Lucifer Before The Day Doth Go/Black Heksen Rise

The original intention was to post some black metal. But this is not black metal, right? Of course it isn't. Liturgy is.

Fuck you...
Ketzer - Satan's Boundaries Unchained
Pale Creation - Twilight Haunt
Vent - Reliquiae Doloris
Antediluvian - Through the Cervix of Hawwah
Aarni - Bathos

AMSG

Hosanna...With hearts toward none

The last few months brought two of the greatest releases of the year. The Wounded Kings' In the Chapel of the Black Hand has been in constant rotation for almost three months now, it obviously is an all-devouring monster in its bleak and occult magnificence but I don't feel ready to elaborate more, at least not yet. Nevertheless I am in awe.

  Antediluvian's Through the Cervix of Hawwah is still a newborn sinister abomination but it is one of those cases were even the blind and numb can sense that we are talking about a masterpiece. It is a heavy, muddy, engulfing beast that enshrouds you and leads you in a disoriented mindtrip that leaves mental scars. Music to be felt and definitely not just mere and mindless entertainment.

On top of all that, Mgła,our favourite purveyors of orthodox perversity are about to release their second album titled  With Hearts Toward None early next year. A bitter taste of things to come can be taken here. The Devil is preparing his final attack...beware.

The Devil's emissaries...
The Wounded Kings - In the Chapel of the Black Hand
Antediluvian - Through the Cervix of Hawwah
Venenum - Venenum

Void Meditation Cult - Sulfurous Prayers
Bestial Raids - Prime Evil Damnation
Ptahil - For His Satanic Majesty's Glory
Allfather - Weapon of Ascension
The Devil's Blood - The Thousandfold Epicentre

Die...

Sonne Adam will take your sorry souls

Local offerings did not suffice
Bastards ruined this world
Torrent of hate is on its way
All that will survive are the ones who ruled before

Undead calling humming in our ears
"The mindless bastards' way must come to an end"
Distorted thoughts of paralyzing force
The path is clear for me
The message inked with blood

When the death is feeling near
And the black blood embarks
The doom of man so clear
I will remember the day they rise

Diabolic, ancient spheres of hate

The oath is signed with blood
We are the nameless ones
Raised for all to see
The punishers unleashed

Armageddon shall start here

The malignant return

Between Scylla and Charybdis

There is a foul smell in the air. The mixture of treachery, incompetence and selfishness breeds destruction, but he who is used at living in darkness has nothing to fear from such a shallow danger of purely materialistic nature.

Refuges...

...a couple of months ago a proud lioness was born, reinforcing my already strong beliefs, enhancing my emotions towards the things I love and the ones I loath. Now, the rest of the world can go and fuck itself. I have got all I need. World...beware.

In the midst of all that haze, the (under)world continues to vomit some things of actual interest and value. Nightbringer launched their third assault to the forces of light in the guise of Hierophany of the Open Grave. The band's first two records have been landmarks that established them in the elite of occult black metal of modern times. On their new work they continue the course that is expected by worthy practitioners of the art. Hierophany of the Open Grave is an improvement in every aspect. Nightbringer use more weapons to achieve the unique atmosphere they usualy do. The guitar playing is more varied this time, while pianos, acoustic guitar and chanting are being used in an extremely tasteful and skilful manner just to contribute to the creation of the hypnotic atmosphere and never overshadowing it. Above all Nightbringer introduce the melody for the first time in their music. This previous 'unmelodic' approach was one of my favourite aspects of the band's songcraft, so I was kind of sceptical the first time I listened the album. Such concerns vanished completely with the repeated listening as I started being engulfed in the darkness of Hierophany...  All in all, a work that is in harmony with the depth and seriousness of the band. One step closer to the pantheon of black metal.   

Arckanum have been unusually prolific the last four years, Helvítismyrkr being their fourth record in said period. Truth be told from 2008's Antikosmos which I studied carefully, my interest started to fade with every new record. The new one though changed that, grabbing me by the first moment and never letting me off its claws. Helvítismyrkr is an honest effort by one of the most consistent individuals of the scene. Melodic when needed, baptized in the darkest waters of thrash and heavy metal it will steal 45 minutes of your worthless lives without you even noticing and it will enrich it with the powers of the forces of utter chaos. 

I leave you with the covers of two records that are on their way from hell and have already won me over with their visual aesthetics...

 
Die...
Rex Mundi - IHVH
Kaosritual - Rituell Katarsis 
Hrizg  - Inferno
Demonic Rage - Evoking The Pestilence
Ensnared- Ensnared
Obscure Infinity - Dawn of Winter

AMSG

Ascended

1. Asleep...Awake, my heart

2. Reflection, aware of the necessity to slay the sibling. Teach me the failure of lower two.
Sow and reap unity in my heart. As I shall become one in thee.

3. Rebellion, no heart beats in my chest. Rise above earthly contraries and broken mirrors.
Rod of equilibrium, born of yourself. Suspended in chains. Conjunction, a heart beats not in my chest.

4. As the wise mistaker spoke. There is only light in darkness. As I wander down the darkest valleys,
no shadow may cast on me. A world released of vileness and compassion, down in the core of light.
A word released of chains and contradiction, down in the core of light.

5. As the serpent passed the chalice of faith, I may be released from starvation.
As I wandered along the rivers of truth, I distinguished they never could stay still.

6. And god never spoke of peace (but the double-edged blade), knight under the banner of mixed blessing,
march, stumble, release yourself from this soul. O Heroine, dressed in white and red,
O Heroine, slay the unjudged.

7. O angel of the burning sun. In maternal love. Lactating, spilleth simmering tardrops down on me.
Searing, sealing my lips and aflameth my tongue. Thou art sky, concede me to ascend.
I cut this silent oath of love out of trembling flesh.

8. Consolamentum, nourished by fire a heart is pure. Sired of ash a soul will live.
Let me see what they see not, visions clearly while eyes rot. A gracious star fell burning from the sky,
O timeless king, you teached me how to die.

A secret well kept

After a couple of demos and a live album that I doubt there's anywhere to be found plus a split that you could possibly find if you search carefully, Maledicere have recently released their first proper record titled Leave Only What is Fit to Burn and it slays. This is the best american black metal band you've never heard and for that you should be ashamed of yourselves. Succumb to its rawness now. Tom



More...
Caina - Hands That Pluck
Yob - Atma
Avichi - The Devils Fractal
Disma - Towards The Megalith

AMSG