Serment (CAN) – Chante, Ô Flamme de la Liberté 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

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 awaited return of the United States Raw Black Metal entity VAMPIRSKA is spearheaded by the unveiling of “Torturous Omens of Blood and Candlewax” re-issued for the first time by INFERNA PROFUNDUS RECORDS.

“Torturous Omens of Blood and Candlewax” is the debut LP of Raw Black Metal entity VAMPIRSKA, who has established itself as a titan among the scene of this Lo-Fi and enchanting style of black metal. Originally released in Autumn 2020, “Torturous Omens of Blood and Candlewax” pushed VAMPIRSKA into the eyes of many after a large release on CS, CD and LP format. Six tracks with a consistent blend of furious, depressive, and elegant melodies carried into existence with punishing drumming.

Black Metal

Two great bands together in a covenant of Black Metal, each one parading its unique approach and both building a strong split, a brilliant release.

Black Metal

Split LP between two Raw Black Metal hordes from Indonesia.

-180gr. Black vinyl. Limited edition
-350gsm. Jacket. Matt varnish. Black inside flood
-Insert
-Black poly-lined inner-sleeves
-Assembled into plastic outer-sleeves

Black Metal

Building upon that grand fortress is a four-song/22-minute mini-album likewise truly titled: The Oath of the Black Wolf. Here, ORGREL have gone a-hunting, their ’90s black metal classicism stalking and striking with a hunger only hinted at previously. Still, fueled by this fire they may be, the Italians across this mini manage to maximize their epic side, with the predecessor’s flat-yet-full soundfield now becoming slightly more chromatic in the process. Lead lines portend dark truths, ever building in tension and then grandeur, but the record’s swift-yet-satisfying runtime reveals the darkest, most intrinsic truth: black metal doesn’t need to “become” anything when it already IS. Hail The Oath of the Black Wolf!