SPKR/CDArtikel

Thronehammer - Slay | Kill | Erase 17,99 €

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:13:46 +0200

Es gibt Alben, die einfach nur existieren — und dann gibt es Alben, die sich wie Monumente aus verbrannter Erde erheben. Thronehammers viertes Full-Length "Slay | Kill | Erase" ist ganz klar Letzteres: ein kolossaler, 74-minütiger Brocken, der sich nicht in enge Genregrenzen zwängen lässt. Die deutsch-britische Band, 2012 von Stuart West gegründet, bewegte sich schon immer in den Schattenzonen zwischen Epic Doom und etwas weitaus Größerem — aber hier haben sie völliges Neuland betreten.

Schon der erdrückende Opener, der den Albumtitel trägt, macht klar: Das hier ist keine gewöhnliche Doom-Platte. Katharina Gillhams eindrucksvoller Gesang erhebt sich über eine Landschaft aus tektonischen Riffs, während das Drei-Gitarren-Arsenal aus West, Tobias Utz und Daniel Ringl ein Geflecht aus melancholischen Melodien, messerscharfen Leads und dissonanten Texturen webt, das einen nie loslässt. Die Rhythmussektion — Markus Ströhlein an den Drums und Uwe "Void" am Bass — liefert das unerschütterliche Fundament und verankert selbst die atmosphärischsten Passagen in purer Wucht. Max Hemmann (Motorowl) steuert Gastgesang bei und verleiht dem Ganzen eine zusätzliche emotionale Tiefe.

Was "Slay | Kill | Erase" wirklich besonders macht, ist die Art, wie es erdrückende Härte mit Momenten atemberaubender Schönheit verbindet. Tracks wie "To Never Return" und "Destroyer Ov Light" dehnen sich in postrockartige Klanglandschaften aus, ohne auch nur einen Hauch von Intensität zu verlieren, während "Blade to the Heart" und "Dethroned" genau das liefern, was Doom-Fans erwarten. Gemastert von Patrick W. Engel in den Temple of Disharmony Studios, ist die Produktion gewaltig und dennoch klar, sodass jedes Detail atmen kann. Diese Band ist dem Doom-Label entwachsen — und genau das ist der Punkt.

Für Fans von: Bolt Thrower, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, My Dying Bride, Solitude Aeturnus

CD im DigiPak mit 12-seitigem Booklet und speziellem Splatter-Artwork. Limitiert auf 500 Exemplare.

Thronehammer - Slay | Kill | Erase 15,99 €

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:13:46 +0200

E-L-R - Atropa 9,98 €

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:19:16 +0200

Kunst entsteht oft aus starken Emotionen. Metal und artverwandte Genres schöpfen häufig aus der dunklen Seite der menschlichen Erfahrung. Beide Binsenwahrheiten treffen voll auf das dritte Album "Atropa" von E-L-R zu. "Atropa" entstand in einer Zeit tiefgreifender Schicksalsschläge und Krankheit, was zu einer künstlerischen Auseinandersetzung mit Überleben, Ausdauer und unumkehrbaren Veränderungen führte. Stilistisch schafft das Schweizer Duo mühelos einen Ausgleich zwischen Doomgaze und Post-Metal und etwas, das noch düsterer und härter klingt, aber sich nur schwer in eine Schublade stecken lässt. E-L-R beschreiben ihren Sound als etwas, das zwischen Schwere und Auflösung, Schönheit und Gift existiert. Textlich durchlaufen die Songs auf "Atropa" verschiedene Phasen der Trauer, des Deliriums, der obsessiven Liebe und der Widerstandsfähigkeit. Die poetischen Texte verweilen in einem liminalen Bereich, in dem Sehnsucht, Verlust und Verwandlung untrennbar miteinander verschmelzen. E-L-R sind das geistige Kind der Bassistin I.R. und der Gitarristin S.M., die sich auch den Gesang teilen und die Band im Jahr 2016 in der Schweizer Stadt Bern gründeten. Bald darauf stieß Schlagzeuger M.K. dazu, dessen emotionaler Stil perfekt zur Band passte. In der frühen Phase der Entstehung von "Atropa" musste M.K. die Band leider aus gesundheitlichen Gründen verlassen. Nach einem schwierigen und bisweilen schmerzhaften Aufnahmeprozess präsentieren E-L-R ihr bislang vollständigstes Album, das die Zuhörer auf eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt voller Leidenschaft mitnimmt. "Atropa" bewegt sich an der Schwelle, an der das Unumkehrbare beginnt –wenn der Pfeil den Bogen verlässt und die Welt danach nicht mehr dieselbe bleiben kann. Jetzt und für immer sind wir alle dazu bestimmt, der Flugbahn eines solchen Pfeils zu folgen.

