Five years removed from the band’s debut full-length, Vítahringur, Mannveira emerges once more from Reykjavík’s black metal underground. Featuring seven new rituals culled from the primordial darkness, Vesöld offers no salvation.
Raw and dissonant at its core, the album twists abrasive black metal through moments of stark melody, creating a work that is as haunting as it is hostile.
Vesöld sees Mannveira achieve a balance of chaos and atmosphere, with a cold melodic undercurrent that shatters through the discord. Bleak and immediate, Vesöld marks a compelling return from the depths of Iceland’s black metal underground.
Stream the album’s first single, “Lygar himinsins,” here.
Norwegian titan, Mork, was created by Thomas Eriksen in 2004, with the debut album Isebakke eventually surfacing in 2013. Since then, Mork has been ceaselessly rising through the echelons of Black Metal, and on the heels of 2024’s intense and groundbreaking Syv opus – which has resulted in the band branching out with tours in the Far East & Australia – Eriksen continues on this evolutionary path with the new album, and what is undoubtedly set to be a new benchmark, MONOLITT, set for release on Peaceville on June 19th. Today, Mork has shared the second single from the album, titled “TORDEN” alongside a new video produced by Matthew Vickerstaff.
Photo Credit: V for 5
Following the release of their formidable latest album Monolitt, Norwegian black metal titans Mork are set to embark on an extensive headline European tour this week, taking in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and beyond. Mork mastermind Thomas Eriksen said the following:
“MORK is heading out on our first-ever European headline tour. After years of playing individual club shows and festivals across Europe, it’s time for a full run.
Join us this October alongside Soulburn and the other bands sharing the stages with us along the way.
With MONOLITT released earlier this year, this tour will be a celebration of the new album. To mark the tour’s kick-off, we’re also releasing a new music video for SKRØMT through Peaceville Records.
MORK – MONOLITT Under Vekten Av Verden [05:57] Ødelagt [05:20] Torden [03:52] Skrømt [05:06] Ferdamann [04:47] Inn i en annen sfære [06:34] Martyr [04:27] Jutul [04:48] Utryddelse [05:50]
“Powerful, purposeful and utterly compelling, Monolitt is a new high-water mark” METAL HAMMER UK
Monolitt was recorded and performed primarily by Thomas Eriksen, with Asgeir Mickelson supplying drums, plus additional vocals coming from fellow Mork member Øyvind Kaslegard. The album was mixed at Toproom Studio by Børge Finstad (Mayhem), before being mastered by Jack Control at Enormous Door (Darkthrone), and at Appelbaum Mastering by Maor Appelbaum (Sepultura). The bold and striking cover image was created by Norwegian artist Kjell Åge Melland.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the news that Conrad “Cronos” Lant has passed away.
For more than four decades, Conrad’s voice, bass and vision were at the heart of VENOM.
From the first dark rumblings of Welcome to Hell, through Black Metal, At War With Satan, Possessed and beyond, he created something that changed heavy music forever.
VENOM never followed the rules. They forged their own path.
And Conrad was there at the centre of it all — uncompromising, fearless and unmistakable.
The Legions have always been an important part of VENOM. To everyone who stood with the band through the years, bought the records, came to the shows, wore the shirts, shared the music and kept the flame burning — Cronos was always grateful for your loyalty and support.”
A message from Nathan, Conrad’s son:
“I want to thank all of the Legions for all of the support you have given my dad over the years. I know he really appreciated you all. He has laid down his soul, and his music will live on. The legend of Cronos will never die.”
“His music will never die. His voice will never fade.
And the legacy of VENOM will live on through the music he created and through the Legions around the world who continue to carry that flame.
Thank you, Conrad. Thank you, Cronos. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the memories.
Our deepest love and condolences go to Nathan & Hel, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
REST IN PEACE, CONRAD
THE LEGEND LIVES ON
🖤
VENOM
Rest and also rock in peace, Conrad “Cronos” Lant. Condolences to the family, friends, Venom and fans of Cronos. Long live the legacy of Cronos and Venom.
STORMRULER has announced the forthcoming full length offering, Morning Nautical Twilight, will be released on December 4, 2026, via Distortion Music Group (DMG) – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. The U.S. hailing black metal duo weave epic narrative storytelling through the track list of Morning Nautical Twilight. Alongside the album announcement, the band presents the first single, “Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria.”
Vocalist and guitarist Jason Asberry comments on the new single release: “We chose ‘In The Eye Of Umbria’ as the first single off of our new album Morning Nautical Twilight for a few reasons. It’s the second chapter in the Imperial Chronicles but the first that takes place in present day Aurelia, a realm spanning several thousand years with a vast history and many conflicts. It immediately introduces the listener to a few important characters within the world and sets the stage for the rest of the story.
Secondly, it’s a very standout track amongst the record. We explore a few new corners of our sound that we haven’t in the past but do so in true STORM fashion. It has the raw and driving rhythms of our heavy metal heroes, the mountainous and soaring leads that are heavily laden throughout this record while also keeping true to the many folk sounds that we hold dearly. We’re very proud of this record and can’t wait for you all to explore the pages of Morning Nautical Twilight.”
