[engl] "The split album by the sludge bands Cult Of Occult and Grim Van Doom starkly contrast the two very different approaches that the two bands bring to the same genre. But, if anything, that contrast grabs the listener. Cult Of Occult’s half of the album is one, twenty-two minute long track titled “Black Sea”. It rumbles like a distant demon patiently clawing its way out from hell, one massive handful of earth at a time. Plump, earthy bass tones, ominous, cymbal-heavy drumming, hellishly guttural vocals and filthy guitar distortion are set to a tempo that makes Sleep look like a grindcore band. All of these elements remain constant throughout the twenty-two minutes of “Black Sea”, giving the song an endless, trance-inducing feel. The half of the album given to German quarter Grim Van Doom is rather different. Containing three songs and a brief interlude, Grim Van Doom’s side of the album is like a punch in the face from a spiked, steel gauntlet. While all three song’s on Grim Van Doom’s side of the album cross over the five minute mark, there is still a feeling of very little fat on them; they are all lean, brutish works of harsh sludge that churn your stomach and make the marrow of your bones tremble. Pungent tones grate against your eardrums as they doll out riffs that sound as if they had been written by someone who had spent the last two decades fuming at past transgressions and plotting revenge. Having the music of these two different bands stacked side by side is an effective way of exaggerating the qualities of both. Both Cult Of Occult and Grim Van Doom create music that is firmly within the sludge metal sphere, so there is enough similarity for coherence. However, while each band grabs sludge by the throat, they do so from disparate angels. Cult Of Occult’s slithering journey through the abyss brings out the pounding, martial energy of Grim Van Doom, who in turn make the hellish sounds Cult Of Occult that much more vivid." ( the sludgelord )

[engl] The "Sorgh Pa Svarte Vingar Fløgh" EP was originally released in 1996. Here is the official 2022 deluxe 10" vinyl repress on Cosmic Key Creations. Issued under exclusive license from Century Media Records and Dawn. Adapted artwork according to the wishes of the band.

[engl] The Band you've been looking for for a long time, with sounds of dissimilar genres that don't usually cross combined, is out when you least expect it to be. This fully fledged outfit of sheer old-school twisted intensity is a must-listen, no sweat! DEVIL MASTER return with four new tracks of devilish hardcore punk in the vein of GAI or LSD packed in a deathrock vibe. The Japanese hardcore influence is prevalent but there is so much more! That is punk, metal and goth inspired hardcore punk with demonic vocals and hard as nail beats which is extremely hard to shake once you hear it. The torturous maelstrom sounds of bone breaks and thuggish isolationism. Howling feedback underscores the massive swirling riffs and relentless battery of drums. Foul, tumultuous vocals made entirely of the final exhalations of humanity really send this opus to the apex. A perfect band. The four distorted tracks on this EP mix perfectly the low end reverb soaked deathrock influences with the best of the International Hardcore Punk of the early 80's. Making it a masterpiece of timeless punk. This EP is a perfectly wild and superbly crafted sheet of brutal noise with a pounding goth backbone all jacked up on blackened metal freakout space jams. And you know that Satan smiled when he heard this!

[engl] Drainland ( who released an album on southern lord recently ) offer 4 songs of noise drenched hardcore. Slow, fast, heavy and powerful. For fans of Unruh, Noothgrush and Dystopia. Trenches on the other side come with their first output on vinyl. One song that lasts for about 14 minutes. I guess they could be best compared to a mixture between Ire and Isis (Celestial period). Riffing, groove, dark and just simply great.

[engl] Black.Mother.Earth is a grim, yet beautiful post-metal ode to a region of Croatia and a novel of the same title by local author Kristian Novak. It’s an album that appeals to any Isis, Russian Circles or This Will Destroy You lover.