Tracklist:
1. Oaken Reaper
2. Archeress
3. Cobalt Wound
4. Solace Tracery
5. Saltwinds
6. Echo Space

Blood and Sun - Aion’s Light 17,99 €

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:13:42 +0200

With “Aion’s Light”, Blood and Sun’s third full-length album, Luke Tromiczak brings his vision of American neofolk back to its rawest foundations while pushing further into the borderlands between song, spell, and memory.
The album was recorded entirely on the same Tascam 414 four-track cassette portastudio used for Blood and Sun’s earliest demo. Songs were written and tracked in the order they appear, effects were committed to tape, and each bounced-down instrument narrowed the path ahead. Every decision carried weight; raw instinct became part of the final form.

Musically, “Aion’s Light” stands somewhere between 70s folk songcraft, underground black metal spirit, and the eerie atmospheres of B-movie horror soundtracks. Echoes of Scott Walker, Of the Wand and the Moon, Woven Hand, Swans, Dave Bixby, Exuma, Leonard Cohen, and Storm can be felt throughout. Guitar chords are hammered into place as a foundation for bass, keyboards, percussion, and voice; sparse arrangements gather weight through repetition, atmosphere, and the grain of the recording itself.

Tracklist:
1 - Aion’s Light
2 - Life Lessons
3 - Jacob’s Ladder
4 - Kiss the Wilds
5 - Horrid Host
6 - Gifts of Oneiroi
7 - Axe and Mistletoe
8 - A Nation Falling
9 - All is Bloom All is Ruin

Collector's Edition. Deluxe 6-panel CD digisleeve with metallic silver Pantone print and silver foil detailing.
6-panel digisleeve • Metallic silver Pantone print • Silver foil detailing

Heretic Cult Redeemer - In Oculum Chaos 14,99 €

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:30:18 +0200

In the year 2009, a covenant was sealed upon the anvils of the Elder Ones. Funus, aligned with Tempest and D., they bound their wills to manifest the vision of Funus: the genesis of an entity drenched in abyssal wrath, existing solely to unleash it through sonic delirium and ecstatic arcane rites. Through musical frenzy and forbidden practices, it proclaims the glory of primordial chaos and the titanic inheritance of the pre-human aeons.

Blessed is the Light of Lucifer, harbinger of gnosis, transgression, and perpetual evolution.

The quintessence of HERETIC CULT REDEEMER lies in perpetual transformation through sustained engagement with acausal forces. ? process of dissolution of fixed identity and a rejection of linear causality. Creation is not conceived as the production of works, but as an act of detachment from the cosmic order and its illusions of continuity. We are the instruments of negation and transcendence, through which the acausal void articulates its will.

Each release constitutes a self-contained entity, possessing internal coherence and autonomy, both lyrically and compositionally. It does not function as an evolution of a prior form, but as a rupture, an isolated phenomenon that embodies its own metaphysical intent. Every musical act serves as a vessel for a specific vision, not to interpret the world, but to annul it. Beyond norms, beyond rules, beyond every cosmic principle and imposed structure.

HERETIC CULT REDEEMER proudly present their 4th full-length album, ""In Oculum Chaos.""

A bold avant-garde/black metal journey exploring both microcosmic and macrocosmic chaos. Born from deeply personal, magical experiences, intoxicating, unrelenting, and overwhelming in its intensity.

Mixed by Nikos Trialonis at Mad Hat Music

Drums recordings at Ignite Music Studio

Guest bass recording by M.Z., Composition by Nikos Trialonis, Lyrics by Funus, Drums by C.Docre

All songs mastered by Sim?n Da Silva at The Empty Hall Studio

Cover artwork and Internal Illustrations by LGN Nekropropaganda

Layouts, calligraphy and additional art by Entitatem Null Arts.

Skuggor - The Expanse 12,00 €

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:13:56 +0200

Skuggor, the solo project of M., an Australian multi-instrumentalist based in northern Sweden, draws its essence from the meeting point between the physical and the transcendental. Deep forests and snow-covered terrain are not merely backdrops, but gateways – spaces where hypnotic states and introspection take hold. On “The Expanse”, this duality comes into sharp focus: the beauty of the northern landscape set against an undercurrent of solitude and quiet desolation.