Morning Nautical Twilight Track List: 00 Prologue: The Weary Traveler 01 Chapter I: The Sword, The Scepter & The Seal 02 Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria 03 Chapter III: Council Of The Nations 04 Chapter IV: Subterranean Sorcery 05 Chapter V: Lanuthor’s Lamentations 06 Chapter VI: Open The Gates! 07 Chapter VII Morning Nautical Twilight 08 Chapter VIII: The Siege Of Belgorath 09 Chapter IX: Shadows Of The Starcrest 10 Chapter X: Winds Of War 11 Chapter XI: When The White Horn Sounds 12 Chapter XII: Engulfed In The Flames Of Oaken Pyre 13 Epilogue: The Imperial Chronicles
Emerging from the gloom in a high-paced fury, “Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria” traverses through shadowy progressions in an untamable arrangement. Jason Asberry‘s intricate guitar leads entwine through the driving momentum while ferocious shrieks unleash soar above, piercing through Jesse Schobel‘s explosive percussion. Musically, “Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria” incorporates a stylistic shift into groove-led rhythms and folk-inspired melodies, situating the track firmly in the immersive fantasy worldbuilding of Morning Nautical Twilight.
Born out of St. Louis, MO, the ferocious black metal duo STORMRULER is comprised of guitarist and vocalist Jason Asberry and drummer Jesse Schobel. Captivated by fantasy realms, the band’s imagery and sonic design draw from this theme entwined with historical elements.
The debut album Under The Burning Eclipse emerged in 2021, released via Napalm Records. This full-length was followed in quick succession by the sophomore offering, Sacred Rites & Black Magick, also via Napalm Records in 2022.
In 2026, STORMRULER signed to Distortion Music Group (DMG) – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music, releasing the standalone single “Dark Age Of Deception.” Plunging into a dark and immersive shroud of atmospheric layers and commanding intensity, “Dark Age Of Deception” signified the beginning of the band’s next incarnation.
With the unveiling of “Chapter II: In The Eye Of Umbria,” STORMRULER‘s forthcoming full length Morning Nautical Twilight delves further into epic fantastical realms placing powerful storytelling at the core of their music.
Blackened symphonic death metal ensemble ILLUSION OF FATE unveil their new single and video release, “Exsanguination.” This is the first single to arrive ahead of the band’s upcoming EP, scheduled for January 2027.
“‘Exsanguination’ began as one of the first songs written after experimenting with a seven string guitar”, the band explain. “While the foundation remained rooted in melodic blackened death metal, the goal was to create something with a stronger death metal punch while continuing to emphasize melody”.
The band also expand their sonic range, drawing inspiration from synthwave and incorporating industrial electronic textures to create an enhanced cinematic atmosphere.
Lyrically, “Exsanguination” “explores the struggle of existing within an endless cycle of change while fearing the loss of identity. Ancient wisdom, symbolic imagery and forces older than humanity guide the narrator through a painful process of transformation”.
Alongside this announcement, ILLUSION OF FATE will be appearing at Northern Wisconsin Metalfest and performing at The Den supporting ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE with FATAL FALL, this September.
9/10 – Northern Wisconsin Metalfest, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin 9/13 – The Den, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Exsanguination was produced by Hayden Crownover at Crownover Productions. The release was mixed by Hayden Crownover and mastered by Alan Douches. The cover artwork for Exsanguination was created by Kevin Wegner (Very Deadly Media).
About ILLUSION OF FATE:
Emerging from the wastes of the American Midwest, ILLUSION OF FATE has been honing their distinctive brand of blackened symphonic death metal since 2019. With multiple releases available worldwide, national tours across the United States, and performances at underground festivals including Tennessee Metal Devastation, Michigan Metalfest and the legendary Milwaukee Metalfest, the band only continues to persevere.
ILLUSION OF FATE unveiled their first EP Emerging Sentience in 2020, followed by the King of Serpents EP in 2021 and Portals to Kur LP in 2024, all released independently. At the core of ILLUSION OF FATE’s identity lies the Bloodcult Mythos, an epic, grimdark saga spanning millennia, conceptually woven through each EP and full length release.
Their unmistakable fusion of thrash, death, and black metal with sweeping orchestral arrangements conjures an atmosphere both ethereal and terrifying. Combined with their commanding stage presence, infused with the theatrical visuals of black and gothic metal, they immerse audiences fully into the world their music describes.
Notably one of Wisconsin’s only touring metal acts, the band has shared the stages with iconic acts such as OBSCURA, RIVERS OF NIHIL, VALE OF PNATH, DYING FETUS, DECREPIT BIRTH, PSYCROPTIC, UADA, OMNIUM GATHERUM, and many more. ILLUSION OF FATE continues to carve their place among modern extreme metal with new releases and live expansions on the horizon, the Bloodcult grows ever stronger. The forthcoming EP will arrive in January 2027.
ILLUSION OF FATE: Kevin Wegner (King Morbid) – Vocals Hayden Crownover (Erebus)- Lead Guitar and backing vocals Bryan Bykowski (Slaanesh)- Bass Guitar and backing vocals Austin Vicars (Malevolence)- Drums and percussion
Wyrm Chasm is a feral force of black metal rising from Dallas, Texas. Formed in March 2015 by guitarist Eric Carrasco and bassist/vocalist Stephen Jeter, the band aimed to forge a cutting-edge sound rooted in raw atmospheres.
