Baptism (FIN) – Grim Arts Of Melancholy DLP

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!

Neofolk

Debut album of this Neofolk solo project.

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

Consisting of the entirety of this band’s output to present this two track demo is a scathing opening manifesto in metal ferocity. Each track sprawls itself out into movements that span various metal styles seamlessly. Without feeling like separate tracks the opening tracks “Seeking Our Monolith in the Night” defies tempo and characteristic limitations while creating a luminous meditative twenty minute opus. As if that wasn’t quite enough “At Last, the Moongate” closes the release by exploring these auditory realms even further and brings in other elements to round out the release in an even further hypnotic fashion. Enveloping, engaging, and slightly terrifying.

This mysterious band released this album originally on tape in 2018 and have remained silence since. They’ve been likened to Sanguine Eagle and Paysage d’Hiver, though such statements don’t do this justice. Avoid to your own detriment.

Edition of 150 on black vinyl

Black Metal

The 1995 demo available again on LP.

Black Metal

2022 version by Darker than Black, new layout.