The foundation was laid somewhere along the long, winding road between M.’s home in Moskosel and the Nordvis headquarters in Arvidsjaur – a woodland stretch largely untouched by modern intrusions. Written to accompany that journey, “The Expanse” takes shape as a series of impressions formed by both the beauty and the unforgiving nature of the environment. While echoes of Burzum, Agalloch, Urfaust, and Drudkh can be sensed throughout, Skuggor reshapes these influences into something distinctly its own.

Musically, the album moves between organic synthesiser passages and harsh, fuzz-laden guitars, with vocals that feel improvised and immediate – less bound to language than to emotion. The result is fluid and instinctive, allowing each composition to emerge as a natural extension of atmosphere rather than rigid structure. Minimalism here is mainly expressed through restraint: repetition, pacing, and subtle shifts that draw the listener deeper into the sound.

Tracklist:

1 - The Expanse
2 - The Fire
3 - The Trance
4 - Hem
5 - The Storm
6 - The Nothing

6 Panel CD Digipak

Blodtår - Monark 9,98 €

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:13:56 +0200

Back in 2021, Blodtår announced themselves with a self-titled EP steeped in black metal mysticism. The following full-length, “Det förtegna förflutna” (2023), revealed a project capable of refined structure and melodic discipline without sacrificing intensity. Now, on their third release, the Stockholm-based duo ventures deeper still.

Where earlier works balanced woodland atmosphere with icy composure, “Monark” is driven by something more volatile. Conceived in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, the album took shape with uncompromising urgency. The opening track, “Blodtår”, emerged directly from that moment, setting the tone for a work which moves through overwhelming spiritual pain toward a fragile yet undeniable light.

Musically, the folk-infused melodic language remains central – particularly across the first half – but now intertwines with passages evoking older, more archaic currents reminiscent of early Enslaved and Falkenbach. Norse-tinged motifs surface alongside the band’s established Scandinavian melancholy, while the latter half explores tonal shifts that feel brighter, though never unscarred. Beginning in darkness and concluding in illumination, “Monark” traces recurring cycles of mental collapse and resurgence with unflinching honesty.

Tracklist: (with translations):

1 – Blodtår (‘Blood Tear’)
2 – Till min sista viloplats (‘To My Final Resting Place’)
3 – Paradis (‘Paradise’)
4 – Det slutar i lågor (‘It Ends in Flames’)
5 – Monark (‘Monarch’)
6 – Nu är det synd om de döda (Kraja cover)
7 – Bland kvällens skuggor ännu vandra (‘Still Wandering Among the Evening Shadows’)
8 – Den eviga isen (‘The Eternal Ice’)

CD Jewel Case • 8 Page Booklet

Secrets of the Moon - Arcana Vanity Death (The Demos Years) 15,99 €

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:58:01 +0200

“And a magic dwells in each beginning”

Enthralled by occultism and the magic of Black Metal SECRETS OF THE MOON was originally brought forth by bassist and singer Daevas after his departure from MARTYRIUM in Osnabrück in 1995. Thanks to a tremendous discography – amongst a multitude of releases most notably spanning seven full-length albums – and countless shows performed domestically and abroad, SECRETS OF THE MOON – within the ensuing 27 years until its termination in 2022 – would go on to put its name on the map as one of Germany’s most revered dark Metal bands.

Prior to unleashing their first album Stronghold of the Inviolables in 2001 the mischievous collective managed to produce a body of work comprising two demos – Unearthed Arcana and Vanitas – Promotape 98, the notorious and never officially published Moondance Madness tape and the cult Split 7” EP with LUNAR AURORA. Although less known than their albums, these dusty relics from the dark past are no less significant. Naturally way rawer and unpolished than the studio albums, what these recordings may lack in sophistication is all made up for by the mystical charm pervading their every second.

All of these raw diamonds from SECRETS OF THE MOON’s formative period with many obscure recordings especially unearthed for this compilation on top, Darkness Shall Rise Productions now have the great pleasure to reissue in the shape of this marvellous compilation.

A new in-depth interview with Lars "Devas" Plegge and Phil "sG" Jonas was done especially for this release and the booklets also includes many never seen before pictures of the groups glorious past.

The songs were completely new remastered from the original tapes by Patrick W. Engel at the Temple of Disharmony.

