of Hungarian and Transylvanian traditionals, The Devil’s Trade fuses his past of metal and his roots laying deep in the folk songs of his immediate surroundings.

Very much like how the Iron Peak, a mountaintop both metaphorical and literal is calling for Makó, he is calling for you to share his rituals of loves and hopes lost and found along the pilgrimage of his. It is after all, the journey itself that matters the most, and how you adapt. From basements in his hometown of Budapest, to all corners of Europe, stages small and big, The Devil’s Trade has been relentlessly walking on his path finding his voice and calling, and that is to let listeners to glimpse into himself through his heart wrenching songs.

His new album, and his debut for Season of Mist, titled ‘The Call of the Iron Peak’ is to be released August 28, 2020. 

Line-up:
Dávid Makó - vocals, guitars, banjo

Studio: Templom Studio (HU)
Mix/Master: Márton Szabó
Producer: Dávid Makó

Guest musicians:
Márton Szabó, Péter Szabó on drums,
Adam Vincze on spoons and jug in ‘The Call Of The Iron Peak’

Rita Szabó, Kornél Szabó on triangulum in Dead Sister

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/TheDevilsTrade

Available formats:
Digipak
LP in various colours
Digital

For more on THE DEVIL'S TRADE, visit the official FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP, YOUTUBE, and INSTAGRAM.