Tag Archives: Van Records

Album Stream: Crom Dubh – Heimweh

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crom dubh

London based epic/melodic black metal horde Crom Dubh is streaming their debut album Heimweh, out now via Ván Records. Stream it here.

Recorded by J. C. Volgard (Scythian, Craven Idol) in the Summer and Autumn of 2013, Crom Dubh’s first full-length opus Heimweh presents forty-five minutes of majestic yet menacing northern black metal with an incredible storyline to overthrow fans of Dissection, early Summoning, Taake, Drudkh, Tsjuder, Carpathian Forest and the like.

Crom Dubh on Facebook
Van Records on Facebook
Van Records on Bandcamp


Music Video: Arstidir Lifsins – Norðsæta Gætis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa

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ARSTIDIR LIFSINS

Icelandic/German pagan metallers Arstidir Lifsins (Icelandic for “the seasons of life”) is streaming the music video for “Norðsæta Gætis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa,” off of their album Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn, out now via Van Records.

ARSTIDIR LIFSINS aldafoor ok munka drottinn

Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn Track Listing:
I:
1. Kastar Heljar Brenna Fjarri Ofan Onundarfirðinum
2. Knorr Siglandi Birtisk Á Löngu Bláu Yfirborði
3. Þeir Heilags Dóms Hirðar
4. Úlfs Veðrit Er Ið CMXCIX
5. Máni, Bróðir Sólar Ok Mundilfara
II:
1. Tími Er Kominn At Kveða Fyrir Þér
2. Norðsæta Gætis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa
3. Bituls Skokra Benvargs Hreggjar Á Sér Stað
4. Sem Lengsk Vánar Lopts Ljósgimu Hvarfs Dregr Nærri

Arstidir Lifsins on Facebook


Album Stream: Macabre Omen – Gods Of War

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macabre omen god of war at war

Greek epic/pagan black metallers Macabre Omen is streaming “Gods Of War – At War” and “Rhodian Pride, Lindian Might,” off their Gods Of War – At War album, out now via Ván Records.

Gods Of War – At War was recorded at Priory Recording Studios in the West Midlands in the Land of the Angles. Produced, engineered and mastered by Greg Chandler under the supervision of The One over a period of six months and through the Summer Solstice of 2013 A.B., all drums and percussion were recorded intermittently during the last two weeks of February 2013 A.B and engineered by T. J. F. Vallely at Eidola Studios. Throughout the album’s hour-long duration, a multitude of vocal approaches and entities appear among waves of choirs, acoustic and electric guitars and bass, recorder, mouth harp, synths, tambourine, gongs, and an array of different drums and percussive instrumentation, making the album an incredibly rounded and endlessly entertaining album which immediately demands repeat attention.

Gods Of War – At War Track Listing:
01: I See, The Sea!
02: Gods Of War – At War
03: Man Of 300 Voices
04: Hellenes Do Not Fight Like Heroes, Heroes Fight Like Hellenes
05: From Son To Father
06: Rhodian Pride, Lindian Might
07: Alexandros – Ode A’
08: Alexandros – Ode B’

MACABRE OMEN:
Alexandros – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Choir, Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar, Bass, Recorder, Mouth Harp, Samples, Synths
T. J. F. Vallely – Drum Kit, Timpani, Medieval Drums, Bodhrán, Frame Drums, Tambourine, Gongs, Clash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal

Macabre Omen on Facebook
Van Records on Bandcamp


Crom Dubh Streaming “Cutting Teeth II”

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crom dubh

London epic black metallers Crom Dubh is streaming “Cutting Teeth II,” off of their debut full length album Heimweh, out now via Ván Records below.

Recorded by J. C. Volgard (Scythian, Craven Idol) in the Summer and Autumn of 2013, Crom Dubh’s first full-length opus Heimweh presents forty-five minutes of majestic yet menacing northern black metal with an incredible storyline to overthrow fans of Dissection, early Summoning, Taake, Drudkh, Tsjuder, Carpathian Forest and the like.

Heimweh Track Listing:
01. Cutting Teeth I
02. Cutting Teeth II
03. The Invulnerable Tide
04. Kings I
05. Kings II
06. Sedition
07. Heimweh
08. Fathorn
09. Sailing To Byzantium

CROM DUBH:
S. O’Fairdehaigh – bass, vocals
A. Haege – drums
S. Vrath – guitars
M. Beonetleah – guitars, vocals

Crom Dubh on Facebook
Van Records on Facebook
Van Records on Bandcamp


Sulphur Aeon Streaming “Diluvial Ascension – Gateway To The Antisphere”Music Video

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sulphur aeon

German death metallers Sulphur Aeon is streaming the music video for “Diluvial Ascension – Gateway To The Antisphere” below. The song is off their sophomore album Gateway To The Antisphere, out April 3, 2015 via Imperium Productions and Van Records.

The album was produced by Simon Werner who was already responsible for the sound of the previous recordings of the band, and the result is a catastrophic and instantly memorable work of extreme metal art. Fifty-two minutes of debilitating yet enthralling, black-tinged, Lovecraftian death suck the listener in like an inescapable vortex, as visually depicted in the mind-blowing cover artwork (with the emphasis on “art”) was created by Ola Larsson.