Cover-artwork was done by Misanthropic-Art.

2CD jewel-case CD with 32-page booklet

Bal-Sagoth - Battle Magic 13,99 €

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:58:01 +0200

BAL-SAGOTH - First Trilogy

Between 1994 and 1998, the mighty BAL-SAGOTH recorded their now legendary First Trilogy of albums, which were originally unleashed by the cult UK label Cacophonous Records. These renowned masterworks of Symphonic Fantasy Black Metal defined a genre and provided inspiration for an entire generation of bands who subsequently rose in BAL-SAGOTH's illustrious wake. Now, A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria, Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule and Battle Magic return triumphantly as newly remastered editions complete with lavishly illustrated lyric booklets! A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria is presented in its entirety as a gatefold double vinyl LP edition, while Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule and Battle Magic are finally making their long-awaited first appearances on vinyl after more than three decades!

All hail the true kings of symphonic sword & sorcery Black Metal!
ALL HAIL BAL-SAGOTH!

Battle Magic (1998)

BAL-SAGOTH's fantastic first triptych at last reaches its climactic height! The majestic third opus from Britain's kings of symphonic sword & sorcery black metal has been expertly remastered and is proudly presented on vinyl for the first time in the album's history! Featuring the classic original cover artwork and a lavishly illustrated lyric booklet containing an exclusive new interview with BAL-SAGOTH vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts. Relive the grandiloquent glory of BAL-SAGOTH's epic fantasy saga with the final chapter in the band's acclaimed First Trilogy, the baroque and bombastic Battle Magic!

Jewel-case CD with 32-page booklet

Bal-Sagoth - A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria 13,99 €

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:58:01 +0200

BAL-SAGOTH - First Trilogy

Between 1994 and 1998, the mighty BAL-SAGOTH recorded their now legendary First Trilogy of albums, which were originally unleashed by the cult UK label Cacophonous Records. These renowned masterworks of Symphonic Fantasy Black Metal defined a genre and provided inspiration for an entire generation of bands who subsequently rose in BAL-SAGOTH's illustrious wake. Now, A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria, Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule and Battle Magic return triumphantly as newly remastered editions complete with lavishly illustrated lyric booklets! A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria is presented in its entirety as a gatefold double vinyl LP edition, while Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule and Battle Magic are finally making their long-awaited first appearances on vinyl after more than three decades!

All hail the true kings of symphonic sword & sorcery Black Metal!
ALL HAIL BAL-SAGOTH!

A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria (1995)

BAL-SAGOTH's darkly renowned debut album rises from the shadows once again to commemorate more than three decades of sinister splendour! The malefic first opus from Britain's kings of symphonic sword & sorcery black metal has been expertly remastered and is proudly presented with the classic original cover artwork and a lavishly illustrated lyric booklet featuring an exclusive new interview with BAL-SAGOTH vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts. Experience anew the raw, arcane power of BAL-SAGOTH's inaugural malediction with the eldritch A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria.

Including many never seen pictures and new in-depth interview with Byron Roberts conducted by Olivier "Zoltar" Badin.
Mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in December 2025.

Jewel-case CD with 32-page booklet

Bal-Sagoth - Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule 13,99 €

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:58:01 +0200

BAL-SAGOTH - First Trilogy

Between 1994 and 1998, the mighty BAL-SAGOTH recorded their now legendary First Trilogy of albums, which were originally unleashed by the cult UK label Cacophonous Records. These renowned masterworks of Symphonic Fantasy Black Metal defined a genre and provided inspiration for an entire generation of bands who subsequently rose in BAL-SAGOTH's illustrious wake. Now, A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria, Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule and Battle Magic return triumphantly as newly remastered editions complete with lavishly illustrated lyric booklets! A Black Moon Broods over Lemuria is presented in its entirety as a gatefold double vinyl LP edition, while Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule and Battle Magic are finally making their long-awaited first appearances on vinyl after more than three decades!

All hail the true kings of symphonic sword & sorcery Black Metal!
ALL HAIL BAL-SAGOTH!

Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule (1996)

BAL-SAGOTH's legendary masterwork returns triumphantly to commemorate the album's 30th anniversary! The epic second opus from Britain's kings of symphonic sword & sorcery black metal has been expertly remastered and is proudly presented on vinyl for the first time in the album's history! Featuring the classic original cover artwork and a lavishly illustrated lyric booklet containing an exclusive new interview with BAL-SAGOTH vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts. Return to the ancient epochs of dark sorcery and cold steel with the genre-defining magnum opus Starfire Burning upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule.