[engl] Enchantment are a Death/Doom metal band originating from the U.K. and were first formed way back in 1993 in the midst of the UK Death/Doom metal scene alongside the likes of Paradise Lost, Anathema and My Dying Bride. In that year they released a self-funded demo "A Tear for Young Eloquence" and were subsequently signed by Century Media Records before recording and releasing their debut album "Dance The Marble Naked" in early 1994. The band played alongside many great Death Metal bands from that era including Bolt Thrower, Anathema, Cancer and Cradle of Filth before unfortunately disbanding the following year in 1995. However, all this was not before they had already written (but not studio recorded) almost an entire second album. Fast forward nearly 25 years, and with the reissue of their debut album on vinyl for the first time (and after numerous successful reissues earlier on CD) the band have now officially regrouped. In 2020 the band started the unenviable task of resurrecting all the original rehearsal tapes and lyrical content from that lost second album and started working on demoing the tracks. This caught the attention of both Cosmic Key Creations and Transcending Records with whom the band ultimately decided to sign up to with the prospect of finally recording and co-releasing their sophomore album. It is unknown if any other similar band can claim to have written almost a full album in the heyday of the British Death / Doom metal scene and for it to have never been recorded or released. Yet nearly 28 years to the day exactly that â??Dance The Marble Nakedâ?? was first released way back in 1994, the band are now about to finally release their long awaited sophomore album Cold Soul Embrace in 2022.This release is like no-other and is somewhat of a time capsule! It is the closest representation of Enchantment during the U.K. Death Metal scene circa mid 1994 to 1995 and the scene will finally get to hear it in full, early 2022.

[engl] Enisum is an Italian atmospheric black metal band from Susa Valley (Val di Susa), the longest valley of Italian Alps, near Turin. They took their name from a local mountain, since Enisum is the anagram Musinè mountain, spelled backwards. The band was formed in 2006 by Lys as his personal project and self-released several demos, without any proper distribution. Finally in 2014 they signed to Dusktone label and in October 2014 their first professional full-length album entitled “Samoht Nara” was released. The band labels its music as Arpitanian black metal, a term that reveals the influences from Cascadian black metal in their sound and the significance of their homeland’s nature in their inspiration. Arpitania is a wide territory, including regions of Italy, France and Switzerland, where the Arpitan language is spoken or was used in the past. In “Samoht Nara“, Lys has the help of Leynir in bass and Epheliin in female vocals. This is the first work from the band I am listening to and I actually see it as their debut album. Enisum play melancholic nature-inspired black metal, with pagan black metal influences and post-metal references in their dark nostalgic atmosphere. Their music is based completely on their wonderful guitars and vocals, without any synths or folk instruments. They use however many acoustic guitars, adding some enchanting tranquil passages in their compositions with an almost neofolk mood. The screaming vocals of Lys are perfect for the band’s somber atmospheric music, while the few clean female vocals add another level of emotional dynamic and beauty in their songs. The rhythm of their compositions moves from mid tempo parts, to faster outbreaks and slower relaxing passages, all in great harmony. The production is very good, giving the band a very natural organic sound, equally raw and clear. Unluckily the lyrics are not available in the CD, or on their official pages, but based on the track titles, they seem to sing both in English (I can understand some of the lyrics) and in their native language. Of course the album is an ode to the Arpitanian Valley, dedicated to nature, rivers, mountains and animals around us. “Samoht Nara” is a wonderful album, that surprised me with its quality, simplicity and honest atmosphere. In my opinion it is one of the best works of this genre that every fan of atmospheric “Cascadian” black metal (and not only) should check.

[engl] Coming from the underlands of scorched minds and poisonous everything, FACELESS BURIAL have arrived to ruin you with 34 minutes of blast-surging, malformed death metal mayhem. Hyper-menacing. Grinding. Dirty. Death. Members of Agents Of Abhorrence, White Walls and Internal Rot if you're keeping score. 666 copies on shrouded in mystery colored vinyl housed in a heavy duty reverse board jacket adorned with art by Xavier Irvine. Recorded by Finn Keane, Xavier Irvine. Mastered by Mikey Young.

[engl] Regnum Saturni is presented as a three-panel-foldout 2LP ( 180 gr vinyl ) w/laser etched d-side. This full-length stands the first Fell Voices album with a title assigned by the band. And it run roughly 60 minutes in length. Fell Voices have long been known as a group of individuals that create an intensely unique live atmosphere. As a trio they have the fullness and power of a much larger band, and to see them live is truly something to behold. On Regnum Saturni–which was recorded live–they have captured that density, bringing more of the live experience to their recorded material than ever before. Not only was this feeling captured in the recording, but the songs themselves have been crafted with greater power. Everything on the new album is evidence of Fell Voices taking the energy of their songs to the next level. This is raw black metal mixed with the atmospere of cascadian black metal bands such as ash borer.

