Austere (AUS) – Corrosion Of Hearts LP

Black Metal

Originally released as cassette by Mahamvantara Arts Records earlier this year, RÜNDGARD’s first public recording is one literally out of time. Mainman Lord Valtgryftåk is a prolific veteran of Chile’s increasingly potent black metal underground, concurrently handling the likes of Pyreficativm, 13th Temple, Gryftigæn, and Winterstorm among others. And while a number of those bands and satellite entities belonging to the Pure Raw Underground Black Metal Plague are indeed the rawest of the raw, with RÜNDGARD does he delve into ancient times, medieval majesty, and grim splendor somewhere between the earliest Nordic works and contemporaneous Polish ones.

Recorded during two periods over the course of MMXX/MMXXI and now featuring a mix & master by Rudrah Studios, Stronghold of Majestic Ruins suitably evokes its namesake both sonically and thematically. Empirically, the recording evokes the ancient passages and memories of a distant land submerged in mist and an interesting story behind ruins. As Lord Valtgryftåk explains, “Originally, this entity is directly related to those archaic dimensional Valdivian forces that still inhabit our realms, those forces from the past written in blood and guarded by solemn towers and fortresses that still remain alive.” And truly, that past comes alive across the album’s succinct-yet-expansive 25-minute runtime, maintaining a faithful respect for the old traditions and the sound of glorious times with an interesting melodic register at the same time very organic. No record-collector-nerd “raw black metal” here: only authentic ancient vintage!

For those nostalgic for forgotten realms and archaic ages, RÜNDGARD returns from a deep slumber with the fortifying Stronghold of Majestic Ruins!

Black Metal

In the womb of one of the secrets of time lies an inalienable resonance between the roots of man and his history cognizance. Oftenly, the seeking of an endless spirit endowment engulfs him with a veil of barren knowledge, that commonly ties his thoughts and reflections to the boundaries of an ordinary living, dragged by a flux of invisible strands that may craft a path leading nowhere. Sometimes, this delivers into a self-inducted catharsis where the glorious pursuit of ancient trails in own’s blood turns imperative. Despite it being minimum or gigantic. Pure as a child’s heart or intertwined as a chimera. This seed is what made man within and not without. Empowering him to step above all his previous versions yet giving birth to what will become his spiritform.

Black Metal

The first full-length black metal onslaught of Chilean Black Metal project Aarkanne, Mysterii, which followed the release of the debut Aarkanne demo entitled ‘De Profundis’ which was unveiled in November, 2020. Mysterii is a testament to the agonizing punishment of raw black metal with deathlike structures that enforce a flurry of distorted chaos. Six tracks of this thunderous South-American raw black metal carnage that are consistently punishing, Aarkanne delivers these strong waves of melodic plague in this LP. Pure hatred and disgust captured into six tracks of destructive raw black metal that stands for ultimate torment to the depraved.

Black Metal

By now, IRAE should require little introduction. Since the dawn of this cursed millennium, mainman Vulturius has prolifically pursued a singular vision of RAW BLACK METAL that includes four full-lengths and countless split releases with likeminded comrades. As such, IRAE have almost singlehandedly invigorated Portugal’s black metal scene, particularly the rawer iteration of it, and more recently find themselves aligned with the elite Black Circle, alongside MONS VENERIS, VETALA, Decrepitude, and Rainha Cólera. Fans since the beginning, SIGNAL REX are honored to be aligned with Vulturius for IRAE’s long-awaited fifth album.

Black Metal

After 2019’s well-received Endless Trails demo via SIGNAL REX, HOLLOW WOODS strike with a full-length debut fittingly titled Cold Winds Cleave the Earth. While hailing from Finland, this mysterious entity largely eschew their homeland’s reigning black metal idiom, instead taking influence from Ukraine (Roman Saenko’s projects), Norway (early Ulver, equally early Gorgoroth), and especially Russia (the Blazebirth Hall collective). In other words, pure & proud BLACK METAL, nevertheless done with personality and charisma.

Black Metal

A monument of melodic and grandiose Black Metal, to metaphysical paganism and spiritual rebirth, from Nahtrunar’s mastermind.

Last copies, available again.