A blend of atmospheric and melodic black metal, Wyrm Chasm crafts a cold, oppressive atmosphere punctuated with emotionally charged riffing and furious percussion.
“We’ve crafted our eponymous album into a melodic, yet atmospheric release that fully represents our sound and attack.” – Wyrm Chasm
Wyrm Chasm will be released October 23 on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.
FFO: Winterfylleth, Wolves in the Throne Room, Emperor, Mgla
From the darkest corners of the North, PAARA return to the surface with their third full-length album, Laulut tulen ja jään, set for release on October 30th, 2026 through Dusktone.
The first single “Pohjolan” is now streaming HERE.
For more than a decade, PAARA have cultivated a vision of Finnish black metal that feels deeply rooted in the landscape that surrounds them. Their music evokes the bleak winds sweeping across the fells, the thousands of lakes and the endless forests of Finland, drawing on the darkness of the old world while allowing moments of unexpected beauty to emerge from within it.
Formed around fifteen years ago, PAARA have developed into an entity that thrives on contradiction: brutal yet beautiful, harsh yet strangely comforting, black as the northern night yet capable of revealing flashes of warmth beneath its frozen surface. The band’s modern manifestations began with Yön olevainen puoli (2015) and Riitti (2018), establishing a distinctive approach to atmospheric black metal that balances aggression with a strong sense of melody and place.
After seemingly disappearing from view around 2019, PAARA were never truly gone. The entity had simply retreated into the wilderness, gathering strength and tracing the roots of its inspiration through the darkest reaches of Northern nature and the distant past. Now, in 2026, it emerges once again with Laulut tulen ja jään, most expansive and dynamic manifestation yet.
The album moves constantly between razor-sharp black metal assaults and more majestic passages, with clean vocals and choral arrangements often amplifying the grandeur of its most imposing moments. Yet PAARA refuse to settle into a predictable pattern. Their compositions are full of structural turns and unexpected developments, allowing delicate atmospheric passages to surface between the harsher sections.
A particularly important role is played by the guitars, with acoustic passages adding an unexpected fragility to the album and creating moments of stillness within its otherwise turbulent landscape. These quieter sections never feel ornamental: they become an integral part of the compositions, opening new perspectives before the music inevitably plunges back into darkness.
The songs on Laulut tulen ja jään are sharply defined and deliberately varied in their construction. Some unfold across more than ten minutes, patiently developing their ideas and allowing the atmosphere to evolve, while shorter pieces take a more concentrated approach, extracting their impact from carefully shaped moods and textures. Despite the breadth of ideas at work, the album remains remarkably fluid, with each composition finding its own path without disrupting the overall flow
Rich in detail but never cumbersome, Laulut tulen ja jään finds PAARA at their most expressive. Riffs, choirs, clean voices, acoustic guitars and atmospheric passages become different facets of the same northern vision, creating an album that can be both savage and majestic, intimate and imposing.
The old entity has returned. The darkness of the North has found another voice.
Laulut tulen ja jään produced by Zvartus & Helmouth. “Kirveenkantaja” composed by Paara & Iiro “Leper” Illman. Otherwise songs composed by Paara. Lyrics by Helmouth.
Acoustic guitars for “Kutsuu M.A.N.A.” recorded by Jussi Kraft. Drums recorded by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios. All other instruments and vocals recorded by Zvartus, Paara & Ville O. at Chef’s Room Studio, Helsinki. Album mixed by Zvartus except drums, rhythm guitars & bass mixed by S. Moilanen. Mastered by S. Moilanen. Cover art by David Thiérrée. Logo by Toni Hietomaa. Crest by Jussi Kandelin. Photo by Teppo Ristola. Layout by J.Pihlajaniemi.
Norwegian melodic black metal veterans ISKALD have unveiled the second official teaser for their upcoming sixth full-length album, Curse of the Mind, due out on September 25th via Dusktone. Following the first preview, this new teaser offers another glimpse into the album’s dark and expansive atmosphere, bringing together further excerpts from across the record.
Rather than revealing a single composition in isolation, the teaser highlights the different shades that shape Curse of the Mind from its melodic black metal foundations to its more imposing and atmospheric passages, offering a broader taste of what ISKALD have prepared for their return.
“For our second teaser we go deeper into the ritual. You will hear fragments from ‘Manifestation of Madness’, ‘A Burden of Hope’, ‘Curse of the Mind – Invocation II’, ‘The Sacrifice’ and ‘The Other Realm’. Where the first invocation opened the door, this one pulls you into the prison itself – isolation turning into doubt and psychological collapse. Helheim is not a place, it is the inner darkness taking shape, and the mind is the true battlefield. This passage leads directly to our first and only single before the album release, ‘The Other Realm'”.
Following the acclaimed Innhøstinga (2018), the new album marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band after signing with Dusktone in early 2026. Available on colored LP, black LP, CD Box and CD, Curse of the Mind was recorded during the summer of 2025 at Strand Studio in Beiarn, mixed and mastered by Hallstein Sandvin, and features artwork by SG7 Graphics.
