IHSAHN will release the first of two five-track EPs – inspired by and dedicated to his home county of Telemark – on February 14, 2020 via Candlelight Records. The first Telemark EP represents the dark, brutal and aggressive side of Ihsahn’s compositional identity. With three new original songs and two ferocious cover versions, it represents a celebration of the defiant spirit that first inspired him to follow a creative path, forming Emperor, three decades ago. Ihsahn further explains; “The title of the EP is Telemark – it’s the county I grew up in and still live in, so the whole thing is situated there and very much inspired by that. So you could say it’s a roots-orientated album. I decided early on that I wanted this to be very purely related to black metal aesthetics. I wanted to distil the basic, bare bones black metal influences of my musical roots, given the overall concept, writing something for and from Telemark. I decided to do Norwegian lyrics for the first time, too. It feels very much closer to home in many ways.”

Rise Records announce the signing of Norwegian band Kvelertak. The album was recorded with Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studio in Salem, MA. The result is one hour of catchy riffs, punk rock, and heavy metal influenced by a world in discord to accompany their way towards Ragnarok.

Austrian atmospheric black metal project KARG will return in 2020 with the release of their 7th full-length album, “Trakat,” on February 7th. The musical style of KARG is a furious, hysteric mixture of atmospheric black metal and a huge load of post-rock, with additional influences of grunge, shoegaze and post-punk. Those inspirations outside of black metal evolved more and more over the last few years but were present in abridged form since day one. Lyrically, KARG has always delved into more of the melancholic side of life, such as broken relationships, lost love, estrangement, drug abuse, loss or suicide thoughts and depression. In contrast to many other bands KARG’s lyrics are as equally important as its music is.

The origins of Agalloch date back to 1995 and the disintegration of the band Aeolachrymae. As that group died, three phoenixes emerged from the ashes, Sussurrus Inanis, Nothing, and Agalloch. Mixing black metal with atmospheric textures, gothic doom, and neo-folk and post-rock touches, the Portland, OR-based group quickly developed a rabid cult following.

It is time to cover Europe in darkness once again: Today, BEHEMOTH release their new digital EP "Live At Maida Vale". The release precedes the black metal heroes' tour edition of their latest album "I Loved You At Your Darkest", which will be out on January, 24th. Poland's darkest force recorded several songs during an exclusive BBC Radio 1 session and are releasing the EP in support of their appearance on the upcoming European SLIPKNOT tour.

My Kingdom was created in December 2019 at Patologian Laboratorio. Al music written and performed by Grim666. Cover art by Hellish Razor. "This is the second gathering of songs to celebrate the musical influences which ultimately lead me on to create Kalmankantaja. The Nostalgia series only exists to worship the old darkness". HVNK KVLT

Bones And Dust was created in December 2019 at Patologian Laboratorio. All music written and performed by Grim666. Cover art by Hellish Razor. "This is the first part of the Nostalgia series, songs that do not follow the usual sound of Kalmankantaja, but rather emulate some of my early influences and favorite albums. I don’t claim to be original, nor would I want it. These recordings are my tribute to the music that inspired me years ago, and continue to do so". HVNK KVLT

A version of Ævangelist created by Matron Thorn in late 2018 after the status of the original Ævangelist became disputed. Matron Thorn claims that this iteration is the true version of the band, while the vocalist of the previous iteration Ascaris claims that the band is now split up.

In the night of winter solstice 2013, after the strong experience with their past band Draugr , the singer Lupus-Nemesis and the guitar player Triumphator decided to join together again in a new project named ATAVICUS (from latin Atavus = Ancestor ) with the intent to parpetrate with their music the story, the traditions and the beauty of their native place. Musically this progect will be very epic , even aggressive and with a bit classic metal tunes in a sort of mix which can be called ITALIC PAGAN HEAVY METAL

4 new hymns, recorded in the same session like Sargeist's latest full length masterpiece, Unbound, showing nothing but Satanic Black Devotion.