Including many never seen pictures and new in-depth interview with Byron Roberts conducted by Olivier "Zoltar" Badin.
Mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in December 2025.

Jewel-case CD with 32-page booklet

Leper Colony - Back To Primal Sludge 9,98 €

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:50:04 +0200

LEPER COLONY verfolgen auch auf ihrem dritten Album "Back to Primal Sludge" unerbittlich ihr unheiliges Ziel, das perfekte Gleichgewicht zwischen den Old School Death Metal Stilen aus Florida und Stockholm zu erreichen. Dadurch wird "Back to Primal Sludge" in vielerlei Hinsicht zu einer direkten Fortsetzung ihres zweiten Albums "Those of the Morbid" (2025). LEPER COLONY entstanden als musikalischer Ausdruck der langjährigen Freundschaft zwischen dem deutschen Sänger Marc Grewe und dem schwedischen Gitarristen Rogga Johansson. Grewe hat sich als ehemaliger Frontmann von MORGOTH und später auch bei INSIDIOUS DISEASE sowie ASINHELL einen hervorragenden Ruf in der Szene erworben. Der Saitenmann Rogga Johansson hat seinerseits als Mitglied zahlreicher erfolgreicher Bands wie PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER und REVOLTING tiefe Spuren im schwedischen Death Metal hinterlassen. Mit "Back to Primal Sludge" lassen LEPER COLONY ein weiteres Mal ihrer Liebe zum Old School Death Metal freien Lauf, was ihrer Anhängerschar sowie allen Freunden des brutalen Genres eine riesige Freude bereiten wird!

Tracklist:
1. Madness Is a Kingdom
2. These Blades
3. Dead Soul Consortium
4. Thrown to the Pigs
5. Back to Primal Sludge
6. Flesh Grater
7. Seelenjäger
8. Harness the Undead
9. Beneath the Fat and Gristle

Jewelcase-CD mit 8-seitigem Booklet

Murder Squad - Ravenous Murderous 13,99 €

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:11:13 +0200

In 2001 Death Metal had been in steady decline for many years. The genre once gloriously notorious for stillbirthing some of the vilest filth imaginable had been watered down by harmlessness and mediocrity.
It was exactly at this time that MURDER SQUAD breathed much-needed foul air into a scene so desperately lacking dirt and danger.
Spawned by members of some of the most revered Swedish Death Metal bands (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, MERCILESS etc.) and driven by their shared passion for intoxication and, above all, American Death Metal band AUTOPSY, the four Swedes would go on to vomit forth two full-lengths and one EP before withdrawing into the nasty hole they crawled out from.

Again, adorned by a disgustingly beautiful cover by the late Timo Ketola, MURDER SQUAD’s second album, Ravenous Murderous, from 2003 still has AUTOPSY-worship written all over it. But while the predecessor was literally made up of riffs that were almost identical or at least very similar to the ones found in AUTOPSY tracks, Ravenous Murderous feels more like an unreleased AUTOPSY album than a different band paying tribute to AUTOPSY. This time around MURDER SQUAD have even been supported in the studio by legendary Chris Reifert of AUTOPSY himself contributing vocals, guitars and drums. These joined efforts resulted in a very dark Death Metal album coming with pleasantly politically incorrect lyrics certain to upset today’s moral police.

Jewel-case CD, 28-page booklet

Impending Doom - Signum of Hate 13,99 €

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:11:13 +0200

The Thuringian band, originally formed in 1993 under a different name and known as IMPENDING DOOM since 1995 – throughout its ten years of activity – gained recognition far beyond Germany’s borders through its expertly crafted blend of various Metal styles as evidenced by its numerous releases – including three studio albums – as well as more than 200 concerts played at home and abroad.

Although 25 years have already passed since the release of their third and final album, the interest in IMPENDING DOOM’s legacy still seems undiminished.

At long last, Darkness Shall Rise Productions has taken on this chapter of German Metal history in its tried-and-tested manner. No expense or effort has been spared in reissuing (almost) the entire body of IMPENDING DOOM’s work – comprising the releases from the pre-album phase and the three albums, including bonus material.

These definitive editions, crafted with great attention to detail, present the tracks with significantly improved sound quality whilst also leaving nothing to be desired in terms of layout and design ensuring that both long-standing fans and those who are only just discovering IMPENDING DOOM will be equally delighted.