For over two decades, ISKALD have stood among the leading names in Norwegian melodic black metal. Now performing as a five-piece, the band expands its trademark northern sound with its most ambitious and immersive work to date.
Built as a conceptual journey, Curse of the Mind unfolds through four interconnected chapters linked by ritualistic invocations, exploring themes of psychological torment, inner conflict, fragile hope and ultimate sacrifice. Framed within a stark, Norse-inspired vision of Helheim, the story is mythological in setting but deeply psychological at its core. Helheim is not merely a place, it is the shape taken by inner darkness. The true battlefield is the mind itself.
The album unfolds in four movements, connected by four ritual Invocations:
I. The Other Realm – The Descent Vast emptiness, fog and isolation.
II. Manifestation of Madness – The Prison Doubt, fragmentation and psychological collapse.
III. A Burden of Hope – The Fragile Light Strength found through accepting the darkness within.
IV. The Sacrifice – The Ritual Before the throne of Hela, suffering becomes meaningful.
Track-list:
Curse of the Mind – Invocation I
The Other Realm
Curse of the Mind – Invocation II
Manifestation of Madness
Curse of the Mind – Invocation III
A Burden of Hope
Curse of the Mind – Final Invocation
The Sacrifice
Line-up:
Aage Krekling – Vocals Simon Larsen – Guitars Ben Hansen – Guitars Isak Larsen – Drums Tobias Aubert – Bass
Finnish melodic black metal veterans AUTUMNFALL will return on September 25th, 2026 with their new album, The Archaic Sins, to be released by Ardua Music. Continuing the path established by their previous work, the album revisits material originally composed decades ago, yet demonstrates how naturally these songs can still impose themselves in the present day.
The first single “Lightless Depths” is now streaming HERE
Formed in Finland in 2019 by Jussi Hänninen, best known as the primary songwriter of Fall of the Leafe between 1996 and 2007, AUTUMNFALL emerged as a continuation of the musical sensibility that characterized the earlier years of that influential band. Joined by vocalist Tero Ruohonen, Hänninen has developed the project into a vehicle for revisiting old ideas while giving them renewed shape and purpose.
Following Ghosts of Light (2021), Bleak (2022) and The Archaic Shadows (2024), The Archaic Sins once again draws heavily from the past. With just one completely new composition, the album is primarily built around songs written between 1998 and 2001, now brought into the present through fresh arrangements and performances.
The result is fluid, finely arranged melodic black metal that never needs grand gestures to make its impact. AUTUMNFALL weave melodies together continuously, allowing guitars and rhythms to move with a natural, unforced sense of progression. The music can evoke wonder one moment and bitterness the next, shifting between emotional shades without ever disrupting its graceful flow.
Carefully considered rhythmic patterns provide a solid foundation for compositions that remain loose and organic, while the constant interplay of melodies gives the album its distinctive character. There is an unmistakable sense of musicians who have spent decades understanding how songs work, knowing when to add detail and, just as importantly, when to let an idea breathe.
Whether described as melodic extreme metal, dark metal or simply AUTUMNFALL, The Archaic Sins offers a sound rooted in experience, melody and atmosphere: material from another era that finds an unexpectedly natural home in the present.
Track-list:
Halo In Utopia
Lightless Depths
Dark Goddess
Mists of Eternity
Crystal Skies
Pulse
The Blind Brother
The Timeless Kin
Credits:
Jussi Hänninen: All Music Tero Ruohonen: All Vocals/Lyrics
The Finnish atmospheric black metal band Beyond Seventh Dimension are set to release the debut album Tähtien ikuinen suru on September 4th 2026 via Inverse Records. The new single ‘Eternal Love For The Unreachable‘ is unleashed now and it’s available on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/b7thd-eternal-love
The band comments: “This song is for all those who have lost someone you can never stop loving.
It tells what it’s like when you can’t touch anymore, but you can’t let go either.”
BIOGRAPHY:
Beyond Seventh Dimension is an atmospheric metal project from Finland that started as a one-man instrumental project in 2025 and quickly escalated. Vocals were added to the concept right after the first song, and suddenly there was talk of an EP or a full-length album. Now there is an album, and there has also been talk of making a proper band out of this at some point, but time will tell.
A warning, a spell, and an act of devotion – the second single from Verbolgen arrives as a short film steeped in folk horror
Dark black metal duo HULDER have released “In Blood and In Earth,” the second single from their forthcoming album Verbolgen, set for release on August 7th, 2026 via 20 Buck Spin (North America) and Season of Mist (Europe). The track is accompanied by an official music video directed by Newfoundland filmmaker Justin Oakey, arriving as the final preview before the full record drops.
Running just over seven minutes, “In Blood and In Earth” is an act of communal rite set in motion by the landscape itself. The track builds from foreboding restraint into sweeping, storm-gathered momentum, as Hulder’s vocals call out an incantation before the full weight of the arrangement bears down. The song frames endurance and bloodshed not as tragedy but as covenant: a pact between flesh and earth that the living inherit from the ancient dead. The band describe it plainly: “This second offering from the forthcoming album stands as a warning and a spell. Speak these words as the land below bellows forewarning… Shall you fall upon your knees?“
Recorded between Elektric City Recording in Portland, Oregon and at various locations by the band, themselves, the album was mixed by Ahti Kortelainen at Tico Tico Studios in Kemi, Finland and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. It marks Hulder’s third full-length and the first to formally welcome Necreon as co-leader of the project: a status the duo’s creative process has long reflected in practice.