[engl] How many hardcore, let alone metal, bands exceed all previous efforts on their third LP? Some might argue that ‘Feel The Darkness’ was Poison Idea’s prime. You could present ‘Master Of Puppets’ and ‘Reign In Blood’, if you’re so inclined. Let’s face it, these are a dying breed of exceptions to the rule. And yet, like an icepick in the eye socket of logic, here stands Foreseen with ‘Untamed Force’. In the landmine ridden field that is crossover, where bands can all too easily get it so wrong, Foreseen not only survive the death sentence of their sophomore record “Grave Danger” (2017), but head out on a blunt force killing spree. ‘Untamed Force’ indeed. Rarely has a record title been more fitting. Vocalist Mirko Nummelin sounds more pissed off than ever, 12 years on. Drummer Mårten Gustafsson’s arms and feet generate enough power to make Finland energy self-sufficient. And finally, pushing the band over the edge, separating Foreseen from us feeble bastards, we have new member Ville Valavuo joining Jaakko Hietakangas to form what is arguably the scene’s deadliest six string tag-team. Foreseen’s power is untamed but at the same time borne from hard work, a love for the craft and their musical community, and absolutely no excuses. Dig in, endure, stomp out, shoot to kill. Foreseen are for headbangers who haven’t been brainwashed by click tracks and digital recordings. Foreseen are for punks who can deal with a synth intro and harmonised solos. In 2022, ‘Untamed Force’ is the guiding principle that can inspire, but not be replicated, by the Kings of Hardcore Thrash.

[engl] FREUND KERN plays slow music that takes its time while while you may take your time and look at a picture for a while - while you listen FREUND KERN, the one man band is not free of influences, let's mention EARTH, SUNN O))) and the CLUB OF GORE among others. You should not confuse monotony and taking time with apathy and a lack of urge to act. Taking your time is the basic state from which all possibilities arise. The most beautiful time is the time between the notes. Take it in , heavy, slow and long. The song Ventÿl is released, stretched and spread over 2 record sides, on 7 inch vinyl with DIN A 3 PRINT / or in one piece for stream/download on tomatenplatten.

[engl] Formed in early 2013, Funerary came to pass by the adherence of five souls looking to coagulate in depression, grief, and anger. Finding solace in dwindling light, the band creates a musical presence that is powerful and progressive in the realm of doom metal by combining what can only be described as cosmic, transcending songs ridden with despair and indignity.

[engl] The "Bloody Blasphemy" album was originally released in 1999. Here is the official 2023 repress.

[engl] The "Ravenous" album was originally released in 2001. Here is the official 2023 repress.

[engl] The "The Grand Grimoire" album was originally released in 1997. Here is the official 2023 repress.

[engl] Godthrymm is a reconnection of old brothers with a shared musical past, to create crushing new apocalyptic metal that is a culmination of everything musical that has brought us to this present day. With Hamish Glencross (Vallenfyre, ex-My Dying Bride) on lead vocals and guitar, rejoined with old partners Chaz Netherwood on guitar, and Shaun Taylor Steels (My Dying Bride, ex-Anathema) on drums. Completed by the addition of Rich Mumford of Malediction on bass. They have a long and celebrated history of writing and recording together, and have been channeling this dark magic again, but with the added dimension of the extra experience gained over the years. Musically, creating crushing, apocalyptic doom metal, with the influence of the epic and the melancholy found in their combined past musical outputs. Writing and rehearsing commenced early 2017, and November 2017 saw the band head into the fabled Academy studio, with fellow My Dying Bride alumni Dan Mullins at the desk. Once completed, the band were very proud to have Decibel Magazine announce their existence to the world, exclusively streaming a preview of the title track of the forthcoming EP "A Grand Reclamation". With the start of 2018 came the announcement that the band are honoured to see their hard work being released on vinyl courtesy of Cosmic Key Creations, and on digipak cd courtesy of Transcending Records, and with stunning artwork from Brian D'Agosta, whose art credits include Vallenfyre and Implore, amongst many others. We await the physical release of the EP, and expect Godthrymm to make their live debut in the coming months....