Their second album Signum of Hate – released only one year after its predecessor – represented a huge improvement over their debut – and not just in terms of sound.
With tracks such as “Demon-(Mon)Archy”, “Land of burning coffins” and “Sumerian awakening” – which, as is typical of IMPENDING DOOM, defied clear categorisation due to their stylistic complexity – the band presented songs that, in their efficient conciseness, were highly catchy and had real staying power.

Whilst keyboards featured to a not inconsiderable extent on earlier compositions, on Signum of Hate they have been reduced to a minimum and used only sparingly to enhance the atmosphere. Undoubtedly, the overall sound of the album is dominated by lightning-fast, Thrash-style guitar riffs with a high degree of recognisability.
Overall, the band opted for a more direct compositional approach that gets straight to the point; thus the album exhibits a significantly heightened level of intensity and aggression.

Including tons of unseen pictures and a new interview with all band-members.
Mastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in March 2026.

Jewel-case CD with 24-pages booklet

Impending Doom - Apocalypse III (The Manifested Purgatorium) 13,99 €

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:11:13 +0200

The Thuringian band, originally formed in 1993 under a different name and known as IMPENDING DOOM since 1995 – throughout its ten years of activity – gained recognition far beyond Germany’s borders through its expertly crafted blend of various Metal styles as evidenced by its numerous releases – including three studio albums – as well as more than 200 concerts played at home and abroad.

Although 25 years have already passed since the release of their third and final album, the interest in IMPENDING DOOM’s legacy still seems undiminished.

At long last, Darkness Shall Rise Productions has taken on this chapter of German Metal history in its tried-and-tested manner. No expense or effort has been spared in reissuing (almost) the entire body of IMPENDING DOOM’s work – comprising the releases from the pre-album phase and the three albums, including bonus material.

These definitive editions, crafted with great attention to detail, present the tracks with significantly improved sound quality whilst also leaving nothing to be desired in terms of layout and design ensuring that both long-standing fans and those who are only just discovering IMPENDING DOOM will be equally delighted.

There is no doubt that IMPENDING DOOM’s third and final album Apocalypse III – The Manifested Purgatorium is their most aggressive and brutal release to date. Unlike many other bands, who become increasingly watered-down and softer over the course of their careers in the hope of greater success, IMPENDING DOOM’s development seems to have followed exactly the opposite path. From album to album, the intensity and directness have increased. On Apocalypse III in particular, the band seem to have cast aside all unnecessary frills in order to distil the very essence of their sound in a completely unbridled and unfiltered manner.

Tracks such as “Hatespawn”, “Obscure funeral” and “Revocation of creation” – to name but a few – captivate not only with their raw intensity, delivered with the pedal to the metal and at a superb technical level, but also with the stylistic originality – a blend of Black, Thrash and Death metal elements – that has been characteristic of IMPENDING DOOM since their first demo. Apocalypse III is the band’s definitive statement not only because it’s their final album but because it showcases the horde in its most developed and vicious form.

Including tons of unseen pictures and a new interview with all band-members.
Mastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in March 2026.

Jewel-case CD with 24-pages booklet

Impending Doom - Caedes Sacrilegae (The Rough Mixes) 13,99 €

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:11:13 +0200

The Thuringian band, originally formed in 1993 under a different name and known as IMPENDING DOOM since 1995 – throughout its ten years of activity – gained recognition far beyond Germany’s borders through its expertly crafted blend of various Metal styles as evidenced by its numerous releases – including three studio albums – as well as more than 200 concerts played at home and abroad.

Although 25 years have already passed since the release of their third and final album, the interest in IMPENDING DOOM’s legacy still seems undiminished.

At long last, Darkness Shall Rise Productions has taken on this chapter of German Metal history in its tried-and-tested manner. No expense or effort has been spared in reissuing (almost) the entire body of IMPENDING DOOM’s work – comprising the releases from the pre-album phase and the three albums, including bonus material.

These definitive editions, crafted with great attention to detail, present the tracks with significantly improved sound quality whilst also leaving nothing to be desired in terms of layout and design ensuring that both long-standing fans and those who are only just discovering IMPENDING DOOM will be equally delighted.

