Frozen Flesh Order (CAN)- Extra Terrestrial Terrorism LP

Black Metal

One of the most accomplished newcomers Signal Rex has come across in recent years, the shadowy entity of Valais burst from the voidal womb fully formed in the middle of 2021 with their self-titled debut album. Despite existing in the vast (and vastly inconsistent) wilderness of Bandcamp, Valais in fact imparted a power and poignancy that takes most bands at least a couple records to reach, if at all. Both classically composed and forward-thinking, Valais understood right from the start the core tenets of true black metal, but equally understood how to inject their own personality and poise into such to create something that adds to the language of BLACK METAL rather than mimics its speech patterns (and sloppily so).

No, Valais as a work is a towering monument of tension and release, skillful contours and subtle dynamics, richly malevolent melody and slipstreaming violence. Aesthetic touchstones include the likes of Slidhr, latter-day Leviathan, and even Blut Aus Nord at their wiliest, but Valais also exhibit an understated sense of the pagan – perhaps stemming from their native Ireland, or perhaps from some strange cosmos far beyond our comprehension… Either way, all of this coalesces into a whilrlwinding five-song/37-minute experience that feels far vaster than that succinct runtime otherwise suggests. As such, Signal Rex is honored to rightfully release this tome in all physical formats.

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

Limited 200 copies.

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

UK Black Metal act GLEMT brings forth their debut long play record entitled “Eclipsing Through The Womb Of Twilight And Dementia”. This album falls nothing short of pure audible chaos and insanity forcing the listener to become engulfed in the pure darkness of the void so they become an active participant in the rituals manifested through Glemt. Therefore this is more of a pact between the void and the forbidden, leaving no room for light or hope for all life.

This album was manifested through the will of tormented spirits that made themselves know through Magick and communication with the deceased. This, therefore, opens forth the Left-Hand Path and the bleak passageway into the utter blackness of deaths abyss past the point of no return, so that all forbidden truths are relieved.

Black Metal

Four songs of folk/pagan metal from Gelderland in the vein of Isengard, Storm, Grimm, Bergthron.

Limited to 250 handnumbered copies.