Gateway To The Antisphere Track Listing:
1. …To Drown This World
2. Devotion To The Cosmic Chaos
3. Titans
4. Calls From Below
5. Abysshex
6. Diluvial Ascension – Gateway To The Antisphere
7. He Is The Gate
8. Seventy Steps
9. Onwards… Towards Kadath
10. Into The Courts Of Azathoth
11. Conclusion

SULPHUR AEON:
T – guitars, bass
D – drums
M – vocals

Sulphur Aeon on Facebook
Van Records on Facebook
Van Records on Bandcamp


Árstíðir lífsins – Aldafǫðr ok munka dróttinn

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Arstioir-Lifsins-Aldafoor-Ok-Munka-Drottinn

Icelandic/German three-piece Árstíðir lífsins (Icelandic for “The Seasons of Life”) are back with a new album, Aldafǫðr ok munka dróttinn (Ván Records); an expansive, sprawling exploration of Icelandic history and culture.

This is the third record from the pagan Black Metal outfit – Árni  (Drums, Viola, Cello, Vocals), Marsél (Vocals), Stefán (Guitars, Bass, Piano, Vibraphone, Vocals) – in five years, and while it reportedly explores the era of Christian conversion of Iceland circa 1000AD, you’ll be hard pressed to know it. The album is “sung entirely in Old Norse-Icelandic, with added Skaldic verses from the Icelandic sagas.”

This double-disc affair is packed with tracks that rarely clock-in at less than eight minutes long; each track is packed with enough style and time changes to fill a dozen “Kvlt” black metal outfits. The music swings from folky acoustics and haunting ambiance to raw blast beats and even death metal. The vocals range from spoken word and choirs to screeching howls, often within layers of the same song. Epic but never overly bombastic, every track is intricate, dense and atmospheric. The mood is mostly bleak and sombre but rarely strays in monotony or tedium, which is impressive given the length and complexity of what’s on show.

Authenticity is a big part of this album. While some acts that base themselves on the history and mythology of Scandinavia can often stray into easy stereotypes, this feels like a living history lesson. At 80 minutes, Aldafǫðr ok munka dróttinn is a big investment that requires your attention to be fully appreciated. But those willing to put the effort it, Árstíðir lífsins will reward with an epic listen.

 

8.0/10

Árstíðir lífsins on Facebook

 

DAN SWINHOE


Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies – Earth Air Spirit Fire Water

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Selim-Lemouchi-His-Enemies-Earth-Air-Spirit-Water-Fire-Artwork

Many were surprised when Dutch Occult rockers The Devil’s Blood decided to call it quits. But life goes on, and guitarist Selim Lemouchi is back with a new band and a new album in tow. Earth Air Spirit Fire Water (Ván Records) is Selim’s debut under his new moniker, following the well-received Mens Animus Corpus EP. Selim’s Enemies seems to be a rag tag group featuring Robby Geerings on guitar, four drummers, and Selim’s sister and former DB cohort Farida Lemouchi among their numbers.

 

The record is both very different from Selim’s work in tThe Devil’s Blood, but not completely alien. There’s still a strong 70s rock vibe as well as Farida’s imposing vocal presence on a couple of tracks, although Selim takes main vocal duties. But on the whole it’s far more expansive musically, dropping the occult for a more spaced-out & psychedelic tone. And the songs run for a lot longer – there are only five tracks, but they average around ten minutes apiece.

 

Opener ‘Chiaroscuro’ begins with a preacher’s monologue of fire & brimstone before making way for a spacey hypnotizing chords and repeating rhythmic drumming. Vacant, haunted vocals with a Bowie-esque twang juxtapose Farida’s recognisably deep wail. There’s a lot going on throughout the ten minutes – although it’s very slow, it’s intense and layered.

 

‘Next Stop, Universe B’ is more upbeat, and at only three minutes, the closest thing this album has to a single, with Swimmy vocals sit atop a driving beat and reverberated chords. Although this is definitely a prog album, it’s never overdone or overblown. Instead of overbearing complexity and hundreds of ideas thrown in, we’re given a few simple ones that are jammed out and explored.

 

Album closer ‘Molasses’ probably the highlight and a good example of this. Opening with a crunching repeating bass line and layers of cyber-sounding synth before letting the return of Farida take centre stage and build the song from the ground up. The song build slowly in layers over it’s 13-minute length, adding layers of guitars and impressive solos for a strong finish and a strong sense of curiosity as to where Selim goes with the next album.

 

Overall Earth Air Spirit Fire Water comes across as very simple but effective, and manages stays of the right side of self-indulgent. It’s not a particularly easy listen, and not one listen to on repeat. But is still impressive, challenging and rewarding album for fans willing to put the time in.

 

selim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7/10

Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies on Facebook

Dan Swinhoe


The Devil’s Blood – III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars

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TheDevilsBlood-TabulaRasaA pioneer of occult rock and one of the most respected acts within the genre, The Devil’s Blood caused a legion of fans heartache upon announcing their split at the beginning of this year. Amongst the live albums and compilations that lie in their wake, their incomplete third full length III: Tabula Rasa Or Death And The Seven Pillars has been released as a bittersweet farewell.Continue reading →