1997 saw the release of IMPENDING DOOM’s first full-length Caedes Sacrilegae. Clocking in at almost 1 hour, the ambitious album represents the culmination of the band’s artistic accomplishments of the first era. Made up of four reinterpretations of old songs from Messias Abaddon and Pagan Fires, while the rest of the album’s ten tracks consisted of brand-new material, Caedes Sarilegae, showcased the band at its most melodious.
Not least because of the extensive use of moody keyboards at least partly reminiscent of CRADLE OF FILTH or GEHENNA, Caedes Sacrilegae is nonetheless very much a Heavy Metal album at no time lacking punch or edge.

Due to unfortunate circumstances regarding the recording of the album Caedes Sacrilegae’s sound has been compromised. Now, almost 30 years after its initial release we are thrilled to present a rough mix version of the album that sounds much closer to what the band had originally intended the material to sound like.

Including tons of unseen pictures and a new interview with all band-members.
Remastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in March 2026.

Jewel-case CD with 24-pages booklet

Impending Doom - Messias Abaddon / Pagan Fires 13,99 €

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:11:13 +0200

The Thuringian band, originally formed in 1993 under a different name and known as IMPENDING DOOM since 1995 – throughout its ten years of activity – gained recognition far beyond Germany’s borders through its expertly crafted blend of various Metal styles as evidenced by its numerous releases – including three studio albums – as well as more than 200 concerts played at home and abroad.

Although 25 years have already passed since the release of their third and final album, the interest in IMPENDING DOOM’s legacy still seems undiminished.

At long last, Darkness Shall Rise Productions has taken on this chapter of German Metal history in its tried-and-tested manner. No expense or effort has been spared in reissuing (almost) the entire body of IMPENDING DOOM’s work – comprising the releases from the pre-album phase and the three albums, including bonus material.

These definitive editions, crafted with great attention to detail, present the tracks with significantly improved sound quality whilst also leaving nothing to be desired in terms of layout and design ensuring that both long-standing fans and those who are only just discovering IMPENDING DOOM will be equally delighted.

Comprising the earliest official recordings of IMPENDING DOOM, listeners of the LP only familiar with the albums may be taken by surprise. Especially the Messias Abaddon demo originally self-released by the band in 1995 doesn’t have so much in common with later releases even though both “My goddess” and “Downfall of God” would reappear on the first album. Sonically falling somewhere between Doom- and Death Metal of the most sinister kind, this bastard of darkness is akin to the early works of MY DYING BRIDE, PARADISE LOST or DARKTHRONE’s Soulside Journey and stands as a gloomy testament to the members’ musical roots. Although, the demo still lacks the originality later IMPENDING DOOM releases would be characterized by, Messias Abaddon is still a very rewarding listen.

Despite the fact that the tracks on Pagan Fires – Promo 96 are still informed by Doom- and Death Metal parts, Thrash- and especially Black Metal influences have now been introduced to IMPENDING DOOM’s soundscape as well. With material considerably enriched by more versatile vocals and the sinister atmospheres of Black Metal, stand-out tracks like “Aeon of Dreams“ or “Pagan Fires” have not lost an inch of their impact in the 30 years since their initial release.

Including tons of unseen pictures and a new interview with all band-members.
Remastered and restored by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in March 2026.

Jewel-case CD with 24-pages booklet

Murder Squad - Unsane, Insane and Mentally Deranged 13,99 €

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:11:13 +0200

In 2001 Death Metal had been in steady decline for many years. The genre once gloriously notorious for stillbirthing some of the vilest filth imaginable had been watered down by harmlessness and mediocrity.
It was exactly at this time that MURDER SQUAD breathed much-needed foul air into a scene so desperately lacking dirt and danger.
Spawned by members of some of the most revered Swedish Death Metal bands (ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, MERCILESS etc.) and driven by their shared passion for intoxication and, above all, American Death Metal band AUTOPSY, the four Swedes would go on to vomit forth two full-lengths and one EP before withdrawing into the nasty hole they crawled out from.

Right off the bat, while the first riffs blare out of the speakers, MURDER SQUAD make it unmistakably clear that they don’t give a damn about originality or sophistication. Sonically almost entirely influenced by AUTOPSY – which had been split-up for six years at the time the album was released – and their depraved legacy, MURDER SQUAD are instead devoted to paying tribute to San Francisco’s most foul and deranged. Unsurprisingly, given the Swedes history and experience, they pull it off very convincingly. Although, their vey fittingly titled full-length zealously and unabashedly worships at the altar of AUTOPSY, the Swedish weirdos do so without lacking style.

