Dutch epic pagan black metallers Uuntar have signed to Heidens Hart Records and will release their first chapter, “Voorvaderverering” on March 20th on CD and digitally. Uuntar is a project by two Dutch black metal veterans; Herjann (Heimdalls Wacht, Cultus, ex-Countess, ex-Mordaehoth) and Nortfalke (Kjeld, Lugubre, Tarnkappe). “Voorvaderverering” (Dutch for “ancestral worship”) was recorded in 2010, but not released until now. The duo recorded the six-song effort as a humble dedication to warriors and their traditions long gone. It is a nostalgic retrospect on old values and customs, in particular focusing around burial rites, dolmens and grave mounds in the north-east of The Netherlands. The album was self-produced by the band, so expect an unpolished sound that captures the cold winter Read more →

Austrian symphonic black / death metallers Black Forest from Vienna have revealed the first details of their debut full-length album, entitled “Dream“. With most of the material written back in 2006, Black Forest was revived in 2016 to materialize a long dream of composer and mastermind, Thomas Reichhart. Looking for other musicians to help out with the recording, five other friends joined together with Thomas, forming a band with also the intention to record further music and play live shows. The album was conceived as a journey through your mind, describing joyful as well as horrifying moments in your life, oscillating with psychedelic abstracts – like as in someone’s “Dream”. With two years in the making, Black Forest will debut Read more →

After the success of their previous collaboration “Skuggsjá“, Ivar Bjørnson (Enslaved) and Einar Selvik (Wardruna) are now following up with an imposing new piece entitled “Hugsjá“, scheduled for release on April 20th 2018, through ByNorse Music. The word ‘Hugsjá’ means to see with, or within, the mind – and it reflects the idea that one’s mind has the potential to see further than the eyes can reach. By weaving together indigenous and contemporary thoughts, sounds and instruments, they are inviting you on a vivid journey – exploring the distant history and traditions along coastal Norway. “Hugsjá” was first commissioned by, and performed at, Bergen International Festival in 2017, as part a series of concerts named “Nordvegen” (the Northern Road); inspired by local history and traditions in each of the places visited. Ultimately Read more →

Occitan pagan metallers Hantaoma from France will release their second full-length album “Malamòrt“, on March 9th, 2018 via Holy Records. Formed by the members of Stille Volk, precursor of the pagan scene since 1994, Hantaoma are back 13 years after their debut release! Coming from the Pyrenees, whose mythology is full of legends and stories all darker than each other, “Malamòrt” is an ultimate reference of pagan metal with multiple atmospheres between epic black metal and traditional heavy metal. A mystical and captivating journey in an original and authentic pagan metal, an ode to the spirits of the night sung in Occitan language from the earliest times, with multiple instruments rarely played in metal, such as the hurdy-gurdy, the Read more →