Verbolgen was produced by Hulder, with both drum performances engineered in Portland, Oregon and Norway. Guitars, bass, and vocals were engineered by Necreon, with additional instrumentation engineered by Keld and Hulder. The album was mixed by Ahti Kortelainen at Tico Tico Studios (Kemi, Finland) and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios (Helsinki, Finland). Cover artwork was painted by Morrigan, with logo design by Jannicke Wiese Hansen and photography by Liana Rakijian.
The music video for “In Blood and In Earth” was directed by Justin Oakey and produced by Black River Pictures. Of the project, Oakey says: “I am beyond honoured Hulder trusted me with putting together something for the new album. Inspired by folk horror, it follows a family clinging to an inhospitable landscape and slowly reveals a dark, sinister atmosphere. The colourist of the video Clinton Homuth introduced me to Hulder in 2019 with some of the early demos. The balance between the bucolic and raw sounds felt incredibly original while staying true to the roots. I reached out and we stayed in touch, finding ways to collaborate. It’s inspiring to see the new, creative directions Hulder and Necreon take with each release.“
Verbolgen Track-list:
Drie Raven (Intro) (2:18)
The Crowning (6:28)
Thy Binding Oath (5:38)
Verbolgen (4:01)
…And We Shall Sing (6:01)
In Blood and In Earth (7:09)
Den Nacht Zijn Lied (6:45)
View From Nemeton (5:23)
The Glow of Dawn (4:48)
Full runtime: 48:33
In support of the forthcoming release, HULDER will embark on a North American tour in August with DIMMU BORGIR, HYPOCRISY and SUFFOCATION. Tickets are available at: https://hulder-official.com/pages/shows.
HULDER North American Tour Dates:
Aug 7 – New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square Aug 8 – Worcester, PA @ The Palladium Aug 10 – Toronto, ON @ History Aug 11 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS Aug 13 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater Aug 14 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre Aug 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Aug 18 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom Aug 21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield Aug 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new EP from Västmanland Sweden’s Black Metal beasts Gast. Förbannelser is up now for pre-order and will be released July 31st on CD and Digital formats along with merch.
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions welcome Gast to the roster with the new EP Förbannelser! Gast channel the dark and cold essence of the northern landscapes through intense Black Metal. Their music combines raw intensity with haunting melodies, while their lyrics explore themes of evil, madness and folklore.
Förbannelser (which translates to Curses) explores death, decay, greed, nightmares and the end of humanity. Curses lie at the core, driving the downfall of both individuals and the world itself, taking shape as despair, insatiable greed, spreading plague and the final collapse. Gast deliver a wave of northern darkness, crafted for those who crave intensity, atmosphere and the presence of something ancient and malevolent rising beneath the surface.
For fans of Marduk, Grá, Necrophobic, Hate, Black Curse, Profanatica, Stormruler and Cloak.
Finnish black metallers BLOODMOTHER will release their debut album Militant Black Magic on September 25th, 2026, via Time To Kill Records.
A sharp and uncompromising record, it refuses shortcuts and avoids hiding behind pretentious structures or overly foggy atmospheric detours. Instead, it focuses on pure impact and precision, built entirely on riffs that cut deep and leave no room for distraction.
The album stands as a severe statement of intent, stripping everything back to its essential violence and clarity, delivering a sound that is direct, punishing and relentlessly focused on damage rather than ornament.
The first single“Liturgical Decay” is available now:
“Liturgical decay, the meaningless ritualization of dead flesh. When Death calls and the pious decompose, the futility of their faith becomes evident. This is what Bloodmother is all about, a sonic war machine rolling over your graves in celebration of the end of life”.
Formed in 2021 by Kuolontuoja, BLOODMOTHER was conceived with a clear and uncompromising purpose: to channel the spirit of true Finnish black metal through a sound stripped of excess and focused entirely on aggression. Building upon the foundations laid by the demo Death to All and the EP Soul Crusher, the band has refined a style based on razor-sharp riffs, hostile atmospheres and a direct, no-frills approach. Yet beneath its relentless surface lies a constant rhythmic variety that prevents the music from falling into predictability, maintaining tension and momentum throughout.
With Militant Black Magic, BLOODMOTHER push their vision further, delivering a work rooted in themes of faith, war, death and Satanic defiance. The album stands as the band’s most complete statement to date and a concentrated display of the ferocity that has defined their mission from the very beginning.
“A Beast To Praise” contains DARK FUNERAL’s annihilating live-set for their latest studio album release We Are The Apocalypse and will be available in the USA as a Jewelcase CD, gatefold 2LP on 140g vinyl and as a digital album.