Jewel-case CD, 28-page booklet

Xasthur - Open to Misinterpretation 9,98 €

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:07:00 +0200

Scott Conner, Gründer von XASTHUR und scharfsinniger Chronist der dunklen Seite des amerikanischen Traums, hat sich mit dem Gedanken abgefunden, dass sein Werk viele Menschen verwirrt und oft vollkommen anders als eigentlich intendiert interpretiert wird. Er hat gelernt, dies so zu akzeptieren, wie es ist. Diese Erkenntnis kommt im Titel seines neuen Werks "Open to Misinterpretation" klar zum Ausdruck. Sie hat auch seine Entschlossenheit bestärkt, weder seine künstlerische Ausrichtung zu ändern noch den Versuch zu unternehmen, seine Musik für ein breiteres Publikum zugänglicher zu machen. Conner ist zudem nicht daran interessiert, dem nachzueifern, was für andere gut funktioniert, oder sich nahtlos in eine Genreschublade legen zu lassen. Das bedeutet jedoch keineswegs, dass XASTHUR auf der Stelle treten. "Open to Misinterpretation" stellt eine tiefgründigere und weiterentwickelte Version von Ideen dar, die Conner bereits auf seinen letzten Alben verfolgt hat. Er verfeinert kontinuierlich seinen Sound und erforscht neue Klänge und Ausdrucksmöglichkeiten für seine Ideen. Infolgedessen klingt sein Songwriting mittlerweile sowohl detailreicher und zugleich noch weniger vorhersehbar. Die Produktion wirkt ebenfalls hörbar aufgeräumter, auch wenn Conner weiterhin großen Wert darauf legt, dass sich seine Aufnahmen live, organisch und echt anfühlen. "Open to Misinterpretation" wirkt vermutlich auch deshalb kompletter und runder, weil diese Songs aufgrund vorheriger Touraktivitäten von XASTHUR bereits auf beiden Seiten des Atlantiks auf zahlreichen Bühnen gespielt und getestet wurden. Mit "Open to Misinterpretation“ liefert der Amerikaner ein fokussierteres und selbstbewussteres Album ab. Damit treibt Scott Conner die Weiterentwicklung seines Ausdrucks und Sounds so weit voran, dass es schwieriger sein sollte, die Absichten des Künstlers falsch zu verstehen. Aber sollte doch jemand seine Ideen missverstehen, so hat Conner dies mittlerweile als einen festen Bestandteil der Musik von XASTHUR akzeptiert.

Tracklist
1. Running From Silence
2. Put You Out Of Your Misery
3. Mantras Of Delusion
4. Impersonating The Impostors
5. Nothing In The Dark
6. Waste Of Eternity
7. Prisoner Of Your Past
8. Strategic Incompetence
9. Death Can Heal

Phantom Corporation / Catbreath - Commando / Die By The Claw 14,99 €

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:19:14 +0200

Der Metal-Underground steht vor einem wahren Erdbeben! **PHANTOM CORPORATION** und **CATBREATH** haben sich für das zusammengetan, was möglicherweise die zerstörerischste Split-Veröffentlichung von 2026 werden könnte. Nachdem **PHANTOM CORPORATION** mit ihrem letzten Album *„Time And Tide""* Ende 2025 bereits eine Schneise der Verwüstung hinterlassen haben, sind sie mit fünf Tracks purem Crossover-Wahnsinn auf ihrer *„Commando""* EP zurück.

**CATBREATH** bringen ebenso wilde Energie mit ihrem *„Die By The Claw""* Beitrag mit, der vier neue Songs plus ein vernichtendes Cover von **EXCITERs** Klassiker *„Stand Up And Fight""* enthält. Ihr Maskottchen Fat Freddy wandelt auf *„Cross The Gate""* auf dunkleren Pfaden und taucht tief in Death Metal Gewässer ein, während Tracks wie *„Play Dead""*, *„Feline Fatality""* und *„Inner Peace""* puren Crossover/Thrash-Wahnsinn entfesseln. Beide Bands nahmen in der Soundlodge mit Jörg Uken auf, und die Chemie zwischen diesen deutschen Metal-Verrückten ist absolut elektrisierend. Das ist nicht nur eine Split - es ist ein Vollzeitangriff auf eure Trommelfelle.

**Für Fans von:**
Municipal Waste, Power Trip, Toxic Holocaust, Iron Reagan, Enforcer

DigiPak mit Wendecover und 10-seitigem Falt-Booklet.