– 350gsm Gatefold Jacket with inside flooded in black and matt varnish – 140g Black or Gold Vinyl – A3 Poster on 150gsm Art Paper – Limited to 500 copies (400x Balck & 100x Gold Vinyl)
CD details:
– 4 panel Digipak CD – 12 page Booklet on 170gsm Art Paper – Limited to 500 copies
T-Shirt:
Black Gildan Heavy Cotton T-Shirt with white print on front, back and left sleeve. Size S to XXL.
– 350gsm Gatefold Jacket with inside flooded in black and matt varnish – 2x 140g Black Vinyl – 16 page A4 size Booklet on 150gsm Art Paper – A2 Poster on 150gsm Art Paper – Limited to 500 copies
– 350gsm Gatefold Jacket with inside flooded in black and matt varnish – 140g Black or Silver/Black Galaxy Vinyl – 250gsm Art Paper Insert – Limited to 500 copies (400x Black & 100x Galaxy Vinyl)
CD details:
– Jewelcase CD – 12 page Booklet on 170gsm Art Paper – Limited to 500 copies
T-Shirt:
Black Gildan Heavy Cotton T-Shirt with grey print on front and back. Size S to XXL.
Temple of the Beast is the work of one DarkWvlf, well known in the black metal scene as Blackthorn, founding vocalist / drummer of the long-running Thornspawn. But those expecting a blitzed assault of classic Norsecore will be in for a surprise with Temple of the Beast: oft-lumbering ritualism that slithers its way into hammering primitivism, recalling the earliest works of Samael, Mystifier, Demoncy, and Drawing Down the Moon-era Beherit but exuding its own strange, ethereal identity.
Preceded by a demo and a single, Temple of the Beast now arrive with a 30-minute-long mini-album, Geminian Arcana. Due to its generous length – five monolithic hymns are contained herein – the band’s full potential is displayed in diabolic, Dionysian splendor. Indeed, Temple of the Beast‘s central themes are arcane magick and bacchanalian bloodletting, ancient lore and mysteries only found in the innermost catacombs. Sonically, DarkWvlf illustrates this with tones that are tar-thick yet somehow atmospheric, layering the patient pulse with ritual bells and cosmic synths; likewise, his vocal tones go far deeper than his characteristic screech in Thornspawn.
As such, Temple of the Beast in general and Geminian Arcana in particular are equally recommended to maniacs of the early Greek black metal scene as well as the aforementioned legends. Debauch under the full moon!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Temple II: The Initiation” here…
Hailing from France’s ever-thriving death metal scene, Profanation are a new band of old souls. Many will recognize lead guitarist Kev Desecrator from Deströyer 666, but he also maintains labelmates Venefixion – with whom vocalist Profane Alex has recently been added as a live member – as well as Sépulcre and Scumslaught, and fellow guitarist A.M. also plays in Regarde les Hommes Tomber. Along with drummer Sinistre, the quartet create vile, ultraviolent DEATH METAL in a most ancient manner.
Of course, their debut recording says it all on the tin: Skull Crushing Violence, which is exactly what you get for 20 terrorizing minutes. Like the unholy offspring of Hadez and Necrovore with more than a hint of the eldritch grind of Terrorizer and England’s Doom, Profanation whip forth a fury like few others. Everything here on Skull Crushing Violence goes into the red – as it SHOULD, to honor the promise of its title – and the intensity suitably takes on an otherworldly aspect as it flits between abyss-ward blast and grave-shoveling D-beat. Meanwhile, utterly OTT solos shoot across the record like missiles flying across a war-torn landscape.
Want 666% ARRRGGGHHH?!? Profanation give it to you with Skull Crushing Violence!
In the meantime, hear the brand-new track “Global Terror” here…