Track-list:
1. Unchain My Soul 2. The Arrival Of Satan’s Empire 3. My Funeral 4. Leviathan 5. We Are The Apocalypse 6. Open The Gates 7. When I’m Gone 8. Goddess Of Sodomy 9. Vobiscum Satanas 10. Nail Them To The Cross 11. Let The Devil In 12. The Secrets Of The Black Arts 13. Where Shadows Forever Reign
FORTRESS FESTIVAL 2027 29-30 May 2027 Scarborough Spa North Yorkshire, UK
New additions include worldwide live debut from Gris, worldwide exclusives from Gràb and Dungeontroll, full “Confusion Gate” album set from Yellow Eyes, UK exclusives from Slagmaur and Havukruunu, and a special UK exclusive set from Forteresse
Miserere Luminis, Tardigrada, Mourir, Trha and Sinmara also added to the line-up
Scarborough, UK; 3 July 2026: Following the monumental reveal of Emperor as the first 2027 headliner, Fortress Festival has unleashed a first wave of band confirmations. Set to take place at the iconic Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire, UK and true to the event’s growing reputation, this latest announcement is packed with worldwide live debuts and exclusives, UK debuts and exclusives, as well as special sets.
Canadian atmospheric black metal project Gris will make their worldwide live debut at Fortress Festival in 2027. The band has been an elusive studio entity for years, making this an unprecedented event for their followers:
“We have been hesitant for years to bring the music of Gris to the stage,” Gris said. “The idea has been undulating in our minds for more than a decade now, swaying from doubt to possibility, and to doubt again. We knew that it would require us to adapt the music we’ve done with great respect and care, and it seemed daunting at times. But seeing the dedication of Fortress Festival to make their event unique and of high quality, it felt like a perfect context for us to embrace the challenge of making Gris alive for the first time.”
Joining them is Bavarian black metal outfit Gràb, performing a 2027 worldwide exclusive show. “Last year I announced to step back from doing music due to health issues,” said Grànt. “However, things changed for the better. Like it or not, I decided to return. For years, Gary of Fortress Festival showed heavy interest in booking GRÀB. We, as a band, decided that the fantastic venue of Fortress is the right place to do a 2027 exclusive GRÀB concert. This marks our first concert outside Germany and Austria. We will bring Bavarian Black Metal to UK soil for the first time ever. Be there!“
Yellow Eyes will perform their acclaimed album “Confusion Gate” in full for a UK exclusive. The band shared their excitement, stating, “Eight years after our last UK performance, Yellow Eyes will finally return to England. We’re honoured to make our exclusive UK appearance of 2027 at the legendary Fortress Festival. It is rare that we make it to England, and we don’t know when we’ll be back again. If you’ve ever wanted to see us in the UK, we hope you’ll join us in Scarborough. This will be something special.”
Quebecois black metal pioneers Forteresse will return to Fortress Festival in 2027 and deliver a special UK exclusive set. Promising an unforgettable performance, the band declared, “The ghosts of epic death and rebellion are returning to England once again to storm the shores of Scarborough. This time, a special set will be curated especially for this event that shall remain secret until the time draws near.”
Fantasy synth artist Dungeontroll will deliver a worldwide exclusive set created purely for Fortress. “Join Dungeontroll for a one-of-a-kind ritual at Fortress Festival MMXXVII,” said Dungeontroll. “Tales of adventure and woe will be woven, calling forth the ancient spirits of the woods. These songs will be written and performed exclusively for Fortress; there are no plans to record or perform them again after this night.”
The barrage of UK debuts and exclusives is made even more powerful by the melancholic brilliance of Miserere Luminis, the crushing sound of Switzerland’s Tardigrada, and the chaotic intensity of France’s Mourir, all performing in the UK for the very first time. Another awaited UK debut comes in the form of the mysterious Trha.
Rounding out this monumental announcement are UK exclusive performances by the Norwegian avant-garde horror show Slagmaur, Finnish pagan black metal masters Havukruunu, and the dissonant Icelandic force of Sinmara.
New album “Desolate Echoes of Turmoil” to be released via These Hands Melt
Kråkstad, Norway & Rome, Italy; 22 June 2026: Norwegian symphonic black metal group Profane Burial has unveiled a new single, “Triumph Of Dreadful Aftermath,” as an introduction to the upcoming full-length, Desolate Echoes of Turmoil, to be released later this year via These Hands Melt.
According to the band, “Triumph Of Dreadful Aftermath” tells the tale of how chronic insomnia and spontaneous panic tear apart the fabric of normality, dragging the human psyche into a nightmare dimension of disintegration and fear. With its ferocious style of expression, “Triumph Of Dreadful Aftermath” sets a whole new tone of aggressiveness for Profane Burial, with music that is dark and orchestral in its intensity.
Their upcoming album “Desolate Echoes of Turmoil” is considered the most elaborate and dynamic album produced by the band yet. While the new material deliberately maintains the core foundation of their established style, relying heavily on grandiose arrangements, bleak atmospheric textures, and sharp black metal execution, it also moves significantly further into progressive territory. Complex arrangements, changing structure, and unexpected timing make the band move into the modern, very emotional sphere without losing its characteristic dark and cinematic sound.
Track-list:
Den Fortaptes Krønike
Prognostic Augural Obsolescence
Triumph of Dreadful Aftermath
Channeling Epiphany
Horror Code pt. 2
Malicious Discomfort
To bring this specific vision to life, the band worked with notable names in the studio. The entire album was mixed and mastered by Børge Finstad at Toproom Studio, whereas the drum tracks were recorded independently at StrandStudio. Visually, the release is tied together by a striking, Rorschach-inspired cover artwork painted by Ella Kunst, a piece designed to mirror the existential and psychological tension found throughout the music.
