As autumn darkness descends, we present two highly new works of Black Metal art:

• AARA - "Eiger"
• PESTILENT HEX - "Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow"

Further details, alongside a track from each album, can be found below. Pre-orders are available via our EU, US, and Bandcamp shops.

AARA

In follow up to 2023's "Triade III: Nyx" - the climatic instalment of the 'Melmoth' trilogy based on Charles Robert Maturin's classic Gothic novel - AARA now break away from the literary and apply their stunning musicality to real-world events.

"Eiger" is conceptually focused on the 3967 metre mountain of the same name in the Bernese Alps. Since 1935, at least 64 climbers have died attempting to conquer the Eiger's sheer, ice-covered north face which has earned it the nickname of 'Mordwand' ('murder wall'). The album specifically examines an attempt to climb the Mordwand in July 1936 which ended in tragedy, as four young mountaineers succumbed to treacherous conditions and disappeared, presumed caught in an avalanche.

Tracklist:

01. Die das wilde Wetter fängt
02. Senkrechte Welten
03. Felsensang
04. Todesbiwak
05. Der Wahnsinn dort im Abgrund
06. Zurück zur roten Fluh
07. Grausig ist der Blick
08. Alptraum

"Eiger" was composed between 2022 and 2023. The album intro was provided by Jonny Warren (MODERN RITES), with acoustic guitars recorded by Urizen. Drums were recorded by J at Chäuer Studios in Bern. Mixing and mastering were handled by Markus Stock (EMPYRIUM, THE VISION BLEAK) at Klangschmiede Studio E.

The cover artwork, as with the last three albums, was created by Swiss painter Michael Handt, with design courtesy of Yurii Kazarian/Into The Abyss Design.

Composer Berg shares insights into the concept behind "Eiger":

"After the Melmoth trilogy, it was exciting to tackle something new, to delve into a different topic and imagine how to realise it musically. Since 'Eiger' tells a certain sequence of events and 'Felsensang' is one of the first tracks, it was important to create a more relaxed mood that fits the setting and the narrative. So the song begins rather atypically for Black Metal, which was actually the first riff I wrote for "Eiger", and is in general characterised by a hopeful optimism. In contrast to previous AARA releases, the "Eiger" album and thus also 'Felsensang' is more strongly interspersed with calmer phases, which somewhat softens the constant emotional chaos of previous AARA releases and gives the individual moods more space."

Listen to 'Felsensang',  a first track from the upcoming album, below or on our YouTube channel:

"Eiger" will be released on CD, vinyl - including an exclusive DMP vinyl edition and specially designed merch - and digital on December 6th. Pre-orders are available via our EU, US, and Bandcamp shops, bundle options are available.

PESTILENT HEX

Building upon the symphonic Black Metal stylings of their masterful 2022 debut "The Ashen Abhorrence", enigmatic Finnish duo PESTILENT HEX return with second opus, "Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow", to herald a new era of malevolent grandeur and melodic aggression.

The work of multi-instrumentalist L. Oathe (DESOLATE SHRINE, CONVOCATION, ORDINANCE) and vocalist/lyricist M. Malignant (CORPSESSED, TYRANNY, PROFETUS), "Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow" is still primarily inspired by legendary '90s second wave Black Metal but diverges from the neoclassical and baroque undertones of the debut into more contemporary, complex and exquisitely labyrinthine realms.

Tracklist:

01. Nocturne
02. Sciomancy and Sortilege
03. Through Mirrors Beyond
04. Of Hexcraft and Laws Three-fold
05. A Spectral Voyage
06. Threnody of the Moon Ascendant
07. Sanguine Gnosis

All music for "Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow" was composed by L. Oathe and M. Malignant between 2022 and 2024. All instruments were recorded and mixed by L. Oathe at The Desolate Dungeon, while all vocals were recorded by M. Malignant at Furnace 504. The album was mastered by Dave Otero (AKHLYS, CATTLE DECAPITATION) at Flatline Audio.

L. Oathe created the cover artwork, with layout design by Maciej Kamuda (BLUT AUS NORD). Logos and frames were crafted by M. Malignant.

PESTILENT HEX offer insight into their upcoming record:

"Where the first album "The Ashen Abhorrence" had more a tightly-knit concept telling one single story, our sophomore album takes a disparate approach having different topics with each song. We are still tying them under a bigger theme, namely: descending into the nightside of being, witchcraft, myths and necromancy. We use varying mediums of blood, shadows, herbal Alchemy and dreams to catch glimpses of the other side. This is the surface level.

The deeper level is reflecting yourself through the metaphors, and studying your own shadow, the subconscious and what goes into creativity and Art. The intention of the moniker "Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow" is to tie all of these stories and themes together under one title!"

Listen to 'Sciomancy and Sortilege', the first track from the forthcoming album, below or on our YouTube channel:

"Sorceries of Sanguine & Shadow" will be released on CD, vinyl - including an exclusive DMP vinyl edition and specially designed merch - and digital on November 29th. Pre-orders are available via our EU, US, and Bandcamp shops, with bundle options available.