Profane Burial originally formed in 2013, starting out as an ambitious studio project between Kjetil Ytterhus, known for his work with Haimad, Khôra, and Babels Tårn, and André Aaslie, who has performed with Funeral, Images At Twilight, Omnia Moritur, and Vitam Aeternam.
The project quickly grew into a proper live group, bringing in a highly capable lineup of musicians associated with prominent acts like Borknagar, Trollfest and Cadaver. After building early momentum with their 2018 debut album, The Rosewater Park Legend, the band switched into a trio format after 2020. This transition put Aaslie on guitar duties and positioned Ytterhus as the main vocalist, a creative shift that resulted in their 2024 album, My Plateau.
The album will be available across several formats via These Hands Melt. The release options include a standard digital album, a CD Digipack strictly limited to 200 copies, and a classic vinyl LP pressed in two separate color variants.
Québec City-based Bulgarian folk and black metal band TSAR STANGRA will release their new full-length album, Химните на разрушените светове (Hymns of the Broken Worlds), on July 1, 2026 via GLOBMETAL PROMOTIONS.
Created over the course of nearly a decade, Химните на разрушените светове is the band’s most ambitious work to date. The album explores Bulgarian history, folklore, pagan ritual, exile, language, and cultural memory through a collision of black metal aggression, Balkan melody, ceremonial atmosphere, tambura, orchestration, and lyrics written in Bulgarian.
Founded by vocalist Stanislav Stefanovski, TSAR STANGRA was built around the mission of preserving Bulgarian heritage through extreme metal. On Химните на разрушените светове, that mission expands into a larger meditation on identity, displacement, and the meeting of worlds.
Written largely in Québec by musicians from different cultural and musical backgrounds, the record carries a natural tension between Bulgarian folk tradition and Western black metal, between pagan symbolism and literary sources shaped by Christian Bulgarian poets, between ancestral memory and life far from the homeland.
The album opens with “Тракийци – Черни химни за изгубените” (“Thracians – Black Hymns for the Lost Ones”), an epic invocation of Thracian memory and Bulgarian ancestry. “Хан Аспарух” (“Khan Asparuh”) follows with a martial black metal tribute to the founder of the First Bulgarian Empire, while “Черна песен” (“Black Song”) turns inward through the poetry of Dimcho Debelyanov.
The record later moves through the exile and longing of “Тъга за Юг” (“Longing for the South”), the Kukeri ritual force of “Земни стражи” (“Guardians of the Earth”), and the uncompromising pagan invocation of “Завръщането на родния бог” (“The Return of the Native God”), before closing with “Българският език” (“Bulgarian Language”), a tribute to the survival of Bulgarian language and identity.
The artwork, created by Paolo Girardi, reflects the album’s central theme of cultural collision. Kukeri, ancient masked figures from Bulgarian pagan tradition, stand before the burning Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, one of Québec’s most recognizable Christian landmarks. The image captures the album’s vision of old ritual, new geography, ancestral memory and transformation.
Химните на разрушените светове follows TSAR STANGRA’s debut full-length Небесният ковач(Celestial Forger), the 2023 single “Черна песен” (“Black Song”), and the 2024 live album Битката за Фиорда – На живо в Сагене (The Battle of the Fjord – Live in Saguenay).
Track-list:
“Тракийци – Черни химни за изгубените” (“Thracians – Black Hymns for the Lost Ones”) – 6:45
“Хан Аспарух” (“Khan Asparuh”) – 6:35
“Черна песен” (“Black Song”) – 4:41
“Последният поход” (“The Final March”) – 3:03
“Тъга за Юг” (“Longing for the South”) – 4:49
“Земни стражи” (“Guardians of the Earth”) – 6:42
“Завръщането на родния бог” (“The Return of the Native God”) – 3:11
“Българският език” (“Bulgarian Language”) – 5:43
For fans of ROTTING CHRIST, NEGURA BUNGET, DRUDKH, MELECHESH, BATHORY, and IMMORTAL, the new album offers a deeply cultural and ritualistic take on pagan black metal.
Dark black metal project HULDER has released “View From Nemeton,” the lead single and accompanying music video from their forthcoming album Verbolgen, due August 7th, via 20 Buck Spin (North America) and Season of Mist (World ex-North America). The single opens the album’s campaign and marks the first visual statement from what stands as the project’s most fully realized work to date.
“Captured on analog mediums in the forests of the Pacific Northwestern landscape and woven together by Liana Rakijian and Hulder, ‘View From Nemeton’ serves as a glimpse from the eye of the otherworld,” the band states.
“View From Nemeton” moves through the ceremonial and the spectral, its lyrics evoking a sacred site in the realm of the otherworld where the living and the dead converge: “In realm of the otherworld where undead and living shall meet / View from Nemeton as veil of soma is thinned.” The track builds on a foundation of layered riffing and atmospheric density, anchored by the recurring incantation “Bone to Bone / Limb to Limb / Blood to Blood,” before opening into sequences of hurdy-gurdy and keys that widen the piece’s ceremonial register.
Emerging from the Pacific Northwest, HULDER built a devoted following across a series of releases marked by their commitment to ancient craft, uncompromising production, and a sound rooted in the Northern European black metal tradition.
Verbolgen sees the project expand its instrumental palette: drawing in hurdy-gurdy from KELD (Majesties, Obsequiae, Celestiial) and split drum contributions from VAPULA and VROLOK (Aeternus, Gorgoroth), while sharpening the dual creative core that has defined its most compelling work.
Verbolgen Track-list:
Drie Raven (Intro) (2:18)
The Crowning (6:28)
Thy Binding Oath (5:38)
Verbolgen (4:01)
…And We Shall Sing (6:01)
In Blood and In Earth (7:09)
Den Nacht Zijn Lied (6:45)
View From Nemeton (5:23)
The Glow of Dawn (4:48)
Full runtime: 48:33
In support of the forthcoming release, HULDER will embark on a North American tour in August with DIMMU BORGIR, HYPOCRISY and SUFFOCATION. Tickets are available at: https://hulder-official.com/pages/shows.
HULDER North American Tour Dates:
Aug 7 – New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square Aug 8 – Worcester, PA @ The Palladium Aug 10 – Toronto, ON @ History Aug 11 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS Aug 13 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater Aug 14 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre Aug 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Aug 18 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom Aug 21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield Aug 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
Echa Krwi available to pre-order via Pagan Records
Polish black metallers Azels Mountain have released a new video, created by Zaćma Visual Studio, ahead of the release of their third full-length album, Echa Krwi, scheduled to arrive on 26th June via Pagan Records.
On this new album, Azels Mountain continues its descent into darker and more reflective territories, channelling themes of memory, blood, sacrifice and transcendence through a colder, more expansive musical expression shaped by both mystic reflection and the lingering shadows of more recent historical experience.
Compared to previous releases, Echa Krwi is a more mature and culturally rooted vision. Beyond the foundations of underground black metal, the album draws inspiration from classical Polish music, literature and the spiritual atmosphere woven through the nation’s artistic heritage.
Echoes of melancholy, longing, pride, and existential struggle permeate the compositions, giving the record a distinctly Polish character. The result is an album that channels the spirit of forgotten landscapes, ancestral memory, and the restless soul embedded within Polish culture itself, transforming Echa Krwi into something both deeply personal and timeless.
Sirkis completed the artwork for the new album, while Zaćma Visual Studio handled photography. Renowned designer Christophe Szpajdel crafted the band’s refreshed logo. On the production front, the material was recorded at M23 Studio, with mixing and mastering duties executed by Satanic Audio.
Track-list: 1. Intro 2. Wschód 3. Bezdroża Jałowe 4. Ku Szczytom i Cieniom 5. Pieśń Wrony 6. Pomrok Czasów 7. Rytuał Zapomniany 8. Sen o Polach Bezkresnych 9. Nikt Nie Woła 10. Pustka
Formed in 2013, Azels Mountain emerged from the shadows of the Polish underground with a vision rooted in spiritual symbolism and the raw essence of black metal. Drawing inspiration from Slavic heritage, mysticism, death, and anti-religious contemplation, the band crafts music steeped in cold atmosphere, hypnotic melodies, and fierce aggression.
Their sound balances the spirit of classic black metal with hypnotic, ritualistic compositions and mystic atmosphere. Across releases such as Góra milczenia (2016) and Wieczny sen (2019), Azels Mountain established a distinct identity built on melancholic depth, grim intensity and uncompromising style.
Azels Mountain will perform at Gothoom Festival in Slovakia, 24-25 July 2026.
Scarborough, UK, June 2026: Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor have been confirmed as the first headlining act for the fifth anniversary of Fortress Festival set to take place on 29-30 May 2027 at the Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire.
This will be Emperor’s only and exclusive UK performance in 2027.
Gary Stephenson, Fortress Festival founder, said: “It’s our fifth anniversary of Fortress in 2027 and we’re pulling no punches this time. Emperor, one of the biggest names in black metal, will close the festival with a headlining performance to show why this band is still such a phenomenon 20 years after their last studio album. We’ve sold out every edition of Fortress so far, and we expect no less to happen in 2027. So secure those tickets, and we will drop another dozen or so worldwide live debuts, UK exclusives and eye-watering bookings very soon for you all.”
Formed in 1991, Emperor are one of the most important and influential black metal bands. They are known for blending traditional black metal with atmospheric and symphonic elements. Landmark releases such as “In the Nightside Eclipse” and “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk” introduced complex song structures and orchestral keyboards to the genre. Following an initial dissolution in 2001, the group’s live appearances became incredibly scarce. Their later reunion has been strictly limited to select festival slots and rare special engagements, making this upcoming Fortress Festival performance a highly anticipated UK event.
The news follows the sold-out fourth edition of the festival this weekend, which boasted a stacked line-up of exclusive and rare performances, including Old Man’s Child, Gallowbraid, Dødheimsgard, Akercocke, Whoredom Rife, Abigail Williams, Vinterland and many more.
Given the festival’s established track record of completely selling out every previous iteration, demand for the 2027 weekend tickets is anticipated to be very high.
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